Although SUVs and larger vehicles have a lot of appeal and popularity, not everyone needs to cart around lots of kids or transport tons of luggage, which is where the smaller cars step in.
Now, that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice any of the style, luxury, or top-quality features you can get in larger models just because you're going for a smaller size. This list covers a wide range of vehicles with key features like state-of-the-art technology, efficient engines and motors, good looks, and even deceptively spacious interiors.
Some of the best small cars currently available include:
- Renault 5 E-Tech
- BYD Dolphin Surf
- Citroën e-C3
- Dacia Sandero
- DS 3
- Fiat 500e
- Ford Puma
- Hyundai i10
- Kia Picanto
- MG4
Renault 5 E-Tech
With a retro-futuristic design and compact dimensions, the Renault 5 E-Tech was designed to perform well in urban areas. Its compact size allows the driver to manoeuvre in small spaces and park in the narrow parking spots cities are known for.
Inside, you’ll find a beautiful combination of retro styling, including coloured detailing on the seats and door panels, with advanced technology that brings this beauty to the 21st century, including the OpenR Link multimedia centre that can be easily connected to smartphones.
Storage was tailored to accommodate daily necessities with ease. The 326-litre boot can fit weekly grocery shopping, a couple of medium suitcases, or even a stroller. If more space is needed, the rear sets can be folded down, expanding the boot capacity to 1,106 litres.
Available with either 40kWh or 52kWh battery, you can choose how much power suits your needs better. Respectively producing 122bhp and 152bhp, the electric range vary from 190 and 248 miles, and the vehicle can be charged from 15 to 80 percent within only 30 minutes when using a 100kW DC rapid charger.
View New Renault 5 E-Tech OffersBYD Dolphin Surf
Displaying a modern marine design, the Dolphin Surf is the latest addition to BYD’s lineup. Sporty, youthful and sleek the exterior of this version of the Dolphin is styled with smooth lines that combined with sloped elements provide accents of futuristic design without compromising on practicality and performance.
Engineered to excel at urban driving, its nimble size allows easy manoeuvrability and parking in tight spaces. Looking inside, the boot is a bit smaller than the 5 E-Tech, with an expanded capacity of 1,037 litres with the back seats folded down. Despite the compact size, the Dolphin Surf can transport small appliances, an adult bicycle, flatpack furniture, and weekly shopping with ease.
The entry level model is available with a 65kW electric motor that produces 87bhp and accelerates to 62mph in 11.1 seconds from resting. With a 200 electric mile range, this is an excellent option of city car, and it can be charged from 0 to 100 percent in only three and a half hours.
View New BYD Dolphin Surf OffersCitroën e-C3
Citroën’s supermini e-C3 ticks all the boxes for an excellent small car, designed for people who need to get around town quickly and with ease. Featuring the manufacturer’s brand-new design identity, the new e-C3 looks modern, bold and taller, exuding presence on the road.
Designed for excellent performance on metropolitan roads, the e-C3 is ideal for squeezing into tight parking spots due to its compact size. The 200- mile electric range is more than enough for several trips around town on a single charge, and if you’re looking for an environmentally friendly city car you rest assured that the e-C3 is emission free.
This budget friendly supermini offers a dedicated smartphone dock, a Head-Up display placed on the dashboard and several safety features such as rear parking sensors, automatic emergency braking, and hill start assist.
With a boot capacity of 310 litres, it’s possible to fit the essentials. Several shopping bags, a medium size dog crate and a set of small flat-pack furniture can be easily accommodated with the rear seats up. You can fold down the seats if you need to extend the boot to 1,188 litres.
View New Citroën e-C3 OffersDacia Sandero
The Dacia Sandero is one of the larger models on this list, making it a great choice for drivers who still want a relatively small hatchback, but not quite as small as the little city cars we've looked at.
As one of the cheapest cars on the market, the Sandero is also great for those wanting a more affordable option, not just for running costs, but for purchase costs too. The engines available consist of two petrol options and a bi-fuel alternative, all more than capable of providing decent performance and good fuel economy.
The interior is great for both the driver and passengers, with plenty of technology and driver aids. Smartphone connectivity is available across the range, and thanks to the Media Control docking station, your smartphone can become the multimedia system if you'd like. However, there's still the 8-inch infotainment touchscreen on the dashboard you can use too.
With a 328-litre boot, the Sandero’s storage space is more than enough to carry weekly shops, three to four medium suitcases and a folded wheelchair. If you need extra space, the boot can be extended to 1,108 litres with the rear seats folded down.
View New Dacia Sandero Offers View Used Dacia Sandero OffersDS 3
Featuring a distinctive and flamboyant exterior, the DS 3 was designed to be a luxurious city car, that radiates elegance and style. This B-segment car is easy to park and can navigate narrow roads without difficulty.
Even though the DS 3 falls into the supermini segment, the interior is anything but small. It can seat up to 5 people, and there’s loads of storage space in the front, with a glovebox, door bins, cup holders, and a smartphone centre console available to passengers. The 350-litre boot can fit the daily essentials and it can be extended to have 1,050 litres with the back seats folded down.
Available with hybrid or fully electric powertrains, the 215-mile electric range is sufficient to get around town during the week on a single charge. Rapid charging is supported, and when using a 100kW DC charger the DS 3 can be charged up to 80 percent in only half an hour.
View New DS 3 Offers View Used DS 3 OffersFiat 500e
The next contender is the Fiat 500e; an attractive and compact city car that adds a touch of style to your journey. Thanks to its small size and affordable running costs, it's also great for less experienced drivers.
The interior is just as chic and cool as the exterior and comes in a variety of colours, so no matter what your taste, you'll get something to suit you. Although it's not super practical, with 185 litres of boot space, or a more respectable 550 litres with the rear seats folded down, it's perfect for drivers just wanting something they can nip around town in.
There are a variety of motor choices available, all providing good electric mile range, and rapid charging capabilities, being able to reach up to 80 percent in 35 minutes.
View New Fiat 500e OffersFord Puma
Available with petrol, diesel and hybrid powertrains, the Ford Puma is a compact crossover SUV that caters to most lifestyles. The Puma’s latest facelift features a sporty design and enhancements to improve comfort and driving experience.
Featuring one of the biggest rear boot spaces on the list, the 456-litre boot can hold large suitcases, several flat-pack furniture boxes, sports equipment and daily necessities. Similar to the other cars mentioned on this list, the boot can be extended by folding down the rear seats, revealing extra space that sums up to 1,126 litres of storage.
Equipped with great onboard technology, the 12-inch infotainment comes with the SYNC 4 system pre-installed. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available to facilitate connectivity with smartphones.
View New Ford Puma Offers View Used Ford Puma OffersHyundai i10
Initially introduced in 2007, the Hyundai i10 is a popular city car that many first time drivers choose as a small and efficient model that can be easily manoeuvred thanks to its small size. It has undergone many improvements since then, with the second generation introduced in 2014 and now the third generation too.
The i10 now features better technology and connectivity, improved performance, and a fresh design throughout. Boasting a 252-litre boot, second smallest boot featured on this list, it can still hold most daily essentials, such as grocery shopping, a small dog crate or a folded stroller.
Most of the i10 models sit within groups 1 or 2 out of the 50 insurance groups a car can be categorised into, which ensures the running costs are much lower. Add to this the 5-year manufacturer warranty that Hyundai offers, and you should have some added piece of mind when buying a Hyundai i10.
View New Hyundai i10 Offers View Used Hyundai i10 OffersKia Picanto
The Kia Picanto is a super compact little car that is easy to manoeuvre, offers low running costs, and still comes packed with a generous amount of technology and safety features.
Coming with five doors as standard across all models, the Picanto is deceptively practical, allowing easy access to the rear seats without having to squish yourself through the front of the car.
The 1.0-litre engines ensures lower running costs, ideal for drivers wanting a more affordable vehicle. And despite their lower size, they still feel fairly punchy in a car this size.
All the new Picanto models come with a great level of equipment, with the entry-level version offering Hill-Start Assist Control, electric front windows, and Automatic Headlight Control. Further up the range you'll benefit from features like cruise control, LED daytime running lights, and air conditioning as well as smartphone connectivity through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
View New Kia Picanto Offers View Used Kia Picanto OffersMG4
A compact hatchback that was introduced as MG’s first all-electric car, the MG4 boasts a distinctive design that stands out from the crowd. Available with six eye-catching colours, that complement with its sharp lines and sleek silhouette creating a bold look impossible to ignore when spotted on the road.
There are currently four combinations of electric motors and batteries that vary from the entry level 51kWh to the range topping 64kWh XPOWER. The 218 to 239-mile electric range is sufficient to navigate urban areas several times on a single charge. When using a rapid charger, the battery can be topped up from 10 to 80 percent in just 30 minutes.
Looking inside, the cabin is spacious and has good head and legroom for drivers and passengers. Featuring a 363-litre boot, the MG4 has enough space to transport daily essentials. If you need extra room, the rear seats can be folded flat to expand the storage space to 1,177 litres.
View New MG4 Offers View Used MG4 OffersFind the car to suit your driving needs with Evans Halshaw
With such a range of vehicles, we trust this list has provided you with some ideas for your next new car. But, if you didn't find the small car of your dreams on this list, there's plenty of other new and used cars to choose from at Evans Halshaw.
If you'd like more information on any of these vehicles, or you'd like to test them out, get in contact with your nearest Evans Halshaw dealership, and they'll be happy to help.
