The 10 Smallest Cars on the Market in 2020

These little cars make driving (and parking) easier

Motorists looking for a vehicle that is easy to drive – especially in tight city environments or along winding country roads – may know that compact cars are among the more nimble options. As cars continue to be built larger (and drive larger), it can be difficult to find a vehicle with clean handling and a narrow turning radius. Sometimes the small car is the easiest to drive.

Although able to sacrifice space for passengers or cargo, sub compact vehicles are easier to steer and maneuver, easier to park, and generally more fuel-efficient than taller, wider, and heavier vehicles. . While some small cars are criticized for being dangerous or too cramped, that is not usually the case these days.

Some of the smaller cars on this list, like the 2020 Chevrolet Sonic and the 2021 Mini Clubman, still offer serious cargo capacity options. Other vehicles, such as the 2020 Nissan Versa and 2021 Mini Cooper, come with standard and optional advanced safety features to help alleviate concerns about the safety of the driving experience.

Please note that the scores shown here may not match the scores from our car reviews. This is because we are constantly updating our reviews as new data becomes available.

Read on to see the shortest mini cars of 2020.

The 10 Smallest New Cars on the Market in 2020

• 2020 Nissan Versa: Length: 177 inches | $14,730 | USN Overall Score: 7.7/10
• 2020 Hyundai Accent: Length: 172.6 inches | $15,295 | USN Overall Score: 7.7/10
• 2020 Kia Rio: Length: 172.6 inches | $15,850 | USN Overall Score: 8.1/10
• 2020 Toyota Yaris: Length: 171.2 inches | $15,650 | USN Overall Score: 7.8/10
• 2021 Mini Cooper Clubman: Length: 168.3 inches | $29,900 | USN Overall Score: TBD
• 2020 Honda Fit: Length: 161.4 inches | $16,190 | USN Overall Score: 8.8/10
• 2020 Chevrolet Sonic: Length: 159.8 inches | $16,720 | USN Overall Score: 8/10
• 2020 Mini Cooper: Length: 151.1 inches | $22,400 | USN Overall Score: 7.7/10
• 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage: Length: 149.4 inches | $13,995 | USN Overall Score: 4.9/10
• 2021 Chevrolet Spark: Length: 143.1 inches | $13,400 | USN Overall Score: TBD

2020 Nissan Versa

Height: 177 inches | $ 14,730 | USN Global Score: 7.7 / 10

Measuring 177 inches from tip to tail, the 2020 Nissan Versa is a compact car that offers a nice interior at a low price. Completely redesigned for the 2020 model year, this five-seater can store 14.7 cubic feet of luggage in the trunk of its base model and 15 cubic feet in the SV and SR versions. These are respectable numbers for the small car category. A wide loading hatch and a deep luggage compartment make it easy to store bulky items.

Most versions come with 60/40 split folding rear seats, which makes the Versa particularly versatile and practical. Nissan is also one of the most economical small cars, given its relatively low starting point.

When it comes to safety, the 2020 Versa has the highest rating well from the Insurance Institute for Road Safety (IIHS) in both crash tests. Versa has an overall safety rating of five out of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). These are premium brands, and Versa backs them with a range of driver assistance tools including pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking and automatic high beams, a rear view camera and lane departure warning – all standard.

2020 Hyundai Accent

Height: 172.6 inches | $ 15,295 | USN Global Score: 7.7 / 10

Although the 2020 Hyundai Accent is only 172.6 inches long, it still provides passengers with comfortable seats in a nice little car cab.

Accent’s five seats are spacious – even the back row can comfortably accommodate two adults. In the luggage compartment, you’ll find 13.7 cubic feet of cargo space, which is enough for a few luggage. While the trunk space may have been sacrificed a bit for more seating, the added comfort is worth it for some. Accent saw some minor powertrain improvements in 2020, along with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) automatic transmission (CVT) replacing the six-speed automatic.

In terms of safety, Accent comes standard with a rear view camera, but you’ll have to pay extra for a front collision warning and automatic emergency braking.

Kia Rio 2020

Height: 172.6 inches | $ 15,850 | USN Global Score: 8.1 / 10

One of the leaders in its class, the 2020 Kia Rio is a sports star among compact compact cars – at just 172.6 inches long. The Rio’s sporty handling contributes to its clear, cloudy driving style, and the Rio features an attractive, well-built cabin – rare in small cars – with plenty of front seat space. The 2020 Rio is powered by a four-cylinder engine mated to an automatic transmission.

In the trunk of a car, the Rio packs 13.7 cubic feet of equipment, which is roughly enough space for 10 bags of groceries. There’s more space if you opt for the hatchback version, which offers 17.4 cubic feet of space behind the rear row, with up to 32.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The Rio also comes with 60/40 split folding rear seats as standard, which provides a convenient way to rearrange your interior space to suit your needs.

The Rio is also safe for a small car. The IIHS rated Rio “good” on five of six crash tests – the organization’s highest rating. When properly equipped, the Rio achieved the highest rating in front-of-collision prevention testing. The Rio comes with a rearview camera as standard, but only forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking are available as safety options.

Toyota Yaris 2020

Height: 171.2 inches | $ 15,650 | Global USN score: 7.8 / 10

The 2020 Toyota Yaris has a length of 171.2 inches and offers dynamic handling, making it fast to drive and easy to maneuver. The quick steering and a tight suspension also contribute to the Yaris’ agility. Great fuel economy, expected good reliability, a stylish interior and a lot of features are also major aspects of the 2020 Yaris. The Yaris was a finalist for the Best Subcar for the Money 2020 award.

Safety-wise, forward collision warning and reversing camera are standard. The NHTSA awarded the Yaris five out of five public safety stars, and the IIHS gave it the highest good marks in five of six crash tests.

A hatchback body model is available for the Yaris and is new for 2020. The standard sedan format provides 13.5 cubic feet of luggage space in the trunk, while the hatchback model offers 15.8 feet. Cubes. There is also a back hatch, making it easy to store bulky or ill-fitting packages.

Mini Cooper Clubman 2021

Height: 168.3 inches | $ 29,900 | USN Global Score: To be determined

The spacious and premium interior is one of the main attractions of the 2021 MINI Clubman. The interior is coupled with the creative agile acceleration and sporty and dynamic handling of the Mini MINI. As well as being fun to drive, it’s also easy to park your car once you’ve finished cutting the corners – the Clubman is just 168.3 inches long.

In 2020, the Clubman got a renewed exterior design to match its premium interior. Forward collision warning is now standard as well, adding an extra layer of protection against potential accidents. The Clubman also comes standard with rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, and automatic emergency braking. You can add front parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, head-up display, and parallel park assist, making it easier to hang in tight spots.

Clubman offers one of the largest luggage bins in the small car segment, with 17.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats. Fold the rear seats down and the Clubman can handle 47.9 cubic feet of cargo. Loading and unloading is compact, thanks to the Clubman’s unconventional side swing tailgate doors.

Honda Fit 2020

Height: 161.4 inches | 16190 Dollar | USN Global Score: 8.8 / 10

The 2020 Honda Fit, our top-rated secondary car, is 161.4 inches long – unless you opt for the 161.8-inch sporty model. Fit’s elegant cabin is spacious, and Honda’s Configurable Magic Back Seat provides useful and versatile cargo space with plenty of room for transport.

In the trunk, the Fit provides 16.6 cubic feet of cargo space, which is more than many small sedans, but less than other competing sedans. With the Magic Seat folded down, the Fit can carry 52.7 cubic feet of gear in the trunk of a car.

Although Fit acceleration is lackluster, it offers excellent fuel economy. You earn between 29 and 33 mpg city and between 36 and 40 mpg highway, depending on which type you choose. Although its only standard safety feature is a rearview camera, you can add automatic high beams and the Honda Sensing package, which includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Mitigation, and Lane Departure Warning. , Lane keeping assist, forward collision warning and collision mitigation. Braking system.

Chevrolet Sonic 2020

Height: 159.8 inches | $ 16,720 | USN overall rating: 8/10

At 159.8 inches long for a sedan and 173.9 inches long for a sedan, the 2020 Chevrolet Sonic is a powerful and sporty compact car. Sonic’s steering gear grip helps tackle any cornering or unexpected roads. The cabin is large in size, with two rows of wide seats that can comfortably accommodate adults.

There’s also plenty of room for charging. If you go with the sedan model, you’ll find 14.9 cubic feet of trunk space, which is perfect for a sedan. If you’re the hatchback type, there’s 19 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats – sufficient for multiple luggage – and 47.7 cubic feet with the rear row folded down.

On the safety front, Sonic has a five out of five stars over the NHTSA and comes standard with a rearview camera. Drivers can choose to add additional safety features including forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and rear parking sensors.

Mini Cooper 2021

Height: 151.1 inches | 22,400 dollars | USN Global Score: 7.7 / 10

At 151.1-inch long two-door hardtop model, the 2021 Mini Cooper features agile handling, racy engine options, a stylish interior, and predictable good reliability. The Cooper S is 151.9 inches long and the John Cooper Works body length 152.5 inches for the two-door hardtop models. Both hardtop convertible models come in two or four doors, so you have customizable options.

The Mini Cooper can accommodate four or five people, depending on the configuration (the four-door sedan can seat five). In 2020, a forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking were added as standard, which helped make driving this vehicle a breeze.

When it comes to cargo space, the Mini Cooper Convertible has a small boot of 5.7 cubic feet, which can extend up to 7.6 cubic feet by folding the rear seats. The two-door hatchback provides 8.7 cubic feet of boot space, with up to 34 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The four-door hardtop model offers over 13.1 to 40.7 cubic feet. Sadly, it’s still much lower than most of the competitors.

The Mini Cooper has four out of five stars for the NHTSA overall safety rating, but it comes with more advanced safety features than many competitors, including a rear view camera, forward collision warning, automatic emergency brakes and rear parking sensors. You can also choose to add front parking sensors, adaptive cruise control and parallel parking assist as advanced safety features available.

2020 Mitsubishi Mirage

Length: 149.4 inches | USD $ 13,995 | USN World Ranking: 4.9 / 10

At 149.4 inches long, few cars are much smaller than the 2020 Mitsubishi Mirage – especially at this low price. The Mirage is clearly a good deal for a compact car, but it’s also far from the best option in its class.

On the plus side, the Mirage gets significant gas mileage, gaining between 33 and 36 mpg city according to the city’s Environmental Protection Agency and between 40 and 43 mpg highway depending on body style. Mitsubishi offers few safety features compared to its compact model competitors, which come as standard with only a rearview camera. You can choose to add rear parking sensors, and if you’re into the hatchback version, you can get front parking sensors.

The Mirage G4 sedan saves 12.6 cubic feet of trunk space, while the hatchback models save 17.1 cubic feet of trunk space with 47 cubic feet in the rear seats folded down. These are reasonably good numbers for a compact car.

Chevrolet Spark 2021

Length: 143.1 inches | 13,400 dollars | USN Global Score: To be determined

The smallest car on our list, the 2021 Chevrolet Spark is 143.1 inches long. While it offers an impressive list of standard features, expected good reliability and an extremely low price, this little Chevrolet makes sacrifices when it comes to interior space. The Spark offers 11.1 cubic feet of boot storage, which can open up to 27.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.

With quick response handling, the Spark’s handling is easy to drive, but the small second row and the payload area are smaller than many competitors. The steering is easy, making it easy to park in tight spaces and drive on busy or narrow streets.

The IIHS gave Spark the highest rating well in their two crash tests to date, but complete safety data is not currently available. Spark only comes standard with the rear view camera, but you can add additional advanced security features. These include rear parking sensors, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and forward collision warning.