'We tested the best small cars in the UK and there was one clear winner'

A group of motoring experts have tested a range of small cars on sale in the UK and have come to a clear winner about which is the best.

The experts, from the publication WhatCar?, have driven a range of vehicles from brands across the automotive world.

After thorough examination and testing, they came to a clear top three, one of which was dubbed the most practical, despite not winning overall.

The car that came first has long been a favourite amongst those looking to buy a small car.

The winner chosen by the experts was the Renault Clio with a list price of £20,595. Giving it five stars out of five, they said: "Think of the Renault Clio as being the Swiss Army knife of small cars; it's got an answer to virtually every question you might ask of it."

They praised the Clio for its economy and performance - from it's 1.0litre petrol engine, as well as being "better to drive than most rivals" - including "a good balance between comfort and agility".

They concluded: "All in all, the Clio is great value for money; it undercuts the equivalent [Suzuki] Swift and [Skoda] Fabia on price and is far cheaper than the Honda Jazz."

Coming in second was another car from the French Renault brand, the Clio's bigger electric brother, the Renault 5. The Renault 5 has been widely praised as one of the best electric cars on sale today.

The experts said that whilst the 5 had tight rear legroom for people who were "six-footers", they praised the car for its "attractive pricing...well equipped interior [and] slick infotainment".

In a longer review, they added: "The Renault 5 is designed primarily as an urban and suburban runaround, and it's really well suited to town driving. The tight turning circle of just 10.3 metres certainly helps, but the light, accurate steering also impresses."

Coming in third was the Honda Jazz, which was described as the best small car in their list for practicality, but criticised for being more expensive than its rivals and not the "quietest cruiser".

In their more in-depth review, the experts compared the Jazz to a popular TV show, suggesting it has always deserved more praise than it has received.

They explained: "The Honda Jazz is one of those cars that - like contestants on Britain's Got Talent - are gifted in various ways but have so far not had the universal adoration they perhaps deserve.

"While the Jazz has always stood out for its practical interior and reputation for excellent reliability, it has never really hit the heady sales heights of some of its more conventional small car rivals."

WhatCar?'s review of the best small cars on offer in the UK comes as new data shows that one in four new car buyers are choosing to go electric.

The data, courtesy of the SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders) said that whilst electric sales were rising, that they were still below mandated levels.

In a statement, the SMMT's Chief Executive Mike Hawes said: "A second consecutive month of growth for the new car market is good news, as is the positive performance of EVs.

"That EV growth, however, is still being driven by substantial industry support with manufacturers using every channel and unsustainable discounting to drive activity, yet it remains below mandated levels.

"As we have seen in other countries, government incentives can supercharge the market transition, without which the climate change ambitions we all share will be under threat."