Friday, 4 November 2011

China May 2011: VW Lavida on top, Nissan Sunny in Top 10


VW Lavida
* See the Top 200 best-selling models by clicking on ‘Read more’ at the end of the post! *
New car sales in China are starting to reflect purchase limits put in place in some cities (Beijing being one of them) to try and address traffic congestion. The market is down 4% in May at 1.382.800 units but still up 4% to 7.916.200 over the first 5 months of the year.
For the 6th time in the last 12 months, the VW Lavida is the best-selling passenger car in China with 22,602 units changing hands this month, reinforcing its leadership over the year with 108,646 sales, nearly 10,000 units above the #2, the VW Jetta at 99,409.
Nissan Sunny
At #2 the Buick Excelle reaches its best position since last October with 19,398 sales and ranks #3 year-to-date at 98,530 units. The BYD F3 seems to have lost its grip over the Chinese market for good, slipping down to #3 in May at 19,013 units and #4 over the year at 97,294.
This month’s best performance goes to the Nissan Sunny, up no less than 30 spots over April to land in 7th position, its first time within the Chinese Top 10. Other good performers include the Buick Excelle XT/GT at #15 (+10), the Hyundai Verna at #17 (+21), the Hawtai Santa Fe at #23 (+10) and the Hyundai ix35 at #30 (+44).
BYD L3
Based on the latest generation Toyota Corolla, so perhaps a replacement for the F3, the new BYD L3 is up 39 spots this month to #89 with 3,495 sales and the Everus S1, launched last month, climbs 20 spots to #107 with 2,804 sales.
Full Top 200 Ranking table below.

Hawtai Santa Fe
China May 2011:
PosModelMayApr2011Pos2010
1VW Lavida22,6021108,64612
2Buick Excelle19,398598,53035
3BYD F319,013297,29441
4VW Jetta17,603499,40924
5Ford Focus16,756684,92089
6Hyundai Elantra Yuedong14,697388,32663
7Nissan Sunny14,2633757,19716-
8Chevrolet Cruze14,161985,69977
9Chevrolet Sail13,7171070,1081040
10FAW Xiali N-Series13,391794,29056
11Great Wall Tengyi C3013,0121562,2391360
12VW Polo12,912864,6311122
13Mazda612,1786642,0674236
14Nissan Teana12,0363059,8511518
15Buick Excelle XT/GT12,0162556,9361745
16Chery QQ11,8421164,5631213
17Hyundai Verna11,4213847,0933394
18VW Bora10,7882177,91198
19VW Sagitar10,7241849,0383127
20Skoda Octavia10,4441452,3632625
21Kia Forte Furuidi10,1771952,4262530
22BYD F010,0114151,0842716
23Hawtai Santa Fe10,0003343,1393952
24VW Santana9,9584646,1603628
25Nissan Bluebird Sylphy9,9471756,7941817
26Chevrolet Lova9,8422446,7413539
27VW Santana Vista9,8061348,8143231
28FAW Besturn B509,7624244,4703843
29Great Wall Hover H3/H59,7042054,8132123
30Hyundai ix359,6807440,8954372
31VW Golf9,5793432,6325677
32Citroen C-Quatre9,2432949,0433029
33VW Tiguan9,1812253,7012362
34BMW 5-Series L9,0003133,4005497
35Audi A6L8,9212640,4494526
36Emgrand EC78,7794840,5094461
37Audi A4L8,1984927,5817375
38Hyundai Elantra8,1891255,1002015
39Buick LaCrosse7,8081649,7862932
40ChangAn Benben Mini7,5984746,8643479
41Nissan Livina7,4533642,2964124
42VW Passat Lingyu7,3952350,4812821
43Nissan Qashqai6,9764536,2274873
44Chery Tiggo6,9223240,3744669
45Brilliance Junjie FRV (BS2)6,6967235,2225047
46Haima Family6,4995634,4305274
47Honda Accord6,3823561,8181411
48Hyundai Sonata6,3176112,319120-
49Dongfeng Joyear6,1885030,46362148
50Suzuki SX46,1025530,0596567
51Buick GL86,0785130,5886183
52JAC Tongyue6,0425326,3047696
53Buick Regal6,0085931,3216048
54Ford Mondeo6,0056025,2068086
55Honda Civic5,9933942,8884034
56Gleagle Freedom Ship5,9445434,1265337
57Toyota Camry5,8532752,7102412
58VW Magotan5,7294428,7426849
59BYD G35,5915827,4607489
60Kia Sportage R5,4017525,58978157
61Zotye 50085,3676431,5545938
62Suzuki Alto5,2607626,81175102
63JAC Heyue/Heyue RS5,2027135,2654963
64Peugeot 4085,1948324,59783100
65Chery Fulwin 25,1666735,1775156
66Honda CR-V5,0032854,6432219
67Hyundai Tucson4,8037325,7117778
68Chevrolet Spark4,6479530,1866451
69Peugeot 3074,5368821,8419168
70Audi Q54,5238217,590102115
71Lifan 6204,5087823,75388109
72Kia Sportage4,4989119,5489766
73Toyota Highlander4,4285232,4565746
74Citroen C-Elysée4,3826527,7937058
75Mazda6 Ruiwing4,36713413,50111698
76Kia Cerato4,3426929,5136641
77Soueast V3 Lingyue4,3078024,5578553
78Mazda34,2466228,6346964
79ChangAn Yuexiang4,23811832,8615533
80Roewe 3504,1557030,4296399
81JAC Refine4,1247728,7706771
82Gleagle King Kong4,0986827,7707257
83Skoda Superb4,0218124,15386110
84Skoda Fabia3,97110020,32693106
85Suzuki Lingyang3,9178523,02990103
86VW CC3,8849914,056113146
87Lifan 520/520i3,7788918,57299114
88Gleagle Panda3,5148619,88194104
89BYD L33,4951289,760130-
90Nissan Tiida3,415-27,7797114
91Suzuki Big Dipper3,3979425,2467959
92Shanghai Englon SC7 Seaview3,3817923,3608988
93Gleagle Vision3,3578424,0648770
94Europestar L33,3569013,013117125
95Suzuki Swift3,3429218,9079887
96Ford Fiesta3,32012424,7148255
97Honda City3,2514345,2423720
98Kia K53,2331108,680137-
99Chery Cowin 3/A53,19710324,8488154
100Peugeot 2073,1579320,92992101
101Chery Cowin 23,0888724,5738450
102FAW Weizhi3,04611914,314112108
103Mitsubishi Pajero3,0001634,918165162
104Great Wall Florid2,9659716,83710681
105Jiangnan Alto2,95410514,029114119
106Chevrolet Epica2,9509618,12610082
107Everus S12,8041274,888166-
108FAW Xenia M802,80111116,43910791
109Hyundai Sonata MoInca2,77311314,700111107
110Citroen C52,77110614,833110111
111Mercedes E-Klasse2,76610715,193108131
112Dongfeng Fengshan H30/S302,71111612,721118122
113ChangAn CX202,66010917,559104189
114Dongfeng Shuai2,64112210,152129136
115Toyota Corolla2,5584055,9661910
116FAW Xiali V22,55712512,715119170
117Hyundai Accent2,37311211,92012165
118Kia Rio2,36110117,51810595
119Mercedes C-Klasse2,29112010,702124123
120Chery A32,24811517,97910176
121Haima 2 Cupid2,1811497,851145120
122MG3 SW2,1231045,873159169
123Toyota RAV42,0965731,5575835
124Toyota Corolla EX2,0006337,7714742
125FAW Besturn B701,98911715,17610990
126Haima Freema1,8751387,571147121
127Nissan X-Trail1,84810213,658115116
128Roewe 5501,81210819,8359544
129Chery A11,7991397,751146150
130Zhongxing Landmark1,7971308,014141149
131Mitsubishi Lancer EX1,7631508,847135127
132Suzuki Liana1,74414310,405127193
133Great Wall Hover M21,7371319,156132139
134MG 61,62614511,228122133
135VW Touran1,6261379,461131130
136Dongfeng Future1,58912910,16112880
137BYD S61,535-1,639198-
138Haima 7 Knight1,5331429,094134152
139Lifan 3201,5221476,249155172
140Huanghai Aurora1,5111357,938143141
141Chery Cowin 11,44311417,580103128
142Nissan NV2001,3791576,882150158
143Emgrand EC81,3551566,184156-
144Haima Prince1,3261445,049164180
145Shanghai Englon Golden Eagle1,2671516,816151155
146JMC Yusheng1,2481534,175171-
147Chevrolet Captiva1,234-4,075174-
148GAC Trumpchi1,2051465,293162-
149Honda Spirior1,2041368,190140135
150Toyota Prado1,1901487,493148153
151Jinbei Granse1,1721417,352149142
152Nissan March1,1681239,099133154
153Brilliance Junjie FSV1,14215810,475126105
154Toyota Reiz1,1349819,6699684
155Honda Fit1,1261328,709136113
156Hyundai i301,0951555,689161132
157Landwind X8/X6/X91,0731616,539154156
158Honda Odyssey9441338,46713992
159Kia Soul9391624,724167147
160Citroen C29211764,123172168
161Riich X18891525,731160143
162BYD F688212110,67612585
163Brilliance Splendor (BS4)7501407,924144118
164JAC Rein7311596,802152140
165Karry Youya7241744,657168134
166Mazda8712-2,682182-
167Cadillac SLS6901733,157177182
168Volvo S80 L6881783,967175159
169Toyota Crown67712610,82112393
170Mercedes Viano6381662,815181176
171Mazda25821655,069163137
172Zotye Multipla5691674,080173177
173Changhe Ideal567-1,209204-
174BAW Jeep B405371802,677183166
175Hyundai Sonata NFC5361696,584153126
176Riich M15241544,207170129
177Volvo S40523-1,960192181
178Hafei Saima508-1,130205197
179ChangAn Zhixiang/CX30506-6,026157171
180Honda Accord Crosstour496-1,357203-
181Mitsubishi Lancer4791722,468185187
182Great Wall Tengyi V804761773,049179183
183Brilliance Grandeur (BS6)476-1,480200174
184Toyota Yaris4651686,026158124
185Mercedes Vito458-n/an/an/a
186Rely V54431703,089178161
187BYD M6429-1,729195-
188Buick Enclave417-2,971180-
189Roewe 750398-2,036189175
190Toyota Vios3921604,646169112
191Ford S-Max353-1,911193184
192Shanghai Englon TX4345-378--
193Dongfeng Oting334-1,431201198
194Toyota Land Cruiser 200325-2,449186178
195Nissan Paladin3201753,298176165
196Foton MP-X300-1,845194188
197FAW Vela270-1,392202186
198JAC Yueyue260-1,991191-
199Foton MP-X Midi210-2,226187173
200Mitsubishi Zinger177-n/an/an/a

China’s Best Selling Cars Of 2010



All Chinese drive bicycles, make that cheap QQs. No, all Chinese drive big Buicks, I mean, all Chinese are chauffeured around in A6s and Mercedes S-Class.
All wrong. So, what do Chinese really drive?
Global Times compiled a list of China’s Top Ten passenger cars, based on official China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) data. Global Times made a little mess out of the data (sometimes, they miss a digit – it’s a huge country, and the numbers can be confounding.) Where they did, the numbers have been corrected.  China’s Top Ten represent 2.14 million units, out of a total of more than 18 million. Which just goes to show how fractionalized that market is.
No.1 BYD F3
China’s bestselling car is the Toyota Corolla the BYD F3. (pictured above.) The car from the supposedly electrified company is powered by a 4 cylinder, 1.5 L, Mitsubishi Orion engine. Can be had anywhere between $7,821 and $ 12,200. Some 263,900 units were sold in 2010.


No.2 Volkswagen Lavida
The Volkswagen Lavida was developed by Shanghai Volkswagen from parts provided by the Volkswagen PQ34  (think Golf Mk4) kit. It is available in China only. Power is delivered by a 1.6L or 2.0L VW engine. Priced between $18,117 and $21,137 some 251,600 units of the model were sold in 2010.

No.3 Hyundai Elantra Yue Dong
The Beijing Hyundai joint venture redesigned an Elantra HD and called it “Hyundai Elantra Yue Dong” for the Chinese market. It can be had with 1.6- Gamma and 2.0-L Beta II gasoline inline-four engines, and a 1.6-L turbo diesel inline-four. With price tags between $16,247 and $18,088, some 233,300 units were sold.


No.4 Volkswagen Jetta
The car that won’t say die, China’s equivalent of the VW Bug. If they ever kill it, they will have to roll a boulder on its grave to keep it from relaunching itself. Still based on the venerable Golf Mk2 platform. The FAW-VW Jetta is powered by a 1.6 L engine, and costs between $11,440 and $14,912. VW sold 224,500 units of the model.


No. 5 Buick Excelle
Built on an Opel Astra, the Buick Excelle is a product of Shanghai GM. Three engines are available: 1.6L, 1.8L, and 1.6L turbo. Priced between $15,976 and 17,940, some 222,500 units changed hands in 2010.


No. 6 Volkswagen Santana
The car that started China’s mass motorization, still going strong since 1985. Scheduled to bite the dust in 2012, but with these numbers, who knows. The car made by Shanghai-VW is powered by a 2.0 liter engine. It sets you back between $11,592 and $12,045. Shanghai-VW sold 210,100 units of the model.


No.7 FAW Xiali
Based on the facelifted Xiali A series, which is based on the Daihatsu Charade Mark 2, the Xiali (Chinese for “Charade”) is produced at the FAW subsidiary Tianjin FAW Xiali Automobile. It would cost you between $6,626-7,532. In 2010, a total of 198,700 units were sold.


No. 8 Chevrolet Cruze
Co-engineered by Daewoo and Opel, the car is made by Shanghai GM. Available with a 1.6L and 1.8 L engine, the model sold 187,800 units in 2010.

No. 9 Cowin
The Cowin is a 5-door, 1.5 L petrol engine liftback produced by Chery. Its ancestors go way back. The Cowin is a restyled Chery A11, which used the tooling of the first SEAT Toledo, which in turn was based on the Golf Mk2. 173,500 Cowins were sold last year.

No. 10 Volkswagen Bora
Produced by the FAW-VW joint venture, the car is based on the Golf/Jetta Mk4. (FAW also sells the Mk5 as Sagitar.) Priced between $16,280 and $22,321 the Bora sold 172,500 times in China in 2010.
So there you have it. In case you miss the Japanese: The Nikkei [sub] also complains that “Japanese cars failed to crack the top 10 in a ranking of China’s top-selling passenger cars last year, beaten out by U.S. and European subcompacts.” It’s not that Chinese don’t like Japanese cars, they represent a market share of 22.7 percent. It’s just that the Honda Accord and the Toyota Corolla and Camry slipped from the Top Ten.  Guess the Nikkei didn’t want to accept the Xiali as Japanese …

2010 Audi Q5 Premium Plus


Price:$39,800
Vin:WA1LKAFP8AA010931
Stock #:2016
Mileage:25,799 miles
Exterior:WHITE
Interior:ORANGE
Engine:6-Cylinder
3.2L
Transmission:AUTO
Fuel Type:Gasoline
Trim/Package:Premium Plus
 
Options
 
Comments
GREAT CONDITION Q5 PREMIUM PLUS HERE! ONE OWNER CLEAN CARFAX VEHICLE! ADULT DRIVEN BY A NON SMOKER! NAVIGATION! BACKUP CAMERA! HEATED SEATS! PANORAMIC SUNROOF! POWER EVERYTHING! BLUETOOTH! STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS! PARKING SENSORS! AWD! 2 KEYS AND BOOKS! XENON LIGHTS! POWER TAILGATE! PREMIUM SOUND! DONT MISS IT! PLEASE CALL ILYA AT 917-916-1000 WITH ANY QUESTIONS.

2010 Mercedes-Benz E Class E350 4Matic


Price:$45,000
Vin:WDDHF8HB8AA163681
Stock #:2020
Mileage:29,786 miles
Exterior:BLACK
Interior:BLACK
Engine:6-Cylinder
3.5L V6
Transmission:auto
Fuel Type:Gasoline
Trim/Package:E350 4Matic
 
Options
 
Comments
VERY NICE E350 4MATIC HERE! ONE OWNER CLEAN CARFAX VEHICLE! ADULT DRIVEN BY A NON SMOKER! P1 PACKAGE! NAVIGATION! BACKUP CAMERA! SUNROOF! 18" WHEELS! HEATED SEATS! PRIVACY SCREEN! POWER EVERYTHING! XENON LIGHTS! DON'T MISS OUT! PLEASE CALL ILYA AT 917-916-1000 WITH ANY QUESTIONS.

2011 Porsche Cayenne S


Price:$83,675
Vin:WP1AB2A24BLA45095
Stock #:2015
Mileage:9,023 miles
Exterior:SILVER
Interior:BEIGE
Engine:8-Cylinder
4.8L V8
Transmission:AUTO
Fuel Type:Gasoline
Trim/Package:S
 
Options
 
Comments
PLEASE CALL ILYA AT 917-916-1000 WITH ANY QUESTIONS

2009 Honda Odyssey Touring


Price:$32,800
Vin:5FNRL38969B022358
Stock #:2023
Mileage:6,160 miles
Exterior:SILVER
Interior:BLACK
Engine:6-Cylinder
3.5L
Transmission:5 Speed Automatic
Fuel Type:Gasoline
Trim/Package:Touring
 
Options
 
Comments
GREAT CONDITION ODYSSEY TOURING HERE! ONE OWNER CLEAN CARFAX VEHICLE! ADULT DRIVEN BY A NON SMOKER! TOURING! NAVIGATION! BACKUP CAMERA! PARKING SENSORS! SUNROOF! POWER SLIDING DOORS! FACTORY DVD WITH REMOTE AND 2 HEADPHONES! ALLOY WHEELS! BLUETOOTH! HEATED SEATS! 3 WAY CLIMATE CONTROL! STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS! PRIVACY SCREENS! POWER EVERYTHING! DONT MISS THIS ONE! PLEASE CALL ILYA AT 917916-1000 WITH ANY QUESTIONS.

2010 BMW X6 xDrive35i


Price:$62,800
Vin:5UXFG4C51AL226230
Stock #:2032
Mileage:18,539 miles
Exterior:BLACK
Interior:BLACK
Engine:6-Cylinder
3.5L
Transmission:6 Speed Automatic
Fuel Type:Gasoline
Trim/Package:xDrive35i
 
Options
 
Comments
LIKE NEW CONDITION X6 HERE! CLEAN CARFAX VEHICLE! NON SMOKER CAR! NAVIGATION! BACKUP CAMERA! PARKING SENSORS! HEATED SEATS FRONT AND REAR! REAR CLIMATE CONTROL! SPORT PACKAGE! XENON LIGHTS! POWER TAILGATE! HEATED STEERING WHEEL! STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS! SUNROOF! POWER EVERYTHING! DONT MISS THIS ONE! PLEASE CALL ILYA AT 917-916-1000 WITH ANY QUESTIONS.

2010 Mercedes-Benz S Class S550 4Matic


Price:$79,900
Vin:WDDNG8GB6AA323137
Stock #:1999
Mileage:24,096 miles
Exterior:BLACK
Interior:BEIGE
Engine:8-Cylinder
5.5L V8
Transmission:AUTOMATIC
Fuel Type:Gasoline
Trim/Package:S550 4Matic
 
Options
 
Comments
LIKE NEW CONDITION S550 HERE! ONE OWNER CLEAN CARFAX VEHICLE! ADULT DRIVEN BY A NON SMOKER! NAVIGATION! HEATED AND COOLED SEATS! BACKUP CAMERA! KEYLESS ENTRY AND PUSH BUTTON START! XENON LIGHTS! PANORAMIC SUNROOF! DUAL DVD SCREENS! WOODEN STEERING WHEEL! STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS! CHROME WHEELS! 4 MATIC! DONT LOSE THIS ONE! PLEASE CALL ILYA AT 917-916-1000 WITH ANY QUESTIONS.

Least Expensive Cars of 2011


Looking for cheap wheels? Here they are -- the least-expensive 2011 cars on sale in America. (All prices are MSRP (sticker price) plus destination charge.) The About.com Cars test team has driven all of these cheap cars, and this list will tell you which are the real deals -- and which are the real duds.


1. Hyundai Accent GL, $10,705
Hyundai Accent

Photo © Hyundai
Despite a modest price increase and its third name change in as many years (first it was the Accent GS Base, then the Accent Blue, and now it's the Accent GL) , the little Hyundai hatchback is once again the least expensive car in America. As you can imagine, the Accent GL is pretty well stripped down; air conditioning is a $1,000 option, but if you want anything else -- power windows, an automatic transmission, or even a radio -- you'll have to step up to the $13,415 Accent GS -- and for that price, there are better cars.


Not that the Accent GL is a bad car; it comes with power steering and an eager 110 horsepower engine, and it's good fun to drive in a back-to-basics sort of way. Still, limited safety equipment and mediocre crash scores make it difficult to justify.

2. Nissan Versa 1.6, $10,740


Photo © Aaron Gold
For $35 more than the Accent GL, the Nissan Versa 1.6 Base offers two extra doors, better resale value, and -- most importantly -- a lot more interior space, even more than some mid-size sedans. That makes the Versa 1.6 the cheapest set of family-friendly wheels available.


As of 2011, the Versa 1.6 comes standard with power windows and door locks -- not something you'd expect in a car tihs cheap. But there's still no stereo and color choices are limited to blue, silver and black. However, you can add antilock brakes, air conditioning and an automatic transmission and still keep the price (just) under $13,000. If you can afford a bit more, the bargain pricing extends throughout the Versa lineup -- a Versa 1.8 with a stereo, A/C, cruise control and electronic stability control lists for just $15,780.


Read Review
3. Chevrolet Aveo LS Sedan, $12,685


Photo © General Motors
Like most cars at this end of the price scale, the base-model Chevy Aveo is a stripped-down model, though it does get an AM/FM radio with an input jack for an MP3 player, OnStar, and a provision for dealer-installed air conditioning (at extra cost, of course). The Aveo offers a full color palette (unlike the Accent and Versa, offered only in a few dull colors) and a tan interior with fake-wood trim, which sounds cheesy but actually looks pretty nice. You can even get a hatchback version for $200 more.


On the flip side, the Aveo doesn't drive very well, it's weak on safety equipment, and adding factory A/C, a CD player, and power windows pushes the price well past $15k. For that kind of money, you can do much better.


Read Review
4. Kia Rio Base Sedan, $12,990


Photo © Kia
The Kia Rio Base is much like the Hyundai Accent GL and the Nissan Versa in that it offers little standard equipment (no stereo, limited color choices) and few options (floor mats and, inexplicably, a trunk-mounted spoiler). The Rio has an eager engine, but the non-power-assisted steering feels lousy in the curves and makes parking a workout. The next step up from the Rio Base is the Rio LX, which gets air conditioning, a CD player, and antilock brakes (ABS) -- but at $15,690, it's a staggering $3,700 more than a Nissan Versa 1.6 with optional A/C and ABS. (At that price, the Versa lacks a stereo, but that's easily solved with a trip to Best Buy.) And the Nissan has better resale values and crash test scores. Just goes to show that a low price doesn't always mean good value.


5. Smart Fortwo Pure, $13,240


Photo © Smart
It's no surprise that the smallest car in America is also one of the least expensive, but the cheapest version of the Smart Fortwo, called the Pure, is pretty sparse -- no power windows or mirrors, no air conditioning, not even a stereo. But it does include an automatic transmission and lots of safety gear, including side airbags, antilock brakes, and electronic stability control (ESC) -- in fact, it's the least-expensive car to offer this life-saving technology as standard. And the creature comforts missing in the Fortwo Pure come standard in the Fortwo Passion, which costs only $2,000 more.


Read Review
6. Toyota Yaris 3-door Liftback, $13,615


Photo © Toyota
The Yaris 3-door has always been one of the smartest cheap-car buys, with air conditioning, antilock brakes, and electronic stability control all standard and an automatic transmission reasonably priced at $800. If you need something with back doors, Toyota offers a 5-door version of the Yaris for just $300 more than the 3-door. The Yaris is good looking, easy to drive, and small, which means it can be squeezed into impossibly small parking spaces. Epic reliability makes the Yaris a good choice for those who keep their cars forever, and strong resale values are a plus for those who don't.


Read Review
7. Kia Soul Base, $13,995


Photo © Aaron Gold
Kia's stylish mini-wagon is an intriguing car and an outstanding buy. The $13,995 base model includes air conditioning, power windows and locks, CD stereo with USB input jack, antilock brakes and electronic stability control -- arguably the best value-for-money on this list. So what's the catch? Well, the base-model Soul only comes in white, silver or black, it's not available with an automatic transmission, and its 122 horsepower 1.6 liter engine is less powerful than the 142 hp 2-liter unit found in other versions of the Soul -- but it's every bit as comfortable, practical and safe. If you can live with a stick-shift, the base-model Soul is a lot of car for the money.


Read Review
8. Ford Fiesta S Sedan, $13,995


Photo © Aaron Gold
The Fiesta is a brand-new addition to this list, and it comes on strong, with four doors, a 120 horsepower engine, electronic stability control, power steering, and an AM/FM radio with an auxiliary input jack. But what really sets the Fiesta apart is the way it drives.


Designed in Europe, the Fiesta is huge fun on curvy roads and delivers outstanding fuel economy, even better if you spring for the automatic (a high-tech six-speed twin-clutch transmission). It's cute, cheeky and eager, a thoroughly lovable car -- and the low price makes it that much easier to love. No question, the Fiesta is my favorite set of cheap wheels.


Read Review
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9. Suzuki SX4 Sedan, $14,244


Photo © Aaron Gold
The base-model SX4 is your classic "loss leader" -- no air conditioning, no stereo, no automatic transmission, and you can get it in any color you like, provided the only color you like is white. That said, the SX4 does come with power windows and locks, antilock brakes, and a zinger of an engine -- 2 liters and 150 horsepower, which makes it the muscle car of the bargain-basement set. I love the SX4 for its its cute styling, big back seat, and high fun-to-drive factor, but if you're shopping for bargain wheels, it's a bit hard to justify.