• 107-21 Jamaica Ave. Richmond Hill, NY 11418

THIS SCHOOL IS LICENSED BY THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Good Things Come in Small Packages: Honda Fit Caters to Fun and Family

When it comes to buying a new car, families have a variety of choices currently available; there are budget-friendly vehicles that are easy on the environment to larger SUVs, minivans and more.

Honda Fit

VP's Driving School

For small families of three to four, a car like the Honda Fit offers that perfect combination of low price, terrific gas mileage, comfort, and safety features.

USNews.rankingsandreviews.com states the Honda Fit is the No. 1 affordable small car and in hatchbacks because of the best combination of ownership costs and positive reviews for those classes.

According to Jean Knows Cars, the 2013 Honda Fit is a small car that effectively utilizes all of its space. The car can fit five fully grown adults, including the middle back seat. It can transform into more of a utility vehicle when the rear seats are folded down. According to MSN.com, the Honda Fit handles better than most small cars.

The seemingly petite car boasts an impressive 57.3 cubic feet of storage space, which is more than any of the sedans over at Honda or the Crosstour. The base range price maxes out at about $20,000, so it’s definitely friendly on the wallet. It averages 28 mpg in the city and 35 highway, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Although a comfortable ride, ample storage space and a low-price tag are definitely great features to look for in a new car, understanding its safety features is important. The optional safety equipment like blind-spot monitoring helps to set it apart and make the vehicle an attractive choice to young couples and families.

VP's Driving School

Photo by MIKI Yoshihito via Flickr

Mazda 3

Ranked the same as the Honda Fit as No. 1 in affordable small cars and hatchbacks, according to USNews.rankingsandreviews.com, the Mazda 3 boasts a strong engine and sharp handling. It gets 28 city mpg and 40 highway mpg, according to the EPA.

The car seats five, comes in both manual and automatic transmissions for most models and reviewers think most of the interior controls are straightforward, states USNews.rankingsandreviews.

Kelley Blue Book gives the highest ratings for driving dynamics in the Mazda 3. A good bet in the long run, it has a strong resale value.

The Mazda 3 has less cargo space, even though it's a hatchback. Tall adults will have a harder time fitting in the front seats, states Kelley Blue Book.

VP's Driving School

Photo by Peter Alfred Hess via Flickr

Ford Focus

The Focus ranks No. 4 in affordable small cars and hatchbacks, according to USNews.rankingsandreviews.com. The base Focus averages 27 city mpg and 38 highway mpg.

MarketWatch states that it is solidly built, comfortable and fun to drive.

According to Kelley Blue Book, the Focus' materials are high-quality. Both the sedan and hatchbacks offer good cargo space, but neither has as much room as the Honda Fit or the Chevrolet Cruze, according to USNews.rankingsandreviews.

VP's Driving School

Photo by Nicolas Serre via Flickr