Best Compact SedanCompact sedan archive · 2005 — 2026
The compact sedan,
buyer's guide.
15 nameplates, 73 model-year records, one measuring standard. Resale value, depreciation, maintenance, efficiency and trouble-free mileage — compared side by side.
- Median yearly maintenance
- $448
- Median 5-yr depreciation
- 41%
- Median combined MPG
- 31
- Median trouble-free miles
- 158,000
Latest available record per nameplate. Use the archive for every model year on file.
Top 15 compact sedans
Change the measure to re-rank the field. Ownership value is the composite of reliability, maintenance, depreciation and efficiency.
- 0198
Toyota Corolla
2024 · LE
- 0287
Honda Civic
2024 · Sport Sedan
- 0374
Hyundai Elantra
2024 · SEL
- 0471
Mazda Mazda3
2024 · Select Sport
- 0570
Kia Forte
2024 · LXS
- 0660
Subaru Impreza
2023 · Premium Sedan
- 0760
Nissan Sentra
2024 · SV
- 0856
Acura ILX
2022 · Premium
- 0954
Volkswagen Jetta
2024 · SE
- 1043
Chevrolet Cruze
2019 · LT
- 1135
Mitsubishi Lancer
2017 · ES
- 1225
Ford Focus
2018 · SE Sedan
- 1315
Dodge Dart
2016 · SXT
- 1412
Kia Spectra
2009 · EX
- 1511
Chevrolet Cobalt
2010 · LT
Scale · Ownership value
Full comparison ↓Every column, side by side
Brand, model, year and trim against the six ownership measures. Bars show relative depreciation and trouble-free mileage within the archive.
| # | Brand · Model · Trim | Resale price | 5-yr depreciation | Yearly maintenance | Combined MPG | Trouble-free miles | Origin · US content | Known issues |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Toyota Corolla 2024 · LE | $21,800 | 27% | $341 | 35 | 205,000 | Japan 12% origin parts US 58% parts · 100% assembly Built in USA | CVT whine at low speed; pronounced road noise above 70 mph. |
| 02 | Honda Civic 2024 · Sport Sedan | $23,400 | 32% | $368 | 36 | 185,000 | Japan 20% origin parts US 30% parts · 0% assembly Built in Canada | 1.5T oil dilution in cold climates; infotainment lag on early builds. |
| 03 | Hyundai Elantra 2024 · SEL | $19,200 | 38% | $396 | 36 | 165,000 | South Korea 30% origin parts US 40% parts · 100% assembly Built in USA | Theta II engine recall on earlier builds; thin paint on lower panels. |
| 04 | Mazda Mazda3 2024 · Select Sport | $22,100 | 34% | $402 | 31 | 178,000 | Japan 55% origin parts US 5% parts · 0% assembly Built in Mexico | Tight rear seat; low-profile tyres prone to sidewall damage. |
| 05 | Kia Forte 2024 · LXS | $18,300 | 40% | $385 | 34 | 162,000 | South Korea 15% origin parts US 5% parts · 0% assembly Built in Mexico | Pre-2022 cars lack an immobiliser and are theft targets; rear visibility. |
| 06 | Subaru Impreza 2023 · Premium Sedan | $20,100 | 33% | $468 | 30 | 172,000 | Japan 30% origin parts US 45% parts · 100% assembly Built in USA | CVT drone under load; thin paint on the bonnet edge. |
| 07 | Nissan Sentra 2024 · SV | $18,700 | 41% | $421 | 33 | 152,000 | Japan 25% origin parts US 15% parts · 0% assembly Built in Mexico | CVT shudder under sustained load; cabin materials wear early. |
| 08 | Acura ILX 2022 · Premium | $21,600 | 42% | $448 | 28 | 176,000 | Japan 20% origin parts US 55% parts · 100% assembly Built in USA | Dual-clutch judder from a stop; dated infotainment hardware. |
| 09 | Volkswagen Jetta 2024 · SE | $20,500 | 39% | $512 | 34 | 158,000 | Germany 30% origin parts US 8% parts · 0% assembly Built in Mexico | DSG mechatronic unit service intervals; sunroof drain leaks. |
| 10 | Chevrolet Cruze 2019 · LT | $12,900 | 52% | $455 | 32 | 138,000 | United States US 20% parts · 0% assembly Built in Mexico | Thermostat housing coolant leaks; 1.4T turbo oil consumption. |
| 11 | Mitsubishi Lancer 2017 · ES | $10,600 | 58% | $438 | 30 | 128,000 | Japan 85% origin parts US 5% parts · 0% assembly Built in Japan | CVT overheating in traffic; shrinking dealer network for parts. |
| 12 | Ford Focus 2018 · SE Sedan | $11,400 | 56% | $512 | 30 | 121,000 | United States US 60% parts · 100% assembly Built in USA | PowerShift dual-clutch shudder; TCM failure covered by extended warranty. |
| 13 | Dodge Dart 2016 · SXT | $9,800 | 61% | $548 | 30 | 112,000 | United States US 60% parts · 100% assembly Built in USA | Dual-clutch hesitation; recurring electrical faults and parts scarcity. |
| 14 | Kia Spectra 2009 · EX | $4,600 | 71% | $452 | 27 | 98,000 | South Korea 95% origin parts US 3% parts · 0% assembly Built in South Korea | Camshaft position sensor faults; rust at the rear wheel arches. |
| 15 | Chevrolet Cobalt 2010 · LT | $5,400 | 68% | $486 | 27 | 104,000 | United States US 70% parts · 100% assembly Built in USA | Ignition switch recall; electric power steering motor failure. |
Ten years old, half a million miles
One survivor from the far end of the odometer, with what kept it running.
Fun fact · 01
Honda Civic · 2006 — 2011
Half a million miles on the original engine
The eighth-generation Civic was engineered for distance. Its 1.8-litre R18 runs a timing chain instead of a belt, so there is no scheduled replacement, and the aluminium block is sleeved so it can be honed rather than scrapped. High-mileage registries list several of these cars past 500,000 miles with the factory engine, transmission and suspension bushings still in place — the wear items are the same ones a 100,000-mile car needs.
What it is
- 1.8-litre SOHC i-VTEC inline-four, 140 hp
- Chain-driven cams — no timing belt service
- Five-speed manual or five-speed automatic
- 36 mpg highway from a 1,200 kg body
One standard, applied to every car
- 01Resale price
- Typical private-party value today for the listed model year and trim in good condition, clean title, average miles for its age.
- 025-yr depreciation
- Share of original value lost across the first five years of ownership, based on segment auction data rather than sticker price.
- 03Yearly maintenance
- Average annual parts and labour beyond routine oil and tyres, including scheduled services and common wear items.
- 04Combined MPG
- EPA combined city and highway figure for the drivetrain offered with the listed trim.
- 05Trouble-free miles
- Distance typically covered before a first unscheduled repair above $500, drawn from owner surveys and repair-order studies.
- 06Ownership value
- A 0–100 composite: reliability 35%, maintenance 25%, depreciation 25%, efficiency 15%, normalised across the archive.
- 07Country of origin
- The home market of the brand that designs and engineers the car, with the share of parts content it supplies for this model year.
- 08US parts & assembly
- Two separate figures: the percentage of parts content sourced in the United States, and the percentage of final assembly performed in a US plant.
All figures are editorial estimates assembled for comparison, not dealer quotes, warranty terms or guarantees. Real costs vary by region, climate, driving mix and service history — verify any specific vehicle against a VIN-based history report and a pre-purchase inspection.