Best Small Cars on the market today

City cars and superminis make up the bulk of new car sales in the UK – and with good reason. The best small cars on sale are cheap, practical, easy to drive on congested modern streets and – as modern superminis and city cars become more sophisticated, refined and safe – they increasingly represent genuine alternatives to larger hatchbacks, saloons and even SUVs.

Small cars also make a lot of sense when it comes to running costs and maintenance; small, efficient engines return great fuel economy and emit low levels of CO2 for cheaper first-year road tax, small wheels mean cheaper tyres and most are subject to the lowest tier of servicing pricing at a main dealer. Insurance should also be cheaper than that for a car from the classes above.

The best small cars in the UK are –

The fifth-generation Renault Clio, which has many of its rivals beaten in key areas including equipment levels and overall driving experience.

The SEAT Ibiza is a favourite. Due to its well-timed launch (before that of the new Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo) it enjoyed a period where it was King of the Hill for small cars.

The latest Ford Fiesta is a formidable small car that sets new standards in the supermini class.

Hyundai has added tech, space and fun to its i10 city car to create a convincingly well-rounded package.

The Kia Picanto shares much of its mechanicals with the old Hyundai i10, but a recent facelift has improved the Kia's drive.

The Volkswagen up! has been around since 2011, but a refresh in 2016 has kept the small German car competitive against fierce city car rivals such as the Kia Picanto and Fiat 500.