Compact sedans have long been a common vehicle choice for recent college graduates, young parents, and empty nesters, and their popularity endures despite the marketplace rise of crossover SUVs. For many, a compact sedan represents a first new car buy; for others, it signifies downsizing from a bigger rig after the kids grow up.
However, buyers still want a lot, even from an affordable car. From style and technology to interior refinement and a comfortable ride, modern compact sedans must deliver in ways they couldn’t even a half-dozen years ago. Full digital instrument clusters? Wireless Apple CarPlay? Features like these not long ago came only in fancy luxury cars. “Compact” sedans have also grown larger and benefited from packaging upgrades and roomy cabins, along with providing more safety than ever before.
The segment has fewer players than it did a decade ago, as some automakers have exited to focus on SUVs. But not everyone is out: The Honda Civic is all-new; the current Hyundai Elantra and Nissan Sentra generations made their debut in 2020; and the Volkswagen Jetta, Kia Forte, and Mazda 3 were refreshed recently.
Before we get into our showdown, a caveat: We’re missing two big players from the segment, as strained press fleets meant we couldn’t include the Toyota Corolla and Subaru Impreza in this comparison.
Still, this group is noteworthy, and we drove all six cars back to back to determine which is the best compact sedan you can buy today.
Most consumers expect their cars to feature a comfortable cabin, modern technology, and enough USB ports and cupholders to keep all passengers occupied. The Hyundai Elantra checks a lot of boxes with its Mercedes-like infotainment system and ample front and rear space. Its
