En route they guzzle coffee, make phone calls, put on makeup, and otherwise try to squeeze more value out of the time spent getting to and from work. Each day, Andrea Albero commutes 30 miles round-trip from the north Bronx to Manhattan's SoHo district. And she credits her car, a 2000 Nissan Sentra, for helping her keep her wits in the midst of New York's commuter hell. For her, it's just the right combination of power, maneuverability and comfort. If you're in the market for a small sedan for a daily commute, the Sentra should be on your short list, along with three other little cars that are no strangers to rush-hour traffic.
Prices listed here are for four-door models.
Our prices also reflect automobiles that are outfitted as we think true urban assault vehicles must be. All four cars are big enough for a comfortable ride. Their four-cylinder engines all use regular gas and deliver solid mileage. The Nissan is the thirstiest but still delivers 24 mpg and 31 mpg. Our prices are for cars equipped with manual transmission.