Best small cars 2025 plus the one to avoid – tried & tested

Think of the latest Renault Clio as being a bit like the magical nanny Mary Poppins. That's because in the world of small cars, it's practically perfect in every way.

Not only is the clio good to drive, with agile handling and more engagement than you'd find in the rival Skoda Fabia or Suzuki Swift, but its suspension setup ensures a good balance between comfort and driving dynamics. In short, the Clio is a small car which can quite easily raise a smile as you weave it along a country road.

That's true no matter which version you choose, too. While the hybrid version mixes peppy performance with the prospect of low running costs – the official figures suggest that 67.3mpg is possible – but even the less 1.0-litre petrol option has plenty of power for everyday driving. Indeed, this is the version we think you should choose.

Pair that engine with Techno trim and you'll find that the Clio comes loaded with goodies, with everything from a 7.0in touchscreen infotainment system to all-round parking sensors and even a rear-view camera coming as standard.

And while you might imagine that this kind of greatness would come at the steep price, the Clio actually undercuts both the Fabia and the Swift on price, as well as the Honda Jazz.

“I found the physical switches below the touchscreen and to the right of the steering column (for functions such as deactivating the lane-keeping assistance) much easier to operate than touch-sensitive equivalents.” – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

Read our in-depth Renault Clio review

In truth, it's a very fine line between first and second place on this list, but while the Renault 5 is undoubtedly a fantastic choice if you're set on going electric – indeed, it's our reigning What Car? Car of the Year – there are still compromises to be made when choosing to go green. There's the increased cost, for one, and you'll need to make sure that you can charge it up.

Still, if you decide that going electric is right for you, then you'll love the Renault 5. From its cheeky styling to its tech-heavy interior, this is an electric car which may look a bit retro, but is thoroughly forward-facing. 

Our recommended Comfort Range model has an official range of up to 253 miles, which should be more than enough for the needs of most families. It's punchy, too, with the 148bhp electric motor offering enough pep to beat the Citroen e-C3 and Hyundai Inster up to motorway speeds.

The 5 is a pratical choice, too, with lots of space up front and a bigger boot than what you'd find in the rival Fiat 500 or Mini Cooper.

“Renault's Google-based infotainment system is a breeze to use, and I liked how I could change the look of the digital instrument cluster at the touch of a button” – Doug Revolta, Head of Video

Read our in-depth Renault 5 review

The Hyundai Inster is proof that you don't need to spend a lot of money to get something that's green and with SUV style – both elements which appeal to lots of buyers these days. Indeed, keeping its price low means that you won't feel guilty about skipping over the standard battery and going straight for the Long Range model.

We suggest that you do just that, because Long Range versions can officially take you up to 229 miles between charges, which is more than any version of the Dacia Spring, Fiat 500e or BYD Dolphin can manage. Speaking of the Dacia Spring, the Inster is roomier than that car in the rear seats, and although its boot is rather small, your weekly shop is unlikely to cause any problems.

Going for the Long Range model also unlocks the ability to choose 02 trim, which comes with luxuries including 17in alloy wheels, heated front seats and wireless charging for your mobile phone. The Inster comes with a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty and an eight-year, 100,000-mile battery warranty too.

“I was pleased to see that, unlike in some rivals, you get physical controls inside the Inster for the air conditioning, making them easier to use while driving.” – Steve Huntingford, Editor

Read our in-depth Hyundai Inster review

The Jazz's space and seating flexibility – including rear seat bases that flip up like those in a cinema – puts other small cars to shame. But crucially it's not just a box on wheels; it’s brilliant even if you take practicality out of the equation.

Its hybrid engine, for example, delivers strong performance and excellent real-world fuel economy. Meanwhile, a soothing ride and generous luxury and safety equipment add further to its appeal.

Only a steep purchase price stops it topping this list, although slow depreciation partially makes up for this and also ensures PCP finance rates are competitive.

“The Jazz’s three-knob air-con set-up is easy to adjust on the move and large cut-outs in its windscreen pillars mean you have a great view out when tackling roundabouts and junctions. I found the Jazz exceptionally easy to live with.” – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

Read our in-depth Honda Jazz review

Volkswagen's latest Polo is available with a broad range of engines and trim levels, ensuring that there's something for almost everyone in the line-up.

It also has a classy interior that's well equipped even in entry-level Life trim, though we'd prefer to jump up to mid-range Match, which won't cost you much more to buy. And few small cars are as good at soaking up bumps in the road or do a better job of suppressing wind and road noise on the motorway.

Previously, the Polo has lost out to the rival Seat Ibiza because it couldn’t justify its additional expense, but the impressive deals and monthly finance rates that are often available mean that's no longer an issue. Then again, the Ibiza is still more fun to drive.

"I found rear leg room almost as plentiful as in the Honda Jazz, although there’s less head room and a big hump in the floor for the middle passenger to straddle. The front seat slides back a long way to accommodate long-legged drivers.” – Darren Moss, Deputy Editor

Read our in-depth Volkswagen Polo review

While it's not the cheapest new car you can buy, the latest Skoda Fabia is still very well priced, undercutting most rivals – including the closely related Volkswagen Polo.

True, the interior of the Fabia is a bit drab, but there's excellent space for both passengers and luggage; only the Honda Jazz is significantly more practical.

It's also worth noting that the Fabia is more comfortable and a lot safer than the Dacia Sandero; the independent experts at Euro NCAP awarded it five stars out of five, whereas the Sandero managed just two stars.

We think the latest Fabia is best sampled in 1.0-litre petrol form, in SE Edition trim.

“Boot space is impressive, although I think it’s a bit of a shame the Fabia misses out on the Clio’s height-adjustable floor.” – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

Read our in-depth Skoda Fabia review

Our favourite version of Audi's smallest hatchback comes with a 108bhp 1.0-litre petrol engine which pulls really well from low revs. And if you put your foot down, it will get you to motorway speeds in a respectable 9.1 seconds.

Stick with Sport trim, and the 16in wheels it comes with, and the Audi A1 delivers one of the best rides in the small car class, with the kind of smoothness which you'd normally expect to find in a larger model. It's far calmer than the rival Mini Cooper, for example.

Just like the closely related Volkswagen Polo, the A1 feels decidely grown-up to drive, with well-weighted yet accurate steering and plenty of grip through corners.

In terms of practicality, rear passengers will find that they have more room to stretch out in the A1 than in the Mini, and the Audi joins the VW Polo in being able to seat three adults on its rear bench. Whoever you sit back there had better be good friends, though, since there'll be a lot of shoulder rubbing.

“Personally I'd add the optional Technology Pack to my Audi A1, since it brings a larger infotainment screen with sat-nav and the ability to draw postcode entries with your fingers.” – Oliver Young, Reviewer

Read our in-depth Audi A1 review

Welcome to the cheapest new car you can buy. Bear in mind, though, that the headline-grabbing entry price won't get you a lot in the way of creature comforts. Instead, we'd spend a little more on an Expression model, which has most of your basic kit needs covered for relatively little extra outlay.

Buyers have two versions of Dacia's turbocharged 1.0-litre petrol engine to choose from, but the main difference between them is that one runs solely on petrol, and the other can use cheaper LPG fuel as well as petrol. It's the latter model, dubbed Bi-Fuel, that's our recommended choice, not least because it also gets a little more power, with 99bhp compared with the petrol's 90bhp. If you can fuel the Sandero with LPG, you'll notice a stronger pull from low speeds, as well as less noise.

Inside, the Sandero offers a comfortable driving position and, if you go for one of the upper trim levels, a decent infotainment system. It's a shame that the view out of the Sandero isn't better, though – the Skoda Fabia has a better over-the-shoulder view, for example.

“If you're looking for a small car with space, I think you'll like the Sandero. When I had to fit three passengers across its rear bench, they had more room to stretch out than they would have in most rivals. Plus, there's loads of head room.” – Claire Evans, Consumer Editor

Read our in-depth Dacia Sandero review

The Peugeot 208 is a stylish choice in the small car market, and our top-rated version gets a 99bhp 1.0-litre petrol engine which feels livelier than the equivalent engine you'd find in the Renault Clio. The 208 is a comfortable choice, too, offering a more supple ride than the Audi A1 or Volkswagen Polo. The car's soft suspension does a good job of ironing out lumps and bumps in the road, yet it doesn't bounce around in the way that the Citroën C3 does.

The 208's interior layout, which has you looking over a small steering wheel at dials rather than through it, won't suit everyone, but it largely works well. It's just a shame that the 208 doesn't have many physical buttons – you even have to use the touchscreen to change the temperature, for example.

You'll fit fewer suitcases into the boot of the 208 than you would into the Seat Ibiza and VW Polo, but the space available is still decent for the class. There's more room on the back seats for two people than in the Renault Clio, too.

“I found it easy to get comfortable behind the wheel of the 208. You can get adjustable lumbar support as an option on most trims, and it's standard on range-topping GT Premium trim.” – Stuart Milne, Digital Editor

Read our in-depth Peugeot 208 review

With the Ford Fiesta now off sale, the Seat Ibiza takes up the mantle as the most engaging small car to drive. Key to that is its steering; it starts off light to suit town driving, before progressively weighting up and providing impressive feedback as your speed builds.

At the same time, the Ibiza is more spacious than many rivals – particularly in the rear seats – and it holds its value better, meaning it will cost you less in the long run.

You do have to put up with quite a lot of road noise, though, and FR versions have a firm ride. Go for the 1.0-litre petrol engine for the best mix of performance and economy, and team that with SE Technology trim for the right mix of kit.

“I was able to stretch out in the Ibiza, because it has more leg room than the Fabia and Polo. All three have similarly shaped boots, but the Ibiza is the only one not available with a height-adjustable boot floor.” – Dan Jones, Reviewer

Read our in-depth Seat Ibiza review

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