15 Best Small Cars

The GTI is better than ever. It is as sensational a performance car as you can find for the price. Plenty of cars are fast. But the latest GTI is a car you have to drive to believe, delivering not just impressive velocity but a sense of infallible control and corner-carving genius usually limited to far-more-expensive cars. The VW remains as practical as ever, providing well over 30 mpg in real-world highway driving, with an adult-friendly back seat and oodles of hatchback cargo space. The big drawback is the confounding infotainment system, but GTI fanatics will make peace with it, considering all the smiles-per-mile this VW delivers. 

The Golf R drives like the supercar of hatchbacks, leaping through curves and feeling invulnerable while it’s at it. This Golf is as technically adept as a luxury BMW, Mercedes or Audi and shares essential tech with some pricier Audi cousins, including the MQB platform, engine and automatic transmission. But there’s still a humble Golf beneath all that performance armor, which means a spacious back seat, overachieving cargo capacity and surprisingly good fuel economy. The cabin feels rich and ergonomically correct, including Nappa leather-clad sport seats. But the infotainment system and associated controls are poorly designed and constantly getting in their way. The price is equally rich, making this Golf R a hatchback for true believers. 

The Mazda3 is a small-car standout in American showrooms, offering the kind of design, premium interior and engaging performance you might find on cars with labels like Alfa-Romeo or BMW. The 3 is less spendy than those brands, but the new-for-2021 turbocharged versions aren’t cheap by mainstream compact standards, nor do any of the 3s get great gas mileage. What buyers get is a stylish car that makes every trip fun and demands very few compromises from non-enthusiast consumers who just want nice daily transportation.

The Volkswagen Golf delivers a predictable, even-keeled blend of practicality and engaging driver dynamics, just like previous Golfs dating back to the 1970s. Though some of its competitors are flashier and its basic design is the oldest in the class, the Golf an excellent choice for buyers seeking an eminently usable, finely tuned economy car that also happens to be fun to drive. A no-nonsense machine, there are also somewhat limited choices, with just one engine and trim.
 

The Hyundai Veloster N’s MSRP climbs nearly $4,660 for 2021, but don’t let the price hike discourage you: upgraded standard features including more performance gear, a new infotainment system, and added driver-assist features only enhance the car. Its sporty demeanor makes it a performance bargain like no other, at home at the track or commuting to work. While most drivers will find lesser Veloster models perfectly adequate, the Veloster N’s focused dynamics make this upstart a distinctly compelling hot hatch choice.

For buyers tiptoeing into the premium car market for the first time, the A-Class is an enticing car that provides plenty of standard features and, crucially, the Mercedes-Benz aura and experience. It’s sharp and stylish design conveys luxury for younger buyers looking for a more mature ride or their first real luxury car, but the A-Class is still small and sporty enough to satisfy playful impulses. This is an entry-level machine, though, and many of the truly desirable trimmings are optional extras, including some active safety features that are standard on cheaper cars.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla keeps the model’s traditions of safety, quality and value alive by packing in good fuel economy, lots of active safety features and a multitude of reasonably-priced configurations and equipment levels. Fast-looking and capable handling special editions and models are available, but like earlier models, it’s much more a value-packed commuter than a sporty machine. On the negative side, some models are underpowered and the car lacks cargo room relative to its competitors.

Subaru’s “budget” car is a screaming deal, even optioned up. Unlike it’s WRX sister, the Impreza is in no way fast, but the sure-footed standard all-wheel drive system improves handling and makes more destinations possible, though it gives up a little gas mileage to other compact cars. It’s styled conservatively, but the unpretentious Impreza isn’t trying to be anything but practical. The excellent EyeSight safety system is standard on most trims, but only works with models equipped with the CVT.

The Nissan Sentra is a solid daily driver that can handle commutes, shopping and all the other little tasks most people demand from personal vehicles. It looks good inside and out, gets decent gas mileage and comes with a raft of safety features. It’s a long way from sporty, however, with its unobtrusive but unexciting CVT transmission, modest power output, and uncommunicative steering.

With smartly updated styling and features, the Lexus IS looks to keep pace in a Darwinian class of compact sport sedans. It looks great and its safety tech is comprehensive, but where it really counts—engines, performance, fuel economy and intuitive controls—the Lexus continues to fall behind the competitive curve.

The Prius celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2021, and it’s still a highly efficient and practical hatchback for those seeking maximum mileage and plenty of space. It also enjoys a strong reputation for durability, as demonstrated by its popularity among cabbies and government fleets, who prioritize low costs of operation above fancy interiors or fun performance, both of which the Prius lacks. There are many more alternatives among hybrids than there were 20 years ago, and while some offer more room or better driving experiences, the Prius is still a hybrid contender.

The Mini Clubman is the last of a dying breed, a subcompact station wagon, but even if it weren’t the last little wagon standing, its jaunty style and fun personality would stand out from the crowd. Aside from the Countryman crossover, it’s bigger and more practical than the other Minis and has a softer ride too, but loses little of their keen handling for its added size. The John Cooper Works edition is particularly fast, handily outpacing Volkswagen’s GTI. Unfortunately the Clubman’s price escalates quickly as you add options, and it lacks both driver assist gear and some tech basics, like Android Auto, which erodes its value proposition.

The Civic Type-R is a special vehicle but a polarizing one. It’s fast and fun without sacrificing practicality, but is extroverted enough to be visible from space. Like a flavor of non-dairy coffee creamer that’s only available during a holiday it may not suit everyone, but if you’ve tasted it you’re already seeking it out.

On paper, the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe has everything it needs to succeed: an eager powertrain, a long list of amenities, and the prestige of the BMW badge. The reality of this Bimmer is more complicated. Odd styling cues are its biggest flaw, but a harsh ride and high sticker price, driven even higher by options, also hold it back from true greatness.

The Hyundai Accent is an attractively priced compact sedan for budget-minded shoppers who prioritize value over size. The interior is basic but tastefully designed and comfy, and the 13.7 cubic-foot trunk feels larger than it looks on paper. The Accent’s 120-horsepower four-cylinder engine doesn’t deliver much performance and a manual transmission is only available on the base model (higher trims get CVTs), but it has nimble handling, communicative steering and returns up to 41 mpg on the highway. Base models get a 5-inch infotainment screen and unlike the larger Hyundais, the Accent skimps on active safety features.