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(Enlarge photo)
Gathered round and ready for battle, these colorful econosport sedans were put through the full Edmunds.com comparison test regimen.
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Road Test: Comparison Test
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2002 Econosport Sedans Comparison Test
Four-Door Fun for Everyone
By
John DiPietro
Date posted: 05-23-2002
We realize that not everyone can afford to spend $30,000 or more for a sport sedan.
Yet we also know that just because somebody can't (or doesn't want to) spend big
bucks on a car doesn't mean that they don't enjoy driving as much as someone who
can (or will).
Joy from driving is typically engendered by a vehicle that possesses quick acceleration,
surefooted handling, a solid and linear feel to the steering and brakes, and a
general feeling of unity between car and driver. Oh, and a killer sound system
helps. Four-door sedans with these desirable traits are called sport sedans and
are usually out of reach for the average Joe. Fortunately for Joe, there is a
market segment that we call econosports, affordable but sprightly compact
sedans.
One of the first econosports was the BMW 2002, produced from 1968 through 1976.
This BMW didn't cost that much (under $3,000 when introduced), and it wasn't exactly
luxurious. But it was a blast to drive, a quick and agile little box of a car
that could accommodate four adults and their luggage comfortably.
Today, the selection of cars that embody this philosophy of grin-inducing performance,
affordability, practicality and manageable size is all over the map, with competition
bearing American, German and Asian nameplates. Limiting ourselves to cars with
base prices less than $20,000, we gathered what we felt are the best representatives
of the current econosport sedan class for a full-blown Edmunds.com comparison
shootout: Dodge Neon R/T, Mazda Protegé MP3, Mitsubishi Lancer O-Z Rally,
Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V, Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS and Volkswagen Jetta GLS 1.8T.
It should be noted that the Protegé MP3 was a 2001 model that didn't continue
for 2002, but we felt it should be included because it was introduced late in
the 2001 model year and will have a turbocharged successor for 2003.
We lived with these cars for two weeks, driving them on loops that offered a mix
of freeway, twisty two-lane and city driving, and completed a comprehensive evaluation
form for each one. We also went the extra mile and took the cars to the Streets
of Willow racetrack (located just north of Los Angeles), so that we could safely
explore their limits on this tightly twisting road race-style track.
So if the reality of stiff mortgage (or rent) payments, various debts and the
downslide of your mutual funds got you bummed out, and you're thinking that your
finances dictate driving something as exciting as a moped with four wheels, read
on and rejoice.
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