Compare Small Cars at Consumer Reports

Small Car Buying Guide

Small cars can be affordable, fun, and thrifty, though they can vary widely in practicality, price, and performance. Due to the breadth of offerings, there are many considerations in choosing the best small car for your needs, budget, and driving style. This buying guide will advise you on important considerations.

New vs. Used

New Small cars

Used Small cars

Find a Small car

Used

New

Make

Model

New Car Selector (beta)

Find the best Small car for you, sorting by fuel economy, reliability, safety and more!

Types

Small sedans and hatchbacks

The small car category is home to rudimentary economy cars and compact premium cars. Thrifty models tend to have good fuel economy, elevated levels of noise in many cases, and limited space for passengers, especially in the rear, and for cargo. Many small sedans come in hatchback versions, adding versatility to the basic design. The power plants are usually four-cylinder engines with typically 1.8-2.0 liter displacement. Fuel economy averages from the mid-20s to low-30s mpg overall. Turbochargers or superchargers can be found on high-performance models, which are also fitted with stiffer suspensions and cosmetic enhancements for a price premium.

Sporty cars

This category includes sporty hatchbacks such as the Mazdaspeed3 and Mini Cooper S, sporty coupes such as the Scion TC, and true sports cars such as the Honda S2000 and Mazda Miata. Engines are usually four cylinders, and often turbocharged. The emphasis is on crisp handling and the ride typically suffers as a result of stiff suspension and low-profile tires. The cabins are often noisy too. Fuel economy varies from about mid-20s to low-30s overall, with the higher-horsepower models delivering worse fuel economy than nonsporty small cars. Hatchbacks usually have better rear seat room than coupes.

Next in this section: Features

See also:: GPS Navigation Systems; Car batteries; Car seats; Special Section:
Guide to Driving Green