Car Rankings: Affordable Small Cars

Ranking of compact cars and subcompact cars, generally priced under $20,000. Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, MINI Cooper and more. Rankings based on an in-depth analysis by U.S. News editors of all published auto ratings, reviews and test drives.

Rank Car Overall Performance Exterior Interior Safety Reliability MSRP MPG
#1
9.1 Excellent
8.2 7.3 8.7 9.6 8.0 $14,900
$19,110
City: 28
Hwy: 35
#2
9.0 Excellent
8.3 8.2 8.2 9.6 8.0 $15,455
$24,455
City: 25
Hwy: 36
#3
8.8 Very Good
7.6 7.7 8.3 NA 9.0 $14,145
$17,845
City: 26
Hwy: 34
#4
8.6 Very Good
7.3 8.2 7.9 9.6 8.0 $23,800
$27,000
City: 40
Hwy: 45
#4
8.6 Very Good
8.0 9.0 8.5 9.3 5.0 $13,695
$18,695
City: 25
Hwy: 34
#6
8.5 Very Good
8.7 5.6 8.4 9.8 5.0 $15,295
$22,800
City: 25
Hwy: 33
#6
8.5 Very Good
8.7 NA 8.6 9.4 4.0 $17,620
$23,860
City: 22
Hwy: 30
#8
8.3 Very Good
8.4 7.8 8.3 8.6 5.0 $17,605
$23,930
City: 22
Hwy: 30
#9
8.2 Very Good
7.1 8.6 8.6 9.8 5.0 $13,300
$18,195
City: - TBD -
Hwy: - TBD -
#10
8.1 Very Good
7.8 8.2 7.7 8.6 6.0 $15,850
$16,800
City: 22
Hwy: 28
#10
8.1 Very Good
7.8 7.3 8.1 8.3 NA $13,359
$19,949
City: 22
Hwy: 30
#12
8.0 Very Good
7.2 7.1 8.6 9.2 5.0 $9,990
$16,530
City: 26
Hwy: 34
#12
8.0 Very Good
7.8 8.0 7.1 9.3 4.0 $17,100
$17,900
City: 20
Hwy: 27
#12
8.0 Very Good
7.8 6.6 7.2 9.6 6.0 $17,495
$26,995
City: 20
Hwy: 26
#15
7.9 Good
8.4 8.4 6.6 8.4 5.0 $18,800
$34,000
City: 28
Hwy: 37
#15
7.9 Good
7.0 7.8 8.5 NA 6.0 $13,990
$20,120
City: 24
Hwy: 29
#15
7.9 Good
7.2 7.7 7.2 NA 6.0 $14,900
$15,700
City: 26
Hwy: 32
#18
7.8 Good
7.6 7.1 7.6 9.3 8.0 $15,450
$20,150
City: 26
Hwy: 35
#19
7.7 Good
7.6 7.1 7.8 8.3 7.0 $16,290
$18,780
City: 24
Hwy: 35
#19
7.7 Good
6.7 7.8 7.5 9.0 6.0 $9,970
$16,995
City: 27
Hwy: 36
#19
7.7 Good
7.7 9.1 7.0 NA 5.0 $14,790
$27,590
City: 22
Hwy: 31
#19
7.7 Good
7.1 7.8 7.5 9.6 8.0 $16,100
$20,875
City: 26
Hwy: 32
#23
7.6 Good
7.9 7.5 6.7 8.7 7.0 $14,990
$24,535
City: 25
Hwy: 37
#23
7.6 Good
6.8 6.9 7.9 9.6 7.0 $15,420
$20,080
City: 26
Hwy: 34
#25
7.5 Good
7.0 8.4 7.3 8.4 6.0 $11,695
$16,095
City: 28
Hwy: 34
#26
7.4 Good
6.4 8.2 8.5 8.5 NA $11,990
$20,990
City: 33
Hwy: 41
#26
7.4 Good
7.2 7.9 7.4 8.0 7.0 $12,605
$14,165
City: 29
Hwy: 35
#28
7.0 Good
7.4 7.9 6.5 8.0 5.0 $18,690
$26,390
City: 20
Hwy: 28
#29
6.7 Mediocre
6.7 7.7 7.3 8.4 4.0 $11,965
$15,365
City: 27
Hwy: 35

Not Yet Ranked

The following vehicles have not been ranked. Please check back soon.
Car Overall Performance Exterior Interior Safety Reliability MSRP MPG
NA
NA NA NA NA NA $None
$None
City: None
Hwy: None
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$None
City: None
Hwy: None
NA
NA NA NA NA NA $None
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Hwy: None
NA
NA NA NA NA NA $None
$None
City: None
Hwy: None
NA
NA NA NA NA NA $None
$None
City: None
Hwy: None
NA
NA NA NA NA NA $None
$None
City: None
Hwy: None
NA
NA NA NA NA NA $None
$None
City: None
Hwy: None
NA
NA NA NA NA NA $None
$None
City: None
Hwy: None
NA
NA NA NA NA NA $None
$None
City: None
Hwy: None
NA
NA NA NA NA NA $None
$None
City: None
Hwy: None
NA
NA NA NA NA NA $None
$None
City: None
Hwy: None
NA
NA NA NA NA NA $None
$None
City: None
Hwy: None