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Scion's 2009 xD is a small, 5-door hatchback geared toward young urban dwellers on a budget who are interested in a small car that provides many of the interior appointments of a larger, more expensive vehicle.
A 128-horsepower, 1.8L four-cylinder engine provides power for the front-wheel-drive xD, along with either a 4-speed automatic or 4-speed manual transmission. According to the EPA, the xD r..... |
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The 2009 Scion tC is still powered by a single engine option, a sporty 161-horsepower, 2.4L 4-cylinder with Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i). It powers the front wheels through either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. The VVT-i aids in responsiveness throughout the rev range as well as fuel-efficient operation. The tC is certified as an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (..... |
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The A3, which has been sold in Europe since 1996, was adapted for the U.S. market in 2005. Audi sells the A3 as "the first four-door car with the sportiness of a TT coupe."
The base engine is a smooth 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder that makes 200 hp and 207 ft-lb of torque, and is available with front-wheel drive. The 2.0T comes standard with a precise 6-speed manual gearbox that has light and easy..... |
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All 2009 Kia Rio models are powered by a 110-horsepower, 1.6L four-cylinder engine, matched with either a 5-speed manual of 4-speed automatic transmission, and all are front-wheel drive. With the 5-speed manual, the Rio returns 32 mpg city, 35 mpg highway in the EPA cycle.
The fun-to-drive aspects are emphasized in the Rio's economical design. The engine utilizes continuously variable valve timin..... |
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The 2009 Kia Spectra has a starting base price of $13,200. The Spectra5, the hatch version, has a starting price of $16,345.
All 2009 Kia Spectra models are powered by a 138-horsepower 2.0L DOHC 4-cylinder engine, and available with either a 5-speed manual gearbox or 4-speed automatic. With the manual transmission, the Spectra gets an EPA fuel economy rating of 23 mpg city, 30 mpg highway. When eq..... |
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The Versa is Nissan's entry-level model, slotted below the Sentra. It offers energy, budget and safety-conscious consumers inexpensive entry into one of the safest and smartest small cars on the market.
The Versa is available in 4 trim levels and 2 body styles starting with the 1.6L Base edition which features an ultra low starting price of under $10,000. With 107 horsepower, the 1.6 editions off..... |
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The Accent comes in three trim levels -- the most expensive of which starts around $15,000. The GS hatchback is the bare-bones option, the SE hatchback is the most luxe, and the GLS four-door sedan is the happy medium. All three have a 1.6L 4-cylinder engine making 110 hp mated to a 5-speed manual, but a 4-speed automatic transmission is available as an option.
The GS is basic, but not stripped. L..... |
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The Mazda3 is offered as either a four-door sedan or five-door hatchback. Both body styles can be paired with a choice of two different powertrains. For sedans, the i trim comes with a 148-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, while the s trim upgrades to a 156-horsepower, 2.3-liter four. Hatchbacks are only available with the 2.3L engine. The high-performance MazdaSpeed3 hatch gets a turboc..... |
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For 2009, Volkswagen's value-priced Rabbit and the performance-oriented GTI are both available in 2- or 4-door hatchback body styles.
A 170-horsepower, 2.5L 5-cylinder engine powers the Rabbit; in 2-door models it is available with either a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission, which has a Sport mode, while the 4-door Rabbit is available only with the automatic.
The GTI fe..... |
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