Best five small cars (superminis) to buy in 2025
Small is beautiful (and economical and easy to drive)
The small hatchbacks of this world are known as “superminis” for a reason: they’re the heroes of the car world, offering amazing practicality and sophistication in a compact package. Easy to manoeuvre and highly fuel efficient, they’re absolutely ideal for small families on a budget.
For that reason they’re some of the most popular cars on sale in the UK, and before the rise of SUVs, superminis dominated the sales charts. The likes of the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa topped the sales charts here for years, and though they’re falling out of fashion (Ford’s brilliant pint-sized beauty has already been discontinued), superminis remain a hit with a broad range of drivers, including first-time drivers, city slickers, new parents and retirees.
With the market not as competitive as it once was — partly due to them falling out of vogue and partly because they’re not as profitable for carmakers as crossovers and SUVs — the choice is dwindling, but some great cars remain available for 2025 and they come with a choice of efficient petrol, hybrid and electric powertrains.
So, if you’re in the market for a small hatchback in the coming year, this is our round-up of the best superminis you can buy in 2025.
Renault 5
From £22,995
One of the most eagerly anticipated small hatchbacks in recent history, the new pure-electric Renault 5 takes its inspiration from the R5 of the 1970s. The result is a retro re-imagining with a modern twist that looks spectacular from any angle and has already won Renault plenty of new fans (and customers).
Prices start at just under £23,000, which is brilliantly competitive for an EV that covers up to 190 miles, and for a little more there’s a version with a battery good for a claimed 250 miles (and our test suggests it’s a pretty accurate figure).
The two batteries also come with their own motors: the “Urban Range” models have 118bhp, while the larger-batteried “Comfort Range” versions get 148bhp.
If you want more power, you can always call on Renault’s sibling company, Alpine, which has beefed up the Renault 5 and turned it into the Alpine A290 hot hatch. It has the same retro style with a bit more poke (albeit not quite as much as we were hoping, and for a significant extra cost).
Mini Cooper
From £23,150
After years of being misnamed by customers around the world, Mini has caved and called its new three-door hatchback (formerly and informally known simply as the Mini Hatch) the “Mini Cooper”. But the BMW-owned British brand has changed more than just the name, giving the car an all-new interior and new choices of motor.
As before, Mini is selling the electric versions alongside petrol options, but the two are built on different underpinnings. The “Mini Cooper E” and “Mini Cooper SE” are now designed as electric cars from the ground up, meaning they can manage a sensible amount of miles between charges — officially up to 185 and 247 miles respectively, on a mix of roads.
Whichever propulsion system you choose, the Mini essentials are much the same as ever. The space isn’t great inside, but the cars are brilliant to drive, with lovely steering and plenty of grip, which makes them really agile around town or on a country road.
But perhaps the highlight is the new interior, which is uber-cool and more minimalist than before, with a clean, fabric-covered dash and a large, circular central touchscreen. The screen itself is a little strangely laid-out but it’s much more intuitive than before, and the fit and finish feel upmarket. If you liked the Mini before, you’ll love it now.
Fiat 500e
From £24,995
The Mini and Fiat 500 are long-time rivals, and both are incredibly charming and accomplished, with timeless styling. Both, too, are much improved in their latest iterations. The Fiat 500e, launched in 2020 as an electric car only, retains some of the retro-inspired looks of its predecessor but there are clever styling tweaks (check out the split LED headlights) and is all-new underneath.
The electric drivetrain delivers a maximum range of 199 miles, which will be plenty for use in the kind of urban and suburban habitat for which the 500 is designed.
Sales haven’t been what Fiat anticipated, which is a shame … unless you want to buy one, because the current discounts are very attractive — prices start from under 25 grand, which is competitive for an EV. The running costs are tiny, too, if you can charge at home. The 500 is an upmarket machine packed with style and featuring fun, lively handling.
Like the Renault 5, there’s a performance version, too: the Abarth 500e is a little pocket rocket, and arguably a more successful sports upgrade than the Alpine A290.
Peugeot 208
From £23,935
The Peugeot 208 shares much with the Vauxhall Corsa, but it’s arguably a better product all around. Easier on the eye and smarter inside, it feels almost like a premium car, and we’re big fans of the choice of engines available. If you want, you can have the 208 in petrol, hybrid or electric forms.
If truth be told, the petrol versions make the most sense on paper — particularly as the 208 isn’t the cheapest supermini out there — but the choice is welcome and the e-208 is arguably the most pleasing to drive, with a little more agility and balance than the petrol and hybrid alternatives.
Whatever, the 208 is a great little car, and though it may not be cheap to buy, it comes with plenty of standard equipment, including parking sensors, a 10in touchscreen and part-leather upholstery.
We would urge anyone considering a 208 to test-drive it first, though, because the seating position won’t be for everyone. With a small steering wheel and high-set instrument cluster, it suits certain body shapes better than others, and you’ll need to be sure you can live with it before committing your hard-earned cash.
Suzuki Swift
From £19,199
The Swift has long been a cheap-and-cheerful option, and though it’s difficult to call a car that costs almost £20,000 “cheap”, it’s still affordable for a new car today, and is very likely to put a smile on your face. You also get a lot of car for the money, with fuel-sipping mild-hybrid technology, a reversing camera and heated front seats all included as standard.
Some might be put off by the Swift’s looks. Somehow Suzuki has managed to make it look like two cars stuck together, and it’s certianly no Renault 5, Mini Cooper or Fiat 500e. But it isn’t offensive to the eyes, either. It comes with a perky little 1.2-litre mild-hybrid petrol engine to provide adequate power and ample efficiency.
It may not be the most powerful engine out there — 81bhp is hardly record-breaking — but the Suzuki’s promise of almost 65mpg is alluring, and the little three-cylinder engine is surprisingly smooth and refined. It also offers customers a choice of manual and automatic gearboxes, and you can even get it with four-wheel drive, which may well appeal to those living in rural areas through winter.
Related articles
- If you found this guide to the best small cars useful, you might also be interested to read the best city cars to buy
- Here are some of the best new compact SUVs and crossovers you can get your hands on
- And check out our guide to some of the best mid-sized family cars on sale right now
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