2020Audi A4

2019BMW 3 Series

Acompact executive car, also known as acompact luxury car, is a premium car larger than apremium compact and smaller than anexecutive car. Compact executive car is a UK term and a part of theD-segment in the European car classification.

An executive car generally needs to be comfortable and well-equipped while also being cheap to run as acompany car.^[1] They may have performance features and are often viewed as status symbols. A high percentage of the "executive cars" market share consists of corporate-owned cars, or vehicles provided by a firm for the business and sometimes private use by employees.^[2]

The "compact executive car" description is not often used in the United States, but it describes certain models imported from Europe.^[3]

TheCadillac ATS has been described as a compact executive car.^[4][5][6] The ATS was succeeded by theCadillac CT4.

Before the ATS, a heavilybadge engineered version of theSaab 9-3 was sold in Europe as theCadillac BLS (2005–2009). The BLS was both developed and manufactured bySaab inTrollhättan,Sweden. The model was never sold in theNorthern American market. Cadillac's previous attempt at a compact executive car for the US market was theCimarron manufactured in between 1981–1988. The Cimarron is largely considered to be a market failure and also at least partially responsible for the market struggles that Cadillac faced during and after its production.^[7]

The 1971Triumph Dolomite is an early compact executive car.^[8][9]

Jaguar's first compact executive car (although larger than the 1960s'Jaguar Mark 2) was the 2001Jaguar X-Type.^[10] Sales, however, were disappointing.^[11] The X-type was replaced by theJaguar XE in 2014, competing in the same sector.^[10]

Alfa Romeo's models 75 and 155 are considered compact executive cars in the United Kingdom.^[12] The 1996Alfa Romeo 156 has been classified as such.^[13][14] This was followed by theAlfa Romeo 159 and then theGiulia (Type 952).^[13]

An early compact executive car from Lancia is the 1972Lancia Beta (Type 828). The Beta morphed into theLancia Trevi, which was produced from 1980 to 1984. Following an absence from the segment for five years, Lancia returned in 1989 when theLancia Dedra replaced the smallerLancia Prisma. The Dedra was replaced by theLancia Lybra, which was produced from 1998 to 2005.^{[15][failed verification]}

An early compact executive car produced in Germany was the 1966BMW 02 Series, followed by theBMW 3 Series in 1975.

In 1965Audi introduced their first compact executive modelAudi 72.

The 1983Mercedes-Benz W201 range (also known as the "Mercedes-Benz 190") was the first compact executive car from Mercedes-Benz.^[16] In 1993, the W201 was replaced by theMercedes-Benz C-Class range.^[17][18]

DS Automobiles offers a compact executive with itsDS 4 hatchback. From earlier models also the largerDS 5 (sold until 2018) could be considered a compact executive car.^[19] The DS brand used to be a sub-marque ofCitroën, and thus earlier model years (before 2015 for the DS 4 and DS 5, but the change depends on the model) carry the Citroën logo. The smallest model offered by DS has been theDS 3 (sold until 2019), which could be considered to be a subcompact or evensupermini executive car. The currentDS 3 Crossback differs from the earlier model substantially, as it is a smallcrossover SUV.

TheVolvo S60 as well as its estate versionVolvo V60 are considered to be compact executive cars.^[20][21]

Saab Automobile, which went defunct in 2011, had the9-3 -model which was a compact executive car. Based on heavily modified GM engines and platforms, the 9-3 was available as aconvertible,hatchback (first generation),sedan (second generation) andstation wagon (second generation). The 9-3 had a wide variety of both petrol and diesel engine options. Most of the petrol engines wereturbocharged and supported the use ofethanol fuel, which were both relatively uncommon features for a mass production car in the00's. The 9-3 also had high emphasis oncar safety, which was a high priority in the design of all Saab cars. Also the previousSaab 99 andSaab 900 could be considered as compact executive cars at some markets, while especially inNorthern Europe these models were more commonly seen as ordinary small family cars.

An early compact executive car produced in Japan was the 1988Mazda Persona / Eunos 300.^[22] The first Japanese compact executive car to be successful in overseas markets is the 1998Lexus IS / Toyota Altezza.^[23][24]

Other Japanese compact executive cars include theInfiniti Q50 (by Nissan),^[25]Acura TLX (by Honda)^[26][27][28] andMazda Xedos 6.^[29]

Compact executive cars produced in South Korea include theGenesis G70.^{[citation needed]}

Subcompact executive cars, also calledpremium compacts, is the category of the smallest premium cars. It is part of theC-segment in the European car classification. Examples include theMercedes-Benz A-Class andCLA-Class,Audi A3,Volvo S40,BMW 1 Series, and2 Series. Premium compacts compete with well-equippedmid-size cars, and highly optioned premium compact cars can have pricing and features that overlaps with compact executive cars.

• Compact executive cars
• Car classifications

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