Best Small Cars in the UK for 2026 – Carwow

High quality small cars from rated and reviewed dealers
The best small cars combine their miniature dimensions with surprising space, low running costs and an engaging drive – all while being perfect for navigating tight city streets without falling apart at the first sign of a motorway.
While you might expect small cars to be impractical, the best models tend to prioritise cabin space or boot capacity, usually at the expense of the other. That means whether you regularly carry your mates or take a lot of trips to IKEA, there’s something for you.
Small cars can pair well with electric power – the Renault 5 is an excellent example – to offer ultra-low running costs, though if you don’t have a home charger there are plenty of fuel-sipping petrol and hybrid options to choose from, such as the Renault Clio and Toyota Yaris Cross.
Carwow’s expert reviews team has driven every small car on sale today to help refine your choice. This selection of the best small cars offers a mix of practicality, badge appeal and comfort, with something for every budget.
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You can forget diesel – the era of the small diesel car is basically over. Not to worry, though, as the latest petrol and hybrid cars offer astounding fuel economy – just look at the 70+mpg Toyota Aygo X. A small electric car can also cut your fuel bills if you charge carefully and on the right electricity tariff. But make sure to caveat any potential fuel savings against the purchase price – low-mileage drivers may be best just buying a cheap, but less efficient petrol car.
The clue’s in the name, and small cars aren’t very roomy in the back seats and boot compared to, say, a family SUV. But some are better than others – there are cars on this list where having two six-foot front passengers basically turns them into a two-seater, while others can accommodate four average-height adults in comfort. If rear-seat space is a priority for you make sure to check this out before you buy.
Small hot hatchbacks may be a vanishing breed, just like diesels – but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some small cars that are much more fun to drive than others. If driving enjoyment is a priority for you, you’ll want something like the Renault 5 or MG3, rather than a Citroen e-C3 or Skoda Fabia.

There are lots of really great small cars around, but we'd say you probably wouldn't want to spend too long in the Abarth 500e – it's just too cramped, too expensive and the battery is too small to make it a useful electric car. It's good fun to drive in town, though. On the petrol front, the Mini Cooper JCW is fast and frantic, but it's impractical and the suspension is firm enough to shake your teeth out.
The lightest small cars are just under the tonne mark, with the Peugeot 208 dipping down to 980kg. Most others — the Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Polo, SEAT Ibiza, Honda Jazz, Dacia Sandero — cluster around the 1,100kg mark. A MINI — ironically — is a little heavier, at 1,200kg. Electric power (or more accurately the battery pack) adds a lot of weight, though. A Peugeot e-208 weighs 1,455kg, while the Renault Zoe is 1,502kg. 
It’s a pretty simple answer — the Toyota Yaris Hybrid. The Yaris has an official figure of 68.9mpg, and some independent tests have found that it can reach 80mpg if driven gently around town (where its hybrid system is at its most efficient). In electric terms, a Renault Zoe, Mini Cooper S E, or Peugeot e-208 should all average around 3.0 miles per kWh.
To find out how to improve the fuel efficiency of your car and save money at the pumps, take a look at our guide on ways to get better MPG.
The title of cheapest car in the UK is almost a tie between the Citroen C3, Dacia Sandero and Kia Picanto. The Dacia is the best of the three, because it’s spacious and good to drive, but each is a great value proposition.
Generally, small cars will be more reliable on average than bigger, more technically complex cars, but it’s difficult to guarantee anything. However, the Toyota Yaris Cross is a good bet because Toyota has an excellent reputation for reliability and you get a fantastic warranty too.
While this is something of a subjective thing, there are a couple of stand-out performances here. The Peugeot 208 has fantastic seats, which are really comfortable and supportive, while the new Skoda Fabia scores highly simply because it’s a little roomier inside than some others, so you have more stretching-out space.
Many drivers will feel more comfortable in a small car, especially in town. Certainly, all of the cars on this list are far easier to drive and park in urban areas than, say, an SUV, and these days there’s no penalty on the open road in terms of refinement nor stability. The key to ease of driving is good visibility, so the likes of the Honda Jazz and MINI Hatch score highly.
Easy answer here — it’s the Skoda Fabia, which has a 380-litre boot, easily eclipsing the luggage space of any other car here (even the roomy Honda Jazz only offers 304 litres). For reference, the Fabia’s boot is the same size as that of the larger Volkswagen Golf hatchback.
The best-performers in this category are the Ford Fiesta and the Dacia Sandero, which have (depending on the version) a maximum braked towing weight of 1,000kg for the Fiesta and 1,100kg for the Sandero.
Check out our guide on towing laws in the UK.
Yes. New small cars will generally be safer than older smaller cars. Over time, cars tend to become safer as more safety tech is developed. Also, in Europe the crash testing procedure, conducted by crash test safety organisation Euro NCAP, has become more rigorous. So a small car with a five star 2022 star rating will have more safety features than a small car with the same star rating but tested in 2016, for example.
But these are generalisations. Safety kit varies between models in a range and across different cars. To see just how much safety kit a new small car has make sure you check out the ‘Prices and Specs’ section for the review, where you can see the different safety features each model has.

Of course, it's impossible to overcome the laws of physics – a three-tonne SUV will have more impact-absorbing structure around it in the event of a collision than an 1,100kg supermini – but sophisticated electronic safety kit is now mandatory on even the smallest new car, helping avoid collisions in the first place, while crumple zones, airbags and other safety developments mean modern small cars are pretty safe in general.
There are plenty of good small electric cars, but our favourite is the Volvo EX30. It’s small but it’s comfortable and good to drive, and has a decent range if you go for the big battery version. Other highly rated options include the Citroen e-C3, Peugeot e-208 and BYD Dolphin.
The Toyota Yaris and Renault Clio hybrids are both great little cars, with relaxing driving experiences and reasonable prices.
Most small cars are available with an automatic gearbox, so your best bet here is to shortlist a few great small cars from the list above, then go test drive automatic versions of these to see which you prefer. A VW Polo with a dual-clutch automatic gearbox is hard to beat, though.
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* Please contact the dealer for a personalised quote, including terms and conditions. Quote is subject to dealer requirements, including status and availability. Illustrations are based on personal contract hire, 9 month upfront fee, 48 month term, 8000 miles annually, inc VAT, excluding fees. Vehicle returned at term end.
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Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Carwow vs manufacturer RRP. Where it is shown that the EV Grant is included, this refers to the Government grant awarded to manufacturers on certain EV models and derivatives, the amount awarded under the EV Grant is included in the Savings stated and applied at the point of sale. Carwow is the trading name of Carwow Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for credit broking and insurance distribution activities (firm reference number: 767155). Carwow Leasey Limited is an appointed representative of ITC Compliance Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for credit broking (firm reference number: 313486) Carwow and Carwow Leasey Limited are each credit brokers and not a lenders. Carwow and Carwow Leasey Limited may receive a fee from retailers advertising finance and may receive a commission from partners (including dealers) for introducing customers. All finance offers and monthly payments shown are subject to application and status. Carwow is covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service (please see www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk for more information). Carwow Ltd is registered in England (company number 07103079), registered office 2nd Floor, Verde Building, 10 Bressenden Place, London, England, SW1E 5DH. Carwow Leasey Limited is registered in England (company number 13601174), registered office 2nd Floor, Verde Building, 10 Bressenden Place, London, England, SW1E 5DH and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Carwow Ltd.

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