4 best small cars to lease

If you’re in the market for a small car, or a city car to give the segment its proper name, you might be finding it tricky to find the one that’s right for you. 

Though every manufacturer has a city car in its range, the fact is they’re increasingly growing so it can be difficult to know which is best for your needs and circumstances. 

So, to help, we’ve made a list of the four best small cars to lease. 

1.   Toyota Yaris

If you’re environmentally conscious and looking for a hybrid with really good fuel economy, the Toyota Yaris is a small car you have to consider. 

Toyota has been creating and selling hybrid cars for decades. They were way ahead of everyone else, and it shows. 

The Yaris emits less than 100g/km of CO2, so it’s perfect if you’re looking to limit the impact your daily life is having on the planet. 

There’s only one engine available; a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol, teamed with two electric motors and a battery pack. 

The car is great at identifying when it’s time to switch between petrol and electric, and the transition is seamless. 

Behind the wheel, the Toyota Yaris is a strong contender, with a smooth ride and limited road noise. It’s also spacious, too, considering its size.  

Storage room isn’t as generous, however, coming up pretty average for a city car. But that shouldn’t be too much of an issue, unless you’re hoping to use your car as a home away from home. 

Overall, the Yaris is an environmentally-kind, smart small car which offers good value for money.  

2.   Fiat 500

With its iconic and immediately recognisable styling, the Fiat 500 is one of those cars that never seems to go out of fashion. 

It’s unlike anything else out there in terms of looks, with its retro-yet-modern style making it an attractive prospect for many. And that’s before even getting into the million different styling combinations available. 

To drive, it handles well. There’s not a lot of power available – so if you’re regularly sitting on the motorway, you’re going to be putting a lot of stress on the engine. But for around-town driving, the 500 is more than capable. 

Inside, a lot of the styling reflects that of the exterior. Usually, at least some of the interior trim matches the colour of the exterior bodywork. But there’s a good amount of handy, easy-to-use tech on offer, too. This includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, cruise control, speed limiter and rear parking sensors. 

It’s comfortable too. We’re not talking Range Rover levels, but again, if the majority of your driving is inner-city, you should have no problems. 

As you’d expect from a car of its size, there isn’t a huge amount of space available. But with smart folding seats and clever design, you can access up to 550 litres of luggage capacity. 

All in all, the Fiat 500 is a perfect small car to lease if you’re looking for something personalised, dynamic and fun but aren’t too picky about top speeds or mountains of space. 

3.   Hyundai i10

The Hyundai i10 is another city car that impresses almost beyond belief. In terms of styling, it’s not as out there as some others in its class, but for drive and comfort it’s certainly one of the best. 

Whereas some cars on this list struggle on the motorway, the i10 handles motorways as well as it does tight town centres, and the cabin is a pleasant place to find yourself.

As standard, the i10 comes with a 3.8-inch screen, Bluetooth, cruise control, idle stop and go and lane departure assist. There’s also vehicle stability control, speed-sensitive auto-door locking, and daytime running lights. 

The little Hyundai also impresses in terms of practicality, where there’s plenty of room in the front and space for three in the back – albeit, rear passengers may not appreciate super-long journeys back there. 

Overall, the Hyundai i10 is a very capable little car, with a focus on practicality and drivability over anything else. 

4.   Honda Jazz

The Honda Jazz is an excellent small car thanks to its space and seating flexibility, top-of-the-range hybrid engine, strong performance and fuel economy.

It has a great interior too – attractive, easy to use and convenient – and a sterling reputation for reliability. 

The hybrid version utilises fuel and electric power to improve efficiency, using two electric motors and a compact battery, alongside a 1.5-litre petrol engine.

Because it’s a hybrid, you won’t get far on the electric engine alone. But the car is smart enough to know when to split between the two. 

It’s a highly comfortable, safe and predictable, and it’s quiet, even when the engine kicks in and takes over from electrical power. Before that, it’s virtually silent. 

The Jazz is great if you’re looking for a safe, quiet and reliable hybrid, and you’re not too bothered about popularity contests. 

If practical car driving is all you care about, this is the city car for you.

Finding the right small car for you

As we said at the start, finding the right city car can be tricky. And if those on this list don’t do it for you, here at Zero Deposit Car Leasing, we have a wide selection available for lease right now – all with no deposit. 

Alternatively, if you’d prefer to sort your finance first, you can – all without harming your credit score. 

Use our quick and easy soft search online application, and we’ll let you know within minutes whether you’ve been approved.