Your membership has expired

The payment for your account couldn't be processed or you've canceled your account with us.

Re-activate
    A Mazda 3 on a dirt road.

    Small Car Buying Guide

    For many people, a small car makes sense for local driving, such as commuting and running errands, and for navigating the challenges of urban travel and city parking. But with the market shift toward SUVs, there are fewer small cars to choose from.

    You may question what a small car is and what the best small car is. CR considers both subcompact and compact cars to be small cars. We break our ratings into those subcategories to make it easy for members to find the best small car.

    Some brands—including Ford, General Motors, and Toyota—have moved away from small cars, instead creating new hatchback models to take their place, often with SUV-inspired styling and increased interior space. Cars that have continued through the years, like the Honda Civic and Mazda3, have increased in size, often boasting the rear-seat room and amenities you might have expected in a midsized car a few years ago.

    Because of this ongoing vehicular evolution, we have consolidated our small car buying advice and ratings into an area that combines sedans and hatchbacks. The differences between these car types aren’t as distinct as they once were, and this provides car shoppers with a more complete picture, including what is available within their budget.

    Go to the sedans and hatchbacks buying guide.

    2022 Honda Civic
    Honda Civic

    Photo: John Powers/Consumer Reports Photo: John Powers/Consumer Reports