Best CVT Small Cars for 2025
These are the best CVT small cars based on iSeeCars' analysis of each vehicle’s reliability, resale value and safety.
The best continuously variable transmission (CVT) small car is the Honda Civic (coupe) with an iSeeCars Score of 9.4 out of 10. The iSeeCars Score factors in reliability (based on iSeeCars’ proprietary analysis of a vehicle’s longevity), value retention (based on iSeeCars’ analysis of 5-year depreciation) and safety (based on NHTSA and IIHS safety ratings) of each vehicle. The second best CVT small car is the Honda Fit with a Score of 9.2. Behind the Fit is the Toyota Corolla which has an iSeeCars Score of 9.1.
The best continuously variable transmission (CVT) small car is the Honda Civic (coupe) with an iSeeCars Score of 9.4 out of 10. The iSeeCars Score factors in reliability (based on iSeeCars’ proprietary analysis of a vehicle’s longevity), value retention (based on iSeeCars’ analysis of 5-year depreciation) and safety (based on NHTSA and IIHS safety ratings) of each vehicle. The second best CVT small car is the Honda Fit with a Score of 9.2. Behind the Fit is the Toyota Corolla which has an iSeeCars Score of 9.1.
1. Honda Civic (coupe)
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Iseecars score
9.4
/ 10
- Starting MSRP: $21,050
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
9.1
/ 10
-
Value Retention
9.1
/ 10
-
Safety
10
/ 10
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
8.4
/ 10
-
Value Retention
9.3
/ 10
-
Safety
10
/ 10
-
Iseecars score
9.1
/ 10
- Starting MSRP: $22,050
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
8.5
/ 10
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Value Retention
8.9
/ 10
-
Safety
10
/ 10
-
Iseecars score
9.0
/ 10
- Starting MSRP: $24,250
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
8.8
/ 10
-
Value Retention
9.0
/ 10
-
Safety
9.0
/ 10
5. Subaru Impreza
-
Iseecars score
8.9
/ 10
- Starting MSRP: $19,795
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
8.0
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.7
/ 10
-
Safety
10
/ 10
-
Iseecars score
8.6
/ 10
- Starting MSRP: $16,680
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.7
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.6
/ 10
-
Safety
9.5
/ 10
7. Kia Rio 5-Door
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Iseecars score
8.5
/ 10
- Starting MSRP: $17,690
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
8.2
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.7
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
-
Iseecars score
8.4
/ 10
- Starting MSRP: $21,590
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.9
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.1
/ 10
-
Safety
9.1
/ 10
-
Iseecars score
8.3
/ 10
- Starting MSRP: $21,625
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.8
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.4
/ 10
-
Safety
8.6
/ 10
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.7
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.7
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
11. Hyundai ACCENT
-
Iseecars score
8.1
/ 10
- Starting MSRP: $16,645
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.5
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.7
/ 10
-
Safety
8.0
/ 10
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.6
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.5
/ 10
-
Safety
8.0
/ 10
-
Iseecars score
7.9
/ 10
- Starting MSRP: $16,695
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.1
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.5
/ 10
-
Safety
8.0
/ 10
14. Chevrolet Spark
-
Iseecars score
7.9
/ 10
- Starting MSRP: $13,600
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.1
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.6
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
-
Iseecars score
7.6
/ 10
- Starting MSRP: $17,795
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.1
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.1
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
-
Iseecars score
Not Available
- Starting MSRP: $23,630
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
8.8
/ 10
-
Safety
9.0
/ 10
Nissan Versa Note
-
Iseecars score
Not Available
- Starting MSRP: $15,650
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
8.3
/ 10
-
Safety
8.0
/ 10
Chevrolet Cruze
-
Iseecars score
Not Available
- Starting MSRP: $17,995
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
8.0
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.0
/ 10
-
Safety
9.0
/ 10
Related Rankings
How We Rank These Cars
The best CVT cars rank vehicles by iSeeCars Score which is based on our proprietary assessment of a vehicle’s reliability, resale value and safety (based on ratings from IIHS and NHTSA).
We analyze data from over 12 million new and used vehicles in our Longest-Lasting Cars and 5-Year Depreciation Studies, combined with the NHTSA's Safety Ratings to give you an unbiased guide to the best vehicles in each segment.
iSeeCars Score is an analysis of three factors: reliability, resale value and safety. It is calculated based on the latest research and analysis by our data science team. The data analysis comes from over 12 million new and used vehicles in our Longest-Lasting Cars and 5-Year Depreciation Studies, combined with NHTSA and IIHS Safety Ratings.
Vehicles are scored in three categories:
Reliability
The reliability score represents an analysis of iSeeCars' proprietary research on the longest-lasting vehicles.
Value Retention
The value retention score is based on our data science team's statistical analysis and prediction of 5-year depreciation from MSRP to determine which cars hold their value best, using US Bureau of Labor Statistics data to adjust for inflation.
Safety
The safety score is calculated based on the last five years of crash test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and incorporates the latest Top Safety Pick information from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).