Three styles, three makes — under $25,000

Some estimates say that buying, maintaining and fuelling a car can add up to a greater expense over your lifetime than housing does. That might be okay if we all had unlimited supplies of cash. Rarely the case, let’s look at what you can get for less than $25,000.

The options are diverse spanning coupes, five-door liftbacks with All-Wheel Drive (AWD), four-door sedans and more. Today, we are looking at the 2014 Scion tC, Subaru Impreza Sport and Toyota Corolla LE Eco.

Starting with the two-door, the tC has undergone some modest changes for 2014. It has a more aggressive front grille and elongated hood. There are also other little changes like a new  standard 6.1” touchscreen stereo and LED taillights. What you really need to know is that this is one versatile two-door. It isn’t truly a coupe, and that is what makes it special. The Scion tC is a two-door liftback (or hatchback), which gives it a lot of flexibility in how it handles cargo. Add the folding back seat and you can fit more in this car than you might expect — and certainly more than a Honda Civic or Hyundai Elantra Coupe. It is also a great value at $20,965 as tested, 26 mpg combined and a host of dealer options for those who want to personalize their tC’s look.

Next up is the 2014 Subaru Impreza Sport. For those of us here in the Rockies the Subaru brand and magic is no stranger. Their claim to fame — AWD. From a performance perspective the WRX really put Subaru back on the map, but for the average consumer vehicles like the Impreza Sport create a loyalty to the brand. For the lead foots you will want to stick to the WRX because the Impreza 2.0-Liter flat four will seem lackluster in comparison. The Impreza Sport is in no hurry to go anywhere, but it can get you almost anywhere. Ground clearance might be a problem, but Subaru answers that with the Impreza Sport based XV Crosstrek. If you are more comfortable with tried and true, then the lack of high-end technology won’t bother you. Of course, there is Bluetooth, leather, heated front seats and automatic climate control, but no satellite radio (weird, right?). The Impreza Sport as tested came in at $24,990, boasts 30 mpg combined and All-Wheel Drive.

Finally, we come to the completely redesigned 2014 Toyota Corolla. Our test car is not one Toyota thinks will be a huge seller, but in my opinion is the best deal in the model family both from a features and efficiency perspective. The Corolla LE Eco Premium comes with 6.1” touchscreen navigation, satellite radio, SofTex simulated leather, heated front seats, ECO drive mode and a mechanical feature they call Valvematic. It translates to a pretty peppy driving experience, especially considering its CVT transmission (think no shifting). Moreover, at 34 mpg combined it is the most economical vehicle of our test group and the quietest.  Many of the big auto magazines have said the new Corolla is a true competitor to the current generation Honda Civic — and that is saying something. My favorite touches include the piano black finishes in the interior, the large trunk capacity and surprising exterior styling (at least for Toyota). The as tested price: $23,270.

If you are trying to stick to a $25,000 budget, these are just a few vehicles that might peak your interest. In the end, it really depends on your style and daily driving needs. My best advice: make sure you test drive under multiple conditions and try to experience normal situations common to your weekly routine.