Section Contents:- In North America, the compact segment is still discernible as a class smaller than the average car but larger than the smallest models on the market.(More...)
- Some family hatchbacks have spawned compact MPVs, the first of which was the 1996 Renault M"gane Scenic.(More...)
In North America, the compact segment is still discernible as a class smaller than the average car but larger than the smallest models on the market. [1] 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.
[1] After the Second World War, European manufacturers usually featured two vehicle types: small cars (or superminis ) and large saloons.
[1] The Hillman Avenger continued to sell well as a Chrysler following the 1976 rebranding and as a Talbot after the sale of Chrysler's European operations to French carmaker Peugeot in 1979, in spite of the 1978 launch of the Horizon front-wheel drive hatchback. 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.
[1] The MK3 Ford Escort went on sale in the autumn of 1980 ditching the rear-drive saloon format in favour of hatchbacks and front-wheel drive. It was Britain's most popular car for most of the decade and also spawned XR3i and RS Turbo "hot versions, as well as the Orion saloon that was launched in 1983.
[1] By 2005, the Megane II was Britain's fourth most popular new car. The Volkswagen Golf entered its fifth incarnation at the beginning of 2004.
[1] The Volkswagen Golf Mk III was launched in 1991 and elected European Car of the Year.
[1] The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines a "Compact" car as measuring between 100cubic feet (2.8m") and 109cubic feet (3.1m") of combined passenger and cargo volume capacity.
[1] In the early 1970s, the domestic automakers introduced even smaller subcompact cars that included the AMC Gremlin, Chevrolet Vega, and Ford Pinto. The 1977 model year marked the beginning of a downsizing of all vehicles, so that cars such as the AMC Concord and the Ford Fairmont that replaced the compacts were re-classified as mid-size, while cars inheriting the size of the Ford Pinto and Chevrolet Vega (such as the Ford Escort and Chevrolet Cavalier ) became classified as compact cars.
[1] In the 1985 model year, compact cars classified by the EPA included Ford's Escort and Tempo, the Chevrolet Cavalier, Toyota Corolla, Acura Legend, Mercedes-Benz 300, Nissan Maxima, and Volvo DL.
[1] Compact car is a largely North American term denoting an automobile smaller than a mid-size car, but larger than a North American subcompact car, similarly recognized in much of the world as a " C-segment " (between B- and D-segment ) vehicles.
[1] Although compact cars had been made in the United States before World War II, the compact class was introduced in 1950 when Nash introduced a convertible Rambler. It was built on a 100-inch (2,540mm) wheelbase to which a station wagon, hardtop, and sedan versions were added.
[1] Several competitors to the Nash Rambler arose from the ranks of America's other independent automakers, although none enjoyed the long-term success of the Rambler. Other early compact cars included the Henry J from Kaiser-Frazer (and its Sears, Roebuck and Company marketed variant the Allstate ), as well as the Willys Aero and the Hudson Jet.
[1] The Chevrolet Cobalt would be an example. The term has also been adopted to describe small SUVs, such as the Ford Escape.
[1] Don't plan on any additional space for items between the kids in the back seat, however. Never plan for 5 people, large or small, to fit in the car unless one of them takes a chance in the hatchback.
[4] The vehicle sits low to the ground, so watch out for road hazards. There is adequate clearance, but you are sitting close to the ground so whatever you hit may find its way into the car with you! I had a few moments of anxiety transitioning to this (my wife's car) from my own Jeep 4x4.
[4] The shoulder to shoulder size of the car seems to get in the way of airflow, and Saturn engineers might have considered adding a channel directly to the rear seating area.
[4] Lexus kept the size down in order to keep the gas mileage up and avoid the gas guzzler tax. Other cars in its class like the Infiniti Q45 couldn't make that claim.
[5] In some cases, you knew you were going over a particularly bad section of road because you could see it out of the front windshield. From inside, all you could feel was a gentle rocking motion, with little or no sound from a suspension that you knew had to be working its heart out. Normally, a car that rides this softly is a bear to control, bounding up and down after a dip in the road or wallowing like a boat when you tried to take a turn. Not so this Lexus.
[5] The last 2 were expensive options when new and may be hard to find. Lexus service managers tell me that these options do not affect the excellent reliability of these cars, so if you can find cars with them, don't be afraid to buy them.
[5] Today, we know that the first-generation Lexus LS400s are quite possibly the most reliable cars on the planet. The '93 that we used for this report with 101,000 miles on it is more reliable than most new cars. This is no fluke. Check out its reliability rating in any consumer publication that rates used cars and see for yourself.
[5] Only the Mercedes S Class and the BMW 7 Series could rightly claim to be better cars. They cost $10,000 to $20,000 more than the Lexus LS400 which had a starting price of under $38,000 in 1990.
[5] A person who wants a no-compromise Luxury sedan on the order of Mercedes and BMW that is affordable. Comparable cars in this class: Mercedes Benz E Class, BMW 5 Series, Infiniti Q45, Cadillac DeVille, Lincoln Town Car.
[5] Major Available Options This is a list of the major options that were available on these cars when they were new along with a guide on how to recognize whether the car that you are considering has that option.
[5] Of course, 20 years ago most cars were rear wheel drive and none had traction control.
[5] The owner of our test car purchased it over a year ago from a wholesale lot (which means no warrantee) and has driven it about 16,000 miles. He has changed the oil 3 times and replaced a parking light bulb.
[5] The trunk is fairly large and usable with a large opening. Since this is a rear wheel drive car, the trunk doesn't extend up under the package shelf (That's where the gas tank is.)
[5] Of course, it is up to you to have any prospective car checked out thoroughly by a professional mechanic familiar with that model before you buy it.
[5] At highway speed, the car will lower itself automatically by about an inch for improved aerodynamics. Another advantage to having air-suspension is when you have a full load of passengers and/or heavy items in the trunk, the car will level itself automatically. There are two controls on the console to allow you to modify the behavior of this system.
[5] Most other cars require that the timing belt be changed at 60,000 miles. If you are a conservative driver, this is your car.
[5] The only LS400 that I have ever known to break down was in the 1991 movie "The Grand Canyon" starring Danny Glover (a movie I otherwise highly recommend.) Well, it took less then a year for everyone in the automotive industry to change their attitude and give this car the respect it deserved.
[5] If you still want the Lexus, get a '93 or'94. They have larger brakes and wider tires better suited for sporty driving. The fast driver can get into trouble with this car because the only thrill this car will provide is through its silent speed and thrust.
[5] The seats are very comfortable for four people but, because of the deeply sculptured rear seat, a fifth passenger, sitting on the center hump, will feel like he/she has been relegated to second-class citizen. The ride on this car with its air-suspension is as perfect as you can get.
[5] The options include full time traction control, heated front seats, memory seat system, Nakamichi Sound System, trunk mounted 6-disk CD changer, Power Moonroof and computer controlled air-suspension. This car exudes quality from its fit and finish to the materials chosen both inside and out.
[5] In the left wall of the trunk, there is a flip-down compartment that contains a small set of Lexus monogrammed tools, a Lexus flashlight and a terrycloth rag with a Lexus emblem embroidered on it.
[5] 
Some family hatchbacks have spawned compact MPVs, the first of which was the 1996 Renault M"gane Scenic. [3] 
