Best small cars of 2025: our favourite small cars for inner city driving
The best small cars combine their miniature dimensions with surprising space, low running costs and an engaging drive – all while being perfect for navigating tight city streets without falling apart at the first sign of a motorway.
While you might expect small cars to be impractical, the best models tend to prioritise cabin space or boot capacity, usually at the expense of the other. That means whether you regularly carry your mates or take a lot of trips to IKEA, there’s something for you.
Small cars can pair well with electric power – the Renault 5 is an excellent example – to offer ultra-low running costs, though if you don’t have a home charger there are plenty of fuel-sipping petrol and hybrid options to choose from, such as the Renault Clio and Toyota Yaris Cross.
Carwow’s expert reviews team has driven every small car on sale today to help refine your choice. This selection of the best small cars offers a mix of practicality, badge appeal and comfort, with something for every budget.
2025
Smart Spender Award
Highly Commended
1. Renault Clio
9/10
Best for: chic style for cheap
The Renault Clio is a fantastic small car, because while it’s firmly in the affordable car camp, you’d never know it just from the looks.
Up front, those slim headlights and funky daytime running lights mean it can turn heads outside the school gates, making alternatives like the Vauxhall Corsa look like they’ve turned up in their dad’s clothes. Sure, the tweaks at the back aren’t exactly groundbreaking, but the Clio still carries itself with enough chic to rival the Peugeot 208 – at a far more wallet-friendly price.
Inside there’s a posh vibe going on, with soft-touch materials and swanky climate controls, although the cheaper plastics lurking lower down remind you you’re still firmly in value territory. Tech-wise, you’ll either love the top-spec model’s 9.3-inch infotainment screen or tolerate the slightly slow and simple 7.0-inch alternative – luckily, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come to the rescue.
Space up front is good, but passengers taller than six feet will feel cramped in the back, making longer trips a bit cosy. The massive 391-litre boot (in petrol form at least) more than compensates, making it ideal if you haul around sports equipment or just need somewhere to put the big shop.
Under the bonnet, you’ve got a simple choice: an efficient but leisurely petrol or a pricier hybrid. The hybrid’s punchier and brilliantly smooth around town and returns better fuel economy, but the petrol engine is cheaper to buy so might work out more cost-effective in the long run.
The Clio’s a tad less refined than the VW Polo at high speeds and can become unsettled over bumps, but it’s nothing deal-breaking, and it’s excellent around town, even if rear visibility is a bit disappointing.
Bottom line: if you want stylish looks, generous practicality, and great value wrapped up in a compact package, the Clio’s hard to beat.
What’s good
- High quality interior
- Massive boot
- Stylish design
What’s not so good
- Tight rear seats
- High boot lip
- Not as comfy as alternatives
2025
Smart Spender Award
Highly Commended
2. Citroen e-C3
EV Grant options
9/10
Battery range up to 201 miles
Best for: going electric on a budget
The Citroen e-C3 is arguably the beginning of a bargain electric car revolution, because it’s the cheapest proper electric car out there.
The e-C3 has ditched its old hatchback shape for a chunkier SUV-lite style. Inside, it cleverly masks its bargain price – fabric on the dash and neat materials lift it above typical budget fare, although cheaper plastics do lurk if you go hunting.
Tech is decent, including the responsive 10.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though annoyingly, there’s no traditional volume knob. Thankfully, climate controls remain button-based.
Space is solid up front, and headroom is excellent due to the extra height of the SUV shape. Rear space isn’t bad either, though legroom could be tight for tall passengers. Boot space is a handy 310 litres, beating some alternatives like the Vauxhall Corsa Electric, but the high loading lip makes lifting heavy gear in a bit awkward.
Driving the e-C3 is all about comfiness rather than sportiness. Citroen’s ‘Advanced Comfort’ suspension happily munches potholes and bumps, ideal for Britain’s cratered roads. Around town, it’s smooth and easy-going, thanks to good visibility and a tight turning circle.
Motorway driving is manageable, although the top speed of 84mph won’t set hearts racing. It’s stable enough at regular cruising speeds, but high-speed refinement trails more expensive alternatives.
That said, motorway jaunts probably shouldn’t be a regular occurrence – officially, the range is 199 miles, but realistically expect around 150-160 miles, so you’ll be charging often. Fortunately, the small battery means topping up doesn’t take forever – you’ll see 0-80% in under 30 mins at rapid chargers.
So, desirable or just cheap and cheerful? Honestly, the Citroen e-C3 is both. It’s far from thrilling, but as affordable electric motoring goes, it delivers comfort, practicality, and exceptional value. If your wallet matters more than thrills on a twisty road, the e-C3 should be top of your shopping list.
What’s good
- Perky performance
- Rather comfortable
- One of the cheapest EVs you can buy
What’s not so good
- Sub-200 mile range
- Awkward boot shape
- No heat pump will hit efficiency in winter
2025
Urban Living Award
3. Toyota Yaris Cross
9/10
Best for: hybrid fuel economy
The Toyota Yaris Cross takes the compact, fuel-efficient formula of the regular Yaris and beefs it up into a stylish small SUV. It’s taller, chunkier, and looks the part with rugged plastic cladding and sleek LED lighting – imagine a sensible hatchback hitting the gym.
Step inside, however, and things are less inspiring. The interior, though solidly built with soft-touch plastics, lacks excitement compared to alternatives like the Peugeot 2008 or VW T-Cross. It’s functional and straightforward, just missing a bit of flair. On the plus side, the standard touchscreen infotainment (9.0-inch entry-level, 10.5-inch higher trims) is clear, responsive, and includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Space upfront is generous, with supportive seats offering plenty of adjustability. Rear space is tighter – two adults fit comfortably, but taller passengers might have to put up with their hair brushing against the roof. Meanwhile, families could find fitting child seats tricky due to narrow rear doors.
The boot offers a respectable 397 litres of space, with clever touches like an adjustable floor and handy storage hooks, though it trails the class-leading Renault Captur.
Driving around town, the Yaris Cross is excellent – light steering, great visibility, and the hybrid engine’s instant electric punch makes nipping about effortless. The hybrid powertrain (116hp as standard or 130hp in GR Sport trim) is efficient, easily achieving around 60mpg. It’s quiet at motorway speeds too, though overtaking demands patience, especially with the lower-powered engine.
Firm suspension means the Yaris Cross corners neatly with little body roll, though the trade-off is a slightly jittery ride over potholes. It’s confident, if not thrilling, through bends – if fun is a priority, consider the Ford Puma instead.
Overall, if practicality, efficiency, and reliability top your list, the Yaris Cross is a smart choice – even if it’s not the most exciting option in this list. Oh, and Toyota’s reliability record is reassuringly fantastic, backed by a warranty extendable to 10 years with regular servicing.
Best 7-seaters of 2025 in the UK
The best seven-seater cars aren’t the barren MPVs or agricultural, unrefined, van-based items that they used to be; most of the options on sale these days are actually rather posh SUVs, such as the Carwow Award-winning Hyundai Santa Fe.
Not all manufacturers have defaulted to SUV-based seven-seaters. Volkswagen is a firm believer in function over form, which is why it offers the van-shaped, boxy Multivan. The ID Buzz is one of the most stylish seven-seaters on sale, and though it’s van-based, it’s achingly cool – and one of the few electric-powered options available.
They’re getting more popular, though, as brands are finding clever ways to package electric batteries and maximise cabin space in their cars; the Kia EV9 is a prime example of an excellent EV seven-seater.
Though it’s far from cheap, and while a lot seven-seaters are big, expensive cars, the Dacia Jogger and Skoda Kodiaq show that you don’t have to take out a mortgage to be able to afford a seven-seater car that’s good to drive and easy to live with.
While a lot of options have a pair of fairly tight rear seats for occasional use, some really do prioritise comfort in the third row; road trips with six passengers are an enticing proposition in an SUV such as the BMW X7 or Hyundai Ioniq 9, which can comfortably fill each seat with a tall adult.
Our expert reviews team has extensively tested every seven-seater car on sale, with as much consideration for seats six and seven as for the driver’s seat. We’ve used our experience to put together this list of the ten best examples on sale, but if you don’t need the extra row then have a look at the best SUVs on sale, or the best estate cars for sale instead.
2025
Car of the Year Award
1. Hyundai Santa Fe
10/10
Key features: All versions of the Hyundai Santa Fe come with seven seats as standard, so you don’t need to pay extra as in some cars. Practicality is excellent, with more interior storage than you’ll know what to do with, and even with all seven seats in place the boot is big enough for a modest weekly shop. You have a choice of self-charging or plug-in hybrid engines.
Who is it for?: It’s for people who want a really big, really practical car with head-turning styling and impressively fuel-efficient hybrid engines.
Why is it number 1?: The Hyundai Santa Fe is so good it was named Carwow Car of the Year 2025. It does everything you need a family car to do and looks good doing it.
What’s good
- Vast, spacious interior
- Looks ace
- Surprisingly economical
What’s not so good
- Alternatives have bigger boots
- No diesel or full-electric versions
- Not very exciting to drive
2. Land Rover Defender
9/10
Land Rover Defender 110 review
Key features: You get seven seats – or eight, if you go for the Defender 130 – and a hard-wearing yet upmarket interior. There’s plenty of space for people and things, and when the going gets tough, the complex four-wheel drive system will make sure you don’t get stuck.
Who is it for?: It’s for families who want a rugged SUV that’s posh enough to fit in down the golf club while keeping the countryside aesthetic. It’s also for people who want to head off the beaten track… and keep going.
Why is it number 2?: The only thing keeping the Defender off the top spot is the fact it’s more expensive than the Santa Fe, and most people probably don’t really need that much off-road ability. Even so, it’s a comfortable family car with a really posh image.
What’s good
- Practical interior with seven seats
- Wide range of excellent engines
- Comfortable on-road and capable off it
What’s not so good
- High running costs
- Tight third row
- Question marks over reliability
2025
Family Values Award
Highly Commended
3. Peugeot 5008
9/10
Key features: The Peugeot 5008 is a seven-seater, and the third row is roomy enough for adults (though they might complain on longer trips). Fold the third row and the boot space is bigger than both the Hyundai Santa Fe and Skoda Kodiaq. The interior feels posher than the price tag suggests, and the big bank of screens look great too.
Who is it for?: It’s for people who want a seven-seater with a posh image without having to pay posh car prices.
Why is it number 3?: When you see how nice the cabin is, how big and practical the interior is and how good the 5008 is to drive, it’s hard to believe it doesn’t cost more.
