The compact sedan category is a highly contested one in regards to price, quality, and features.  According to the Wall Street Journal, the small car segment is the third largest in America. So far, 974,360 compact vehicles have been sold, up 14.2% from last year.

The Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla have been the big players in this segment for decades now, comprising some 30% of the compact segment. Their cars reflect great refinement as well as being pleasing to a wide range of car consumers. The Ford Focus launched in 1999 was a vehicle brought over from Ford Europe and gained a group of avid buyers. Now the Volkswagen Jetta, as well as Chevrolet’s Cobalt replacement, the Cruze, look to gain a foothold in this market that’s generally dominated by drab, uninspiring Japanese vehicles.

Here’s how the latest competitors to Japanese hegemony fair in terms of specifications, price and features:

2011 Volkswagen Jetta

The Volkswagen Jetta is probably the most shocking development because the German’s have generally faltered in offering an affordable vehicle in this class. Options aside, it is the price that is a game changer for the Jetta. There has never been a Jetta offered in the $16,000 range (inflation aside) this alone puts the Jetta in a whole different class.

This was achieved by simplifying the suspension as well as offering four different engines, which include a 2.0L gas, 2.5L R5, the ever popular 2.0L TDI and now the 2.0 TSI engine.  Available in three trims (S, SE, and SEL) the Jetta should offer options to a much broader range of customers. The only problem is that the cost cutting has turned the lower price models into an out of date car, with the S and SE models offering rear drum brakes to save money.

2011 Chevrolet Cruze

The Chevrolet Cruze has already been on sale in Europe for a year now. Sales are up dramatically compared to its Korean predecessor, due to a new line of diesel powertrains.

The U.S. spec version will only offer two gasoline-powered engines. One will be a 1.8L naturally aspirated engine and a 1.4L turbocharged engine. Chevy takes an interesting approach to a turbo, instead of boosting power it is designed to increase fuel economy which is very similar to European designed small displacement engines. In terms of fuel economy the Cruze should be on par with the Jetta’s TDI numbers but without the added cost of buying a diesel engine.  A main selling point Chevy is trying to push is the fact that the Cruze will offer a Z-link suspension like on “race cars� but only a real test will prove if this is true or simply a marketing ploy to make people think they are getting a sports car when actually it offers limited driver connectedness.

2012 Ford Focus

The new Focus has emerged as a totally new redesign for the 2012 model year. The design once again offers a hatch as well as a four-door sedan. No two-door coupe has been announced yet. Style has become a key component of Ford cars and this one offers athletic styling related to the “Kinetic Design� theme employed on the 2011 Ford Fiesta. Ford is also offering its new MyTouch system to better serve their customer technology needs. Ford says that the vehicle will be slightly more expensive than its competitors, but they point to quality and options as well as the driving dynamics to be the deciding factor.

2010 Honda Civic

A new model of the Honda Civic is yet to hit the market because Honda deemed the replacement unfinished and in need of more tweaking. Many journalists have described the styling of the current Civic as that of a Dust Buster. The Civic has turned into a sedate family car except for the race tuned Si VTEC model.  The Civic is a bit behind the times when compared with the Focus and the Cruze though it is very comparable to Corolla as well as the S and SE trims of the 2011 Jetta. I personally have never driven a Honda Civic so in terms of driving dynamics I cannot say how it handles under normal or spirited driving. For Honda’s sake, hopefully the new Civic can once again be a segment leader.

2010 Toyota Corolla

The 2010 Corolla is the bestselling vehicle in this class not because it is a driver’s car or because it offers the best features in its class but because it is the most average of the class. Consumers normally buy Toyota’s not because of market research, but because they want a car that is hassle free and is offered at a good price. The interior is middle of the class as well as the exterior styling. When you see a Corolla on the road you can imagine anyone behind the wheel and Toyota has capitalized on this. The Corolla is not an enthusiast car even in the XRS trim it is still docile enough for the average driver. It is simply a decent car for a decent price when you need a car to drive from point A to point B.

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