What do you think is the best compact car?

Category: File - :09 Toyota Corolla.jpg|thumb|right|Toyota Corolla 2009 features a Japanese-designed international compact car standard.

Category: File - :Ford Focus front 20080409.jpg|thumb|right| Ford Focus II, on the other hand, features an American standard, and is noticeably shorter in size.

A compact (North America), or small family car (European) 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 much smaller 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 cars are between and long if they are hatchbacks, or between and if they are cabriolets, sedans or station wagons. Multi-purpose vehicles and sport utility vehicles based on small family cars, which are called compact MPVs and compact SUVs respectively, have become popular since the early 1990s.

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 307, Renault Mégane, and Volkswagen Golf. Japanese branded examples include Honda Civic, Mazda 3, Subaru Impreza, and Toyota Corolla. The Chevrolet Cobalt and Dodge Caliber are an example of a compact made in the United States.