10 of the Best Small Used Cars

red honda fit

Small used cars are the backbone of the entry-level automobile scene, with many first-time drivers choosing a secondhand compact or subcompact vehicle as the starting point on their automotive journey.  The small used car universe is a diverse one, with options ranging from practical to economical to fun, all depending on what you need out of a daily driver.  Fortunately, most used compact and subcompact automobiles also happen to be relatively affordable, which underscores their long-term popularity as entry-level options. 

Let's take a quick look at 10 of the best small used cars and see what they have to offer budget-minded drivers.

01. Mazda MX-5 Miata

The Mazda MX-5 Miata is proof positive that small and affordable don't have to equal boring on a used car lot.  The Mazda MX-5 Miata is a compact roadster that features perfect 50/50 weight balance, excellent handling, and the choice between either a soft top or a power retractable hardtop (for additional all-weather capability).  The inexpensive Miata comes with a 167 horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, and depending on trim level you can find versions of the car offering five and six-speed manual transmissions as well as a six-speed automatic.  It's hard to match the 'fun to dollars spent' ratio of the Mazda MX-5 Miata.

02. Ford Focus

The Ford Focus is another small used car that offers interesting driving dynamics, even though it's not aimed at the enthusiast crowd.  Available in both sedan and practical hatchback body styles, the Ford Focus is suitable as bare-bones daily transportation but can also be equipped with a high level of technology, as later models feature the MyFord Touch vehicle interface as well as an automatic parking system.  More recent used Focuses boast a 2.0-liter, 160 horsepower four-cylinder engine that is also good for 146 lb-ft of torque, and you'll find five-speed manual and six-speed dual-clutch automated manual editions of the car.  Fuel economy for SFE trim levels of the Focus is listed at 28-mpg city and 40-mpg highway.

03. Mazda Mazda3

The Mazda Mazda3 can be thought of as one of the best options for compact car fans who need to stay within budget, but who also want to maximize handling.  Guided by the same design philosophy that helped create the Miata, the Mazda Mazda3 (whether found in a hatchback or a sedan) is nimble and poised in the corners while still offering a high level of available equipment and good road manners when the going gets rough.  Late-model used Mazda3s are known for their Skyactiv engine technology, which helps the car's 155 horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder unit achieve 28-mpg in city driving and 40-mpg on the highway (beware of the car's base 2.0-liter, non-Skyactiv unit, which is less powerful and not nearly as frugal).  Used Mazda3s can also be had with a 167 horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder that returns 20-mpg city and 28-mpg highway, and transmission choices for the car include five and six-speed manuals and five-speed automatics.

04. Buick Verano

The Buick Verano was introduced as an experiment to see whether compact shoppers would cotton to a small luxury-oriented sedan.  The move was a successful one, and the Buick Verano has found an audience on both the new and used car market.  Much quieter inside than most vehicles of its size, and featuring a high level of comfort and convenience equipment, the Verano also offers a pair of four-cylinder engine options.  A 2.4-liter motor good for 180 horsepower and 171 lb-ft of torque has been available since the beginning, but in the second year of production a 2.0-liter turbocharged unit was also introduced, bringing with it 250 horses and 260 lb-ft of twist.  The former is the more efficient of the pair, but the latter adds a six-speed manual transmission option alongside the Verano's standard six-speed automatic.

05. BMW 1 Series

The BMW 1 Series wasn't just the smallest car in production from BMW during its six-year stay on our shores - in the eyes of many it was also the most fun to drive and the most true to the German brand's sporting roots.  Available as both a coupe and a convertible, with the fixed-roof edition being more affordable as a small used car, the BMW 1 Series offered a choice between a 230 horsepower, 3.0-liter, naturally-aspirated inline six-cylinder engine (128i) or a turbocharged version of the same good for 300 horses and 300 lb-ft of torque (135i).  Transmission options for the 1 Series include a six-speed manual and a six-speed automatic.

06. Volkswagen Beetle TDI

The Volkswagen Beetle TDI shed most of the cute aspects of its retro styling a few short years ago when it was made over in a more modern image.  The Volkswagen Beetle TDI didn't make our list of small used cars based on looks alone, however: it's here primarily due to its exceptionally efficient turbodiesel engine.  The Beetle TDI's 2.0-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder is rated at 28-mpg in stop an go driving and 41-mpg on the highway, which is head and shoulders above most of its rivals.  With 140 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque on tap the TDI's no slug, either, and a six-speed manual or six-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission are available with the car.

07. Nissan Cube

The Nissan cube's unusual squared-off looks have tickled the fancy of wagon fans seeking a compact people and cargo mover that stood out from the crowd.  With as much as 58 cubic feet of total hauling space available with the rear row of accommodations folded forward, the Nissan Cube is at least as practical as several larger SUVs.  It also features 27-mpg in city driving and 31-mpg on the highway from a 122 horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder motor thanks to its available continuously-variable automatic transmission (a six-speed manual was also offered with the Cube).  

08. Mazda Mazda2

The Mazda Mazda2 shrinks down the larger Mazda3's joie-de-vivre and injects above-average handling into its subcompact platform to offer an inexpensive, yet still intriguing hatchback package.  Although the Mazda Mazda2's 100 horsepower, 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine isn't going to win any drag races, the simplicity of the car's chassis, combined with its 29-mpg city and 35-mpg highway rating provide a balance between economy and fun.  A five-speed manual is recommended when seeking out a used example of the Mazda2, as it offers thriftier fuel consumption along with better acceleration compared to the also-available four-speed automatic.

09. Toyota Matrix S

The Toyota Matrix S is no longer in production, and that's because it represented a somewhat old school take on what a compact car should offer.  Essentially a hatchback version of the popular Corolla, the Matrix S deviated from the standard Toyota playbook by offering the option of all-wheel drive - a rarity amongst hatchbacks in its class.  Opting for an AWD Matrix S also meant choosing the car's more powerful 158 horsepower, 2.4-liter motor and a four-speed automatic transmission.  Naturally, this combination doesn't offer the most competitive fuel mileage, but its winter-friendly traction is a boon to those looking for a small used car in a snowy winter climate.

10. Honda Fit

The Honda Fit isn't easy to find cheap, as this small used car has recruited legions of fans thanks to its reliability and sheer utility. You get just a tick over 57 cubic feet of total cargo space inside the Honda Fit, which is made even more impressive by the car's tiny footprint.  It's all made possible by Honda's 'Magic Seat' system that offers a variety of configurations to accommodate oversize items. Under the hood, the Fit offers a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that develops 117 horsepower and 106 lb-ft of torque, matched to either a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission. Fuel mileage for the Fit shows as 28-mpg city and 35-mpg highway.

Photo by Honda