Best New Small Cars

For all the talk of electric power, SUVs and crossovers, the humble small car – colloquially known as the ‘supermini’ – is still going very strong.

Still as compact, easy-to-drive and frugal as ever, superminis remain an excellent choice for a broad spectrum of people, whether that’s first-time buyers, for two-car households, or for those that just something affordable to do the school-run, hit the shops or commute to work.

That’s not to say today’s supermini is basic, far from it. Many come with hybrid or full-electric options, are lavished with premium big car features and have never been safer.

Nevertheless, affordability and value remain at the heart of their appeal.

For the purpose of this rundown, we are focusing on the superminis equipped with traditional internal combustion engines (petrol) for their lowest price point.

Volkswagen Polo

Engines – 1.0-litre (80, 95, 115), 2.0-litre

MPG – 55.2mpg (1.0 TSI 95 Life)

Boot Space – 351-litres

Insurance Group – 1 (1.0 80 Life)

For many, the Volkswagen Polo is and always will be the aspirational supermini choice. Indeed, brand kudos can take you a long way - especially at the lower end of the price spectrum where the Polo exists – and has been instrumental in ensuring the model’s popularity over many decades.

Indeed, the Polo has for a long time established a reputation for offering solid build quality, a mature driving experience and premium refinement, and the current sixth-generation model is absolutely no exception.

Beyond this, however, the Polo majors on providing class-leading interior space, generous specification levels and a well-judged engine line-up that blends good performance with penny-pinching running costs.

The Polo is arguably the most grown-up supermini in its class, yet with competitive pricing and low insurance groups, it’s very accessible for all demographics.

Renault Clio

Engines – 1.0-litre, 1.6-litre Hybrid

MPG – 65.7mpg (1.6 E-Tech 145 auto Evolution)

Boot Space – 318-litres

Insurance Group – 10 (1.0 TCe 90 Evolution)

It might have been around for a while now but it’s testament to how well Renault understood the brief when designing the latest Renault Clio that it holds the mantle as the best small car on the road right now – at least, that’s what its multiple awards would suggest.

Like the Polo and Corsa, the Clio is very well established and has become synonymous with delivering styling flair, practical interiors and peppy engines that won’t cost the earth to run.

They are traits that remain very much in evidence with the latest model, but they are now complemented by a high-tech interior brimming with easy-to-use technology, refined performance on the road beyond city limits and even polished handling without hampering comfort.

Facelifted in 2024, the Clio continues to cut a dash on the road, but it still remains one of the best value cars on sale with low insurance fees and hybrid models that offer upwards of 65mpg.

Vauxhall Corsa

Engines – 1.2-litre (100), 1.2-litre Hybrid, 1.2-litre Turbo, 50kWh (Electric), 54kWh (Electric)

MPG – 62.8mpg (1.2 Hybrid 110 auto GS)

Boot Space – 309-litres

Insurance Group – 19 (1.2 Turbo GS)

The UK’s most popular supermini in terms of sales – a status it has locked down since the demise of its great rival, the Ford Fiesta – the Vauxhall Corsa is deserving of its current reign.

Having adopted the acclaimed underpinnings of the Peugeot 208 – the result of Vauxhall/Opel being absorbed into the Stellantis family – the Corsa feels more mature than ever but hasn’t lost the element of fun that made its predecessors so enduringly popular.

Indeed, the Corsa makes for a strong buying prospect across the board with its temptingly long specification list – which includes a 10-inch touchscreen and heated steering wheel even at base level – and its refined driving manners.

Perhaps the biggest hint that the Corsa has evolved for a modern age though is the fact you can choose between petrol, hybrid or pure electric models with each trim.

Toyota Yaris

Engines – 1.5-litre Hybrid

MPG – 68.9mpg (1.5 VVT-i Hybrid 116 Icon)

Boot Space – 286-litres

Insurance Group – 13 (1.5 VVT-I Hybrid 116 Icon)

If you’re likely to have a keen eye on running costs when you get your new car, the Toyota Yaris makes for a compelling option with its excellent self-charging hybrid system.

Indeed, if you’ve taken an interest in electric but are put off by the higher initial outlay or don’t have immediate access to recharging facilities – or both – then the Yaris is an excellent alternative.

By mating a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a small battery, the Yaris can operate at modest speeds on electric power alone, which has the effect of significantly improving fuel economy – over 70mpg – and reducing emissions too.

That the Yaris is stylish, well-built, fun to drive and comes with an industry-leading ten-year warranty is just the icing on a very tasty cake.

Hyundai i20

Engines – 1.0-litre

MPG – 52.3mpg (1.0 T-GDi Advance)

Boot Space – 326-litres

Insurance Group – 12 (1.0 T-GDi auto Advance)

Hyundai has been one of the driving forces behind the electric revolution, but accomplished models like the Hyundai i20 prove it hasn’t forgotten its affordable, reliable and great value roots.

Arguably one of the most attractive options in the supermini class, the i20 complements its sharp looks with a well-built interior, an entertaining chassis and a well-judged engine range that combines good performance with decent fuel economy.

Despite its rakish looks – headlined by its edgy front-end, bold alloy wheels and two-tone rear-end – the i20 is one of the larger models in the class, which allows for one of the most spacious interiors too.

And if that’s not enough excitement for you, you could always throw caution to the wind by upgrading to the magnificent 200bhp i20 N, inspired by its World Rally Championship-winning contender.

Honda Jazz

Engines – 1.5-litre

MPG – 62.8mpg (1.5 i-MMD auto Elegance)

Boot Space – 304-litres

Insurance Group – 21 (1.5 i-MMD auto Elegance)

The Honda Jazz has always unashamedly taken a different path in its interpretation of what makes the perfect supermini.

Putting practicality and flexibility within compact dimensions at the forefront of its pitch to lure in buyers, it’s a route Honda hasn’t deviated from even as the Jazz has evolved over the decades. As such, if you’re after a spacious and airy car that is still frugal, easy-to-drive and good value, the Jazz still takes some beating.

The latest model retains many of the stand-out features of the original, such as the tall roofline, large window area and clever cinema-style flip-up seats that are ideal for transporting items you don’t want falling over, such as shopping bags.

Boasting arguably the most premium interior in the class, the latest Jazz also now comes with a clever automatic transmission hybrid system that pushes fuel economy up to over 60mpg.

Peugeot 208

Engines – 1.2-litre, 1.2-litre Hybrid (110, 145), 50kWh (Electric), 51kWh (Electric)

MPG – 65.9mpg (1.2 Hybrid auto Allure)

Boot Space – 311-litres

Insurance Group – 21 (1.2 PureTech 100 Allure)

From the 205 to the 206 to the 207 and now the 208, Peugeot have always done small cars right and its latest offering is absolutely no exception.

As well as staking claim to being the most attractive model in the supermini class, the Peugeot 208 consolidates its fashionably striking looks with a good blend of ride and handling balance, plus a funky, tech-inspired interior.

If you need more convincing beyond the stylish design, the 208 is also fun to drive through the twisties, before shoring up to be refined on the motorway too. It goes without saying that the 208 excels in low-speed urban environments too.

Better yet, the 208 is offered with petrol, hybrid and pure electric options, with the latter proving one of the best zero-emissions small cars on the road.

Dacia Sandero

Engines – 1.0-litre

MPG – 53.3mpg (1.0 TCe 90 Essential)

Boot Space – 308-litres

Insurance Group – 8 (1.0 TCe Bi-Fuel Essential)

Pure affordability is the core strength of the Dacia Sandero, not least because it holds court as one of the cheapest cars you can buy in the UK.

It’s a status you wouldn’t necessarily believe on first glance either, the Sandero being quite a bit larger than many cars in this ranking, let alone some of the models it is priced to directly compete with.

The ideal car if you’re on a budget, while the Sandero ultimately places function over form in many areas, at the price it’s hard to criticise the sturdy, logically laid out dashboard, the sizeable head and legroom for five people and the surprisingly generous kit list.

With accomplished Renault Clio-mechanicals lurking underneath, the Sandero should be reliable too, making it not only value-for-money, but value-added too.