Best small cars in Consumer Reports’ testing

Big things can come in small packages, as proven by today’s feature-rich subcompact and compact cars. This sector of the automotive landscape—once reserved for budget models targeting first-time car buyers and rental fleets—has blossomed, with many models now offering comfort, convenience, and refinement that was unheard of a decade ago.

Today, numerous excellent small hatchbacks and sedans are well worth considering. Of course, some models should not make it onto your wish list. To accelerate your shopping process, we’ve picked the 10 best small cars based on Consumer Reports’ testing.

Each car here ranks among the best in class for road test performance, has average or better predicted reliability, and performs adequately if included in government or insurance-industry crash tests. Or simply put, these are the best new small cars on the market today and ones we strongly recommend. (Missing are some great cars we have no reliability data for yet, such as the redesigned Volkswagen Golf.)

Click through to read the complete road tests, and scan the reliability, owner cost, owner satisfaction, pricing, and other data. Or use our search tools to compile your own list based on the factors that matter most to you.

—Jeff Bartlett

Hyundai Elantra

Base MSRP price range: $18,800 - $22,600

The Elantra combines nimble and secure handling with a fairly comfortable ride. The 1.8-liter four-cylinder and six-speed automatic delivers solid performance and a very good 29 mpg overall. Some versions get a more powerful 2.0-liter four-cylinder. The car is well-equipped for the price, the controls and features are logically laid out, and rear-seat room is decent for the class. Our major gripe is the pronounced road and engine noise. The GT hatchback has more adventurous styling but suffers from a louder cabin, a stiff ride, and only 27 mpg. Currently, both the sedan and hatchback have potential savings of 20 percent off MSRP.

Read our complete Hyundai Elantra road test.

Kia Forte

Base MSRP price range: $15,890 - $21,890

There's a lot to like in the Forte if you're in the market for a compact sedan. Unassuming in nature yet considerably more refined than previous Kia compact sedans, the Forte feels mature and solid, thanks to a quiet cabin and one of the most comfortable rides in its class. You also get generous interior room and a wide assortment of amenities. Our tested base LX sedan got 28-mpg overall with the smooth 1.8-liter four-cylinder and six-speed automatic. Handling is very secure but not particularly agile. All EX versions get a stronger 2.0-liter four-cylinder, and the SX coupe and hatch use a 1.6-liter turbo. The spacious interior is quiet for a compact car, and the controls are logically arranged. Part of the appeal for the Forte is that it offers features not usually found in the class, such as front/rear heated and ventilated seats. Predicted reliability is average, and owner satisfaction is better than average.

Read our complete Kia Forte road test.

Kia Rio

Base MSRP price range: $13,990 - $18,290

This corporate cousin of the Hyundai Accent is available as a sedan or hatchback. Power comes from a 138-hp, 1.6-liter four-cylinder mated to a six-speed automatic. Fuel economy of 29-mpg overall with our automatic-equipped hatchback and 30 for the sedan is pretty unimpressive for a subcompact. The Rio feels solid compared with some other subcompacts. Its stiff ride and noisy cabin are typical of the genre and can get annoying during long trips, but they aren't unbearable. Handling is a strong suit, with the car feeling responsive in corners. Higher-trim models offer such amenities as heated seats and a rear-view camera, but they can push up the price steeply. Reliability has been above average, but owner satisfaction ranks among lowest in the category.

Read our complete Kia Rio road test.

Kia Soul

Base MSRP price range: $15,190 - $35,700

The Soul brings more to the table than quirky styling. There's abundant interior space, with the chairlike seats and big windows providing an excellent view to the outside. Though fundamentally a budget hatchback, the Soul can be an SUV alternative, functionality-wise. The driving experience isn't special: The ride is stiff, and handling is sound but unexceptional. Power delivery from the 2.0-liter four-cylinder feels just adequate, and its 26-mpg overall is not outstanding. An extensive list of options includes heated seats, touch-screen navigation, and a backup camera. An electric version is available in California. First-year reliability of the redesign has been above average.

Read our complete Kia Soul road test.

Mazda3

Base MSRP price range: $16,945 - $26,595