CompleteCar

Five best compact executive cars in Ireland

Here we tell you our favourite compact executive models on the market.

Published on March 5, 2018

These are the cars that we all desire – the tightly-styled, sporting but still practical saloons and estates (usually, but not exclusively German) that trigger pangs of jealousy in others. Nothing cheap here, but some surprisingly good value all the same...

1 - Audi A4

Yes, it does look pretty much exactly like every other A4 ever made, but the current Audi four-door is smooth and soothing to drive, solidly made and practical and useful in Avant estate form.

Read the Audi A4 reviews here

2 - Mercedes C-Class

Is this Mercedes' handsomest car? Probably, yes, and it does a good enough impression of a shrunken E-Class to make you doubt the need to upgrade. Diesel engines a bit grumbly, but the cabin is gorgeous. All subtly enhanced by a 2018 facelift.

Read the Mercedes-Benz C-Class reviews here

3 - BMW 3 Series

Once the king of this segment, BMW's evergreen 3 has fallen back a touch from the competition, but it's still a terrific car with the best handling here and a deeply ingrained sense of quality. A brand new one arrives in 2018, and don’t bet against it regaining its crown.

Read the BMW 3 Series reviews here

4 - Audi A5 Sportback

Take an A4, make it (slightly) less practical, but also (slightly) more beautiful, give it (fractionally) sharper handling and watch the profits roll in. 

Read the Audi A5 reviews here

5 - Alfa Romeo Giulia

It's not perfect, and Alfa's new saloon isn't good enough to beat the A4 or 3 Series, but it's good enough to stand the comparison and that's huge. Cracking rear-drive chassis and busting with character.

Read the Alfa Romeo Giulia reviews here