Banner image – Credit: Honda UK
Look around at the number of sports utility vehicles (SUV) on our roads and you might think that small cars are long gone. However, while SUVs and crossovers are popular, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, there are still more than twice as many small cars on the roads of the UK.
Ford might have stopped selling Britain’s favourite small car, the Fiesta, but there are still plenty of fantastic choices – many of which have all the latest tech, connectivity, driver safety systems, and good looks.
With that said, here are 10 of our favourite small and reliable cars in 2024. If you aren’t convinced by any of these, don’t worry – there are new models heading our way too.
10 of the best small, reliable cars for 2024
1. Dacia Sandero
Sometimes cheap really is cheerful, and that’s definitely the case with the Dacia Sandero.
It was the second best-selling car across Europe in 2023, and for good reason. Early models might have looked a bit cheap, but the latest version has a much more sophisticated look. This is mainly down to the intricate design across the grille and headlights, which looks fairly upmarket for a Sandero.
There are three trim levels; Essential, Expression, and Journey. Essential does have cruise control, connectivity, and other stuff, but it’s very much the entry-level, created mainly for the fleet market. If you’re after better looks and more kit, we’d suggest going for the Expression or Journey. You won’t have to fork out much more either, especially if you buy on a finance or leasing package.
The Sandero is available with a decent three-cylinder petrol engine or, unusually, a Bi-Fuel set-up which can use either petrol or LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas).
A major benefit of the Sandero is that it offers big car space at small car prices. This is perfect for families, or those who just need a bit more space. If you’d prefer slightly more ground clearance and pseudo SUV looks, you can get it in the Stepway version.
2. Honda Jazz
The Honda Jazz is a marvel of practicality. It has an interior that puts many SUVs to shame when it comes to versatility. From good boot space to the adjustable ’Magic Seats’ and loads of comfort, it’s long been a firm favourite.
The latest generation has slightly quirky styling and gives the Jazz a bit more personality in the looks department. Inside, there’s loads of room, even for those sitting in the back seats. Here you’ll find the ‘Magic Seats’ with bases that fold up so you can load awkward items. You can also fold the front passenger seat flat for longer items.
The Jazz has all that most people need. The interior materials are fairly sold and hard-wearing, if a little cheap in places. The layout is easy to use, with a touchscreen infotainment system, smartphone connectivity, air-con, and a great feel to the seats, even on longer journeys.
All versions use the same 1.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid. You can do a bit of electric-only motoring in EV mode, but generally letting the two work together gives you great consumption. The automatic gearbox can be a bit noisy though, especially if you try to get the most from the engine. But, if you want a runaround Jazz then it’ll do fine.
3. Kia Picanto
The smallest of our favourites, the Kia Picanto is one of the UK’s cheapest models, but it’s big on personality and standard equipment, and a star of the segment. Updated for 2024, some of the design changes gives it a bit more presence, especially the wide daytime running lights that look somewhat imposing if you see them in a rearview mirror. They give it even more attitude, especially when included in the GT-Line or GT-Line S models.
There’s all the tech you need, too, with an eight-inch touchscreen, digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto and both USB-C and USB ports. Plus, it’s packed with safety kit, including adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assistance, and parking sensors all round. It definitely ticks the value for money box.
The Kia Picanto is also great fun to drive. It’s 1.0-litre or 1.2-litre petrol engines aren’t that powerful but provide a wonderful sports car-like thrum as you change through the gears. The ride can feel a bit firm, depending on wheel and tyre choices, but it’s easy to really enjoy the corners without actually going fast.
Build quality is good, too, and, like all Picantos, it represents superb value, both new and used. Often overlooked in favour of slightly larger rivals, the Picanto is the real star that punches well above its weight.
4. Mazda 2
The little Mazda 2 often gets overlooked but it’s always been a superb little package. The design hasn’t moved on as much as some of its rivals, but it still looks reasonably good. Mazda really focuses on interior design and providing a good drive – and the Mazda 2 ticks both of these boxes.
You won’t find any distractions in the interior. Instead, it all feels solid and a bit premium, with only the stuff you need. This includes easy-to-read instrumentation and a touchscreen infotainment system with a rotary dial (so you aren’t stabbing at the screen and climate control!). The driving position is also excellent and very comfortable on long journeys.
There’s the option of a Mazda 2 petrol-electric hybrid too, though, calling it a Mazda is a bit of a stretch. It’s actually a Toyota Yaris with a Mazda badge, but sharing is caring they say.
5. MG 4
The MG 4 is the only electric vehicle on our list. If you read our 10 of the best electric cars to buy in 2024, you’ll have seen the MG 4 featured. It’s a great car, with cool styling, lots of interior space, and a good infotainment system.
It drives well and has a driving range of up to 323 miles. That’s unless you go for the XPower version, which tries to define what a hot hatch is in the electric era.
The ride is a bit firmer than some of the other models we’ve listed here, mainly because it’s electric, but we could live with it easily. You get a lot for your money, from tech to safety equipment and there’s good space inside. It’s no wonder we’re seeing plenty of these on our roads.
6. Mini
Ironically the Mini might be the biggest car in our small car test. It’s grown over the generations but remains popular and is what many people picture when they think of a small car.
It featured in the top ten best-selling cars in the UK in 2023 and now there’s a new one. The latest generation is available with a petrol engine or as an electric model. The styling has been extensively redone, and inside there’s the option to have a cool circular infotainment screen.
We’ve only driven the petrol version so far, but it’s as fun to drive as ever. The interior is funky with a mix of materials and tech. Some of that tech can be a little overwhelming at first but it’s easy to get the hang of. If you want loads of cool interior lighting, funky looks, and a great little engine, a Mini could be the small car for you.
For those after a bit more space, there’s also the 5-door Mini Countryman or the Mini Aceman. While the Mini has its critics, it’s always going to be great fun to drive.
7. Renault Clio
Papa? Nicole? We all remember the famous adverts for the Clio. It must be very frustrating for Renault’s modern marketing people. The Clio was one of the best models then and it still is today, albeit with stuff Papa probably isn’t interested in, like hybrid technology and Apple CarPlay.
Updated in 2024, the latest Clio looks sportier than ever with a slight edginess to its design. Perfect for cool kids or the cool at heart, there’s a choice of petrol with a manual gearbox or petrol-electric hybrid automatic.
Three trim levels are available; Evolution, Techno, or Esprit Alpine. All come with a good list of equipment, including a digital instrument cluster, a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system, comfortable seats, and loads of safety kit.
Renault has always injected a bit of sportiness into its little Clio. All models are great to drive with responsive engines and good handling. There’s even a bit of a link to Formula 1 with the Esprit Alpine as it gets some added styling from the French company’s performance and F1 division.
8. Suzuki Swift
Suzuki has always been into small cars and one of its most popular is the Swift, which was introduced in 1983.
It’s a great option for anyone disappointed to find you can’t buy a new Ford Fiesta, Kia Rio, or Nissan Micra. Not that it’s a compromise if you did want one of these – the Swift is a great little car.
Updated in 2024, it has a modern exterior design with new LED lights and the option of a candy blue colour that took years to perfect. Both the Motion and Ultra versions have loads of kit – including heated seats, alloy wheels, wireless Apple CarPlay, touchscreen infotainment, and a long list of safety equipment.
The Swift is great to drive with comfortable suspension for heading about town, and a bit of get up and go when you find nice roads.
All versions use a 1.2-litre petrol motor with mild hybrid technology. This means a small battery that provides some energy to run things like the radio. It can also add a bit of power when accelerating to help reduce emissions and fuel consumption. You can even have a Swift with AllGrip, a form of all-wheel drive, which is useful if you live in rural areas.
9. Toyota Yaris
Toyota has always made practical and reliable small cars. They might not have been known for being the most exciting, but that’s mostly changed in recent years.
The Yaris has been with us since 1999 but, unlike the original, the latest generation looks like it has real attitude. It drives well too, thanks to a focus on handling and dynamics.
All models are hybrids with a 1.5-litre petrol engine, a battery, and an electric motor. Combined, these help to lower emissions and improve fuel consumption. It’s only available with an automatic gearbox but that’s fine because it makes driving more relaxed. If you want a bit more poke, there’s a Gazoo Racing (GR) Sport model and the rally-bred GR Yaris.
It doesn’t feel quite as premium as the Volkswagen Polo or the Mini, but it’s still packed with equipment, has decent interior space, and is great value. It’s also a Toyota so you know it’ll be reliable and have a good resale value.
10. Volkswagen Polo
The Volkswagen Polo might as well just be called the VW Benchmark. It’s the one by which all rivals are judged. There’s one for everyone too, from entry-level versions through to the punchy Polo GTi. It’s become so good in recent years that unless you need the extra interior space, you probably don’t need to go for the larger VW Golf or an SUV.
The regular models use a thrifty little 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that’ll give you fuel consumption up to 54.4mpg. You won’t get that in the GTi though, with its 2.0-litre engine and promise of hot hatch fun.
There are four trim levels, all with a digital instrument cluster, touchscreen infotainment, and wireless smartphone connectivity. The Match is probably the best value, with automatic climate control, comfort sports seats, and LED headlights, although the Style is our top pick.
All are good to drive, with a solid, reassuring feel on the road and more than enough pep for most journeys. Some models offer the choice of a five-speed manual or seven-speed automatic with paddles. This allows you to be more engaged in the drive and change gears using paddles on the steering wheel.
Maintenance costs and resale values are good, with the Polo being one of the most searched-for used cars.
Are there any alternative small cars if you buy used?
Some of our favourite small cars are latest generation models, but you’ll also find plenty of good, previous versions in the pre-owned market.
This includes the Kia, Mini, Toyota, and Suzuki. Plus, buying used means you’ll still get to look at the Ford Fiesta which, like the Polo, has a version to suit everyone.
The Skoda Fabia is a fantastic used car option too, offering superb value for money. We’re also rather fond of the trio of Volkswagen Group models: the Seat Mii, Skoda CitiGo, and VW Up. They might be small, but they’re big on personality and really tick the cheap motoring box.
What other small cars are coming in 2024?
If you’re after a small electric car, you’ll be pleased to know that there are quite a few heading our way soon.
First up is the return of the Renault 5, although, not like the one many learned to drive in the 1990s. This is the R5, the electric return to the famous model name. It looks cool, has all the electric tech you need, and it’ll be one of the first EVs to sell its unused electrical charge back to the grid through Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology.
Volkswagen is planning its ID 2 but has given the lead on its new small EV to another group company, Cupra. What started as the Urban Rebel now sounds less Billy Idol and more classical composer with the Raval. It’s trendy and cool, with Playstation-style buttons on the steering wheel and more ambient lighting colours than a Dulux catalogue.
Dacia is bringing its cheap EV, the Spring, to the UK soon too. It’ll easily be the cheapest EV on the market, and one of the cheapest cars overall. We’re reserving judgement on this one for now though, remaining unconvinced by its safety since the first generation wasn’t sold in the UK and didn’t score well in safety tests.