From the June 1994 issue of Car and Driver.

You have arrived. After years of schooling, stacks of ignored resumes, rejection letters used as wallpaper, and odd lunch meetings with spinach in your teeth, you landed the position.

Now comes the next step: finding transport to that entry-level role despite heavy student loans that would surprise even wealthy executives. The vehicle must handle passengers and cargo, avoid high fuel use, and skip flashy designs - all on a tight budget. A cash-strapped, eco-minded young professional might eye these nine affordable four-door models. Each offers front-wheel drive and seats for four while running on a four-cylinder engine.

Choices grow complex quickly. Prefer domestic? The Escort LX counts as American yet many units, like our test example, come from Mexico. The Honda Civic DX, Toyota Corolla DX, and Nissan Sentra XE count as Japanese but built stateside. The Hyundai Elantra GLS and Kia Sephia GS hail from Korea. One arrives from Japan itself - the Mazda Protege - while two originate in the Midwest: the Saturn SL1 and Dodge Neon.

We tested these nine models against each other to find the most practical and enjoyable budget sedan. Clear guidelines applied: each had to stay under 13500 dollars. Air conditioning and audio gear were preferred. Some strong contenders fell short. Subaru delayed 1994 Impreza pricing and skipped the event. Mitsubishi lacked a fitting Mirage. Chevrolet prepared a fresh Cavalier. Volkswagen Golf and Jetta exceeded the price limit. We evaluated them on rough urban roads, winding rural paths, and calm highways. Several dropped away fast. A handful, especially one standout, delivered strong results without sacrificing driver enjoyment. Ranked from last to first, here they are.

9th Place: Kia Sephia GS

After several days with Korea's newest arrival, it is clear the Kia Sephia faces hurdles in the crowded low-cost segment. Core elements exist - solid power from the four-cylinder, a fair price, and decent cabin room - yet refinement levels in rivals like the Civic, Neon, and Sentra create high bars.

Little enjoyment comes from the Sephia's suspension, shifter, or cabin layout. It placed near the bottom in acceleration runs. Reaching even modest speeds from the 88-hp 1.6-liter engine proved difficult due to a vague clutch and loose shifter. The Kia also ranked among the thirstier entries at 24 mpg.

Braking at 197 feet and 0.75 g of grip sit at average marks, with a solid 61.5-mph lane-change result. Behind the wheel, though, responses feel less assured than the numbers imply. Around town it seemed unstable, and low-speed turns revealed notable lean. Highway travel brought easy disruption from wind or road flaws.

Cabin forms blend modern and practical elements well. Most surfaces use glossy plastic, and the console holds many small, hard-to-reach buttons. The audio unit especially challenged finger control. The passive restraint setup, featuring a loose lap belt and door-mounted shoulder belt, falls short of today's norms, though dual airbags were slated for later that year. The rear bench offers good space for taller passengers and a plush cushion.

HIGHS: Strong feature count for the cost.
LOWS: Unstable handling, average build quality, awkward restraints.
VERDICT: Striving to match stronger rivals.

Value seekers asking how much vehicle fits the smallest budget will find the Sephia GS appealing. The 12065-dollar model includes air conditioning, power windows and locks, plus a capable cassette player, though without ABS or airbags. For drivers seeking polish, these extras do not fully compensate for handling limits.

8th Place: Saturn SL1

GM's new division launched in 1990 promising fresh, affordable vehicles. Helpful dealers and strong service stand out as purchase reasons. The 1.9-liter four-cylinder does not. It produces a deep idle note that turns harsh at speed. The 85-hp SOHC unit delivers the least power here, yielding the slowest acceleration at 10.5 seconds to 60 mph, without better economy.

Engine limits and a stiff shifter curb any sporty plans. Clutch engagement sits high, and lever movements span too far for quick changes. Brakes perform better; with ABS the car stopped in 194 feet from 70 mph, though the pedal vibrated sharply under full lock. Handling stayed predictable with fair steering feedback and limited body lean.

As a four-door the Saturn lacks space for four adults. Front seats suit few testers. Legroom for longer legs is tight, the dash intrudes on knees, and the backrest feels narrow. Rear seats also felt cramped despite a low cushion for head clearance.

HIGHS: Roomy cargo area, anti-lock brakes.
LOWS: Noisy weak engine, uneven comfort.
VERDICT: Five years old and showing wear.

Motorized belts remain despite a driver airbag in a large wheel borrowed from a Pontiac Bonneville. Shoppers choose Saturn for reliability reputation, top service, and domestic build. With current rivals those traits may no longer suffice.

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9th Place: Kia Sephia GS

8th Place: Saturn SL1