Best Small Luxury Cars of 2023

Not everyone can afford a Mercedes S-Class or Audi Q7, and some car buyers don’t want to drive a behemoth; luckily, there are small luxury cars available for anyone who wants a ride with a smaller footprint or for those who want to dip their toes in the premium segment to see if they may want to take a bigger plunge later on. These cars are often the entry point to a brand’s range, but some are capable sports cars in their own right.

This is a list of the best compact luxury cars of 2023 for sale in the USA.

BuzzScore
Design
Performance
MPG
Interior
Infotainment
Reliability
Safety
Value
#1
2023 Volvo XC40
9.3
BuzzScore
10
Design
9
Performance
10
MPG
9
Interior
9
Infotainment
8
Reliability
10
Safety
9
Value
#2
2023 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class SUV
9.1
BuzzScore
9
Design
9
Performance
9
MPG
9
Interior
10
Infotainment
8
Reliability
10
Safety
9
Value
#3
2023 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45
9.1
BuzzScore
10
Design
10
Performance
8
MPG
10
Interior
10
Infotainment
7
Reliability
10
Safety
8
Value
#4
2023 Mercedes-AMG CLA 35
9
BuzzScore
10
Design
9
Performance
8
MPG
10
Interior
10
Infotainment
7
Reliability
10
Safety
8
Value
#4
2023 Mercedes-AMG GLA 35
9
BuzzScore
10
Design
10
Performance
8
MPG
8
Interior
10
Infotainment
8
Reliability
10
Safety
8
Value
#5
2022 Audi TT RS
9
BuzzScore
9
Design
10
Performance
8
MPG
9
Interior
9
Infotainment
8
Reliability
9
Safety
10
Value
#6
2023 Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class
8.9
BuzzScore
8
Design
8
Performance
9
MPG
9
Interior
10
Infotainment
8
Reliability
10
Safety
9
Value
#7
2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge
8.9
BuzzScore
8
Design
9
Performance
9
MPG
9
Interior
9
Infotainment
9
Reliability
9
Safety
9
Value
#8
2023 Audi RS3
8.9
BuzzScore
10
Design
7
Performance
7
MPG
10
Interior
10
Infotainment
8
Reliability
10
Safety
9
Value
#9
2023 Audi TTS Coupe
8.9
BuzzScore
9
Design
9
Performance
8
MPG
9
Interior
9
Infotainment
9
Reliability
9
Safety
9
Value
#10
2023 BMW 2 Series Coupe
8.8
BuzzScore
8
Design
8
Performance
9
MPG
9
Interior
9
Infotainment
9
Reliability
9
Safety
9
Value
#11
2023 Audi TT Coupe
8.8
BuzzScore
9
Design
8
Performance
8
MPG
9
Interior
9
Infotainment
9
Reliability
9
Safety
9
Value
#12
2023 BMW M2
#12
BMW M2
8.8
BuzzScore
8
Design
9
Performance
8
MPG
9
Interior
9
Infotainment
9
Reliability
9
Safety
9
Value
#13
2023 Porsche 718 Boxster
8.8
BuzzScore
10
Design
10
Performance
8
MPG
8
Interior
8
Infotainment
9
Reliability
8
Safety
9
Value
#14
2022 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan
8.6
BuzzScore
10
Design
7
Performance
8
MPG
9
Interior
10
Infotainment
7
Reliability
10
Safety
8
Value
#15
2023 Audi Q3
#15
Audi Q3
8.6
BuzzScore
8
Design
8
Performance
8
MPG
9
Interior
10
Infotainment
9
Reliability
9
Safety
8
Value
#16
2023 BMW X1
#16
BMW X1
8.6
BuzzScore
8
Design
8
Performance
9
MPG
9
Interior
9
Infotainment
8
Reliability
9
Safety
9
Value
#17
2023 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
8.6
BuzzScore
9
Design
8
Performance
8
MPG
10
Interior
10
Infotainment
7
Reliability
9
Safety
8
Value
#18
2023 Audi S3 Sedan
8.6
BuzzScore
9
Design
10
Performance
7
MPG
9
Interior
9
Infotainment
8
Reliability
9
Safety
8
Value
#19
2023 Audi TT Roadster
8.6
BuzzScore
9
Design
8
Performance
8
MPG
8
Interior
9
Infotainment
9
Reliability
9
Safety
9
Value

Characteristics of Compact Luxury Cars

While larger premium vehicles can take the kitchen sink approach to design, their smaller siblings have to follow a stricter regimen to get the most out of the limited space and budget.

  • They are naturally quite diminutive in size
  • They exhibit some excellent handling qualities
  • They come with high-quality materials and features
  • They have better fuel economy than their larger cousins

What to Consider When Buying Small Luxury Cars

Buying a new car is daunting, but it is even more so when you are upgrading from a mainstream model to something a little more special. But is it worthwhile to spend this kind of money for a small luxury car when you could afford larger mainstream models in their top-tier trims?

Pros

  • High-quality interiors
  • Decent levels of performance
  • Cutting-edge technology
  • Status that goes with the premium badge
  • High levels of comfort and convenience
  • Smaller size is ideal for urban environments

Cros

  • A lot of money for so little car
  • Mediocre fuel economy
  • Limited practicality

FAQs

What are the best small luxury cars?

There is no shortage of impressive small premium cars, especially from German brands. These include the Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and BMW 3 Series. However, some of the newer premium brands, like Genesis, have excellent products, such as the G70.

How much do compact luxury cars cost?

Entry-level premium cars can start at around $40,000, but the best examples usually have a slightly higher starting price of around $45,000. The Genesis G70 is one of the exceptions, coming in slightly below this point.

What is the smallest luxury car?

The Mini Cooper is technically considered a luxury vehicle, albeit more of a fun car than a practical or functional one. It is still one of the smallest premium cars sold in the US, especially in its highest sub-trim, which adds luxuries like top-spec sound systems and more safety features.

How reliable are compact luxury cars?

Generally speaking, premium brands put in a lot of effort to ensure reliability since they have a reputation to uphold. But although their build quality is excellent, some brands still struggle with recalls and other reliability concerns: remember to check out warranty cover before you buy.
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