Jetta

As compact cars have fallen out of favor in the automotive zeitgeist, affordable and efficient four-doors like the Volkswagen Jetta have become increasingly rare. That's especially true if you're looking for a compact car of German origin, as the Jetta is the final holdout following the standard Golf hatchback's demise. With a starting price below key rivals like the Honda Civic and Mazda 3, the Jetta is a value play. Its cabin is spacious, its 158-hp turbocharged inline-four gas engine boasts great fuel efficiency, and it comes chock-full of standard features. It might not be the most exciting compact around (look to the Jetta GLI if that's what you're after), but the Jetta's value proposition is hard to deny.