TG Guide news - Clarkson hearts small cars - 2009

See TG's Guide to Small Cars gallery

Shock news: Clarkson has admitted that small, economical cars are actually better fun than big, lairy powerful ones.

It’s true. In his column in the new issue of Top Gear magazine (available in all less-than-reputable newsagents), JC writes:

“In the real world, away from the wide open spaces of the TG test track, a Fiat 500 is much more fun to drive than a Zonda. A Zonda will pull more men, but on a bumpy B road, you’ll be wearing a bigger smile in the Fiat, I promise. Or a Mini…”

He’s not ill or anything, honest. Truth is, it’s a great time in history for tiny, great-handling cars. Cars that won’t blow your budget, hobble you with eye-watering running costs or force you to remortgage your kidneys to raise some capital if someone bumps into you in the local multi-storey.

To remind you of all the good stuff out there, we’ve collected together the best little cars on sale today (and one or two ropey ones, just to be on the safe side) and metaphorically glued them all together in a lovely click-through gallery.

It’s definitely much more exciting than that Zonda R. Honest.

See TG's Guide to Small Cars gallery. Or jump straight to our verdicts on each of the cars listed below:

Citroen C3

Daihatsu Materia

Fiat 500

Fiat Grande Punto

Ford Fiesta

Ford Fusion

Hyundai i20

Kia Rio

Mazda2

Mini

Nissan Micra

Nissan Note

Peugeot 1007

Peugeot 207

Proton Satria Neo

Renault Clio

Renault Modus

Seat Ibiza

Skoda Fabia

Suzuki Splash

Suzuki Swift

Toyota Yaris

Vauxhall Agila

Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Meriva

Volkswagen Polo