Small Car, over $18,000, is a category that in reality means cars over $20,000. All but one of the five entries also fit the category of Family Car, $22,000 to $30,000, by price and characteristics. Such is the blurring of categories as cars grow larger and increasingly lavish.
The five ranged in price from $20,698 for the new-generation Nissan Sentra, to $24,460 for a Volkswagen Rabbit 2.5 that was hopping with extra-cost equipment.
Base-price models closer to $18,000 exist, of course, but these are rarely submitted to journalists for comparison testing. The contenders considered here reflect consumers' appetites for keyless entry and air conditioning, air curtains as well as airbags, automatic transmissions and heated seats. It may also be that corporate strategists believe lavish equipment plays at least a subconscious role as evaluation sheets are completed.
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The two sedans and three hatchbacks in this category all set out to carry four people (comfortably) or five (in a pinch), while consuming less fuel than Family Car entries that generally are powered by V-6 engines. Here, four-cylinder engines are the rule, the one exception being the Volkswagen with an inline-five.
Although their goals are similar, their approaches differ markedly.
Dodge Caliber SXT
This car still rankles this driver with its giant, Ram grille. But at least the Caliber stands out and, in any case, exterior styling is only one of 17 areas of consideration, so it isn't going to win or lose on the basis of its looks.
Where it should earn points is with the functionality and comfort of its interior and its big cargo area, along with generally superior vehicle dynamics — ride comfort, steering and handling.
The 158-horsepower engine is the most powerful of the five being judged, yet it lets down the Caliber; it feels as though that power rating cannot be correct. It's also unpleasantly noisy in hard acceleration.
Yet Caliber's fuel efficiency in real-world driving is surprisingly good given its size and weight.
Hyundai Elantra GLS
The Elantra combines an impressive level of refinement with generous room for four adults. Every car in this category claims this, but this one delivers to a large degree. For example, the rear seat is more comfortable than that of the Caliber, with a larger, better-cushioned bench. The dashboard appears more handsome. Soft blue light illuminates the sound system, heating/ventilation panel and odometer.
If nothing rankles about this car's grille, nothing stands out, either. Hyundai's designers must have exhausted themselves penning Elantra's little brother, the nifty Accent, because they really sleep-walked through this model. Say this for the Taurus-like rear quarter-windows, though: they contribute to excellent 360-degree vision.
Driving the new Elantra is pleasant enough with a soft ride and good cornering ability, though engine noise during acceleration is unpleasant.
Nissan Sentra
This is a likely winner in this category because it has grown beyond previous Sentras and gained more of the flair of larger Nissan and Infiniti automobiles.
Its light-tan interior is richer, more stylish, more pleasant than those of its competitors. Nissan's interior designers have provided differentiating features such as a cave of a glove box, chrome locks and handles where everyone else offers plastic and a gearshift located high and close to the dash, coming to hand easily.
Like so many cars in this category, the Sentra roars in disconcerting fashion during hard acceleration as the constantly variable transmission maintains high rpm from the 140-horsepower, four-cylinder engine.
In steady going, though, Sentra becomes extremely quiet with low wind and road noise and merely a relaxing purr from under the hood. It's an easy car to like.
Suzuki SX4
The SX4 stands out in this company by giving the driver the option of choosing front-wheel or all-wheel drive. And it really stands out in appearance. Some will say it's weird and some will say it's wonderful. I gave it nine points out of 10 for exterior styling: one look and you know it has both flare and function.
When you sit behind the wheel, the large, distinctive windows immediately make sense because they provide the best 360-degree vision in the field. The triangular glass ahead of the front doors, the largest of its kind, really does make a difference.
A rocker switch between the seats decides whether you travel in front-drive; or front-drive with power to the rear wheels when the fronts slip; or locked, with all wheels powering the vehicle in extremely difficult going. Choosing front-drive, we head out on to the 17-km test route and discover this Japanese newcomer boasts the best ride combined with sure handling.
The rear seat stands out as well, with the most headroom even though the seat is positioned high, theatre-style, giving passengers a superior view. Only in cargo space is the SX 4 at some disadvantage to its competitors, though I judge it adequate.
Volkswagen Rabbit 2.5
The VW is the last car alphabetically, hence the last car driven, but it turns out to be the best of the field.
The New Rabbit may not win the category. Familiar exterior styling and a drab interior likely will cost points, and so will the as-tested price that is inflated by $3,468 in options. What's more, individual voters' evaluations of such criteria as throttle response and braking feel and effectiveness are difficult to anticipate.
But this voter says, no contest, the New Rabbit drives better in every way than the Caliber, Elantra, Sentra, or SX 4. It's my winner.
The five-cylinder engine performs effortlessly with its superior torque providing practically noiseless acceleration compared with the others. (No doubt Volkswagen entered a car with a manual transmission knowing the inline-five is most impressive when so-equipped, but an educated guess is that an automatic Rabbit would still have lower noise levels than other automatics.)
The Rabbit soaks up bumps better than the rest. It devours corners. Seats front and rear are upholstered for comfort. But the glove box is small, the cup holders are poorly placed low between the seats, and the interior is generally severe. Despite this Volkswagen's shortcomings, it should clean up in all criteria under the headings of Performance, Vehicle Dynamics and NVH (noise, vibration, harshness).
