[2024] Luxury “compact car” – I want to choose a premium car even if it’s small

Japan has many narrow roads, limited parking spaces at home, fear of driving large cars, and a preference for small cars – many people choose compact cars for a variety of reasons. Recently, luxury compact cars with a high-end appeal have become more common. This article has compiled a list of luxury compact cars from various manufacturers as of 2024. We hope this information will be helpful when making your purchase.

What is the appeal of luxurious, high-end “compact cars”?

Compact cars are attractive because of their maneuverability, allowing them to move quickly and easily on narrow roads in residential areas, parking spaces when going out, and on any road. Recently, stylishly designed luxury cars have been in the spotlight. While the compact body gives off a sense of luxury when you ride in a car, it can be said to be a “partner” that combines ease of riding with luxury.

Lexus “LBX”

Lexus will unveil the new compact crossover SUV “LBX” on November 9, 2023. The front face features a “unified spindle . ” The rear features an “L-shaped single-letter signature lamp . ” With a total length of 4,190 mm, a total width of 1,825 mm, a total height of 1,545 mm, and a wheelbase of 2,580 mm, it will be even smaller than the “UX.”

Lexus “LBX” exterior design

Lexus is famous for its “spindle grille,” but the new front face features a ” unified spindle .”

It shares a common design language with the “RX” and “LM” models, giving it a luxurious feel that is wonderful. Many wheel designs are also used, ranging from 17 to 18 inches, all of which have a luxurious feel.

Furthermore, the body color is a two-tone black color, and the rear features a horizontal taillight that is fully LED.

Lexus “LBX” body size is amazing

It features a special exterior design. It is a 3-number size SUV with a total length of 4,180mm, total width of 1,765mm, total height of 1,590mm and wheelbase of 2,550mm. It also features special 18-inch aluminum wheels. The LBY is 4,190mm long, 1,825mm wide, 1,545mm high and has a wheelbase of 2,580mm, and is 10mm longer, 60mm wider, 45mm lower and 30mm longer than the Yaris Cross. In comparison, the Yaris Cross is clearly wider and lower.

Specifications	Toyota Yaris Cross (Japanese model)	Lexus LBX
full length	4,180mm	4,190mm
Overall width	1,765mm	1,825mm
Overall height	1,590mm	1,545mm
Wheelbase	2,550mm	2,580mm
Passenger capacity	5 people	5 people

Even though it is an SUV, it is intentionally designed to be under 1,550mm tall. There are many mechanical multi-story parking garages in urban areas of Japan, and while multi-story parking garages in department stores and downtown areas tend to be under 2,000mm tall, most regular tower-type parking garages are under 1,550mm tall. People who are thinking about driving an SUV or considering buying one may think that they have no choice but to give up on multi-story parking garages because of the vehicle’s height, or may have never even considered it before. That is why the car is designed to be an SUV that can be parked in tower-type parking garages.

Lexus “LBX” interior is truly luxury car

The Tazuna cockpit, designed to meet the driver’s needs, offers enhanced driving support features such as a 12.3-inch full LCD meter and a 9.8-inch infotainment system. The “Bespoke Build” system offers five lifestyle-focused concepts, and allows customers to choose interior colors, seat materials, embroidery patterns, and more from approximately 330,000 possible combinations to create a one-of-a-kind vehicle.

High-quality sound-insulating lining allows passengers to relax in the luxuriously low seats without being disturbed by outside noise, and the car is equipped with a Mark Levinson audio system. Other features include heated front seats, a digital inner mirror, a head-up display, ambient illumination, a wireless smartphone charger, and nanoe™ X technology.

Lexus “LBX” features a 12.3-inch full LCD meter, which is still rare for a Lexus.

Lexus “LBX” adopts “e-Latch system” for door handles

The door handles feature the e-latch system, and the Safe Exit Assist (with door opening control) feature cancels door opening when danger is detected.

Lexus “LBX” tonneau cover comes standard

A tonneau cover is included as standard, which is rare for modern vehicles, whereas it is often a basic option for modern vehicles.

Lexus “LBX” has plenty of accessory outlets

In the case of the hybrid model, it is also compatible with accessory outlets (1,500W) with external power supply function in the rear seats and luggage compartment.

About the Lexus “LBX” grade

There are six grades available: “URBAN,” “RELAX,” “COOL,” “Bespoke Build,” “ELEGANT,” and “ACTIVE.” The 2023 Japanese model will only be available in three grades: “COOL,” “RELAX,” and “Bespoke Build.”

grade	engine	Drive system	Price (10%)
LBX COOL	Inline 3 1.5L + motor + Direct Shift-CVT	2WD	4,600,000 yen
LBX COOL	Inline 3 1.5L + motor + Direct Shift-CVT	4WD	4,860,000 yen
LBX RELAX	Inline 3 1.5L + motor + motor THS II (hybrid)	2WD	4,600,000 yen
LBX RELAX	Inline 3 1.5L + motor + motor THS II (hybrid)	4WD	4,860,000 yen
LBX Bespoke Build	Inline 3 1.5L + motor + motor THS II (hybrid)	2WD	5,500,000 yen
LBX Bespoke Build	Inline 3 1.5L + motor + motor THS II (hybrid)	4WD	5,760,000 yen

Nissan Note Aura

Nissan has added a new high-end model to the new Note , the NOTE AURA, which will be released on August 17, 2021.

Nissan “Note Aura” exterior

The newly introduced NOTE AURA has a body size of 3 numbers, with a total length of 4,045 mm, a total width of 1,735 mm, and a total height of 1,525 mm. The exterior design has been changed front and rear. Signature LED position lamps, accent lamps, and LED sequential turn lamps (flowing turn signals) are adopted. The rear combination lamps use a distinctive single-character signature lamp along with LED lamps on the left and right. Exclusive 17-inch aluminum wheels are adopted.

Nissan “Note Aura” interior

The interior is equipped with the latest 12.3-inch full digital meter. It is connected to the 9-inch “NissanConnect Navigation System” on one screen, achieving both beauty and functionality. The company has also developed premium audio, and the “BOSE Personal Plus Sound System,” jointly developed with BOSE, is being adopted for the first time in Japan. Speakers are placed in the headrests of the driver and passenger seats, allowing you to experience the spacious, premium sound brought about by BOSE’s unique advanced signal processing technology.

Nissan “Note Aura” engine

The “e-POWER” uses an EM47 motor + MM48 motor, with a maximum output of 100kW (136ps) / 3,183rpm and a maximum torque of 300Nm 30.6kgm, improving driving performance. The 4WD model uses the next-generation electric four-wheel drive system “e-POWER 4WD”.

Nissan “Note Aura” 360° Safety Assist (All-Directional Driving Assistance System) safety equipment

The car comes standard with cutting-edge all-direction driving assistance technology that uses five cameras, three millimeter-wave radars, and eight sonars to detect the surroundings. The “360° Safety Assist” system is made up of seven advanced driving assistance systems, including “Intelligent Emergency Braking,” “Pedal Misapplication Collision Prevention Assist,” “Adaptive High Beam Assist/High Beam Assist,” “Reverse Vehicle Detection Alert (RCTA),” “Intelligent Lane Departure Warning (LI/LDW),” “RCTA Reverse Vehicle Detection Alert,” and “Sign Detection Function.”

The driving assistance technology “ProPilot (with Navi-Link function)” works in conjunction with the “NissanConnect navigation system” to import map information, allowing the size of the corners ahead to be known in advance, and controls the vehicle speed to allow for smooth turns, providing driving assistance that feels natural.

Nissan “Note Aura” price grade

type	engine	transmission	Drive system	Price (10%)
AURA G	Inline 3-cylinder 1.2L engine + motor	CVT	2WD	2,654,300 yen
			4WD	2,912,800 yen
AURA G leather edition			2WD	2,737,900 yen
			4WD	2,996,400 yen
AURA NISMO			2WD	2,908,400 yen

Toyota Corolla Sports

In Japan, the current model, the Corolla Sport, was released on June 26, 2018. It has undergone several improvements and was partially upgraded on October 3, 2022 , incorporating many of the latest features.

Toyota “Corolla Sport” exterior

The exterior design features a triple LED headlamp, LED turn signal lamp, and LED clearance lamp.

Toyota Corolla Sport interior

The meter display will be a 12.3-inch TFT display, up from 7 inches in the higher grade “G”Z”. The display audio will be changed to a model compatible with the “Connected Navigation” system used in the new “Noah/Voxy” (personally, I find this disappointing). The “7-inch Display Audio” will be discontinued. ” 8-inch Display Audio “, ” 10.5-inch Display Audio Plus “, and “Display Audio-less Specification” will be added. New body colors will be added.

Toyota “Corolla Sports” engine

The engine is a 2.0L inline 4-cylinder direct injection engine (Dynamic Force Engine) . It is a series-parallel hybrid with a reduction mechanism that combines a fifth-generation hybrid system, an improved 1.8L inline 4-cylinder DOHC engine “2ZR-FXE” and a motor .

Toyota “Corolla Sport” safety features

Equipped with the latest preventive safety package “Toyota Safety Sense” that adds advanced functions and improved functionality, it adds “low-speed acceleration suppression function”, “detection of oncoming vehicles and pedestrians when turning right at intersections”, and “emergency steering avoidance support function”. It also adopts “driver abnormality response system” and adds curve speed suppression function to “radar cruise control”. “CD/DVD” deck has been abolished.

Toyota “Corolla Sport” price grade

The biggest change in this partial improvement model is the discontinuation of the “MT” model. The “1.2L turbo engine” has also been discontinued. The “inline 4-cylinder 2.0L direct injection engine ‘Dynamic Force Engine'” has been added to the lineup instead. Furthermore, when compared with the same grade, the price has increased by 40,000 to 74,000 yen, which is due to the weak yen and improvements. If you have to choose, we recommend choosing the “G” or “G”Z” grade.

grade	engine	transmission	Drive system	Price (10%)
G “Z”	Inline 4-cylinder 2.0L direct injection engine “Dynamic Force Engine”	CVT	2WD	2,640,000 yen
G				2,450,000 yen
G “X”				2,200,000 yen

grade	engine	transmission	Drive system	Price (10%)
HYBRID G “Z”	Inline 4-cylinder 1.8L “2ZR-FXE”	Electric continuously variable transmission	2WD	2,890,000 yen
HYBRID G				2,700,000 yen
HYBRID G “X”				2,460,000 yen

Mazda “MAZDA3”

The current model, the Mazda3, went on sale in Japan on May 24, 2019. After further refinements and product improvements, it will be released on April 6, 2023.

Mazda “MAZDA3” exterior

Positioned as the first of Mazda’s next-generation product line, it deepens the “Kodo” design that began with the “CX-5.” Under the keyword “aesthetics of subtraction” used by Mazda itself, the exterior design eliminates the character lines that are often placed on the side of the body as much as possible, and expresses texture through changes in surface. The turn lamps of the “MAZDA3” have been changed to “dimming turn signals ,” which give a sense of vitality that is connected to the Kodo design adopted in the “CX-30. “

Mazda “MAZDA3” interior

It features a new large 10.25-inch center display with the latest generation Mazda Connect infotainment system . It also has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality. It has eliminated the CD/DVD and HDMI, and now features engine start (200 yen/month) via the MyMazda app. The MyMazda app also offers remote engine start (200 yen/month) and a monitoring plan. It allows you to turn the engine on and off even when you’re away from the car, and works in conjunction with the car’s air conditioning system to help ensure visibility when starting off and a comfortable interior temperature.

Mazda “MAZDA3” engine

The car is equipped with the “e-SKYACTIV G” that combines the 2.0L direct injection gasoline engine “SKYACTIV-G 2.0” with the mild hybrid system “M HYBRID”. The “e-SKYACTIV G” combines the maximum output of 115kW (156PS) / 6,000rpm, maximum torque of 199Nm (20.3kgfm) / 4,000rpm with the unique mild hybrid system “M HYBRID” maximum output of 5.1kW (6.9PS) / 1,800rpm, maximum torque of 49Nm (5.0kgfm) 100rpm.

Mazda “MAZDA3” safety features

“i-ACTIVSENSE” technology is standard equipment. As a new safety feature, “AT Mis-Start Prevention Control [Forward/Reverse]” has been improved, and in addition to the previous “obstacles such as cars and walls,” “pedestrians (in front)” are now detected. “Driver Monitoring” has also been improved, and a new “Inattentive Warning Function” has been added, which alerts the driver by displaying a screen and sounding an alarm when it detects that the driver is looking away.

Mazda “CX-30”

Mazda’s CX-30 went on sale in Japan on October 24, 2019. After further refinements and product improvements, it will be released on April 6, 2023.

Mazda “CX-30” exterior

The CX-30 , the first new-generation product to be in a double-digit series, is sized between the CX-3 and CX-5 . It is based on the new Mazda3 . It fully adopts the design theme ” Kodo – Soul of Motion .” It also uses the vehicle structural technology SKYACTIV-Vehicle Architecture . It achieves refined dynamic performance in all directions. It is equipped with Mazda’s new-generation technology SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY and the next-generation gasoline engine SKYACTIV-X , which is the world’s first to adopt SPCCI (Spark Controlled Compression Ignition) .

Mazda “CX-30” interior

It features a new 10.25-inch large center display with the latest generation Mazda Connect infotainment system . It also features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality. It also eliminates CD/DVD and HDMI, and enables engine start (200 yen/month) via the MyMazda app.

Mazda “CX-30” engine

The lineup includes “SKYACTIV-G 2.0”, “SKYACTIV-D1.8”, and “SKYACTIV-X”.

Mazda “CX-30” safety features

“i-ACTIVSENSE” technology is standard equipment.

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