Best Small Cars for 2024
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.
1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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
5. Honda Civic
iSeeCars Score: 9.0 / 10
5Reliability: 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
6. 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
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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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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.