It may only be April, but there are already some serious contenders for the best small car of 2015. The fight for the title of best small car is an ongoing battle – and in this week’s edition of Top 5 Tuesdays, we want in on the action. Let’s see what these class-leading compact cars have to offer.
Skoda Fabia
Kicking us off is the Skoda Fabia, 2015’s winner of WhatCar’s Car of the Year in the Best Small Car category. The 1.0 litre petrols are ideal for anyone who spends their time in the city – but for the open road, one of the 1.2 litre four-cylinder petrol engines will deliver more impressive performance. The entry-level S comes in at £10,600, but the SE trim is well worth the heavier price tag on account of its generous equipment levels. The Fabia will comfortably seat four adults and has impressive boot space for a car in this class. Well equipped, practical and cheap to run, no wonder WhatCar are raving about this Skoda!
Dacia Sandero
The cheapest of our top 5 small cars is the Dacia Sandero. With the entry-level Access starting at an attractive £5,995, this motor may be easy on your wallet but you’ll have to spend a bit of cash if you want to kit out the interior. In terms of performance, the entry-level 74 bhp 1.2 litre petrol fails to impress – but both the 89bhp 0.9 litre petrol and 89bhp 1.5 diesels are powerful performers. A comfortable car without the cost, the Dacia Sandero is a bargain in our book.
Suzuki Swift
As far as small cars go, the Suzuki Swift is one of the cheapest options out there – at just £8,999. Returning 56.5mpg, the standard 1.2 litre petrol engine emits 116g/km of CO2, meaning it’ll cost you just £30 a year in tax. Although the interior isn’t as stylish as some of the new small cars, Suzuki’s reputation for reliability makes it an ever-popular choice with drivers of all ages.
Peugeot 208
With attractive design and a slick, well-built interior, the Peugeot 208 is one classy compact car. Securing its place in our list of the best small cars, 2015’s Peugeot 208 is already proving to be a hit. With a more minimal dashboard and large touch-screen system, this sportier Peugeot is arguably the Fabia’s biggest rival. The entry-level comes with a 68bhp 1.0 litre VTi, but the 82bhp 1.2 litre VTi delivers a significantly punchier performance. This car comes in at £10,195 and offers fantastic fuel economy at 66mpg.
VW Polo
Although, at £11,250, it’s a little more costly than other small cars, the running costs of the VW Polo should still be enough to sway buyers. The basic 59bhp 1.0 litre petrol engine returns 60.1 mpg, while emitting just 106g/km of CO2 – meaning annual road tax is a very reasonable £20. The more powerful 74bhp version comes with a claimed fuel economy of 58.9mpg and slightly higher emissions at 108g/km. Both interior and boot space are impressive in the Polo – and with a wide range of both petrol and diesel engines, this VW offers enough variety to satisfy any driver.
When it comes to the best small cars, 2015 still has plenty of time to offer up some more contenders – but if you already fancy one of our top 5 picks, the Car Loan Warehouse can help. Along with a team of responsible lenders, we offer flexible finance options to suit you – apply now or try out our online car loan calculator for an instant quote.
