Best Compact Sedans of 2024

The best compact sedans of 2024 range from the practical and highly efficient to the potent and the posh. Our favorites combine all these attributes. 

Small, Smart, Fierce  

The compact sedan segment had long been about providing efficiency and practicality at an affordable price. But as the quality of the average car has risen steadily upward in the past two decades, the compact sedan segment has expanded its purview to include thrilling sportiness and jaw-dropping styling all while further expanding and improving on its traditionally thrifty traits. Below is our breakout of the top compact sedans of 2024. They represent some of the best, dollar-for-dollar values on the market, and do so with verve and panache.

9. Nissan Sentra

The Breakdown

Great pricing

Upscale interior

Impressive safety tech

Bland powertrain

No AWD option

Questionable braking power

A cheap but not cheerful sedan

CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
7.5/10

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MSRP
$20,630 - $23,720

BEST FUEL ECONOMY
30 City / 40 Hwy (MPG)

The 2024 Nissan Sentra offers most of the basics one expects in a compact sedan, but in a segment replete with more enticing options. The Sentra makes do with just one powertrain on offer, a 2.0L inline-four good for 149 horsepower sent to the front wheels. Fuel economy is respectable at 30 city / 40 highway mpg, but Nissan has declined to offer the Senta with a more efficient hybrid option. The interior of the Sentra is serviceable, if unexceptional, with comfortable seats and average space for the segment. Tech features include either a 7- or 8-inch touchscreen (versus competitors) and Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 suite of advanced safety assist features comes standard. The Sentra starts at $20,630 with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and cloth upholstery. In this highly competitive segment, the Nissan Sentra could do more to stand out from the crowd.

8. Kia Forte

The Breakdown

Sporty styling

Offers a manual transmission

Thrifty on fuel consumption

No hybrid option

Wireless mirroring only on small screens

Safety concerns

All the value

CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
7.75/10

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MSRP
$20,915 - $25,615

BEST FUEL ECONOMY
30 City / 41 Hwy (MPG)

The 2024 Kia Forte provides a good mix of high-quality tech, slick exterior styling, and a spritely GT model. Too bad then the attractive Forte is marred by less-than-stellar safety scores and a comparatively high price tag. The Forte’s base engine is a 2.0L four-cylinder making 147 horsepower and paired with a CVT (continually variable transmission) for a combined 34 mpg. The Forte GT upgrades to a 1.6L turbo-four with 201 horsepower and your choice of a 7-speed dual clutch automatic or six-speed manual, a rare treat these days.

The Forte’s interior is average for the segment in terms of quality but impresses with generous amounts of cargo and rear seat room. We also appreciate the combination of physical buttons and touchscreen controls. Speaking of the latter, the Forte offers the choice of an 8- or 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Kia’s standard safety tech suite is par for the course but below average safety reviews from IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) and NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) hurt its case. The Kia Forte starts at $20,915 and runs to $25,615 in GT form. Overall, the Kia Forte is an impressive, yet flawed compact sedan.

7. Volkswagen Jetta

The Breakdown

Manual transmission

Level 2 semi-autonomous driving tech

Impressive fuel economy

Small infotainment screens

Bland styling

Light on modern tech

Still a good car after all these years

CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
8/10

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MSRP
$22,585 - $32,935

BEST FUEL ECONOMY
29 City / 42 Hwy (MPG)

For a respectable everyday commuter, the Volkswagen Jetta has long been a solid option. The 2024 Jetta has a comfortable and spacious interior, good fuel economy, and offers a bit of excitement with the GLI trim and an optional manual transmission. Power for the Jetta comes in two forms. First is the base 1.5L four-cylinder making 158 horsepower and paired with either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. The GLI upgrades to a turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder with 229 horsepower and either the six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual clutch automatic. The latter version makes up for the Jetta’s otherwise forgettable driving manner with impressive power and agility.

The Jetta’s interior is at once both uninspired and yet inoffensive, taking few risks in favor of basic comforts provided by supportive seating and a spacious cabin area. A 6.5- or 8-inch touchscreen infotainment screen is small by any segment’s standard, but the Jetta makes up for this with a generous outfitting of advanced safety tech including “Travel Assist” a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving system. Unfortunately, the Jetta only achieved middling safety ratings. The Jetta S trim starts things off at $22,585 while the sporty GLI tops off the trim ladder at $32,935. In all, the Volkswagen Jetta is impressive, though some weaknesses keep it from the top of our list.

6. Toyota Corolla

The Breakdown

The GR variant

Excellent fuel economy

Low base price

AWD requires hybrid powertrain

Sluggish acceleration

Small infotainment screen

A Corolla for everyone

CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
8/10

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MSRP
$22,995 - $36,100

BEST FUEL ECONOMY
32 City / 41 Hwy (MPG)

The 2024 Toyota Corolla has long been among the best compact sedans thanks to its economical, reliable nature. The 2024 model is not different but adds a welcomed range of powertrain options and attractive/polarizing looks. The Corolla’s base engine is a 2.0L inline four-cylinder making 169 horsepower. The hybrid version swaps in a 1.8L in tandem with an electric motor for 138 horsepower, optional all-wheel drive, and up to 50 mpg. The GR Corolla is a good deal spicier with its turbocharged 1.6L three-cylinder pumping out 300 horsepower to all four wheels and paired with a six-speed manual transmission. The former two powertrains are sluggish to say the least, but the Corolla redeems itself with the molten hot GR.

The flipside of the Corolla’s aggressive exterior styling is its conservative and elegant interior. As nice as it is to spend time in the Corolla’s cabin, we wished it were a bit more spacious. An 8-inch touchscreen is par for the segment and comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Corolla comes standard with Toyota’s suite of advanced safety tech a.k.a. Safety Sense 3.0, and coupled with high plaudits from IIHS and NHTSA, make it among the safest cars in the segment. The Corolla starts at $22,995 and runs to $36,100 in the form of the GR. While pricey at its high end, the Corolla offers a range of options and powertrains to suit most buyers and a deserved reputation for value.

5. Volkswagen Golf GTI

The Breakdown

Great Safety Technology

Comfortable Seats

Great Cargo Space

Lackluster Infotainment

Pricey Performance Models

Manual Passenger Seat Adjustments

A practical hatchback

CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
8.25/10

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MSRP
$32,915 - $46,605

BEST FUEL ECONOMY
25 City / 34 Hwy (MPG)

The 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R reside near the top of the segment, both in terms of price and performance, making the GR Corolla and Civic Si and Type R their direct competitors. From this vantage, the Golf GTI and R stack up well when it comes to spirited driving but lag on other key metrics. The GTI is the least expensive of the two trims and packs a 2.0L turbo-four making 241 horsepower sent to the front wheels via either a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual clutch. The high-end Golf R also runs a 2.0L turbo-four now tuned to 315 horsepower sent to all four wheels courtesy of the six-speed manual or a seven-speed automatic. All that power comes at a price however, with the GTI netting 25/34 mpg while the Golf R comes in at an SUV-like 23/30 mpg.

The Golf GTI and R come outfitted with a nice-looking interior, though some expenses have clearly been cut when it comes to material choice. That much is forgivable, but what might not be is Volkswagen’s decision to house nearly all dash controls inside a clunky, glitchy infotainment system. The 8- or optional 10.25-inch touchscreen uses a less than responsive capacitive touch that can be both annoying and distracting to use. The Golf GTI and R compensate with a good array of standard safety tech features like automatic emergency braking. The GTI starts at $32,915 while the top-of-the-line Golf R climbs to a segment high of $46,605. The Volkswagen GTI and Golf R come close to the Civic Type R and GR Corolla in terms of performance but fall short in overall value.

4. Hyundai Elantra

The Breakdown

A manual transmission!

Impressive screen sizes

Hybrid fuel efficiency

AWD unavailable

Weak base motor

Wireless mirroring only on small screen

Hyundai proves the sedan is not dead

CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
8.75/10

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MSRP
$22,590 - $36,000

BEST FUEL ECONOMY
31 City / 40 Hwy (MPG)

The 2024 Hyundai Elantra continues the nameplate’s reputation for versatility with its myriad powertrain options, economical pricing, and bold styling. Indeed, the Elantra offers a powertrain for (nearly) everyone. The base 2.0L four-cylinder makes 147 horsepower and comes paired with a CVT. The highly-efficient hybrid marries a 1.6L four-cylinder with an electric motor for 139 horsepower and a combined 54 mpg figure. The N Line trim ups the output to 201 horsepower thanks to a turbocharged 1.6L four-pot. The Elantra N offers the most oomph with a 2.0L turbo putting out 286 horsepower. Amidst all this, there is, sadly, no all-wheel drive option.

The Elantra also sports a pleasant interior. Seating is comfortable and we appreciated the mix of physical buttons to augment the 8- or optional 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen. Hyundai’s Smart Sense driver’s aids and high safety rating only sweeten the deal further. The Elantra starts at $22,590 and runs up to $36,000 for the Elantra N. The Hyundai Elantra offers a bit of everything for buyers, and with a stellar five-year/50,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty it nears the top of the segment.

3. Toyota Prius

The Breakdown

Fuel economy up to 57 MPG

Costs less than $30,000

AWD availability

The glass roof is fixed in place

Doesn’t have Toyota’s latest driver aids

Cabin style leans into the bland zone

One compact car to rule them all

CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
9/10

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MSRP
$28,745 - $40,465

BEST FUEL ECONOMY
57 City / 56 Hwy (MPG)

The long-running Toyota Prius had a long-running reputation as a dull, odd-looking but efficient hybrid. I say had because the all-new 2024 Prius and Prius Prime plug-in hybrid rewrites the script with a stunning visual overhaul, even greater efficiency, and more pep in its hybrid step. The next-gen Prius is a shot in the arm for hybrids in general and for the compact car segment specifically. The standard Prius powertrain consists of a 2.0L four-cylinder combined with a battery-electric motor for 194 horsepower and 139 lb.-ft. of torque. For context, that’s a whopping 73 horsepower increase over the prior generation! The typically front-wheel drive Prius also offers optional all-wheel drive and boasts a jaw-dropping 57 mpg fuel-economy rating. The Prius Prime (front-wheel drive only) offers an even more robust 220 horsepower and up to 44 miles of electric only driving before the gas engine kicks on. It gets a still impressive 52 mpg.

The Prius was known for a quirky exterior, but it’s often had an equally odd yet functional interior. The 2024 revisions to the Prius extend inside and the result is a more conventional aesthetic while sacrificing none of its functionality. Despite its compact car dimensions, the Prius still manages to feel spacious inside with a commodious back seat and the added utility of a rear hatch. Buyers get the choice of an eight-inch or 12.3-inch touchscreen housing an intuitive infotainment system. Toyota’s Safety Sense 3.0 comes standard, and packages features like blind spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control. The 2023 Prius was named an IIHS Top Safety Pick and we expect the new 2024 model to score similarly. The 2024 Prius starts at $28,745 and tops out with the Prius Prime XSE Premium at $40,465. The visual and technical leaps the Prius has made with its new generation re-establish it as the premier hybrid and among the best compact cars you can buy.

2. Mazda3

The Breakdown

Great driving dynamics

Fun turbo engine

Top-notch interior

No hybrid option

Limited manual compatibility

Hatchback has poor rear visibility

A fabulous compact car value

CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
9/10

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MSRP
$25,335 - $36,615

BEST FUEL ECONOMY
28 City / 37 Hwy (MPG)

The 2024 Mazda3 is stylish, sporty, and infuses not a little bit of luxury into a classically “economical” segment like compact cars. Though we have our complaints, they dim in the brilliance of the Mazda3’s manifold positive qualities. The base engine for the Mazda3 is a 2.5L inline-four making 191 horsepower. Front-wheel drive is standard, as is a six-speed automatic. All-wheel drive is an option however, as is a six-speed manual on the front-wheel driven Premium hatchback version. The punchier Turbo trims run a turbocharged version of the 2.5L good for 250 horsepower (when running 93 octane) and come with standard all-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission. Power and nimbleness abound, at the expense of fuel economy which comes in at 31 mpg combined for the base engine and 27 mpg combined for the turbo. Given that, we hope Mazda will see fit to offer a hybrid option in the future.

The Mazda3’s interior is another highlight. Its elegant, uncomplicated design is executed using high quality materials (cost-saving hard plastics are well hidden). We especially appreciate Mazda’s use of a rotary knob for navigating the 8.8- or 10.25-inch infotainment system. It’s much less distracting than the typical touchscreen interface. An optional head-up display on higher trims and a bevy of standard driver assistance tech also earns plaudits. The Mazda3 starts at a higher-than-average $25,335 and rises to $36,615 for the Turbo Premium Plus. Even with that price premium, the Mazda3 gives you what you pay for and then some.

1.  Honda Civic

The Breakdown

Impressive fuel economy

Hatchback cargo space

6-speed manual lives on

No Wi-Fi hotspot

Underpowered base engine

Hybrid not quite ready

A well-rounded compact sedan

CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
9.25/10

How Do We Score?

CarsForSale.com takes into account key metrics to compile an aggregate score. Click to learn more.

MSRP
$25,045 - $44,890

BEST FUEL ECONOMY
31 City / 40 Hwy (MPG)

The top slot on our list of the best compact sedans goes to the 2024 Honda Civic thanks to its beguiling range of personalities. The Civic matches its fashion-forward exterior and interior designs (arguably the best in the segment) with a generous list of standard and available options, including high-performance variants the Si and Type R. The base Civic leans toward the economical with its efficient 2.0L inline-four making 158 horsepower and netting 35 mpg combined. Next is a turbocharged 1.5L four-cylinder with 180 horsepower. The Si tunes that turbo 1.5L to 200 horsepower while the top end Type R features a turbo 2.0L with a stellar 315 horsepower and a less-than-stellar 24 combined mpg. These latter two performance models both come exclusively with a six-speed manual. All versions are front-wheel drive only.

Honda did not pull its punches in the Civic’s cabin, in either design or execution. Fit and finish are laudable and the memorable styling sacrifices nothing to practical usability. A 7-, 8-, or 9-inch touchscreen houses an intuitive infotainment system that includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The Honda Sensing advanced safety suite includes features like adaptive cruise control and automatic high beams, among others, and compliments the Civic’s impressive safety ratings. The Honda Civic offers a lot for a little in the base trim LX, starting at $25,045, and the hottest of hatches in the Type R, rounding out the trim lineup at $44,890. Everywhere along the spectrum, there’s a Civic to suit your needs and budget, which makes it a compelling choice as the best compact sedan of 2024.

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