Need a car that’s easy to park but big enough for people and things? Our top 10 best superminis are great choices
It might seem that everyone drives SUVs these days, but superminis are still big sellers.
The Vauxhall Corsa, Ford Fiesta, Mini and VW Polo are all some of the most popular new models – and that means there’s a wonderful choice of used superminis available. With so many to choose from, you should be able to pick the colour, engine and trim that suits you best.
Superminis are the ideal size for many UK drivers. They’re easy to park and easy to thread through congested high streets, but offer enough space for four people and a boot that’s big enough for the weekly shop. Modern examples have big-car tech, and their small engines offer low running costs. Or, there are plenty with fully electric powertrains with decent range for longer journeys. However they’re powered, superminis are at home in the city but love the open road as well.
Best superminis 2024
- Skoda Fabia
- Volkswagen Polo
- Renault Clio
- Peugeot 208
- SEAT Ibiza
- Ford Fiesta
- Honda Jazz
- Vauxhall Corsa
- Mini hatchback
- Toyota Yaris
1. Skoda Fabia
The Fabia is related to the Polo below, but is a cheaper alternative, but you needn’t worry about getting a cheap-feeling car. The Fabia gets many of Skoda’s clever practical touches – some cars have an umbrella hidden away in case you get caught in a rain shower – plus all the latest smartphone connectivity and plenty of space. In fact, the Fabia has one of the biggest boots of the supermini class – its 380-litre boot is on a par with the bigger Volkswagen Golf.
Alongside the Polo, the Fabia offers some of the lowest possible insurance costs of any nearly new car. You’ll need the city-friendly 1.0-litre MPI petrol engine if that’s a priority, or there are turbocharged versions with more power if you’re going to be racking up the miles. Every petrol engine manages over 50mpg.
Shop used Skoda Fabias for sale at Motorpoint
2. Volkswagen Polo
Perhaps the default supermini, the Polo is a fantastic, sophisticated choice. It manages to feel small when you're parking in tight city-centre spaces, but everywhere else it doesn't feel small or out of its depth at all. There's always been a comparison between the Polo and the bigger Golf, and this latest Polo feels closer to its bigger sibling than ever before.
While the lineup is solely petrol-powered, there are a few different options to suit your budget. Kicking off the range is an insurance-friendly 1.0-litre engine; that's followed by a jack-of-all-trades mid-level 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine (with a turbo for more oomph), and at the top of the Polo pyramid is a warmed-up GTI hot hatch with the pace to trouble a sports car from a decade ago.
Read our Volkswagen Polo review
3. Renault Clio
The Renault Clio has always been a stylish choice, but it hasn’t always offered the best interior quality. That’s not the case with the latest Clio, which combines tactile switches, a considered selection of materials and great tech. It feels like a more expensive car than it is – and that feeling continues on the open road as well.
Renault has set up the Clio to be both comfortable and fun – a feat that not many superminis manage. If fuel economy is particularly important, the Clio is one of few cars this size to offer a hybrid engine, allowing it to run on electric power for a large proportion of cross-town trips, slashing your fuel bills.
4. Peugeot 208
Peugeot’s supermini scores highly for style, equipment and technology. Its interior is completely different to rivals, with a small steering wheel and digital dials placed above. All cars get a big infotainment screen with sat-nav and phone connectivity, plus a row of swish ‘piano key’ buttons that act as shortcuts for the main functions.
The Peugeot 208 has a nippy petrol engine that's both peppy and economical, plus there's the option of a fully electric e-208 version. Not only is it our favourite electric supermini, but it's also very easy to pick up an e-208 for a similar price to a petrol 208 on the used market. So you get a smooth electric powertrain and potentially cheaper running costs – what's not to love?
5. SEAT Ibiza
You can think of the SEAT Ibiza as a Polo with a bit more flair. It’s a well-built, grown-up supermini that’s more than capable of cross-country jaunts – and, when you take the Ibiza out of city limits, you’ll find it offers pleasingly direct handling as well. Its TSI turbocharged petrol engines are great if you’re driving on faster roads, and 50mpg is easily achievable whichever version you pick.
The Ibiza does well for passenger space, and offers a nearly class-leading 355-litre boot. All trim levels come with smartphone connectivity, alloy wheels and DAB radio, while higher-spec cars get bigger wheels and wireless phone charging.
6. Ford Fiesta
It was a sad moment when Ford announced that Fiesta production would be coming to an end. The Fiesta, with its sparkling handling, peppy engines and great fuel economy, is a constant on British roads – if you’ve not driven one, you’ve probably sat in one or you know several people who have them.
The exhaustive list of trim levels means there’s a Fiesta for you – whether you want luxury, sportiness or even a sprinkling of tough SUV-ness in the Fiesta Active. Newer Fiestas come with a mild-hybrid petrol engine that offers around 55mpg, and all models squeeze a good amount of space into its compact footprint. Plus, parts are cheap and there’s a dealer in every big town, which makes servicing and ownership easy.
7. Honda Jazz
If you want the maximum amount of space in the smallest package, the Honda Jazz is one of the very best. This is barely bigger than a Fiesta but packs in limousine-like legroom and SUV-like headroom, plus clever touches like flip-up seat bases and storage cubbies everywhere you care to look.
What’s even more clever is the hybrid engine, which doesn’t need plugging in but is able to run on electric power around town. Over 65mpg is possible. The Jazz is now automatic-only, too, which makes it deliriously easy to drive.
Read our Honda Jazz review or browse used Honda Jazz models for sale.
8. Vauxhall Corsa
The Vauxhall Corsa is one of the best superminis to pick if you’re a first-time driver, a retiree or someone in between. Why? Well, for one thing, it’s excellent value, often costing less than equivalent rivals. That value is also evident in the amount of equipment you get – all versions of the latest Corsa get LED headlights, cruise control, alloy wheels, air con and a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Under the bonnet, the Corsa’s 1.2-litre petrol engine matches the Fiesta’s mpg figure, while the Corsa goes one better by also offering a fully electric version. With a 222-mile range and the ability to charge to 80% in half an hour, the electric Corsa impresses whether you need zero-emission driving around town or want peaceful motorway journeys.
Read our Vauxhall Corsa review
9. Mini hatchback
The Mini sells itself on style alone, but it also boasts one of the most luxurious interiors you’ll find in a supermini and more handling verve than some sports cars. Its ‘go-kart feel’ – Mini's own words – is present whether you pick the base-spec runaround, the Cooper S hot hatch or even the fully electric versions.
With so many styles, options and colours available, you’ll rarely come across two identical Minis. There are three-door and five-door versions, depending on whether you want that iconic look or a more practical take on the recipe. The five-door car is a little longer and offers more space in the rear seats and boot.
Read our review of the 2014-2024 Mini hatchback
10. Toyota Yaris
The Toyota Yaris is a sharply styled choice with fuel-saving hybrid technology. Pick the latest Yaris in a lower-spec trim level and you could achieve nearly 70mpg with lots of in-town driving, which is highly impressive – especially as you don’t plug the Yaris in to recharge. The latest Yaris has a much better interior than previous generations, and you can choose to bypass Toyota’s sat nav system and use your phone’s apps through Android Auto and Apple CarPlay instead.
Found the supermini for you?
Super! Why not book a test-drive at your local Motorpoint store – our friendly staff will be happy to help.
If you’re not quite decided, check out our guides to the best electric hatchbacks, best hybrid hatchbacks and best small SUVs.
