When buying a car, what do you use as a guide to choose?
There are many ways on how you are going to choose upon buying a car especially if you are looking for a quality vehicle that will stays for longer years. In this connection, these are the factors that you should consider as your guidelines upon choosing best and quality car/vehicle.
Step 1: Know what car you want to buy
The first thing you need to ask yourself is: “Why do I need this car in my life?”
Tip: Take this fun quiz to know what kind of car fits your lifestyle.
Step 2: Estimate your budget
Now that we’re done with the fun part, it’s important to decide on a car that you can realistically afford. Last thing everyone wants, is to sink into debt for a vehicle that’s too expensive to pay for!
Step 3: Shop around for “the one”
Buying your first car is like finding a partner. Take all the time you need to browse for the right dealer/direct owner, price and inspect the unit thoroughly!
Lastly, the Appearance (design), fuel efficiency, ease of driving and etc. However, I think that “vehicle price” is what most people use as a guide when choosing a car.
In this issue, we will introduce the cheapest new regular cars for each domestic maker.
Toyota PASSO
Toyota Motor Corporation is a global automaker, not only in Japan. With a wide variety of car models, the price range is also wide.
The cheapest car in Toyota is the Passo.
- Body Price: From 1,265,000 yen (including tax)
- Fuel economy: 24.4-28.0km/L
- Improved fuel economy and a wide range of colors
Passo has been reborn as a new model, and its fuel economy has been greatly improved.
The wide variety of colors makes choosing a car fun.
In addition, the interior storage is quite convenient. It is a car that makes you happy with its attention to detail.
The price is super cheap for a compact car, but the playful design is sympathetic.
Nissan March
From mini cars to SUVs and wagons, Nissan is enjoying strong sales. The number of models is smaller than Toyota’s, but it is still a good choice. Nissan’s least expensive car is the March.
- Body price: from ³,289,200
- Fuel economy: 21.4-23.0km/L
- Compact, but with a high level of interior comfort
The March boasts one of the longest histories in Nissan’s current lineup.
It has evolved with changes in design, but its driving performance and safety have also been enhanced.Depending on the grade, the information on the instrument panel can be enhanced in a fun way.
As is true of all Nissan models, there is no denying that the interior is a bit cheap-looking.However, it has been quite a while since the current model was launched.
In fact, only about one car is currently sold every two months at Nissan dealerships (and much of that is corporate demand).Frankly speaking, I don’t think there is any advantage to buying a new March. Although it has undergone a series of minor changes and has automatic braking (intelligent emergency braking), the quality of the interior has not changed in the old fashioned way.
Honda Fit
Honda has changed its design tendencies drastically, and the number of peculiar cars has increased. Personally, I have the impression that more and more cars are disappointing.However, I think that the new Fit, which will be introduced in February 2020, will have a rather simple design.
Putting design aside for the moment, what makes Honda cars great is their low fuel consumption, low center of gravity, and safety performance.
Most new models these days are equipped with Honda SENSING, a safety technology.
A car that is inexpensive but has excellent safety features can, in the broader view, lead to fewer traffic accidents, so Honda may be contributing to the public good as well.
It is also worth mentioning that the interior quality is good despite the low price range.
- Body Price: From ³,557,600
- Fuel economy: 18.2-29.4km/L (WLTC mode)
- Interior design is particular. Easy to use with a wide variety of seat arrangements.
The Honda Fit is a particularly common sight in the city, although it is not as active as it used to be. Its price is higher than that of Passo and March, but its interior and efficient space-saving design are well thought out.
It is not a compact car, and its spacious and capacious cargo area is also very usable. One detail that personally impressed me was the versatility of the seat arrangements. When the seats are in “tall mode,” even tall luggage can be loaded. A decade ago, this concept was not available in compact cars, so I think it is as expected of Honda.
Mitsubishi Mirage
Comparing the new model with the old model, the new model seems to be much more docile. Considering that Mitsubishi Motors has been releasing a new model with a “geek look” with the Delica D:5, the new model has settled on a very simple design.
Until recently, the fuel efficiency of Mitsubishi Motors was not so prominent, but gradually, environmental friendliness has been seen in the lineup. Mitsubishi is strongly associated with 4WDs, but there is also a surprisingly wide range of compact and family cars.
Although the range of models and prices is not as wide as those of other manufacturers, they should be included in the candidate list for car selection.
- Body price: From 1,432,200 yen
- Fuel economy: 20.0 km/L (WLTC mode)
- Automatic brake system is standard equipment. Highly rated for both interior and exterior
The price is low among Japanese compact cars, and yet the Mitsubishi e-Assist automatic brake system is standard equipment. Basic safety features such as the collision damage reduction brake system [FCM] and lane departure warning system [LDW] are fully equipped.
Considering the balance between price and performance, this car is a good “buy”. Not many people on the street drive them, so you could say that they are “hole-in-the-wall” cars. However, Mitsubishi Motors, which has lost its credibility due to the emissions scandal, has not been introducing new models or remodeling as much as other manufacturers.
As for the Mirage, the exterior design has changed with the model change, but the interior remains the same as before (rounded taste) instrument panel. Compared to the Honda Fit in the same price range, the Fit is superior in terms of quality.
Mazda MAZDA2
The time when Mazda was called “Mazda’s hell” is gone as its design quality became highly acclaimed. The highly refined body design is even beautiful.
Mazda has many models with sporty appearance, so it is a manufacturer that car enthusiasts in particular should consider.
- Body price: 1,350,000 yen and up
- Fuel economy: 20.6-30.0km/L
- Winner of the 2014-2015 Japan Car of the Year Award
Needless to say, the design of the MAZDA2 has been highly acclaimed for its driving performance. While pursuing driving pleasure, it also achieves low fuel consumption.
It is built with a sense of luxury (upscale) for its price.
The interior is well tailored, with unique fabric seats.
In terms of safety performance, the company has put a great deal of effort into the car, including the use of automatic braking as well as a system (360° view monitor) that helps the driver recognize areas not visible to him or her.
In addition, the shape and materials used to prepare for possible collisions (PASSIVE SAFETY) have been adopted, so even a compact car is characterized by a high level of safety.
As for engine performance, the SKYACTIV-G 1.5 has been further evolved and the compression ratio has been increased from 12 to 14 to improve fuel economy and environmental performance.
Mazda has adopted a lineup structure in which the design is common to some extent and the size increases as the model gets higher in the lineup.
Subaru Justy
Subaru has a weapon called “EyeSight” that other manufacturers do not have. This technology detects not only vehicles but also pedestrians and activates automatic braking.
It has received the highest rank in preventive safety evaluation, so if safety is your first choice, Subaru is the best choice without hesitation. The cheapest such Subaru car is the “Justy” (an OEM supply model of the Daihatsu “Thor”). The cheapest car used to be the “Tresia,” but its production has been discontinued due to a review of its lineup.
Fuel economy is 16.8km/L or better, but considering the size of the vehicle, this is a reasonable figure. Priced at 1,964,600 yen and up, the Justy is not inexpensive and does not come equipped with “EyeSight. What it does have is a safety feature called “Smart Assist.
Both EyeSight and Smart Assist use the same stereo camera, but there is a clear difference in actual performance, and EyeSight is definitely better.
Smart Assist 3 is equipped with a collision avoidance system, but the actual performance is not as high. Therefore, if you are going to buy a Subaru car, you want to choose a car equipped with EyeSight.
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