This crowded segment is best represented by two exceptional cars--one a Best Buy and the other a Recommended. Our Best Buy is the Honda Civic, which offers a wide range of bodystyles, engines, and equipment levels. Civic is a solid car that has good performance, a nice ride, and is very civilized.

Topping the Recommended list are the Volkswagen Golf and Jetta. They easily could be Best Buys as they are better than the Civic in many ways. However, they are also the most expensive cars in this segment. Other Recommended choices include the no-frills Chevrolet Cavalier and Dodge Neon, the slightly-upscale Chevy Prizm and clone Toyota Corolla, and the roomy Mazda Protege.

If you are looking for a Budget Buy we recommend you stay away from the Hyundai or Daewoo models and take a look at the Ford Escort.

Ford hasn't announced plans for either Escort or ZX2. However, with the new Focus doing brisk business in its first six months (nearly 152,000 sold), the clock is ticking for Escort, which will surely be retired soon. Though Focus is a much better small Ford, Escort was stayed a total execution for 2000 because it still makes sense for fleet customers and budget-minded private buyers as a proven low-cost workhorse. If it continues selling well enough for Ford accountants--and sales are still respectable, all things considered, Escort might hang on through 2001, provided its plant space isn't commandeered to build something more profitable. The same should apply to the ZX2, though its mission as the sportiest small Ford will inevitably be assumed by the Focus ZX3 hatchback.