We love small cars. They're perfect for crowded city streets and they open up a new world of parking spots too!
And small cars are usually cheaper to buy, cheaper to insure and more economical than bigger cars, while being less intimidating to drive in the real world.
So here are our favourite small cars – a mix of city cars, small SUVs and superminis to suit all pockets. Let's go.
- Best small car with low running costs – Toyota Yaris
- Best small performance car – Ford Fiesta ST
- Best value-for-money small car – Vauxhall Corsa
- Best small luxury car – Lexus LBX
- Best small hybrid car – MG3
- Best small electric car – Renault 5
- Best reliable small car – Kia Picanto
- Best small car for practicality – Skoda Fabia
- Best small car for comfort – Citroen C3
- Best small car for standing out – Fiat Grande Panda
- Safest small car – Mini Cooper
- Best small car for roof-down fun – Mazda MX-5
Best small car with low running costs – Toyota Yaris
The latest Toyota Yaris comes with a clever hybrid engine and can run on electric power at low speeds around town. In this environment, a Yaris on small wheels can achieve up to 69mpg, so visits to petrol stations will be very infrequent. The Yaris sits in a low, budget-friendly insurance group, and unplanned maintenance costs are kept to a minimum if you take advantage of Toyota's 10-year service-activated warranty.
If you’re going to be covering lots of motorway miles, the best used compact cars will have a diesel engine. The sharply styled Peugeot 208 is capable of over 73mpg with a 1.5-litre BlueHDi diesel. You'll have to look for used examples now, because the diesel engine has been dropped from the 208 lineup.
Shop used Toyota Yaris and Peugeot 208 cars for sale
Best small performance car – Ford Fiesta ST
Sitting in a real hot hatch sweetspot is the now-discontinued Ford Fiesta ST. It’s faster than the Abarth 595 and Mini Cooper S, more exciting than the Volkswagen Polo GTI and cheaper than the (admittedly phenomenal) Toyota GR Yaris. You get a nice, round 200hp, which is plenty to feel fast without feeling wasted on the UK’s twisty roads. The Fiesta ST hits 0-62mph in just 6.5 seconds.
But the engine plays second fiddle to the handling. The Fiesta ST is one of the most fun cars to drive at any price, with involving handling and a playful, agile feel. And yet, it’ll return 40mpg when you’re being careful and offers just enough space for four adults and a weekly shop. If you need a bigger boot, check out the Ford Puma ST.
Shop used Ford Fiesta ST cars or read our Ford Fiesta ST review
Best value-for-money small car – Vauxhall Corsa
Cars are getting more expensive, but a used Vauxhall Corsa is still very affordable. For well under £200 per month, you’ll get a car with a grown-up driving experience, lots of equipment and great fuel economy. The 1.2-litre petrol engine is capable of more than 50mpg, while even the entry-level spec gets LED headlights, cruise control and the must-have smartphone connectivity.
Thanks to the Corsa’s popularity, you’ll be able to find a used car in the exact spec – and probably the right colour – that you want. Higher-spec cars get big screens, a reversing camera and even a heated steering wheel.
Shop used Vauxhall Corsa cars or read our Vauxhall Corsa review
Best small luxury car – Lexus LBX
The Lexus LBX is a Toyota Yaris Cross in a dinner suit – which might not sound like a convincing medley but it's actually a really strong combination. All the sensible stuff from the Yaris Cross – its economical hybrid engine, its enviable reputation for reliability and its easy automatic gearbox – is wrapped in posher trimmings and a more eye-catching bodyshell. Lexus even matches Toyota's warranty for ultimate peace of mind.
Happily, the LBX doesn't try to give you a sporty driving experience, instead offering a comfortable setup that's ideal for potholed suburban roads.
Shop used Lexus LBX cars for sale or read our Lexus LBX review
Best small hybrid car – MG3
The old MG3 didn't exactly have a lot going for it – it was cheap, and that was about it. However, the new MG3 is a complete revelation. Gone is the plasticky, tacky cabin from the old car, replaced with a modern, slick dashboard with simple controls and a fully featured infotainment system.
However, what stands out the most about the new MG3 is its fantastic hybrid powertrain. It has noticeably more power than the Honda Jazz and Toyota Yaris it competes against, with much swifter acceleration and more off-the-line electric assistance. Despite the extra muscle, it's no less frugal than those cars with well over 50mpg possible in mixed driving. Standard equipment is excellent too, while prices are below most of its main rivals. Plus, nearly new examples still benefit from the remainder of MG's seven-year warranty.
Shop used MG3 cars or read our MG3 review
Best small electric car – Renault 5
Blending a tantalising mix of modern and retro styling, the latest Renault 5 looks a million dollars. Especially in yellow. So it's a pleasant surprise that the 5 is among the cheapest electric cars you can buy new – with some help from the electric car grant.
Opt for the 5's 52kWh battery and you'll achieve between 200 and 250 miles on a charge in the real world. Longer journeys are no problem with the 5's sophisticated ride quality, which embarrasses a number of more expensive EVs. And the Google infotainment system means you'll always get to a charger with range to spare.
There's also the Renault 4, with a little more practicality than the 5 offers.
Read more about the Renault 5 here
Best reliable small car – Kia Picanto
The Kia Picanto has proved itself to be a reliable car, and it also comes with the peace of mind of a seven-year/100,000-mile factory warranty. That’s transferable to subsequent owners, so a nearly new Picanto still has a longer period of cover than many new cars. Picantos with autonomous emergency braking get a four-star safety score from Euro NCAP, so the compact Kia will give you peace of mind when it comes to safety as well.
Kia updated the Picanto in 2024 with a modern new look, and higher trim levels now get bold LED lights with a striking light bar across the bottom of the bonnet. Every model gets a reversing camera and air-con, as well as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It also has space for four adults, a decent boot and it'll get 55mpg.
Shop used Kia Picanto cars or read our Kia Picanto review
Best small car for practicality – Skoda Fabia
The Skoda Fabia proudly wears its sensibility like a medal. Skoda often squeezes more interior space out of its cars than rivals, and the Fabia is no exception. It's small on the outside but very roomy on the inside, where four adults have plenty of space to stretch out. You don't need to pack light, either, because the 380-litre boot is the same size as the Volkswagen Golf's from the class above.
Speaking of Volkswagen, the Fabia has always been based on the Polo. It's still a bit baffling to us that VW allows the Fabia to offer a big-car driving experience like the Polo, but at a lower price than its own product. We're not complaining and neither are thousands of happy Fabia owners.
Shop used Skoda Fabia cars for sale or read our Skoda Fabia review
Best small car for comfort – Citroen C3
As soon as you sit in its sofa-like seats, you'll feel relaxed in the Citroen C3. Look elsewhere if you want something remotely engaging to drive – the C3 focuses squarely on comfort and we're delighted it does. Have you seen the state of our roads?
In addition to the foamy seats, Citroen adds extra damping to the suspension to soak up sharp impacts from potholes and speed bumps. To keep you in a state of zen, the touchscreen is disarmingly simple to operate and the C3 is very economical.
Shop used Citroen C3 cars for sale or read our Citroen C3 review
Best small car for standing out – Fiat Grande Panda
Every time you look at the Fiat Grande Panda, you'll notice another superb little detail. From the holographic Fiat logo on the rear pillar to the Panda stamping on the bodywork, the Grande Panda is guaranteed to make you smile. It spreads infectious happiness wherever it goes, but those around you only see the outside – you get to experience the interior full of fun details and recycled materials.
A lot of the Grande Panda's parts are shared with the C3 above. The engine range is the same; in both cars you can choose a frugal mild-hybrid petrol or a modestly rangey electric powertrain. Go for the Panda EV and you even get a built-in curly wurly charging cable that boings out of the 'grille'.
Read our Fiat Grande Panda review
Safest small car – Mini Cooper
Buying a Mini Cooper means you can enjoy the knowledge that you and your passengers will be safe if the worst happens. When the Chinese-built electric model was tested by Euro NCAP, it passed with flying colours. Scores of 89% for adult occupant protection and 87% for child occupant protection mean it's safe for everyone inside.
Petrol models, built here in Oxford, are almost as safe. Both get the full five stars, with the petrol-engined Cooper scoring 83% and 82% for adult and child protection respectively if you dive into the test details.
Shop used Mini Cooper cars for sale or read our Mini Cooper review
Best small car for roof-down fun – Mazda MX-5
We end with a wildcard. The Mazda MX-5 is an iconic junior sports car with delightful handling and a fun feel. It’s certainly small, with just the two seats and a boot that’s only big enough for soft bags. You’d get a little more in a Fiat 500C or a Mini Convertible, but neither of those are quite as fun as the MX-5 on a summer’s day. The MX-5 was updated in 2024 with slightly sharper looks and a new limited-slip differential on 2.0-litre models – perfect for even sharper cornering.
The MX-5 is one of the lightest cars on the road, and has sensibly powered engines – so it’s even quite economical. If you don’t need a lot of space, it’s a really appealing option.
Shop used Mazda MX-5 cars or read our Mazda MX-5 review
