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 Polo
More than one million Volkswagen Polos have found homes during the model's lifetime, mainly thanks to its quietly brilliant combination of quality and usability. The most recent model is a fine addition to the lineage with stable, surefooted handling and graceful body control that means it feels totally relaxed regardless of the type of road you're on. Pair the predictable handling with Volkswagen's selection of punchy turbocharged TSI engines, and you have a car that's extremely easy to live with on long motorway drives.
Take a look at used Volkswagen Polo cars or read our Volkswagen Polo 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
Volkswagen Up GTI
The Volkswagen Up – along with its Skoda Citigo and SEAT Mii siblings – is already a great motorway car despite its diminutive size. That's thanks to its stable, confidence-inspiring handling and excellent visibility. However, the weakest link is the little 1.0-litre petrol engine that needs to be thrashed quite hard to get up to overtaking speeds. Enter the Up GTI, which straps a turbo to the engine for much more muscle – this actually makes the car feel more relaxed at speed, as you won't need to stir the gears as much. You also get sporty details like lower suspension, tartan bucket seats and flashes of angry red trim.
Search used Volkswagen Up cars or read our Volkswagen Up review
Nissan Micra
You're unlikely to find your pulse racing at the thought of driving a Nissan Micra, but try one out and you might find this little city car has far more quality than you'd first expect. For one, the cabin is trimmed with a generous amount of soft-touch materials and all models come well equipped as standard. As a bonus, the ride is fairly soft and ably tunes out big bumps and small vibrations from broken road surfaces. Plus, with a little low-down grunt from its 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine, the Micra is a relaxing car to drive at higher speeds.
View used Nissan Micra cars for sale or read our Nissan Micra 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.
