If you want a small car that's cheap to buy and run, fun to drive and suitably high-tech, then check out our top 10 list of the best small cars you can buy or lease today.
Small cars, or superminis as they are often called, are still one of the most popular corners of the market. Some may have moved towards a small SUV or crossover, but plenty of drivers still love the compact size and ease of use these cars offer.
The prices of superminis have edged up in most cases when buying new, though our Top 10 here shows you can still own a brand new or used example without bruising your budget.
Why have costs gone up? A combination of factors – increased technology and safety equipment as standard, better quality, and in many cases the addition of hybrid or full EV power. This adds even more efficiency to a class of car that has always been noted for its low running costs.
Superminis are also renowned for being easy to live with and, mostly, great fun to drive. This is even more the case now the majority of small cars have grown up to the point where they can happily accommodate a family of four plus luggage to serve as their only car or to act as a versatile addition to the driveway.
Choosing a Top 10 in this sector is no easy task, but our team of experts has tested them all and come up with the very best to recommend to you. You’ll find plenty of variety, as well as come common themes such as low running costs and quality build.
If you still want something small but with a higher riding stance and raised driving position, check out our best small SUV guide.
If you're ready to buy, we've got over 30,000 used small cars for sale, while if you want more choice, we have over 90,000 used cars for sale. If you're looking to finance a new car, check out our guide to the best PCP deals.
Best small cars in 2025
1. Volkswagen Polo
Year launched: 2017
The Volkswagen Polo is simply brilliant. Effortless to drive, spacious and backed by an excellent range of petrol engines, the Volkswagen Polo is the best excuse you’ll ever need for downsizing your daily driver - it's basically a slightly more compact Golf.
Admittedly, it’s a bit pricier than many of its talented rivals, but the refined and practical Polo is one of the most accomplished small cars in its class. It shares most its mechanical bits with the latest SEAT Ibiza, but feels distinctly more upmarket, with higher quality materials and better soundproofing. You also get more choice when it comes to tech.
The Polo offers a Tardis-like interior that provides comfortable transport for up to four large adults and the boot is huge, too. Downsides? It isn't as fun to drive as some and there's no hybrid option, but it’s safe, predictable and comfortable on the move. The 1.0 TSI is also one of the best turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engines you can buy.
2. Toyota Yaris
Year launched: 2020
The Toyota Yaris used to be reliable and worthy, but dull to look at and to drive. Not anymore.
Now, there's a butch stance and curvy looks make it more distinctive than the boxy old car, and it's also much better to drive. Using a shrunken version of the excellent Toyota Corolla's platform means it's composed and corners well, but is also comfortable.
Like the Honda Jazz, the Toyota Yaris is now hybrid-only (if you ignore the bonkers GR Yaris). It uses a 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine mated to an electric motor, giving surprisingly peppy performance and impressive real-world economy. And even though it uses a CVT gearbox, the engine's fruity thrum means its revving isn't unpleasant.
Combine with a solid (if slightly plasticky) interior and Toyota's famed reliability reputation, the Yaris is one of the most complete small cars around.
3. Renault 5
Year launched: 2024
Renault has put itself at the forefront of EV cars to suit families and the Renault 5 is a superb example of an electric small car. Taking its styling cues from the company's back catalogue works wonders for the appearance, but there's nothing old hat about the way this supermini drives or the possibility of a 250-mile driving range.
The Renault 5's smart looks don't come at a premium as the French EV supermini is priced more like its rivals with internal combustion engines. It's not the roomiest car for those sat in the back and we're not wholly convinced by the gear selector, but there's still much to admire about the 5 like the way it drives and its appearance that just makes you feel good when you're going anywhere.
4. Honda Jazz
Year launched: 2020
Over the years, the Honda Jazz has quietly become one of the small cars to beat: refined, comfortable, practical and high in quality. The latest version of the Jazz arrived in 2020, and we rate it as the best yet.
On the road, the Jazz is a well-balanced car, blending ride comfort, secure handling and impressive hush. Practicality is brilliant, too, with loads of space inside for people and luggage, plus really clever rear seats that make the interior even more versatile. While it isn’t the most exciting small car, the Jazz is ideal for pootling around town or cruising on the motorway. It does everything you want it to, and it does it very well. As an all-rounder, it's pretty much perfect.
5. Peugeot 208
Year launched: 2019
The Peugeot 208 comes well equipped to deal with the day-to-day trials and tribulations of a small car. There are large pockets in all four doors, two sizeable cup holders in the front, and a dedicated space to place your phone safely out the way, plus Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are supported in all trims.
With a comfortable ride, light controls and decent visibility, the 208 is great to drive in town, allowing you to nip in and out of spaces with ease. There is a range of engine choices, but we’d recommend the 100PS PureTech petrol, which has a pleasing growl under acceleration and quiet running when up to speed.
This 208 has been available for a few years, so there are some decent savings to be had on the second-hand market.
6. SEAT Ibiza
Year launched: 2017
Smart, stylish and backed by a range of fine petrol engines, the latest Ibiza feels more grown up and better rounded than ever before. Factor in the huge boot and refined ride, and the SEAT Ibiza has bags of appeal.
Mechanically speaking, the SEAT Ibiza is very similar to the Volkswagen Polo, but it’s a bit more compelling to drive. Refinement and practicality are areas of strength, too. The cabin is large enough to fit four adults, and storage inside is also plentiful.
The only area that lets the side down is the spec. Standard equipment levels are a bit meagre, which means you’ll have to pay extra or spec up to get essentials like DAB audio, touchscreen navigation and cruise control. Like-for-like, rivals like the Suzuki Swift are more generous with equipment, though the SEAT does balance this with low running costs.
7. MINI Cooper Electric
Year launched: 2024
The MINI Cooper Electric is the latest interpretation of the MINI formula, taking the retro charm of the original 1960s Mini and giving it a modern twist. The petrol-powered version of the 2024 MINI hatchback looks virtually identical to the all-electric version we're talking about here, but the petrol is actually heavily based on the previous model, released back in 2014, while the electric one is built on all-new architecture. And it's an electric car that you'll genuinely want to go out and drive.
Like any MINI should, it has a really agile feel, darting from corner to corner quickly and crisply. That's helped by the perky performance you get from the electric motor, especially in more powerful Cooper SE guise. It can tear from 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds: that's almost hot hatch territory.
Granted, there isn't much room inside and the boot is small, but otherwise, the interior is lovely, with cool design, pleasant materials and lots of kit. The latest electric MINI has a much longer range than previous efforts, too, so it'll be a more realistic proposition for more people.
8. Renault Clio
Year launched: 2019
French car companies know how to make a good small car: it's their bread and butter. And the latest Renault Clio is a stylish and likeable all-rounder.
You can forget the flimsy and cheap-feeling interiors of old, as this Clio has a real injection of quality and good amounts of technology, too, particularly on higher-end models with the portrait-angled infotainment touchscreen.
There's plenty of space for a small car, with the Clio giving even the Skoda Fabia a run for its money with its 391-litre boot. You really could (just about) use this as a family car if you have a couple of small children.
Although the Renault Clio's ride is quite firm with larger wheel options, it still offers a good all-round driving experience, with a range of engine options and a competitive self-charging hybrid version.
9. Skoda Fabia
Year launched: 2021
From a mechanical point of view, the Skoda Fabia shares a great deal with two other cars that we've already mentioned on this list - the Volkswagen Polo and the SEAT Ibiza. As a result, the Skoda is also very good to drive, with a comfortable ride and good refinement that make it a very relaxed and easy-going car.
Where the Fabia marks itself out, though, is how, well, sensible it is, and that's not a bad thing. First of all, it's roomier than its two stablemates, not to mention most other cars in the class, so adult passengers have space to travel comfortably. The massive boot is a similar size to those of cars in the class above, too, so luggage space should never be a problem.
The styling of the latest Fabia is much less awkward than that of previous versions, and interior quality and equipment levels are also seriously impressive. Add in lots of clever design touches intended to make everyday life a little bit easier, plus affordable pricing, and you have a very compelling package.
10. Hyundai i20
Year launched: 2020
The Hyundai i20 is one of the fresher-faced models in this list, with an exterior design that's striking and bold. But there's more substance to the i20 than meets the eye, thanks partly to its comprehensive five-year warranty.
The Hyundai i20 can't quite match the Volkswagen Polo for quality inside, but if you can overlook that, you get a very spacious cabin with an awful lot of standard equipment inside. For features like a heated steering wheel and seats, plus a feature-packed 10.25-inch infotainment system, you don't need to splash out for the very top-spec model.
The Hyundai i20 is also a strong all-rounder when it comes to the driving experience. Granted, it isn't the most fun or most comfortable car of its type, but it's a nice compromise between the two. We really like the punchy little three-cylinder turbo petrol engine with 48v mild-hybrid tech, too, making it more efficient. Oh, and if you're looking for ultimate fun, the fantastic Hyundai i20N is one of our best hot hatchbacks.
According to the latest HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index, the most reliable small car is the BMW i3, built between 2013 and 2022. It was the only small car to feature on the list of the Top 10 most reliable models in the study.
There's a wide range of excellent small cars on sale today so you have plenty of choice whatever your budget. The Ford Fiesta is a perennial best-seller and for good reason – nothing else combines value for money, stylish design and a fun driving experience quite as convincingly as the small Ford. You'll have to buy a used one, though, because it's no longer on sale as a new car.
If you're looking to buy an affordable small car, you should also look at city cars like the Kia Picanto and Hyundai i10. Not only are the latest city cars great around town, they're also surprisingly competent on the motorway and come loaded with the latest safety kit.
An increasing number of small cars are available with automatic gearboxes, mostly as an optional extra. However, hybrid models such as the Honda Jazz and Toyota Yaris come with an automatic gearbox as standard.
The best small cars can be incredibly economical, but if you're going to be doing a lot of short journeys, then it's worth considering either a hybrid or electric small car. Most small hybrid cars can only do short distances on electric power alone, but combining a tiny petrol engine with electric power results in a seriously efficient car. We reckon the Toyota Yaris is the best small hybrid car.
Prices for new small cars usually start from £15,000 to £20,000 these days, although a very high-spec model can breach the £25,000 mark. As a used buy, you’ll be looking at around £12,000 for a car that’s one or two years old, and from £2,500 for something that’s ten years old.
The cheapest small car on sale isn't actually that small. It's the Dacia Sandero, a Polo-sized hatchback available for less than a city car. Prices have gone up quite a bit because the entry-level models have been removed, meaning you'll need around £14,000 to get in one. But that's not a lot for a roomy hatchback with cruise control, air-con, Bluetooth and the latest safety kit.
Other great-value options include the MG3, Skoda Fabia, Hyundai i20 and Peugeot 208.
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