Compact Executive


The compact executive market is still dominated by one model but others are starting to make waves. Apart from the meteoric growth in popularity of diesel cars, the way the compact executive market has reached down to strangle the traditionally strong medium range family saloon sector has been one of the biggest automotive trends of recent years. Buyers who once aspired after a Mondeo or a Vectra now target cars like the BMW 3 Series,
the Audi A4 and the Mercedes C-Class. Although this German trio have dominated the sales charts, other manufacturers haven't been sitting on their hands.
The Contenders
Whichever way you slice and dice it, BMW's 3 Series is the ar by which all others in its class are judged. Now in E90 guise, this is a car that outsold the Opel Vectra in 2004 amongst private buyers. With some of the best diesel engines in the business, an outrageously talented chasis and a nonchalant air of not having to try too hard, the 3 series is a class act. The pick of the range is undoubtedly the 32od which, at prices starting from €32,975, offers a beguiling blend of performance, poise and parsimony. Bigger, quicker, cleaner and more economical - the 3 Series looks set to continue its astounding success.
Normally BMW would look over its shoulder and see Audi and Mercedes in the rear view mirror but the senior suits in Munich now have another serious contender to consider. The all-new Lexus IS200 looks set to revitalise the marques presence in the compact executive sector. With more powerful 2.5litre petrol V6 and, for the first time, a potent diesel, this car features beautifully taut, muscular looking styling with origami-sharp swage lines and painstakingly finished detailing.
Two engines are offered, Lexus learning their lesson from the original IS launch. The petrol engine is a beefy 2.5 litre V6 which combines a metric direct injection system with dual VVT-I valve timing. Even more impressive is the 2.2 litre common rail diesel engine. Some carped that the IS needed a six-cylinder diesel engine but with 175BHP on tap, the dissenters should pipe down.
The Lexus will have to clamber over the Audi A4 and the Mercedes C-Class and that wont be an ways task. As the car that's been responsible for fully forty per cent of Audis production over the past few years, the A4 is the model that most customers turn to in order to buy into a slick of "Vorsprung".
Appealing to a mature clientele is Mercedes' C-Class. This benefited from a subtle makeover in 2004, improving what is already a quietly excellent car. As well as some cosmetic and equipment refinements, the C-Class received shassis, steering and manual transmission settings.

Jaguar's X-Type, Saab's 9-3 and Volvo's S60 are all worth a look if you're after something a little different but such is the level of excellence required in the Compact executive sector that small details open huge gulks in scales. In truth, there's not a bad car here.

6 Response to " Compact Executive"

  1. Anonymous September 23, 2010 at 12:54 AM
    pakantot naman dyan
  2. Anonymous March 15, 2011 at 9:31 PM
    W0w nMn...un lng ang masa2bi q,,2l0 laway n aq
  3. Anonymous August 31, 2011 at 11:39 AM
    ang lapad ng puki mo sarap sipsipin

Post a Comment

Add your comment for article this page,