Small and clever, these compact superminis should prove frugal and practical, but never boring. Some are more spacious, some are more fun to drive, but you should find your ideal compact car here whether you're starting out or trading down.
1 - Ford Fiesta
The Ford Fiesta can seemingly do no wrong. Even just before it was replaced by a new model in the middle of 2017, Ford's 40-year-old nameplate maintained its position near the top of the sales charts and our list of best superminis. The new one is much better inside, distinctly more refined and yet just as brilliant to drive.
Read the full Ford Fiesta review here
2 - SEAT Ibiza
SEAT has produced a truly cracking supermini in its 2017 Ibiza and not everyone in the CompleteCar.ie team thinks the Fiesta is better than it - it really is that good. The subtle design and high quality make it feel like a car from the class above - and it's great to drive too.
Read the full SEAT Ibiza review here
3- Skoda Fabia
You really couldn't find a car more upright and sensible than the Fabia – it's spacious, beautifully made and very affordable with prices starting from just over €14k. You do need to add some spec to liven up the cabin, though.
Read the full Skoda Fabia review here
4 - Honda Jazz
We'll grant you it's not the prettiest car here, but the Jazz packs an enormous amount of space into that shape. It's huge inside and hugely reliable too. Looks expensive on paper, but comes with impressive list of standard equipment.
Read the full Honda Jazz review here
5 - Mazda2
You won't find many better-looking cars in this list than the sharply-styled Mazda2, and you won't find many that are better to drive either. It's pricey, though, and has quite tight rear seats.