
Best Performance Small Cars for 2026
These are the best performance small cars based on iSeeCars' analysis of each vehicle's power to weight ratio
The best performance small car is the Honda Civic (hatchback) with a curb weight of 3,118 and a horsepower rating of 315, resulting in a weight-to-horsepower ratio of 9.9 lbs. per HP. The weight-to-horsepower ratio is calculated based on a vehicle’s curb weight and horsepower at the trim level - the less weight one horsepower has to pull, the better performance a vehicle can provide.
The best performance small car is the Honda Civic (hatchback) with a curb weight of 3,118 and a horsepower rating of 315, resulting in a weight-to-horsepower ratio of 9.9 lbs. per HP. The weight-to-horsepower ratio is calculated based on a vehicle’s curb weight and horsepower at the trim level - the less weight one horsepower has to pull, the better performance a vehicle can provide.
-
Weight to hp 9.8984
- Starting MSRP: 27895
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 9.1 / 10
-
Safety 10 / 10
-
Weight to hp Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 25550
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 8.3 / 10
-
Safety 10 / 10
-
Weight to hp Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 24550
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 8.4 / 10
-
Safety 10 / 10
-
Weight to hp Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 24695
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 9.1 / 10
-
Safety 9.0 / 10
Volkswagen Golf
-
Weight to hp Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 23195
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 9.0 / 10
-
Value Retention 8.1 / 10
-
Safety 8.0 / 10
-
Weight to hp Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 22925
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 7.4 / 10
-
Value Retention 8.8 / 10
-
Safety 9.0 / 10
-
Weight to hp Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 22625
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 7.0 / 10
-
Value Retention 8.2 / 10
-
Safety 10 / 10
-
Weight to hp Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 33995
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 7.2 / 10
-
Value Retention 8.7 / 10
-
Safety 9.0 / 10
-
Weight to hp Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 23995
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 8.3 / 10
-
Safety 8.0 / 10
Subaru Impreza
-
Weight to hp Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 19795
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 7.3 / 10
-
Value Retention 8.7 / 10
-
Safety 8.0 / 10
-
Weight to hp Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 34590
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 8.1 / 10
-
Safety 8.0 / 10
Chevrolet Spark
-
Weight to hp Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 13600
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 7.4 / 10
-
Value Retention 8.4 / 10
-
Safety Not Available
Kia Rio 5-Door
-
Weight to hp Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 17690
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 7.3 / 10
-
Value Retention 8.5 / 10
-
Safety Not Available
Hyundai VELOSTER
-
Weight to hp Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 18900
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 6.9 / 10
-
Value Retention 8.7 / 10
-
Safety 8.0 / 10
-
Weight to hp Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 30500
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 8.4 / 10
-
Safety Not Available
-
Weight to hp Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 22600
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 6.8 / 10
-
Value Retention 8.5 / 10
-
Safety 8.0 / 10
Kia Rio
-
Weight to hp Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 16750
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 6.7 / 10
-
Value Retention 8.6 / 10
-
Safety Not Available
-
Weight to hp Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 17390
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 6.7 / 10
-
Value Retention 8.4 / 10
-
Safety 8.0 / 10
Kia Forte
-
Weight to hp Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 19990
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 7.2 / 10
-
Value Retention 8.4 / 10
-
Safety 7.0 / 10
-
Weight to hp Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 29500
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 8.4 / 10
-
Safety 7.0 / 10
Mitsubishi Mirage (hatchback)
-
Weight to hp Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 16695
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 8.3 / 10
-
Safety 7.0 / 10
Hyundai ACCENT
-
Weight to hp Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 16645
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 6.6 / 10
-
Value Retention 8.5 / 10
-
Safety 7.0 / 10
-
Weight to hp Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 24380
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 8.9 / 10
-
Safety 8.0 / 10
-
Weight to hp Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 39920
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 Not Available
-
Weight to hp Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 22290
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 10 / 10
-
Weight to hp Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 35100
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 8.2 / 10
-
Safety Not Available
-
Weight to hp Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 33745
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 8.1 / 10
-
Safety 8.0 / 10
-
Weight to hp Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 49455
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 8.1 / 10
-
Safety Not Available
Mitsubishi Mirage G4
-
Weight to hp Not Available
- Starting MSRP: 17795
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 8.0 / 10
-
Safety Not Available
Related Rankings
How We Rank These Cars
The best performance cars rank vehicles by their weight-to-horsepower ratio.
The weight-to-horsepower ratio is calculated based on a vehicle's curb weight and horsepower at the trim level - the less weight one horsepower has to pull, the better performance a vehicle can provide. For cars with a ratio within 0.1 of each other, lighter vehicles always have the advantage in performance and are ranked to reflect that. For each vehicle, we also show the iSeeCars Score which rates the overall quality of a vehicle.
The 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).




























