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Best small cars

The definitive ranking of the best and worst small cars on sale in the UK

This is the definitive ranking of the best and worst small cars on sale in the UK.

How can we make such a bold claim? Because this list isn’t just based on our opinion. We’ve compiled and analysed more than 12,000 new car reviews from 30 of the top motoring websites in the UK to produce our Expert Rating Index.

Why rely on one person’s opinion when you can have all of the top reviews gathered together in one place?

How our Expert Rating scores are calculated
How Expert Ratings can help your car buying decisions

Despite the explosion in SUV sales over the last few years, small hatchbacks are still the best-selling cars in the UK. Small cars can be divided into two categories, known as city cars and superminis. City cars are smaller and (usually) cheaper, and will often be three-door hatchbacks. Superminis are larger and are usually five-door hatchbacks.

Current models

Skoda Fabia

Expert Rating 76%
The Skoda Fabia is a practical supermini and stand-out value-for-money package, but rivals have better interior quality.

Volkswagen Up

Expert Rating 76%
Despite being on sale for nearly a decade, the Volkswagen Up is still one of the top-rated small cars according to our Expert Rating index.

Ford Fiesta

Expert Rating 76%
The Ford Fiesta is one of the most highly rated small cars in the UK, being regarded as great to drive – although reliability is a concern.

Volkswagen Polo

Expert Rating 75%
The Volkswagen Polo has received generally good media reviews, with praise for its high levels of build quality and general refinement.

SEAT Ibiza

Expert Rating 74%
The SEAT Ibiza has received very positive media reviews, and is one of the highest-rated superminis on sale in the UK.

Kia Picanto

Expert Rating 73%
The Kia Picanto has received an unusually broad variation of media review scores, ranging from "Best City Car" awards to "Don't Buy" recommendations.

Peugeot e-208

Expert Rating 73%
The Peugeot e-208 has received very positive UK media reviews and has won several awards - including European Car of the Year in 2020.

Kia Soul EV

Expert Rating 72%
The Kia Soul EV has received positive reviews with praise for its quirky styling. It's decent to drive, with a good range compared to many electric cars.

Mini hatch

Expert Rating 71%
The Mini hatch generally gets very good reviews from the UK media, despite its advancing years, with high praise for its driving dynamics.

Hyundai i10

Expert Rating 70%
The Hyundai i10 has received positive media reviews, with praise for its interior quality, equipment levels and driving experience.

Dacia Sandero Stepway

Expert Rating 70%
The Dacia Sandero Stepway offers immense value in a small car – but only if you can live with its very poor safety rating.

Peugeot 208

Expert Rating 70%
Media reviews for the Peugeot 208 have been positive, with praise for its design and build quality. However, poor ride and handling have been criticised.

Renault Clio

Expert Rating 69%
The initial reviews for the new Renault Clio have been broadly positive, with particular praise for its refinement and high-quality interior.

Fiat 500 Electric

Expert Rating 68%
The new Fiat 500 Electric has been praised for its driving dynamics and interior quality, both of which are much better than the old model.

Dacia Sandero

Expert Rating 68%
The new Dacia Sandero has been highly praised for its value for money, comfort and practicality. Unfortunately, its safety rating is poor.

Toyota Yaris

Expert Rating 67%
The fourth-generation Toyota Yaris has a clever hybrid powertrain to maximise electric power, but the interior isn't as nice as some rivals.

Mini Clubman

Expert Rating 66%
The Mini Clubman has received generally positive scores from the UK motoring media, with fairly similar scoring for the Top-spec JCW model.

Mazda 2

Expert Rating 65%
The Mazda 2 has received generally positive media reviews, although it's no longer considered to rank among the best in its class.

Honda Jazz

Expert Rating 63%
The Honda Jazz is a practical and economical small car, with more room for passengers and luggage than similarly sized rivals.

Vauxhall Corsa Electric

Expert Rating 62%
Media reviews of the Vauxhall Corsa Electric have been positive, although (like the petrol version) its Expert Rating is disappointing.

Renault Zoe

Expert Rating 62%
The Renault Zoe was considerd a leading small electric car, but an abysmal zero-star safety rating means it's now impossible to recommend.

Audi A1

Expert Rating 62%
The Audi A1 has received positive media reviews, with praise for its comfort and technology. The A1 Citycarver version disappoints, however.

Hyundai i20

Expert Rating 62%
The Hyundai i20 has been praised for being a big improvement over the old model, although it's not seen to be as good as the best in class.

Vauxhall Corsa

Expert Rating 62%
The Vauxhall Corsa has a disappointing Expert Rating for a brand new car, with a score that currently puts it firmly in the bottom half of its class.

Honda e

Expert Rating 62%
The Honda e electric city car has been praised for its retro-futuristic styling and technology, but criticised for poor battery range.

Mini Electric

Expert Rating 61%
The Mini Electric has been praised for the way it drives, but criticised for its poor range compared to similarly-priced electric cars.

Suzuki Ignis

Ratings and reviews 60%
The Suzuki Ignis has received mostly positive reviews. However, it was rated "Don't Buy" by Which? due to a poor three-star safety rating.

Citroën C3

Expert Rating 60%
The Citroën C3 has received mixed media reviews, with our Expert Rating aggregator ranking it in the midfield of the supermini category.

Toyota Aygo X

Expert Rating 58%
The Toyota Aygo X is a stylish and well-equipped city car, but journalists agree that the lack of electrification across the range is a shame.

Nissan Micra

Expert Rating 58%
The Nissan Micra has received mixed scores from the UK media since it was launched, with earlier reviews tending to rate it more highly than recent tests.

BYD Dolphin

Expert Rating 57%
The electric BYD Dolphin has the interior comfort and low pricing to turn heads, but its driving dynamics have not fostered much praise.

Suzuki Swift

Expert Rating 57%
The Suzuki Swift has received a wider range of reviews from the UK media than most cars, ranging from 'Don't Buy' recommendations to outstanding scores.

Fiat 500

Expert Rating 53%
The Fiat 500 has received mixed media reviews, with scores dropping as the car gets older and starts to fall well behind the class leaders.

Kia Rio

Expert Rating 53%
The Kia Rio has received mixed media reviews, with an overall Expert Rating places it firmly in the bottom half of the supermini class.

Ora Funky Cat

Expert Rating 49%
The Ora Funky Cat is a spacious hatchback and one of the safest all-electric family cars on the market, but its rivals are more fun to drive.

Fiat Panda

Expert Rating 44%
Despite its poor safety record, the Fiat Panda continues to receive mostly positive media reviews, although the scores have tended to decline over time.

MG 3

Expert Rating 40%
There is little to recommend the MG3 over other small cars. The Dacia Sandero is cheaper and better, while dearer rivals are better and safer.

Small hot hatches

Toyota GR Yaris

Expert Rating 91%
The Toyota GR Yaris has received universal praise from UK reviews for its performance and handling, and has won a host of awards.

Ford Fiesta ST (2013 to 2017)

Expert Rating 90%
Other hot hatches may have offered a better interior, but when it came to driving thrills, the Ford Fiesta ST was a unanimous reviewer favourite.

Ford Fiesta ST

Expert Rating 86%
The Ford Fiesta ST has received many outstanding media reviews, several awards and holds an outstanding Expert Rating of 88%.

Hyundai i20 N

Expert Rating 85%
Singled out at the Ford Fiesta ST's closest rival to date, the Hyundai i20 N is a very talented small hot hatch that is serious fun to drive.

Mini hatch John Cooper Works

Expert Rating 71%
The Mini hatch John Cooper Works has the pace to keep up with larger hot hatches, but its price is rather steep for a car of this size.

Volkswagen Up GTI

Expert Rating 70%
The Volkswagen Up GTI is a fun bite-sized hot hatch which has recieved acclaim as a value-for-money package, but no infotainment is included.

Abarth 500e

Expert Rating 70%
The all-electric Abarth 500e is a nimble performance-enhanced city car with sporty looks and character, but its petrol siblings are faster.

Mini JCW GP (2019 to 2020)

Expert Rating 66%
The limited-edition Mini John Cooper Works GP was a very fast hot hatch with a high-quality interior but hindered by a slow gearbox.

Suzuki Swift Sport

Expert Rating 56%
The Suzuki Swift Sport is fun and well-equipped but reviewers take issue with its price, while other hot hatch rivals are more impressive.

Volkswagen Polo GTI

Expert Rating 55%
The Volkswagen Polo GTI is a very well-built and mild-mannered small hot hatch that reviewers agree lacks the raw fun of its rivals.

Abarth 595

Expert Rating 49%
The Abarth 595 is a car you buy with heart rather than head, with practical shortcomings and a high price, but it's great fun to drive.

Abarth 695

Expert Rating 40%
The Abarth 695 hot hatch range has been praised for its punchy performance, but criticised for its outdated interior and price.