If you’re looking for a budget-friendly vehicle that’s easy to maneuver and park, especially in busy city environments, a subcompact car could be your ideal choice. Once a booming segment in the late 2000s, subcompacts remain a smart option for city dwellers, new drivers, and those with daily commutes. While the rise of SUVs has slightly shifted market trends, there’s still a fantastic selection of quality subcompact cars available.
To simplify your search, we’ve pinpointed the Top Ranked Subcompact Cars on the market, focusing on reliability, fuel efficiency, and crucial safety features.
Understanding Subcompact Cars: Size and Value
Subcompact and compact cars are both categorized as small cars, but size is the key differentiator. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines subcompact cars as having a combined interior volume of 85-99 cubic feet, while compact cars offer a bit more space, ranging from 100 to 109 cubic feet. This size difference also translates to price. Subcompact cars are generally more affordable. For example, a new Kia Rio, a subcompact, averages around $16,584, whereas the compact Kia Forte has a higher average price of $20,284. If you find yourself needing a bit more space than a subcompact offers, explore our guide to the best compact cars.
Ranking the Best Subcompact Cars for Reliability
To identify the top ranked subcompact cars, we started by evaluating reliability within this vehicle category. iSeeCars conducted a study to determine the longest-lasting cars in various segments. This involved analyzing a massive 15.8 million pre-owned vehicles to find those with the highest mileage. While the original study focused on cars reaching 200,000 miles, we’ve adjusted the benchmark to 150,000 miles for our top ranked subcompact cars list. This provides a broader selection of excellent, smaller vehicles for your consideration.
| Top Ranked Subcompact Cars – iSeeCars |
|---|
| Rank |
| 1 |
| 2 |
| 3 |
| 4 |
| 5 |
| 6 |
| 7 |
| 8 |
| Segment Average |
The Honda Fit takes the crown as the top ranked subcompact car, recognized for its exceptional longevity, perfect 5-star safety rating, and excellent fuel economy. The Fit also stands out with its surprisingly spacious interior, offering generous headroom and legroom even for taller drivers. A unique feature is the “magic seat,” which allows rear seat cushions to flip up, maximizing cargo space, and the front passenger seat to fold flat for carrying longer items.
Honda Fit subcompact car parked on a sunny street
Securing the second spot is the Toyota Yaris, available in both sedan and hatchback versions. The Yaris upholds Toyota’s renowned reputation for reliability and comes packed with standard features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also includes important safety technologies such as forward-collision warning and boasts impressive gas mileage for its class.
The Kia Rio5 hatchback and Kia Rio sedan rank third and fourth respectively in our top ranked subcompact cars list. While a rearview camera is the only standard advanced safety feature on the Rio, higher trim levels offer optional upgrades like emergency braking and forward-collision warning.
Chevrolet has two models among the top ranked subcompact cars: the Chevrolet Sonic at sixth and the Chevrolet Spark at eighth. The Sonic provides a bit more room for passengers and cargo compared to the Spark. Both are appreciated for their user-friendly infotainment systems, and the Sonic features a turbo engine option for enhanced handling and a sporty aesthetic.
Rounding out our list of top ranked subcompact cars is the Nissan Versa in seventh place. The Versa offers above-average passenger and trunk space for a subcompact and includes standard safety features such as pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, automatic high-beam headlights, and automatic emergency braking.
Best Used Subcompact Cars for Every Budget
Finding top ranked subcompact cars doesn’t have to break the bank. These durable small cars can accumulate significant mileage and still provide years of reliable service. Used models offer excellent value. Here are some of the best used subcompact cars categorized by price range.
Top Used Subcompact Cars Under $10,000
If you’re shopping for a used car under $10,000, these subcompacts are excellent choices:
| Top Used Subcompact Cars Under $10,000 |
|---|
| Subcompact Car |
| 2015 Nissan Versa |
| 2015 Chevrolet Spark |
| 2015 Hyundai Accent |
| 2015 Kia Rio |
| 2015 Chevrolet Sonic |
| 2015 Hyundai Accent |
| 2015 Kia Rio5 |
| 2015 Toyota Yaris |
| 2013 Honda Fit |
Top Used Subcompact Cars Under $15,000
Increasing your budget to consider a used car under $15,000 opens up access to newer model year used subcompacts:
| Top Used Subcompact Cars Under $15,000 |
|---|
| Subcompact Car |
| 2017 Nissan Versa |
| 2017 Chevrolet Spark |
| 2017 Kia Rio |
| 2017 Toyota Yaris |
| 2017 Chevrolet Sonic |
| 2017 Hyundai Accent |
| 2017 Kia Rio5 |
| 2017 Honda Fit |
Conclusion: Small Cars, Big Value
Honda Fit subcompact car parked on a sunny street
Our research on top ranked subcompact cars demonstrates that great things truly can come in smaller packages. Whether you’re seeking a new car loaded with the latest tech and safety features or a dependable, budget-friendly city car that excels at parallel parking, these subcompact cars are worth considering.
Looking for your next subcompact car? Be sure to use iSeeCars’ award-winning car search engine. Our advanced algorithms help you discover the best car deals and provide valuable insights, including our iSeeCars VIN check report. Filter by price, fuel economy, drive type, and more to find the perfect vehicle for your needs.
