Suzuki Kizashi 2010 – The Most Relaxed and Economical

Suzuki’s brand-new manufacturing facility in Sagara, Japan, the 2010 Kizashi is equipped with a standard 2.4-liter DOHC inline four-cylinder engine offering a more potent standard engine than many competitive best-sellers. The engine employs both an aluminum block and cylinder heads, providing a lightweight installation; aluminum pistons with low tensile force rings deliver improved power and efficiency. Dropped-forged connecting rods, rotating on a forged steel crankshaft, contribute to the inline four’s durability, and a balancer shaft delivers improved engine balance and reduced noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).

The responsive inline four is connected to a six-speed manual transmission, for heightened performance in the low gears, along with relaxed – and economical – cruising capability in the higher gears. Customers may opt for an available Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) that delivers both the driving experience and fuel efficiency today’s consumers demand, while not compromising the character preferred by driving enthusiasts. That character is enhanced with paddle shifters, optimizing driver control regardless of speed or driving environment. With either transmission choice, the Kizashi is engineered to return competitive fuel economy numbers for fuel-conscious consumers.

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.