CHICAGO -

Cars.com announced the winner Monday of its $16,000 Subcompact Shootout, a competition between seven popular subcompact cars that seat four, have four doors, get at least 35 miles per gallon on the highway and can be purchased for less than $16,000.

Experts from Cars.com, USA Today and MotorWeek tested these subcompacts and chose the Honda Fit. Panelists measured all of the needs of the average buyer including gas mileage, practicality, user features and comfort. 

The testing included:

—200 miles of both highway and stop-and-go driving to determine each subcompact’s observed gas mileage. 

—Driving of every car by experts to measure each vehicle for features, ride quality, styling and comfort. 

—Thorough analysis and driving by an average car-buying couple who joined our experts to give their impressions on each subcompact. 

“The term ‘econobox’ is gone as today’s subcompacts are better built, more efficient and safer,” Cars.com editor in chief Patrick Olsen insisted.

“As gas prices and used-car prices continue to rise, a shootout like this acts as a guide for consumers looking to purchase a new subcompact as an alternative to a used vehicle. In addition to confident handling, a solid transmission, great visibility and unmatched practicality, the Honda Fit is just fun to drive and emerged as our clear winner,” Olsen continued.

Beyond this Cars.com accolade, the 2012 Honda Fit is also an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick and received the 2012 Residual Value Award from ALG.

Furthermore, the Fit topped the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study (IQS) for 2011 in its segment, and is a six-time winner of Car and Driver 10Best Cars award, having garnered this accolade every year it has been on sale in the U.S.

“We are thrilled to have the exceptional package that is the Honda Fit recognized by such a well-respected group of automotive media,” stated Michael Accavitti, vice president of marketing operations for American Honda Motor Co.

“To have topped such a wide group of competition in such a thorough, real-world evaluation demonstrates that Honda versatility, value and fun are standard even in our most affordable model,” Accavitti emphasized.

Cars.com mentioned the Kia Rio was a close second, earning praise for its interior and exterior styling, suspension and extra features. 

“The Kia Rio really has come a long way, offering a strong powertrain and lots of little extras that remain absent among its competitors,” Olsen pointed out.

“If you don’t need all the practicality and interior cargo room that the Fit has, the Rio is the right one for you,” he recommended.

Other competitors in the $16,000 Subcompact Shootout included the Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris, Ford Fiesta, Chevrolet Sonic and the Hyundai Accent.