What is the best compact car?

Category: File - :2009 ford focus SES sedan.JPG|thumb|right|North-American Ford Focus sedan variant features a wheelbase of 2614 mm (102.9 in) and is 4445 mm (175 in) long in size.

Category: File - :Ford Focus front 20080409.jpg|thumb|right|Its international counterpart, however, features a wheelbase of 2640 mm (104 in), with its length reaching 4480 mm (176 in).

A compact car (North America), or small family car (Europe), is a classification of cars which are larger than a supermini but smaller than or equal to a mid-size car. The term often leads into confusion, however, since international compact cars are somewhat larger than their North American equivalents, mostly because no supermini/subcompact size is manufactured by American, Mexican and Canadian car makers up to date.

Current compact car size, for US and international models respectively, is approximately and long for hatchbacks, or and long for cabriolets, sedans or station wagons. Multi-purpose vehicles and sport utility vehicles based on small family cars (often called compact MPVs and compact SUVs) have similar sizes, ranging from to in US and from to in international-based models.

Common engines are 1.5 to 2.4-litre straight-4s, either petrol or Diesel, with a range between and . 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 to .

Small European family cars include the Ford Focus, Opel Astra, Peugeot 308, Citroen C4, Renault Mégane, Fiat Bravo (2007), Lancia Delta, SEAT Leon, Skoda Octavia and Volkswagen Golf. Examples of compact cars from Asia include the Honda Civic, Mitsubishi Lancer, Nissan Bluebird Sylphy, Mazda 3, Subaru Impreza, Suzuki SX4, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Forte, Daewoo Lacetti and Toyota Corolla. The Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G5, Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Caliber are an example of a compact made in the United States. Holden Viva and later Holden Cruze are an example of a compact car from Australia.