Taking a break from stories about cars being recalled, here's a story about cars being recommended.
Cars.com (the Internet-based seller of new and used cars) partnered with USA Today and MotorWeek (the PBS car review and comparison television show) to engage several new cars in a "Cheap Speed" test. Four editors from Cars.com and USA Today, one producer from MotorWeek and a consumer comprised the six-person testing team.
The competition was limited to new, performance-oriented small cars with a sticker price under $30,000, delivered. All vehicles had to seat at least four adults.
Although 10 cars were initially chosen to participate, two of them -- the 2015 Mini Cooper S and the 2014 Honda Civic Si -- were dropped; the former due to lack of availability, the latter due to damage to the vehicle just prior to testing that could not be repaired in time.
That left eight cars; the 2014 Fiat Abarth, a 2014 Ford Fiesta ST, a 2014 Hyundai Veloster Turbo, a 2014 Kia Forte5 SX, a 2014 Nissan Juke Nismo RS, a 2014 Scion FR-S, a 2015 Subaru WRX, and a 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI.
Scoring was based on a maximum possible total of 1,000 points; the experts' scores counted toward 50 percent of the total, 10 percent from the consumer, 30 percent came from track performance ratings, and the remaining 10 percent from fuel economy figures.
The cars were judged on speed, acceleration, braking, fuel economy, ride, handling, build quality, ergonomics and overall value.
And the winner -- the 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI, by a comfortable margin over the second place Subaru WRX. Third place went to the 2014 Ford Fiesta ST, fourth to the 2014 Kia Forte5 SX, fifth to the 2014 Scion FR-S. The rest are discussed here.
The Volkswagen had the advantage of being the newest design in the group, and struck the judges as a superior car to the others in almost every category except steering feedback and the features of its infotainment system.
"In most categories, this car feels like it's in a whole other class," said Brian Robinson, producer for MotorWeek. "It behaves more like a midsize performance sedan than a sporty compact.
"The GTI accelerates, brakes and handles with the best of the Cheap Speed cars, but with fantastic ride quality and real interior room," said Joe Bruzek, Cars.com road test editor.
"Refinement is the GTI's watchword, describing everything from its drivetrain and suspension to its interior quality and quiet cabin," said Joe Wiesenfelder, Cars.com executive editor.
The Subaru WRX impressed with its pure power and all-wheel drive. Its off-the-line acceleration provided excitement and the cornering power and response from its all-wheel drive chassis inspired a great deal of confidence. But its detractors claimed that the brakes did not stand up to abuse and that the cabin ergonomics were from "the Stone Age."
