Free Reviews - 10 cheapest car to own

You've read it on Bankrate.com and heard it elsewhere: A well-informed consumer will get a better deal when buying a vehicle.

Research is the key. Every additional piece of information you have increases the likelihood that you will negotiate a fair price, lock in the best financing available and drive away in a car or truck you can afford. The emphasis here is on "afford." Affordability involves much more than down payment and monthly installments. It encompasses other costs such as insurance, fuel, maintenance, repairs and depreciation. You must factor these costs into your annual vehicle-ownership budget as well as into that magical dollar amount you feel you can afford monthly.

All of these factors, of course, may vary depending on the way you use and maintain your car.

Edmunds.com, a leading automotive Web site, features an interactive tool it calls its True Cost to Own calculator, which computes an estimated total five-year cost and the cost per mile based on driving 15,000 miles per year.

Here are the 10 cars that top Edmunds' current list of the most frugal cars to own and operate:

Hyundai Accent GS:

Starting price: $10,690
5-year total cost: $25,958
Cost per mile: 35 cents

As basic transportation, the Accent GS three-door isn't so basic. Its 110-horsepower, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine delivers decent fuel economy with an EPA estimated 27 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. The interior is relatively roomy and comes with power accessories and air conditioning.

Nissan Versa Base

Starting price: $10,710
5-year total cost: $27,196
Cost per mile: 36 cents

Nissan Versa: A sedan for the frugal, Versa's stingy fuel consumption earns it an EPA rating of 26 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. A five-speed manual transmission ushers the 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine's 107 horsepower to the front wheels. Its relatively roomy back seat is a major attraction in this segment; otherwise, its cabin is devoid of frills.

Chevrolet Aveo5 LS

Starting price: $12,685
5-year total cost: $28,360
Cost per mile: 38 cents

Chevrolet Aveo5 LS: Chevy beefed up the Aveo's 1.6-liter four-cylinder for 2009 and it now produces 107 horsepower. EPA estimated fuel economy is a very respectable 25 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. Among its short list of standard features is a four-speaker audio system with an auxiliary input jack.

Suzuki SX4 Sedan

Starting price: $13,994
5-year total cost: $28,965
Cost per mile: 39 cents

Suzuki SX4 Sedan: A number of trim levels let consumers increase content in smallish dollar increments. In its base form, though, the SX4 offers full-power accessories and a tilt steering wheel. EPA fuel economy estimates are 23 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway earned by a 143-horsepower, 2-liter four-cylinder engine.

Pontiac G3

Starting price: $15,055
5-year total cost: $29,049
Cost per mile: 39 cents

Pontiac G3: Compared to the first four entries on this list, the G3 is positively loaded with standard equipment. Air conditioning, a six-speaker audio system with CD player and auxiliary input jack, and a tilt steering wheel are all standard. A 106-horsepower, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine mated with a five-speed manual transmission earns it an EPA rating of 27 mpg city/34 mpg highway.

Mazda3 iSport

Starting price: $15,360
5-year total cost: $29,271
Cost per mile: 39 cents

Mazda3 iSport: Six airbags, anti-lock brakes and a four-speaker audio system with CD player and auxiliary audio jack are all standard in this sedan. A 148-horsepower, 2-liter four-cylinder engine collaborates with a five-speed manual transmission to earn EPA estimates of 22 mpg city and 30 mpg highway.

Honda Fit

Starting price: $15,460
5-year total cost: $29,420
Cost per mile: 39 cents

Honda Fit: Nicely appointed, even the base Fit has air conditioning, full-power accessories and a four-speaker audio system with CD player and auxiliary input jack. Its performance is on par with this group and is provided by a 117-horsepower, 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine. Its fuel economy is among the best with EPA estimates of 27 mpg city/33 mpg highway.

Pontiac Vibe

Starting price: $16,735
5-year total cost: $29,512
Cost per mile: 39 cents

Pontiac Vibe: Fraternal twin to the Toyota Matrix, the Vibe in its base form is fairly Spartan. It does come with a four-speaker audio system with CD player and auxiliary input jack, and a tilt/telescoping steering wheel. Power arrives via a 132-horsepower, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine. Fuel economy is acceptable, with an EPA rating of 26 mpg city and 28 mpg highway.

Toyota Yaris

Starting price: $12,955
5-year total cost: $29,595
Cost per mile: 39 cents

Toyota Yaris: You have to step up a trim level to get an audio system, but the base Yaris three-door hatchback does have air conditioning and a tilt steering column. Its power comes from a 106-horsepower, 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine. With an EPA rating of 29 mpg city and 36 mpg highway, its outstanding fuel economy earned it a spot on our list of top 10 fuel misers.

Nissan Sentra

Starting price: $16,070
5-year total cost: $29,623
Cost per mile: 39 cents

Nissan Sentra: With the most standard equipment of any entry on this list, the Sentra sedan comes with air conditioning, a four-speaker audio system with CD player and auxiliary input jack, and power windows and locks. Its 2-liter four-cylinder engine generates 140 horsepower. Its EPA rating is 25 mpg city and 33 mpg highway.

5 to Drive "Inexpensive and Fun"

2009 Honda Fit Sport (MSRP $16,260)

2009 Honda Fit Sport

In the minds of many, a 5-door (once upon a time known as “a wagon”) can be efficient and/or practical…but not fun. But Honda’s roomy little Fit runabout turns this notion on its ear. And thanks to a recent restyling, the Fit looks even more sporting with its more aggressive and pointy proboscis.

Though its 4-cylinder engine makes only 117 horsepower, the Fit has a peppy, rev-happy nature, crisp steering and a smooth-shifting 5-speed manual transmission. Even the suspension is tuned to have a sporty feel. The Sport model has some welcome additional features, including a body kit (with a roofline spoiler), sharp-looking 16-in. alloy wheels and a USB audio interface. And on the safety front, there are front and side airbags, along with active front head restraints that help minimize whiplash for the driver and front passenger in the event of a rear-end collision.

Five Reasons to Buy:

1. Even more fun than it looks

2. Space efficiency

3. Thrifty fuel economy

4. Nice-looking 5-door

5. Clean interior

2009 Subaru Impreza 2.5i (MSRP $17,995)

2009 Subaru Impreza 2.5i

With a starting price under $18,000, the Subaru Impreza 2.5i sport sedan (also available as a 5-door for only $500 more) is a very good deal on the surface. But delve a little deeper into its window sticker and factor in the standard all-wheel-drive and unique flat-4-cylinder engine and this Subie becomes an exceptional deal.

Subaru has been equipping its cars with full-time all-wheel-drive for years, and it is a strategy that has worked well for this Japanese manufacturer ─ not only has this helped differentiate the company from the likes of Toyota/Nissan/Honda but it has helped Subaru earn a near cult-like following in the snow country from Colorado to the Northeast.

As for the aforementioned “flat” engine, this means that the cylinders/pistons are horizontal, a design favored by Porsche for decades.

When the weather gets bad, the all-wheel-drive Subaru Impreza starts to shine, capable of getting places that other cars can’t, and doing it at a bargain price.

Five Reasons to Buy:

1. All-wheel-drive versatility

2. All-wheel-drive fun

3. Low base price

4. Peppy engine

5. Reputation for reliability

2009 Chevrolet Cobalt SS (MSRP $24,095)

2009 Chevrolet Cobalt SS

Don’t let the Chevrolet Cobalt SS’s buttoned-down, mild-mannered looks (in either 2- or 4-door guise) fool you ─ this exceptionally quick sports coupe is one of the best values on the market today.

In our test of an SS sedan, it hit 60 mph as quickly as a $130,000 Maserati Quattroporte SportFerrari F430. Not bad for around $24,000, eh? GT sedan. And the Cobalt slithered through the slalom cones at 70 mph, nearly the same speed as a quarter-million-dollar

The Cobalt SS’s engine – a turbocharged 4-cylinder that produces 260 horsepower ─ has plenty of power; what’s more, it gets an EPA-rated 30 mpg highway. The car’s handling is also superb ─ the harder you drive it, the better it seems to grip to the road. And unlike many cars with sport-tuned suspensions, the Cobalt SS’s ride quality is firm but not teeth-rattling. And using the Cobalt SS’s 5-speed manual gearbox is a treat, thanks to its tight, short throws.

Five Reasons to Buy:

1. Best bang-for-the-buck in America

2. High-end sports car performance

3. 2- or 4-door availability

4. Surprisingly good 30 mpg highway

5. Excellent agility

2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara (MSRP $18,499)

2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara

Those with an active lifestyle deserve some inexpensive fun, too, and the Suzuki Grand Vitara
meets that need perfectly.

At first glance the Grand Vitara ─ thanks to its clean, rugged exterior and sensibly styled, high-quality interior ─ looks like an SUV priced well beyond its sub-$20,000 price. And with seating for five, along with a good deal of stowage space in the rear cargo area, there’s plenty of room for your adventurous brood and their outdoor gear.

Versatility is the name of the game underhood, where buyers have a choice of either the base 166-bhp 4-cylinder engine or an optional 230-bhp V-6. With either choice, the Grand Vitara can tow up to 3000 lb. ─ perfect for a trailer full of dirtbikes, personal watercraft, or any number of other fun weekend accessories. Want to go off-road? Either engine can be equipped with 4-wheel drive featuring low-range gearing that works great on really tough roads.

Five Reasons to Buy:

1. Handsome looks

2. Quality inside and out

3. Off-road capability

4. All-wheel-drive traction

5. Good value

2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring (MSRP $18,495)

2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring

Like the Honda Fit Sport, Hyundai’s Elantra Touring is a 5-door machine that puts the “fun” back in functionality.

In addition to clean, European-inspired styling and a pleasantly stout 136 horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, this Hyundai has some unexpected performance sizzle, thanks to the addition of a B&M Racing short-throw shifter and a sport-tuned 4-wheel independent suspension. Even the most jaded of commuter drivers will feel a spark of invigoration in the Touring, especially when downshifting a gear or two to negotiate a corner at speed.

If the Elantra Touring’s fun-loving nature can’t put a smile on your face, then maybe its EPA mileage rating of 31 mpg highway can. There’s also a long list of safety features that come standard on this hip little 5-door, including traction control, electronic stability control and active front head restraints. Still need more cheering up? Opt for one of the fun, vibrant paint schemes such as Vivid Blue or Chilipepper Red.

Five Reasons to Buy:

1. One hip wagon

2. Sporty accessories

3. Good interior quality

4. 31 mpg highway

5. Excellent Hyundai warranty

Without a doubt, this group of Inexpensive Fun rides proves that versatility and fun are not mutually exclusive. Need to transport yourself, friends and/or stuff on a regular basis? Then the Hyundai Elantra Touring, Honda Fit or Suzuki Grand Vitara are a good choice. Opt for the Suzuki if you’re an outdoor adventurer. Looking for something that leans a little more toward the fun side of the spectrum? The Subaru Impreza is that car. And if performance is what drives you, the Chevy Cobalt SS is the only way to fly.

Latest Honda Insight Hybrid 2010 Features

2010 Honda Insight EX Hatchback Performance & Efficiency Standard Features

-1,339 cc 1.3 liters in-line 4 front engine with 73.0 mm bore, 80.0 mm stroke, 10.8 compression ratio, overhead cam, variable valve timing/camshaft and two valves per cylinder
-Electric fuel with additional unleaded 87
-Multi-point injection fuel system
- 10.6 gallon main unleaded fuel tank 8.8
- Power: 73 kW , 98 HP SAE @ 5,800 rpm; 123 ft lb , 167 Nm @ 1,000 rpm 13, 10, 58 and 79

2010 Honda Insight EX Hatchback Handling, Ride & Braking Standard Features

- Four-wheel ABS
- Two disc brakes including two ventilated discs
- Electronic brake distribution
- Electronic traction control via ABS & engine management
- Immobilizer
- Spacesaver steel rim internal spare wheel
- Stability control
- Strut front suspension independent with stabilizer bar and coil springs, torsion beam rear suspension semi-independent with stabilizer bar and coil springs

2010 Honda Insight EX Hatchback Exterior & Aerodynamics Standard Features

- color front and rear bumpers
- Day time running lights
- Driver and passenger power heated body color door mirrors indicator lights
- External dimensions: overall length (inches): 172.3, overall width (inches): 66.7, overall height (inches): 56.2, wheelbase (inches): 100.4, front track (inches): 58.7, rear track (inches): 58.1 and curb to curb turning circle (feet): 36.1
- Projector beam lens halogen bulb headlights
- Metallic paint
- Fixed rear window with defogger and intermittent
- Tinted glass on cabin, rear and side
- Weights: curb weight (lbs) 2,734
- Windshield wipers with variable intermittent wipe

2010 Honda Insight EX Hatchback Interior Standard Features

- 12v power outlet: front and 1
- Air conditioning with climate control
- Roof antenna
- Peripheral anti-theft protection
- Audio system with AM/FM and CD player CD player reads MP3 and digital media card
- Automatic drive indicator on dashboard
- Cargo area light
- Cargo capacity: all seats in place (cu ft): 15.9
- Clock
- Compass
- Computer with average speed, average fuel consumption, instantaneous fuel consumption and for remaining fuel
- Full dashboard console with open storage box, full floor console with covered storage box
- Delayed/fade courtesy lights
- Cruise control
- Front seats and rear seats cup holders fixed
- Door ajar warning
- Door pockets/bins for driver seat and passenger seat
- Nickel metal hydride electric Power source
- External temperature
- Driver front airbag with multi-stage deployment, passenger front airbag with occupant sensors and multi-stage deployment
- Bucket driver seat with height adjustment, bucket passenger seat
- Height adjustable 3-point reel front seat belts on driver seat and passenger seat with pre-tensioners
- seat center armrest
- Two height adjustable active head restraints on front seats, three height adjustable head restraints on rear seats
- Illuminated entry system
- Internal dimensions: front headroom (inches): 38.4, rear headroom (inches): 35.9, front hip room (inches): 51.6, rear hip room (inches): 48.7, front leg room (inches): 42.3, rear leg room (inches): 33.5, front shoulder room (inches): 52.7, rear shoulder room (inches): 50.4 and interior volume (cu ft): 85.0
- Low tire pressure indicator
- Navigational systems : information type: voice and touch screen controls DVD, color and 6.5
- Remote power locks includes trunk/hatch and speed sensing
- Power steering
- Front power windows with one one-touch, rear power windows
- Front reading lights
- 3-point reel rear seat belts on driver side, passenger side and center side
-Three asymmetrical bench front facing rear seats with zero adjustments
- Rear view mirror
- Steering wheel mounted remote audio controls
- Front and rear side curtain airbag
- Front seat back storage
- Cloth seat upholstery with additional cloth
- Seating: five seats
- Service interval indicator
- Front side airbag with occupant sensors-
Six speaker(s)
- Plastic multi-function steering wheel with tilt adjustment and telescopic adjustment
- Tachometer
- Driver and passenger vanity mirror
- Ventilation system with micro filter
- Voice activating system

"Jazz" Honda Fit

The title and the physical are familiar, but this isn’t the same Honda Fit that rewrote big sections of the subcompact playbook when it made its U.S. debut in 2006. Known as the Jazz in other world markets, that car had been around since 2001, making it due for a major makeover, and that’s exactly what it got. It’s essentially a brand-new car—longer wheelbase, a little bigger overall, slightly roomier within, a little more mass, a little more muscle, a little more hustle, with the same fuel economy.

We were impressed with the high-quality appointments and design that distinguished the interior of the first Fit, but the makeover raises both elements of the inner car by a couple of notches. It also improves the usefulness of this amazingly voluminous small car. For example, the rear seatbacks flop forward with a single flip of a lever. Honda has added an adjustment for steering-wheel reach, as well as rake, and there’s also a nav-system option.

The best part is that Honda’s updates haven’t diluted this car’s warrior spirit at all. The Fit wo

n’t contort facial muscles at full throttle, but its agility ranks at the top of the econocar charts. If there’s a better combination of thrift, practicality, and fun-to-drive, we haven’t seen it yet.

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 5-door wagon

BASE PRICE: $15,220

ENGINE TYPE: SOHC 16-valve 1.5-liter inline-4
Power (SAE net): 117 bhp @ 6600 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 106 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm

TRANSMISSIONS: 5-speed auto, 5-speed auto with manumatic shifting, 5-speed manual

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 98.4 in Length: 161.6 in Width: 66.7 in Height: 60.0 in

Curb weight: 2500–2650 lb

FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving: 27–28/33–35 mpg

Honda Accord Best Car of All Time

By the time Accord won a spot on our first 10 Best Cars list. And it’s clear, 27 years later, that the praise still applies.

It’s equally clear that the Accord has evolved steadily to maintain its position as a mainstream pacesetter. From the compact sedan that won inaugural 10Best honors, the Accord has gone through seven generations en route to today’s coupe and sedan lineup, cars that are much bigger, much more refined, and much more powerful than their honorable ancestor. Indeed, in its makeover for the 2008 model year, the Accord sedan expanded to large-car status according to the EPA definition, which is based on a car’s interior volume.

Bigger is better from a family point of view, and we’re happy to report that the increase in size hasn’t diluted the crisp responses and exacting path accuracy that have always made Accords so satisfying to drive.

One proof of the Accord’s ongoing excellence is that through all those generations of models over 34 years, Honda has never felt any need to abandon that brand name. Another proof: 23 10Best trophies in 27 years. Outstanding barely describes this achievement.

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan or 2-door coupe

BASE PRICE: $21,445–$29,475

ENGINES: DOHC 16-valve 2.4-liter inline-4, 177 or 190 hp, 161 or 162 lb-ft; SOHC 24-valve 3.5-liter V-6, 271 hp, 251 or 254 lb-ft

TRANSMISSIONS: 5-speed auto, 5- or 6-speed manual

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 107.9–110.2 in Length: 190.9–194.3 in Width: 72.7–72.8 in Height:
Curb weight: 3250–3600 lb 56.4–58.1 in

FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving: 17–22/25–31 mpg