
No lineup matches the breadth of the VW Golf, although some automakers come close.
For sporty, frugal commuting, the Mazda 3 is a favorite—but its infotainment system frustrates at every opportunity.
The Honda Civic lineup lacks a practical wagon body, but the sedans and hatchbacks are polished, poised, and well-priced.
Look to the Subaru Impreza for its standard all-wheel drive and its Crosstrek and WRX siblings for four-wheeling and sporty driving.
The Hyundai Elantra and Kia Forte are good value choices with excellent tech—and the Elantra GT nearly matches the Golf GTI’s performance.
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Quick Specs | |||||
The practical 2019 VW Golf is a smart choice whether as a frugal hatchback or a zippy GTI. |
Safety upgrades this year make the 2019 Honda Civic as compelling as ever. |
The 2019 Hyundai Elantra delivers good handling and a lot of value for the money. |
The 2019 Kia Forte pairs stylish good looks with a lot of features, making it a compact sedan standout. |
The 2019 Mazda 3 keeps the zoom, but all-wheel-drive practicality and a vastly upgraded interior make it much more than that. |
The 2019 Subaru Impreza is a sensible, right-price, low-compromise compact car. |
MSRP From | |||||
$21,845 | $19,550 | $17,200 | $17,790 | $21,000 | N/A |
Gas Mileage | |||||
21 MPG City / 37 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 42 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 40 MPG Hwy | 27 MPG City / 41 MPG Hwy | 24 MPG City / 36 MPG Hwy | |
Engine | |||||
Intercooled Turbo Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | N/A |
EPA Class | |||||
Compact Cars | Mid-Size Cars | Mid-Size Cars | Mid-Size Cars | Compact Cars | N/A |
Style Name | |||||
1.4T S Automatic | LX CVT | SE Manual | FE Manual | FWD | N/A |
Drivetrain | |||||
Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | N/A |
Passenger Capacity | |||||
5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | N/A |
Passenger Doors | |||||
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Body Style | |||||
Hatchback | Sedan | Sedan | Sedan | Sedan | N/A |
Transmission | |||||
Automatic w/OD | CVT w/OD | Manual w/OD | Manual w/OD | Automatic w/OD | N/A |
Detailed Spec Comparison | |||||
2019 Volkswagen Golf vs. 2019 Honda Civic | 2019 Volkswagen Golf vs. 2019 Hyundai Elantra | 2019 Volkswagen Golf vs. 2019 Kia Forte | 2019 Volkswagen Golf vs. 2019 Mazda MAZDA3 | 2019 Volkswagen Golf vs. 2019 Subaru Impreza |