2009 Audi A4
Sedan and wagon versions of the Audi A4 are redesigned for 2009, but the convertible bodystyle carries over.

For full-line manufacturers of premium cars, a company's entry-level compact is almost always its most popular model. Buyers can usually get most of the luxury features offered on the top-line cars--along with the manufacturer's prestigious badge and dealer's kid-glove treatment--for a fraction of top-line prices.

What to Look For in a Premium Compact Car

As with any compact, size matters. Premium compacts suffer the same limitations as their non-premium counterparts in terms of interior and cargo space, so making sure you and your intended passengers can fit and live in harmony is of utmost importance. In most cars in this class, an average-size adult can fit behind another average-size adult, but one or the other might not enjoy spacious accommodations. Cargo room is also limited, so for many buyers, the same money might be better spent on a loaded midsize car, or a lower-priced premium midsize car.

Four-door sedans dominate the class, but many models offer a wagon, and one offers a four-door hatchback. Three two-door convertibles, a two-door coupe, and a two-door hatchback are in the mix as well. Note that it's difficult to access the rear seat on two-door models, and all have a rear seat that can hold only two passengers, who typically get less legroom.

Many cars in the premium compact class exhibit a sporty flair, but some buyers may not appreciate the sacrifices made to attain it. Low-profile tires fitted to those snazzy large-diameter wheels make the ride suffer. The combination may look great, but especially when the wheels are combined with a stiffer sport suspension (as they often are), the car may ride harshly over bumps. Since it could take some looking to find bumpy patches on a dealer's pre-approved test-drive route, scouting out bad pavement in advance is advisable. Also, these low-profile performance-oriented tires are often considered "summer tires," which means they aren't designed to grip well in snowy or cold conditions. If that's something you'll likely encounter, make certain you get all-season tires, or switch to all-seasons or winter tires during the cold months.

Available Premium Compact Car Features
  • Flex-fuel engine (can run on E85): Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  • Remote convertible top operation: Saab 9-3
Most buyers of premium compacts aren't as price-sensitive as those considering traditional compact cars, but that doesn't mean they don't want good value for the money. Some premium compacts don't come standard with what many feel are required premium features, and adding them can be expensive. A competing model that has a higher base price but comes nearly loaded may end up costing less in the end.

Also, cars that include free scheduled maintenance can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars over the life of the plan. If you intend to own the car for more than four years or 50,000 miles--the length of all bumper-to-bumper warranties in this class--a car with an extended powertrain warranty may offer peace of mind if nothing else.

One more point. Possibly due to the plethora of complex electronic gizmos offered on today's premium cars, some models in this class have earned below-average scores in recent reliability surveys. While that doesn't mean a failure will necessarily leave you stranded, it might mean more trips to the dealer's service department. Making sure a free loaner car is included with the warranty--or if not, is written into the sales contract--might make these events less inconvenient.

Safety Concerns

All cars in this class come standard with nearly every modern safety feature, including ABS, traction/antiskid control, front side airbags, and curtain side airbags. The Audi A3 and A4 also offer optional rear side airbags, and the BMW 3-Series and Saab 9-3 offer an assistance system--the 3-Series' is called BMW Assist, the 9-3's is called OnStar. If you live in a snowy area, all-wheel drive might be considered a safety feature, and it's available on all models except the Volvo C30 and Acura TSX.

Out of the Ordinary

There are a number of features available on these cars that aren't commonly offered outside the premium class. Seat and mirror memory stores the settings programmed by two or three different drivers and is handy when multiple people use the car. Wireless cell-phone link detects the presence of a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone in the car and transmits the signal through a dash-mounted microphone and the car's speakers. Keyless access and starting automatically unlocks the door as the driver approaches and allows starting the car with the push of a button, all with the key still in pocket or purse. Adaptive cruise control automatically maintains a set following distance. Steering-linked headlights (also called adaptive headlights) turn in the direction the front wheels are pointed to improve nighttime visibility around corners. A blind-spot information system senses when a vehicle is in your left or right blind spot and illuminates a warning light on the appropriate side-view mirror.

Satellite radio and a navigation system are offered on nearly all vehicles in this class. Beware the latter, however, as the necessary screen often takes up space on the dash normally reserved for the audio (and sometimes, climate) system. As a result, those controls have to be incorporated into the navigation screen, which almost always complicates their use, and may even relocate the CD player to a less-convenient location.

What's New?

The Premium Compact Car roster sees a few changes for 2009. Jaguar's X-Type is discontinued and no direct replacement is scheduled. The new-for-2009 Jaguar XF is a premium midsize car. The Acura TSX is redesigned with new styling and slightly larger dimensions than the 2004-2008 generation. Audi's A4 is also redesigned, but only in 4-door sedan and wagon form; the Cabriolet convertible continues with the 2008 body style. The BMW 3-Series sedan and wagon get mild styling updates, and are slated to get an available 265-hp 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine. The remainder of the premium compact car class sees minor updates such as freshened styling or expanded availability of all-wheel drive.