What are the best small cars of 2024?

Best small cars 2024 - UK: our top picks

Buying a new car is a big decision for every driver. But if you're considering a smaller model for your next car, you've come to the right place. We've rounded up the best small cars currently on the market to help you pick the right one. So, what should you look out for if you're thinking about purchasing a small car?

Well, if you're on the hunt for a city car or a runabout for short journeys, there are a few things to keep in mind. From boot space to interior styling to reliability to practicality, we go in depth on the cars that best cover these important small car features.

Škoda Fabia

Our pick quick facts

• Engine: 1.0-litre
• Fuel type: Petrol
• Doors: 5
• Boot space: 380 litres
• MPG: 62.8mpg*
• Prices can start around £17,298**

Since the first-generation Škoda Fabia arrived in the UK in 2000, it's proved popular with learners and newly qualified drivers. In fact, there have been over 4.5 million of these small hatchbacks sold since its original launch.

In terms of performance, the Fabia share its engines with the Volkswagen Golf and Polo, so you can rest assured that you’re in for a smooth and satisfying drive. The Fabia is as much at ease navigating tight city streets and winding country roads as it is on long stretches of motorway. The model is one of the best small cars for motorway driving because of its efficiency.

Even though it's a small car, the fourth-generation Fabia doesn't lack in size. Its 2,564mm wheelbase is longer than the original Škoda Octavia back in 1996. Its boot space of 380 litres is impressive for a small hatchback, and with the rear seats down, that increases to 1,190 litres.

And it isn't short of tech either. The entry-level Fabia S includes a 6.5-inch infotainment system, manual air conditioning and LED headlights. Also, as standard is a suite of driver assistance technology, including lane assist, front assist, and an e-call system. The latter contacts the local emergency services in the event of a major accident. On top of this, the Fabia is frugal at the pump, kitted out inside, and practical out on the roads. It’s one of the best small 5-door cars of 2024.

Peugeot 208

Our pick quick facts

• Engine: 1.2 litres
• Fuel type: Petrol
• Doors: 5
• Boot space: 311 litres
• MPG: 62.0mpg*
• Prices can start around £17,498**

Another one of the best small cars in 2024 is the MK2 model of the Peugeot 208. Launched late in 2019, the model delivers in terms of reliability, practicality and efficiency. Inside it's very stylish. The touchscreen is normally 7.0 inches in size but is also available on plusher models in a larger 10-inch form.

With Peugeot’s Mirror Screen functionality, there's also Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, as well as connected 3D navigation. That means you can enjoy every drive with your favourite playlists and podcasts and never get lost again!

The good news is that there’s a powertrain to suit everyone’s needs. You can choose from the 1.2-litre PureTech, equipped with 75bhp (with a five-speed manual), 99bhp (six-speed manual) or 128bhp (eight-speed automatic).

On the exterior, you get Peugeot’s claw-shaped LED lights and a range of funky colours to choose from. With low CO2 emissions as well as being fun to drive, this city car is another great example of the best value small cars available.

Hyundai i10

Our pick quick facts

• Engine: 1.0-litre
• Fuel type: Petrol
• Doors: 5
• Boot space: 252 litres
• MPG: 55.3mpg*
• Prices can start around £15,300**

Since 2013, the Hyundai i10 has been one of the very best-selling city cars in the UK. Known for its reliability, Hyundai's i10 comes with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty when purchased from new.

What makes it one of the best small city cars in the country then? Well, it's light to steer in town and easy to park, with a usefully tight turning circle. And despite being a small car, it has a roomy and modern cabin. It also has a stylish seven-inch touchscreen navigation system for all your in-car entertainment needs.

Available in three trim levels – SE Connect, Premium and N Line – they all come with a range of advanced safety features, such as camera-based safety systems. You’ll also get driver assist features like autonomous braking and lane departure warning technology. The i10 has an impressive boot space of 252 litres which expands to 1,046 with the seats down, pretty decent for a city car.

Renault Clio

Our pick quick facts

• Engine: 1.0-litre
• Fuel type: Petrol
• Doors: 5
• Boot space: 391 litres
• MPG: 54.3mpg*
• Prices can start around £17,364**

When you're looking for the best small car in the UK market, you might come across the similar term, 'supermini'. Thanks to the Clio's chic styling and great equipment, it's one of the best runaround superminis available today.

On the inside, the seats are much better than what you'd usually find served up by competitors in terms of comfort and support. They offer a longer cushion base and a more enveloping shape. The model has loads of great kit on board, including a generous seven-inch touchscreen that puts all your controls and connectivity at your fingertips.

The entry-level three-cylinder TCe 90 version offers decent performance – 0-62mph in 12.2s. Plus, thanks to its affordable price and efficient engine, it falls into the lower insurance groups. But perhaps its most attractive quality is the boot size. At 391 litres, you’ll struggle to find a bigger boot on a small-sized car.

Vauxhall Corsa

Our pick quick facts

• Engine: 1.2 litres
• Fuel type: Petrol
• Doors: 5
• Boot space: 309 litres
• MPG: 68.9mpg*
• Prices can start around £17,997**

One of the reasons the Vauxhall Corsa is so popular among new drivers is because it’s one of most reliable and affordable small cars on the market – this model is one of our favourites. It made it onto our list of the most fuel-efficient cars of 2024 and the best first cars for new drivers of 2024.

There's quality even in the entry-level SE, which provides Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a seven-inch multimedia touchscreen, air conditioning, and a leather-trimmed steering wheel.

There is also a glossy black trim which offers a much more upmarket feel than you might find inside other small cars. In the boot, there's 309 litres of space, which is plenty for two or three medium-sized flight cases or a folded buggy. That boot space is 17 litres bigger than the boot of a Ford Fiesta.

The latest Corsa is made in five-door form only. The former three-door choice might have looked nifty, but it perhaps suffered in terms of practicality. In the five-door model, you’ll easily fit a couple of kids and their safety chairs, making it another perfect example of the best small cars for families.

Volkswagen Polo

Our pick quick facts

• Engine: 1.0-litre
• Fuel type: Petrol
• Doors: 5
• Boot space: 355 litres
• MPG: 54.3mpg*
• Prices can start around £19,995**

Next on our list of the best small cars of 2024 is the Volkswagen Polo. The Polo is a mainstay on British roads due to the model’s comfortable and convenient driving experience. It’s our choice for the best reliable small cars currently available on the market.

The model was given a significant facelift in 2017, with big changes made to the exterior styling and an abundance of technological upgrades. Perhaps the biggest change was the increase in exterior dimensions, which was claimed to offer a more sophisticated 'big car'-style driving experience despite it being a small car. The five-door body style is the only one on offer these days, with the three-door version being consigned to history after a production run of 42 years.

Inside, the glass-fronted eight -inch 'Composition Media' infotainment touchscreen is similar to that of Volkswagen's popular Golf model. In terms of overall boot size, its 355-litres is a massive 75 litres more than the MK5 model and 63 litres larger than the trunk you get in a rival Ford Fiesta.

The UK engine line-up consists of 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engines. The entry-level naturally aspirated unit will deliver an impressive 79bhp and 93Nm of torque with power sent via a five-speed manual gearbox. A used Volkswagen Polo is a great option in terms of the best small cars to buy in 2024.

Honda Jazz

Our pick quick facts

• Engine: 1.3 litres
• Fuel type: Petrol
• Doors: 5
• Boot space: 354 litres
• MPG: 61.4mpg*
• Prices can start around £17,190**

The Honda Jazz might not be as sporty as some of the other models in this list, but it's arguably one of the most dependable and versatile small cars available. The Jazz focuses on sense and sensibility. And in terms of comfort, the Jazz's clever packaging is what impresses most with its neat 'Magic Seat'. The seat can easily be folded with levers accessible from the rear of the vehicle or the rear doors. Thanks to the low lift-over height of the hatch and low floor height, large and heavy items can be easily loaded.

With the Jazz, there's a single engine option, a 1.3-litre i-VTEC petrol unit offering 102PS. However, it provides a very reasonable efficiency figures – 61.4mpg on the combined cycle and 106g/km of CO2, suitable for drivers in urban areas.

The Jazz doesn’t go over the top with interior looks, but that doesn't mean it doesn't deliver clever tech like the 'Intelligent Speed Limiter'. Working in conjunction with a 'Traffic Sign Recognition' system, this set-up knows what the prevailing speed limit is and limits your pace accordingly, so there's no chance of breaching any speed cameras.

Plus, its 354-litre boot is one of the biggest in its segment. These are just some of the reasons it’s a contender for best small car of 2024.

Dacia Sandero

Our pick quick facts

• Engine: 1.0-litre
• Fuel type: Petrol
• Doors: 5
• Boot space: 328 litres
• MPG: 53.3mpg*
• Prices can start around £13,805**

In 1999, Renault acquired Dacia and since then the brand has gone from strength to strength. The Sandero has been the best-selling car in Europe for four years with over two million units sold since 2004.

It’s considered to be one of the best small cars with high driving position on the market. It’s also reliable, robust and dependable. As well as offering great value for money, the Sandero looks rather stylish with its Y-shaped LED headlights. The model offers good safety features too, including hill start assist and emergency brake assist.

The interior looks smart with all the infotainment controls brought together in one handy interface, while easy-to-use temperature controls allow you to set your perfect climate and drive in comfort.

A Sandero has 328 litres of boot space, which means there's more than enough space for everyone's belongings as well as a few bags of shopping. It may be small, but it’s still spacious!

Toyota Yaris

Our pick quick facts

• Engine: 1.5 litres
• Fuel type: Petrol hybrid
• Doors: 5
• Boot space: 268 litres
• MPG: 59.3mpg*
• Prices can start around £22,640**

Factors which you should consider when buying a small car is how practical, well-built and efficient the model is. The Toyota Yaris delivers on all of these factors. The original version of the Yaris model, launched back in 2011, quickly distinguished itself in offering the only full-hybrid powertrain available in the supermini segment.

In the right situation, such as a small car for driving in town, the hybrid powertrain is mightily efficient. Inside the cabin, a large, high-resolution seven-inch colour touchscreen can be operated with the kind of 'drag-and-flick actions’ you'll be familiar with from your phone.

As for rear luggage space, there's a 286-litre boot, extendable to 768 litres if you push forward the rear bench. The hybrid variant remains a unique choice for drivers looking at buying a small car. Ultimately, low running costs and innovative technology make this model a very viable example of the best small cars currently available.

If you’d like something small but with a little more ground clearance, why not have a look at the Toyota Yaris Cross? It’s one of the best small crossover cars we have in stock now.

SEAT Ibiza

Our pick quick facts

• Engine: 1.0-litre
• Fuel type: Petrol
• Doors: 5
• Boot space: 355 litres
• MPG: 53.3mpg*
• Prices can start around £19,925**

The Ibiza is a very attractive small car. It only comes in a five-door body style, which is great for families. The Spanish designers behind SEAT have shown incredible attention to proportion and detail. Even if you're taller in stature, a six-foot adult can comfortably sit behind a driver or front seat passenger of similar size in the Ibiza.

You’ll have no problem fitting in baby buggies or a huge weekly shop in the boot either. If you press in the large SEAT logo that doubles as a boot release, the rear hatch opens to reveal 355 litres of luggage space.

Behind the wheel in the cockpit, the controls and instruments have been positioned intuitively, meaning you have control of everything at your fingertips with ease. SEAT, being a part of the Volkswagen family, gives you peace of mind that you’ll be getting a car with a quality build.

Ultimately, the Ibiza is ideal for city driving as well as being practical enough for everyday living. It’s a handsome hatchback and one of the best small cars for families currently available.