Examine individual changes

'{{More footnotes|date=March 2010}} A '''compact car''' (North America), or '''small family car''' in British acceptation, is a [[car classification|classification]] of [[automobile|cars]] that are larger than a [[subcompact]] car but smaller than a [[mid-size car]], roughly equivalent to the [[C-segment]] in Europe.<ref>{{cite web|title=Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 - Merger Procedure |publisher=Office for Official Publications of the European Communities L-2985 Luxembourg |url= http://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/decisions/m1406_en.pdf |date=17 March 1999 |accessdate=7 February 2016}}</ref> [[File:LUXGEN S5 TURBO 2014 01.JPG|thumb|[[Luxgen S5 Turbo]]]] ==Definitions== Current compact car size, as defined by the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA), for the US and for international models respectively, is approximately {{convert|4100|mm|0|abbr=on}} and {{convert|4450|mm|0|abbr=on}} long for [[hatchback]]s, or {{convert|4400|mm|0|abbr=on}} and {{convert|4750|mm|0|abbr=on}} long for [[Convertible (car)|convertible]]s, [[Sedan (automobile)|sedans (saloon)]] or [[station wagon|station wagons (estate car)]]{{Citation needed|date=May 2017}}. [[Multi-purpose vehicle]]s and [[sport utility vehicle]]s based on small family cars (often called [[compact MPV]]s and [[compact SUV]]s) have similar sizes, ranging from {{convert|4200|mm|0|abbr=on}} to {{convert|4500|mm|0|abbr=on}} in the U.S., and from {{convert|4400|mm|0|abbr=on}} to {{convert|4700|mm|0|abbr=on}} in international-based models. In Japan, any vehicle that is over {{convert|3400|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} long, {{convert|1480|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} wide, {{convert|2000|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} high and with an engine over {{convert|660|cc|abbr=on}} but is under {{convert|4700|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} long, {{convert|1700|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} wide, {{convert|2000|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} high and with engines at or under {{convert|2000|cc|abbr=on}} is considered a compact vehicle. The [[Vehicle size class#Japan|dimension standards]] are absolute, meaning special consideration is not made for SUVs, CUVs, minivans, station wagons or hatchbacks. == American market == [[File:Dodge Dart 2.0 Rallye 2014 (14217526095).jpg|thumb|right|[[Dodge Dart (PF)|Dodge Dart]].]] [[File:2011 Chevrolet Cruze LS -- NHTSA 2.jpg|thumb|right|[[Chevrolet Cruze]]]] '''Compact car''' is a largely North American term denoting an [[automobile]] smaller than a [[mid-size car]], but larger than a [[subcompact car]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.ca/books?id=ZyluAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT476 |page=476 |title=The Car Show |author=Nicolae Sfetcu}}</ref> Compact cars usually have [[wheelbase]]s between {{convert|100|in|mm|0}} and {{convert|109|in|mm|0}}. The [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA) defines a "compact" car as measuring between {{convert|100|cuft|1}} and {{convert|109|cuft|1}} of combined passenger and [[cargo]] volume capacity. Vehicle class size is defined in the U.S. by environmental laws in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40—Protection of Environment, Section 600.315-82 Classes of comparable automobiles.<ref>{{cite web|title=Code of Federal Regulations Sec. 600.315 - 82 Classes of comparable automobiles|url= http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/granule/CFR-1996-title40-vol16/CFR-1996-title40-vol16-sec600-315 |publisher=U.S. Government Publishing Office |date=1 July 1996 |accessdate=7 February 2016}}</ref> Passenger car classes are defined based on interior volume index or [[seating capacity]], except automobiles classified as a special vehicle such as those with only two designated seating positions. In the United States, the compact car segment currently holds a 16% share of the market.<ref>{{cite web|title=USA 7 months 2012: Discover all 273 best-selling models! |work=Best selling cars blog |url= http://bestsellingcarsblog.com/2012/08/12/usa-7-months-2012-discover-all-271-best-selling-models/#more-20276 |date=12 August 2012 |first=Matt |last=Gasnier |accessdate=7 February 2016}}</ref> This segment is dominated by import models. === History of compact cars in the United States === [[File:1950-52 Nash Rambler conv.jpg|thumb|1952 [[Nash Rambler]] 2-door station wagon]] [[File:1964 Corvair Monza.jpg|thumb|1964 [[Chevrolet Corvair]] Monza 900 Convertible]] [[File:1978 AMC Concord DL 4-door sedan beige.jpg|thumb|1978 [[AMC Concord]] 4-door sedan, a new "luxury" compact at the time]] One of the first truly small cars on the U.S. market, in the sense that it was considerably smaller than the standard- size cars of its day, was the [[American Austin Car Company|Austin Bantam]] that appeared in 1930.<ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=ho8TAAAAIAAJ&q=One+of+the+first+truly+small+cars,+in+the+sense+that+it+was+considerably+smaller+than+the+standard-+size+cars+of+its+day.+was+the+Austin+Bantam+which+appeared+on+the+market+in+1930 |page=2480 |title=Hearings Before The Subcommittee On Antitrust And Monopoly Of The Committee On The Judiciary United States Senate Ninety-Third Congress Second Session. S. 1167 Part 4 Ground Transportation Industries |date=April 1974 |publisher=U.S. Government Publishing Office |accessdate=7 February 2016}}</ref> Production of the British-based city car lasted only four years with a total of 20,000 units. Although other little cars such as the [[Crosley]] focused on low price and economy, "Americans did not take easily to small cars."<ref name="Stevenson-214">{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=FGU5qHJY-y4C&pg=PA214&dq=Americans+did+not+take+easily+to+small+cars.+The+pre-war+Austin+Seven-based+Bantam+was+not+a+success,+and+the+postwar+Crosley+enjoyed+only+a+brief+vogue+in+the+late+1940s+before+extinction+in+1952 |page=214 |title=American Automobile Advertising, 1930-1980: An Illustrated History |first=Heon |last=Stevenson |publisher=McFarland |year=2008 |isbn=9780786436859 |accessdate=7 February 2016}}</ref> The U.S. market after World War II experienced growth in sales in standard-sized cars. By 1947, Chevrolet had prototypes of the Cadet, an economy car developed by [[Earle S. MacPherson]].<ref name="Stevenson-214"/> Ford also experimented with a "light car" and, unlike Chevrolet's Cadet, production ensued for the European market as a large car, the [[Ford Vedette]].<ref name="Stevenson-214"/> In 1950, [[Nash Motors|Nash]] introduced a [[convertible]] [[Nash Rambler|Rambler]] model. It was built on a {{convert|100|in|mm|0|adj=on}} wheelbase to which a [[station wagon]], [[hardtop]], and [[sedan (car)|sedan]] versions were added. Compared to European standards, they were large.<ref name="Stevenson-214"/> Conceived by [[George W. Mason]], the term "compact" was coined by [[George W. Romney]] as a euphemism for small cars with a wheelbase of {{convert|110|in|mm|0}} or less.<ref>{{cite book |last=McCarthy |first=Tom |title=Auto Mania: Cars, Consumers, and the Environment |publisher=Yale University Press |year=2007 |page=144 |isbn=978030011038-8 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Ward's automotive yearbook |publisher=Ward's Communications |location=Detroit |volume=22 |year=1960 |page=92 }}</ref> The Nash Rambler established a new market segment, it became known as "America's first small car", and the U.S. automobile industry soon adopted the "compact" term.<ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=__JhCAAAQBAJ&pg=PT126&dq=Back+in+the+1950s,+the+Nash+Rambler+was+America's+first+small+car |page= |title=In Search of the Obvious: The Antidote for Today's Marketing Mess |first=Jack |last=Trout |publisher=Wiley |year=2008 |isbn=9780470288597 |accessdate=7 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=GW6jLldHjqsC&q=It+was+America's+first+compact+car,+and+to+get+a+name+for+it,+the+company+reached+back+almost+fifty+years+into+its+own+history.+1950+Nash+Rambler+was+a+historic+car+on+two+counts:+its+ancestry+and+its+small+size |page=115 |title=Car of the year, 1895-1970: a 75-year parade of American automobiles that made news |first=Henry Bolles |last=Lent |publisher=Dutton |year=1974 |isbn=9780525274513 |accessdate=7 February 2016}}</ref> Several competitors to the Nash Rambler arose from the ranks of America's other independent automakers, although none enjoyed the long-term success of the Rambler. Other early compact cars included the [[Henry J]] from [[Kaiser-Frazer]] (and its [[Sears, Roebuck and Company]] marketed variant the [[Allstate (automobile)|Allstate]]), as well as the [[Willys Aero]] and the [[Hudson Jet]]. In 1952, [[Ford Motor Company|Ford Division]] assistant general manager [[Robert S. McNamara]] started the Market Research Unit, which was given the job of finding out why smaller cars were becoming popular. In 1954, 64,500 of over 5 million cars sold in the United States were imports or small American cars. Ford alone sold over 1.4 million big cars. Yet 5 percent of those surveyed said they would consider a small car. The potential market totalled 275,000.<ref name=Kranz>{{cite journal|title=As the 1950s end, 'one size fits all' strategy gives way to Falcon, other economy cars|last=Kranz|first=Rick|work=[[Automotive News]]|date=16 June 2003|pages=176–177}}</ref> The modern compact class was greatly expanded between 1958 and 1960 when the [[Studebaker Lark]], [[Chevrolet Corvair]], [[Ford Falcon (North American)|Ford Falcon]], and [[Plymouth Valiant]] were brought to the market previously dominated by the [[Rambler American]]. These models also gave rise to [[compact van]]s that were sized similarly to the [[Volkswagen Type 2]] microbus and were based from the Falcon, Corvair, and Valiant [[automobile platform]]s. Ford Division marketing research manager George Brown said smaller cars appealed to people with a college education and a higher income whose families were buying more than one car. The cars had to offer not only high gas mileage but also headroom, legroom, and plenty of trunk space.<ref name=Kranz/> Within a few years after that, the compacts had given rise to a new class called the [[pony car]], named after the [[Ford Mustang]], which was built on the Falcon chassis. At that time, there was a distinct difference in size between compact and full-size models, and an early definition of the compact was a vehicle with an overall length of less than {{convert|200|in|0|adj=on}}, much larger than European designs. During the 1960s, compacts were the smallest class of North American cars, but they had evolved into only slightly smaller versions of the 6-cylinder or [[V8 engine|V8]]-powered two-bench six-passenger sedan. They were much larger than imports by makers such as Volkswagen and Datsun, which were typically five-passenger 4-cylinder engine cars, even though ads for the [[Ford Maverick (North America)|Ford Maverick]] and [[Rambler American]] would make comparisons with the popular [[Volkswagen Beetle]]. In the early 1970s, the domestic [[automaker]]s introduced even smaller [[subcompact car]]s that included the [[AMC Gremlin]], [[Chevrolet Vega]], and [[Ford Pinto]]. The 1977 model year marked the beginning of a [[Downsize (automobile)|downsizing]] of all vehicles, so that cars such as the [[AMC Concord]] and the [[Ford Fairmont]] that replaced the compacts were re-classified as mid-size, while cars inheriting the size of the [[Ford Pinto]] and [[Chevrolet Vega]] (such as the [[Ford Escort (North America)|Ford Escort]] and [[Chevrolet Cavalier]]) became classified as compact cars. And even after the reclassification vehicles like the [[Ford Fairmont]] were far larger than international midsize sedans and rather on par with large cars such as the [[Ford Granada (Europe)]]. It would not be until the 1980s that American cars were being downsized to truly international dimensions. {| class="wikitable" |- ! Class<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/info.shtml#sizeclasses |title=Vehicle Size Classes Used in the Fuel Economy Guide |work=fueleconomy.gov |accessdate=7 February 2016}}</ref> !! Interior volume index |- | Minicompact car || &lt; {{convert|85|cuft|m3|abbr=on}} |- | Subcompact car || {{convert|85|-|99.9|cuft|m3|abbr=on}} |- | Compact car || {{convert|100|-|109.9|cuft|m3|abbr=on}} |- | Midsize car || {{convert|110|-|119.9|cuft|m3|abbr=on}} |- | Large car || ≥ {{convert|120|cuft|m3|abbr=on}} |- | Small station wagon || &lt; {{convert|130|cuft|m3|abbr=on}} |- | Midsize station wagon || {{convert|130|-|160|cuft|m3|abbr=on}} |- | Large station wagon || ≥ {{convert|160|cuft|m3|abbr=on}} |} In the 1985 model year, compact cars classified by the EPA included Ford's Escort and Tempo, the Chevrolet Cavalier, Toyota Corolla, Acura Legend, Mercedes-Benz 300, Nissan Maxima, and Volvo DL. == European market == [[File:2017 Volkswagen Golf (5G MY17) 1.4 SE TSI hatchback (2017-08-30).jpg|thumb|[[Volkswagen Golf]]]] According to 2011 sales,<ref>{{cite web|title=Europe Full Year 2011: Top 318 All models ranking now available! |publisher=Automotive News |url= http://www.autoweek.nl/forum/read.php?1,2449761,page=23 |accessdate=7 February 2016}}</ref> compact cars are currently the second segment in Europe after the [[subcompact]] one (which in Europe corresponds to [[A-segment]] + [[B-segment]]), with approximately 3 million units sold. The world's first [[Hatchback#Early examples|hatchback]],<ref>{{cite book|first=Tony |last=Lewin |first2=Ryan |last2=Borroff |first3=Ian |last3=Callum |page=185|title=How to Design Cars Like a Pro |publisher=Motorbooks |year=2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first=Richard |last=Copping |page=17 |title=VW Golf: Five Generations of Fun: The Full Story of the Volkswagen Golf |publisher=Veloce Publishing |year=2006 }}</ref> the 1958 [[FR layout]] [[Austin A40]] Farina Countryman. Because of the [[Volkswagen Golf]]'s definition and long standing dominance of this class it is often referred to as the "Golf segment" in much of Europe.<ref>{{cite web |accessdate=2016-08-19 | url = http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/kompaktklasse-1916624.html | title= Kompaktklasse |trans-title=Compact Class | publisher = Auto Motor und Sport | language = German }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.expressen.se/motor/stort-test-de-10-basta-bilarna-i-golf-klassen/ | publisher = Expressen | date = 2013-04-16 | work = Allt om Bilar | title = Stort test: De 10 bästa bilarna i Golf-klassen |trans-title=Big test: The 10 best cars in the Golf class | language = Swedish | last1 = Jakobsson | first1 = David | last2 = Berggren | first2 = Jan-Erik }}</ref> ===Upmarket options=== For those whose budgets can't stretch to a [[Compact executive car|Compact Executive]], more luxurious versions of small family cars have been offered through the years. These are usually saloons which have a more upmarket image in Europe than hatchbacks, although a full range of body styles are available. Early examples include the compact luxury [[Riley One-Point-Five]] and [[Wolseley 1500]] twins, offered by the [[British Motor Corporation]] from 1957 to 1965. Germany's [[Lloyd Arabella]], later Borgward Arabella, was available from 1959 to 1963 and was available in 'de Luxe' trim with a higher powered engine. All these cars offered more style, higher performance and greater luxury than the [[Economy car#1945.E2.80.931960|economy cars]] available from competitors. The 1981 [[Triumph Acclaim]] was [[British Leyland#BL Ltd|British Leyland]]'s first upmarket compact car created in collaboration with [[Honda]] and was replaced in 1984 by the [[Honda Civic (third generation)|Honda Civic]] based [[Rover 200 / 25#Rover 200 .28SD3.3B 1984.E2.80.931989.29|Rover 200-Series]]. The latter was marketed directly at the entry-level BMW 3 Series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-european/carshow-classic-1989-rover-216-efi-vanden-plas-automatic-taking-a-step-upmarket/|title=Carshow Classic: 1989 Rover 216 EFi Vanden Plas Automatic – Taking A Step Upmarket|date=12 September 2015|publisher=}}</ref> [[Rover Company|Rover]] continued to offer more upmarket compact cars with its [[Rover 200 / 25#Rover 200 .28R8.3B 1989.E2.80.931995.29|200-]] and [[Rover 400 / 45#R8|400-Series]] twins and later [[Rover 400 / 45#Rover 400 .28HH-R.3B 1995.E2.80.931999.29|Rover 400]] and [[Rover 400 / 45#Rover 45 .281999.E2.80.932005.29|45]] saloons and fastbacks up until its demise in 2005. Volkswagen has long marketed its Jetta sedan above the Golf hatchback its based on. The [[Volkswagen Jetta#Sixth generation .28MK6.2FA6.2C Typ 1B.3B 2011.E2.80.93present.29|current Jetta]], the sixth generation, is uprated for the European market with multi-link rear suspension instead of torsion beam rear axles and has a higher quality interior than the North American derivative.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/volkswagen/jetta/first-drives/vw-jetta-2.0-tdi-140|title=Volkswagen Jetta 2.0 TDI 140 review - Autocar|website=www.autocar.co.uk}}</ref> Volkswagen stablemate, Audi, has offered its compact [[Audi A3|A3]] since 1996 - initially as a hatchback before adding a convertible in 2003 and a sedan in 2012. [[File:Renault Mégane Scénic.JPG|thumb|[[Renault Scénic|Renault Mégane Scénic]], Phase I]] ===Alternative body styles=== Some small family cars have also spawned [[compact MPV]]s, the first of which was the 1996 [[Renault Scénic#Sc.C3.A9nic I .281996.E2.80.932003.29|Renault Mégane Scénic]], named 1997 [[European Car of the Year]]. In a few years at the end of the 1990s, they outsold estates and saloons in many countries. Nevertheless, the MPV segment began to lose the customer interest at the beginning of the 2010s, while the SUV segment increased. The [[Renault Scenic]] and the [[Citroën C4 Picasso#Second generation (2013–present)|Citroën C4 Picasso]] are the leaders of this segment in Europe over the past two decades.<ref name="ScenicLeaderMPV">{{cite web|url= http://www.autonews.com/article/20090320/ANE02/903209993/renault-wants-to-be-minivan-leader-again |title=Renault wants to be minivan leader again |publisher=Automotive News Europe |first=Lawrence J. |last=Speer |date=20 March 2009 |accessdate=7 February 2016}}</ref> {{clear}} ==Japanese market== [[File:2017 Toyota Corolla (ZRE172R) Ascent sedan (2017-11-18) 01.jpg|thumb|right|[[Toyota Corolla]]]] [[File:2017 Mazda3 (BN) Maxx hatchback (2017-11-20) 01.jpg|thumb|right|[[Mazda3]]]] In 1955, the Japanese [[Ministry of International Trade and Industry]] set forth a goal to all Japanese makers at that time to create what was called a "national car". The concept stipulated that the vehicle be able to maintain a maximum speed over 100&nbsp;km/h (62&nbsp;mph), weigh below 400&nbsp;kg (882&nbsp;lbs), fuel consumption at {{convert|30|km/L|abbr=on}} or more, at an average speed of 60&nbsp;km/h (37&nbsp;mph) on a level road, and not require maintenance or significant service for at least {{convert|100,000|km|mi|abbr=on}}. This established a "compact car" target that was larger than what has become known as the "light car" or the [[kei car]]. Under Japanese regulations, this class is defined as vehicles at or less than 4.7&nbsp;m (15.4&nbsp;ft) long, 1.7&nbsp;m (5.6&nbsp;ft) wide, 2&nbsp;m (6.6&nbsp;ft) high and with engines at or under 2,000 cc (120 cu in). Interior dimensions and available cargo space are not taken into consideration. All vehicles in Japan, regardless of origination of manufacture, are held to this standard. These goals also took into consideration [[speed limits in Japan]] and typical driving conditions, where urban areas are usually zoned at {{convert|40|km/h|mi/h|1|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|title=Driving in Japan|url=http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2022.html|website=Japan-Guide.com|publisher=Japan-Guide.com|accessdate=22 February 2017}}</ref> This larger class is by far the most popular in Japan due to tax benefits stipulated by [[Vehicle size class#Japan|Japanese government regulations]] ([[:ja:道路運送車両法|Japanese Government's Road Vehicle Act of 1951]]).<ref>{{cite web|url= http://law.e-gov.go.jp/htmldata/S26/S26HO185.html |title=Road Vehicle Act of 1951 |language=Japanese |work=Law.e-gov.go.jp |date= |accessdate=7 February 2016}}</ref> One of the first compact cars that met those requirements was the [[Toyota Publica]] with an air cooled two cylinder opposed engine, the [[Nissan Bluebird#110 series|Datsun 110 series]], and the [[Mitsubishi 500]]. The Publica and the Mitsubishi 500 were essentially "kei cars" with engines larger than regulations permitted at the time, while the Datsun was an all-new vehicle. These vehicles were followed by the [[Hino Contessa]] in 1961, the [[Isuzu Bellett]], [[Daihatsu Compagno]] and [[Mazda Familia]] in 1963, the [[Mitsubishi Colt]] in 1965, and the [[Nissan Sunny]], [[Subaru 1000]], and [[Toyota Corolla]] in 1966. Honda introduced their first four-door sedan in 1969, called the [[Honda 1300]]. In North America, these cars were classified as [[subcompact car]]s. By 1970, Nissan released their first front-wheel-drive car that was originally developed by [[Prince Motor Company]] which had merged with Nissan in 1966. This was introduced in 1970 as the [[Nissan Cherry]]. In 1972, the [[Honda Civic (first generation)|Honda Civic]] appeared with the [[CVCC]] engine that was able to meet California emission standards without the use of a [[Catalytic converter]]. In 1973, the [[1973 oil crisis|Energy Crisis]] started, which made small fuel efficient cars more desirable, and the North American driver began exchanging their large cars for the smaller, imported compacts that cost less to fill up and were inexpensive to maintain. == UK market == {{Refimprove section|date=May 2016}} [[File:2017 Vauxhall Astra Design 1.4 Front.jpg|thumb|[[Vauxhall Astra]], a re-branded [[Opel Astra]] ([[General Motors]] Group<ref>{{cite web |title=UK July 2012: Mercedes C-Class hits highest ranking ever |work=Best selling cars blog |url= http://bestsellingcarsblog.com/2012/08/06/uk-july-2012-mercedes-c-class-hits-highest-ranking-ever/ |date=6 August 2012 |first=Matt |last=Gassier |accessdate=7 February 2016}}</ref>]] === 1970s === Small family saloons had a strong following among car buyers in the UK as the 1970s dawned, and enjoyed a popularity similar to that of larger family cars such as the successful [[Ford Cortina]]. These two sectors were in fact dominant of the new car market at this time, as the [[Mini]] and - to a lesser degree - the [[Hillman Imp]] were the only popular mini-cars at this time. The [[Austin 1100|Morris/Austin 1100/1300]] had been Britain's best selling car for most of the time since its launch in 1962, and rival British products included the [[Ford Escort (Europe)|Ford Escort]], [[Vauxhall Viva (1963–1979)|Vauxhall Viva]] and [[Hillman Avenger]]. Cars such as the [[Citroën GS]] and [[Nissan Sunny|Datsun Sunny 120Y]] were also being imported. [[British Leyland]] replaced the 1100/1300 with the [[Austin Allegro]] in 1973. [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] updated the Escort in 1975. The [[Vauxhall Viva (1963–1979)|Vauxhall Viva]] finished production in late 1979 on the launch of the all-new [[Vauxhall Astra|Astra]] - which abandoned the traditional rear-wheel drive saloon in favour of the front-wheel drive hatchback format that was spreading across Europe. The Allegro was front-wheel drive but only came as a saloon or estate though the [[Austin Maxi]] was a hatchback. The Escort was still a rear-wheel drive saloon in 1979 but was due for an imminent replacement by an up-to-date third generation model. The Hillman Avenger continued to sell well as a [[Chrysler]] following the 1976 rebranding and as a [[Talbot]] after the sale of Chrysler's European operations to French carmaker [[Peugeot]] in 1979, in spite of the 1978 launch of the [[Chrysler Horizon|Horizon]] front-wheel drive hatchback. One of the first foreign cars to have a major impact on this sector in the UK was the [[Volkswagen Golf|Golf]] - a [[Giorgetto Giugiaro|Giugiaro-styled]] front-wheel drive hatchback launched in 1974. The sporty '''GTI''' version sparked a huge demand for "hot hatchbacks" in the UK and many other countries. === 1980s === The MK3 [[Ford Escort (North America)|Ford Escort]] went on sale in the autumn of 1980 replacing the rear-drive saloon format in favour of hatchbacks and front-wheel drive. It was available in several versions, as well as the [[Ford Orion|Orion]] saloon that was launched in 1983. [[Vauxhall Motors|Vauxhall's]] [[Vauxhall Astra|Astra]] entered the market with the 1984 MK2 model. [[Austin Rover Group|Austin Rover]], as British Leyland was now called, replaced the [[Austin Allegro|Allegro]] in early 1983 with the all-new [[Austin Maestro|Maestro]]. The venture with Japanese carmaker [[Honda]] saw the launch of the [[Triumph Acclaim]], a four-door saloon based on the [[Honda Ballade]] with a Honda-designed engine. The [[Rover 200 / 25#SD3|Rover 200]] succeeded it in 1984. The first British built [[Peugeot]] car - the compact [[Peugeot 309|309]] - rolled off the [[Ryton-on-Dunsmore]] production line at the end of 1985. === 1990s === [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] began the 1990s by replacing its 10-year-old Escort (and the [[Ford Orion|Orion]] saloon version) with an all-new model. The Escort was Britain's best selling small family car throughout the decade.{{citation needed|date=August 2012}} Its eventual successor - the [[Ford Focus (International)|Focus]] - went on sale in September 1998. [[Vauxhall Motors|Vauxhall]] rejuvenated its [[Vauxhall Astra|Astra]] with the launch of an all-new model in October 1991, and in early 1998 with a new version. The [[Rover 200|200 Series]] was launched during the autumn of 1989, and its successor was launched in 1995. Later, a facelift transformed it into the [[Rover 25]] and re-positioned as a supermini. == See also == {{Div col|colwidth=22em}} * [[Vehicle size class]] * [[Compact MPV]] * [[Compact sport utility vehicle|Compact SUV]] * [[Economy car]] * [[Hot hatch]] * [[Minivan]] * [[Sport compact]] * [[Supermini|Supermini car]] * [[Compact executive car]] {{div col end}} == References == {{reflist|colwidth=30em}} == External links == * [http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/info.shtml#sizeclasses Official US government car size class definitions] {{Automobile configuration}} [[Category:North American car classifications]] [[Category:Car classifications]]'