Test Drive - Starting From Zero

We test three top compact sedans to find entry-level doesn’t have to mean frumpy

- Miguel Cortina

When I was 18, the keys to my freedom belonged to a Saturn Ion. Hey, stop laughing. I no longer had to depend on my dad’s CR-V or my mom’s Odyssey; I could go where I wanted without asking for permission to borrow a parental vehicle. And when you’re 18, that’s important. My Motorola Razr was considered ancient with the recent release of the iPhone, but I didn’t care about connectivity. My Saturn and its four wheels gave me all the liberty I wanted as a young adult in Houston, the city that mass transit forgot.

Read past those trend-spotting articles that say millennials would rather stare at a phone while Ubering toward some avocado toast than actually own a car. I am part of that sizable psychographic that still lives and breathes personal transport. And not only because I review cars for a living. Having the ability to go anywhere at any time without depending on an app or a driver is precious and valuable. I’m the kind of millennial who likes to drive. And although my gig allows me opportunities to drive high-performance vehicles, I still maintain a great respect for that most American of first cars: the basic compact sedan.

Whether you like driving or don’t, today’s compact sedans have progressed to offer more of the technology, interior space, styling, and value we’re looking for. Items and features that were once only available on luxury vehicles have trickled down to the masses. Sedans are safer and smarter, and they go far beyond to bring unique experiences at the wheel. Some even have style. But among all the choices available, how do you know which compact sedan is the right one for you?