Cotta, Rick. "The Consumer Guide to 2008 Premium Compact Cars." 20 February 2008. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2008-premium-compact-car-buying-guide.htm> 06 October 2008.

by Rick Cotta

Inside This Article

The Consumer Guide to 2008 Premium Compact Cars

2008 Premium Compact Car Lineup

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2008 Premium Compact Car Lineup

Acura TSX
Base Price Range: $28,190 - $30,290
EPA MPG Range: 19 city/28 highway
Body Style: 4-door sedan
The front-wheel-drive TSX delivers the same solid quality and high features-per-dollar quotient as Acura's larger TL, but ups the fun-to-drive factor with a trimmer, lighter package. Automatic transmission steals some scoot and the engine can feel lazy at low speeds, but the TSX comes standard with all expected luxury touches despite being among the lowest-priced sedans in this class.

Audi A3
Base Price Range: $25,930 - $34,915
EPA MPG Range: 18 city/29 highway
Body Style: 4-door hatchback
Upscale hatchbacks haven't been sales successes in America, but the tastefully designed A3 delivers enough features, versatility, and driving enjoyment to qualify as a Recommended pick. The front-drive 2.0Ts are the best dollar value, but you'll have to come to terms with some nonlinear turbo-engine power delivery. With standard all-wheel-drive and a gutsy V6, the 3.2 S-line is more rewarding but rather pricey.

Audi A4
Base Price Range: $28,900 - $81,900
EPA MPG Range: 13 city/31 highway
Body Styles: 4-door sedan, 4-door wagon, 2-door convertible
Some like-priced competitors have more outright power and rear-seat space, but these front- and all-wheel-drive Best Buy Audis are solid, sophisticated premium compacts that match any rival for overall performance, dynamic balance, features, and materials quality. Topping the line are the V8-powered S4 and more-powerful RS 4, expensive road rockets that are without equal in this class.

BMW 1-Series
Base Price Range: $28,600 - $34,900
EPA MPG Range: 19 city/30 highway
Body Style: 2-door coupe
With the company's 3-Series recently growing in both size and price, BMW introduced the smaller 1-Series coupe in the spring of 2008. It shares powertrains with its bigger brother, but is four inches shorter in wheelbase, nearly nine inches shorter overall, and comes only with rear-wheel drive. A convertible version is due by summer of '08. We have not yet tested the 1-Series, but will shortly, at which time we'll add some driving impressions.

BMW 3-Series
Base Price Range: $32,400 - $49,100
EPA MPG Range: 19 city/30 highway
Body Styles: 4-door sedan, 4-door wagon, 2-door coupe, 2-door convertible
Impressive dynamics, a full range of body styles, and the availability of all-wheel drive (in place of rear-wheel-drive) make the 3-Series an impressive choice. Base prices are reasonable for this class, but BMW charges extra for popular amenities many competitors include as standard equipment. It may end up costing more than some rivals, but the 3-Series has been awarded Best Buy status for its resolute focus on balanced performance.

Jaguar X-Type
Base Price Range: $35,060 - $39,330
EPA MPG Range: 16 city/22 highway
Body Style: 4-door sedan
The X-Type is an acceptable blend of performance and luxury, and its lengthy list of standard features includes all-wheel drive, which gives it all-weather capability. Availability of a wagon broadens its appeal. X-Type offers Jaguar cachet at a reasonable price, but top rivals offer better all-around cars.

Lexus IS
Base Price Range: $30,455 - $56,000
EPA MPG Range: 16 city/29 highway
Body Style: 4-door sedan
A performance-oriented V8-powered IS F model joins the IS lineup midway through the 2008 model year. The IS impresses for its design, features, and materials, and also benefits from Lexus's strong resale-value record. However, the base IS 250 models are a bit short on power, and though that's hardly a fault of the brawny IS 350 or even stronger IS F, those models cost significantly more and come only in rear-wheel-drive versions. (The IS 250 is available with AWD.) Rear-seat space is tight, but otherwise, these fun-to-drive, high-value premium compacts are intriguing alternatives to the class mainstays.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Base Price Range: $31,200-$36,500
EPA MPG Range: 17 city/26 highway
Body Style: 4-door sedan
Mercedes' entry-level sedan is redesigned for 2008, growing modestly in both wheelbase and overall length. All versions are powered by either a 3.0- or 3.5-liter V6, and 4Matic all-wheel drive is available as an option to rear-wheel drive. Within the confines of its compact dimensions, the new C-Class acquits itself quite well. Others in this class trump it for dollar value and all-out performance, but those seeking brand cachet and a refined driving experience should give it a look.

Saab 9-3
Base Price Range: $27,640 - $44,920
EPA MPG Range: 15 city/29 highway
Body Styles: 4-door sedan, 4-door wagon, 2-door convertible
Performance-oriented all-wheel-drive models join the existing 9-3 line of well-equipped, dynamically capable front-wheel-drive premium compacts for 2008. The convertible is especially well engineered, and the 2.0T SportCombi wagon is a reasonably priced hauler. These Swedish-built cars have their quirks and aren't as refined as some competitors, but the 2.0T models beat most rivals on price, and the Aero's turbocharged V6 is competitive in power.

Volvo C30/S40/V50
Base Price Range: $22,700 - $31,565
EPA MPG Range: 19 city/28 highway
Body Styles: 2-door hatchback, 4-door sedan, 4-door wagon
Volvo adds the C30 2-door hatchback to its premium compact line for 2008. Unlike its S40 sedan and V50 wagon siblings, however, it is offered only with front-wheel drive; the others also offer all-wheel drive. None have the power and sporting flair of most class rivals, but they undercut them on price and carry Volvo's traditional solid workmanship and impressive list of standard safety features.