Best small cars to buy 2026
Small cars come in all shapes, if not sizes. Here we highlight the best ones to buy
The best small cars on sale today combine a truly grown-up blend of driving composure, practicality and advanced in-car technology. On top of all that, they need to deliver traditional small car values by being generally affordable to buy, economical to run and cheap to insure. We’re not asking too much are we?
Small cars shouldn’t limit their owners too much in terms of what they can carry or where they can go. While best-suited to tight urban environments or single occupants, the best small cars also need to be competent enough to cope when loaded up with passengers and accompanying luggage and not feel out of their depth on faster roads.
For this list, we’ve selected a wide range of car body shapes for our pick of the best small cars on sale. If you have more specific requirements in mind, then take a look at the following pages:
- Best city cars
- Best superminis
- Best small SUVs
- Best small electric cars
- Best small automatic cars
- Best small 4x4s
- Cheapest cars to run
Top 10 best small cars
| Rank | Make | Prices from | Buy |
| 1 | Fiat Grande Panda | £18,995 | Latest deals |
| 2 | Kia Picanto | £16,745 | Latest deals |
| 3 | Renault 5 | £21,495 | Latest deals |
| 4 | Citroen C3 | £19,035 | Latest deals |
| 5 | Leapmotor T03 | £15,995 | Latest deals |
| 6 | MG3 | £17,245 | Latest deals |
| 7 | Toyota Yaris | £23,845 | Latest deals |
| 8 | Renault Clio | £17,995 | Latest deals |
| 9 | Dacia Sandero | £14,765 | Latest deals |
| 10 | Toyota Aygo X | £21,595 | Latest deals |
Keep reading to find out about the very best small cars on sale in the UK. Alternatively, you can also click the links in our table above to jump directly to a specific make and model...
1. Fiat Grande Panda
The Fiat Panda is an icon in the small car class, and the new Grande Panda is arguably the Italian brand's best yet.
- Prices from £18,995
- Auto Express Small Car of the Year 2025
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It’s quite a bit bigger than its predecessor, but the Fiat Grande Panda is still one of the best small cars you can buy.
Available with either a hybrid or electric powertrain, it is very cheap to run regardless of which variant you go for. The EV can return up 199 miles on the WLTP combined cycle, while the hybrid can achieve an average of 52.3mpg. Neither variant is alarmingly expensive, either, with the hybrid starting from around £19,000 and the electric car from £21,000.
The 412-litre boot is one of the more generous in the small car class and even beats the closely-related Citroen C3 by almost 100 litres. There’s a decent amount of room for all passengers, although during our testing taller members of the Auto Express team did find room in the rear a little cramped.
We’re particularly big fans of the innovative coiled charging cable, which saves the nuisance of having to wrestle with a bag every time you want to top up the battery.
While it’s not quite as fancy or plush as a Renault 5, Fiat has done an admirable job with the Grande Panda’s interior. Some pleasing dashes of bright colour help to create a pleasant overall atmosphere.
The twin-screen dashboard is bright and easy to read, as is the infotainment system. We also love the Easter egg that is the oval shape of the dash – inspired by the Lingotto test track that sits on the roof of Fiat’s old factory in Turin.
“Building a desirable, affordable car is tough, but Fiat has played a blinder by delivering a new Grande Panda that’s not just cheap, but packed full of character and, should you wish, comes with an electric powertrain.” - Jordan Katsianis, news editor.
- Who will like it: Anyone after a stylish small car that’s also affordable and practical.
- Who won’t like it: If retro design isn’t for you, look elsewhere.
Latest Fiat Grande Panda deals
2. Kia Picanto
If you’re after a car which feels grown-up and has loads of kit as standard, the Kia Picanto has a lot going for it.
- Prices from £16,745
- Auto Express City Car of the Year 2025
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The Kia Picanto offers lots of kit and a driving experience for a small car and is more akin to that of a car from the class above.
A mid-life facelift gave it more efficient engines and improved on-board tech, while Kia’s excellent seven-year warranty remains and offers peace of mind. Not bad for a car with a sub-£17k starting price. The Picanto is also one of the cheapest cars to insure, so running costs should be minimal.
Practicality is good for a car of this size too; all come with five doors and there’s enough space in the back for two adults to sit in relative comfort. The boot measures in at 255 litres, which is considerably more than the 200 litres offered by the more premium-feeling MINI Cooper.
Every version of the Picanto also comes with a decent helping of big-car kit including an 8.0-inch infotainment screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, cruise control and a reversing camera.
To drive, the Picanto’s sub-one-tonne kerbweight really does help aid agility, although overall the chassis isn’t that communicative or sporty.
“Whichever way you look at it, the Kia Picanto is one of the most affordable cars money can buy. That goes for everything from list price, fuel, and other consumables.” – Ellis Hyde, news reporter.
- Who will like it: Young or new drivers, as all models are cheap to insure.
- Who won’t like it: People prioritising style might find it a little dull.
3. Renault 5
Renault is on a roll when it comes to desirable and practical small cars and the 5 is proof of that.
- Price from £21,495
- Best for efficiency
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There was plenty of buzz surrounding the Renault 5 before it hit the road and the good news is that it’s thoroughly worthy of its famous nameplate.
Beyond its retro design, the electric Renault 5 offers a respectable official range of up to 249 miles and comes with a punchy 148bhp motor when you spec the larger 52kWh battery. Meanwhile, the lower-end model has a 193-mile range from its smaller 40kWh battery, and 118bhp. All 5s are eligible for the government Electric Car Grant so prices start at under £22,000.
The Renault 5 drives with the same maturity as its combustion-engined Renault Clio sibling, and has a firm yet well-damped ride. The brake pedal provides more confidence than most EVs’, although the throttle can feel a little vague. If you want similar levels of style but even more performance (albeit less range), then the sporty Alpine A290 could be the ideal solution.
Some materials are on the cheaper side, but even the base model includes a good amount of standard equipment, such as 18-inch alloy wheels, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, and cruise control. The cabin design is both simple and attractive, and while rear space is a bit tight, the 326-litre boot is decently large for a car that’s less than four metres long.
“While the Renault 5 plays heavily on nostalgia, there’s so much joy in this little package that it’s impossible not to be impressed. It feels like a more compelling posh supermini than a MINI Cooper or Peugeot E-208.” – Alex Ingram, ex-chief reviewer.
- Who will like it: Those who want a stylish, retro-inspired, fun small car.
- Who won’t like it: Those covering lots of motorway miles frequently as performance and efficiency tails off above 60mph.
4. Citroen C3
The Citroen C3 is a no-nonsense small car but shows that comfort can also be a priority.
- Prices from £19,035
- Electric e-C3 was previous Auto Express Car of the Year winner
- Best for ride comfort
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The new Citroen C3 is a good example of a small car which is able to offer all the essentials at a very affordable price.
Performance is exactly where it needs to be for an urban runaround. In town, the C3 is nippy and a large glass area means overall visibility is very good. It can also easily handle motorway journeys and is very composed for a car of this stature.
The C3 is a highly economical car with the pure-petrol and hybrid engines claiming 52mpg and 56mpg respectively on a combined WLTP efficiency cycle. And our tests indicate you should get close to those figures.
If you’d prefer your supermini be powered by electricity, the electric Citroen e-C3 has a claimed 199 mile range (although this will be a little less in real-world driving). It’s equally as capable as its pure-petrol or hybrid sibling and makes a great alternative to the more expensive Renault 5.
The cabin is comfortable, spacious, and well-packaged considering its accessible price point. Some of the materials used do feel more hard-wearing than plush, but it should easily withstand everyday life.
“Owners will find the C3 excels for comfort. From the seats to the suspension set-up to interior space, everything about the C3 is classic Citroen” - Paul Barker, editor.
- Who will like it: If comfort is near the top of your small car agenda then Citroen C3 is ideal.
- Who won’t like it: Those who want keen handling might want to look elsewhere.
5. Leapmotor T03
If you’re after a small electric car which is incredibly capable, then the Leapmotor T03 should be up your street.
- Prices from £16,000
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If you’re someone who resents how big and complicated modern cars have become, the Leapmotor T03 should be a welcome sight.
The Leapmotor T03 is a car that’s hard not to root for. It’s small, cheap, and yet full of equipment. Unfortunately, the T03 sits in insurance group 25, which is disappointingly high compared to small car rivals. Apart from that, though, it should prove very easy on the bank account.
While the claimed 165-mile range isn’t a mammoth one, this is still plenty for darting around the city streets. We think it’s here where the little Leapmotor is at its best, too, thanks to excellent all-round visibility and very light controls. It also proves to be very efficient as we were able to get close to its claimed range during our testing of the T03 against the Dacia Spring.
In order to keep the costs in check, the T03’s interior is a simple one, but it’d be unfair to call it sparse as there’s a surprisingly generous amount of kit and storage space throughout. It all feels nicely put together, too, even if the materials are a bit on the economical side.
While it’s pretty tiny on the outside, there’s a decent amount of space inside the T03. Four adults can get seated, although they’ll be quite close together. The similarly-priced and sized Dacia Spring has a larger boot, though, at 308 litres compared to the Leapmotor’s 210.
“This might seem like a back-handed compliment, but the most important thing you can say about the way the Leapmotor T03 drives is that it feels like a normal car. From the outside, you might have a preconceived notion that it will flop around on its comically thin tyres and have all the balance of a mid-game Jenga tower, but overall, it is decent enough to drive.” - Richard Ingram, deputy editor.
- Who will like it: The Leapmotor T03 should appeal to budget-conscious buyers.
- Who won’t like it: It’s strictly a four-seater, those who carry five people regularly will have to look elsewhere.
6. MG3
If you want a small car which is cheap and fun to drive, the MG3 is a great option.
- Prices from £17,300
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The MG3 has quickly become one of our favourite small cars, largely on account of its strong performance and excellent value for money.
You can spec the MG3 with a hybrid powertrain which makes a punchy 192bhp from its 1.5-litre engine and electric motor combination, alternatively there’s a pure-petrol version with an output of 148bhp. Out on the road the hybrid MG3 outsprints most rivals you’d care to mention, all while achieving an economy of over 64mpg, almost 20mpg more than the pure-petrol variant.
The hybrid variant costs an additional £2,000, but this saving is offset a little by high insurance groups of 23-24, though this perhaps isn’t surprising given the power output.
On the road, we found the hybrid MG3 is sometimes a little sudden in switching between petrol and electric power but most of the time it’s smooth with more than sufficient performance. Likewise, Lotus won’t be taking notes on the MG3’s chassis, but it’s grippy and even quite fun if you’re in the mood, while the ride quality handles craggy roads pretty well, too.
Inside, the cabin is smartly styled and there’re plenty of useful storage spaces dotted around. The boot is reasonably-sized at 293-litres. Getting comfy behind the wheel can be an issue for taller drivers, as we discovered on our tests, because you can’t adjust the reach of the steering wheel.
“The hybrid system delivers a level of performance that blows its rivals away, yet despite this, it’s relaxing to drive and almost as frugal as those much slower alternatives.” – Alex Ingram, ex-chief reviewer.
- Who will like it: Anyone who wants a left-field alternative to the Renault Clio or Citroen C3.
- Who won’t like it: Taller drivers might struggle to get comfy as you’re not able to adjust the steering wheel for reach.
7. Toyota Yaris
The Toyota Yaris might seem a little on the pricey side compared to rivals, but we think this small hybrid is well worth the money.
- Prices from £23,845
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You’ll have to pay more up front to put a Toyota Yaris on your drive, compared with the other hybrid models on this list, with pricing starting at almost £24,000.
But the upside is that, with an astounding average fuel economy of nearly 70mpg (a figure that isn’t out of the question in real-world driving either), you will definitely save money at the pumps. Throw in reasonable car insurance costs and solid residual values, and the Yaris proves itself as a credible performer in the long term.
It’s not like the Yaris is a sluggard, with 114bhp and 128bhp models that both get from 0-62mph in under ten seconds. With an e-CVT gearbox there’s occasionally some noise under hard acceleration, though the Yaris uses a three-cylinder engine these days so it’s less thrashy than before, and in most running it’s nearly silent.
The base Icon model is well equipped, so there’s no need to bump up the asking price any further, while reassuring levels of standard safety kit and Toyota’s class-leading warranty cover of up to 10 years or 100,000 miles are hard to beat.
It’s a little tight on space compared to some supermini rivals and the 286-litre boot lags behind several rivals, but it’s better up front, and feels built to last, too. Overall the Yaris is a competent and efficient small car all-rounder.
“The fourth-generation Yaris is a great performer in the urban environment, and it can cope with a bit of B-road and motorway action on the odd occasion. However, it isn’t the cheapest hybrid around.” – Max Adams, online reviews editor.
- Who will like it: Those wanting a solid, reliable and cheap to run small car.
- Who won’t like it: If you want a big boot, the Yaris might not be suitable.
8. Renault Clio
The Renault Clio has been a star of the supermini class for decades now and the latest version is the best yet.
- Prices from £17,995
- Best for big car feel
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The Renault Clio had an unbroken run between 2020 and 2022 as our Small Car of the Year and there’s a very good reason for this. With a fantastic blend of style, practicality and refinement, the Clio is a hard car to beat, and a mid-life facelift back in 2023 has kept the striking five-door hatchback close to the top of the class.
The Clio range encompasses petrol and hybrid versions, and all drivetrains have a polished feel; it’s a small car that drives like a much bigger one (without actually feeling large and unwieldy).
The hybrid’s fuel economy stretches into the mid-60mpg range and it’s frugal in the real world too, while the 89bhp petrol is one of increasingly few cars that offer a manual gearbox.
You’ll find the Clio’s roomy interior offers plenty of family-friendly flexibility with its comparatively huge 391-litre boot, even eclipsing those of many models from the class above.
The interior is attractive too and while you get a portrait infotainment display, it avoids being too complex or tech-heavy. If you’ve not driven a Renault in a while you may also be surprised by the quality, and by the generous levels of equipment that come as standard.
“A high-quality and well-equipped item despite its competitive pricing, the Clio feels as refined as much larger hatchbacks and handles well, too.” – Ellis Hyde, news reporter.
- Who will like it: If the idea of a small car with big car feel and practicality appeals, the Clio is for you.
- Who won’t like it: Parents might find it hard to fit and remove child seats through the narrow rear doors.
9. Dacia Sandero
Dacia has long been a beacon for sensible, low-cost cars and the current Sandero continues that trend.
- Prices from £14,800
- Best for value
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Dacia continues to provide great small and affordable cars for those seeking real value for money, and the latest Dacia Sandero is a great example of how far the no-frills brand has come.
Under the skin, the Sandero shares its platform with the Renault Clio, which is a great starting point. While there’s a little more road and wind noise than in the most insulated small cars, you’ll find the handling safe and secure. The Sandero has a decent ride around town and is a competent motorway cruiser, too. The turbocharged petrol motor has plenty of grunt, so you don’t have to work it too hard, and its 10.5-metre turning circle makes slotting the car into tighter spaces a doddle.
The dash design is attractive enough and the interior feels well-built, which is arguably more important than being touchy-feely, which is one area Dacia has had to make compromises. The Dacia Sandero is more spacious than cars of similar price like the Kia Picanto in the class below, and the 328-litre boot is perfectly decent.
“The Dacia Sandero continues to offer great practicality for cost-conscious buyers. It even makes sense for those choosing the higher specification versions, because its low running costs shouldn’t leave them out of pocket.” – Ellis Hyde, news reporter.
- Who will like it: If value for money is high on your agenda, the Sandero is hard to beat.
- Who won’t like it: If you want quality and style from your small car cabin, it might leave you underwhelmed.
10. Toyota Aygo X
If you’re a fan of the Toyota Yaris but want something a little more quirky, then the Toyota Aygo X is a great alternative.
- Prices from £21,595
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If you want a small car which takes some of the best qualities of both a city car and a small SUV, all tied up in a quirky package then the facelifted Toyota Aygo X should fit that bill.
The pre-facelift car only came with a 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine, but Toyota has managed to shoehorn-in the entry-level 114bhp hybrid engine you’ll find in the larger Yaris. Not only does this mean the Aygo X is incredibly nippy around town, getting up to speed on faster roads is a breeze and the car doesn’t feel out of its depth on the motorway.
Another benefit to its hybrid engine is the low running costs. Official figures state the Aygo X can return 78mpg and it really is achievable in the real world. During our time testing, we even managed to beat this figure, seeing as much as 86mpg over varying road types and traffic conditions. The only downside is that the improved engine tech makes the car more expensive to buy and insure.
The Agyo X has also increased in size slightly. The larger body means there’s more space available, so taller passengers shouldn’t feel squeezed when it comes to head room. The 231-litre boot is a boxy shape although it isn’t the most spacious compared to rivals and a high-load lip might make loading heavy items tricky.
"Practicality is where the Aygo X’s city-car nature bites back, with limited space and not much in the way of clever tricks to make the most of it." - Jordan Katsianis, news editor.
- Who will like it: The Aygo X is incredibly frugal so should appeal to running cost-conscious buyers.
- Who won’t like it: It’s only a four-seater car which might be limiting for some.
How we tested to find the best small cars
Small cars should be affordable to buy and run, and good to drive. Increasingly we’re expecting big car levels of technology, equipment and build quality from smaller models too, and that’s a difficult circle for manufacturers to square when the price also needs to be low.
We’ve tested every small car on the UK market and always pay particular attention to that driving experience in an urban setting where light controls and good visibility are key for turning and parking. That’s not to say the best small cars shouldn’t be able to cope with longer motorway journeys though, and we always test them extensively on the open road.
No car makes this list without balancing strong fuel economy and low insurance costs, either because keeping costs down is kind-of the point for many small car buyers. Rear seat and boot space is nice to have but many buyers in this market won’t use it so we don’t let that be a deal-breaker.
Key updates to best small cars
16 February 2026: The Hyundai i10 was removed from fifth place, with all models below moving up one position. The Toyota Aygo X enters the list in tenth following our testing on UK roads.
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