Man, I love those comparison test drives! Yet in all the years that I've been testing new cars (dating back to the late 50's) I've never had the opportunity to test similar vehicles in the same time period. I'm not, bitchin', honest!

Living in the Canadian PNW I appreciate that the Toronto-based and mostly-myopic media fleet managers have great difficulty in arranging two competing cars for my test-drive colleague Colin Hefferon and I to drive in the same week. Frankly I must confess that unless someone pays the hotel bills even Colin and I can't get together for more than a day. That's because he resides in the city of Vancouver BC, whereas I live on Vancouver Island. A mere 20 miles as the gulls fly but hours by ferry. Too bad, for we live in driving country and both love to drive.

That aside (had to get it off my gray-haired chest!), I'm pleased to recommend this CarConnection comparison of the 2006 Kia Rio and the 2006 Hyundai Accent. Hint: The Rio came out slightly ahead. Either one is a good reason not to buy a used car if your budget has tight limitations. By the way, I tested the Accent for About and gave it 5 stars.