Top five small passenger cars of 2024

SUVs may be the pick of the bunch right now, but there’s a lot to love about the handful of small passenger cars still on offer.

Our rewind through 2024 has brought us to these small cars, and we’ve compiled a list of the top five highest-rated models we reviewed throughout the year.

We’ve kept budget in mind here, as the cars here are only found in the small for less than $40,000 category on the VFACTS sales charts. We of course reviewed multiple more premium cars too, but this article will focus on the more palatable cheaper alternatives.

Some of these models have been reviewed on multiple occasions this year, so we’ve only featured the variant that achieved the highest rating.

Prices are based on each manufacturer’s configurators using a Victorian postcode, which should provide a representative estimate of what the average Australian buyer will end up paying.

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Click on car’s name in the table above to jump directly to its information on the page, or keep scrolling for the full article.

Toyota Corolla

The cheapest Corolla proved to be a solid car as a sedan, evidenced by marketplace editor James Wong’s class-leading score of 8.5 out of 10.

We praised the Corolla for its efficiency and interior practicality, the latter of which is particularly strong in the Ascent Sport sedan we reviewed.

It also scored well on cost of ownership and safety, while its ride comfort, handling dynamics, and value for money were identified as general strengths. We also expect it to be “endlessly reliable” given its Toyota construction, something that will be a benefit for new Corolla buyers.

Its uninspiring nature was listed as a negative though, and supply constraints at the time of our original review also put a question mark over the Japanese brand’s ability to meet demand.

We felt its performance wasn’t quite up to scratch either, but we thought it was overall a strong iteration into the traditionally safe Corolla range.

You can read our full review of the Toyota Corolla Ascent Sport Hybrid here

Interested in buying a Toyota Corolla? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here

MORE: Everything Toyota Corolla

Hyundai i30

Given the size of the i30 range we had loads of reviews of the various variants published over 2024, four of which shared in the same score of 8.4.

The only hatchback to receive 8.4 in 2024 was the N Line, which is the entry to the updated i30 Hatch range. We liked its sporty handling and surprisingly peppy engine, but it lost marks for value as it’s too expensive for an “entry” model.

Then there was the base i30 Sedan, which opens the entire range by sneaking under $30,000 drive-away. We appreciated the space available in the second row as well as its engine and transmission combo, but felt it was cheap in places and was hindered by its annoying speed limit assist.

Equally, the i30 Sedan N Line was praised for its interior space, as well as its “great pricing and specs” and its “sharp looks”. It suffered from the same drawbacks as the standard sedan, and we weren’t impressed by its “terrible shut lines”.

At the top of the range is the i30 Sedan N, which was commended for its blistering performance, handling, and its ability to make you “smile from ear to ear”. Again the speed limit assist and interior plastics cropped up as complaints, and we felt it also had a poor turning circle.

You can read our full reviews of the highest-rated Hyundai i30 models below:

Interested in buying a Hyundai i30? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here

MORE: Everything Hyundai i30

BYD Dolphin

Marketplace journalist Josh Nevett was a fan of the BYD Dolphin, as evidenced by his score of 8.2 for the top-spec Premium.

Though we think it’s an “acquired taste”, we liked the Dolphin’s interior layout and were impressed by its extensive list of standard gear. Its interior practicality and space scored highly, along with its efficiency and cost of ownership.

As for its 150kW/310Nm electric powertrain, we felt it had plenty of poke and did well to get the car moving at a reasonable pace.

We weren’t as keen on its driver assist technology, as the semi-autonomous driving system was found to be twitchy and struggled to stay in its lane on the freeway. In the same setting, we also thought there was too much wind noise.

Its mix of interior materials wasn’t ideal either, but the Dolphin proved to be a solid option in the budget electric hatch world.

You can read our full review of the BYD Dolphin Premium here

Interested in buying a BYD Dolphin? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here

MORE: Everything BYD Dolphin

Mazda 3

Mazda’s second-smallest hatch may not be what it once was, but it’s still a competitive option in the segment and was given a rating of 8.0 by marketplace journalist Max Davies.

We feel it’s a good-looking car backed up with loads of tech for both infotainment and safety, which was bolstered by the inclusion of the Vision Technology Package on our mid-spec tester.

Our car was also the most expensive Mazda 3 variant to be fitted with a 2.0-litre engine, which meant its performance was merely acceptable rather than being anything impressive.

It at least handled confidently with sporty inclinations, something that reflected positively on the car’s driving experience and overall score.

If you could get past a slightly smaller cabin and some hiccups with its driver monitoring, we’d say the Mazda 3 was still a good buy for the segment.

You can read our full review of the Mazda 3 G20 Touring here

Interested in buying a Mazda 3? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here

MORE: Everything Mazda 3

Subaru Impreza

The final car to crack the top five was the Subaru Impreza, which in its base 2.0L guise scored 7.8.

Subaru has cemented the Impreza in its lineup over the years, and its 2.0-litre naturally aspirated boxer with all-wheel drive is a formula it continues to stick with.

For that reason we felt it had a comfortable ride and benefited from well-calibrated safety tech, while it had strong interior tech despite its base model leanings. Its price is also among the lowest on this list, another selling point for Subaru’s smallest hatch.

While its drivetrain is a tried-and-tested setup, its boxer engine was deemed to merely be adequate with uninspiring performance. Like the Mazda 3, it’s just enough to get the car moving comfortably without being anything too flashy.

Its boot space is also compromised, and we were disappointed you get a urethane steering wheel instead of a leather-wrapped option. The Impreza is overall a solid car, but not particularly exciting.

You can read our full review of the Subaru Impreza 2.0L here

Interested in buying a Subaru Impreza? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here

MORE: Everything Subaru Impreza