Among new automobile buyers, compact hatchbacks are the most popular choice.
If you’re in the market for a compact automobile, you’re in luck: competition is intense, so you can pick from a wide variety of models that all meet very high quality requirements.
A vehicle needs to be equally at home on the highway as it is in the city if it is to compete at the top of its segment. It needs to be well equipped, have a large enough trunk for weekly grocery shopping, and have a family-friendly interior. And it needs to be reasonably priced to attract customers.
You may use our list of the 10 best tiny cars to narrow down your search, along with a list of the 5 worst.
Hyundai i10
The i10’s small size and excellent visibility make it a perfect fit for city driving, and its 1.2-liter petrol engine provides more than enough power for comfortable trips even on faster roads. It has a very comfortable ride at any speed, even when compared to many larger vehicles. However, for such a compact vehicle, the i10 is very costly.
Pros
- Comfortable and quiet to drive
- Five seats and decent rear space
- Loads of safety kit as standard
Cons
- Pricey to buy outright
- Non-turbocharged engines are a bit lacklustre
- Pricey to insure
Toyota Yaris
The new Yaris hybrid performed exceptionally well in our True MPG test, getting 80 mpg in the city. This is nearly double the fuel economy of traditionally powered compact hatchbacks. In addition, it needs to be trustworthy and durable. Just know that the back seats are tight and the ride is hard.
Pros
- Excellent real-world fuel economy
- Toyota’s reliability record
- Slow predicted depreciation
Cons
- Below-par infotainment system
- Firm ride – especially on models with 17in alloys
- Cramped in the back