If I were to ask the average guy his favourite 3 cars I wouldn’t be surprised if I heard responses like a Lamborghini, a Porsche or a Mercedes Benz. However being the practical person that I am, these brands are far from the top 3 cars I have in mind. In fact I’m sure my choices will surprise you. To better explain my perspective I should probably start by mentioning what I look for in car. Above all, I look for cars that are affordable and have longevity; for me that rounds out to be a Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3 or Honda Civic. While these cars do have additional features that make them appealing, I am most attracted to the fact that they are quality-engineered cars that will stick around in the long haul.
The Toyota Corolla is a Japanesemanufactured car that first appeared on the market in 1961. The Corolla is a mid-sized compact car that offers great fuel efficiency and is one of the best-selling cars in its class. Toyota has been around for many years and is known for producing cars that are functional with solid road performance. When I drive a Corolla I feel comfortable it has the space to pack in all my things for a cross country road trip without running out of space. I have also trekked to some not so smooth terrain and was pleasantly surprised by the car’s ability to handle the terrain. These days Toyota has branched out to producing some energy efficient fleets which reduce impact on the environment while still maintaining the quality that Toyota is known for.
The Mazda 3 is another Japanese manufactured compact car that is known for its speed. The Mazda 3 comes in the sedan or the hatchback version. The one thing I like most about the Mazda (apart from its functionality) is its sleek design. Unlike the Toyota corolla the Mazda 3 looks almost like a sports car but has the conveniencesof a mid-sized vehicle. When the red Mazda zips down the street you would have to look twice to realize that it is not a sport car. It offers excellent performance and handling, but is not as fuel efficient as theCorolla. The Mazda 3 also has some neat features like allowing the driver to start the engine before entering the car (which is a life saver during those awful winters). Although being a compact car, Mazda appear to be somewhat smaller in the interior and can feel like a tight squeeze. This aside Mazda has a reputation for being a great build with superior performance and handling.
The HondaCivic is an indispensable model in the world of cars. For most new car buyers, the Honda civic works out to be ideal due to be great pricing and functionality. Although it is still a compact car, Hondas don’t have as sleek of an appearance as the Mazda counterparts. Howeverrecent models of the car have been noticeably redesigned to offer a more modern, attractive appearance. Hondas are well known for their reliability and fuel efficiency and in later models significant strides have been made to improve performance and safety.
While I’ll be the first to admit it, these are definitely not your luxury top-of-the line cars. However as a new car owner they offer a great value that meets the requirements most important to me. Furthermore, newer models of these brands have started to offer luxury features that make then even more comparable to features found in luxury cars. I know you’re thinking, give me my Jaguar or Pontiac instead, but you would be surprised how much further your money can go with these well-rounded trusted brands. Give them a fair shake the next time to walk into your dealership!