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Hyundai Elantra Outpoints Competitors in Small Sedan Tests

Mazdaspeed3 wins top sports car ranking

September 1, 2007

Also, the magazine ranked the Mazdaspeed3 as its top-rated sports car following tests of three sporty vehicles for the same issue. The Mazdaspeed3 was tested against the redesigned Mini Cooper S and the Saturn Sky Redline.

“The redesigned Elantra is well-rounded, roomier, more fuel-efficient, and has a more pleasant interior than many more expensive cars,” said David Champion, Senior Director of Consumer Reports’ Auto Test Center in East Haddam, Connecticut.

The Honda Civic remains CR’s top-rated small car, followed by the Ford Focus and Mazda3 in that order.

Prices for vehicles in the small-car test group range from $17,515 for the Mitsubishi Lancer to $18,855 for the Nissan Sentra. Prices for the three sporty cars ranged from $25,195 for the Mazdaspeed3 to $30,289 for the Sky.

The Elantra achieved a “Very Good” overall test score. The Lancer also earned a “Very Good” score, though at the lower end of the range. The Sentra rated “Good” overall. The xB, the only wagon tested, earned a “Very Good” overall score. It ranks second among the wagons and hatchbacks that CR has tested, behind the Mazda3.

Among the sports and sporty cars, the Mazdaspeed3 earned an “Excellent” overall rating. The Mini Cooper S rated “Very Good” overall and the Sky Redline rated “Good” overall.

Two of the seven vehicles rated for this issue are recommended by Consumer Reports -- the Scion xB and the Mazdaspeed3. The magazine is predicting that the xB will have above-average reliability based on the previous generation xB. Similarly, the Mazdaspeed3 is recommended based on the better-than-average reliability of the Mazda3.

CR doesn’t have reliability data yet on five of the other vehicles, the Elantra, Lancer, Sentra, Mini, and Sky. (The Sky is built on the same platform as the Pontiac Solstice; reliability for the Solstice has been well below average.)

Consumer Reports recommends only those vehicles that have performed well in its tests, have at least average predicted reliability based on its Annual Car Reliability Survey of its own subscribers, and performed at least adequately if crash-tested or included in a government rollover test.

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