Communter car advice, Focus vs Elantra vs Impreza vs ?

[Spike]

Question for all you auto folks here regarding buying a new commuter car. Situation: Wife and I are getting rid of the 95 Civic we currently drive as a daily commuter. It still runs great but is very uncomfortable and we want to get rid of it while it's still running great. Someone offered us $1k for it and we are tempted to take that (it has minor body damage so blue book is low) We want something fairly economical, can fit 4 adults (front very comfortable and back semi comfortable), is feature rich, and has a price of around $22k or less (before taxes and fees). We originally looked at the Fusion and Sonata but determined those are larger than we need and a little pricier than we would like for a commuter.

We are going tonight to test drive a 2014 Focus Titanium hatchback that would cost around $25k all in (21ish before everything) and is basically loaded. It does not have the handling package which I'm good with as I don't like the turning radius hit you take with the 18's, but has just about every other feature including the active parking assist (cool) and nav (meh). If the test drive goes well we are leaning towards that but I wanted to see what people here had to say.

I have done research into the Elantra and Impreza as well but so far the Focus has seemed like the best choice. Are there reasons I should go back to looking at those more closely? Any other makes/models to look at in a small, hatchback design? Mazda 3 is a possibility but with 2 failed transmissions in a previously owned 626 we are hesitant, even though thats likely not fair to Mazda.

Please note that I am not interested in the ST, WRX, or whatever Hyundai calls their turbo models. I want better gas mileage and I hate driving a manual... I know I know, just my personal preference. Our other car is a 2013 Forester so the AWD of the Impreza is not a critical factor since we take that forester when we go into the mountains or have snow on the ground.

Thoughts? Any other info you would like me to provide?

Thanks!

 

[vshah]

why not another civic?

test drive the following:
civic, mazda 3, focus, elantra, impreza, corolla

 

[SearchMaster]

There are a couple of people on this forum that have gotten a Focus and reported somewhat disappointing mileage (low 30s). One has also had a problem with coolant "disappearing" and the dealer has been unable to help. He also had trouble getting comfortable in the seats, but his was a step below the Titanium so I don't know if they have the same seats.

I have a Focus ST (2.0L Ecoboost, 252hp) and I've averaged 29MPG over the last 5000 miles or so, but I drive conservatively in day-to-day driving (sometimes with an eye on having more fun). It's been a great car so far, the My Ford Touch was problematic (slow, occasional crashes, etc.) for a few months but the last update seems to have fixed most of those issues. My only other issue really is that the glovebox door seems slightly out of alignment, nobody else has really noticed.

 

[NutBucket]

For $22k you can probably get a Sonata, Optima, Altima and maybe a Camry. You don't take much of a mileage hit and they're far more comfortable for 4 adults.

 

[Spike]

why not another civic?

test drive the following:
civic, mazda 3, focus, elantra, impreza, corolla

Price mainly, I can get a Civic for a similar price but it's pretty bare in the amenities. No, creature comforts/features are not critical, but I'm at the point that I want some of those. Though if the car is simply that much better then I'll give up some features.

I've personally driven recent models of the Civic and Impreza so I have some experience with how they drive. The rest will be new to me so checking out a Mazda (ugh) and a Corolla might make sense.

There are a couple of people on this forum that have gotten a Focus and reported somewhat disappointing mileage (low 30s). One has also had a problem with coolant "disappearing" and the dealer has been unable to help. He also had trouble getting comfortable in the seats, but his was a step below the Titanium so I don't know if they have the same seats.

I have a Focus ST (2.0L Ecoboost, 252hp) and I've averaged 29MPG over the last 5000 miles or so, but I drive conservatively in day-to-day driving (sometimes with an eye on having more fun). It's been a great car so far, the My Ford Touch was problematic (slow, occasional crashes, etc.) for a few months but the last update seems to have fixed most of those issues. My only other issue really is that the glovebox door seems slightly out of alignment, nobody else has really noticed.

Interesting... I'll pay special attention tonight on the seat and how I feel in it. I think the seats are the same among all the non ST models but I don't know that for a fact. I've read about people hitting very nice mileage but obviously it depends a lot on how you drive. I drive almost exclusively freeway in my commute at 65 MPH so I should be able to get at, or near, the max mileage.

 

[NutBucket]

They Chevy Cruze is actually very nice. The turbo with the 6AT is tolerable even for me. The Ford trans is underwhelming to me.

 

[Spike]

They Chevy Cruze is actually very nice. The turbo with the 6AT is tolerable even for me. The Ford trans is underwhelming to me.

Interesting. The hatchback does not even look all that bad either, which is rare for me since I just about always hate Chevy styling. I am going to do some research on that now...

 

[NutBucket]

Cruze, not Sonic. I haven't driven a sonic. Although they share drivetrains.

 

[Spike]

Cruze, not Sonic. I haven't driven a sonic. Although they share drivetrains.

Yeah, I did an image search for cruze hatchback and it had lots of results. Just found out they don't have it in a hatch which is almost a death blow. I've never owned a hatch and really wanted to with this purchase, though I will still take a closer look since a turbo would be nice as long as the mileage hit is not too bad.

 

[gus6464]

Since you don't care about the performance aspect of it how about a Prius? It has room for a ton of stuff and gas mileage well eclipses all the other cars you mentioned. You can get one for $22k before taxes.

 

[NutBucket]

The turbo is he high mileage motor

 

[Spike]

Since you don't care about the performance aspect of it how about a Prius? It has room for a ton of stuff and gas mileage well eclipses all the other cars you mentioned. You can get one for $22k before taxes.

Nope, FAR too small (at least the few I've sat in), very ugly, and I still don't trust hybrids at this point. And I do care about performance a little bit in that I would like decent handling. Though in a few more years when the tech is even better I'd definitely consider it.

 

[gus6464]

Nope, FAR too small (at least the few I've sat in), very ugly, and I still don't trust hybrids at this point. And I do care about performance a little bit in that I would like decent handling. Though in a few more years when the tech is even better I'd definitely consider it.

Hmm my Prius is far bigger on the inside than the Focus ST I test drove recently and has much more room than the Mazda 3 hatch so don't know what to tell you there. Also other than the Civic the Prius is far more reliable by an order of magnitude over any of the other cars you mentioned.

 

[Spike]

Hmm my Prius is far bigger on the inside than the Focus ST I test drove recently and has much more room than the Mazda 3 hatch so don't know what to tell you there. Also other than the Civic the Prius is far more reliable by an order of magnitude over any of the other cars you mentioned.

Interesting, I just found out they have different models of prius, I assume they are different sizes? I have no idea what the models were of those I sat in. Also, I don't know how the focus ST compares in interior space to the normal focus so that may not be a great comparison.

As for reliability, your experience is far different from those of friends who had lots of issues with their Prius models. Though obviously this is a huge YMMV since all models have lemons and the two I'm thinking of are a few years old at this point. I still don't trust the hybrid systems yet long term as I like to keep my cars for 8-10 years before replacing, but I will give this another look now based on your feedback.

 

[Spike]

The turbo is he high mileage motor

From some very quick reading it sounds like the TD is the engine to get with the Cruze. The non diesel turbo is apparently worse than the non turbo 2.0l in the focus and gets worse mileage, though the difference is small. People seem to like the mylink stuff better than the sync so it sounds like if I get the diesel cruze that might be a good bet.

Funny thing about sync, I've had it in almost a dozen rental cars over the last year (work travel) and I'm pretty split. For whatever reason, I struggle with it in the lower or mid trims but when the features include the sony setup I find it very intuitive and easy to use. I can't put my finger on why, since I thought they were the same basic software, but thats the impression I'm remembering.

I'll check local prices for the Cruze TD and see what I can find.

EDIT* looks like those fuel economy numbers were from the 2011 Cruze, 2014 1.4l shows basically the same numbers as the focus, though I don't have any info on what people are seeing in real life yet. I'd only be hesitant with the lower HP, I'll see if I can find a comparison of how they both drive. Though I still think the TD would be the way to go with the Cruze.

 

[MegaFlop]

I just recently bought a Elantra GT (2013).
I looked a Focus Titanium and I nixed the Impreza because I didn't need AWD (and the interior wasn't as nice). We weren't interested in the Mazda because... Mazda.

So you probably know this already, but the Elantra GT is a five door hatchback that was made for the European market as the i30. It is a little bit more refined then the standard Elantra sedan/coupe.

IMO it's one cool standout feature is the panoramic sunroof. I don't think that is available on any of it's competitors. For 2013 it has the basic 1.8L 148hp engine. For 2014 it gets the newer 2.0L GDI engine making 170hp. Mileage is down slightly with the bigger engine.

It has most of the Focus Titanium features. (Nav, Backup cam, heated leather seats, push button start, dual zone climate control etc..) It comes with BlueLink (like OnStar) you can get assistance in a emergency or remote start your car with a iOS or Android app.

I'm a Hyundai fan, but I think it is a great car.

 

[gus6464]

Interesting, I just found out they have different models of prius, I assume they are different sizes? I have no idea what the models were of those I sat in. Also, I don't know how the focus ST compares in interior space to the normal focus so that may not be a great comparison.

As for reliability, your experience is far different from those of friends who had lots of issues with their Prius models. Though obviously this is a huge YMMV since all models have lemons and the two I'm thinking of are a few years old at this point. I still don't trust the hybrid systems yet long term as I like to keep my cars for 8-10 years before replacing, but I will give this another look now based on your feedback.

There are 3 models:

C
Hatch
V

The C is basically a Yaris hybrid which is tiny. The regular is the mid size one which is bigger than a Focus and Mazda 3. The V is the big one which has a ton of room.

As far as the hybrid system Toyota warranties that specifically for 10 years/150k miles. The rest of the car is normal Toyota warranties. Also the CVT on the Prius is not like a normal CVT which is why it lasts forever. Also replacing the tranny fluid is as easy as changing the oil because of it. The CVT is basically a gear that goes either forwards or backwards and the computer controls everything else.

I was also hesitant at first about the Prius but after reading Priuschat on maintenance requirements it really put me at ease.

 

[gus6464]

From some very quick reading it sounds like the TD is the engine to get with the Cruze. The non diesel turbo is apparently worse than the non turbo 2.0l in the focus and gets worse mileage, though the difference is small. People seem to like the mylink stuff better than the sync so it sounds like if I get the diesel cruze that might be a good bet.

Funny thing about sync, I've had it in almost a dozen rental cars over the last year (work travel) and I'm pretty split. For whatever reason, I struggle with it in the lower or mid trims but when the features include the sony setup I find it very intuitive and easy to use. I can't put my finger on why, since I thought they were the same basic software, but thats the impression I'm remembering.

I'll check local prices for the Cruze TD and see what I can find.

EDIT* looks like those fuel economy numbers were from the 2011 Cruze, 2014 1.4l shows basically the same numbers as the focus, though I don't have any info on what people are seeing in real life yet. I'd only be hesitant with the lower HP, I'll see if I can find a comparison of how they both drive. Though I still think the TD would be the way to go with the Cruze.

The Cruze TD gets astronomical gas mileage but one thing you should know is that it uses urea injection to keep the emissions low so that is something else that should go with your maintenance along with the oil changes. The tank is where the spare tire would be which means the car has no spare.

 

[Spike]

There are 3 models:

C
Hatch
V

The C is basically a Yaris hybrid which is tiny. The regular is the mid size one which is bigger than a Focus and Mazda 3. The V is the big one which has a ton of room.

As far as the hybrid system Toyota warranties that specifically for 10 years/150k miles. The rest of the car is normal Toyota warranties. Also the CVT on the Prius is not like a normal CVT which is why it lasts forever. Also replacing the tranny fluid is as easy as changing the oil because of it. The CVT is basically a gear that goes either forwards or backwards and the computer controls everything else.

I was also hesitant at first about the Prius but after reading Priuschat on maintenance requirements it really put me at ease.

Thank you very much for the info, obviously I was not as informed as I needed to be. I'm still think they are ugly, but that hybrid warranty addresses what was, by far, by largest concern. I may have to schedule a test drive tomorrow...

I just recently bought a Elantra GT (2013).
I looked a Focus Titanium and I nixed the Impreza because I didn't need AWD (and the interior wasn't as nice). We weren't interested in the Mazda because... Mazda.

So you probably know this already, but the Elantra GT is a five door hatchback that was made for the European market as the i30. It is a little bit more refined then the standard Elantra sedan/coupe.

IMO it's one cool standout feature is the panoramic sunroof. I don't think that is available on any of it's competitors. For 2013 it has the basic 1.8L 148hp engine. For 2014 it gets the newer 2.0L GDI engine making 170hp. Mileage is down slightly with the bigger engine.

It has most of the Focus Titanium features. (Nav, Backup cam, heated leather seats, push button start, dual zone climate control etc..) It comes with BlueLink (like OnStar) you can get assistance in a emergency or remote start your car with a iOS or Android app.

I'm a Hyundai fan, but I think it is a great car.

One of my largest complaints about the Elantra was the engine, otherwise I really liked the car. I had no idea they had a new engine for 2014 (shows how much research I did, I know) and the price is right in line with the Titanium when you add in the features. Combine that with the warranty... ok, I'll give the GT a try. If it fits me well on the inside that might make a great competitor to the focus titanium.

Thanks!

 

[MegaFlop]

One of my largest complaints about the Elantra was the engine, otherwise I really liked the car. I had no idea they had a new engine for 2014 (shows how much research I did, I know) and the price is right in line with the Titanium when you add in the features. Combine that with the warranty... ok, I'll give the GT a try. If it fits me well on the inside that might make a great competitor to the focus titanium.

Thanks!

Just a quick note... I haven't noticed any lack of power from the 1.8. It seems fine to me. I also have a sports car to drive when I need to go fast so power was not a concern. I'm only mentioning that because Hyundai has a $1500 rebate on the 2013s. The dealers will also be more willing to lower the price on any that they have left.

 

[Doppel]

Altima. RIGHT NOW.

2013+ Altimas will run you 27 MPG city/38 MPG highway and that's with a 182 HP motor doing 0-60 in under 8 seconds. Compare that to the econoboxes cars. Its mileage is the same (fueleconomy.gov it is within 1 MPG of the Elantra, and the same as the Focus) but it's larger and more powerful.

And as for price, and the reason I said get it NOW is because this week only Nissan has a $1000 additional rebate on Altimas with its President's Day Sale. Depending on your region you can get a 2.5 S for just under $19k or a 2.5 SV (includes a bunch of upgrades like remote start, back up camera, alloy wheels) for right at $21k.

Also money factor (interest rate) on these is killer right now, you can out-the-door an Altima for $220-250/month all-in with, without a nickel out of pocket depending on which one you get, and you want to lease.

Nope, FAR too small (at least the few I've sat in), very ugly, and I still don't trust hybrids at this point.

Prius is at least as big as the cars you're looking at; it is a mid-size. If you "don't trust" hybrids you're simply wrong. I can't say it any plainer. They are demonstrably, objectively very reliable, scoring for more than a decade now well in resale and long-term reliability. You may have reasons for not going with a Prius but I'll be damned if reliability is one of them. Damned, I say!

Anyway good luck. I really think you need to look at the Altima. Load up a few of your local dealers' websites and go to specials and then current newspaper ad and see what they are offering, then find the cheapest one. It can actually be quite easy: dealerships are often these days having a loss leader and that is literally as low as they'll go. Also, despite saying "at least 1 at this price", in my experience at least there are very likely many more than 1 at that price because they know it pisses people off if you call and they're like "Oh sorry sucker that one's already gone."

 

[NutBucket]

IMHO a Prius makes a terrible freeway cruiser. Too little sound deadening and uncomfortable seats. Better off with a TD for the freeway if you must get max mileage (at the price of expensive fuel and premium purchase price). I would stick with a "normal" sedan.

 

[desy]

Time 2 test drive
Opinions crafted by the internet are different when you actually drive the thing
Nissan Note if you want another hatch option

 

[Spike]

Time 2 test drive
Opinions crafted by the internet are different when you actually drive the thing
Nissan Note if you want another hatch option

Totally agree. Luckily (or unluckily depending on your point of view) I've traveled a bit for work in the last 2 years and have had many different rentals. At this point I've driven 2012-2013 models of:

Focus
Fusion
Altima
Maxima
Escape
Explorer
Mustang
200
300
Challenger
Impala
Sonata

Time to give the Elantra a try. Also interesting on the Altima offers. I was not impressed with that car in the least as far as acceleration, handling, and interior appointments were concerned but that was with a rental so I'm sure I was getting bare bones.

And with with Prius no, it was not nearly as big as the focus, though please remember this was likely with one of the smaller models as discussed above. I did not even know they had different models until today.

 

[Arkaign]

I have never found a rental car to ever be a demonstrable comparison to a dealer lot vehicle. I can't put my finger on why, they just are. I think they are assembled for that purpose, and they intentionally cut a lot of corners on them. I've seen worse wheels, brakes, stereos, even carpet and dash/door materials on them, as well as what seems to be worse sound dampening. Even the throttle response/fuel economy seems off. 'Fleet' vehicle apparently is code for 'make as cheaply as possible'.