Small cars are often associated with first-time buyers as they’re usually the cheapest cars to purchase and insure. That said, there are myriad reasons why a dinkier run-around might be more useful to you than a larger car, regardless of your experience or depth of pockets.
Superminis are more economical to run as their light weight negates the need for a big thirsty engine to get moving. Moreover, they’re often easier to park by virtue of their cut-sized footprints and closer extremities – a particularly important consideration if you live in a tight and crowded urban environment.
But don’t be fooled into thinking that modern small cars are still the feeble, wheezing tin cans of years gone by. Right now, most have punchy turbocharged engines that’ll make mincemeat of motorways and feel like much larger, more stable cars. They’re now also fitted with enough equipment to make luxury cars from just a few years ago look spartan, including such niceties as climate and adaptive cruise control.
As good as they are, the ongoing success of the best small SUVs means the small car is a dying breed. The most noticeable casualty is the Ford Fiesta which died in 2023, but there are other victims, too. The Nissan Micra is no more, and the small ranks become even more decimated if you size down again. Compared to just a few short years ago, there are also far fewer city cars to pick from, too.
Despite these changing buying attitudes, there are still plenty of great small cars on the market. We’ve gathered the best available to give you a starting point for your shopping list, ranking them in order of our preference and outlining what each competitor’s biggest strength is. Crucially, we’ve also been checking list prices and scrutinising finance deals to make sure those monthly payments don’t pinch too hard.
Scroll down to browse the entire list of cars based on our experience – read about how we test cars at Parkers and come to the conclusions presented here. If you spot one that tickles your fancy, head over to the leasing section of Parkers to find out how cheaply you could put one on your driveway.
The Top 10 best small cars on sale in 2025
The best all-round supermini money can buy
There isn’t as much room in the back as you might find in some other models and its engines aren’t quite as refined as its rivals. The e-tech hybrid is a coarse unit while the gearbox often won’t adjust to changing speeds with any great hurry, but look past these minor niggles and you’ll find that the Clio is a great all-rounder. The build quality is excellent and matched by a very likeable and user-friendly infotainment system. It’s comfortable and easy to drive, with precise steering and supple suspension.
What’s more, the best leasing deal we found had the Clio priced at £143 a month – that’s £40 a month cheaper than the Suzuki Swift, despite boasting a far more comfortable interior and more impressive build. The Swift may be a more engaging and rewarding car to drive, but as an all-round daily driver for the best price, the Clio comes out on top.
To find out more, read our full Renault Clio review
Pros
- Sharp infotainment screen
- Impressive build quality
- Good to drive
Cons
- Rear seats are a bit cramped
- Rough hybrid system
| Starting price | £17,995 |
| Best leasing deal (per month) | £173.83 |
| MPG | 53.3 (TCe 90) |
| Insurance group | 14 |
| Boot space | 318 litres |
| Performance | 90hp, 0-62mph 11.6sec |
The premium supermini
Owing to its short wheelbase, the age-old Mini Cooper go-kart feel is still all present and correct – if a little less engaging than previous generations – and there’s hardly enough room in the back for even a couple of kids to get comfortable. Just how it should be. Curiously, though, despite the dinky size, the latest Cooper still manages to feel premium and worth the tall asking price. It might be more expensive than most of the other cars on this list - cash prices start from £23,000, leasing deals from £186 a month - but it certainly feels it.
To find out more, read our full Mini Cooper review
Pros
- Fun to drive
- Great interior
- Sharp infotainment display
Cons
- Very little room in the back
- Tiny boot
| Starting price | £19,725 |
| Best leasing deal (per month) | £169.79 |
| MPG | 55.0mpg (1.0 TSI 95) |
| Insurance group | 14 |
| Boot space | 318 litres |
| Performance | 95hp, 10.6 sec |
| Insurance group | 14 |
Now the Fiesta is dead, this is the new driver’s choice
It's not a one-trick pony, either. Despite being the smallest car here by some margin, it’s remarkably spacious inside, certainly enough for four six-foot adults to travel in reasonable comfort. Headroom is particularly generous. It’s a nice place to be, as well. There’s lots of light and material quality is excellent for a sub-£20,000 car. It feels properly screwed together, but the Swift comes caveated with a poor Euro NCAP safety rating of just three stars out of five. If you value your safety on the road above all else, then we recommend looking elsewhere.
With the Swift, though, you get tons of standard features including satnav, adaptive cruise control, keyless entry and a reversing camera. Only the titchy boot and laggy – albeit user-friendly – infotainment really count against it.
Running costs should be very low, too. WLTP average fuel economy of 64.2mpg is the second highest in this group and we expect it to cost around £173 per month to lease. You can order one from Suzuki now and deliveries start later in the year.
To find out more, read our full Suzuki Swift review
Pros
- Lots of equipment for the money
- Great to drive
- Well-built interior
Cons
- Cheap plastics
- Smallish boot
| Starting price | £18,669 |
| Best leasing deal | TBC |
| MPG | 64.2mpg (1.2 MHEV) |
| Insurance group | 27 |
| Boot space | 265 litres |
| Performance | 82hp, 12.1 sec |
Ruthlessly practical, albeit rather expensive (for now)
Finance deals have skyrocketed. The Fabia is now £231 per month to lease, which places it among the most expensive superminis to pay for on a monthly basis. Next to most of the other cars on this list, it’s difficult to see exactly where your extra money is going, but the Fabia still deserves a mention here because of how mature it is. It feels incredibly grown up for a supermini thanks to its spacious interior, solid build quality, comfortable ride and excellent refinement.
It’s also great value for money if you’re buying it with cash. Prices for the entry-level SE Comfort model start from just under £20,000 – and you get plenty of equipment for that, including an 8.25-inch infotainment system, a digital gauge cluster, LED headlights and alloy wheels.
To find out more, read our full Skoda Fabia review
Pros
- Roomy interior and boot
- Competitive cash prices
- Wide range of engines
Cons
- No plug-in or mild hybrid tech
- Lacks fizz compared with a Clio
If you’re buying with cash, this is the best-value car here
Dacia has also made the Sandero more affordable to own by introducing a new, rolling seven-year warranty that renews for 12 months each time you have it serviced at an official Dacia dealer. The Sandero is also one of the last truly affordable new cars left on sale today (providing you buy it with cash). Prices start from a very reasonable £14,200, meaning it’s more than £5,000 less expensive than the next cheapest car here, the Suzuki Swift.
Because it’s so cheap, though, you need to be comfortable making a few sacrifices. Its materials are best described as functional and refinement isn’t quite as impressive as its sister car, the Renault Clio. So, you’ll feel the strain more on a long journey.
Where the Sandero really stumbles, however, is with its finance deals. The cheapest deal we could find was around £30 per month more expensive than an equivalent Renault Clio – and the Clio is an objectively better car, hence the Sandero's relegation down to the number five spot.
To find out more, read our full Dacia Sandero review
Pros
- Cracking value
- New safety kit
- Spacious interior
Cons
- Unrefined driving experience
- Low Euro NCAP score
| Starting price | £13,795 |
| Best leasing deal (per month) | £183.29 |
| MPG | 53.3mpg (TCe 90) |
| Insurance group | 12 |
| Boot space | 328 litres |
| Performance | 90hp, 11.3 sec |
Strangely, this upmarket hatch has the best finance deals
It has a nicer interior some of the drab options on this list, including the related Corsa, and feels well built, too. We’d recommend trying before buying, though. Peugeot’s trademark i-Cockpit dashboard places the instruments high and the small steering wheel low.
This works well for some, but taller folk are likely to find the steering wheel on their knees or in the way of the dials. It’s also not the most spacious of small cars or the most fun to drive, but it is pretty comfy.
Rear space isn’t as tight as the Toyota Yaris, yet the Suzuki Swift and Honda Jazz are better for carrying people. That said, the 208 has a bigger boot than both. If you’re after the most fuel-efficient 208 you’ll no longer find diesel is an option. Instead, there’s a hybrid model that can travel for short distances on electric power alone. It’s reasonably smooth and efficient, if not Yaris good, but a lot pricier per month. The all-electric e-208 is even pricier.
To find out more, read our full Peugeot 208 review
Pros
- High quality interior
- Striking looks
- Great finance deals
Cons
- Marmite driving position
- Lack of space in the back
| Starting price | £20,410 |
| Best leasing deal (per month) | £167.99 |
| MPG | 48.2mpg (1.2 PT 75) |
| Insurance group | 12 |
| Boot space | 311 litres |
| Performance | 75hp, 12.8 sec |
It’s familiar and easy to use. There’s a reason it’s a best-seller
The driver’s seat is comfy for just about anyone, the steering wheel feels nice in your hands and lines up well with the pedals. The manual gear lever is positioned a bit too high for our liking, but that’s the only thing that needs any real adjustment. You can just get into the Corsa and drive after only a few seconds of familiarisation – unlike the closely related Peugeot 208. While user-friendliness is important, it’s not enough.
And, in most other respects, the Corsa is merely adequate against some excellent opposition. The interior accommodates four adults though hardly generously; boot space is mid-table; the engines provide decent performance; the driving experience is pleasant if entirely unengaging; it’s not especially efficient.
However, the Corsa does have a trump card – value for money. A lease costs a bit more than for a 208 but, like-for-like, the Corsa is better equipped.
To find out more, read our full Vauxhall Corsa review
Pros
- Fuel economy
- Good levels of standard equipment
- Large model range
Cons
- Jerky auto 'box
- Lack of storage space
| Starting price | £19,635 |
| Best leasing deal (per month) | £167.99 |
| MPG | 47.9mpg (1.2 PT 75) |
| Insurance group | 12 |
| Boot space | 309 litres |
| Performance | 75hp, 12.4 sec |
A great-value option
What we like most about the MG3 Hybrid+, though, is just how easy going it is. Sure, it’s a little anodyne and the transmission can feel a bit dim-witted at times, but it’s nonetheless a simple and unchallenging car to live with. The boot is big enough for a sizeable weekly shop, the seats are easy to get in and out of and the MG3 Hybrid+ can tackle longer motorway slogs in relative comfort like few other superminis.
To find out more, read our full MG3 Hybrid review
Pros
- Generous equipment levels
- Bang up-to-date tech
- Generous boot space
Cons
- Entry level models feel cheap inside
- Auto 'box = naff
| Starting price | £21,530 |
| Best leasing deal (per month) | £203.63 |
| MPG | 55.4mpg (1.0T GDi) |
| Insurance group | 13 |
| Boot space | 352 litres |
| Performance | 100hp,10.1 sec |
For such a small car, the Jazz has a surprising amount of boot space
The hybrid system provides deceptively strong performance and very good efficiency. It's smoother than the Clio’s system if still a bit rowdy at times. It’s not a particularly fun car to throw around despite having quite firm suspension, leading to one of the bumpier rides on this list. Honda reliability is among the best although you’ll pay for the privilege. It’s the most expensive car to buy outright, partially because all models are well equipped and have a hybrid powertrain with an automatic transmission. Unsurprisingly leasing costs are rather steep, too.
Honda compensates for the Jazz’s unimpressive boot space with some clever touches inside. You get cinema-style Magic Seats as standard that allow you to fold up the bases to fit tall items – perfect for that plant you’ve got your eye on at the garden centre. If you’re more interested in flatpack, a fold-flat front passenger seat gives you a very long loading area.
To find out more, read our full Honda Jazz review
Pros
- Performance and economy
- Versatile interior
- Excellent fuel economy
Cons
- Noisy when accelerating
- Only one engine choice
| Starting price | £26,885 |
| Best leasing deal (per month) | £328.13 |
| MPG | 61.4mpg (1.5 e:HEV) |
| Insurance group | 18 |
| Boot space | 304 litres |
| Performance | 122hp, 9.1 sec |
Toyota Yaris
Light, nimble and very efficient
But it is at least very economical. Official numbers state a maximum mpg figure of 68.9 mpg. Over the course of a six-month long-term testing stint, we managed 56.5mpg, though 60+ was a genuinely obtainable figure. It can be an incredibly cheap car to run, the Yaris. Moreover, it’s also offered with Toyota’s industry-leading warranty offer of 10 years or 100,000 miles, negating the risk of expensive break down costs. If you’re not fussed about pomp and frills, the Toyota Yaris is worth considering.
To find out more, read our full Toyota Yaris review
Pros
- Impressive fuel economy
- Feels tough and durable
- Proven reliability
Cons
- Yaris has a better warranty
- ...and a better engine
| Starting price | £24,135 |
| Best leasing deal (per month) | £194.75 |
| MPG | 67.3mpg (1.5 hybrid) |
| Insurance group | 14 |
| Boot space | 286 litres |
| Performance | 116hp, 9.4 sec |
What’s the best small car for space?
There’s no doubt that the Dacia Sandero is king when it comes to small car space. It may be the cheapest at £14,200 with arguably the least inviting interior of the pick, but what it lacks in comfort it certainly makes up for in room.
With 328 litres on offer, the Sandero has the largest boot of any car here, as well as the roomiest cabin. There’s plenty of headroom both fore and aft – easily enough for four six-footers – with enough shoulder room in the back to fit a couple of adults in relative comfort, which is pretty rare in this class.
Seth Walton
What’s the best small car for efficiency?
The Toyota Yaris takes the win for efficiency, achieving an impressive fuel economy range of 67-74mpg, perfect for economical driving. Not to mention it’s a remarkably frugal car, propelled by a 1.5 litre, three-cylinder petrol engine coupled with a 0.7kWh battery.
Unlike plug-in hybrids, it doesn’t need charging at home; instead, intelligent electronics continuously adjust power delivery between petrol and electric sources. This not only makes for a highly efficient runabout but also helps saves on today’s expensive fuel prices.
Paula Cullington
What’s the best small car for running costs?
You might expect the Toyota Yaris to cost the least to run out of the group here because it’s so efficient. But we’re counting more than just fuel economy towards overall running costs and the Mazda’s high lease costs and list price count it out.
The 60mpg-plus Suzuki Swift could be in with a shout but, because it’s so new, leasing costs are unclear. So we’re going to give the accolade to the Peugeot 208, specifically the Puretech 100 petrol version. A lease costs comparatively little, servicing costs are quite low, and it’ll do nearly 50mpg.
Graham King
Verdict: What’s the best small car overall?
We think the best small car on sale today is the Renault Clio (above). That might come as a surprise because it doesn’t really lead the class in any area. The Suzuki Swift is far more fun to drive, while the Skoda Fabia is a lot more practical.
However, the Clio is consistently good across the board – and that all-round ability, coupled with its attractive finance deals are what allows the car to clinch the win.
* These deals are indicative examples of some packages available as of 20 January 2025, but are subject to change without prior notice. Everyone’s financial circumstances are different and the availability of credit is subject to status. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Parkers cannot recommend a deal for you specifically.
Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us.
