Popular Small Cars to Avoid and What to Buy Instead

Here, we focus on models that are popular in their category (though they might not be the top sellers). Then we present two alternatives:

• A better choice: Another vehicle that sells well but has a higher Overall Score.
• An under-the-radar alternative: A better-scoring model that doesn’t sell as well, in case you aren’t concerned with following the crowd.

The better choices and under-the-radar alternatives are CR Recommended vehicles, meaning they scored well in our road tests, have good reliability ratings, are available with key advanced safety equipment, and performed well in crash tests.

All of these come with standard automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, AEB that operates at highway speeds, blind spot warning (BSW), and rear cross traffic warning (RCTW), unless otherwise noted. Some models carry our Green Choice designation, which highlights the vehicles with the cleanest emissions.

If you’re a CR member, this article and the list below are already available to you. But if you haven’t signed up, click below and become a member to access this list and all our exclusive ratings and reviews for each vehicle we buy and test. Joining also gives you full access to exclusive ratings for the other products our experts evaluate in several categories, including electronics and appliances.

If you’re a used-car shopper, you can click through to the model pages for information on these vehicles from older model years. Consumer Reports members also can search our Used Car Marketplace for vehicles for sale in their area, sorting by the factors that matter most. The listings include CR reliability and owner satisfaction ratings, and most vehicles include a free Carfax report.