2015 Compact Car Comparison
We headed north out of Los Angeles for our fifth comparison test of the two thousand fifteen model year, following a circuitous route that included some coastal cruising through Malibu, high speeds on Interstate Five, and meandering mountain roads that brought us back to the coast and down through Santa Barbara. By the time we returned home the following day we’d put more than four hundred miles on seven compact cars, and our feel for the segment was stronger than ever.
We headed north out of Los Angeles for our fifth comparison test of the two thousand fifteen model year, following a circuitous route that included some coastal cruising through Malibu, high speeds on Interstate Five, and meandering mountain roads that brought us back to the coast and down through Santa Barbara. By the time we returned home the following day we’d put more than four hundred miles on seven compact cars, and our feel for the segment was stronger than ever.
For this year’s head-to-head evaluation we tapped the Ford Concentrate, Subaru Impreza and Volkswagen Jetta—all of which were updated for 2015—plus the Mazda3, Dodge Dart and the two segment staples: Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.
Our comparison tests are different from most in that we keep the concentrate on comparison, not competition. We don’t pick winners and losers because the right choice for one buyer is the wrong choice for another. For example, our editors very likely recommend the Honda Civic more than any other car here, but many of us would buy a Mazda3. Similarly, while the Toyota Corolla is the third best-selling car in the country, the Subaru Impreza can be a far better choice for those who face gravely inclement conditions on an annual basis. Our purpose here is not to tell you which puny car to buy, but to make it lighter for you to determine which is best for you.
With that in mind, let’s budge on to the findings of our two thousand fifteen Compact Car Comparison. You can begin with a dearest, but don’t be astonished if you end up with a fresh one.
In order of sales volume through the very first part of 2015:
Toyota Corolla
The best-selling nameplate in the history of the world, the latest Corolla is more emotionally appealing than ever.
Honda Civic
Even in its last model year before a utter redesign, the Honda Civic is still displaying others how it’s done.See more Civic
Ford Concentrate
Not fairly as roomy or practical as the others, the Concentrate is a sportier, more stylish alternative to the typical compact car.
Volkswagen Jetta
With turbocharged power and European roots, the Jetta is both more joy and more mature than many of its peers.
Mazda3
The always joy and stylish Mazda3 is now efficient and tech-savvy, too.
Get to know Mazda3
Dodge Dart
Sporty looks, a rich interior and one of our dearest infotainment systems.
Subaru Impreza
Standard all-wheel drive remains the Impreza’s key competitive advantage.