Part two of the article is here (as the cluttered layout of PCMag.com makes it virtually impossible to find):

www.pcmag.com/.../0,2817,2332171,00.asp

And, after some searching, part 3:

www.pcmag.com/.../0,2817,2335720,00.asp

Back in a bit with my thoughts on the trilogy (a compelling read, and intelligently written, I might add!)

OK.  Have read all three parts now.  As someone who recently engaged a similar quest (back in Q2 2007), I really felt his pain.  I really tried to like the Prius.  I test-drove both the Yaris (3-door) and the Prius back then, and both left me really wanting for fun.  The Prius, with all its techno whiz-bang, really almost wins you over.  Nifty fuel computer, GPS, keyless entry with transponder fob, backup camera, and a very roomy hatch make it a really tempting car to a technophile.  In the end, the numb driving experience left me cringing, not to mention its completely bland looks.

As the owner of many prior Civics, and a lover of hot hatchbacks, I also looked at the MINI Cooper S, Mazda3, and the VW GTI.  The MINI was a shade pricy, the Mazda3 a shade twitchy, and the GTI very pricy.  

I then settled on a Honda Fit, which was very thrifty on gas and an absolute joy to drive.  The interior layout was like a tiny minivan, and the most versatile of any car I considered.  I was even OK with foregoing any electronic whiz-bang (no navi, iPod, Bluetooth or other options on the '07 Fit).  After a day in it though, the ergonomics for a 6'2" guy like me started break down.  The high seating position (gas tank under the front seats) and the lack of a telescoping steering wheel left me in lower-back agony.  I brought it back to an understanding dealer who traded me up into the 2007 Civic Si, which I drive today.  

The Civic Si gets an upgraded 2.0L engine evolving 197hp over base Civic (LX/EX).  Fortunately, fuel economy upon thrashing is a respectable 26mpg, and when shifting the 6-speed tenderly at 3-4,000rpm on the highway, I can get 30-32mpg.  The Si's emissions rating drops from the base Civic's ULEV to a mere LEV, and that's somewhat concerning to a true greeny (which I'm not).  But even a born-again, die-hard tree-hugger would have trouble relinquishing the driver's seat after a spirited run in my main ride.

Clearly, I love my Si, but I still yearn for a hatchback for its versatility and good looks (I'm the rare American who likes the aesthetics of a hatch over a sedan or coupe).  As the 2009 Fit was launched, I noticed that they fixed virtually all that ailed it in my eyes.  They added a telescoping wheel, and more supportive, bolstered sport-style bucket seats.  Then, they threw in the indispensable navi system that I have in my Si.  But this navi sports native USB/iPod support for charging and on-screen track info, as well as integrated Blueetooth.  With a few more horsepower and a few more mpg's, the 2009 Fit is a car Mr. Lendino should've considered, as it has all the driving spirit and techno whiz-bang he could've asked for, for under $20K!  And if you don't believe that it has real enthusiast creds, just ask a fellow auto-crosser whose '07 Fit sports the vanity plate "FITRARI".  

Note:  Mr. Lendino got one thing wrong, saying that the 2009 Civic Hybrid didn't have Bluetooth available.  Bluetooth is part of the navi option on all '09 Civics.  Easy to miss that detail reading the spec sheets, though.

Thanks for posting the links to the other parts. PCMag  has killed off print production and they desperately need to redesign their site.  

The article is a good overview of the options available in today's market place.  I thought to myself,  had this article been published a couple years in the future, I would hope to see affordable EVs from Mini, Tesla, Fisker as legitimate choices.