Small cars have short wheelbases, cheap components and minimal sound deadening – so taking them on the motorway used to be a bouncy, noisy affair.
Plus, their little engines were usually designed for efficiency, so they'd usually need a good thrashing to get up to overtaking speeds.
It doesn't have to be this way, however. These 10 small cars are equally at home on long motorway journeys as they are trekking through tight city streets. You'll find all available as great-value used cars from Motorpoint.
Hyundai i10
The Hyundai i10 is one of our favourite small cars, full stop. It's simply superb to drive, with the agility and deft handling you want from a small car, but with the maturity and compliance you'll normally find in a much larger, pricier car. Motorway drivers should avoid the entry-level 1.0-litre petrol engine as it's quite sluggish, but the 1.2-litre petrol or 1.0-litre T-GDi turbo petrol models have more power, making the car feel more relaxed at higher speeds. It's clever, too, with far more passenger and cargo space than you'd expect from such a small frame.
Search used Hyundai i10 cars for sale or read our Hyundai i10 review
Volkswagen Up
The little Volkswagen Up is one of the most innovative cars the German giant has ever built. It's just 3.6 metres long, making it supremely easy to thread through tight city streets. However, within that tiny frame, there's room for four adults to sit in reasonable comfort, plus a deep boot that reaches all the way to the car's floor. All Ups have a 1.0-litre engine, with basic models making either 60hp or 75hp – the stronger unit is just enough to make motorway driving easy. Check out the turbocharged 115hp Up GTI if you want more serious performance.
Take a look at used Volkswagen Up cars or read our Volkswagen Up review
Renault Clio
In a class containing the excellent Volkswagen Polo and Ford Fiesta, there's a risk the Renault Clio ends up being forgotten. However, this sharp-suited city slicker carves its own path thanks to eye-catching styling, a well-balanced driving experience and the option of super-smart hybrid engines. On the road, the Clio's maturity stands out, with a relatively soft suspension setup that soaks up bumps without compromising the car's grippy, easygoing handling. Refinement is strong, too, with engine and road noise kept to a minimum.
Browse used Renault Clio cars or read our Renault Clio review
Peugeot 208
The Peugeot 208 is another French hatchback that's undergone a serious 'glow up'. Recent models include a snazzy cabin with a dinky steering wheel, slick piano-key-style buttons and a minimalist touchscreen-based infotainment setup. One of the car's best features, however, is its grown-up driving experience, with a comfortable ride, impressive refinement and easy, predictable handling. You also get the benefit of Peugeot's zippy 1.2-litre turbo petrol engines, which are powerful and responsive, and assisted by mild-hybrid tech on more recent versions.
Shop used Peugeot 208 cars for sale or read our Peugeot 208 review
Ford Fiesta
If you asked us what the best-driving small car is, we'd be hard-pressed to say anything other than the Ford Fiesta. This icon of British roads might've been pushed aside by the Ford Puma now, but you can still find plenty for sale on the used market. It's fun to drive and easy to control regardless of where you're actually driving, feeling equally under control whether you're zipping through tight urban streets or covering big miles on the motorway. Choose one of Ford's popular EcoBoost petrol engines for effortless overtaking.
Check out used Ford Fiesta cars or read our Ford Fiesta review
Toyota Aygo X
It would be hard to recommend the old Toyota Aygo as a motorway car – its featherweight body meant it felt a bit tinny with poor refinement at higher speeds. The newer Aygo X is a built on a totally new platform that feels much more solid than its predecessor. As a result, refinement is much closer to bigger cars on the motorway, and both stability and ride comfort are noticeably improved. The only downside is that the petrol engine will need a bit of a work out to get the car up to speed – however, the upcoming Aygo X Hybrid should fix that issue.
Search used Toyota Aygo X cars or read our Toyota Aygo X review
Nissan Juke
At 4.2 metres long, the Nissan Juke is actually the largest car on this list. It's still one of the most compact SUVs you can buy, however, and one of the few cars on this list that's just practical enough to be a family car. Like other cars in the Nissan lineup, this Juke is noticeably more premium than its predecessor, with soft-touch materials all over the cabin and funky options like stereo speakers in the headrests. The basic 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine is strong enough for motorway driving, but the hybrid engine is faster and more efficient.
View used Nissan Juke cars for sale or read our Nissan Juke review
Audi A1
Most of the cars on this list earn their spot as a top motorway miler by combining a soft, composed ride with a little extra power under the bonnet. The Audi A1 already possesses those qualities but adds a healthy portion of premium features and trimmings to the mix. That means you'll find more plush materials and more upmarket styling details throughout the A1's cabin to lift it above its more plain competitors. The icing on top is the A1's slick infotainment system that looks thoroughly up-to-date and includes all the functions you could ask for.
Check out used Audi A1 cars or read our Audi A1 review
SEAT Ibiza
Under the svelte, pointy bodywork, the SEAT Ibiza shares most of its mechanical parts with the Volkswagen Polo. As a result, it has a lot of the same benefits including a spacious interior, great build quality and a fully featured infotainment system. It also inherits the Polo's supreme high-speed stability and its selection of hushed engines. Pick a turbocharged TSI model, and you'll have all the power you'll need for fast motorway overtakes with barely any engine noise to spoil the experience.
Find used SEAT Ibiza cars or read our SEAT Ibiza review
Kia Picanto
The Kia Picanto is mechanically the same as a Hyundai i10 and, like that car, the little Kia is also a top-notch choice for motorway driving despite its compact, affordable billing. That means you'll find the same Tardis-like cabin with lots of passenger space despite the car's tiny body, and all the equipment you could ask for as you move higher up the range. Again, avoid the wheezy entry-level 1.0-litre non-turbo petrol engine, with the 1.2-litre being a better choice, and the 1.0-litre T-GDi turbo making an ideal motorway companion.
See used Kia Picanto cars or read our Kia Picanto review
Find a motorway mile-muncher for less
Check out a huge selection of nearly new and used cars at Motorpoint. To see more tempting choices, take a look at our picks for the best small SUVs.
