Dear John: Premium compact sedans

Story by John LeBlanc The “good things come in small packages” idiom can certainly apply to the burgeoning premium compact sedan segment. The idea of automakers offering what was once considered “big car” safety, convenience and performance features in a compact four-door — and charging a hefty premium for it — is catching on with new car buyers. And that’s certainly the case with this month’s Dear John letter writer. After graduating from university getting her first job at the head office of a national bank in downtown Toronto, Emma Wilson bought her mother’s 2007 Honda Civic sedan. But after a recent promotion at work, the London, Ont., native is interested in moving up the automotive food chain in regards to features and performance — but not in size. Emma wrote that she enjoys driving her Civic on her relatively short daily commute back and forth to work. She says the Honda’s tidy dimensions means its easy to navigate though city traffic and park. Her Civic has also been nearly faultless in its reliability and durability, with trips to her local Honda dealer for regular maintenance only. That said, Emma would like a bit more oomph from under the hood of her next new vehicle. And a few more luxuries when she spends more time behind the wheel on longer drives to her family’s cottage in the Muskoka area or to ski trips with her friends in Collingwood, Ont. Using her “car nut” brother as a source of information, Emma wrote that for her new car, she wants to stick with the Civic’s four-door body style (she thinks hatches look “cheap”). A high-end audio system (that includes satellite radio), a navigation system (she’s really bad with directions) and a manual transmission (it was one of the features she “loves” about her Civic) are also definite “must haves” for her new next small-but-luxurious sedan. With a budget “in the mid-$30,000 range”, Emma could buy an appropriately equipped mainstream mid-sized sedan But in the end, she wrote:” I simply don’t want to drive a bigger car.” Alphabetically, Emma, my first premium compact sedan candidate is the 2014 Acura ILX. Introduced just last year, the ILX is heavily based on the current Honda Civic four-door. While less powerful gas-only and gas-electric hybrid models are available, the only ILX that comes with a manual gearbox (a six-speeder, in this case) is the $36,158 (all prices include freight and pre-delivery inspection fees) ILX Dynamic. Using the same 201 horsepower and 170 pound feet of torque 2.4-litre four-cylinder gas engine from the $27,745 Honda Civic Si Sedan, the ILX Dynamic also comes standard with a seven-speaker Premium Sound System and a navigation system. Next up is the $34,745 2014 Buick Verano Turbo. Yes, Emma, a Buick. Like the Acura, the Verano’s roots are mainstream, as in the Chevrolet Cruze. However, the Verano was designed for status-seeking customers in China. So it offers all the luxury goodies on your wish list, plus side blind spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert safety systems. With a no-charge, six-speed manual gearbox, the Verano Turbo certainly has more under-hood oomph than your Civic. Its powerful 250-hp and 260 lb-ft turbocharged 2.0L four enables it to scoot from zero to 100 km/h in only 6.4 seconds — 0.8 quicker than the Acura and 0.3 faster than the Benz, below. Ah yes, the all-new 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250. Based on the same platform as the existing B-Class hatchback, the CLA 2150 “four-door coupé” becomes the German automaker’s least expensive model with a starting price of $35,895. There’s a topline, $51,795 CLA 45 AMG version, with all-wheel-drive and 355 hp. But the front-drive, CLA 250, with its 208 hp and 258 lb-ft turbocharged 2.0L gas-four is a more realistic proposition based your budget, Emma. Well, ahem, maybe not “realistic” enough. You see, Emma, to equip the baby Benz sedan with the kit you’re looking for, you’ll need to add a $2,800 Premium Package (highlighted by a nav system and a huge sunroof) and $1,475 worth of Harmon/Kardon Logic Surround Sound system with satellite radio. Which brings the Mercedes-Benz’s final tally to $40,175. As the CLA-Class only comes with a seven-speed automatic transmission, a bigger debit is the lack of a stick shift. For that reason alone, I’m removing the CLA 250 from my list first. Objectively, Emma, the Buick is the better choice than the Acura. The Verano Turbo is less expensive, roomier, quicker in a straight line and offers a few more safety features. But beyond its straight-line speed advantage, there’s little to distinguish the Turbo’s driving experience from less-sportier Verano models. The car still leans toward luxury when driven with vigour. Which leaves me recommending the 2014 Acura ILX Dynamic, which, subjectively, is the better choice for you, Emma. Because you like to change your own gears, I’d recommend the Acura gearbox over the Buick. The ILX’s shifter is precise and sure in its actions, plus the Acura is overall more nimble for urban driving than the ore relaxed Buick. In the end, Emma, the 2014 Acura ILX Dynamic is the perfect premium upgrade to your mom’s old Civic.

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