The best small cars in 2021

Stereotypes are funny things. They appear out of nowhere, often for no reason, and getting rid of them takes time and considerable effort. For example, most recently, the automatic transmission and compact dimensions were associated with a female car by most. Today, women and men, young people and the middle / older generation can be seen driving a small urban hatchback. The trend towards miniaturization has its own background: it is easier to maneuver in a small car, moreover, it is by definition more economical, which in the era of continuous motorization is considered one of the most important factors. Today we will get acquainted with the latest rating of the smallest cars, including those available on the Russian market. Among them there are both expensive and budget options, so there is plenty to choose from.

Kia picanto

Our top 10 small cars are headed by a small car, which, taking into account annual sales volumes, can rightfully be called the most popular in our country. A South Korean subcompact hatchback costing from 800 thousand rubles first appeared in domestic car dealerships in 2017, and although the overall trend in demand for A-class cars in recent years has shown a decline, it clearly did not affect the Kia Picanto.

The car is available with an automatic or manual transmission. In the first case, he is entitled to a 1.2-liter engine with an average consumption of 5.4 l / 100 km, in the second - a liter power unit, which is even more economical, consuming 4.4 liters of gasoline in a mixed mode (the car is tolerant to the 92nd ).

But the title of "car of the year" in its class goes to him for the fourth year in a row, not only for low consumption. Picanto is a very maneuverable, nimble hatchback, with a suspension adapted to domestic conditions (in comparison with the base model, the ground clearance is increased to 16.1 cm). Yes, the trunk is too small - 255 liters, but what did you want from a subcompact car?

As for the equipment, already in the basic configuration of the hatchback there is a "warm package" with heated front seats, steering wheel, outside mirrors and nozzles. Rear parking sensors are also available, while parking and maneuvering will be facilitated by a rear view camera. Note that a compact car is not necessarily cramped; the Kia Picanto has a fairly spacious interior.

Smart fortwo

Wherever this car appears, it is always eye-catching. And not only because of the small, one might even say, miniature sizes, but also because of the unusual shape. Currently, the third generation of this record-breaking small German runabout with a length of only 2.7 meters is available in car dealerships. It is worth noting another record set by this model: the turning radius of the Smart Fortwo is 695 cm, the closest pursuer, the Toyota iQ, is almost a meter larger (779 cm).

Yes, a tall and large man in a car will be uncomfortable, but for girls and guys of average build, the hatchback will be an excellent acquisition. With such a modest size, you can forget about parking problems forever.

But on city roads the car behaves quite confidently: a modest liter engine produces 102 horsepower! On many domestic models, 1.5-liter engines have less power. However, for such power you have to pay for the "adult" fuel consumption of the hatchback - about 7 liters / 100 km in mixed mode.

With a car weighing only 800 kg, such a serious dynamics may even frighten at first, but you get used to everything good quickly ... In addition, the machine has a manual mode that allows you to experiment a lot with both speed and consumption.

Fiat 500

The top 3 of the best small cars is closed by the Italian three-door, which is very popular in Europe, especially among young people. The last generation of the small car, despite the huge number of innovations that affected the interior / exterior of the car, did not touch on the general retro style, thanks to which the model became a cult in the Old World.

One of the striking features of the "Cinquecento" (this is the name of the car in Italian) is the possibility of individualization, ranging from the choice of two basic colors of the hatchback and even the color of the rims to the colors of the interior components.

Under the hood of the car is a 1.4-liter 100-horsepower engine, the power of which is enough to accelerate on a robotic box to 100 km / h in 10.8 seconds. On modifications of a car with a manual transmission, this result can even be improved by two tenths of a second.

Stylish appearance does not mean that the car is poorly equipped: already in the basic version there are 7 airbags, and the number of electronic assistants of the model will satisfy the most demanding motorist.

Suzuki jimny

For fans of cars with off-road characteristics, there is also a small car. Moreover, we are not talking about a SUV, but a real SUV, with a frame structure and all-wheel drive. It is clear that such a car will cost much more than the same hatchback, but it really is worth it, especially in Russia with its roads and their absence ...

A jeep with a modest size is equipped with a corresponding 1.5 liter engine and 102 horsepower. For such a car, it will not suffice in all situations. As for fuel consumption, it is perhaps too big for the compact class - 6.8 l / 100 km in the combined cycle, but for an SUV this is just an excellent indicator (in the version with an automatic transmission, the model "eats" 7.5 liters of gasoline).

Its off-road ground clearance is 21 cm, which is quite enough to overcome any city curbs and medium off-road terrain. Those who like to compare Suzuki Jimny with "Niva" will be wrong: in almost all respects, the Japanese SUV is superior to the domestic car, with the exception of the price.

Chevrolet spark

The third-generation subcompact hatchback, available in domestic car dealerships since 2020, comes from Uzbekistan, although many mistakenly consider the model to be Russian. However, this is not the point - the car deserves the right to be presented in our rating of the best small cars, and not only because of the affordable cost (from 700 thousand rubles).

The car, despite belonging to the A-class, has a fairly spacious interior, and the miniature 170-liter trunk can be increased to a decent 990 liters by folding the rear seats.

True, the power unit of the city hatchback is not the most responsive - 85 horsepower with a volume of 1.3 liters, and its consumption is not for children - 7.2 liters of gasoline in mixed mode. In this case, only a four-band automatic transmission is used as a transmission.

The basic equipment of the model is already quite good: two airbags, air conditioning, front power windows, an audio system with 2 speakers. In the maximum hatchback configuration, add to this list side airbags, full power accessories, heated front seats, multifunction steering wheel, rear parking sensors, and you get a completely modern and comfortable car.

Mini cooper

Another car with retro styling has Bavarian roots - the Mini brand was acquired by BMW in 1994, fueled by the unprecedented success of the Austin Mini, Europe's best-selling compact car, produced since 1960.

Unusual, bright, memorable, Mini Cooper will hardly leave you indifferent. The two-tone design and lack of aggression in appearance will definitely appeal to the fair sex, but many men would not mind driving such a stylish hatchback with good characteristics.

The interior is no less original than the exterior, for which there are unusual-looking seats and a huge round speedometer on the dashboard.

Yes, the rear is cramped, and the 160-liter trunk can only be used for shopping, but the car has excellent handling and a fairly powerful and economical 1.5-liter turbo engine with 136 liters. with., capable of accelerating to hundreds in a little over 7 seconds and allowing you to move along the highway at speeds up to 205 km / h - this is the fastest compact car in our review.

A three-door Mini Cooper from official dealers costs from 1.8 million rubles, but there are also more expensive modifications (five-door, Clubman, Countryman).

Hyundai i10

Sales of the third-generation Korean city car in Europe started in 2020, and it has not yet reached Russia. But one of the best small cars in the global automotive industry deserves attention from young people and women for its good-looking and modern appearance, spacious interior and good driving characteristics.

Note the trunk capacity of the model: 250 liters is actually a record figure for A-class cars in a hatchback body, and if the rear seats are folded down, the volume available for luggage will almost triple.

The basic version is equipped with a liter 67-horsepower engine, but in the line of power units there are also more powerful counterparts - a 1.2-liter 84-horsepower and a turbocharged liter developing 100 "horses".

Equipping the car with the Bluelink telematics system deserves attention, however, the use of modern digital technologies is not limited to this - already in the basic configuration there are many assistants - braking, keeping the car on the lane, monitoring the driver's condition, tempomat (cruise control). Add to this 4 airbags, air conditioning / climate control, wireless induction charging for mobile gadgets and much more, and you have an idea of ​​what a modern car is, even if it is a small class.

Chevrolet Bolt EV

Avid moviegoers are sure that American cars are all too often gigantic. There is indeed a tendency towards gigantomania there, but modern trends are taking their toll - the more cars there are in cities, the more difficult it is to park and even just drive cars with large dimensions. So many of the manufacturers here have A-class models, and the Chevrolet brand has several. This city car is the only one on our list with electric traction, and this makes it more desirable for adherents of the "green" wave.

Even from the outside, the hatchback looks unusual, resembling a minivan, and this is in a compact size. The cabin is not cramped, and the trunk volume will suit the majority (480 liters). A full charge of a 60 kW battery is enough to cover a distance of 250-320 km, and it takes 9 hours to charge it from a household network. At stationary stations, you can "fill" the batteries by 50% in just half an hour.

The electric car is well equipped: already in the base it has 10 airbags, climate control, full power accessories and many electronic assistants. The car has not yet been delivered to Russia.

Nissan micra

The fifth generation of the Japanese compact car, produced in the UK, looks quite different from the representatives of the previous generations, while remaining stylish and attractive to the female audience.

There are certain questions about the quality of the car. In the basic trim levels of the hatchback, finishing materials look cheap, the metal of the car is thin, the trunk is very small, as is the clearance. But all this is compensated for by excellent maneuverability, efficiency of gasoline engines, and a fairly durable suspension. Original spare parts are expensive, but many of them come from Renault Clio, which partially reduces the cost of repair and maintenance of the car.

Citroen c3

The French subcompact hatchback, which has not only excellent maneuverability, but also excellent speed characteristics, closes the top ten of the best small cars. Separately, I would like to note the appearance of the car. The French have always paid increased attention to this, but in this model they have outdone themselves: the number of stylistic delights per unit area of ​​the car is a record. In a word, if you want to "stand out", then there is no better car than Citroen C3.

There are many unusual solutions in the cabin, and under the hood of the hatchback there are two gasoline engines (1.0 / 68 and 1.2 / 82) and a 100-horsepower 1.6-liter diesel engine, so you will have the opportunity to choose between efficiency and dynamics. ...

As for the equipment, it is not poor and does not shine with delights, and in general corresponds to modern ideas about comfort and safety.

Many of the models presented in our rating have not yet reached the Russian market, some may never appear. The coronavirus pandemic has certainly played a negative role in the stagnation of the automotive market, but it is hoped that these temporary difficulties will be overcome, and the domestic compact car market will come out of the state of lethargic sleep in which it has been in recent years.