My son is preparing to go to college this small. He will be going to a college that is just far enough away where he needs to live away from home. Since he needs to drive to school, I investigated and found the best small car (2011) for my college kid. Perhaps my research will help you with your small car buying.
It seems that most college kids these days drive their own cars. The choice for parents often comes down to buying a “beater” or a new car for their college kid. I chose to buy the new car because of safety, reliability and fuel economy.
The actual criteria that I used to find the best small car 2011 were:
- Quality – The small car needed to receive above average ratings in the latest J.D. Power & Associates Initial Quality Study;
- Fuel Efficiency- It needed to get 35 mpg or so;
- Price – The 2011 small car had to have an MSRP of $17,000 or less;
- Resale Value – The small cars I evaluated were projected to retain 40% or more of their original MSRP value after 4 years.
Here were the models that fit my criteria. They are listed in alphabetical order:
Honda Civic
2011 Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is a very popular small car. It’s reputation is well deserved.
The car looks and feels well designed. The materials feel high quality.
The engine is 4 cylinders with 1.8 liter that generates 140 hp. The Civic comes with either a 4 speed automatic or manual transmission. The gas mileage is 28 mpg city and 39 mpg highway. The Civic HF gets 41 mpg. MSRP ranges from $15,605 to $22,405.
Honda Civic back seat
Honda Civic driver's view
Honda Fit
Honda Fit in silver
The Fit is a relatively new model for Honda. Although it has not been around as long as the Civic, the Honda Fit is making quite an impression on consumers.
This subcompact 4-door may be a small car in appearance but it is big on features and practicality.
The Fit gets 28 mpg city and 35 mpg highway. The engine is 4-cylinder and 1.5-liter displacement that nets 117 hp.
It comes in a choice of 5-speed manual transmission or 4-speed automatic. I prefer the manual transmission.
The Honda Fit has 57.3 cubic feet of cargo space
On the inside, the Fit is roomier than it looks. The rear seat folds into the floor. This creates 57.3 cubic feet of cargo capacity.
Behind the wheel of the Honda Fit
The MSRP is $15,100 to $16,860.
Hyundai Elantra
Hyundai Elantra
Korean automaker Hyundai completely redesigned the Hyundai Elantra for 2011. Boy did they do a great job with the new design!
Along with the fresh exterior and interior, the Hyundai packs a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 148 hp.
Back seat of Hyundai Elantra
The new cockpit of the Hyundai Elantra
The added horsepower did not negatively effect gas mileage. In fact, it gets 29 mpg city and 40 mpg highway. Those are great numbers.
You can get this car in a 6-speed manual transmission or in automatic.
Other features not normally found in a small car are touch-screen navigation, Bluetooth streaming audio and heated seats.
The MSRP is $14,945 to $20,195.
Mazda 2
Red Mazda 2
The Mazda 2 is one stylish small car. Officially, it is a subcompact but comes with 4 doors.
Under the hood is a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 100 hp.
With the seats down, the Mazda 2 has 27.8 cubic feet of cargo space
The Mazda 2 is very sporty to drive
The gearbox is a slick-shifting 5-speed manual transmission.
You can also get it as an automatic, but that would take away the fun!
Inside, the rear seats fold down to hold your college kid’s gear. The capacity is 27.8 cubic feet.
Fuel economy is 29 mpg city and 35 mpg highway.
MSRP ranges from $14,180 to $15,635.
Toyota Corolla
The ubiquitous Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla is seen everywhere. Since it is ubiquitous, people tend to stop noticing it. But there is not a doubt that this is a rock-solid small car that you can depend on. When I travel to Asia, for example, most of the taxis are Corolla’s. So if it is good enough for the daily grind of taxi driving, it is a dependable car.
As one of the best small cars in the world, it is powered by a reliable 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine. The output is 132 hp.
Expect to get 28 mpg city and 35 highway. It comes in a choice of a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.
Inside, the Corolla is quite roomy. It certainly is enough for your college kid and their college buddies.
The backseat folds down in the Toyota Corolla
The driver's view inside the Toyota Corolla
MSRP is $15,900 to $17,770.
Toyota Yaris
Toyota Yaris
If you want a small car, the Toyota Yaris fits the bill. It comes as a 2-door hatchback or a 4-door sedan.
The Yaris features a relatively “roomy” interior that is highlighted by a dashboard that has the gauges mounted in the center. This takes some getting used to. But it was fine after a while.
This subcompact is powered by a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that pumps out a surprising 106 hp. That is enough to make the Yaris feel peppy, especially when it is mated with a 5-speed manual transmission. You can also get the automatic.
The back seats of the Toyota Yaris fold down
Car insurance Toyota Yaris
The gas mileage is 29 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.
MSRP is $13,155 to $13,715.
Best Small Car Insurance
That rounds up my evaluation of small cars for 2011. Because of time and energy constraints, I left out other notable small cars like the Ford Focus and Fiat 500.
There was another consideration as I shopped for the best small car 2011. Insurance prices for these small cars was all over the map. Some insurance companies quoted $600 for 6 months while others quoted $375.
I found that the best way for me to negotiate was to get multiple bids. In order to save time, energy, and money, I got my small car insurance quotes online.
