Fun and Fuel Efficient in 2009 : New Honda 2009

Fun and Fuel Efficient in 2009
by Robert Dillman
Performance and miles per gallon are rarely mentioned positively together in the same sentence. During the American muscle car era, depleting oil sources and $4.00 per-gallon gasoline prices were never on the minds of the automakers. Therefore the biggest, most powerful engines possible were stuffed into the heaviest body and frame structures ever seen on the road. Today is a much different story. Unstable oil prices and economic turmoil are a burden on the auto industry. With hybrid and electric powered vehicles on the distant horizon, many automakers are looking to their compact four-cylinder models to keep business afloat. Some of these compact cars are not only extremely fuel efficient, a few are downright sporty and actually fun to drive. These light chassis platforms may soon be the only options for car-driving enthusiasts to afford to own. Here is a short list of the fun and versatile cars coming out for the 2009 model year. 2009 Toyota Matrix The newest rendition of the Matrix model from Toyota is the fastest and sportiest yet. With multiple engine, transmission and drivetrain choices, the Matrix buyer is given the ability to decide which combination is best suited for him/her in everyday driving. The base model Matrix comes with a 1.8 liter engine with 132 horsepower and either a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmission. The base model comes in a front-wheel drive trim and gets and astounding 32 miles-per-gallon on the highway. S and XRS model variants of the Matrix both come with the bigger 2.4 liter engine with 160 horsepower. This engine also has Toyota's variable-valve-timing system to achieve fuel economy at lower revs but still provide a burst of power in the higher rev-range. The S trim comes standard with the all-wheel-drive system and the four-speed automatic tranny, while the XRS is fitted with the five-speed manual gear box and the front-wheel-drive system. The choices are complicated but give the consumer complete control on what they want to drive. This sport-hatchback offers a more aggressive model to the Toyota lineup, with great fuel economy and everyday utility. The suspension has been redesigned from the Corolla model to offer better handling and less body roll. Prices from the Matrix start at $17,000 for the base model and can climb to $22,000 for a loaded S trim all-wheel-drive variant. 2009 Honda Fit The Fit is also redesigned for 2009. Honda has upgraded the new Fit with much more aggressive styling, a newer-more powerful engine, bigger-more efficient brakes and a more refined and roomier interior. The Sport version also offers suspension upgrades and even more styling cues to the already sporty base model. The new Fit comes with a retuned 1.5 liter i-VTEC motor with 117 horsepower. It's up eight horses from last year's model but still gets 35 miles-per-gallon on the highway. Like the Matrix, the Fit's engine features variable-valve-timing technology (like most Hondas) that allows the driver to have excellent fuel economy at low revs and better performance at higher engine speeds. The body and frame of the Fit have also been redesigned to offer a more rigid and stiffened suspension ride quality when you are cornering through the twistys. For the 2009 model, two transmissions are offered: a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. The paddle shifters are Formula One inspired and offer the driver instantaneous up and down shifts at their fingertips. The base model Fit starts at $14,500 while the sport model with the optional navigation system comes is priced around $19,000. That makes the Fit affordable in any model or variation and the bargain of the year when you combine its performance and styling with its fuel efficient nature. 2009 Mini Cooper The 2009 Cooper is relatively the same-looking as the first generation that arrived in the U.S. in 2006. Besides a few design changes to the front end (headlights, hood-scoop) and a new wheel design, the first and second generation Coopers are identical. That however, is where the similarities end. The most distinct change to the Mini is all-new turbocharged power plant under the hood of the S trimmed model. The 1.7 liter four-banger is no fitted with BMW's twin-scroll turbocharger to deliver neck-snapping torque at every rpm. The old Mini had a supercharged 1.6 liter engine that lacked the top end horsepower of the new version. Power is up to 172 horses. By the way, not only in the new Cooper S the fastest on this list, but on the highway it gets the best gas mileage. It's a whopping 37 miles per gallon on the highway. The new Mini comes in two trims, base and S models. Each comes with a close-ratio six-speed manual gear box, but a six-speed automatic with paddle shifters is optional. The cheaper base model gets a 1.6 liter motor with 120 horsepower instead of the turbocharged mill. Both models get the famous Cooper go-kart style suspension, but the S model comes standard with upgraded springs, stiffer shocks, bigger vented disc brakes and a new traction control system; to give it even better handling characteristics. Pricing for the base model Cooper starts at $19,200, while the S model is $22,600, making this the most expensive compact on this list if you opt for the fully-loaded S model. It's well worth the price though, for all of the performance and handling upgrades that Mini is offering with their 2009 model. The Cooper's excellent fuel economy alone will make the new version a hot seller as gas prices continue to climb.