Comparative Analysis of Compact Cars - Research Paper Example

Jain Ratanjali Iswara Satyo 29 November, 2009 Comparative Study of Compact Cars This Project Data Report is an analytical study of the compact car segment, covering aspects from price of the car and its resale value to its engine, performance, fuel efficiency, styling and other features. The purpose of this research report is to enable people to understand the different variations of cars available in compact version. This is essentially so because lower end cars are most commonly used by people, not to mention the burgeoning gas prices and the impact it can have on one's pocket if one opts for long, luxury cars. From the plethora of options available under this segment, our pick for this report includes the following: 1) Toyota Corolla 2) Nissan Altima 3) Honda Civic 4) Mazda 3 For the purpose of this data report, we would be looking at the following factors for each variant mentioned above: Price of the car Safety Resale value Fuel efficiency Engine and Performance Styling and Features Toyota Corolla Price Consumersearch archives the price tag of Corolla at Est. $15,350 to $20,050.Corolla is undoubtedly Toyota's "bread and butter" economy car. Safety Corolla comes with more standard safety features, including six airbags, front-seat active head restraints and antilock brakes. Electronic stability control is optional. The new Toyota Corolla's good crash test scores earn it a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Reviewers praise the Toyota Corolla's safety record and excellent reputation for reliability. According to Driverside, "the optional Vehicle Stability Control, or VCS, offers up a little more sure-footedness in slippery conditions, which is a good option for buyers in wintery climates". Resale value Money.cnn takes the base price as ranging from 15000 odd USD to 19500 USD on an average and predicts 5 year retained value as 52 per cent. The car thus scores high on resale value. Table 1:Corolla's resale value Year Retained MSRP % Resale Value New 100% $15,350.00 2 58% $8,903.00 3 49% $7,521.50 4 41% $6,293.50 5 36% $5,526.00 Source: www.kbb.com Fuel Efficiency Fuel economy is outstanding with EPA ratings of 26-27 mpg city and 35 mpg highway, and real-life averages very close to those figures. The larger 2.4-liter four-cylinder in the XRS model gets 22 mpg city, 30 mpg highway in either manual or automatic. Engine and Performance The 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine provides plenty of scoot on the interstate or in traffic. Corolla, LE, XLE and S trims come with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine standard, producing 132 horsepower and 128 lb-ft of torque. The XRS model ($18,760) dishes up a more beefy 158 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. Corolla and S trims are available with either a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual. LE and XLE versions are only available with the four-speed automatic, while the XRS can be had with the five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission. Styling and Features Toyota played it too safe in the styling department; Driverside says that "the 2009 Corolla is blessed with styling derived from its big brother, the Camry .The driver and passenger seats sit up higher than you might expect, and the vantage delivers exceptional visibility. Also, the steering, while adjustable, seems to jut from the dash, giving it a golf cart feel. Exterior options like a spoiler and 16-inch aluminium wheels do much to add character to the car. Surprisingly spacious inside, the Corolla offers plenty of head and legroom up front, with enough room inside for people over the six-foot mark. The backseat doesn't skimp on space either, though taller people may wish to stick to calling shotgun. The seats are comfortable in either cloth or leather trim, and build quality is impressive for a vehicle at this price". Interesting features: The most deluxe of all the Corolla trims, the XRS model comes loaded with a more powerful engine, leather interior, power windows and locks and a six-speaker sound system for $18,760. A six-disc CD changer with Bluetooth hands-free calling is available, along with 16-inch alloy wheels for $3,154. For an extra $700, a power moon roof does much to lighten the interior. NISSAN ALTIMA Price Consumersearch archives the price tag of Nissan Altima at $19,900 to $29,380. The Nissan Altima starts in the same general price range as both the Mazda and Honda. But Altima's price skyrockets as you add options, which Nissan usually bundles into costly packages. In many cases, to get one item you want, you have to buy a package with many things you may not want. Safety A strong crash-test record and great visibility are positives for the 2009 Nissan Altima, but in all except top trims, the Altima lacks electronic stability control. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tests, the 2009 Nissan Altima earns the highest rating and "good," for both frontal offset and side impact collisions. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the federal agency that oversees government crash testing, awards the 2009 Nissan Altima a full five stars for both front and side impacts. These ratings apply for both driver and passenger protection. Resale value Table2: Altima's resale value Year Retained MSRP % Resale Value New 100% $21,750.00 2 55% $11,962.50 3 47% $10,222.50 4 39% $8,482.50 5 31% $6,742.50 Source: www.kbb.com Fuel Efficiency Choice of any engine delivers a class-leading 26 mpg in mixed driving (23 mpg city/32 mpg highway with the manual, 23 mpg city/31 mpg highway with the CVT), according to federal estimates. Engine and Performance "The Altima offers two gasoline engine choices (a hybrid is also available). The entry-level Nissan Altima 2.5 (est. $19,900) comes with a 175-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and the CVT. The Altima 2.5 S (est. $21,040) adds more standard features (such as push-button ignition and keyless entry) and makes the CVT optional; a six-speed manual transmission is standard", says Consumersearch. Styling and Features Reviewers usually recommend Altima if one is looking for something a little sportier than the average midsize family sedan. While some testers find the Altima roomy enough for five, others note that its 60/40 split folding rear bench is a bit tighter than other midsize sedans. The 2009 Nissan Altima benefits from a well-designed, attractive interior design and decent seating and cargo space, though the quality of the materials and trim is a potential weakness. The interior acoustics of the 2009 Nissan Altima are quelled enough to improve the driving experience. Edmunds says "road and wind noise are subdued" on all trim levels, and others affirm this, adding that "tire, road, and wind noise are well controlled." While some testers find the Altima roomy enough for five, others note that its 60/40 split folding rear bench is a bit tighter than other midsize sedans'. Interesting features: For 2009, standard equipment has been bolstered on the Nissan Altima, with all models receiving a new automatic door lock system. Refinements to the base model Altimas include a new 16-inch wheel cover design, dual power remote-controlled side-view mirrors, a standard trip computer, speed-sensitive variable intermittent windshield wipers, and a revised option package. HONDA CIVIC Price Consumersearch archives the price tag of Honda Civic at Est. $15,305 to $25,190: The most expensive is the Honda Civic Hybrid sedan (*est. $23,650). The clean-emissions Honda Civic GX sedan is priced at est. $25,190. Safety According to Consumersearch, "the 2009 Honda Civic's good crash ratings help it earn a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. All Honda Civic models include front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, front-seat active head restraints and antilock braking system. Electronic Stability control is standard on EX-L, Si and hybrid models, but unavailable on other trims". Reviews also point out that Bluetooth, navigation systems and some other options are only available on a few upper-level trims. Many reviews mention the Honda Civic's firm ride, and some find it jarring over rough roads -- especially the Civic Si models, which feature a stiffer, sport-tuned suspension. Resale value According to money.cnn, taking the base price as ranging from 15,645 odd USD to 21,925 USD on an average, predicted 5 year retained value is 52 per cent. The car, thus scores high on resale value. Table 3: Civic's resale value Year Retained MSRP % Resale Value New 100% $16,105.00 2 53% $8,535.65 3 46% $7,408.30 4 39% $6,280.95 5 34% $5,475.70 Source: www.kbb.com Fuel Efficiency "Fuel economy ranges from 25-26 mpg city and 34-36 mpg highway, and 0-to-60 mph acceleration takes about 9.6 seconds with the automatic", according to Edmunds. The sportier Civic Si has a 197-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder, matched only with a six-speed manual gearbox, and reaches 60 mph in 7.1 seconds. EPA estimates are 21 mpg city and 29 mpg highway for the Civic Si, but reviews report average mileage as high as 30 mpg (pls note that premium fuel is recommended). The 2009 Honda Civic offers performance versatility in the form of a natural-gas-powered variant, a sporty Si, conventional base, and fuel-efficient Hybrid Engine and Performance Most Honda Civic compact cars are powered by a 140-hoesepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder, with either a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic. Styling and Features For 2009, the Honda Civic gets a few minor styling updates and some revisions to its rather complex model line. New trim levels include the LX-S, with a few sporty features, and the DX Value Package. Although the exterior styling on the Honda Civic is generally praised, reviews read by TheCarConnection reveal that the interior is much more polarizing. All variants of the 2009 Honda Civic share the same distinctive, futuristic styling that makes it instantly recognizable and much sleeker-looking than most of its competitors. The 2009 Civic differs from the 2008 model on account of new head- and taillights and a new grille and front bumper design, along with some new colors and alloy wheel designs, the large, fast windshield, minivan-like front end, and UFO-style two-tiered dashboard. A navigation system with voice activation is available on EX, EX-L, Si models. All Honda 2009 Civics come standard with a tilt/telescopic steering wheel, front bucket seats, height-adjustable driver seat, folding rear seat, and power windows; Rather than offer a lengthy list of optional features, Honda simply produces the Honda Civic in a variety of trims. In fact, the only major optional feature for this Honda 2009 lineup, according to TheCarConnection's research, is a navigation system that includes voice recognition and steering wheel-mounted controls. MAZDA 3 Price TheCarConnection quotes the price of Mazda 3 as "MSRP: $14,690 - $24,455".Invoice price for the basic model is $13,777. Safety TheCarConnection archives "No Mazda 3 has been side-tested recently, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tested a previous-year Mazda 3 without side airbags, and the results of the test weren't pretty. While it received a "good" rating for the front offset impact test, it earned a "poor"-the lowest rating-for the side test. Now that side bags are standard across the line, results should be better. In National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) frontal-impact crash tests, the 2009 Mazda 3 scored four (out of five) stars". Side and curtain airbags are now standard on the Mazda 3, but electronic stability control is still limited to top trims. Resale Value Table 4: Mazda 3's resale value Year Retained MSRP % Resale Value New 100% $18,625.00 2 54% $10,057.50 3 45% $8,381.25 4 37% $6,891.25 5 29% $5,401.25 Source: www.kbb.com Fuel Efficiency The fuel efficiency of Mazda 3 totally depends on the trim of the car that one chooses, ranging from 18 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway for a combined rating of 20 mpg to 24 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway for a combined rating of 27 mpg. Engine and Performance Edmunds says, "The Mazda 3 tends to drive like a much more expensive sport sedan...thanks to its performance-oriented chassis tuning." ConsumerGuide observes, "All 3s have firm suspensions that show good composure except over large high-speed dips and swells...and is among the best handling compacts." The Mazdaspeed3 comes with a 2.3-liter turbocharged four with 263 hp and 280 pound-feet of torque, and it sprints to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds. It comes only with a six-speed manual transmission. According to Edmunds, the standard 2009 Mazda 3 i sedans use a "2-liter, four-cylinder engine rated at 148 hp and 135 [pound-feet] of torque, while s models use a 2.3-liter four-cylinder rated at 156 hp and 150 [pound-feet] of torque. The standard 2009 Mazda 3 i sedans use a 2-liter, four-cylinder engine rated at 148 hp and 135 [pound-feet] of torque, while s models use a 2.3-liter four-cylinder rated at 156 hp and 150 [pound-feet] of torque." Styling and Features TheCarConnection notes that "buyers seeking a sporty, economical car that has the looks to compete with more expensive sport sedans would do well to check out the 2009 Mazda 3".Depending on the trim offered by Mazda, 2009 3s are equipped with either 16- or 17-inch alloy wheels. Introduced in 2004 by Mazda, 2009 Mazda 3s are "distinguished by taut, chiseled styling that hint at the car's athletic personality," remarks Edmunds. There are plastic-looking woven inserts on the door panels and seats. Interesting Features: In addition to the regular features, aavailable options include a sunroof, DVD-based navigation system, auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass, and remote engine starting. Works Cited Consumersearch n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2009. Consumerguide n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2009 Driverside n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2009. Edmunds n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2009. Kbb n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2009. Money.cnn n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2009. TheCarConnection n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2009. Read More