Compact luxury

Upscale automotive brands like Cadillac (right), Lexus and BMW are making their smallest cars in decades.

Can a small car be a luxury car?

It may sound like an oxymoron, but high-end manufacturers don’t think so.

In an effort to meet future federal fuel economy requirements, premium automakers are creating some of their smallest vehicles ever.

Many of these models start at less than $35,000; a couple start at less than $30,000, about the same price as a fully loaded, massmarket midsize sedan.

So what do you get for less than $35,000, including destination charge?

You don’t get a Lincoln, Land Rover, Jaguar or Infiniti; their least-expensive vehicles are costlier.

You can get a vehicle with a fair bit of prestige, but it’s unusual to find a stripped, base car at any luxury dealership. Most vehicles have options that can push the price above $35,000.

2013 ACURA ILX

Base price: $26,795 with interior space of 101.7 cubic feet.

The front-wheel-drive ILX looks luxurious, and its cabin is trimmed to the usual Acura standards. But to make this premium compact opulent, you must order at least one of two packages, which makes it pricey considering the ILX’s 150-horsepower engine and five-speed automatic transmission are little better than the Civic’s.

2013 AUDI A3 2.0T

Base price: $28,165 with interior space of 109 cubic feet.

Audi’s upscale five-door hatchback is overshadowed by the pricier A4 sedan, but the A3 boasts a practical hatchback conf iguration, front-wheel drive and a peppy 200-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine. A six-speed manual is standard; a sixspeed automatic is an extra $1,520. But at this price, you won’t get heated seats or Bluetooth.

2013 CADILLAC ATS

Base price: $33,990 with interior space of 101 cubic feet.

The ATS is not just the smallest Cadillac in 32 years; it’s also meant to challenge Germany’s best compacts — and, remarkably, it does. Skeptical?

Sling it through a corner and you’ll find the rear-wheel- drive ATS predictably, precisely and securely communicates its intentions. The base four- cylinder engine is adequate, if a bit vibratory.

2013 BMW X1 SDRIVE28I

Base price: $31,695 with interior space of 123 cubic feet.

BMW’s least-expensive vehicle is not a sports sedan; it’s a compact crossover SUV. X1 is based on the athletic, but cramped, 1 Series coupe. The X1 solves the space problem, although at this price, you get rear-wheel-drive, not four-wheel-drive. And be careful with options; the X1 can get pricey.

2013 LEXUS CT 200H

Base price: $32,945 with interior space of 100 cubic feet.

Like some other vehicles here, the CT 200h uses components from a less-expensive sibling under its skin. In this case, it’s the Toyota Prius. Not surprisingly, the CT 200h’s performance is identical, but the Lexus feels more robust. And its opulent interior makes up for its cozy back seat.

2014 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250

Base price: $29,995 (estimated).

Come fall, MercedesBenz will offer its first front-wheel-drive compact sedan in the U.S. market. Looking like a CLS that was left in the dryer too long, the CLA250 will be powered by a 208-horsepower, t urbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.