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.

Small Cars Causes Huge Bill In Small Crashes

The Hyundai Accent is currently the least expensive car in America, by MSRP, at just under $10,000. With four minor, parking-lot speed accidents, you can reduce its worth by $7,203, according to a new report.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, an automotive safety research lab funded by a consortium of insurance companies, conducted the tests. They crashed seven small cars into a barrier representing the bumper of another car at 6 mph, once to the front bumper and once to the rear. They then hit the same barrier at an angle, testing the corner of each bumper, at 3 mph - again once with the front bumper and once to the rear. They calculated the costs associated with repairing the damages from each low-speed crash, and published the total.

In a press release, the IIHS explains, "The Smart Fortwo is best overall, with $3,281 total damage in 4 tests." The Smart car's replaceable plastic body panels kept repair costs low. "The Chevrolet Aveo, a minicar, is next best, with $4,490 total damage." The Kia Rio placed last, with $9,380 in damages.

The tests are part of a new IIHS campaign to improve auto bumpers, testing hundreds of cars in the four bumper-bash accidents and publishing bumper ratings for each. Automobile Magazine reports, "The IIHS hopes that their new bumper rating system will help buyers make a more informed decision when buying a car as to possible repair costs if the owner does happen to get into an accident."

The Institute gives cars a score of Good, Acceptable, Marginal or Poor on each test. Kicking Tires reports, "Out of seven cars, none received the top rating of Good. The Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, Mini Cooper and Toyota Yaris all received the lowest rating, Poor, while the Chevy Aveo managed a Marginal rating and the Smart ForTwo was rated Acceptable."

Institute senior vice president Joe Nolan told the AP that "bumpers should be designed to protect vehicle parts such as grilles and headlights," but in none of the tested cars did the bumper protect those features well. "Damages should cost less than the typical $500 insurance deductible for a collision." But none of the tested cars met that standard for any accident.

The standard is particularly relevant to tiny microcars. Jalopnik notes, "Microcars are often chosen for urban driving because they're affordable, fuel efficient and easy to park," but "fender-benders are the largest urban driving hazard."

If you're in the market for a new car, check out the U.S. News rankings of this year's best cars as well as this month's best car deals.

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 2009 Hyundai Genesis Luxury Sedan

Hyundai's rear-wheel-drive Genesis luxury sedan made its debut in 2008 for the 2009 model year. The Korean automaker promises the car delivers features equal to that of a $60,000 premium sedan for a more attainable price tag of around $30,000.(Click here to use Leftlane's Price Quote Form to get Hyundai Genesis pricing information from a trusted local dealer. Zero obligation)"While Genesis will compete for customers with cars like Chrysler 300 and Pontiac G8, our engineering benchmarks were Mercedes E-Class, Infiniti M, and Lexus GS," said John Krafcik, vice president, product development and strategic planning, Hyundai Motor America.


"Genesis provides a potent combination of performance, luxury, and value. We think it has the opportunity to be an extremely disruptive force in the large sedan and near-luxury segments." The sedan model is the first of a potential series of Genesis vehicles from Hyundai. The company has already confirmed plans for a coupe, and there are rumors of other variants,


too.PowertrainsThe car is offered with a choice of three powertrains, including 3.3-liter and 3.8-liter V6 engines, and Hyundai's all-new 4.6-liter Tau V8. Tau produces an estimated 368 horsepower. For the V8 model, the sprint to 60 mph takes less than 6 seconds.The V6 models also promise plenty of performance. The all-aluminum 3.3-liter and 3.8-liter DOHC V6 engines deliver an estimated 268 horsepower and 233 pound-feet of torque and an estimated 290 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque, respectively. Technologies include Variable Valve Timing and a Variable Intake System.Both Genesis V6 engines use an Aisin 6-speed automatic transmission that features an overdrive lock-up torque converter for improved highway fuel


economy. The V8 model has a ZF gearbox to handle the extra power. The transmission also offers manual shifting via a Shiftronic mode.ChassisThe car boasts a 53/47 front-to-rear weight distribution, which comes fairly close to the coveted 50/50 ratio made popular by BMW. Hyundai says the car's body structure is 12 to 14 percent stiffer than a BMW 5-Series or Mercedes E-Class. Despite this, the unibody is lighter than that of either the 5er or E.Luxury featuresHigh-tech equipment includes: electronic stability control, XM NavTraffic, adaptive headlights, radar-based active cruise control, a 500-watt 17-speaker Lexicon audio system, and electronic active head restraints.A leather-wrapped dash, door panels, and console lid surround the driver, while heated and cooled seats provide added comfort. The steering wheel is wrapped in engineered ultraviolet reflective leather to remain cool to the touch in extreme


sunlight.Genesis has a total of 8 ultrasonic sensors located on the front and rear bumpers.to help park in tight spaces. The car also offers a power rear sunshade, automatic electronic parking brake, proximity key and push button starter. The car's eight airbags include dual front airbags, front and rear seat-mounted side-impact airbags, and roof-mounted side curtain airbags.