If the adage translates into the automotive world, then the best cars must be small.
Yet wander along any major city’s streets and you would be forgiven for assuming most drivers felt they needed a gargantuan SUV to battle rush-hour traffic and arrive home relatively unscathed.
It’s nonsense, really, especially given that most car journeys are within urban environments and carried out with only the driver on board.
We've also lost some big hitters over the past few years, including the Ford Fiesta, the Toyota Aygo and Kia Rio. But there is some good news: many of the best small cars are among the best cars full stop.
The 10 listed below are our favourite compact conveyances, all bristling with clever features, clipped running costs and bags of cheeky character.
According to our experienced team of road testers, the best small car on sale today is the Renault 5 - but we think the Best Small Car of 2025 is the Fiat Grande Panda. Read on to see why...
Best for: Style
The Fiat Grande Panda is our pick for 2025's Best Small Car, and it's easy to see why.
The distinctive small crossover boasts a unique, retro-infused design to stand out from the crowd, including its platform-mates, the Citroën ë-C3 and the Vauxhall Frontera.
We've tested the model in both hybrid and all-electric form and we like both. The latter is powered by a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine aided by a 29bhp electric motor, while the former gets 111bhp and 90lb ft from a single, front-mounted electric motor.
As for range, the official claimed figure for the electric version is 199 miles. Either way you go, all versions of the Grande Panda should offer a frugal and characterful package.
Read our Fiat Grande Panda review
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