The Affordable-sports-sedan Segment Isn't for Everyone, but It's Definitely for Us

Decades ago, meals looked very different. People would scarf down something called creamed chipped beef, then, without missing a beat, mix canned tuna with Jell-O to create a tuna mold.

- By Tony Quiroga. Photography by Marc Urbano

Volkswagen Jetta GLI

Highs: Willing and happy engine, secure handling, civilized ride.

Lows: All-season tires, long-throw shifter, seats lack lateral support.

Verdict: Someone traded sportiness for refinement and features.

Considered creative in their time, these dishes would be made today only to test gag reflexes. Time has changed our roads, too, and cars have always been subjected to the same sort of daring experimentation and fashion (which explains the rise and fall of the AMC Pacer and the Chrysler PT Cruiser).

Extolling the virtues of hotted-up economy cars fitted with manual transmissions to nonenthusiasts can feel like trying to encourage someone to taste the chipped beef. No matter how hard we try, many folks will never even consider driving these cars.

Compact sports sedans are so much fun, we plead. Just try the six-speed manual-you'll love it. You'll be able to corner harder than you ever have before. Uh, no thanks, they'll demur as they politely step back. Sure, it's their loss, but every time we fail, another dull, CVT-equipped crossover leaves a dealership.

The three sports sedans we've gathered for this sampler platter are for daring palates. The Honda Civic Si, the Hyundai Elantra N, and the Volkswagen Jetta GLI all are spicy versions of otherwise perfectly sensible transportation. Replete with flavor and fun that might be too much for some buyers, each follows a slightly different recipe. But they share the same key ingredients: a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, front-wheel drive, four doors, three pedals, and six speeds.