Many people have discovered they don't have to pay premium-car prices to get premium-car features. What's their secret? They found luxury on a smaller scale in the premium compact class.
Actually, it isn't much of a secret at all. In fact, among full-line manufacturers of premium cars, the company's compact offering is usually its best-selling model. Buyers can enjoy 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. So popular are these models that they now account for about half of all premium vehicles sold.
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Cool Premium Compact-Car Features |
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Audi A4 offers rear side airbags. |
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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 is of utmost importance. In most, 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 would be better spent on a loaded
midsize car.
Four-door sedans dominate the class, but many are also offered
in station-wagon form. The Audi A3 is a four-door hatchback, and
convertibles are available in the Audi A4 and Saab 9-3 lines. Note
that coupe and convertible versions of some models, such as the BMW
3-Series, are considered Premium Sporty/Performance Cars, and thus
aren't covered here. Keep in mind that convertibles are
two-door models that suffer difficult access to the rear seat,
which can hold only two passengers and offers less legroom than in
counterpart sedans.
Safety Concerns
Most cars in this class come with or have as options nearly every
modern safety feature. But some of those not always available
include rear side airbags, tire-pressure monitor, front and rear
obstacle detection, and an OnStar-like assistance system. If you
live in a snowy area, all-wheel drive might be considered a safety
feature, and all models except the Acura TSX and Saab 9-3 offer
it.
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Best Buys |
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Recommended Pick |
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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, handy when multiple people use the car.
Hands-free cellular 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 audio speakers.
Keyless access and starting automatically unlocks the door as the
driver approaches with the key still in pocket or purse, which is
handy when your hands are full.
Satellite radio is offered on all vehicles in this class with the
exception of the Lexus IS, Saab 9-2X, Saab 9-3, Volvo S40, and
Volvo V50. The Saab 9-2X is also the only car in this
class where a navigation system is not available. Beware of
navigation systems, however, as the necessary screen often takes up
space on the dash normally reserved for the audio system. As a
result, audio controls have to be incorporated into the navigation
screen, which almost always complicates their use. In the
Audi A3 and A4, for example, it even forces the
CD changer to the glovebox, which is inconvenient at best.
Shopping Tips
Many cars in the premium
compact class exhibit a sporty flair, but some buyers may not
understand the sacrifices made to attain it. One of the biggest
culprits are the low-profile tires fitted to those snazzy
large-diameter wheels. The combination may look great, but the car
may ride harshly over bumps, especially when the wheels are
combined with a stiffer sport suspension.
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 might be advisable. Also, these low-profile performance-oriented tires are sometimes considered "summer tires," which means they aren't designed to grip well in snowy or icy conditions. All-seasons or specific winter tires during the cold months might be a necessary purchase.
Most buyers of premium compacts aren't as price-tag 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. So a competing model that has a higher base price but comes virtually loaded may end up costing less in the end.
In the same vein, cars that include free scheduled maintenance can save you hundreds or even 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 most warranties in this class--a car with a longer warranty may offer peace of mind if nothing else. For a chart listing all manufacturers and their respective warranty and maintenance plans, scroll to the bottom of this article for a link.
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 of a hassle.
If you're not clear on the function or benefit of any features mentioned above, scroll to the bottom of this report for a link to our Automotive Glossary.
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Acura
TSX |
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Audi
A3 |
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Audi
A4 |
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BMW
3-Series |
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Jaguar
X-Type |
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Lexus
IS |
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Mercedes-Benz
C-Class |
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Saab
9-2X |
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Saab
9-3 |
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Volvo
S40 |
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Volvo
V50 |
| Vehicle | Wheel-base, in. | Length, in. | Curb Weight, lb. | Cargo Volume, cu. ft. | Fuel Capacity, gal. | Front Head Room, in. | Front Leg Room, in. | Rear Head Room, in. | Rear Leg Room, in. |
| Acura TSX 4-dr. sdn. | 105.1 | 183.4 | 3257 | 13.2 | 17.1 | 37.8 | 42.4 | 37.3 | 34.2 |
| Audi A3 4-dr hatch. | 101.5 | 168.7 | 3263 | 55.6 | 14.5 | 38.1 | 41.2 | 36.9 | 34.8 |
| Audi A4 4-dr. sdn. | 104.3 | 180.6 | 3428 | 13.4 | 18.5 | 38.4 | 41.3 | 37.2 | 34.3 |
| Audi A4 4-dr. wgn. | 104.3 | 180.6 | 3671 | 59.0 | 16.6 | 38.4 | 41.3 | 37.6 | 34.3 |
| Audi A4 2-dr conv. | 104.5 | 180.0 | 3682 | 10.2 | 18.5 | 38.0 | 41.3 | 36.3 | 32.4 |
| BMW 3-Series 4-dr sdn. | 108.7 | 178.2 | 3285 | 12.0 | 15.9 | 37.4 | 41.5 | 37.1 | 34.6 |
| BMW 3-Series 4-dr. wgn. | 108.7 | 178.2 | 3737 | 60.9 | 15.9 | 37.3 | 41.5 | 36.9 | 34.6 |
| Jaguar X-Type 4-dr. sdn. | 106.7 | 183.8 | 3516 | 16.0 | 16.0 | 37.3 | 42.4 | 37.5 | 34.4 |
| Jaguar X-Type 4-dr. wgn. | 106.7 | 185.5 | 3743 | 50.0 | 16.0 | 37.9 | 42.4 | 38.9 | 34.4 |
| Lexus IS 4-dr. sdn. | 107.5 | 180.1 | 3455 | 13.0 | 17.1 | 39.0 | 43.9 | 36.9 | 30.6 |
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Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4-dr. sdn. |
106.9 | 178.4 | 3405 | 12.2 | 16.4 | 38.9 | 41.7 | 37.3 | 33.0 |
| Saab 9-2X 4-dr. wgn. | 99.4 | 175.6 | 3070 | 61.6 | 15.9 | 39.7 | 42.9 | 37.3 | 33.7 |
| Saab 9-3 4-dr. sdn. | 105.3 | 182.5 | 3175 | 15.0 | 16.4 | 38.9 | 42.3 | 37.0 | 35.1 |
| Saab 9-3 4-dr. wgn. | 105.3 | 183.2 | 3175 | 72.3 | 16.4 | 38.9 | 42.3 | 37.0 | 35.1 |
| Saab 9-3 2-dr. conv. | 105.3 | 182.4 | 3480 | 12.4 | 16.4 | 38.0 | 41.4 | 37.0 | 32.3 |
| Volvo S40 4-dr. sdn. | 103.9 | 175.9 | 3225 | 12.6 | 15.9 | 38.9 | 41.6 | 37.2 | 34.4 |
| Volvo V50 4-dr. wgn. | 103.9 | 177.7 | 3326 | 62.9 | 15.9 | 38.9 | 41.6 | 38.1 | 34.4 |
Additional Information:
Automotive
Glossary
http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/featured-auto-expert-advice.htm
Automotive Warranties
http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/featured-auto-expert-advice.htm
