Consumer Guide® Automotive places each vehicle into one of 17 classes based on size, price, and market position. Compact Cars comprise the smallest passengers cars. These vehicles range from tiny economy models to slightly larger, popularly priced sedans, hatchbacks, and wagons.

Our Best Buys include Chrysler PT Cruiser, Honda Civic, Mazda 3, and Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix twins. Our Recommended picks include Chevrolet Cobalt, Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Spectra, and Toyota Corolla.

New or significantly redesigned models include Chevrolet HHR, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, and Volkswagen Golf and Jetta.

Tipsters say Forenza will get a freshening for 2007, which likely means a few styling changes and perhaps a new feature or two. We should be learning more soon, so keep checking back with us. Meantime, Suzuki says the subcompact Swift hatchback will return to the U.S. market in 2010, the same year the company promises a hybrid car. The Swift was last sold here in 2002, but has since been redesigned. The coming model will be a next-generation design. A sedan version is the rumored basis for the hybrid.