Compare the best cheap small cars
High quality affordable small cars from rated and reviewed dealers
Last updated April 26, 2024 by
Tom Wiltshire
Best small affordable cars of 2024
A tight budget is no barrier to owning a decent car. These compact hatchbacks are all value-for-money champions.
Many of these cars can be specified up to higher prices, but their order here reflects how good they are in their most affordable forms.
Cheap doesn't have to mean nasty, and so all the cars here are good to drive and packed with more equipment than you'd think. They're all highly rated in their Carwow reviews, reflecting our extensive road testing.
What's good
What’s not so good
Consistently one of the least expensive new cars on sale, the Sandero is not as small and cramped as you might expect, making it even better value for money. You get what you need (air conditioning, an eight-inch touchscreen and digital radio) and little else. Sure, it's lacking in some of the creature comforts you get in more expensive cars, but it is way more comfortable and refined than the previous model. The Euro NCAP safety rating is poor though.
2025
Smart Spender Award
Highly Commended
What's good
What’s not so good
Small and stylish, the Clio cuts quite a visual dash for less than £20,000, and you get decent standard equipment too - a 8.0-inch touchscreen with built-in sat-nav, automatic high-beam headlights, automatic air conditioning, and keyless ignition. It uses the same 90hp three-cylinder turbo engine as the Dacia Sandero, but you do get classier surroundings…
What's good
What’s not so good
The dinky i10 is actually a little bit pricey for one so small (it’s a size down on the Sandero, for instance) but the smallest Hyundai makes up for that with good quality, a long five-year warranty, and the prospect of excellent reliability in the long term. You get a touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, along with lots of safety kit.
You’ll struggle to find a cheaper new electric car than the MG 4. Not only is it great value, the MG is fun to drive and looks great too. Even the basic SE spec comes with autonomous emergency braking, a 10.3-inch colour touchscreen, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In fact, we’re such big fans of the MG 4 that we named it our 2023 Car of the Year.
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What's good
What’s not so good
Regularly competing with the Sandero for cheapest new car on the market, the Picanto is a tempting option. It’s no hair-shirt, though - OK, so you won’t get a touchscreen nor alloy wheels on the basic entry model, but you do get a zippy 1.0-litre engine, Bluetooth connection, and front electric windows. And, of course, Kia’s brilliant seven-year warranty.
What's good
What’s not so good
If you'd like your small car to have more of an SUV flavour then the VW T-Cross is a great option. It's one of our favourite small SUVs, and is great value too - the well-priced 'Match' trim has LED headlights, a reversing camera, and keyless entry. The 1.0-litre petrol engines are all peppy and efficient, and there's loads of space inside.
What's good
What’s not so good
The Corsa’s always been a big seller, and the current model is a firm favourite with buyers. It shares a chassis and engines with the Peugeot 208, so it’s quite sophisticated to drive. Entry level models get a 7.0-inch touchscreen, 16-inch alloy wheels, climate control, automatic emergency braking and speed-sign recognition, so it’s a bit of a bargain too. Spend more and you can get an electric version.
What's good
What’s not so good
Skoda’s always been strong on value, and while the new Fabia isn’t much cheaper than rivals, it is a bigger car than most others here, with a massive 380-litre boot and a cabin design that’s far nicer and classier than most. Standard equipment includes 15-inch alloys, a 6.5-inch touchscreen, and LED headlights.
What's good
What’s not so good
Want a little rugged SUV aesthetic from your small city car? The Toyota Aygo X might just be the perfect car for you. It gets chunky body cladding and the alloy wheels go up to 18 inches, a great combination with its sharp styling. We'd recommend the slick manual gearbox over the noisy automatic, and there are some scratchy plastics in the cabin, but overall this is a fun, affordable city car.
What's good
What’s not so good
For a similar price to the Fabia, the cheapest Ibiza gets you an 80hp 1.0-litre engine (5hp more than the equivalent Ford!) while the SE trim gets you an 8.3-inch touchscreen and 15-inch alloy wheels. It’s basically a Volkswagen Polo with a £1,000 discount, making it even more of a value prospect.
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