Test Fest : Best New Small car over $18,000

MORE TEST FEST COVERAGE
Pick-Up	Nov 15, 2006
SUV / CUV over $60,000	Nov 14, 2006
SUV / CUV $35,000 - $60,000	Nov 13, 2006
SUV / CUV under $35,000	Nov 11, 2006
Convertible	Nov 10, 2006
Sport / performance car over $50,000	Nov 9, 2006
Sport / performance car under $50,000	Nov 8, 2006
Prestige car over $75,000	Nov 7, 2006
Luxury car under $50,000	Nov 6, 2006
Family car over $30,000	Nov 5, 2006
Family car $22,000 - $30,000	Nov 4, 2006
Small car under $18,000	Nov 2, 2006
The most coveted parking space in the country	Nov 1, 2006
Writers' predictions for the best new cars of 2007	Nov 1, 2006

The rabbit is chased by the Korean

Now for the fight in the "Small car over $18,000" category. Introducing, in the left corner: the Volkswagen Rabbit. And in the right corner: the Hyundai Elantra.

In the middle of the ring, the Nissan Sentra, Dodge Caliber and Suzuki SX4 all get slapped in the face...

Volkswagen Rabbit: Eulogistic!

(Photo: Volkswagen)

When the Rabbit was launched this summer, I wasn't entirely satisfied. By returning to its "bunny" roots, the car seemed to have sobered down.

But compared to other rivals, the Rabbit scores the highest marks in terms of performance and handling. I gave it 9.5 points out of 10 for its tight steering, brisk accelerations (0-100 kph in 8.7 seconds) and manual gearbox. Those five short gears are a real delight!

The athletic compact makes one with the driver. You gotta admit: 150 horsepower in a Volks is better than 200 horsepower anywhere else!

Where the Rabbit comes up short is in the comfort area. Damn those German interiors! That said, I'll bet that this won't be enough to take away its first place in the category.

Hyundai Elantra: Who has more to offer?
Hyundai vehicles should be well represented among the 2007 AJAC winners (13 overall). Indeed, the product lineup of the Korean automaker is unbeatable. For $23,095, the Elantra GLS offers leather seating,

(Photo: Hyundai)

automatic climate control, a moonroof and heated front seats. What else do you need?

And they're pretty serious about safety, too: six airbags and ABS brakes are standard.

At this price, we could tolerate a few mishaps. But there are none: the interior is spacious and the quality is undeniable. The drive is stable, the suspension is well balanced and the drivetrain is nicely sophisticated. In addition, the overall design is attractive.

The Pony is long gone. And with comparable prices, the Elantra could very well jump ahead of the Rabbit.

Nissan Sentra : Average
As hard as I try, I still can't find the new Sentra inspiring. This 4-door sedan is commendable, but that's all I can say. The interior space is nice, the seats are comfortable, the ride is reassuring and the engine is smooth. That's it.

(Photo: Nissan)

Even at $20,698, there is no moonroof, let alone heated seats and steering wheel-mounted audio controls.

Furthermore, the continuously variable transmission (CVT) of the Sentra makes the engine meow like a cat whose tail is stuck in the doorframe. My ears didn't like it one bit, even if the Sentra has the second best acceleration of this group (0-100 kph in 9.6 seconds).

As for the brakes, the Nissan is the worst among the five models in contention. Is that because of the rear drum brakes?

Anyhow, I rank the Sentra in the middle of this category, like a student who keeps getting average scores. In my mind, the car has become in the market what the Toyota Corolla was not so long ago...