Results and rankings for the 2012 Subcompact Shootout

— -- Here are model-by-model results of our Subcompact Shootout and details on how the Shootout was done. At the end of the list are results of the Audio Shootout, an in-depth look at the cars' audio systems:

What: Three-day comparison test of subcompact cars that seat four, have four doors and automatic transmission, are EPA-rated 35 mpg or more on the highway and are priced less than $16,000 before shipping charges (about the average transaction price for subcompacts).

Contenders (all 2012s): Chevrolet Sonic, Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris.

Media judges: Cars.com's Kelsey Mays (industry analyst), Jennifer Newman (family editor), Joe Wiesenfelder (executive editor). USA TODAY auto reporter James R. Healey. Brian Robinson, producer for "MotorWeek" on PBS.

Family judges: Erik Rose and Robyn Gerry-Rose, Southern California. (See story).

How they were scored (maximum 1,000 points):• Static (35% of final score) — first impressions inside and out, front-seat comfort and adjustability, ergonomics and controls, cargo space and usability, audio system usability with handheld devices.• Driving (35%): Acceleration and braking, handling and steering, ride quality, road and engine noise, visibility.• Value (20%): Overall impression of value for price.• Gas mileage (10%): 200-mile test loop in Southern California mixing highway and city miles.

The Results:

No. 1. Honda FitScore: 760Sticker price: $15,975 (plus $770 shipping)Liked: Space: "Unbelievably roomy for the overall size," says Healey. Most judges gave the Fit top scores for cargo, from the flat load floor to the second-row seats that fold up rearward or down forward. "It's impossible to beat the practicality of the rear seat," Robinson says. It also was judged fun to drive. "The Fit handled the steep hills and curvy roads. … The transmission easily found the right gear," Newman says. Fit also was one of the best for visibility. "Nearby traffic can hide no more," says Mays.Disliked: Oldest non-updated design and it shows. "The materials quality is falling behind," Wiesenfelder says, "including upholstery that's a throwback to the velour days." "A little behind in the technology department," Robinson says. "Ugly outside, ugly inside," Healey says. Other issues: "Still rides a bit busy," says Mays, "and highway wind noise requires cranking the stereo to overcome it."Bottom line: "A triumph of cargo volume, versatility and execution," Wiesenfelder says, "and its powertrain is a winner. From the first moment, the Fit begged to be driven hard."

No. 2. Kia RioScore: 718Sticker price: $15,595 (plus $750 shipping)Liked: Features: "Lots of little extras," Wiesenfelder says, "like sliding visors with mirrors, steering-wheel buttons and power lock switches on both front doors." Design: "I love the exterior look and love the interior design even more," Robinson says. Powertrain: "Picks up speed better than most, with decent punchiness and a well-sorted six-speed automatic transmission," says Mays. Ride: "Not too firm and not too soft," says Newman.Disliked: Some shared with the mechanically similar corporate sibling Hyundai Accent. Noise: "A fairly noisy environment," Robinson says, "but it didn't seem as bad as the Accent." "Lacks refinement on the highway, with a constant low rumble from the tires," Mays says. And some found the back seat uncomfortable.Bottom line: "If you don't need Fit's people and cargo space," Healey says, "Rio's the pick of the litter."

No. 3. Hyundai AccentScore: 697Sticker price: $15,990 (plus $775 shipping)Liked: (Mechanically similar to corporate sibling Kia Rio.) Features: "This car is chock-full of the niceties that everyone wants in a car — power windows, locks and mirrors, USB jack and height-adjustable driver's seat," Newman says. "It doesn't look cheap." Drivetrain: "Surprisingly peppy," Robinson says. Brakes: "Has rear disc brakes instead of the cheaper drums prevalent elsewhere, and it shows," says Robinson.Disliked: Steering: "Hyundai needs to go back to the drawing board," says Mays. Rear window visibility (test car was the hatchchback model): "A serious concern for those who like to know what's behind them," says Robinson. Road, engine and tire noise.Bottom line: "Inside and out," Mays says, "Accent boasts the most grown-up styling in this group, but the checkered driving experience begs to be fixed."

No. 4. Chevrolet SonicScore: 654Sticker price: $15,155 (plus $760 shipping)Liked: Quality. "Feels solid and is quiet overall," Wiesenfelder says. "From chrome interior accents to the group's richest-feeling key fob, the cabin feels a class above in quality," Mays says. Handling: "One of the better-handling cars in the class," says Robinson. Value: "Amazing" says Newman, that for this price you get "tilt/telescoping steering wheel, height-adjustable driver's seat, air conditioning, automatic headlights, power locks and 10 airbags."Disliked: "Unsettling mix of features," says Healey, "such as a remote key fob but with hand-crank windows." Interior style: "I'll pass on the supposed 'motorcycle-inspired' quirky interior, says Robinson, who thinks it might put off some older buyers. Handling, brakes: "Its laser-sharp (steering) precision has you wanting to drive the Sonic harder, but the pitchy dynamics and clumsy brakes can't keep up," says Mays.Bottom line: "Sonic looks great and feels powerful. The handling is just OK," says Robinson.

No. 5. Ford FiestaScore: 641Sticker price: $15,765 (plus $795 shipping)Liked: Ride, handling. "The steering and dynamics are tops, and the good handling doesn't sacrifice ride quality," Wiesenfelder says. "The Fiesta rides opposite to the Sonic," Mays says, "firmer overall but with crisp control over bumps." Styling: "A good-looking sedan," Newman says, "with a front end that stands out thanks to its three-bar grille and large air dam." She also liked the large trunk area but noted that the opening is a little small.Disliked: Ford's dual-clutch automatic: "The transmission is sure to turn off many shoppers," Wiesenfelder says. "It never seems to get in the gear that I want it to be," Robinson says, "and it changes as soon as it gets there." Space: "Cramped" in front and back, says Healey. "The driver's seat didn't adjust back enough for my 5-foot-11 frame, the thick consoles and the center console limit knee room, and the cramped backseat will leave passengers wishing they had driven separately," says Mays. Noise levels.Bottom line: "The Fiesta looks good inside and out," Newman says, "but put it on the road, and the driver is bound to be disappointed."

No. 6. Toyota YarisScore: 585Sticker price: $15,140 (plus $760 shipping)Liked: Fun to drive: "While not a sports car by any means the Yaris is way more entertaining to drive than it should be," Robinson says. Interior: "Surprising" space with "inviting shapes and some quality highlights, from extending sun visors to padding along the door armrests," says Weisenfelder. "Just a couple of trim pieces — the two-tone dash and the chrome-ish gear lever surrounds - make it quite fit for human habitation," Healey says. Front seats: "Easy on the tush," says Healey.Disliked: Lack of features: The steering wheel had no telescoping adjustment, the driver's seat had neither a height adjustment nor a center armrest, and the manual mirrors required drivers to crank down the windows to adjust them. "Needs a nicer array of standard features for the price," Healey says. Automatic transmission: "Four-speed? Seriously?" says Robinson. Back seat design: It "isn't split, so the whole thing must be folded down for longer items (and) to fold down the seat, you have to lift a latch on both sides of the back seat," says Newman. "This involves crawling across the seat, which seems poorly designed." Cargo room: "Pretty low cargo volume behind the back seat for a hatchback," Wiesenfelder says. Bottom line: Mixed on roominess and looks, but "Toyota remains stingy on features for the price," says Mays.

No. 7. Nissan VersaScore: 513Sticker price: $12,930 (plus $760 shipping)Liked: "Cheap!" says Robinson. Nissan provided a version that was the field's least expensive by far, with a price tag under $13,000, which is $2,000 to $3,000 less than the other Shootout competitors. "With that difference in price," Mays says," you could pay five months' rent for a cheap studio apartment, which is probably what you're doing if you own a Versa." But for buyers looking for the absolute cheapest new car, it "offers a lot more than 'bargain basement' cars of two decades ago, " says Robinson. "Back seat roominess," says Wiesenfelder.Disliked: Materials: "From a bygone age," Wiesenfelder says. Handling, noise: "A foggy stew of floaty ride, meandering steering, mushy brakes and wind noise," Mays says. "It's boring to look at and even more boring to drive," Robinson says.Bottom line: "The cheapest car in this class, and …it looks and feels like it," Robinson says "Having said that, there is an incredible amount of room in both the back seat and the trunk."

RESULTS OF THE AUDIO SHOOTOUT

Cars priced less than $16,000 don't usually bring high expectations for audio features, but for that price or less, four of the Shootout contenders had standard USB inputs, for example. All but one had at least four speakers. None, though, had streaming or hands-free phone.

To rate the cars we looked at USB connectivity, MP3 jack, steering-wheel audio controls, satellite radio, the number of speakers, useful place to store an MP3 device can be stored and how quickly the USB integration lets users scroll music libraries. They started with 10 points and lost points where lacking. The finish:

1. Kia Rio(9 points) for most stereo features, lacking only speedy scroll. And was the only entry with steering-wheel audio controls.2. Hyundai Accent (8) had similar features to corporate sibling Rio, but lacked the steering-wheel controls.3. Toyota Yaris(7) lacked satellite radio, convenient storage. And its USB and MP3 inputs are so far back in the glove box that the door has a sticker with arrows pointing where to find them.4. Honda Fit (6) now includes a USB input standard for 2012, but lacked quick scroll, steering wheel controls, storage and satellite radio.5. Chevrolet Sonic (5) had no USB, quick scroll or wheel controls.6. Ford Fiesta (4) had no USB, quick scroll, wheel controls or satellite radio.7. Nissan Versa (3), the least expensive car, had just two speakers and no USB, quick scroll, wheel controls or satellite radio.