Picking up the pace: new models are raising the bar for small sedans.(Small Sedans - Road Test)(Buyers Guide)(Cover Story)(Evaluation)

Small cars make sense for many people. They're relatively inexpensive. Most use fuel sparingly. Some now offer the kind of roominess previously associated with midsized cars. Admittedly, small sedans are not the best choice for a large family or for carrying a lot of cargo, but they can be just right for your daily commute or for running around-town errands.

The pace of improvement in this category has noticeably accelerated over the last few years. As recently as 1999, for instance, the Mazda Protege was our top-rated small car. That year, we applauded its nimble handling, spacious rear seats, lively engine, and well-made interior. Now, new or redesigned models have left it behind. These include the Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, and the redesigned Toyota Corolla and Subaru Impreza, tested this month.

The best of the newer models offer the same positive attributes as the Protege, plus better ride quality, handling, and fuel economy. Some, such as the Focus and the Impreza, provide a nimble feel and responsive handling that make them particularly fun to drive.

For this issue, we pit the Protege against three new or recently re-designed competitors: the Impreza, which received a major redesign for 2002; the new-for-2002 Mitsubishi Lancer, which replaced the Mirage; and the redesigned 2003 Corolla, which went on sale in February. As tested, these models range from $16,585 to $20,618.

RECOMMENDATIONS

In this group, the capable and well-rounded Toyota Corolla easily outscored the others. However, in the overall small-sedan category, the Honda Civic, which we last tested in February 2001, remains our most highly recommended model. It's well made, reliable, and nimble-handling, with a good balance of acceleration and fuel economy. (The spacious and sporty Ford Focus outscored both the Civic and Corolla in our tests, but its reliability was below average in our subscriber survey, which prevents us from recommending it.)

With its efficient 130-hp, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, this ninth-generation Corolla achieved both the best acceleration and overall fuel economy (29 mpg) of the group--an impressive showing. (The Civic also gets 29 mpg, but the Corolla is a bit quicker.) Other highlights for the Corolla are a composed ride, spacious interior, and comfortable rear seat. Handling is capable but not outstanding. The one notable drawback is the driving position, which some of our testers found ...