2011 Family Car Under $30,000

In family car Space for people and stuff, safety, economy, and reliability are the primary criteria in consumers' minds.Here are three cars which you can see for 2011.I love Volkswagen Jetta among three.

1. Volkswagen Jetta

Jetta stood out here with fuel consumptionm and understandably, you just can't beat a diesel.

Its transmission, with a Dual-Clutch Gearbox (DSG), gave the performance and economy of a manual with the comfort of an automatic.And its steering and handling was superior. There really seems to be something to this “German engineering” thing, even if Jetta is built in Mexico.

2. Hyundai Sonata

Sonata was fingered by some to be a strong contender for the Overall Car of the Year award, combining as it does strong scores in most of the traditional ‘Family Car’ attributes, with eye-catching styling inside and out.Its sales have also got off to a sensational start, but it still came in second t jetta.

3. Suzuki Kizashi

To me, this was one of the surprises in the entire field. I found it very well-built, nicely finished and a decent performer. It was also excellent value, with loads of standard features including four-wheel drive, a feature you’d think Canadian families would appreciate.

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2011 New Car Under $20,000

1. Ford Fiesta, $19,520

Fiesta is a “global” car, made and sold locally around the world; ours come from Mexico. It’s powered by a 1.6 L four-cylinder with six-speed automatic, which helps give it the best fuel economy numbers in the category. There’s also a driver’s knee airbag, voice activation for audio and phone functions, and Ford’s brilliant capless gas-filling system. The interior is handsomely designed, but Mazda’s flat rear-seat head restraints provide significantly better visibility.

2. Mazda2, $19,295

This is the car I thought should have won. Mazda2’s 1.5 L four-cylinder isn’t as powerful as Fiesta’s 1.6 L, but the Mazda weighs much less and is tuned for sportier handling. It’s slower off the line but actually feels peppier, and it’s far more fun to drive.

3. Volkswagen Jetta, $18,950

The larger Jetta sedan dwarfs its subcompact competitors, but its price put it in the category. Timeless styling and comfy roominess are nice, but its 2.0 L engine feels gutless and its base interior seems Spartan.

4. Scion xD, $18,100

Scion’s entry-level hatchback is cargo-friendly and filled with features, but its 1.8 L four-cylinder growls and its steering doesn’t feel smooth. It’s also the thirstiest of the five.

5. Scion xB, $19,290

The oddball styling isn’t nearly as fun and funky as the last-generation model sold in the U.S. Based on the Matrix, it’s spacious and handles better than expected for a tall wagon.

Conclusion: The Ford Fiesta and Mazda2 share the same basic architecture, but have different engines, styling and driving characteristics. Scion is Toyota’s entry-level, youth-oriented brand, while Volkswagen’s Jetta is a redesign of its popular compact sedan.