Compact cars are trendy in 2021, and for good reason. Compact cars are zippy and quick. For folks that live in urban and suburban areas, compact cars can be extremely efficient. These cars are generally smaller than most cars making them easy to maneuver around tight parking spaces and crowded city streets. Parallel parking is almost a non-issue with compact cars.

The main requirement for a compact car is the length requirement. In order to be considered a compact car, the car must be between 161 and 187 inches long. It should also have 100-109 cubic feet of passenger space. Here are the best compact cars in 2021:

1. Honda Civic

The Honda Civic comes in at a respectable $22,245 for the base model. The gas mileage for the Civic comes in at 32 mpg in the city and 42 mpg on the highway. It’s on the high end of the compact car spectrum, length-wise, coming in between 177 inches and 182 inches. The gas mileage for the Civic is absolutely stellar getting 32 mpg in the city and 42 mpg on the highway. The dash comes with a touchscreen for navigation and entertainment and two USB ports.

2. Toyota Corolla

The latest offering in the Corolla line is the 2021 Toyota Corolla. The Corolla is an incredibly cheap option with the base package starting at $21,020. The gas mileage is great coming in at 31 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway. This car is on the higher end of compact cars with a length of 182 inches.

3. Volkswagen Golf

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf is the newest offering from Volkswagen in their popular Golf line of cars. The Golf is measured at 168 inches in length really doubling down on the compact nature of the car. The car’s retail price starts at $24,190. The Golf has great handling and gets 29 mpg gas mileage in the city and 39 mpg on the highway. The Golf’s interior is extremely spacious and comfortable while providing a lot of storage room. The features aren’t top of the line but everything is designed in a sleek manner. The Golf comes with a 6.5 inch infotainment monitor and auto-braking with pedestrian monitoring.

4. Kia Forte

The 2021 Kia Forte is a super strong offering from Kia. The gas mileage on the new Kia is wonderful. The new Forte gets 31 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway. This is one of the longest of the bunch measuring 183 inches long. This car costs $18,885 for the base model. The Forte boasts a great style that’s sure to impress anyone on the streets. The Forte contains a lot of space making long trips super comfortable and the ability to store many things in the trunk. The Forte also offers heated seats throughout with an upgrade. Apple Car Play and Android Auto both come standard on the all new Forte, really putting this one in the front when it comes to technology.