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Best Performance Small Cars for 2024

These are the best performance small cars based on iSeeCars' analysis of each vehicle's power to weight ratio

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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.

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What is the best performance small car?
  1. Honda Civic (hatchback)
Models not ranked yet

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.

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1. Honda Civic (hatchback)

#1 of 43 Small Cars with the Most Horsepower #1 of 28 Most Comfortable Hatchbacks #1 of 26 Compact Cars with the Most Horsepower
  • Weight to hp 9.9
  • Starting MSRP: $45,595
  • Honda Civic for Sale
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
8.8 / 10
  • Reliability 8.4 / 10
  • Value Retention 9.0 / 10
  • Safety 9.0 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $45,595
USED PRICE $19,334 - $40,469
MPG 24 - 35 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 24.5 cu ft

The following trim level(s) offer the lowest weight to horsepower ratio for the model's max HP:

  • 2025 Honda Civic Type R 2.0L Turbo I4 315hp 310ft. lbs.

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Last new model year: 2020

Honda Civic (coupe)

#1 of 43 Best Small Cars #1 of 43 Safest Small Cars #1 of 43 Most Reliable Small Cars
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

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9.4 / 10
  • Reliability 9.1 / 10
  • Value Retention 9.1 / 10
  • Safety 10 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $21,050 - $27,250
USED PRICE $16,994 - $26,984
MPG 29 - 35 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 11.9 - 12.1 cu ft
Last new model year: 2020

Honda Fit

#1 of 43 Small Cars with Best Resale Value #1 of 43 Small Cars with the Most Legroom #1 of 28 Best Hatchbacks
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
9.2 / 10
  • Reliability 8.4 / 10
  • Value Retention 9.3 / 10
  • Safety 10 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $16,190 - $20,620
USED PRICE $13,880 - $22,406
MPG 31 - 36 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 16.6 cu ft
Last new model year: 2020

Toyota Yaris

#2 of 21 Best Small Cars Under $20k #2 of 17 Best Subcompact Cars #2 of 7 Best Manual Transmission Subcompact Cars
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
9.2 / 10
  • Reliability 8.5 / 10
  • Value Retention 9.0 / 10
  • Safety 10 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $15,650 - $18,750
USED PRICE $11,138 - $19,434
MPG 34 - 35 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 13.5 cu ft

Toyota Corolla

#1 of 43 Best Family Small Cars #1 of 26 Best Family Compact Cars #2 of 26 Best Compact Cars
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
9.1 / 10
  • Reliability 8.5 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.9 / 10
  • Safety 10 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $22,050 - $27,150
USED PRICE $15,288 - $24,998
MPG 35 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 13.1 cu ft

Honda Civic

#2 of 43 Most Reliable Small Cars #2 of 14 Best Manual Transmission Compact Cars #3 of 43 Best Gas Mileage Small Cars
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

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9.0 / 10
  • Reliability 8.8 / 10
  • Value Retention 9.0 / 10
  • Safety 9.0 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $24,250 - $30,250
USED PRICE $17,249 - $28,214
MPG 31 - 36 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 14.1 - 14.8 cu ft

Subaru Impreza

#1 of 6 Best Compact Cars Under $20k #2 of 26 Most Comfortable Compact Cars #2 of 18 Most Affordable Compact Cars
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
8.9 / 10
  • Reliability 8.0 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.7 / 10
  • Safety 10 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $19,795 - $24,595
USED PRICE $14,995 - $23,990
MPG 26 - 32 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 12.3 cu ft

Mazda Mazda3 Sedan

#1 of 5 Best Small Cars for Teens #4 of 43 Best Family Small Cars #4 of 26 Best Family Compact Cars
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
8.9 / 10
  • Reliability 8.2 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.4 / 10
  • Safety 10 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $23,950 - $35,800
USED PRICE $16,486 - $27,667
MPG 27 - 31 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 13.2 cu ft
Last new model year: 2021

Volkswagen Golf

#1 of 6 Best German Compact Cars #1 of 6 Best German Small Cars #1 of 6 Best Hatchbacks Under $25k
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
8.8 / 10
  • Reliability 8.2 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.4 / 10
  • Safety 10 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $23,195 - $23,995
USED PRICE $14,450 - $21,998
MPG 32 - 33 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 17.4 cu ft
Last new model year: 2021

Hyundai VELOSTER

#1 of 11 Coupes with the Most Cargo Space #1 of 8 Best Korean Small Cars #1 of 5 Best Korean Compact Cars
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
8.8 / 10
  • Reliability 7.7 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.8 / 10
  • Safety 10 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $18,900 - $28,450
USED PRICE $12,870 - $22,872
MPG 28 - 30 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 19.9 cu ft

Mazda Mazda3 Hatchback

#1 of 28 Best Family Hatchbacks #1 of 2 Best Hatchbacks for Teens #2 of 43 Best Family Small Cars
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
8.8 / 10
  • Reliability 8.2 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.3 / 10
  • Safety 10 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $24,950 - $36,950
USED PRICE $17,983 - $29,995
MPG 26 - 30 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 20.1 cu ft
Last new model year: 2019

Volkswagen Beetle

#2 of 6 Best German Compact Cars #2 of 6 Best German Small Cars #2 of 5 Best German Hatchbacks
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
8.8 / 10
  • Reliability 7.9 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.6 / 10
  • Safety 10 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $20,895 - $25,995
USED PRICE $16,502 - $28,996
MPG 29 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 15.4 cu ft

Volkswagen Jetta

#3 of 43 Best Family Small Cars #3 of 26 Best Family Compact Cars #3 of 6 Best German Compact Cars
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
8.8 / 10
  • Reliability 8.1 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.3 / 10
  • Safety 10 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $21,435 - $28,825
USED PRICE $13,793 - $23,996
MPG 34 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 14.1 cu ft
Last new model year: 2020

Chevrolet Sonic

#1 of 7 Best American Small Cars #2 of 17 Subcompact Cars with the Most Legroom #3 of 17 Best Subcompact Cars
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
8.7 / 10
  • Reliability 7.7 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.3 / 10
  • Safety 10 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $16,720 - $20,720
USED PRICE $9,294 - $17,993
MPG 29 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 14.9 cu ft
Last new model year: 2020

Chevrolet Sonic (hatchback)

#1 of 4 Best American Hatchbacks #2 of 17 Subcompact Cars with the Most Cargo Space #2 of 7 Best American Small Cars
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
8.7 / 10
  • Reliability 7.7 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.3 / 10
  • Safety 10 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $17,220 - $21,520
USED PRICE $9,994 - $17,993
MPG 29 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 19.0 cu ft

Nissan Versa

#1 of 43 Most Comfortable Small Cars #1 of 24 Most Affordable Small Cars #1 of 17 Most Comfortable Subcompact Cars
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

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8.6 / 10
  • Reliability 7.7 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.6 / 10
  • Safety 9.5 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $16,680 - $20,690
USED PRICE $10,900 - $20,393
MPG 30 - 35 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 14.7 - 15.0 cu ft

Volkswagen Golf GTI

#1 of 3 Best Hatchbacks Under $35k #1 of 3 Best Small Cars Under $35k #1 of 3 Most Reliable Compact Cars Under $20k
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

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8.5 / 10
  • Reliability 7.3 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.3 / 10
  • Safety 10 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $31,965 - $40,825
USED PRICE $20,611 - $34,857
MPG 27 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 19.9 cu ft

Subaru WRX

#1 of 26 Most Comfortable Compact Cars #2 of 43 Most Comfortable Small Cars #2 of 3 Best Small Cars Under $35k
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
8.5 / 10
  • Reliability 7.0 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.6 / 10
  • Safety 10 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $32,735 - $44,215
USED PRICE $21,598 - $37,988
MPG 21 - 22 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 12.5 cu ft

Kia Rio 5-Door

#1 of 13 Best Small Cars for the Money #1 of 3 Best Korean Subcompact Cars #2 of 13 Most Affordable Hatchbacks
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

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8.5 / 10
  • Reliability 8.2 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.7 / 10
  • Safety Not Available
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $17,690
USED PRICE $11,720 - $20,904
MPG 36 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 17.4 cu ft

Nissan Sentra

#5 of 26 Most Comfortable Compact Cars #5 of 18 Most Affordable Compact Cars #6 of 43 Most Comfortable Small Cars
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

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8.4 / 10
  • Reliability 7.9 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.1 / 10
  • Safety 9.1 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $21,590 - $24,590
USED PRICE $11,899 - $23,499
MPG 34 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 14.3 cu ft

Hyundai ELANTRA

#1 of 26 Compact Cars with the Most Legroom #2 of 43 Small Cars with the Most Legroom #2 of 26 Best Compact Cars for Tall People
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

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8.3 / 10
  • Reliability 7.8 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.4 / 10
  • Safety 8.6 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $21,625 - $28,465
USED PRICE $12,901 - $23,998
MPG 31 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 14.2 cu ft

Kia Rio

#2 of 3 Best Korean Subcompact Cars #3 of 24 Most Affordable Small Cars #3 of 13 Best Small Cars for the Money
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

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8.2 / 10
  • Reliability 7.7 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.7 / 10
  • Safety Not Available
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $16,750 - $17,390
USED PRICE $11,056 - $19,998
MPG 36 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 13.7 cu ft
Last new model year: 2019

Ford Fiesta

#3 of 7 Best American Small Cars #4 of 7 Best Manual Transmission Subcompact Cars #6 of 17 Best Subcompact Cars for Tall People
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
8.2 / 10
  • Reliability 8.0 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.6 / 10
  • Safety 8.0 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $14,260 - $15,490
USED PRICE $8,447 - $16,586
MPG 30 - 31 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 12.8 cu ft
Last new model year: 2019

Ford Fiesta (hatchback)

#2 of 4 Best American Hatchbacks #3 of 17 Subcompact Cars with the Most Horsepower #4 of 7 Best American Small Cars
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
8.2 / 10
  • Reliability 8.0 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.6 / 10
  • Safety 8.0 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $14,560 - $21,340
USED PRICE $8,994 - $18,700
MPG 28 - 31 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 10.1 - 14.9 cu ft
Last new model year: 2019

FIAT 500

#4 of 17 Subcompact Cars with the Most Horsepower #5 of 17 Subcompact Cars with Best Resale Value #5 of 17 Subcompact Cars with the Most Cargo Space
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
8.1 / 10
  • Reliability 7.6 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.7 / 10
  • Safety 8.0 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $16,495 - $20,745
USED PRICE $11,443 - $20,698
MPG 27 - 30 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 9.5 cu ft
Last new model year: 2022

Hyundai ACCENT

#3 of 17 Most Comfortable Subcompact Cars #3 of 3 Best Korean Subcompact Cars #5 of 8 Best Korean Small Cars
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

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8.1 / 10
  • Reliability 7.5 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.7 / 10
  • Safety 8.0 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $16,645 - $19,600
USED PRICE $10,995 - $19,590
MPG 36 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 13.7 cu ft

Kia Forte

#3 of 18 Most Affordable Compact Cars #3 of 6 Best Compact Cars Under $20k #3 of 5 Best Korean Compact Cars
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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

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8.0 / 10
  • Reliability 7.6 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.5 / 10
  • Safety 8.0 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $19,990 - $25,390
USED PRICE $13,290 - $23,000
MPG 26 - 32 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 15.3 cu ft
Last new model year: 2020

Hyundai ELANTRA GT

#2 of 43 Small Cars with the Most Cargo Space #2 of 28 Most Comfortable Hatchbacks #2 of 26 Compact Cars with the Most Cargo Space
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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

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8.0 / 10
  • Reliability 7.1 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.3 / 10
  • Safety 8.6 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $20,650 - $24,600
USED PRICE $12,448 - $21,528
MPG 26 - 28 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 24.9 cu ft

Mitsubishi Mirage (hatchback)

#1 of 43 Best Gas Mileage Small Cars #1 of 13 Most Affordable Hatchbacks #2 of 24 Most Affordable Small Cars
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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

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7.9 / 10
  • Reliability 7.1 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.5 / 10
  • Safety 8.0 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $16,695 - $18,895
USED PRICE $9,119 - $17,998
MPG 39 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 17.1 cu ft
Last new model year: 2022

Chevrolet Spark

#3 of 4 Best American Hatchbacks #5 of 7 Best American Small Cars #7 of 7 Best Manual Transmission Subcompact Cars
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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

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7.9 / 10
  • Reliability 7.1 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.6 / 10
  • Safety Not Available
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $13,600 - $18,100
USED PRICE $9,994 - $17,996
MPG 32 - 33 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 11.1 cu ft

Mitsubishi Mirage G4

#1 of 18 Most Affordable Compact Cars #2 of 43 Best Gas Mileage Small Cars #4 of 6 Best Compact Cars Under $20k
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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

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7.6 / 10
  • Reliability 7.1 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.1 / 10
  • Safety Not Available
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $17,795 - $19,595
USED PRICE $8,499 - $18,999
MPG 37 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 12.4 cu ft

MINI Hardtop 2 Door

#1 of 17 Subcompact Cars with the Most Horsepower #1 of 2 Best Small Cars Under $30k #1 of 1 Best Hatchbacks Under $30k
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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

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7.6 / 10
  • Reliability 6.3 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.5 / 10
  • Safety 8.0 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $28,950 - $34,600
USED PRICE $16,987 - $34,990
MPG 26 - 32 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 8.7 cu ft

MINI Hardtop 4 Door

#2 of 17 Subcompact Cars with the Most Horsepower #2 of 17 Most Comfortable Subcompact Cars #2 of 3 Best Hatchbacks Under $40k
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

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7.6 / 10
  • Reliability 6.7 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.5 / 10
  • Safety Not Available
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $35,600
USED PRICE $16,999 - $34,681
MPG 27 - 32 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 13.1 cu ft
Last new model year: 2020

FIAT 500L

#1 of 43 Small Cars with the Most Cargo Space #1 of 28 Hatchbacks with the Most Cargo Space #1 of 26 Compact Cars with the Most Cargo Space
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

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7.6 / 10
  • Reliability 7.0 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.2 / 10
  • Safety Not Available
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $22,500 - $24,645
USED PRICE $12,946 - $20,358
MPG 25 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 22.4 cu ft
Last new model year: 2020

Toyota Yaris Hatchback

#2 of 43 Small Cars with Best Resale Value #2 of 28 Hatchbacks with Best Resale Value #2 of 17 Subcompact Cars with Best Resale Value
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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

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Coming soon
  • Reliability Coming soon
  • Value Retention 9.1 / 10
  • Safety 10 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $17,750 - $18,750
USED PRICE $13,999 - $21,077
MPG 35 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 15.9 cu ft

Toyota Corolla Hatchback

#3 of 13 Most Affordable Hatchbacks #5 of 28 Hatchbacks with Best Resale Value #5 of 26 Compact Cars with Best Resale Value
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

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Coming soon
  • Reliability Coming soon
  • Value Retention 8.8 / 10
  • Safety 9.0 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $23,630 - $26,930
USED PRICE $17,488 - $26,980
MPG 33 - 35 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 17.8 cu ft

Toyota GR Corolla

#3 of 43 Small Cars with the Most Horsepower #3 of 26 Compact Cars with the Most Horsepower #6 of 28 Hatchbacks with the Most Horsepower
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

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Coming soon
  • Reliability Coming soon
  • Value Retention 8.7 / 10
  • Safety Not Available
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $36,500 - $45,140
USED PRICE $36,187 - $49,332
MPG 24 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 17.8 cu ft

Volkswagen Golf R

#2 of 43 Small Cars with the Most Horsepower #2 of 26 Compact Cars with the Most Horsepower #5 of 28 Hatchbacks with the Most Horsepower
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

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  • Reliability 7.8 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.4 / 10
  • Safety 10 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $45,665 - $46,465
USED PRICE $29,007 - $47,995
MPG 23 - 25 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 19.9 cu ft

Hyundai ELANTRA N

#2 of 26 Compact Cars with the Most Legroom #3 of 43 Small Cars with the Most Legroom #3 of 26 Best Compact Cars for Tall People
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

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  • Reliability Coming soon
  • Value Retention 8.4 / 10
  • Safety Not Available
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $33,700 - $35,200
USED PRICE $27,873 - $35,000
MPG 24 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 14.2 cu ft
Last new model year: 2019

Nissan Versa Note

#1 of 43 Best Small Cars for Tall People #1 of 28 Best Hatchbacks for Tall People #1 of 17 Best Subcompact Cars for Tall People
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

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  • Reliability 8.1 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.3 / 10
  • Safety 8.0 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $15,650 - $18,360
USED PRICE $7,995 - $15,998
MPG 34 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 18.8 cu ft

Volkswagen Jetta GLI

#6 of 26 Compact Cars with the Most Legroom #7 of 43 Small Cars with the Most Legroom #9 of 43 Small Cars with the Most Horsepower
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

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  • Reliability Coming soon
  • Value Retention 8.3 / 10
  • Safety 10 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $28,085 - $32,585
USED PRICE $20,996 - $30,384
MPG 30 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 14.1 cu ft
Last new model year: 2019

Chevrolet Cruze

#12 of 26 Best Compact Cars for Tall People #21 of 26 Compact Cars with the Most Horsepower #22 of 43 Safest Small Cars
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

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  • Reliability 8.1 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.0 / 10
  • Safety 9.0 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $17,995 - $25,620
USED PRICE $9,513 - $18,923
MPG 32 - 37 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 13.9 - 14.8 cu ft
Last new model year: 2019

Chevrolet Cruze (hatchback)

#3 of 26 Compact Cars with the Most Cargo Space #5 of 43 Small Cars with the Most Cargo Space #6 of 28 Hatchbacks with the Most Cargo Space
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
Coming soon
  • Reliability 8.2 / 10
  • Value Retention 8.0 / 10
  • Safety 9.4 / 10
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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $19,620 - $26,120
USED PRICE $9,954 - $18,892
MPG 31 - 35 mpg
CARGO VOLUME 22.7 cu ft

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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).