Best Cars 2007 - Consumer Reports

To be a 'Top Pick', a vehicle much score at or near the top of its category in Consumer Reports' testing, must have at least average reliability and must perform well in government and Insurance Institute crash tests.

By Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNNMoney.com staff writer

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Sedan, less than $20,000

Honda Civic

Cost: $17,000 to $23,000

Cosumer Reports praises the Civic for its "relatively roomy interior, comfortable ride, smooth powertrain and good handling."

It also helps that the Civic has good reliability, crash test results and fuel economy.

In Consumer Reports' tests, it got 31 mpg with a manual transmission and 28 with an automatic. The hybrid version got 37 mpg.

Consumer Reports puts more than 75 cars to the test annually to find out which ones stand up to Americans' hard driving habits. (more)