Automotive ADD again - smallest "comfy" car around?

I've had my 2005 Highlander for a little under 1.5 years, and am getting tired of driving a wagon on stilts. I think I'm just not a SUV/CUV person. It is also old enough that it is coming up on needing some work, and it's either going to take a chunk of my time or a chunk of my money to deal with it. When my challenge s10 is roadworthy, I am tempted to get rid of it for something that sits a bit lower, and is newer with lower mileage. I'll probably just end up keeping it, as its the responsible thing to do, but what the heck, might as well go through the thought exercise.

I don't drive it a lot, maybe 12000 miles a year, but a decent chunk of that is on long trips. One thing I really like about it is the size and maneuverability in parking lots, which I am afraid I may lose when going to the kind of car I'd want. Don't need anything ultra fast, would just like something comfortable, and less tippy than the current vehicle. Criteria include:

1. Heated seats
2. FWD or RWD, no AWD/4WD
3. preferably no European cars
4. Quiet interior
5. Not too rough of a ride, but not "wallowing" either.
6. Max price of 18K, but would be nice to go lower.
7. Would prefer something smaller.

So far, I've come up with:

1. Late Lexus LS430 - may be a bit on the big side, plus mileage isn't much better than the Highlander
2. Lexus GS350 - kind of rare, and still a bit bigger than I'd like
3. Newest Mercury Grand Marquis I can find - way bigger than I want, but would probably be cheap.
4. 3rd gen Toyota Prius 4 - not sure about the lack of power, and may be a bit noisier than I'd like, but then its probably an improvement from the highlander. It also has the advantage of a hatch, so it could work for junkyard runs in a pinch. The awesome mileage is a big bonus.
5. Mk7 Golf (non-GTI) - I know, its European, but I really like my wife's GTI, and could potentially see myself driving one, and I suspect a 1-2 year old model has some hefty depreciation.
6. Lexus IS 250 (non-F sport, non-AWD) - May not be the easiest to find in RWD around here, but seems to tick most of the boxes. Does anyone who has one have an opinion on if it makes a good highway cruiser?

I know I'm missing a wide swath out there, so can anyone think of small-midsize and smaller vehicles that might match this criteria?

This seems like a job for the Buick Verano. Doesn't Wall-e have one?

szeis4cookie wrote: This seems like a job for the Buick Verano. Doesn't Wall-e have one?

On paper, I love it, but I have sat in one, and you could lose a Semi truck in the A-pillar. I should probably still test drive one, anyway.

For $18K you could probably get into a used '14 Mazda6 with some miles on it.

I have a '15 Mazda6 Touring that I bought new and I love it. It's a true mid size with enough leg room in the back for a real adult to sit comfortably (I'm 6'1" and I could sit in back) and good useful truck room, especially if you fold the back seat down (I slept in the back of it once when it rained heavily on a camping trip). The interior is comfortable as well and while the design of it isn't "flashy", the materials are good except for the crappy seat bolsters. At 185 hp it's not exactly "fast" but it isn't frustratingly slow either. If you were coming from something faster you'd be disappointed though. Handling is great and this is where it really shines. I've been wanting to but a beefier rear sway bar on it and do Bilsteins and H&R springs but with working on my 84 GTI I have been prioritizing putting money into that instead. Gas mileage is also great. I average about 330-350 miles city and 400-450 miles for pure highway miles on long trips.

Forte5 SX with the new 1.6T. HEated and cooled seats, room for 4, but small footprint. Fun drivetrain, good looks and used are in the mid teens.

$15,000 and 18000 miles

In reply to szeis4cookie:

I do. It fits almost perfectly into what you're looking for as long as you don't need to put tall people in the back seat. The wife and I are super comfortable in the front but most people in the back have complained about the lack of leg room. In the 18 months I've owned it she's covered 70,000 miles, and not counting accident damage from a suicidal deer it's needed 9 oil changes, 3 air filters, and 2 tires. It was a left over so with rebates and discounts I got it for a $19,500. This was by far the nicest car I looked at for that money and it's still as tight and smooth as the day it left the lot.

G37 4 door.

eastsidemav wrote:

szeis4cookie wrote: This seems like a job for the Buick Verano. Doesn't Wall-e have one?

On paper, I love it, but I have sat in one, and you could lose a Semi truck in the A-pillar. I should probably still test drive one, anyway.

You get used to looking out the little port hole up there.

I think you said it already in the IS. The other option for something quiet is the Acura ILX. You can bolt on Civic SI gear if you want. A 30-40K mile 2.4L example is 16.5K range.

I'm going to go with my suggestion from the other 'commuter' thread and say Lexus CT200h. It's the stylish, more luxurious cousin of the Prius family, and supposedly offers better driving dynamics thanks to a retuned suspension. Mazda 3 sized hatch with Prius fuel economy and Lexus interior.

Bobzilla wrote: Forte5 SX with the new 1.6T. HEated and cooled seats, room for 4, but small footprint. Fun drivetrain, good looks and used are in the mid teens. $15,000 and 18000 miles

2nd this. I came very close to buying one of those before deciding to pay cash for something and not having a payment.

By eliminating European cars, you're eliminating a very large swath of the kind of car you're looking for. Smaller Japanese cars tend to trend "sporty" over "comfortable". European sportiness tends to be a lot more mature, if that makes any sense, and the US didn't hardly get any low-rent cars sent across the pond.

This is a subject I think about a lot because any car I have can't be any larger than the S40 I have now or it won't fit in my garage. As much as it annoys me, it turns out that I accidentally bought exactly the car I wanted after all. What fun is that?

bmw88rider wrote: I think you said it already in the IS. The other option for something quiet is the Acura ILX. You can bolt on Civic SI gear if you want. A 30-40K mile 2.4L example is 16.5K range.

But they're so tiny inside! I was so surprised at how cramped a living space it is in those things when they came out. Exterior, they are almost identical to my first gen Forte, but inside? My car feels like the Dr Who call box compared to the ILX.

Knurled wrote: By eliminating European cars, you're eliminating a very large swath of the kind of car you're looking for. Smaller Japanese cars tend to trend "sporty" over "comfortable". European sportiness tends to be a lot more mature, if that makes any sense, and the US didn't hardly get any low-rent cars sent across the pond. This is a subject I think about a lot because any car I have can't be any larger than the S40 I have now or it won't fit in my garage. As much as it annoys me, it turns out that I accidentally bought exactly the car I wanted after all. What fun is that?

Yup, it sure does eliminate a lot of candidates. Part of it is I want something to just drive for a while, add gas, and change the oil occasionally. Seems the odds of that go down somewhat with European cars, take my wife's GTI for example - less than 30K miles, and it'll be getting a new shifter assembly soon. I know some people get lucky, but I don't think I'd want to take the chance myself.

I am enjoying the functionality of my recently purchased, used Prius. Not dynamic to drive but also not tireing or fatigueing to drive.

I have an '07 Gen2 but I hear the Gen3 are more refined.

In reply to eastsidemav:

That's part of the Volkswagen Experience. Somehow having Ferrari levels of maintenance make you think your car is actually the equivalent of a Ferrari. My inlaws went through 30 years of VW ownership before getting a Honda and is awestruck at the lack of repairs.

I have an LS430, and although very maneuverable it is not a small car. G35/G37 is more compact.

What about the newest Accord you can find in your price range?

Wall-e wrote: In reply to eastsidemav: That's part of the Volkswagen Experience. Somehow having Ferrari levels of maintenance make you think your car is actually the equivalent of a Ferrari. My inlaws went through 30 years of VW ownership before getting a Honda and is awestruck at the lack of repairs.

Admittedly, it is the most "solid" feeling compact car I have ever driven. If the Jetta was on the MQB platform, I'd probably be looking at it. But yeah, it's not confidence inspiring to see an issue like this so early in the car's life.

SEADave wrote: I have an LS430, and although very maneuverable it is not a small car. G35/G37 is more compact. What about the newest Accord you can find in your price range?

I do really like the look of the Accord Coupe. I'll have to keep it in mind, and see if I can find an EX-L coupe in my price range. I think I'd prefer a 4cyl with a conventional automatic, so I'll have to go back a few years anyway.

JohnRW1621 wrote: I am enjoying the functionality of my recently purchased, used Prius. Not dynamic to drive but also not tireing or fatigueing to drive. I have an '07 Gen2 but I hear the Gen3 are more refined.

Good to hear - do you live in a hilly area? I'm in southwest Ohio, so while they usually aren't too steep, I have to deal with hills everywhere, which is where the power concern comes from.

I'll have to add the CT200h to my test drive list, too.

eastsidemav wrote: my wife's GTI for example - less than 30K miles, and it'll be getting a new shifter assembly soon. I know some people get lucky, but I don't think I'd want to take the chance myself.

never judge European cars by VW. It's like judging all European cars by 70's fiats. The Volvo S4 and it's sister the V40 are both very good cars that check most of the boxes you are after. Because they are mostly a mazda, they are generally pretty reliable

I know the ILX is small inside. It kind of surprised me how they could make a 4 door sedan feel like a 2 door coupe and not in a good way. The IS is the same way. For me it's fine. I've only had someone in my rear seat twice this year . I was just thinking small and quiet and that was the first thing that popped in my mind. It made my G37 seem pretty loud.

mad_machine wrote:

eastsidemav wrote: my wife's GTI for example - less than 30K miles, and it'll be getting a new shifter assembly soon. I know some people get lucky, but I don't think I'd want to take the chance myself.

never judge European cars by VW. It's like judging all European cars by 70's fiats. The Volvo S4 and it's sister the V40 are both very good cars that check most of the boxes you are after. Because they are mostly a mazda, they are generally pretty reliable

ahem

The S40/V40 are Volvo-engined, Aisin-transmissoned Mitsubishis.

The S40/V50 are Volvo-engined, Aisin-transmissioned Fords. That's a Focus under there, not a Mazda.

The V40/V50 distinction makes all the difference in the world.

In either case, the cars are built by Volvo with purchased designs but Volvo-sourced and -specified parts. They aren't rebadges like, say, Toyotas and Chevys built in the same plant. My S40 does NOT feel like any Mitsubishi to drive, it is much more solid and refined feeling. Nice hydraulic mounts instead of plain rubber ones, nice quality interior, lots of sound deadening, MUCH better electricals. It's the little things like that which make all the difference.

Likewise the Focus-based ones don't feel cheap and chintzy like a Mazda3. They are also the polar opposite of rustability.

In reply to Knurled:

I came to say S40/V50 and am glad I'm not the only one. I'd go with that or a Mazda 3. Newer used fusions almost fit the bill as well, I'd say used SHO, but they're a bit large.

Back seat space is also not a concern. If we know we are going to be carrying passengers, we can always take my wife's car. Or just make our passengers suffer.