What's the Most Affordable Compact Sedan?

Car shoppers want a long list of features in a new car, even if that car is a compact sedan that starts around $16,000. That starting price usually doesn't include what many consider "must-have" features — chief among them an automatic transmission.

We took 11 compact sedans and looked at their prices when equipped with the following features:

• Automatic transmission
• Cruise control
• USB input
• Remote entry
• Tilt/telescoping steering wheel
• Steering-wheel audio controls

It may seem like a simple search, but if you're looking at a new Nissan Sentra, Dodge Dart or Volkswagen Jetta, you'll need to know the specific trim level, options and option packages to ensure you won't regret not having that one missing feature.

We took those as-equipped prices and then added five years of fuel costs to come up with the most affordable compact sedan on the market.

Having recently purchased our long-term Honda Civic that has all of these features in a base model, we thought it had a good shot of scoring well here. But the results were somewhat surprising, especially in terms of what car was No. 1.

Cars.com Reviews the 2013 Mazda2

You might have dated someone like this: attractive looks and fun to be around, but dealing with problems inside that are revealed as you get to know each other better. Cars.com reviewer Jennifer Geiger says the 2013 Mazda2 offers potential suitors a nice, sculpted body with a grinning grille, along with good maneuverability and more zippiness than its petite horsepower might suggest. However, its interior is uncomfortably sparse, offering backseat passengers scant "cushy for their tushy" and deceptively little cargo space. That might be why the competing Ford Fiesta gets more than three times as many dates with buyers.

2013 Mazda2 Review

Cars.com Reviews the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer

The 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer GT has aggressive styling, but its looks are getting dated. It has passing power and sporty handling, but it's a rough, noisy ride. You might snag one at a discount, but you'll pay more at the pump. Cars.com reviewer Joe Bruzek wants to like this compact sedan, but despite its fun-to-drive factor, the Lancer GT is far too unrefined to choose over superior competitors in the class, like the Mazda3 and Ford Focus. Until this sedan gets an overdue refresh, it's strictly for those interested in style over substance on the relative cheap.

2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Review

Car Backseats to Avoid

Car shoppers without families often overlook the backseat. It can go empty weeks at a time, until friends jump in for that trip across town and find out Johnny's shiny new ride has a backseat best suited for groceries, overcoats and Hobbits. No one expects a two-door hatchback or sports car to offer much room in back, so we've picked cars that look like they should have decent room … but don't. If Johnny pulls up in one of these, call dibs for the front seat right away. You'll thank us later.

2013 Mazda3: What's Changed

• Most significant changes: 40-mpg engine added to more affordable trim level 
• Price change: TBA  
• On sale: TBA 
• Which should you buy, 2012 or 2013? Until 2013 price changes are made available, there's no reason not to get a 2012 model

For the 2013 model year, the most important changes coming to the Mazda3 includes greater availability of the company's new SkyActiv powertrain as well as more standard comfort features.

The 2013 Mazda3 is available in i SV, i Sport, i Touring, i Grand Touring, s Touring and s Grand Touring trims.

2014 Mazda6 Sedan Coming Early 2013

In its bid for continued relevance, Mazda will debut a radically redesigned Mazda6 midsize sedan in September, the carmaker said today. The 2014 Mazda6 will be strongly influenced by the Takeri Concept, which made its North American introduction at the 2012 New York International Auto Show today.

More 2012 New York Auto Show Coverage

The redesigned Mazda6 will feature the carmaker's new SkyActiv engines, transmissions and suspension systems. Mazda elaborated by saying that the 2.0-liter engine architecture found in the 2013 Mazda3 and 2013 Mazda CX-5 will show up in the Mazda6 mated to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. The carmaker is targeting best-in-class fuel-economy figures; that's a tall order considering the just-announced 2013 Nissan Altima gets 27/38/31 mpg city/highway/combined.

Cars.com Buzz Index: March 2012

Welcome to the Buzz Index, where we rank the hottest cars that consumers search on Cars.com. These cars have seen the biggest increase in searches and dealer contacts since last month.

Top cars in March were an eclectic bunch. Summerlike temperatures across much of the country had consumers thinking sports cars, but rising gas prices — the national average price for regular gas eclipsed $3.90 a gallon last week — brought several high-mpg redesigns alongside. Consider some numbers: Three cars in the top five have 300 horsepower or more — one has nearly double that — and five of the top 10 have an EPA city or highway rating of at least 40 mpg.

Unsurprisingly, eight of the 10 also have been redesigned or received significant updates in the past year.

Cars.com Reviews the 2012 Mazda3

Between new engines and the model's hatchback and sedan body styles, the 2012 Mazda3 now comes in 11 versions. Cars.com Industry Analyst Kelsey Mays put many of them to the test, including the 40-mpg SkyActiv engine variant and the zoom-zoom Mazdaspeed3.

Does the refreshed compact car have what it takes to beat strong sellers like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Chevrolet Cruze?

2012 Mazda3 Review

2012 Mazda3 Hatchback: Car Seat Check

Mazda wiped the smile — well, some of it — off the Mazda3's grille for the 2012 model year. It didn't stop there, though. The automaker also tweaked the exterior and interior styling of its compact car, which comes in sedan and hatchback body styles. For our Car Seat Check, we tested the hatchback.

For the Car Seat Check, we use a Graco SnugRide 30 rear-facing infant-safety seat, a Britax Roundabout convertible child-safety seat and Graco high-back TurboBooster seat.

2012 Mazda3 SkyActiv: Real-World Mileage

Small cars and 40 mpg are quickly going hand in hand. Of the 30 sedans, coupes and hatchbacks that start under $18,000, more than a dozen have a 40-mpg non-hybrid variant — and most of them are selling well. Not to be left off the bandwagon, Mazda gave its Mazda3 a mileage makeover for 2012.

Called SkyActiv, the car's new 155-horsepower drivetrain — a direct-injection 2.0-liter four-cylinder with a six-speed manual or automatic — builds on aerodynamic tweaks to eke out competitive mileage: 28/40 mpg city/highway in the automatic Mazda3 sedan, 27/39 mpg with the stick. Aerodynamic shortfalls and a few extra pounds dock 1 mpg highway off the SkyActiv hatchback with either transmission.

How does the Mazda do in the real world? I took a stick-shift Mazda3 SkyActiv hatchback from our Chicago offices to the Detroit auto show to find out.