This comparison looks at economy sedans. Specifically, those from the 2008 model year  or newer that have a CarsDirect Target Price of below $18,000 while equipped with an automatic transmission, air conditioning, power windows, locks, and mirrors, cruise control, antilock brakes, and side airbags. The seventeen qualifying cars are listed at right.

Economy is key to a good economy sedan. But economy refers not only to fuel consumption, as the purchase prices of most of the cars in this group vary far more than their fuel costs. (For perspective, the EPA estimates that a Nissan Versa rated at 27 miles per gallon uses $219 more gas per year, or $18 more per month, than a Toyota Corolla rated at 30, which pales in comparison to a $3,400 purchase price difference between them.)

These seventeen economy sedans are both compact and subcompact models, sometimes from the same manufacturer, because their prices are typically comparable.

Most cars in this group can seem competitive. Read on to see which ones really aren't, which are the best values and which are overpriced, and which offer the best blend of value and substance.

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Want numbers, not words? For numerical evaluations of the cars, and for their overall ranking order, skip to Evaluations.

What's missing?

-Anything but a four-door sedan. 4-door hatchbacks and station wagons will be reviewed in an upcoming comparison.

-Anything larger than a compact sedan, loosely defined at longer than about 180 inches.

-Anything over $18,000 when equipped with the features listed above.

-The 2009 versions of any car where an identical 2008 is still available, as they are more expensive without adding substance.

-The 2008 Toyota Corolla, which has been vanished from dealer lots in favor of a redesigned 2009 model.

-The Kia Rio, which is mechanically identical to the included Hyundai Accent, but more expensive.