Experts name best small car to purchase in UK and it’s not a Kia, Jaecoo or BMW
The best small 4×4 in the UK has been named (stock) (Image: aire images via Getty Images)
A renowned motoring publication has studied the best small cars on sale in the UK and has given its verdict on which is the best on the market.
The publication has a series of lists on the best cars on each segment on sale in the UK that it updates. In the latest update of it’s small category, a new winner came out on top.
Whilst SUVs have become increasingly popular in recent years, small cars are still relevant. Smaller models can often beat SUVs because of their size and economy.
Earlier this year, Auto Express named the Fiat Grande Panda as its top small car for sale in the UK. The vehicle received acclaim for its practicality and respectable range and efficiency in the electric and hybrid versions respectively, whilst its competitive price point was also seen as a plus.
Taking the top spot this time around, produced by the VW Group, was the Cupra Raval. The vehicle, which claimed Auto Express’ Supermini of the Year 2026 title, was commended for its engaging drive, competitive pricing, and practical interior, reports the Mirror.
A Cupra Raval won (Image: Bloomberg, Bloomberg via Getty Images)
It dropped points for a “slightly disjointed cabin design”, with reviewers acknowledging they had yet to test the entry-level variant of the car.
They concluded: “This supermini-sized EV is in part a preview of what to expect when Volkswagen’s ID.Polo goes on sale a little further down the line, but the Cupra has its own character and talents – enough to be rated Supermini of the Year at the Auto Express 2026 New Car Awards.”
A Fiat Grande Panda (Image: Sjoerd van der Wal, Getty Images)
Claiming second place was Fiat‘s Grande Panda. This model was applauded for its competitive pricing, “playful” character, and what reviewers described as a “fantastic cabin”.
It did, however, lose marks for a lack of refinement when travelling at higher speeds. The publication also found the powertrain somewhat “sluggish” and noted that the information display fell short on functionality.
Finishing third behind the Fiat and Cupra was the Kia Picanto. The vehicle, which claimed the publication’s City Car of the Year title for 2025, was similarly commended for its entertaining driving experience, a features list rivalling that of larger models, and its surprisingly generous interior space.
It dropped points for its modest one litre engine feeling lethargic, the absence of a hybrid variant, and its rival, the Dacia Sandero, undercutting it on price.
A Kia Picanto (Image: Manfred Schmid, Getty Images)
I was fortunate enough to get behind the wheel of the runner-up, the Fiat Grande Panda, at the SMMT Test Day at Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire.
I remarked at the time: “With the likes of the Citroen Ami (I know that’s a quadricycle but let me have this one), the Picanto, returning Citroen 2CV, potential return of the Ford Fiesta, and continuation of the MINI Cooper Hatch, it feels like small cars are set for a resurgence.
“Those cars, both current and future, will have a job keeping up with the Fiat Panda Hybrid for proving that a small practical car with a small engine can be this good.”
