(iSeeCars) – When it comes to finding the right vehicle, bigger is not always better. If you want an affordable price tag and high fuel economy, a small car might be exactly what you’re looking for. Because today’s small cars include modern touchscreens, advanced infotainment systems, capable safety features, and even all-wheel drive, they can be a more rational choice compared to a larger car or SUV.
Modern small cars come in sedan, coupe, and hatchback form, meaning everything from sporty styling to a roomy interior is available. But not all small cars are created equal. When viewing this list be realistic about your performance desires versus your real-world needs. While a powerful engine and engaging driving experience might sound appealing, a roomy rear seat and functional cargo space greatly enhance a small car’s practicality.
What is a Small Car?
The term “small car” is often used loosely. It can refer to subcompact cars, compact cars, or both. We have combined the two vehicle segments in this list because both are worth considering given their similar size and characteristics. This list takes multiple model years into account, so if you can’t afford a new car consider a used version of top-ranked vehicles like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. Shoppers with larger budgets and luxury car preferences might be interested in our Best Luxury Small Cars list, while buyers looking for maximum fuel efficiency from a hybrid or plug-in hybrid can view our Best Hybrid Cars list.
- Honda Civic (coupe)
- iSeeCars Score: 9.4 / 10
- Reliability: 9.1 / 10
- Value Retention: 9.1 / 10
- Safety: 10 / 10
- New Price (MSRP): $21,050 – $27,250
- Used Price: $17,495 – $27,000
- MPG: 29 – 35 mpg
- Cargo Volume: 11.9 – 12.1 cu ft
- Last New Model Year: 2020
- Honda Fit
- iSeeCars Score: 9.2 / 10
- Reliability: 8.4 / 10
- Value Retention: 9.3 / 10
- Safety: 10 / 10
- New Price (MSRP): $16,190 – $20,620
- Used Price: $14,993 – $22,998
- MPG: 31 – 36 mpg
- Cargo Volume: 16.6 cu ft
- Last New Model Year: 2020
- Toyota Yaris
- iSeeCars Score: 9.2 / 10
- Reliability: 8.5 / 10
- Value Retention: 9.0 / 10
- Safety: 10 / 10
- New Price (MSRP): $15,650 – $18,750
- Used Price: $11,990 – $19,996
- MPG: 34 – 35 mpg
- Cargo Volume: 13.5 cu ft
- Last New Model Year: 2020
- Toyota Corolla
- iSeeCars Score: 9.1 / 10
- Reliability: 8.5 / 10
- Value Retention: 8.9 / 10
- Safety: 10 / 10
- New Price (MSRP): $22,050 – $27,150
- Used Price: $15,899 – $25,298
- MPG: 35 mpg
- Cargo Volume: 13.1 cu ft
- Honda Civic
- iSeeCars Score: 9.0 / 10
- Reliability: 8.8 / 10
- Value Retention: 9.0 / 10
- Safety: 9.0 / 10
- New Price (MSRP): $23,950 – $30,550
- Used Price: $17,942 – $28,400
- MPG: 31 – 36 mpg
- Cargo Volume: 14.1 – 14.8 cu ft
- Subaru Impreza
- iSeeCars Score: 8.9 / 10
- Reliability: 8.0 / 10
- Value Retention: 8.7 / 10
- Safety: 10 / 10
- New Price (MSRP): $19,795 – $24,595
- Used Price: $15,989 – $24,995
- MPG: 26 – 32 mpg
- Cargo Volume: 12.3 cu ft
- Mazda Mazda3 Sedan
- iSeeCars Score: 8.9 / 10
- Reliability: 8.2 / 10
- Value Retention: 8.4 / 10
- Safety: 10 / 10
- New Price (MSRP): $24,170 – $35,450
- Used Price: $17,007 – $27,006
- MPG: 27 – 31 mpg
- Cargo Volume: 13.2 cu ft
- Volkswagen Golf
- iSeeCars Score: 8.8 / 10
- Reliability: 8.2 / 10
- Value Retention: 8.4 / 10
- Safety: 10 / 10
- New Price (MSRP): $23,195 – $23,995
- Used Price: $15,488 – $23,080
- MPG: 32 – 33 mpg
- Cargo Volume: 17.4 cu ft
- Last New Model Year: 2021
- Hyundai Veloster
- iSeeCars Score: 8.8 / 10
- Reliability: 7.7 / 10
- Value Retention: 8.8 / 10
- Safety: 10 / 10
- New Price (MSRP): $18,900 – $28,450
- Used Price: $13,995 – $23,996
- MPG: 28 – 30 mpg
- Cargo Volume: 19.9 cu ft
- Last New Model Year: 2021
- Mazda Mazda3 Hatchback
- iSeeCars Score: 8.8 / 10
- Reliability: 8.2 / 10
- Value Retention: 8.3 / 10
- Safety: 10 / 10
- New Price (MSRP): $25,690 – $36,650
- Used Price: $18,284 – $29,983
- MPG: 26 – 30 mpg
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About iSeeCars.com
iSeeCars.com is a data-driven car search and research company that helps shoppers find the best car deals by providing key insights and valuable resources, including the iSeeCars VIN Check report and Best Cars Rankings. iSeeCars has saved users over $416 million so far by applying big data analytics powered by over 25 billion (and growing) data points and using proprietary algorithms to objectively analyze, score and rank millions of new cars and used cars.
This article, Best Small Cars, originally appeared on iSeeCars.com.
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