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Volkswagen Polo | Best small car

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Small cars, or superminis as they’re also known, used to be bought by single people or couples with no children – but the likes of the Ford Fiesta, Seat Ibiza and VW Polo have grown to the point where they can be considered all-round family transport..

Citroën C1 Hatchback

Used Citroën C1 2005 - 2014

It's a very capable city car which has the talent to back up i...

Citroën C2 Hatchback

Used Citroën C2 2003 - 2009

It's nippy and good fun, but the C2's real appeal is its low p...

Citroën C3 Hatchback

Used Citroen C3 Hatchback 2017-present

Fancy a small car with personality? The Citroen C3 looks like...

Used Citroen C3 Hatchback 2010 - 2016

The Citroen C3 has long been the French firm’s best-selling ca...

Used Citroën C3 2002 - 2010

The C3 is economical to buy and to run, but bettered in most a...

Citroën DS3 Hatchback

Used Citroen DS3 hatchback 2009 - 2016

The fashionable Citroen DS3 certainly isn’t short on kerb appe...

Citroën Saxo Hatchback

Used Citroën Saxo 1996 - 2003

The Saxo could be good for a first-timer, but be careful when...

Dacia Sandero Hatchback

Used Dacia Sandero 2013-present

Honest, uncomplicated and spacious: the budget hero status of...

Dacia Sandero Stepway Hatchback

Used Dacia Sandero Stepway 2013-present

Building on the winning formula of the cheap and cheerful Sand...

Daihatsu Charade Hatchback

Used Daihatsu Charade 2003 - 2006

It's a cracking little city car from a company often overlooke...

Daihatsu Sirion Hatchback

Used Daihatsu Sirion 1998 - 2005

It's decent if you rate value and style over ability; pretty m...

Daihatsu YRV Hatchback

Used Daihatsu YRV 2001 - 2005

It's a decent runaround that's easy to drive, if not very ente...

DS DS 3 Hatchback

Used DS 3 2015-present

The DS 3 has smart styling and eager engines. However, its poo...

Fiat 500 Hatchback

Used Fiat 500 2008-present

The Fiat 500 is great, stylish city car, but it falls short of...

Fiat Grande Punto Hatchback

Used Fiat Grande Punto 2006 - 2011

The Grande Punto gives you a lot of car for your cash, but it'...

Fiat Panda Hatchback

Fiat Punto Hatchback

Used Fiat Punto 2012-2018

The Fiat Punto shows some moments of flair, but it feels old a...

Used Fiat Punto 2003 - 2007

Gives you a lot of space for a little cash

...
Used Fiat Punto Hatchback 1999 - 2003

Gives you a lot of space for a small outlay

...

Fiat Seicento Hatchback

Used Fiat Seicento Hatchback 1998 - 2004

It's not too bad in town, but the Seicento is blessed with ver...

Ford Fiesta Hatchback

Used Ford Fiesta 2017-present

The Ford Fiesta is one of the best small cars because of its b...

Used Ford Fiesta Hatchback 2008 - 2017

Fun to drive, comfortable and cheap to run, the Ford Fiesta is...

Used Ford Fiesta 2002 - 2008

The Fiesta is a practical hatchback that you can buy and run o...

Ford Fusion Estate

Used Ford Fusion Hatchback 2002 - 2012

Tries to be a small MPV, but fails

...

Ford Ka Hatchback

Used Ford Ka Hatchback 1996 - 2008

A cracking car for new and keen drivers

...

Honda Jazz Hatchback

Used Honda Jazz 2015-present

The well-built Honda Jazz offers class-leading space and pract...

Used Honda Jazz 2008 - 2015

The Honda Jazz offers all the space and versatility of amuch b...

Used Honda Jazz Hatchback 2001 - 2008

Pricey, but Jazz owners are the most satisfied supermini drive...

Honda Logo Hatchback

Used Honda Logo Hatchback 2000 - 2001

Even if you can find one, just don't bother

...

Hyundai Amica Hatchback

Used Hyundai Amica Hatchback 2000 - 2003

Decent, and reliable, city car for very little cash

...

Hyundai Atoz Hatchback

Used Hyundai Atoz Hatchback 1998 - 2001

It's cheap, but spend what you've saved on a better car

...

Hyundai Getz Hatchback

Used Hyundai Getz Hatchback 2002 - 2009

The Getz is roomy, decent to drive, well equipped and good val...

Hyundai i20 Hatchback

Used Hyundai i20 2015-present

The Hyundai i20 is roomy, well equipped and has a long warrant...

Used Hyundai i20 2009-2015

Even if it’s not the most enthralling car to drive, the Hyunda...

Kia Picanto Hatchback

Used Kia Picanto Hatchback 2004 - 2011

Hard to fault, other than the fact that it's not a great drive...

Kia Rio Hatchback

Used Kia Rio 2017-present

The Kia Rio runs the class best close, but an fidgety ride and...

Used Kia Rio Hatchback 2011 - 2017

The Kia Rio helped to shrug off the company’s dowdy image with...

Used Kia Rio Hatchback 2005 - 2011

Lots of car for the cash, especially the diesel

...

Mazda 2 Hatchback

Used Mazda 2 2015-present

Stylish the Mazda 2 may be, but it's not very refined and has...

Used Mazda 2 Hatchback 2003 - 2007

It's good to drive and one of the most practical superminis on...

Mazda Demio Estate

Used Mazda Demio Hatchback 1998 - 2001

Useful space, but the Demio is a poor drive

...

MG MG3 Hatchback

Used MG 3 2013-present

The MG 3 is a spacious small car that’s fun to drive, but a gu...

MG ZR Hatchback

Used MG Rover ZR Hatchback 2001 - 2005

The MG ZR is a fun, low-cost hot hatch, but it's unrefined and...

Mini Hatchback Hatchback

Used Mini Hatchback 2014-present

A used Mini Hatchback is a great all-rounder, and one that sho...

Used Mini Hatchback 2007-2014

Effortlessly cool and great fun: the Mini is a great small car...

Mitsubishi Colt Hatchback

Used Mitsubishi Colt Hatchback 2004 - 2014

The Mitsubishi Colt is competent rather than fun to drive, but...

Used Mitsubishi Colt Hatchback 1996 - 2004

Build quality is definitely solid, but many of the Mitsubishi...

Mitsubishi Space Star Hatchback

Used Mitsubishi Space Star Hatchback 1998 - 2006

The Mitsubishi Space Star is an acceptable five-door hatchback...

Nissan Micra Hatchback

Used Nissan Micra 2017-present

Well kitted out with safety kit, the Nissan Micra is a comfort...

Used Nissan Micra Hatchback 2010 - 2016

The Nissan Micra used to be a sure-fire used purchase, but doe...

Used Nissan Micra Hatchback 2003 - 2010

The Nissan Micra is a hugely capable, well made and good value...

Nissan Note Hatchback

Used Nissan Note 2013-2017

The Nissan Note majors on practicality but isn’t the most refi...

Used Nissan Note 2006 – 2013

The Nissan Note is a small, city-friendly hatchback that offer...

Peugeot 1007 Hatchback

Used Peugeot 1007 Hatchback 2005 - 2008

The Peugeot 1007 is definitely out of the ordinary, but the sl...

Peugeot 106 Hatchback

Used Peugeot 106 Hatchback 1996 - 2004

The Peugeot 106 is a spirited city car that will put a smile o...

Peugeot 107 Hatchback

Used Peugeot 107 2005 - 2014

The Peugeot 107 is very capable in the city, but doesn't embar...

Peugeot 206 Hatchback

Used Peugeot 206 Hatchback 1998 - 2009

The Peugeot 206 has some major flaws, but with these looks, yo...

Peugeot 207 Hatchback

Used Peugeot 207 2006 - 2012

Most people buy a used Peugeot 207 for its looks, but is it mo...

Peugeot 208 Hatchback

Used Peugeot 208 hatchback 2012-2019

The 208 is stylish on the outside and smart on the inside, but...

Proton Satria Hatchback

Used Proton Satria Hatchback 2000 - 2004

The Proton Satria GTi is worth considering, but ignore the res...

Renault Clio Hatchback

Used Renault Clio Hatchback 2013-2019

The fourth-generation of the Renault Clio is a grown-up small...

Used Renault Clio Hatchback 2005 - 2013

The Renault Clio is a stylish small car that's comfortable, sp...

Used Renault Clio Hatchback 1998 - 2005

Stylish looks and low running costs give the Renault Clio real...

Renault Grand Modus Hatchback

Used Renault Grand Modus Hatchback 2008 - 2012

The Renault Grand Modus is an oversized supermini that's big o...

Rover 25 Hatchback

Used Rover 25 Hatchback 1999 - 2005

The Rover 25 is a cheap supermini with a decent drive, but wel...

Rover Cityrover Hatchback

Used Rover CityRover Hatchback 2003 - 2005

Very cheap, but there's little else going for the Rover CityRo...

Seat Arosa Hatchback

Used Seat Arosa Hatchback 1997 - 2004

The Seat Arosa offers decent quality and a strong image at a d...

Seat Ibiza Hatchback

Used Seat Ibiza 2017-present

The Seat Ibiza is one of the best small cars on the new car ma...

Used Seat Ibiza Hatchback 2008 - 2017

The Seat Ibiza was intended as a more stylish take on the Volk...

Used Seat Ibiza Hatchback 2002 - 2008

The Seat Ibiza was our Car of the Year in 2003 and Supermini o...

Skoda Fabia Hatchback

Used Skoda Fabia 2015 - present

The Fabia is a great small car, and, if you choose carefully...

Used Skoda Fabia 2007 - 2014

The Skoda Fabia offers plenty of space and a comfortable ride...

Used Skoda Fabia Hatchback 2000 - 2007

The Fabia is a brilliant, grown-up supermini that's unfairly o...

Skoda Fabia Saloon

Used Skoda Fabia Saloon 2000 - 2007

The Fabis is a brilliant, grown-up car that's still unfairly o...

Smart Forfour Hatchback Hatchback

Used Smart Forfour Hatchback 2004 - 2007

It's the best car Smart has made, but it's expensive and not a...

Smart Fortwo Coupe Coupe

Used Smart Fortwo Coupe 2003 - 2007

It's trendy and fun, but too small and too quirky to have main...

Subaru Justy Hatchback

Used Subaru Justy Hatchback 1992 - 2002

Only good if you really need four-wheel drive

...

Suzuki Alto Hatchback

Used Suzuki Alto Hatchback 1997 - 2006

It's cheap but not very cheerful

...

Suzuki Ignis Hatchback

Used Suzuki Ignis Hatchback 2003 - 2008

It's a decent all-rounder, but there are better cars out there...

Suzuki Swift Hatchback

Used Suzuki Swift 2017-present

Fun to drive, very fuel efficient and generously equipped, the...

Used Suzuki Swift Hatchback 2010 - 2017

A small hatch that’s great fun to drive, reliable and cheap to...

Used Suzuki Swift Hatchback 2005 - 2012

It's hard to beat as a fun car for not much cash

...

Suzuki Wagon R Estate

Used Suzuki Wagon R+ Hatchback 2000 - 2007

It brings MPV looks to the smallest of city cars

...

Toyota Aygo Hatchback

Used Toyota Aygo Hatchback 2005 - 2014

A great little car to buy and own

...

Toyota Yaris Hatchback

Used Toyota Yaris Hatchback 2011 - present

It may not be the most exciting small car to drive, but the To...

Used Toyota Yaris Hatchback 2006 - 2011

Well designed and cute, but not a hit like the previous model...

Used Toyota Yaris Hatchback 2003 - 2005

Quality at a low price; rivals better it for comfort

...

Vauxhall Adam Hatchback

Used Vauxhall Adam 2013-present

The Vauxhall Adam is well equipped, has neat styling and a cla...

Vauxhall Agila Estate

Used Vauxhall Agila MPV 2000 - 2008

Slow but roomy and practical for its size

...

Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback

Used Vauxhall Corsa 2014-present

A good-value small hatchback that offers plenty of space and s...

Used Vauxhall Corsa 2006 - 2014

The Vauxhall Corsa was good enough to scoop the What Car? Car...

Used Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 2000 - 2006

It's smart, cheap and has good engines, but is below par in to...

Volkswagen Lupo Hatchback

Used Volkswagen Lupo Hatchback 1999 - 2005

Fun yet classy, but you'll pay for the pleasure

...

Volkswagen Polo Hatchback

Used Volkswagen Polo 2018-present

The Volkswagen Polo is a spacious small car with a well-made i...

Used Volkswagen Polo Hatchback 2009-2017

The Volkswagen Polo costs more to buy than its rivals, but it'...

Used Volkswagen Polo Hatchback 2005 - 2009

The Vokswagen Polo is classy and compact - a dependable car wi...

Find used Small cars for sale with What Car?

Small car

Small cars, or superminis as they’re also known, used to be bought by single people or couples with no children – but the likes of the Ford Fiesta, Seat Ibiza and VW Polo have grown to the point where they can be considered all-round family transport, albeit with the odd compromise.

The Fiesta remains a star of the class, thanks to its strong Ecoboost petrol engines and suspension settings that are beautifully judged for British roads. However, the latest Seat Ibiza offers even more practicality, decent performance and a neatly styled cabin that has the edge on the Ford’s for quality.

Any of these models will be a competent commuter car – especially if fitted with one of the increasingly popular small turbocharged petrol engines – but just remember that while you’ll be able to carry two adults and two children, it might still be a struggle to get all of their luggage into the boot.

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