Compact car

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Honda Civic, a compact car



In Japan, any vehicle that is over 3.4 m (11.2 ft) long, 1.48 m (4.9 ft) wide, 2 m (6.6 ft) high and with an engine over 660 cc (40 cu in) but is under 4.7 m (15.4 ft) long, 1.7 m (5.6 ft) wide, 2 m (6.6 ft) high and with engines at or under 2,000 cc (120 cu in) is considered a compact vehicle. The dimension standards are absolute, meaning special consideration is not made for SUVs, CUVs, minivans, station wagons or hatchbacks.

Common engines are 1.5 to 2.4-litre straight-4s, using either petrol (gasoline) or diesel fuel, with a range between 100 hp (75 kW) and 170 hp (127 kW). Some models also have economical 1.3 or 1.4-litre units. High-performance versions, called hot hatches or sport compact sedans, may have turbocharged 2.0 or 2.5-litre engines, or even V6 3.2-litre units, ranging maximum outputs from 170 hp (127 kW) to 300 hp (224 kW).

Small European family cars include the Ford Focus, Vauxhall/Opel Astra, Audi A3, BMW 1 Series (F20), Citroën C4/DS4, Dacia Logan, Alfa Romeo Giulietta, Fiat Bravo (2007), Lancia Delta, Mercedes-Benz A-Class, Volvo V40, SEAT León, Škoda Octavia and Volkswagen Golf Mk7. Examples of compact cars from Asia include the Tata Indigo, Honda Civic, Nissan Bluebird Sylphy, Mazda3, Subaru Impreza, Suzuki SX4, Mitsubishi Lancer, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Forte, Toyota Corolla Altis, and Proton Prevé. The Chevrolet Cruze, Pontiac G5, and Dodge Dart (2013) are an example of compacts made in the United States. Holden Viva and later Holden Cruze are examples of compact cars from Australia.

American market[edit]

Ford Focus in 2012


Compact cars usually have wheelbases between 100 inches (2,540 mm) and 105 inches (2,667 mm). The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines a "compact" car as measuring between 100 cubic feet (2.8 m3) and 109 cubic feet (3.1 m3) of combined passenger and cargo volume capacity. Vehicle class size is defined in the U.S. by environmental laws in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40—Protection of Environment, Section 600.315-82 Classes of comparable automobiles. Passenger car classes are defined based on interior volume index or seating capacity, except automobiles classified as a special vehicle such as those with only two designated seating positions.

In the United States, the compact car segment currently holds a 16% share of the market.[2] This segment is dominated by non-American models from Toyota Group, Honda Group and Hyundai together with its controlled Kia, through successful models as Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra, and Kia Forte. The Ford Focus and Chevrolet Cruze are successful American compacts.

In 2012, General Motors launched the Buick Verano and Chrysler launched the new Dodge Dart. As a confirmation that this segment is more popular in Europe than in the US, those two models are based on two European counterparts (respectively the Opel Astra and the Alfa Romeo Giulietta).

History of compact cars in the United States[edit]

1952 Nash Rambler 2-door station wagon
1964 Chevrolet Corvair Monza 900 Convertible







Class Interior volume index
Minicompact car < 85 cu ft (2.4 m3)
Large car ≥ 120 cu ft (3.4 m3)
Small station wagon < 130 cu ft (3.7 m3)
Large station wagon ≥ 160 cu ft (4.5 m3)


European market[edit]

After the Second World War, European manufacturers usually featured two vehicle types: small economy cars that were usually saloons and large saloons. By the 1960s, the post war economic boom had produced customers who wanted something of intermediate size. These were usually saloons, with the first successful hatchback in this class being the 1974 Volkswagen Golf. The world's first hatchback,[5][6] the 1958 FR layout Austin A40 Farina Countryman model that was a co-development of BMC and the Italian design house Pininfarina at a time when this was unusual. It had a lift up rear window and drop down boot lid. It was also sold as a two door saloon. It was built in Italy by Innocenti as well as in the UK. For 1965 Innocenti designed a new single-piece rear door for their Combinata version of the Countryman. This top-hinged door used struts to hold it up over a wide cargo opening and was a true hatchback – a model never developed in the home (United Kingdom) market. The Countryman name has 'estate' type associations, and BMC successor company Rover used the name on estate cars / Station Wagons so it is largely forgotten. This hatchback layout was further pioneered along with the European switch to front wheel drive FF layout with the smaller 1964 (Fiat) Autobianchi Primula and larger 1965 Renault 16. The success of the Golf saved VW from near bankruptcy, stimulating by the end of the decade, several other manufacturers to launch front wheel drive hatchbacks like the Fiat Ritmo/Strada, Citroën GSA hatch version of the 1970 GS, Renault 14, and GM Vauxhall/Opel Kadett. Also the other well-known European compact cars of mid-1960s - 80s were the Italian Fiat 124 and Fiat 125 and some models of the Soviet brand Lada which were based on it: VAZ-2101, VAZ-2103, VAZ-2106 and Lada Riva which were very popular in the Eastern and Central Europe in the 1970s - 80s.

The 1980s began with the launch of two more front-wheel drive hatchbacks: the Ford Escort Mk III and the Lancia Delta. Similar cars such as the Austin Maestro that had above average space / packaging, Renault 11, Peugeot 309, updated Opel Kadett, Renault 19, Fiat Tipo that had above average space / packaging, and the second generation Rover 200/Honda Concerto followed over the course of the decade. Citroën replaced the GSA with the 1984 BX that was between the sizes of the small family car and large family car, in an attempt to cover both markets with one model. Alfa Romeo's venture into this market, the Nissan-based Arna, was one of the few unsuccessful European small family hatchbacks of the 1980s. Instead of combining an Alfa Romeo design with Japanese build quality, it used the mediocre Nissan Cherry body and chassis with Alfa mechanicals and poor Italian build quality.

The 1990s saw small family cars firmly positioned as the most popular class of car in Europe. In 1991 Volkswagen Golf Mk III and ZX were launched. The Golf was elected European Car of the Year. The ZX's chassis spawned the Peugeot 306 in 1993. The ZX was the model used to launch PSA Peugeot-Citroen in China. Fiat replaced the Tipo in 1995 with the distinctive Bravo and Brava (three-door and five-door hatchbacks, respectively). During 1997,mercedes made a small family car called the A class. In 1998, Ford launched the all-new Ford Focus, completing sales of run-out Escort versions in 2000.

According to 2011 sales,[7] compact cars are currently the second segment in Europe after the subcompact one (which in Europe corresponds to A-segment + B-segment), with approx. 3 millions units sales. Currently, the Volkswagen Golf is not only the leader of the segment but also of the European market (sold almost 500 thousands units during 2011). Volkswagen Group leads the segment with other successful models as Skoda Octavia (approx. 180k units), the premium Audi A3 (approx. 140k units) the Spanish Seat Leon (approx. 70k units) and the sedan version of the Golf, the Volkswagen Jetta (approx. 40k units). Other successful European models, over 300k units sold in 2011, are the Opel Astra and the Ford Focus. Bit less for the Renault Megane, with 250k units.

Some small family cars have also spawned compact MPVs, the first of which was the 1996 Renault Scénic. The Opel Zafira, Citroën Xsara Picasso, Ford Focus C-MAX, Volkswagen Touran, SEAT Altea, Peugeot 5008 and Fiat Multipla followed and are becoming increasingly popular. In few years they outsold estates and saloons in many countries. A more recent trend is to build coupé cabriolets with components from these vehicles. Examples of this are the Peugeot 308 CC, Opel Astra TwinTop, Ford Focus Coupe-Convertible, and Volkswagen Eos.

Japanese market[edit]



This larger class is by far the most popular in Japan due to tax benefits stipulated by Japanese government regulations (Japanese Government's Road Vehicle Act of 1951).[9] One of the first compact cars that met those requirements was the Toyota Publica with a flat-4 engine, and the Mitsubishi 500. The Publica and the Mitsubishi 500 were essentially "kei cars" with engines larger than regulations permitted at the time. These vehicles were followed by the Hino Contessa in 1961, the Isuzu Bellett, Daihatsu Compagno and Mazda Familia in 1963, the Mitsubishi Colt in 1965, and the Nissan Sunny, Subaru 1000, and Toyota Corolla in 1966. Honda introduced their first four-door sedan in 1969, called the Honda 1300. In North America, these cars were classified as subcompact cars.

By 1970, Nissan released their first front wheel drive car that was originally developed by Prince Motor Company which had merged with Nissan in 1966. This was introduced in 1970 as the Nissan Cherry. In 1972, the Honda Civic appeared with the CVCC engine that was able to meet California emission standards without the use of a Catalytic converter. In 1973, the Energy Crisis started, which made small fuel efficient cars more desirable, and the North American driver began exchanging their large cars for the smaller, imported compacts that cost less to fill up and were inexpensive to maintain. The Toyota Camry, the Datsun 510, the Mitsubishi Galant (a captive import from Chrysler sold as the Dodge Colt), the Subaru DL, and later the Honda Accord gave buyers increased passenger space and some luxury amenities, such as air conditioning, power steering, AM-FM radios, and even power windows and central locking without increasing the price of the vehicle. Compact trucks were also introduced to the USA, with the Toyota Hilux and the Datsun Truck, followed by the Mazda Truck also sold as the Ford Courier, with Isuzu selling their compact truck as the Chevrolet LUV. In 1979, Mitsubishi sold their compact truck Mitsubishi Forte as the Dodge Ram 50 and Plymouth Arrow.

UK market[edit]




One of the first foreign cars to have a major impact on this sector in the UK was the Golf - a Giugiaro-styled front-wheel drive hatchback launched in 1974. The sporty GTI version sparked a huge demand for "hot hatchbacks" in the UK and many other countries. Other foreign competitors during this era in the UK included the Renault 14, Fiat Strada, Honda Civic, and Mazda 323.



The MK2 Volkswagen Golf went on sale in the UK at the start of 1984. The first British built Peugeot car - a 309 - rolled off the Ryton-on-Dunsmore production line at the end of 1985. Subsequently, the Talbot marque was phased out. Other foreign small family cars to succeed during the 1980s included the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Mazda 323, and Nissan Sunny. 1988 saw the arrival of the Fiat Tipo and Renault 19.



As well as the Volkswagen Golf (which entered its third incarnation in 1991 and its fourth in 1997). The Pininfarina styled 1993 Peugeot 306 was built in England at Ryton near Coventry. The Megane replaced the Renault 19 in 1996. Other foreign brands included the Citroën ZX, its successor the Xsara, the Fiat Brava/Fiat Bravo, the Nissan Almera, as well as the latest incarnations of the long-running Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and Mazda 323.


The Renault Megane II was launched in November 2002. The Volkswagen Golf entered its fifth incarnation at the beginning of 2004. The Vauxhall Astra entered with an all-new fifth generation model in March 2004. The Ford Focus second generation model was launched in December 2004. Other offerings in the small family car sector included the Peugeot 308, Fiat Bravo, Hyundai Elantra/i30, Škoda Octavia, Dacia Logan, Toyota Auris, Volkswagen Jetta, Citroën C4, and Mazda 3.

See also[edit]


  1. ^ "REGULATION (EEC) No 4064/89 - MERGER PROCEDURE". Office for Official Publications of the European Communities L-2985 Luxembourg. 
  2. ^ "USA 7 months 2012: Discover all 273 best-selling models!". Best Selling Cars. 
  3. ^ McCarthy, Tom (2007). Auto Mania: Cars, Consumers, and the Environment. Yale University Press. p. 144. ISBN 978-0-300-11038-8. 
  4. ^ Ward's automotive yearbook 22. Detroit: Ward's Communications. 1960. p. 92. 
  8. ^ "Japan July 2012: New gen pushes Toyota Corolla to 2-year high". JADA - Japan Automobile Dealers Association. 
  9. ^ "Road Vehicle Act of 1951" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2012-08-18. 
  10. ^ "UK July 2012: Mercedes C-Class hits highest ranking ever". Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). 

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