5 Cars: Small Size, Big Luxury

Price: $25,900 - $34,400

Acura built its reputation on compact premium cars. But when small went out of style during the go-go years before the recession, Acura dropped its compact RSX coupe after 2006.

2013 Acura ILX

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Now small is in again, and Acura has brought back a Civic-sized sedan loaded with amenities, especially in its Premium guise, which includes leather, heated front seats; a power driver's seat; 17-inch wheels; and HID headlights. It comes in three trims: a base 2.0-liter 4-cylinder, a hybrid and a spunky 2.4-liter 4-cylinder version.

Compare: Acura ILX vs. Buick Verano vs. Lexus CT 200h

Price: $31,200 - $44,100

The 3-Series has grown so big that BMW has introduced a smaller car to fill the void below it. Enter the 1-Series. It's the size the 3-Series was decades ago.

2013 BMW 1-Series

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It comes as a coupe or convertible, and small though it is, this little car gives up nothing in performance or features. It offers the full spate of BMW options, including sport suspension, $4,000 wheels and even a heated steering wheel.

Bing Images: BMW 1-Series

Price: $22,585 - $25,965

The Buick Verano is the smallest car Buick has made in years. It's based on the Chevrolet Cruze but feels totally different.

2013 Buick Verano

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The heavy doors close with a satisfying thud. The interior stays as quiet as a tomb, is attractively styled and has premium materials throughout. The 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine is pretty zippy yet gets good gas mileage. From the outside it looks expensive, but it isn't, making it perfect for upwardly mobile young professionals.

Read:  Which 2012 Cars Have the Best Tech?

Price: $33,095 - $47,795

The ATS is Cadillac's new baby, and the company has high hopes for it. This compact, rear-wheel-drive sport sedan was designed to compete with the BMW 3-Series, something the larger Cadillac CTS has been doing for years.

2013 Buick Verano

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The ATS's smaller size and lighter weight make it more agile than its bigger brother. The ATS comes with a 4- or 6-cylinder engine and boasts lots of high-tech goodies such as Cue, a touch-and-swipe interface that replaces many buttons and switches on the vehicle's center console and augments them with steering-wheel controls and voice commands.

Watch Video:  Detroit Auto Show: 2013 Cadillac ATS

Price: $29,120 - $37,150

The Lexus CT 200h is basically a more upscale Toyota Prius. It's all about fuel economy rather than speed. Consumer Reports says it gets 40 mpg overall, which is 4 mpg less than the more practical Prius.

2013 Lexus CT 200h

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Plus, the CT 200h gives up interior space and outward visibility for added style compared to the Prius, as well. And even though it's snazzier than a Prius, we don't think the CT is up to Lexus' usual standards of luxury. Our opinion.

View Slideshow:  The Most Fuel-Efficient 2012 Cars

For more information on any vehicle in this slideshow, click the links below:

-Acura ILX
-BMW 1-Series
-Buick Verano
-Cadillac ATS
-Lexus CT 200h

Compare: All 5 Vehicles

Matthew de Paula wanted to be an automotive journalist ever since reading his first car magazine in grade school. After a brief stint writing about finance, he helped launch ForbesAutos.com and became the site's editor in 2006. Matthew now freelances for various outlets.

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