The 2015 Mazda3 is the top 2015 compact sedan here, with 155 hp and 33 mpg combined from the manual i Sport. The Ford Focus is #2 with 160 hp and 31 mpg combined, and the all-wheel-drive Subaru Impreza is #3.
Buyers who want a Jetta with the base 2.0 L engine
Pick by what you want
Best fuel economy
2015 Mazda3 (BM)
Most power
2015 Ford Focus (C346)
All-wheel drive
2015 Subaru Impreza (GJ)
Lowest base price
2015 Kia Forte (YD)
The ranking
1
2015 Mazda3 (BM)
Photo: OSX / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe 2015 sedan with the best EPA combined mpg of the ten.
Base engine: 2.0 L 4-cylinder, 155 hpEPA mpg (2015): 29 city / 39 highway / 33 combined (6-speed manual)Original base MSRP: $18,445 for the i Sport sedan with the manual; $19,495 with the 6-speed automaticBase trim: i Sport 4-door sedan
The 2015 Mazda3 i Sport sedan has a 2.0 L engine making 155 hp and is rated 29 city, 39 highway and 33 combined with the 6-speed manual. It started at $18,445.
Go ifBuyers who want the highest combined mpg of the ten
Skip ifYou want the most base horsepower
Why #1 over #2: Its 33 mpg combined is the highest of the ten, ahead of the Focus at 31.
2
2015 Ford Focus (C346)
Photo: Elise240SX / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe most base horsepower of the ten at 31 mpg combined.
Base engine: 2.0 L 4-cylinder (flex-fuel capable), 160 hpEPA mpg (2015): 27 city / 38 highway / 31 combined (6-speed automatic)Original base MSRP: $17,170 for the S sedanBase trim: S 4-door sedan (6-speed automatic)
The 2015 Focus S sedan uses a 2.0 L flex-fuel-capable engine rated at 160 hp, with a 6-speed automatic and 31 mpg combined. It started at $17,170.
Go ifBuyers who want the most base horsepower of the ten
Skip ifYou want a manual transmission on the base trim
Why #2 over #3: Its 160 hp beats the Impreza’s 148 hp at the same 31 mpg combined.
3
2015 Subaru Impreza (GJ)
Photo: OSX / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe only all-wheel-drive pick of the ten.
Base engine: 2.0 L 4-cylinder, 148 hpEPA mpg (2015): 28 city / 36 highway / 31 combined (CVT)Original base MSRP: $20,995 for the 2.0i Premium sedan with the CVTBase trim: 2.0i Premium 4-door sedan (CVT)Drivetrain: All-wheel drive (EPA lists the 2015 model as Impreza AWD)
The 2015 Impreza 2.0i Premium sedan has a 148 hp 2.0 L engine, a CVT and all-wheel drive, rated 31 mpg combined. It started at $20,995.
Go ifBuyers who want all-wheel drive in a compact sedan
Skip ifYou want the lowest base price
Why #3 over #4: Its 148 hp beats the Civic’s 143 hp at the same 31 mpg combined.
4
2015 Honda Civic (FB)
Photo: Elise240SX / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Base engine: 1.8 L 4-cylinder, 143 hpEPA mpg (2015): 28 city / 35 highway / 31 combined (5-speed manual)Original base MSRP: $18,490 for the LX sedan with the manual; $19,290 with the CVTBase trim: LX 4-door sedan
The 2015 Civic LX sedan has a 143 hp 1.8 L engine and is rated 28 city, 35 highway and 31 combined with the 5-speed manual. It started at $18,490.
Go ifBuyers who want a 1.8 L Civic with a manual option
Skip ifYou want more than 143 hp from the base engine
Why #4 over #5: Its 143 hp beats the Corolla’s 132 hp at the same 31 mpg combined.
5
2015 Toyota Corolla (E170)
Photo: Kevauto / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictA 31 mpg combined sedan with one of the lower base prices.
Base engine: 1.8 L 4-cylinder, 132 hpEPA mpg (2015): 28 city / 36 highway / 31 combined (6-speed manual)Original base MSRP: $16,950 for the L sedan with the manual; $17,550 with the automaticBase trim: L 4-door sedan
The 2015 Corolla L sedan has a 132 hp 1.8 L engine and is rated 31 mpg combined with the 6-speed manual. It started at $16,950.
Go ifBuyers who want a low base price with 31 mpg combined
Skip ifYou want more than 132 hp
Why #5 over #6: Its 31 mpg combined beats the Elantra’s 30.
6
2015 Hyundai Elantra (MD)
Photo: Elise240SX / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictA 145 hp, 30 mpg combined sedan.
Base engine: 1.8 L 4-cylinder, 145 hpEPA mpg (2015): 27 city / 36 highway / 30 combined (6-speed manual)Original base MSRP: $17,250 for the SE sedan with the manual; $18,250 with the 6-speed automaticBase trim: SE 4-door sedan
The 2015 Elantra SE sedan has a 145 hp 1.8 L engine and is rated 30 mpg combined with the 6-speed manual. It started at $17,250.
Go ifBuyers who want 145 hp with a manual on the base trim
Skip ifYou want 31 mpg combined or better
Why #6 over #7: Its 145 hp beats the Cruze’s 138 hp at the same 30 mpg combined.
7
2015 Chevrolet Cruze (J300)
Photo: EurovisionNim / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictA turbocharged 138 hp sedan at 30 mpg combined.
Base engine: 1.4 L 4-cylinder turbo, 138 hpEPA mpg (2015): 26 city / 37 highway / 30 combined (6-speed manual)Original base MSRP: $19,065 for the 1LT sedan with the manual; the LS sedan starts at $17,745Base trim: 1LT 4-door sedan
The 2015 Cruze 1LT sedan uses a turbocharged 1.4 L engine rated at 138 hp and 30 mpg combined with the manual. It started at $19,065.
Go ifBuyers who want a turbocharged 1.4 L engine
Skip ifYou want the lowest base price
Why #7 over #8: Its 138 hp beats the Sentra’s 130 hp at the same 30 mpg combined.
8
2015 Nissan Sentra (B17)
Photo: Mr.choppers / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictA low-priced 130 hp sedan at 30 mpg combined.
Base engine: 1.8 L 4-cylinder, 130 hpEPA mpg (2015): 27 city / 35 highway / 30 combined (6-speed manual)Original base MSRP: $16,530 for the S sedan with the manual; $17,380 with the CVTBase trim: S 4-door sedan
The 2015 Sentra S sedan has a 130 hp 1.8 L engine and is rated 30 mpg combined with the 6-speed manual. It started at $16,530.
Go ifBuyers who want one of the lowest base prices
Skip ifYou want more than 130 hp
Why #8 over #9: Its 30 mpg combined beats the Forte’s 29.
9
2015 Kia Forte (YD)
Photo: CapCase / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe lowest base price of the ten at $15,890.
Base engine: 1.8 L 4-cylinder, 145 hpEPA mpg (2015): 25 city / 36 highway / 29 combined (6-speed manual)Original base MSRP: $15,890 for the LX sedan with the manual; $17,490 with the 6-speed automaticBase trim: LX 4-door sedan
The 2015 Forte LX sedan has a 145 hp 1.8 L engine and is rated 29 mpg combined with the manual. At $15,890 it had the lowest base price of the ten.
Go ifBuyers who want the lowest base price of the ten
Skip ifYou want 30 mpg combined or better with the manual
Why #9 over #10: Its 29 mpg combined beats the Jetta’s 28.
10
2015 Volkswagen Jetta (A6)
Photo: OSX / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe base Jetta has the lowest horsepower of the ten at 115 hp.
Base engine: 2.0 L 4-cylinder, 115 hpEPA mpg (2015): 25 city / 34 highway / 28 combined (5-speed manual)Original base MSRP: $17,325 for the 2.0L S sedan with the manual; $18,425 with the automaticBase trim: 2.0L S 4-door sedan
The 2015 Jetta 2.0L S sedan has a 115 hp 2.0 L engine and is rated 28 mpg combined with the 5-speed manual. It started at $17,325.
Go ifBuyers who want a Jetta with the base 2.0 L engine
Skip ifYou want more than 115 hp from the base engine
How we ranked these
We ranked the ten base sedan trims on EPA combined mpg from fueleconomy.gov, using base-engine horsepower as the tiebreaker. Horsepower, original base MSRP and trim names come from the 2015 Cars.com trim pages. Transmissions differ by car, so check the trim you are shopping. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.
Questions people ask
Which 2015 compact sedan has the best EPA combined mpg?
Among the ten base trims here, the 2015 Mazda3 i Sport sedan with the 6-speed manual is rated 29 city / 39 highway / 33 combined.
Which 2015 compact sedan has the most base horsepower?
The 2015 Ford Focus S sedan has the most base-engine horsepower of the ten, at 160 hp from its 2.0 L engine.
Which 2015 compact sedan has the lowest original base price?
The 2015 Kia Forte LX sedan with the manual transmission started at $15,890.
Which 2015 compact sedan comes with all-wheel drive?
The 2015 Subaru Impreza: the EPA lists the model as Impreza AWD with all-wheel drive.
Base-engine horsepower (2015) at a glance
2015 Volkswagen Jetta (A6)115 hp
2015 Nissan Sentra (B17)130 hp
2015 Toyota Corolla (E170)132 hp
2015 Chevrolet Cruze (J300)138 hp
2015 Honda Civic (FB)143 hp
2015 Hyundai Elantra (MD)145 hp
2015 Kia Forte (YD)145 hp
2015 Subaru Impreza (GJ)148 hp
2015 Mazda3 (BM)155 hp
2015 Ford Focus (C346)160 hp
Base-engine horsepower (2015), as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.
