2007 Honda Civic vs 2007 Hyundai Elantra vs 2007 Mitsubishi La

Suddenly, it's 1973 again. That big SUV in your garage feels as modern as a Nixon-era Olds 88. Global warming and our everlasting oil dependency are dimming the prospects of GM and Ford following Chrysler into the rear-drive V-8 sedan business. You could drive yourself to work in a Toyota Prius or one of the stealthier hybrids, but even at $3 per, the hybrid won't pay off for years. By then, the interest on your adjustable-rate mortgage could be sky high.

The good news is that, when it comes to finding a cheap, economical commuter-combat car, it's not 1973 anymore. No more Datsun B-210s or Honda Civic CVCCs. Of course, your target price is now "under $20,000," not "under $3000." The Civic and the Sentra, the latter having been on the market since about the time Datsun was changing its name to Nissan, are no longer their brands' entry-level cars. The Mitsubishi Lancer, having reached near oblivion as a no-money-down special since it morphed out of the Dodge Colt of the 1980s, now shares its platform with the upcoming, up-market Galant. It also shares the platform with the Chrysler Group's front-drive cars, from Jeep Compass to Dodge Avenger. Hyundai's Elantra is also all new, although it evokes a sense of dj vu, with a carryover engine and transmission.

Like most Hyundais, it benefits from better quality, styling, and refinement, but it's not as far improved as bigger, more expensive models like the Sonata and Santa Fe. Modern, prosperous Seoul isn't nearly as crowded as modern, prosperous Tokyo, and cars of this size aren't as important in South Korea as they are in Japan. No surprise, the Elantra hasn't been showered with the same kind of attention as the bigger models from its quickly growing parent company.

So here's what we've gathered to determine the most enjoyable, practical way to get to your daily grind. The Honda Civic LX-18 months after the Civic was named Car of the Year-is our benchmark. The challengers are the midlevel Nissan Sentra 2.0S, the Hyundai Elantra SE, and the Mitsubishi Lancer in GTS trim.