Automotive trends come and go. Sometimes, such as with the hatchback, they tend to last a long time. Other times, while the idea looks great on paper and makes sense in practice, it just doesn’t catch on. Such is the case with tiny cars. While extra-large models like the Jeep Wagoneer L, Cadillac Fleetwood 75, and the 1958 Chrysler Town and Country have won the hearts of drivers across America, there have been many attempts at scaled-back, efficiency-forward motorized vehicles over the years.
The two-seater IMP, the three-wheeled Brogan Doodlebug, and even the popular King Midget were among the many microcar experiments produced in the 20th century. The early 2000s saw the rising popularity of the Smart Car, which became part of a movement to revolutionize transportation before it was discontinued in the US after the 2019 model year. All of these small cars were unique and highly practical, but they were united by one common factor: poor sales.
What if you’re the type of person who believes less is more? Luckily, some auto manufacturers are still tuned in to smaller-sized vehicles. Here are five of the smallest cars on the new car market today.
The Smallest Off-Roader
It probably comes as little surprise that the 2025 Jeep Wrangler is the smallest rugged vehicle on the market today. At just 166.8 inches in length, the two-door Wrangler is one of the smaller new vehicles in the entire American auto market. The 2025 Wrangler has a standard 3.6L V6 engine, providing 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque for all your expeditions. A six-speed manual transmission is also standard, though an eight-speed automatic is available as an option.
Besides being small, the Wrangler is known for its agility. It’s tall enough to ford up to 34 inches of water, with rugged drive modes that can find grip in sand, rock, dirt, and snow. Each model is equipped with a range of axles, suspension, and 4×4 technology to help you reach your destination, wherever that may be. Perhaps best of all, you can take the doors and roof off and let the open-air ride help you connect with Mother Nature.
The Smallest SUV
Measuring just 159.1 inches in total length, the 2025 Hyundai Venue is considered the smallest new SUV in the US. Despite the diminutive exterior dimensions, those in the front passengers enjoy 53.9 inches of shoulder room, while rear-seat passengers get nearly as much with 53.7 inches of shoulder room. With the rear seats folded, there is room for 31.9 cubic feet of cargo. Offered in three trims–SE, SEL, and Limited–the Venue doesn’t skimp on comfort and convenience features. Drivers can select features such as heated seats and a sunroof while accessing standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity via the eight-inch infotainment touchscreen.
The Smartstream I-4 engine makes a modest 121 hp, but it’s important to put this figure into perspective. America’s OG compact car, the 1973 Honda Civic hatchback, provided a mere 50 hp and measured 139.8 inches long. While the Venue may not win any street races, it will help you navigate even the most cramped city streets without compromising cargo space.
The Smallest Sports Car
At just 154.1 inches in length, the 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata is an easy winner of this category. The Miata has had no trouble winning over the hearts of sports car drivers since its introduction in 1989. With just two seats and 4.6 cu.ft. of trunk space, the Miata devotes most of its available space to engineering.
The 2025 MX-5 Miata is offered in four trims: Sport, Club, Grand Touring, and a 35th Anniversary Edition. All models are powered by an 181-hp engine, equipped with a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. The Miata gets 35 MPG on the highway thanks to its lightweight design. Like most sports cars, the “wow factor” doesn’t stop with the engine. Features such as a nine-speaker Bose audio system with AudioPilot headrest speakers and three-level heated leather seats make it known that this small budget-friendly sports car isn’t a shrinking violet.
The Smallest Convertible
While the Miata is offered as a convertible, the honors for the smallest convertible go to the 2025 Mini Cooper Convertible, which is just 152.6 inches long. (Note that the hardtop 2-door Mini Cooper is also 152.6 inches long, but this is a category for convertibles, not hard tops.)
The Mini Convertible is powered by a 2.0L twin-turbo I-4 engine that makes a hasty 161 horsepower in the base Cooper C model, and 201 horsepower in the Cooper S version. The top John Cooper Works trim has a top speed of 152 mph, thanks to its upgraded 228-horsepower engine. It also offers the lowest highway fuel economy at 35 MPG. The Cooper and Cooper S models get 36 and 37 MPG on the highway, respectively.
Mini Coopers are often seen as quirky roadsters, and the round headlamps and 9.4-inch round touchscreen certainly confirm this assumption. However, the JCW Convertible shouldn’t be overlooked as a performance car. From its highly tuned engine to Dynamic Damper Control technology and sport brakes, maneuverability is key in this small package, with drivers reporting a high occurrence of “fun” when driving the Cooper Convertible.
The Smallest EV
Last and least in terms of length, meet the 2025 Fiat 500e, the smallest street-legal passenger vehicle available in the American market. Measuring just 143.1 inches from bumper to bumper, the Fiat 500e is truly designed in the spirit of economical travel. Its all-electric power source offers 117 hp, and a full charge provides an EPA-estimated 149 miles of range. Neither of these numbers seems exceptionally high until you consider that the Fiat 500e is engineered to be a city street people mover rather than a long-haul roadtripper.
Though the Fiat 500e is the smallest contender on this list, it offers a surprising amount of interior space. The cargo hold expands from a modest 7.5 cu.ft. to an exceptional 19.4 cu.ft. with the rear seat folded. Standard across the lineup are a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity and a seven-inch digital gauge cluster. The top trim for 2025 is a collaboration with Giorgio Armani, blending automotive elegance and fashion in a way that makes perfect sense with exclusive Italian fashion house-inspired interior and exterior elements. Elegant and electric, the Fiat 500e could be thought of as both transportation and an accessory.
Micros, Minis, Tiny, and More: Today’s Smallest Street-Legal Transportation
Late model Smart Fortwo cars measure just 106 inches in length, making each of these vehicles look like a behemoth in comparison. However, tastes change, and the American driving public has cast its vote for larger and taller vehicles. There’s still plenty of room on the roadways for these smaller, more economical vehicles, though. Whether you like the idea of an economical ride, or prefer the agile handling and maneuvering of a littler car, these five examples demonstrate that tiny cars aren’t awaiting a comeback, because they were never really gone.
