Honda Fit scores with family judges in Subcompact Shootout

ARCADIA, Calif. -- Robyn Gerry-Rose and Erik Rose aren't exactly car people.

These days, they are focusing on re-establishing their careers. The married couple from Culver City, Calif., has no plans to start a family, catering instead to a pair of cats.

They actually are very much the kind of people who buy small, entry-level cars, like those showcased in the Cars.com/USA TODAY $16,000 Subcompact Shootout.

Robyn, 27, an audio technician, and Erik, 40, an illustrator, took turns behind the wheel of each of the seven contenders and came away with strong opinions, even though they aren't car shopping. They are delighted with the 1995 Toyota Avalon sedan they currently share.

In the end, they settled on the Honda Fit hatchback as their clear favorite for its power, comfort and visibility. They chose it despite being initially turned off by its snout, which Erik described as "insect-looking."

Their twin dogs were the Kia Rio— which they found noisy, rough and sluggish — and Nissan Versa, which seemed cheap.

They judged Versa, the cheapest car in the Shootout, not a value, even at a price some $3,000 below the rivals. They faulted the steering, ride and brake response. "You get what you pay for. It doesn't feel like you're getting a new car," Erik said.

Erik's putdown for the Rio and Versa: "If someone gave me one of those two cars, I would trade it in for a motorcycle."

Rio's corporate sibling, the Hyundai Accent, elicited little response from him: "a nice car but not spectacular."

Among the others, the two Detroit models fared well: They generally liked a lot about the Ford Fiesta and Chevrolet's new Sonic.

Erik liked the motorcycle-like features of the Sonic, such as its dashboard display. Robyn appreciated the ease with which she could use her MP3 player. As for the Fiesta, she said, "They want you to forget that it's a Ford."

Robyn liked the acceleration and handling more in the Chevy. In the Fiesta, she said, "I don't feel like the car is hugging the road like the last one."

The Toyota Yaris didn't evoke much response. Although it's one of the newer models, they knocked it as feeling dated.

By contrast, they thought the Honda Fit could do little wrong during their drive. "As soon as you sit in it and drive it, you feel at home," Erik said. And Robyn said it surprised her: "It is not normally a car that I would consider."

She gave strong marks for overall value, and a backhanded compliment: "It's still ugly, but it's a great car."