Best Compact Cars of December 2009

The i30 still stays on top as best value for money, however the Cerato is now even better value, pushing into the leaderboard, and so is Subaru's Impreza, which is currently on sale. All contenders have ESC standard.

#1 Hyundai i30 SLX

Base Model Estimated Price: $24,490

Pros:

• Full size spare


• Great Warranty


• Best fuel economy out of contenders (7.2L/100km)

Cons:

• None

#2 Subaru Impreza R

Base Model Estimated Price: $24,990

Pros:

• Made in Japan


• All-Wheel Drive


• Subaru's good resale value

Cons:

• Poor fuel economy (8.9L/100km)

#3 Kia Cerato Limited Edition

Base Model Estimated Price: $20,990

Pros:

• Great Warranty


• Full Size Spare

Cons:

• Kia's poor resale value

Best Compact Cars of November 2009

With only seven cars now being eligible for ranking, the leaderboard sees away with the Holden Cruze and Toyota Corolla.

#1 Hyundai i30 SLX

Base Model Estimated Price: $24,490

Pros:

• Full size spare


• Safe


• ESC standard

Cons:

• None

#2 Mitsubishi Lancer RX

Base Model Estimated Price: $21,990

Pros:

• Made in Japan


• ESC standard

Cons:

• No full-size spare

#3 Suzuki SX4 S

Base Model Estimated Price: $22,990

Pros:

• Made in Japan

Cons:

• No ESC


• No full size spare

Changes in Criteria... again

To better reflect and even further refine my selection process, the cars that will be considered now will only be compact size ones and it'll be the first trim level containing alloy wheels. The same price limit will apply so this should really further reduce the number of cars to consider.

Best Dirt Cheap Cars of October 2009

The Suzuki Swift is cheaper by a minuscule amount - but besides that, nothing to report.

#1 Hyundai Getz

Base Model Estimated Price: $13,990

Pros:

• Excellent warranty


• Alarm included

Cons:

• None

#2 Suzuki Swift

Base Model Estimated Price: $16,960

Pros:

• Made in Japan

Cons:

• None

#3 Suzuki Alto

Base Model Estimated Price: $14,990

Pros:

• None

Cons:

• Puny 1.0L engine

Best Compact SUVs of October 2009

Yep move along, nothing to see here :) (at least no changes anyway).

#1 Hyundai Tucson

Base Model Estimated Price: $22,990

Pros:

• Safer


• ESC standard

Cons:

• None

#2 Kia Sportage

Base Model Estimated Price: $22,990

Pros:

• None

Cons:

• None

Best Compact Cars of October 2009

The Mitsubishi Lancer is now slightly out of the price range with the new 2009 model coming up. It is now replaced by the Toyota Corolla, which I might add, is also a bit more expensive.

#1 Holden Cruze

Base Model Estimated Price: $24,060

Pros:

• Full size spare


• Safe


• ESC standard

Cons:

• None

#2 Toyota Corolla

Base Model Estimated Price: $24,080

Pros:

• Made in Japan


• Full-size spare

Cons:

• ESC not standard

#3 Suzuki SX4

Base Model Estimated Price: $19,990

Pros:

• Made in Japan

Cons:

• No full size spare

Best Light Cars of October 2009

Suzuki Swift is slightly cheaper this month but the Toyota Yaris Edge (a special edition of the Toyota Yaris) comes with free alloys so it pushes itself to first place.

#1 Toyota Yaris

Base Model Estimated Price: $19,190

Pros:

• Full size spare


• Alloy wheels included

Cons:

• None

#2 Suzuki Swift

Base Model Estimated Price: $16,960

Pros:

• Full size spare

Cons:

• None

#3 Mazda 2

Base Model Estimated Price: $19,190

Pros:

• Metallic Paint standard


• Good warranty

Cons:

• Space saver spare

Best Dirt Cheap Cars of September 2009

Surprisingly the Swift enters the competition giving two Suzukis as a choice. The Getz still wins though due to its value-for-money.

#1 Hyundai Getz

Base Model Estimated Price: $13,990

Pros:

• Excellent warranty


• Alarm included

Cons:

• None

#2 Suzuki Swift

Base Model Estimated Price: $16,990

Pros:

• Made in Japan

Cons:

• None

#3 Suzuki Alto

Base Model Estimated Price: $14,990

Pros:

• None

Cons:

• Puny 1.0L engine

Best Compact SUVs of September 2009

Once again no changes in the rankings here.

#1 Hyundai Tucson

Base Model Estimated Price: $22,990

Pros:

• Safer


• ESC standard

Cons:

• None

#2 Kia Sportage

Base Model Estimated Price: $22,990

Pros:

• None

Cons:

• None

Best Compact Cars of September 2009

The Hyundai i30 gets pushed out (for some reason - although further investigation suggests it is because its ANCAP rating isn't as great as expected for the base model...) - the Suzuki SX4 gets in the fray once again thanks to Suzuki's cut-throat pricing.

#1 Holden Cruze

Base Model Estimated Price: $24,060

Pros:

• Full size spare


• Safe


• ESC standard

Cons:

• None

#2 Mitsubishi Lancer

Base Model Estimated Price: $20,990

Pros:

• Made in Japan


• Great warranty


• ESC standard

Cons:

• Space-saver spare

#3 Suzuki SX4

Base Model Estimated Price: $19,990

Pros:

• Made in Japan

Cons:

• No full size spare

Best Light Cars of September 2009

Not much of a difference and the Suzuki Swift just makes it to first place mainly because of its cut-throat pricing!

#1 Suzuki Swift

Base Model Estimated Price: $16,990

Pros:

• Full size spare

Cons:

• None

#2 Toyota Yaris

Base Model Estimated Price: $19,190

Pros:

• Full size spare

Cons:

• None

#3 Mazda 2

Base Model Estimated Price: $19,190

Pros:

• Metallic Paint standard


• Good warranty

Cons:

• Space saver spare

Best Dirt Cheap Cars of August 2009

The Barina has ducked out of the competition, becoming too expensive - although a new contender is on the scene, the Suzuki Alto from India. All options now have full size spares.

#1 Hyundai Getz

Base Model Estimated Price: $13,990

Pros:

• Safer


• Excellent warranty


• Alarm included

Cons:

• None

#2 Kia Rio

Base Model Estimated Price: $13,490

Pros:

• Excellent warranty

Cons:

• Not as safe

#3 Suzuki Alto

Base Model Estimated Price: $15,250

Pros:

• Safer

Cons:

• No alarm

Best Medium Cars of August 2009

When there's only one candidate there is only one choice

#1 Kia Magentis

Base Model Estimated Price: $23,970

Pros:

• Ridiculously low price


• Alloy wheels standard


• Alarm standard


• Full size spare


• ESP standard

Cons:

• Kia's poor resale value

Best Compact SUVs of August 2009

No changes here, except for the Tucson becoming the same price as the Sportage.

#1 Hyundai Tucson

Base Model Estimated Price: $22,990

Pros:

• Safer


• Alloy wheels standard


• Full size spare


• ESP standard


• Alarm standard

Cons:

• No alloy wheels standard

#2 Kia Sportage

Base Model Estimated Price: $22,990

Pros:

• Full size spare


• Alloy wheels standard

Cons:

• No ESP Standard


• No alarm standard

Best Compact Cars of August 2009

With the Mitsubishi Lancer being added to the list, all options now have ESC standard.

#1 Hyundai i30

Base Model Estimated Price: $19,990

Pros:

• Safe


• Full size spare


• Alarm standard


• Great warranty

Cons:

• None

#2 Mitsubishi Lancer

Base Model Estimated Price: $20,888

Pros:

• Made in Japan


• Great warranty

Cons:

• No alarm standard

#3 Holden Cruze

Base Model Estimated Price: $24,060

Pros:

• Full size spare


• Safe

Cons:

• No alarm standard

Best Light Cars of August 2009

Thanks to the new Toyota Edge, the Yaris is now in first place (I actually accidentally deleted this post so figures might not be completely accurate but the rankings are!).

#1 Toyota Yaris

Base Model Estimated Price: $19,500

Pros:

• Full size spare


• Alloys included

Cons:

• None

#2 Suzuki Swift

Base Model Estimated Price: $18,000

Pros:

• Full size spare

Cons:

• None

#3 Mazda 2

Base Model Estimated Price: $19,190

Pros:

• Metallic Paint standard


• Good warranty

Cons:

• Space saver spare

Best Dirt Cheap Cars of July 2009

The limit is still $16,000 but this time around there's actually more than one choice.

#1 Hyundai Getz

Base Model Estimated Price: $13,990

Pros:

• Safer


• Excellent warranty


• Alarm included


• Full size spare

Cons:

• None

#2 Kia Rio

Base Model Estimated Price: $13,490

Pros:

• Excellent warranty


• Full size spare

Cons:

• Not as safe

#3 Holden Barina

Base Model Estimated Price: $15,990

Pros:

• Safer

Cons:

• No alarm

Best Medium Cars of July 2009

When there's only one candidate there is only one choice

#1 Kia Magentis

Base Model Estimated Price: $20,190

Pros:

• Ridiculously low price


• Alloy wheels standard


• Alarm standard


• Full size spare


• ESP standard

Cons:

• Kia's poor resale value

Best Compact SUVs of July 2009

With the Tucson slightly cheaper than the Sportage there's now an even better reason to buy it.

#1 Hyundai Tucson

Base Model Estimated Price: $22,640

Pros:

• Safer


• Alloy wheels standard


• Full size spare


• ESP standard


• Alarm standard

Cons:

• No alloy wheels standard

#2 Kia Sportage

Base Model Estimated Price: $22,990

Pros:

• Full size spare


• Alloy wheels standard

Cons:

• No ESP Standard


• No alarm standard

Best Compact Cars of July 2009

The new Holden Cruze joins the mix with an impressive 5-star ANCAP safety rating to give the Hyundai i30 a run for its money. The only Japanese contender is the sharply priced Suzuki SX4.

#1 Hyundai i30

Base Model Estimated Price: $19,990

Pros:

• Safe


• Full size spare


• Alarm standard


• Great warranty


• ESC standard

Cons:

• No alloys standard

#2 Holden Cruze

Base Model Estimated Price: $24,060

Pros:

• Full size spare


• Safe


• ESC standard

Cons:

• No alloy wheels standard


• No alarm standard

#3 Suzuki SX4

Base Model Estimated Price: $19,990

Pros:

• Made in Japan

Cons:

• Space Saver spare


• No alloy wheels standard


• No alarm standard

Best Light Cars of July 2009

With the discovery of discountnewcars.com.au, I'm thankfully able to start reviewing again. Looks like in reality, that in terms of light cars, none of them have a 5-star ANCAP rating (at least the base models don't anyway). This month we see the Toyota Yaris, Suzuki Swift and new Ford Fiesta vying for first place.

#1 Toyota Yaris

Base Model Estimated Price: $16,990

Pros:

• Full size spare

Cons:

• None

#2 Suzuki Swift

Base Model Estimated Price: $17,490

Pros:

• Full size spare

Cons:

• None

#3 Ford Fiesta

Base Model Estimated Price: $20,010

Pros:

• None

Cons:

• Space saver spare