The automotive landscape is dominated by big trucks and SUVs, with the market for smaller sedans and hatchbacks shrinking every day. Thankfully there are still lots of small cars on sale today that are practical, reliable, efficient, and, most importantly, fun. The best compact cars can be your do-it-all machine, capable of taking the kids to school, hauling stuff from the grocery store, and delivering sports car-like performance on your favorite back roads.
These are our favorites for 2024. More Car Rankings: | | | The Civic has been a mainstay among compact cars for decades, and for good reason. It's efficient, reliable, fun to drive, and affordable, and that's as true as ever for the 2025 lineup.
A and available for hatchback and sedan body styles, and the receives welcome tweaks as well. For those seeking the most performance-oriented Civic, there's the sensational Type R hot hatchback, which packs 315 horsepower and remarkable prowess around a racetrack. The Mazda 3 distills everything that makes other Mazdas great into a small, practical package.
It's available as a sedan or a hatchback, with either a naturally aspirated or turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four engine, and with either front- or . Unfortunately Mazda only lets you opt for the manual transmission if you choose the less powerful nonturbo engine, but at least it offers a stick-shift at all.
We love the Mazda 3's styling inside and out, and the turbo version is especially fun to drive, with class-above refineme.