Top 10 Sporty Compact Cars for 2009

Compact cars can be so dull. But on a recent road test of a 2009 Suzuki SX4 Sport, this road test warrior finally found a compact car worth driving. My oh-so-fun drive of a midnight blue 2009 Suzuki SX4 got me to thinking about other super sporty compact cars. Here’s a list of Top 10 Sporty Compact Cars:

The 2009 Suzuki SX4 has it all: low price, standard navigation, zippy performance, ergonomic interior, excellent safety and lots of cargo room. If you are seeking an all-wheel-drive vehicle for inclement weather, go for the Suzuki SX4 Crossover, which comes as a five-door hatchback model. Base MSRP: $13,299.

The 2009 MINI Cooper may be the most sporty car on the road. Period. Who cares if this roaster is tiny when you can feel like you are driving on a race track each time you get behind the wheel? Plus, the 2009 MINI Cooper is super fuel efficient with 37 mpg highway and 28 mpg city. Base MSRP: $18,550.

The 2009 Toyota Corolla surprised me on a recent road test with its super fast acceleration, tons of standard features, luxury amenities, fuel efficiency and Toyota’s legendary performance. Base MSRP: $15,350.

The 2009 Hyundai Elantra is an excellent overall buy as Hyundai is big on quality, performance, design, safety and deals. Yes, you may be able to cash in our clunker for a fuel-efficient Elantra and lock a year’s worth of gas at $1.49 per gallon.Base MSRP: $14,120.

The 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit is another tiny car that’s big on speed. Yep, the rabbit is still a thrill to drive with excellent overall driving dynamics. And even though the Rabbit looks small on the outside, it is rather spacious inside with a rather large hatchback trunk. Base MSRP: $16,300.

The 2009 Toyota Prius gets a whopping 50 combined mpg. Besides the goofy-looking exterior, the interior is big, comfortable and has lots of high tech extras. Although the engine does whine a bit, the overall performance is excellent. Base MSRP: $22,000.

The 2009 Ford Focus is a sporty American sedan with all the bases covered: great performance, good design, fuel efficiency, excellent safety and Ford’s ingenious SYNC connectivity system. Base MSRP: $15,520.

The 2009 Honda Fit does look a bit awkward on the outside, but it definitely provides a zippy drive, excellent performance, lots of standard features and Honda’s top notch quality. Base MSRP: $13,950.

The 2009 Nissan Versa is the least expensive compact on the road today. And even at less than $10,000, this compact sedan has rather good acceleration and driving dynamics as well as excellent safety and Nissan quality. Base MSRP: $9,900.

The 2009 Chevrolet Aveo brings a sporty attitude to Chevy’s compact line up. The overall design is pleasing enough as is acceleration, driving dynamics, safety and Chevy’s commitment to its customers. Base MSRP: $10,235.

Sheryll Alexander is a lifestyles writer based in Costa Mesa, Calif.
Read more from Sheryll Alexander at Driving Smart.