How to buy the right supermini for you

The best superminis combine looks, handling, fuel economy, safety and reliability

Whether you’re looking for something economical, stylish or environmentally friendly, read our essential guide now.

All-rounder | Economy | Style and handling | Eco-friendly

All-rounder

The best superminis combine looks, handling, fuel economy, safety and reliability.

An excellent example is the latest Renault Clio, which starts at £7,485 for the basic model, rising to £17,250 for the fully loaded version. The Clio is in insurance group 2, so offers cheap insurance, decent fuel economy at 47.9mpg and tax band C will set you back £115 per year.

The Vauxhall Corsa is another much-loved supermini in the same tax band as the Clio. The Corsa gets a massive 61.4mpg and the 1-litre Expression model is in the lowest insurance group, priced at £7,495.

It may be 12 years old, but Ford’s Ka is as popular as ever. With a steady fuel consumption rate of 45.6mpg and low running costs, the Ka is well-known for its reliability. Prices start at £7,095.

Economy

Budget-priced superminis with low running costs and good safety ratings are ideal for first-time car buyers.

A new Daihatsu Sirion is one of the cheapest superminis available, in terms of running costs. The standard 1-litre engine means its CO2 emissions are low and road tax is only £35 per year. Its on-the-road price is £7,495.

The Citroen C1, with its unique urban exterior is even cheaper at £5,995. The more recent Citroen C2 is priced higher but its 50.4mpg and 133g/km CO2 emissions make it ideal for the eco-friendly driver.

Take a look at the eco-friendly section in this guide for more money-saving superminis.

Style and handling

The Mini Cooper emerged as a newborn classic after its redesign seven years ago. Boasting a top speed of 126mph, sturdy grip, refined looks and a fuel economy of 48.7mpg, the new Mini is already a winner, but the fact it’s fun to drive makes it even more so. Prices start at £12,995.

For a bigger, better-performing Mini, you might want to consider the Mini Clubman – with prices from £14,235 - £20,455.

The brand new Fiat 500 is enjoyable to drive and as stylish as they come, with a completely customisable exterior. It also received a full five-star rating in its EuroNCAP safety tests.

Peugeot’s 207 is another exciting yet safe supermini with its sleek, eye-catching looks and five-star EuroNCAP safety rating. The 207 is comfortable to drive, easy to handle and has prices starting at £8,995.

Eco-friendly

Superminis are comparatively eco-friendly compared some other car classes, due to their low engine sizes and small forms.

The Volkswagen Polo Bluemotion 2 can travel 700 miles on a full 45-litre fuel tank, thanks to improved aerodynamics. The car is reasonably swift too, with 80bhp and a maximum speed of 109mph. It costs between £7,612 and £15,622.

The Bluemotion 2 can cover an average of 70.6mph in tax band B, but the original Bluemotion can travel for 74.3mpg. It’s also tax-free with C02 emissions at just 99g/km, making it the most eco-friendly car in its class.

The uniquely shaped Mitsubishi i, on the other hand, emits 114g/km of CO2, and therefore costs just £35 in tax per year. It’s practical and makes a great inner city supermini at £8,999.

For the ultimate green driving experience however, the £7,297 Goingreen G-Wiz is entirely electric-powered, so it emits no C02 whatsoever. This means it avoids all road tax and the London congestion charge.