The Honda Civic isn't what it used to be, but in order to keep sisters-in-law happy, you need something reliable and not completely soul-sucking to recommend to them. Yesterday, we asked Jalopnik readers for their new recommended rides and here are their top ten Honda Civic alternatives.
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10.) Volkswagen Golf
Suggested By: Anderson
Why It's A Good Choice: But what if your extended family does have things they need to cart around? Enter the Volkswagen Golf. Yes, it's a bit more pricey at $17,995 for a two-door model, but that extra two grand gets you German aluminum und schteel. Just sit in one and you'll notice the Golf feels like a much more expensive car. Your friends/family will probably thank you for recommending something that impresses their friends.
Photo credit: Willrad, flickr
9.) Ford Fiesta
Suggested By: Avenkay
Why It's A Good Choice: Most folks probably don't need a bigger car, even if they think they do. That's why the Fiesta is a great option. At base level, its $15,500 flat, and comes with a 120 horsepower engine, which should have no problem scooting the little car from place to place while returning highway mileages in the upper 30s.
Photo credit: caroverload, flickr
8.) Mazda 3
Suggested By: Awjvail
Why It's A Good Choice: Starting at $15,800, the Mazda 3 is smack dab in the neighborhood of the Civic. The difference is that the 3 is widely regarded as one of the best handling cars in that class. It, too, can be had in a number of different body styles, and they all come with its now-infamous smile. This car is like a puppy. It's thrilled every time its owner walks into the garage.
Photo credit: johnwlittle
7.) Kia Forte Koup
Suggested By: JackTrade
Why It's A Good Choice: Silly name aside, the Koup is one of the best-looking cheap cars to hit showrooms in a long time. Kia took Honda's blueprint for a great looking, reasonably priced sports coupe, and ran with it. The Koup is almost as fuel efficient as a comparable Civic Coupe as well, returning 25 miles per gallon in the city and 31 on the highway.
Photo credit: Stradablog, flickr
6.) Chevy Cruze
Suggested By: Shuke
Why It's A Good Choice: Another sensible choice, the Cruze is a perfectly capable form of transportation. And if you're transporting things, you can fit more of them in the Cruze than in the Civic Sedan! The Cruze boasts 15.4 cubic feet of cargo space, while the Civic offers just 12.5. Advantage Cruze. The Cruze costs a couple of bucks more, but that's what you get for all that extra space inside.
Photo credit: atzerok, flickr
5.) Ford Mustang V6
Suggested By: Scorpio GTX1
Why It's A Good Choice: If your brother-in-law was looking at a Civic Si, perhaps you could send him instead in the direction of the base-level Mustang. Both cars start around $22,000, but the Mustang looks cooler, has two more cylinders in its engine, and gets very nearly the same bang for your gas buck. Did I mention it looks cooler than the Civic too?
Photo credit: All-American Automobiles
4.) Fiat 500
Suggested By: Avenkay
Why It's A Good Choice: If your sister-in-law is just looking for something to get her and her husband from point A to point B, without bringing a whole bunch of extra stuff, take a look at the Fiat 500. A base 500 has an MSRP of $15,500, which is over $100 less than a base Civic Coupe. Sure,the 500 doesn't have nearly as powerful and engine under the hood, but in a car that's about half the size of the Civic, that's ok. And, again, it looks so much better.
Photo credit: watchmojo, flickr
3.) Ford Focus
Suggested By: Suss6052
Why It's A Good Choice: The Focus is the Fiesta's older, more grown-up sibling. It also looks like it's ready to eat something with that massive grille opening, which may be a dealbreaker with some. The Focus is on the pricey side of things on today's list, clocking in at $18,200. But the car is solidly built, and signals a return to form for the Focus brand. It's got a 2.0-liter, 160-horsepower mill under the hood, and in four-door form is only slightly smaller than the Civic Sedan in terms of passenger space, losing out by about four cubic feet. Still, a solid option.
Photo credit: Ford in Europe, flickr
2.) Hyundai Elantra
Suggested By: Freakusaurus
Why It's A Good Choice: We know Hyundai is gunning for Honda, as well as anyone else that crosses their path, but the Elantra is a really good option. Its swoopy styling is attractive. It's right in the same price ballpark, at $16,445. And as Hyundai's website will so eagerly tell you, it even has more room on the inside than the Civic. And 40 mpg comes in every trim with every transmission.
Photo credit: theKCB, flickr
1.) Honda Fit
Suggested By: Crossdrilled
Why It's A Good Choice: Whoever you're recommending a car for will probably want to keep it in the Honda family if they already have one, which is why no amount of kvetching from automotive websites will dissuade people from buying Civics. That's where they originally looked, it's probably where they're the most comfortable, and let's face it, it's still a good option for someone who just wants a car. If we lived in a perfect world, the Fit would have been the next Civic in the first place. It's a small, peppy car that ticks most of the same boxes as its larger Civic cousin. Starting at $15,100, it's all the car two people need.
Photo credit: Austin Tuan, flickr