Best used small cars to buy 2026
Our guide to the best used small cars, covering the top second-hand city cars and superminis
British drivers simply love small cars, and since a lot of people can't afford to buy brand-new models, it stands to reason that used small cars are the most popular of all. However, which are the best small cars to buy right now?
Small cars are essentially two different types of car - superminis and city cars - although there are more and more small SUVs, which can also be a viable option as well. Superminis are the larger of the two and cars such as the Skoda Fabia and Volkswagen Polo fall into this category. City cars are smaller, lighter and often have smaller engines that are focused on economy and low insurance costs. They're not as practical and are less comfortable on longer journeys, but tend to be cheaper to buy and run than superminis.
No matter which type of small car you choose, running costs and maintenance should be cheap. Strong fuel economy sweetens the deal even further, while low insurance costs are also highly beneficial, particularly for first-time drivers. The lightweight design of these cars also means that things like brakes and tyres last a long time, too. Plus, there are now a host of small electric cars to choose from.
Here our expert road testers have picked out a selection of the best used small cars according to the results of our 2026 Used Car Awards. Each one has a great balance of practicality, comfort, fun and low running costs at an affordable price, so you can be sure that every car you'll see below is well worth considering if you're after a used car...
Best used small cars
These are our expert road testers’ top picks from the current market for used small cars…
Renault Clio - best used small car
- 1.0 TCe Play (2021) | 19,000 MI | £9,950
An all-new sixth generation Renault Clio is already available in Europe, but we’ll have to wait until next year for it to arrive in the UK. That’s no hardship though, when the outgoing model is as good as this. Launched in 2019, the Clio bagged Supermini of the Year in our New Car Awards three times in a row from 2020, which is quite an achievement in such a crowded segment.
Along with a high-quality cabin, keen prices and impressive refinement are key Clio traits, and while it isn’t the most engaging car to drive in its class, it’s dynamically very adept and more comfortable than many of its rivals. Throw in a big boot, a roomy cabin and a really user-friendly infotainment system, and you can see why we’re such fans of the outgoing Clio.
Tempted? We’d suggest avoiding the entry-level 71bhp non-turbo 1.0 SCe engine if you do any long-distance drives; the 99bhp turbocharged 1.0 TCe 100 is much perkier, while the auto-only 1.3-litre TCe 130 is almost sporty. There are also diesel (1.5 Blue dCi 85) and hybrid (E-Tech) options, with the latter usefully boosting economy in urban driving. You can buy a Clio Mk5 from £6,000.
This secures an early mid-range Iconic with 85,000 miles on it, or go up to £10k and you can buy a 23-plate mid-range 1.0 TCe Techno with 45,000 miles. Both of these cars have all of the kit that you need, with plenty of performance, too.
Latest used Renault Clio deals
MINI Hatch
- Cooper SD (2017) | 83k MI | £5,850
Why buy? It’s the supermini that you buy with your heart and your head
It’s 25 years since BMW’s MINI burst on to the scene, and what a phenomenon it became.
By the time the Mk3 launched in 2014, MINI was in a groove and buyers continued to embrace this neat-looking hatch for its brilliant road manners, impressive build quality and vast number of personalisation options.
With a wide range of petrol and diesel engines, the third-generation MINI also ushered in a five-door option, so there’s something for everyone.
Fiat 500
- Twinair Lounge (2015) | 87,000 MI | £2,795
Why buy? It’s ubiquitous, and yet it still manages to stand out from the crowd.
The reborn Fiat 500 of 2007 was the city car that refused to die. It was in production for a whopping 18 years and during that time it stayed in demand thanks to its chic design, affordability and easy driving experience.
As the car that kept Fiat afloat, there were numerous special editions and line-up changes over the years. We’d recommend a 1.4-litre or 875cc TwinAir petrol engine and mid-spec Popstar/Sport or high-spec Lounge trim.
Toyota Yaris
- 1.33 Icon (2015) | 70,000 MI | £5,990
Why buy? Dependable and ultra-efficient, the Yaris is seriously cheap to run.
On the face of it the third-generation Toyota Yaris is the perfect supermini. It’s ultra-reliable, efficient, spacious and readily available, but its talents are no secret, which is why you’ll pay a little bit more than you might for some of its rivals.
The premium is worth it, and if you buy a Yaris Mk3, you’ll be able to choose between petrol, diesel or hybrid powertrains. The latter is ideal for economical urban driving and the occasional longer run on the motorway.
Latest used Toyota Yaris deals
Volkswagen up!
- UP! 1.0 60 (2013) | 65,000 MI | £2,995
Why buy? Small-car purchase and running costs with a big-car feel.
The small and light Volkswagen up! costs peanuts to run, is fun to drive and has a big-car feel inside despite its diminutive proportions. It was launched in 2012 and in production for the next 11 years, so there are plenty of models for sale, and you shouldn’t struggle to find your perfect example. It would be easy to think that the up! is now terribly dated, but as recently as 2020 it bagged City Car of the Year in our New Car Awards, having done the same thing for the previous three years. While the up! doesn’t feature huge touchscreens or the latest driver-assistance systems, it came with auto emergency braking from the outset, and was the first car in its class to do so.
The three-door up! arrived in March 2012, with a 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine in 59bhp and 74bhp guises, and a five-speed manual gearbox; five-speed auto and five-door options came in August that year. There was an electric option (the E-up!) from January 2014, then in August 2016 a facelifted car arrived, with an 89bhp 1.0 TSI engine option. However, by far the most fun version is the 1.6 GTI that was introduced in 2016, but these start at a slightly more expensive £9,000.
If you find the up! formula appealing but fancy something slightly different, check out the SEAT Mii and Skoda Citigo equivalents. Neither sold as well as the VW, but they’re every bit as appealing for all the same reasons.
Latest used Volkswagen up! deals
Hyundai i10
- 1.0 SE Connect (2022) | 35,000 MI | £9,990
Why buy? Proof that sometimes the best things do come in small packages.
City cars are an endangered species, so hats off to Hyundai for persisting with the segment. The Hyundai i10 is an impressive tiddler, because despite being very compact, there’s space inside for four adults and the boot is roomier than you might expect. It’s also well equipped and has a grown-up driving experience. The non-turbocharged 1.0-litre and 1.2-litre petrol engines are perky enough, but the one to have is definitely the turbocharged 1.0-litre unit, which makes the i10 an even more accomplished all-rounder.
Audi A1
- 1.0 30 TFSI SPORT (2019) | 48,000 MI | £11,899
Why buy? All the quality of an A6, in an affordable supermini package.
Buying a supermini used to mean putting up with a car built down to a price, but the original Audi A1 featured the brand's brilliant cabin quality, and the Mk2 of 2018 raised the bar even higher. Available only with five doors, the A1 is fun to drive with a comfy ride, a spacious cabin and a user-friendly infotainment system. All A1s have a 1.0, 1.5 or 2.0-litre petrol engine; anything above the entry-level 25 TFSI unit is sprightly enough.
Honda Jazz
● 1.5 SE (2014) | 18,000 MI | £7,990
Why buy? The most practical and reliable supermini that money can buy.
The Honda Jazz may be the size of a supermini, but inside it’s more like a car from the next segment up, thanks to its clever design and space efficiency. However, this is no one-trick pony, because the Jazz has long been one of the most reliable cars around – and it’s a seriously efficient one as well.
Unfortunately, there was no hybrid option for the Mk3 (there was for the Mk2) so you have to pick between 1.3 and 1.5-litre petrol engines.
Vauxhall Corsa
- 1.2 SE (2022) | 61,000 MI | £7,650
Why buy? Cheap and with plenty of choice, the Corsa is also fun and easy to drive.
The Vauxhall Corsa has always been plentiful and cheap to buy as well as to run, but its design and driving experience were never anything to write home about. However, the Mk5 version that was launched in 2019 is smart inside and out, built to a higher standard than it ever used to be, and is genuinely fun to drive. It’s easy to drive too, which is why it’s a driving school favourite. And unusually in this segment, you can choose between petrol, diesel and electric powertrains.
Latest used Vauxhall Corsa deals
Peugeot 208/E-208
- 1.2 Allure (2023) | 20,000 MI | £11,895
Why buy? Sharply designed inside and out, and great value to boot.
You’d buy a Peugeot 208 just for its exterior design, but thankfully this sharp-looking Peugeot is much more well rounded than that. Refined, agile, comfortable and enjoyable to drive, the 208 comes with petrol, diesel or electric powertrains, all of which are efficient. It has a high-quality interior and plenty of equipment (beyond the entry-level model), so the only downside is the slightly cramped back seat.
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