The Honda Civic boasts praiseworthy performance, high fuel economy, excellent passenger space and a refined design. There are a few minor drawbacks, such as elevated road noise on the highway, but overall the Civic is a great pick for a small sedan.

The Kia Forte sedan was redesigned in 2019. Overall, it more than satisfies with its mix of great features, attractive style and appealing price.

The Elantra stands out with its high fuel economy, impressive technology and safety features, and roomy cabin. It’s also comfortable and strong on value. The base engine is lackluster but otherwise this is a great pick for a small sedan.

If a fun-to-drive character and a classy interior rank high on your shopping list, then the Mazda 3 should be right at the top. It may come up short in a few categories on paper, but in the real world it’s more than capable and definitely worth a test drive.

Have a look at the Subaru Impreza and you’ll find a capable small car with plenty of room, a nice-looking interior, a comfortable ride and standard all-wheel drive. The main downside here is relatively lackluster engine performance, both in power and efficiency.