Consumer Guide Automotive places each vehicle into one of 18 classes based on size, price, and market position. Compact Cars comprise popularly priced sedans, hatchbacks, and wagons with wheelbases 99.4 inches or longer.

Our Best Buys include the Honda Civic, Nissan Versa, and Scion xB. Our Recommended picks are the Hyundai Elantra and Mazda 3.

New or significantly redesigned models include the Ford Focus, Mitsubishi Lancer, Saturn Astra, Scion xB, and Subaru Impreza.

Sources expect Reno to add a sportier model for 2008 with a "high-performance" engine. There may be other changes as well. We should be learning more soon, so keep checking back with us.

Meantime, Suzuki says its subcompact Swift hatchback will return to the U.S. in 2010, highlighted by a hybrid version. The Swift was last sold here in 2002, but has since been redone. The coming model will be a next-generation design. A sedan version is the rumored basis for the hybrid.