2012 Nissan Versa Sedan SV
Price: $14,870.
Fuel economy: 30 mpg city and 38 mpg highway.
Distinguishing itself as the most affordable car on our list, the 2012 Nissan Versa is an around-town workhorse. We picked the sedan over the hatchback because the sedan was redesigned this year.
We like that Versa gets the best city fuel economy on our list. In every other requirement we used, it landed in the middle of the pack.
Its 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine pushes out 109 horsepower to the front wheels via a continuously variable automatic transmission. It may not be the quickest of our seven entries, but it delivers a comfortable ride and better-than-average handling.
On its standard equipment list are air conditioning, six air bags, full power accessories, remote keyless entry, cruise control and a four-speaker audio system with CD player and auxiliary input jack.