If you’re on a tight budget and need a car that’s easy to drive and park around town, practical enough to carry luggage, and cheap to run, consider buying a used hatchback. They’re also very easy to drive, making them great for people that are learning to drive too. And because they’re light and easy to drive, they can be surprisingly fun vehicles too. Here are the best ones for your consideration.
Toyota Matrix
This is a hatchback version of the bestselling Corolla. It provides basic transportation and in a practical package. It also comes with an all-wheel-drive paired to a 158hp 2.4L four-cylinder engine. AWD is rare in the compact hatch world. If you want something frugal, go for the standard 1.8L 132hp option that returns 32mpg.
Honda Fit
If you need a subcompact that can store a lot of your junk, then this is your car. It has an incredible amount of interior space for its size and can slip in and out of tight space with supreme ease. Its interior is also customizable, and its 117hp 1.5L engine returns 35mpg on the highway.
MINI Cooper
This is a really fun car. It offers a driving experience that makes you fall in love with it. It comes with a front-wheel drive, is light, and has a 121hp 1.6L engine that loves being driven. If you can handle it, go for the one with a six-speed manual transmission.
Chevrolet Sonic
Cash in on outdated thought processes with the Chevrolet Sonic. This competitive subcompact hatchback has a 1.4L turbo-four that churns out 138hp and returns 40mpg on the highway. It has a decent amount of cargo space. And because people think it’s not reliable, it’s available for really low prices.
Volkswagen GTI
We all want sports cars, but we need to prioritize our spending in a way that lets us live too. Here’s a fun way to have both. The Volkswagen GTI is a mature looking hatchback that has the power, handling, and performance of a sports car. This hatchback is practical and comfortable enough for daily necessities and has 200hp under its hood to keep you smiling.