Best small five-door cars
Discover our favourite small five-door cars to consider buying
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By Ben Welham
Last updated: 9 May 2025
In the UK, we have access to many of the best small five-door cars in the world.
Due to our smaller roads, tighter country lanes and busy cities, a small five-door hatchback is all you really need to get around in.
From the weekly food shop to trundling over to the beach at the weekend, there’s so much you can use them for.
With that in mind, here are our favourites you can buy used to save a fortune:
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What are the best small five-door cars?
Volkswagen up!
Toyota Yaris
Renault 5
Honda Jazz
Hyundai INSTER
Kia Picanto
Peugeot 208
MG3
Dacia Sandero
Vauxhall Corsa
The 10 best five-door cars in the UK
Volkswagen up!
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Many people think city cars peaked in the late 1990s, but we’re currently living in the era of the small car, and the Volkswagen up! is living proof that a small five-door hatchback is all you need.
It launched in 2011 and has proven very popular among city dwellers and those wanting to downsize to a nippy petrol car without compromising on style.
You can have one as a three-door, but we’d recommend looking for a five-door model if you regularly use the rear seats, giving you that extra flexibility. Boot space? Well, that’s 251 litres.
Power comes from a dinky 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine with 58hp, but this power jumps up to 73hp in later models fitted with a turbocharger.
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Toyota Yaris
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Often referred to as a ‘cockroach car’, a Toyota Yaris will keep going as long as time itself.
Not only are they incredibly robust and well-built, Toyota’s been making them since 1999, so it’s safe to say they’re a proven formula by now.
From its inception, the Yaris was available with either three or five doors, with most buyers opting for the latter for ease of use, with a 296-litre boot at the back.
Engines have varied over the years, but recent models have just one featuring a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with between 115hp and 129hp.
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Renault 5
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Relaunched in 2024, the Renault 5 breathes a breath of fresh air across the small car sector, with fun colours, great specs and an attractive price.
Now as a fully electric car, the Renault 5 offers silent driving and zero tailpipe emissions, which is a bonus for everyone.
There are two different power options: a 120hp and 150hp version, and these come with 190 miles and 250 miles of range respectively.
As for boot space, you get an impressive 326 litres, beating its MINI Cooper Electric rival by more than 100 litres.
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Honda Jazz
 "Honda Jazz Crosstar driving")
Electric cars may be all the rage, but let’s not forget about the humble hybrid, which, with a Honda and Jazz badge is one of the most logical cars for most people.
You get up to 58.9mpg, great styling, all the tech you’d ever need (without being too confusing to operate) and a Crosstar variant if you want an off-road-y look.
Like its Yaris rival, it too gets a 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine but with i-VTEC self-charging hybrid capabilities paired with an e-CVT gearbox for maximum efficiency.
Not only this, but you get a 298-litre boot for added practicality.
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Hyundai INSTER
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If you’re after one of the cheapest electric cars on sale today, then the Hyundai INSTER should be high on your list.
There are two different battery options, giving you 203 miles or 229 miles of range, but we’d always suggest the bigger battery, if possible, for that boost in range.
Overall, they’re really easy to use and live with, and you won’t spend a fortune charging it, especially if you can plug in at home overnight.
Unlike most other cars, boot space varies here depending on the model. The 01 gets 280 litres and the 02 and 03 boots vary from 238 to 351, depending on how the rear seats are positioned on the sliders.
Kia Picanto
 "Kia Picanto driving")
Need the essence of a car? Look no further than the Kia Picanto. If you want the most slimmed-down version of motoring, then this is the one to choose.
It’s simple without being sparce and still gets you all the mod cons you need in a current car.
Newer can sometimes be better, but if you go for a slightly older used one, you will get the turbocharged engine that Kia foolishly removed for the later car, which means they struggle more on the motorway.
For such a tiny car, boot space isn’t half bad either at 255 litres. Plus, it has an adjustable floor, giving you a deeper loading area if needed.
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Peugeot 208
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The Peugeot 208 punches well above its weight in terms of styling, tech and drivability.
All models now come with five doors, so you will always have easy access to the rear seats, and with both manual and automatic gearbox options, there’s plenty of flexibility here too.
The interior is the star of the show though, with Peugeot’s signature i-Cockpit and small steering wheel, which is very easy to handle.
Boot space is decent too for such a small car at 311 litres – plenty for the weekly shop or a long weekend away.
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MG3
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Despite the popularity of the MG4 EV, the petrol-powered MG3 has not been forgotten, and it’s proof that small, cheap cars still have a very favourable seat at the global car table.
Being a hybrid, it also has an electric motor that works in unison with the four-cylinder 1.5-litre engine, giving it increased efficiency and a claimed 62.8mpg.
It also comes as a five-door-only model, so space is generally pretty good, and this extends into the boot where you’ll find 293 litres of space.
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Dacia Sandero
 "Dacia Sandero front three quarters")
Budget motoring has never been more alive, and the Dacia Sandero is the leader of this movement.
With cheap materials and expertise borrowed from Renault, the Dacia Sandero is an inexpensive and fun way into small five-door car ownership.
Its 1.0-litre engine is only small, but the turbocharger gives it that extra shunt of low-end torque to get you up to speed – especially on the motorway.
Plus, you get a sizeable 328-litre boot, which makes this a very attractive option for small car buyers.
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Vauxhall Corsa
 "Vauxhall Corsa front three quarters")
Ever since the Fiesta went off sale in 2023, the Vauxhall Corsa has been busy hoovering up the pieces (and buyers) and is now one of the best all-round hatchbacks money can buy.
Available in a range of trims, engine options and styles, it’s not hard to see why Vauxhall has sold millions of them over the years.
Being a small car, you can’t expect a big boot. But the Corsa surprises with 309 litres back there, which is plenty for most people.
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Discover used small five-door cars for sale
If you’re ready to make the jump into small five-door car ownership, there are very few options better than the 10 above.
Search for a used small five-door car online with a 14-day money back guarantee and a 90-day warranty.
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