The Best Cars Of 2008
Auto buyers faced this year a worldwide fact - financial crisis and a higher unemployment rate. Therefore, extravagance was out. Most car buyers and I’m not speaking about those who bought second-hand cars, just wanted a pleasant car at a good price. The car shoppers made few but safe, practical purchases that will hold up through tough times, if necessary.
The following list includes cars that aren’t necessarily the cheapest but offer lots of conveniences and safety features for the money, get decent mileage, handle well. For instance, there are some cheap cars that sold out very well, like the Kia Rio (base price: $10,890), Honda Fit ($14,750), and Toyota Yaris ($11,300). The buyers chose these vehicles because they came with a good set of standard safety gear and could be outfitted with options that made them quite comfortable and even fun to drive. The car buyers who have kids to cart around, or need extra cargo space for hauling, or want something luxurious that won’t cost a fortune chose top midsized SUVs, for instance, Honda Pilot ($27,595) and Nissan Murano ($27,750), both notable for a generous set of standard features and smooth, carlike handling.
1. Honda Fit ($13,950 before taxes) that provides an array of standard features that often cost extra on rivals, such as anti-lock brakes, multiple air bags and climate control.
2. Kia Rio ($10,890) that has six air bags, a perky engine and a good gas mileage.
3. Toyota Yaris ($11,300) with a cute design, decent storage and spacious front seats but no optional curtain air bags.
4. Hyundai Accent ($10,775) has a good entry-level value, long warranty and a strong set of safety features but a weak acceleration, a dull design and cramped rear seats.
5. Nissan Versa ($12,630) that is decently equipped with comfortable seats, a great cargo space and cool six-speed manual. Yet, it is noisy.
6. Honda Civic ($15,010) which is stable, comfortable and offers a quiet ride and a very good handle although the storage space is very small.
7. Mazda3 ($13,895) with a bold design and a sporty handling but without curtain air bags.
8. Audi A4 ($28,900) with great handling and acceleration and a classy interior.
9. BMW 3-series ($32,400) a very expensive car that offers its drivers an excellent performance, great safety features. Still, rich people bought this car, as it gets very pricey with options.
10. Hyundai Tucson ($16,995) which is cheaper than CR-V or RAV4, has decent features and a long warranty.
11. Nissan Murano ($27,750) that comes along with a modern design, smooth handling and a very strong engine with good mileage.
12. Honda Pilot ($28,395) loaded with standard features is very spacious but not very bright when it comes to fuel economy.
13. Toyota Highlander ($27,300) with good standard features, soft handling and versatile seating.
14. Ford Escape ($18,770) with muscular styling, quiet interior and comfortable seats.
15. Saturn Ion ($12,300) that has better power than some competitors and a dent-resistant polymer body.