If I were you, I pick Hyundai Elantra Touring

Nissan Versa, Honda Fit, and Ford Fiesta are too small. IMHO, they are not safe due to the small size/weight.

So it's Elantra vs Matrix. Given Toyota quality is going downhill and much higher price tag, I pick Elantra Touring(ET).

The things I like about ET:
- Space. It's very roomy for driver/passengers, almost same size as mid-size car.
- peppy at highway speed.
- long warranty
- nice feature CD/XM radio/Ipod/Aux/USB connection are standard feature. Same as 4-disc brake, ESP & TCS, as well as active headrest for safety features.
- Overall it's better value for your hard earned money

Cons on ET:
- Only 4-speed automatic
- Engine a bit noisy if you accelerate it hard. It's not as good as Toyota's engine
- Ride is a bit rough as it's "sporty"
- Real seats don't fold as flat as Matrix
- Lower resale value as it's a Hyundai if you don't intend to keep it for many years.