page_title: Car classification
section_title: Premium compact
hierarchical_section_title: Car classification / Luxury vehicles / Premium compact
caption_attribution_description: Audi A3 SportBack 2.0 TFSI S-line 2017 (three-quarter view)
context_page_description: Governments and private organizations have developed car classification schemes that are used for various purposes including regulation, description and categorization of cars.
  The International Standard ISO 3833-1977 Road vehicles – Types – Terms and definitions also defines terms for classifying cars.
context_section_description: The premium compact class is the smallest category of luxury cars. It became popular in the mid-2000s, when European manufacturers— such as Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz— introduced new entry level models that were smaller and cheaper than their compact executive models.
  Examples of premium compact cars:
  Acura ILX
  Buick Verano
  Lexus CT200h
caption: 2012–present Audi A3
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