Compare the best reliable small cars
High quality reliable small cars from rated and reviewed dealers
Last updated June 25, 2024 by
Tom Wiltshire
Compare the most reliable small cars
Not much can ruin your day like a broken-down vehicle - and nothing's more frustrating than having a car that's so unreliable you don't trust it to get you anywhere.
With a classic car, breakdowns might be part of life - but chances are that in your daily driver, you want dependability. Nobody wants to be 'that person' who shows up late to everything because the car's broken down again.
Owning a small car doesn't mean that you have to sacrifice reliability, either - in fact, some of the cars on this list are among the most reliable on sale overall. Our expert road test team has come up with the best small cars that are reliable, based on criteria like MOT pass rates, overall industry protection and reliability surveys. We've also chosen ones that you won't hate to own - who wants a reliable car if you never want to drive it?
What's good
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Most small cars tend to rely on conventional petrol engines to reduce costs, very few offer a more complex self-charging hybrid setup like the Toyota Yaris does. But don't panic that the extra complexity means poor reliability - Toyota has engineered its hybrid system so thoroughly that they're almost legendarily long-lived. Just take a look at the mileage of your next minicab - if you're in a big city, chances are it's a Toyota Hybrid and it's ticking close to 500,000 miles.
If the worst does happen, Toyota's warranty is automatically extended by a year each time you service - to a maximum of ten years or 100,000 miles, making it the longest warranty in the business.
If the worst does happen, Toyota's warranty is automatically extended by a year each time you service - to a maximum of ten years or 100,000 miles, making it the longest warranty in the business.
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Two decades ago you'd only recommend a Kia to bargain-hunters who didn't really care what they drove. How the times change. The Picanto is Kia's smallest car but it's still a quality product - it's really fun to drive, feels very solid and is backed up with an impressive seven-year/100,000 mile warranty.
The Picanto's mechanicals aren't just simple and hardwearing, they're long-lived. This Picanto uses many of the same components as the older models, meaning there's a huge stock of spare parts and expertise so if it does break down, you won't have any trouble getting it fixed.
The Picanto's mechanicals aren't just simple and hardwearing, they're long-lived. This Picanto uses many of the same components as the older models, meaning there's a huge stock of spare parts and expertise so if it does break down, you won't have any trouble getting it fixed.
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The Honda Jazz is the small car that thinks it’s a big one. You’ll fit four burly adults inside without a problem, and the smooth and efficient self-charging hybrid petrol engine will manage 63mpg in combined driving. Honda regularly scores highly in reliability surveys, and the Jazz has acquired a reputation for being one of the most dependable cars the brand makes, something reinforced by its excellent MoT pass rates.
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The original Mazda MX-5 revitalised open-roofed motoring thanks to its combination of back-to-basics driving fun and reliability levels that let you enjoy it every day. The latest model continues to offer the same attributes and while the standard three-year/60,000-mile warranty is pretty standard, the MX-5 is regularly rated as the most reliable roadster on sale. For the full-on roadster experience, make sure to get yours with a manual transmission.
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What's good
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The Suzuki Swift is spacious, offers low running costs and is fun to drive, with just 83hp on offer, though, the one thing it isn’t is swift. The latest model is an improvement from the old one in terms of interior plushness, but mechanically they're very similar so there should be no new issues introduced.
It’s efficient too, with a combined average of 60mpg. All models come with as standard is a three-year/60,000-mile warranty which is extendable to seven years and 100,000 miles with regular servicing. Swifts regularly rank very highly in reliability surveys, too.
It’s efficient too, with a combined average of 60mpg. All models come with as standard is a three-year/60,000-mile warranty which is extendable to seven years and 100,000 miles with regular servicing. Swifts regularly rank very highly in reliability surveys, too.
What's good
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Toyota has spent decades building a reputation for being one of the most reliable manufacturers around and now offers an innovative warranty which adds a 12-month/10,000-mile extension to the standard three-year warranty after every service up to a total of 10-years/100,000-miles. The great little Toyota Aygo X city car also benefits from this offer so you can cruise around town for up to 10-years knowing that you’re covered should anything go wrong.
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It's hard to go wrong with a Mazda 2. Despite it being one of the oldest designs of small car on sale, it still feels fresh especially on the road where it corners keenly and rides bumps well. That age is good for reliability too, as it's had long enough for most of the sticking points to be ironed out. What you're left with is a small car which, while it doesn't have the flashy tech or modern look of other hatchbacks, won't let you down.
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Okay, this is pushing what we'd call a 'small' car to its limits - but the Corolla is so reliable that we can't not include it. It features the same 10-year/100,000 mile 'Relax' warranty as other Toyota models (above) but unlike the Yaris uses the even-more reliable 1.8-litre hybrid system. This is the one regularly pushed past half a million miles in taxis. The Corolla's additional space is nice to have, too, and a larger car might be more suitable to your needs.
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Skoda uses the same parts and engines as Volkswagen, yet as a brand almost always performs higher in reliability surveys. Why? Well, perhaps Skoda owners pay less and so don't complain as much - but more likely it's because the brand's dealer network is extensive and extremely highly-rated. The Fabia is a pretty reliable small car - it's so simple that there's not a lot to go wrong - but if you do have a problem you can be assured of great service when you take it to be fixed.
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The Hyundai i20 is superb around town, has a great infotainment system and comes with a perky 100hp petrol engine which also helps keep running costs low. Its five-year/unlimited-mileage warranty is one of the more generous around and is great for those who cover a lot of miles but don’t want to spend extra on extended warranties.
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