For many car owners with a family, who drive mainly in the city, compact cars can be the best choice. For drivers who mostly drive alone, a compact car is a great alternative to the unnecessary extra bulk and fuel consumption of larger cars while offering the versatility of a car that can seat more passengers when necessary. Compact cars provide value and savings to their owners because of their small size.

Compact cars are not as big as the mid-size automobile and are larger than the mini car, which is also known as the subcompact car. Compact cars can be found in two or four door versions with different sizes of trunk space. Compact cars or small family cars are available with with many features to suit different budgets. Since the car is smaller than other cars, the price for compact cars is much less than it is for larger vehicles.

The size of compact cars offer some advantages over heavier vehicles. A larger car requires more fuel to move its weight along. This means that compact cars are fuel efficient in comparison. The wheelbase for compact cars ranges from between 100 to 105 inches for North American vehicles. The cubic space of the pasenger and trunk space in a compact car is approximately between 100 and 109 cubic feet for US compact cars. Compact and subcompact cars will have a range of being to travel between 20 - 50 miles per gallon of gas, depending on the maker and model.

Many important car manufacturers are producing compact cars as a solution for consumers who want better efficiency from their automobiles. You can find compact cars manufactured by well known companies such as Chevrolet, Citroen, Fiat, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Puegeot, Sabaru, Saturn, Scion, Saturn, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo. The variety of styling of compact cars makes these cars attractive to many car buyers. Consumers can find compact cars that are in sporty, luxury, station wagon and sedan styles. There are compact cars that combine luxury features and finishing touches with compact sensibility for the most discriminating car owner. Compact cars can offer the same reliability as larger automobiles do.

For some consumers, the idea of a accident involving another vehicle with a compact car can deter them from buying a compact car. As a solution, there are safety features for consumers who want greater protection from their compact cars. The frame of a compact car can be designed to withstand impact and made from material that will maximize the strength of the car's frame.

In these days when gas prices are rising and the pollution caused from fuel consumption is worsening, it makes sense to drive a compact car. Not only is it possible to save money and gas, consumers can reduce their impact on the environment by driving a compact car. Compact cars can satisfy the personal taste and budget of drivers who need a vehicle with reliability, different features and more miles per gallon of gas.