What are the best small cars in the UK?

Small cars remain a smart choice for drivers who want low running costs and easy parking. The best small cars to buy today also pack punchy engines, slick tech and more boot space than you might expect. Whether you’re hunting a bargain runabout, a family‑ready crossover or a zero‑emissions EV, our selection of the top 10 small cars will show you some of the standout options on UK roads right now.

We’ve used our expertise and experience to choose our top small cars in each of ten key categories. We’re looking for cars that are good value, good to drive and fit for purpose. Our focus is on new cars, but most are also available to buy used, so whether you’re buying a car on finance or outright, there should be something here for you.

1. Best small cheap car: Citroen C3

The Citroën C3 delivers big‑car kit for city‑car money. It’s one of the cheapest new cars on sale in the UK, but where it delivers is value for money. Okay, there are a few models that cost less outright but most can’t match the C3 for space or standard equipment. With the C3 there are no compromises – it’s a well-equipped, practical little car that’s good to drive and affordable. 

Every C3 has a smart-looking contrasting roof, touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and a high standard of safety features. The interior is solid and stylish, has space for four adults and comfortable seats. There are petrol and hybrid versions to choose from or, for only a little extra cash, the pure-electric E-C3. 

2. Best small city car: Kia Picanto

Every city car is small and cheap to run, but the best city cars have so much more to offer and none more so than the Kia Picanto. We think it’s the best small city car because it’s compact and cost-effective yet it gives you many of the positives of a larger, more expensive car. That starts with the kind of features it has, with every new model having a reversing camera and sat-nav as standard. Models higher up the range have a wireless phone charger, heated front seats and even a heated steering wheel, yet they’re still very easy on your bank balance.

The Picanto also has an interior that looks good, is easy to use and feels built to last. Chances are it will, because Kia has a good reputation for reliability as a brand. And there’s always the reassurance of Kia’s remarkable seven-year/100,000-mile warranty.  

3. Best small hatchback: Renault Clio

The Renault Clio is a legend among small hatchbacks, having offered a distinctive blend of value, style and joie de vivre since the first version went on sale in 1990. The current model is the best yet, giving you all the character and budget-friendly appeal of its predecessors but with the latest tech and features.

That starts with what’s under the bonnet, because you get a choice of a fuel-efficient petrol engine or a hybrid system that gives you even better mpg. Inside, there’s a large touchscreen that’s especially responsive and user-friendly. As well as the latest safety features, all new Clio models come with powerful LED headlights that give you lots of confidence when driving on dark, unfamiliar roads. All of this is wrapped up in a car that offers a larger boot than most rivals, looks great and is enjoyable to drive. C’est magnifique!

4. Best small family car: Kia EV3

Our best small family car, the Kia EV3, also happens to be one of the best electric cars you can buy. A coincidence? Perhaps not, because many of the things that make the EV3 such a great family car are down to the fact that it’s powered by batteries rather than petrol. First, there’s the EV3’s practicality – with its battery pack tucked away under the floor, the EV3 has lots of room inside and a flat floor that makes it unusually spacious for a small car. There’s also a large boot, as well as a ‘frunk’ under the bonnet that’s perfect for stashing charging cables. 

A smooth ride helps to make the EV3 a comfortable car to travel in and, like all electric cars, it’s quiet on the move. Battery range is very impressive, with entry-level versions capable of 270 miles and high-spec models offering 375 miles on a full charge. Prices start at more than £30,000, so the EV3 isn’t cheap. But it is exceptionally well-equipped, with all versions having heated front seats, front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera and LED headlights as standard. 

5. Best small crossover: Ford Puma 

When Ford stopped selling the hugely popular Fiesta in 2023 the slightly larger Ford Puma became its smallest car. It also became the UK’s best-selling new car – a position it maintained in 2024. What makes the Puma such a hit? Well, it looks great, managing to blend sleek, sporty vibes with a bit of SUV toughness, as the best crossovers do. The Puma is also a lot of fun to drive, feeling responsive and reassuring on any road. 

Then there’s its practicality. Passenger space is good for a small car but the boot is something special. Outright capacity is almost a match for some mid-size SUVs, while the washable ‘Megabox’ under the boot floor is the perfect place to store muddy boots or sports gear. Petrol versions give nippy performance and good fuel economy, and there’s also the Puma Gen-E, a pure-electric version with a maximum range of 233 miles.

6. Best small SUV: Hyundai Kona 

The Hyundai Kona is our favourite small SUV because it’s practical, well-equipped and feels like a proper SUV, yet it fits easily into the average parking space. It’s basically a scaled-down version of Hyundai’s larger Tucson SUV, and that can only be a good thing. 

Inside and out, the Kona has a futuristic look that sets it apart from most similar cars. The amount of interior space and boot space is also a standout feature, making this one of the most family-friendly small SUVs you can buy. Every version has dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors and sat-nav, while higher-spec trims have an electrically powered bootlid, a heated steering wheel and heated front and rear seats. There are petrol, hybrid or electric versions to choose from, with the EV model having a range of between 234 and 319 miles, depending on model. 

7. Best small electric car: Renault 5 E-Tech

The appeal of small electric cars often lies in their low ownership costs and city-friendly nature, but the Renault 5 E-Tech offers so much more than that. Unless you need a huge amount of space, the 5 E-Tech could be all the car you ever need. Let’s start with the fact that it’s great to drive, blending small-car agility with comfort at speed. Then there’s the interior – beautifully designed, packed with high-tech gadgets and with way more space than you might expect. 

Moving on to battery range, the 5 E-Tech offers 192 miles with its standard battery, or there are versions with a larger battery that gives a range of 252 miles. All versions are well-equipped, yet prices are extremely competitive, starting at less than £23,000. We happen to think the 5-Tech is an absolute stunner, too, and if you’re not a fan of some of the bold, bright colour options available with you can also get it in black, white or grey.

8. Best small premium car: Mini Cooper 

The Mini Cooper is a small car with a big feel-good factor, which is just what a compact premium car ought to offer. It’s an extremely familiar sight on UK roads, but the range of colours and trim options available when new means that it’s possible to give the Mini a look all of your own. The latest version (which was introduced in 2024) looks better than ever, with a sleeker exterior and a minimalist interior featuring a classy, fabric-covered dashboard and huge circular touchscreen. 

As ever, the Mini is an absolute delight to drive thanks to its nimble handling, responsive steering and perky engines. Rear-seat space and boot capacity are as limited as ever, too, although there’s a lot more of both if you choose the five-door rather than three-door model. 

9. Best small convertible car: Mazda MX-5 

Of all the convertible cars you can buy, it's one of the smallest and most affordable – the Mazda MX-5 – that perhaps best captures the simple joy of open-top motoring. This tiny two-seater harks back to classic roadsters, using its light weight and compact dimensions, rather than extreme power, to deliver a thrilling drive. There’s a petrol engine up front and rear-wheel drive, and although the MX-5 isn’t that quick outright you feel everything that’s going on so it’s a lot of fun. 

The interior is simple and fuss-free (so you can concentrate on driving!) but with the latest visions you get modern tech such as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, heated door mirrors and sat-nav. And if you want a touch more luxury there’s always the MX-5 RF (Retractable Fastback) version, which has a folding metal roof. 

10. Best small sporty car: Toyota GR Yaris

You might hear the term ‘pocket rocket’ used to describe a small, fast car and the Toyota GR Yaris is most certainly that. It’s not just raw speed that makes the GR Yaris one of the best hot hatches you can buy, though – it’s also the way it goes round corners and sticks to the road in a way that seems to defy physics. You can thank its advanced four-wheel drive system and rally-derived suspension for that. 

It’s worth pointing out that the GR Yaris isn’t exactly cheap, with a starting price of more than £46,000. That’s double what you pay for the entry-level Yaris model. But the GR Yaris is a very different car, with bespoke bodywork, interior, suspension and engine parts. It really does feel like something special.