Best cars under $20,000

The Elantra sedan is one of our top-rated small sedans. It combines nimble and secure handling with a fairly comfortable, well-controlled ride. The 1.8-liter four-cylinder and six-speed automatic deliver solid performance and a very good 29 mpg overall. The car is well equipped for the price, the interior is nicely laid out, and rear-seat room is decent. Our two major gripes are the low-mounted dash vents and pronounced road and engine noise.

2013 Hyundai Elantra

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The subcompact Fit four-door hatchback offers easy cabin access and very good visibility. It has an amazing amount of interior room and various seat-folding arrangements. While the Fit is not overly powerful, it feels responsive, with a smooth and willing engine, and agile handling. Fuel economy is an excellent 33 mpg overall for the manual and 30 mpg for the automatic. The ride is a bit choppy, and elevated road noise contributes to the din.

2013 Honda Fit

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The Corolla is a good small sedan, although it is rather bland. The 1.8-liter engine is relatively quiet and responsive. We got a very impressive 32 mpg overall in our test with both automatic and manual transmissions, making it one of the most frugal among nonhybrids or nondiesel sedans. By the standards of the small-car class, the Corolla has a comfortable ride. Handling is sound and secure. The interior is put together well, although hard plastic panels and trim are abundant.

2013 Toyota Corolla

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The xB has a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine that delivers good performance but returns only 23 mpg overall. The ride is compliant, and handling is responsive. The quiet cabin isn't perfect. The gauges mounted in the center of the dash are annoying, and the radio controls are a bit confusing. The rear seat is enormous, and cabin access is very easy with a generous cargo area. However, low windows and thick roof pillars make the cabin dark and impair visibility.

2013 Scion xB

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The Soul is particularly roomy considering its small footprint. Its 164-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder and six-speed automatic transmission deliver decent acceleration and returned 26 mpg overall in our tests. However, stopping distances were quite long. Cabin access is easy, with abundant head room and a spacious rear seat. Controls are simple, but interior fit and finish is basic. Expect a noisy interior and a stiff ride, but handling is fairly nimble and secure. Forward visibility is good, but thick rear roof pillars create rear blind zones.

2013 Kia Soul

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The Sonic is powered by a standard 1.8-liter four-cylinder. Handling is fairly nimble, and the ride is relatively civilized for this class, with excellent braking performance. The sedan has a relatively large trunk and a good view out, with a relatively quiet cabin, but the rear seats are cramped. Options such as heated seats, a sunroof, and remote start are usually not found in this class.

2013 Chevrolet Sonic

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Hyundai's Accent entry-level model is a basic-yet-sensible subcompact. It has a very smooth and responsive automatic transmission. The sedan with an automatic attained 31 mpg overall in our tests. Though the front cabin is roomy enough, the rear is a bit cramped, which is on par for this class. Handling is fairly responsive, but the ride is rather jittery. Noise levels are elevated but not offensive.

2013 Hyundai Accent

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The Rio is powered by a 138-horsepower, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 30 mpg for fuel economy. It uses direct-injection technology and has a six-speed automatic, an unusual feature for the subcompact class. The Rio feels solid when compared with some other subcompacts; the stiff ride and noisy cabin are normal among small cars. Higher trim models offer amenities such as heated seats and a rear-view camera, but they get pricey for this class.

2013 Kia Rio

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The Mazda2 is a subcompact hatchback about the size of the Honda Fit or Toyota Yaris. Power comes from a 100-hp, 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine. The standard manual transmission shifted slickly, but the optional four-speed automatic saps some zip. Handling is quite nimble, and the ride is tolerable, but the cabin lets in too much road and engine noise. Rear-seat room is relatively good. It is related to the Ford Fiesta, but in exchange for a lower price the Mazda2 gives up some refinement and comfort.

2013 Mazda Mazda2

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The xD is a boxier version of the previous-generation Toyota Yaris hatchback. The ride suffers from short, jumpy motions, and it feels jittery on the highway. Its 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine delivers adequate performance and is miserly with fuel, averaging 29 mpg overall with the automatic transmission and 34 with the manual. The cabin is noisy, and the driving position is awkward. The front seats are comfortable enough for some people, but taller drivers found the bottom cushion too short. The rear has plenty of room for a small car, and cabin access is easy.

2013 Scion xD

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