25 compact luxury cars

Big comfort, small scale

A little bit of luxury is always welcome, and that was the thinking behind these small cars that all aimed to deliver opulence in a compact form.

Plenty of car makers have offered their own take on luxury in a small package, while other more bespoke options have come from coachbuilders.

When new, all of these classic cars aimed to offer the high life at a lower cost, and here they are presented alphabetically.

1. Austin Seven Swallow

While the Austin Seven brought motoring to the masses in the UK, Swallow had designs on a more luxurious version.

William Lyons and William Walmsley’s Blackpool coachbuilding firm created a whole new body from aluminium and two-tone paint schemes were popular.

Inside the compact Swallow, there was a wooden dashboard in place of the standard Austin painted-metal panel. There was also more padding for the front seats to add extra comfort.

Swallow offered its upscale version of the Austin Seven first as a two-seat roadster in 1927, with a saloon joining the line-up in 1928. It’s reckoned around 2500 Austin Seven Swallows were made. 

2. BMW 2002

The styling of BMW’s 2002 was cleverly scaled down from its large executive models, creating a compact car with plenty of appeal.

There was a definite sporting edge to the way the 2002 drove, but its bigger engine and greater power than the 1602 added an extra level of refinement to make it more luxurious.

Additional comfort could be added to the ’02 with optional headrests, leather upholstery, velour carpets, a radio, tinted windows and a sunroof.

You could also have alloy wheels and metallic paint at extra cost to let the world know you were driving a car that was a cut above the norm.

3. Cadillac Cimarron

When Cadillac decided to introduce a compact sedan to its range in 1981, the Cimarron still had to deliver the comfort and luxury expected of a car wearing the famous badge.

Using a platform shared with other small General Motors saloons, the Cimarron was fitted with 1.8- or 2-litre four-cylinder engines, or a 2.8-litre V6 for a more relaxing drive.

Manual gearboxes were offered, but most customers opted for the three-speed auto.

To make sure the Cimarron met customer expectations, all versions came with air conditioning, deep-pile carpets and extra sound deadening for the passenger compartment.

Leather upholstery was an option, while gadgets such as electrically adjusted door mirrors and touch-control climate control became standard during the Cimarron’s life.

4. Facel Vega Facellia

Few cars are as glamorous as a Facel Vega, but even the French firm realised it needed a smaller model to remain viable. This led to the launch of the Facellia in 1959.

It should have been a sure-fire hit thanks to its looks and lower price, almost half the cost of a new Facel II.

Inside, the Facellia had all the style of its larger siblings thanks to a wood-effect painted metal dash, leather trim and a radio.

However, the Facellia’s unreliable 1.6-litre engine led to crippling warranty claims that scuppered the company, and not even a change to a Volvo motor could save the firm from bankruptcy.

5. Ford Cortina 1600E

Ford had an uncanny knack of understanding what buyers wanted from its cars, and the Cortina 1600E was a perfect example of this.

While most Cortinas were workhorses, the 1600E offered a slice of luxury motoring with its higher-power, 1.6-litre engine, lowered suspension borrowed from the Lotus version, front foglights and racy RoStyle wheels.

On the inside, Ford added more gauges than other Cortinas had, plus there were leather-trimmed seats, wood-grained door cappings and dash, plus a sportier steering wheel.

With some brighter exterior colours on offer, too, the 1600E stood out in a crowded car park to make its driver feel special, which was exactly what Ford had intended – and meant it could charge a premium for this model.

6. Ford Fiesta Ghia

The Ghia name came to Ford in 1970 when it acquired the Italian styling firm.

It then used the name and badge on its most luxurious models, starting with the Granada. At the other end of the scale, Ford also used the Ghia name on its new-for-1976 Fiesta.

It might have been small, but Ford certainly packed in the luxury goodies, including ‘Verona and Crushed Velour fabric’ upholstery, a tilt-and-slide sunroof, mahogany-effect dash trim, a remote control driver’s door mirror and tinted glass.

Other trim upgrades for the Ghia were extra sound-insulation material, headrests for the front seats, a pushbutton radio and a tailgate wash-wipe. Buyers loved it and the Ghia proved very popular.

7. Humber Sceptre

Although it shared much of its mechanical base with the humble Hillman Minx, the Humber Sceptre gained its own wraparound windscreen, lower roofline and quad headlights.

These design cues marked out this small Humber from more run-of-the-mill compact saloons, while inside you found a dash stocked with plenty of gauges and touches of chrome.

There was also a fully integrated heating and ventilation system.

The Sceptre also came with standard overdrive for its 1.6-litre engine, which later grew to 1725cc, to help it cruise on motorways.

8. Jaguar Mk2

The original Jaguar Mk1 was a handsome, able, compact luxury saloon, but it was the 1959 Mk2 that really captured the public’s imagination and wallets.

As a result, the Mk2 sold more than twice as many in its production life as its predecessor.

It’s easy to see why so many were seduced by the Mk2’s charms. It has all the wood and leather cabin luxury you’d expect of a full-size Jaguar saloon, yet it’s in a much smaller, more agile body.

The four-door design of the Mk2 made it practical, while the XK six-cylinder engines, or 2.5 V8 used in the Daimler V8 250 version, gave it more than enough performance to uphold Jaguar’s sporting credentials.

An automatic gearbox was also an option to further the luxury leanings of the Mk2 without spoiling the driver’s fun.

9. Lancia Appia

The Lancia Appia saloon was a car many aspired to in Italy at its launch in 1953, offering much of the style of the larger Aurelia in a lithe, small, four-door saloon.

Underneath, the Appia did not have the same sophisticated suspension as an Aurelia, but it did have a superb 1.1-litre V4 engine that gave it decent performance and refinement.

On the inside, the Appia was better appointed than cheaper rivals from Fiat, with early models featuring individual front seats.

An unusual feature for the Lancia Appia saloon was its lack of a B-pillar where the front and rear doors met, which provided excellent access to the back seats.

10. Mercedes-Benz 180 Ponton

The 180 Ponton saloon followed in the tracks of the earlier 170 range as Mercedes-Benz’s entry-level four-door car.

It offered an austere take on luxury, where the quality of the build and engineering were what you paid for rather than an opulent cabin.

However, there was enough of the larger Adenauer saloon’s looks for the 180 to sell well. It was also fitted with a six-cylinder engine and gained a longer wheelbase to create the 220 version.

Mercedes also sold the Ponton with a diesel engine, which was a hit with taxi drivers, but did little for the car’s reputation as a condensed version of the marque’s big luxury saloons.

11. Mercedes-Benz W201 190

Mercedes-Benz finally got on terms with the BMW 3 Series when it added the 190 to its line-up in 1982.

Its elegant Bruno Sacco-designed looks were clean and classy, giving the 190 the air of a pint-size S-Class.

That feeling of owning something a bit special continued inside where build quality set the 190 apart even from its contemporary German rivals.

There wasn’t a lot of standard equipment, but refinement was excellent thanks to the 190’s smooth shape and quiet engines.

Customers could turn the 190 into a very luxurious car if they were prepared to explore the options list – leather upholstery, a sunroof, electric windows, an automatic gearbox, air conditioning and more could all be specified.

12. MG Magnette ZA

MG’s saloon models had always taken a more sumptuous approach than its two-seat sports cars, and this held true for the Magnette ZA and its ZB successor.

A quick glance inside the ZA was enough to tell anyone this was a car with an eye on luxury, thanks to its leather upholstery and walnut trim.

This was a very upmarket style in a saloon that was within the reach of many buyers.

The ZA was based on the Wolseley 4/44, but the MG came with more pep from its B-series engine, while a close-ratio manual gearbox further enhanced its sporting appeal, giving stronger acceleration.

13. Nissan Figaro

Nissan went unashamedly retro for the design and style of the Figaro, even if it was based on a Micra supermini.

The humble base of the Figaro did not deter Nissan from kitting out this compact car with a folding canvas roof so it could be converted into an open-top at the touch of a button.

Other standard features for the Figaro that lent it a luxury feel were leather seats, a CD player in the dash and air conditioning. There were also four colours to choose from.

The popularity of the Figaro can be gauged from all 8000 of the original production run selling out in record time, as did the second batch of 12,000 cars, all intended solely for the Japanese market when new.

14. Ogle SX1000

Most Mini-based cars of the 1960s went all out for performance and nothing else. The Ogle SX1000 was rather more sophisticated and offered buyers not only improved pace, but a good deal more luxury, too.

As well as its sleek exterior looks, the compact coupé from Ogle came with a generously stocked dashboard and bucket seats that could be trimmed in leather, plus a centre console. Some were also fitted with electric windows.

Only 66 Ogle SX1000s were made before production came to an end in 1963, though a handful more were produced in 1966 by boatbuilder Norman Fletcher, who bought the rights to the car from Ogle.

15. Panther Rio

Spurred on by the fuel crisis of the early 1970s, Robert Jankel’s Panther company hatched the idea of Rolls-Royce levels of luxury in a compact saloon. The result was the Rio.

The cabin of the Rio wanted for nothing and boasted leather seats, walnut trim and electric windows. You could even order a television or drinks cabinet as options.

On the outside, the Rio was clothed in handmade panels that were painted to the same high standard as all Panther’s other cars. There was also a unique grille and headlights borrowed from a Ford Granada.

The problem for the Panther was customers knew it was based on a Triumph Dolomite, yet Panther charged four times the price of the Dolomite for a car that was more luxurious but slower and less fuel efficient.

In the end, only 34 Panther Rios were made.

16. Riley Elf

The most distinctive features that separate the Riley Elf from its Mini base are the classic radiator grille and extended boot.

They were just enough to give the Elf its own character and help justify the increased price over a standard Mini.

Inside, the Elf came with a full-width, walnut-veneer dash and brighter upholstery fabrics. Later versions gained ‘eyeball’ air vents and full-length door windows that did away with the opening quarterlights.

In the end, this glammed-up Mini sold well and a total of 30,912 were built.

17. Riley One Point Five

Even by 1957 when the Riley One Point Five was introduced, its upright radiator grille was beginning to look outdated.

However, that didn’t put off buyers for this compact four-door car that blended sporty performance with a luxury interior.

The One Point Five shared a great deal with the Wolseley 1500, but the Riley came with its speedo and rev counter placed directly in front of the driver for a sportier look, while the dash was made of wood and the One Point Five came with leather seats as standard.

Riley buyers also benefited from twin carburettors for the 1.5-litre B-series engine, plus larger brakes than the Wolseley kept the performance in check.

18. Singer Chamois

The Singer-badged version of the Hillman Imp was very much a luxury take on the theme.

The Chamois came with extra chrome for the bumper, side strips and around the doors, and even a front grille despite there being no radiator there. It also had slotted chrome trims on wheels that were wider than an Imp’s.

For the interior, the Chamois gained a padded dash top and door cappings, extra gauges and a shaving of walnut-veneer trim on the lower dash.

It also came with a heater as standard. where Imp buyers had to pay extra.

The engine of the Chamois was the same 39bhp unit as the Imp, but the Sport model offered an increase to 51bhp. There was also a Chamois Coupé from 1967.

19. Singer Vogue

The Singer Vogue was a variation on the Hillman Minx theme, and offered a touch of transatlantic glamour with its toothy grille and quad headlights surrounded by chrome edging.

The mechanical package for the Vogue was identical to the Minx, but the cabin was a far glitzier place to be.

There was more chrome for some of the dials and switches, as well as the steering wheel’s horn ring. A veneered wooden dash lifted the tone, too, while thick carpets and seat cushions delivered on comfort.

The same details were used for the Hunter-based Vogue of 1966 that carried the name until it was retired altogether in 1970.

20. Triumph Mayflower

The razor-edged style of the Triumph Mayflower gave it a touch of class and difference from its small-car competitors when it arrived in 1949.

Along with the car’s large grille, it made the Triumph stand out in a crowd.

The interior of the Mayflower was more restrained than its crisp exterior. Leather seats and a two-dial dash were the limit of its luxuries, but its styling allowed plenty of light in.

There was also lots of space inside the Triumph’s cabin for those in the front and back, which made it one of the most spacious in its class.

21. Vanden Plas 1500/1750

If you wanted Bentley style on a British Leyland budget, the Vanden Plas 1500 and 1750 were just the ticket for you.

Based on the Allegro, the Vanden Plas models came with a forward-canted grille and standard foglights.

For the cabin, the cars were sent to London to be fitted out at the Vanden Plas factory, where deeply cushioned leather seats were added.

Walnut veneer was used for the dash and door cappings, and the picnic tables of the 1100/1300 models were carried over as another reminder of this car’s upmarket aspirations.

It might have been a bit of a throwback, but 11,842 of these Vanden Plas models found homes between 1974 and 1980.

22. Vanden Plas Princess 1100/1300

Vanden Plas is a name that’s been associated with the finer things in life for its entire history.

The 1100 and 1300 models were based on the modest Austin/Morris duo, but with a unique front grille and wheel trims.

The Vanden Plas models were sent to the company’s London works for finishing. This meant a full-leather interior, as well as wood for the dash and doors.

There were also picnic tables for rear-seat passengers and extra sound deadening to add to the car’s mini limousine feel.

Optional extras could push this Vanden Plas model even further into the luxury realm with a sliding sunroof and an automatic gearbox.

23. Wolseley 1500

The Wolseley Hornet was similar in many ways to the Riley One Point Five, but it was always intended as a slightly more affordable step into the world of small-car luxury.

The result of this is the 1500 made do with a single-carburettor version of the BMC B-series engine and a modest 43bhp.

Inside, it had leather seats and a wooden dash, plus wood for the door cappings. A Fleet model came with vinyl seats in place of leather to offer travelling salespeople a cheaper option.

The front grille was a nod to Wolseley’s history, complete with the name badge that lit up when the headlights were switched on.

24. Wolseley Hornet

Wolseley revived its famous Hornet name for this Mini-based model that shared the same body as the Riley Elf. This meant a larger boot to give the Hornet a stubby saloon profile.

A chrome grille told the world this was not your average Mini and there where chromed air inlets either side of the radiator shell.

For the cabin, Wolseley chose a simple oval dash panel finished in wood with the same instruments found in a Mini Cooper.

Another difference from the Riley was the Hornet’s painted gearlever stick in place of the Elf’s chrome item. Wolseley also used a plastic seat material compared to the Riley’s cloth.

All of this helped to shift 28,455 Hornets between 1961 and 1969.

25. Wood and Pickett Mini

Radford started the craze for luxurious Minis, but Wood and Pickett made the most of it and offered a huge range of upgrades to make the car every inch a pint-sized palace on wheels.

Customers could pick from leather upholstery, Recaro sports seats, a walnut dashboard and trim, cassette players, electric windows, darkened glass, wider wheels, chrome trim and extra lights.

The Margrave was Wood and Pickett’s standard model for the Mini, but customers could select anything they wanted and some cars were completed with Mercedes 600 headlights, televisions and fridges.

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