Compact cars are great for 2021. They’re great on gas mileage and easy to maneuver in busy city streets and crowded parking lots. To be considered a compact car, the car needs to have a few requirements. First, it needs to be 161 and 187 inches in length. It also needs to have 100-109 cubic feet of passenger room.

Compact cars are great for that tough parallel parking job and just a great overall car! Here are the four best compact cars you can buy in 2021:

1. Volkswagen Golf

The Volkswagen Golf is a strong contender for best compact car of 2021. You really can’t go wrong with this car, as it has everything you’d want in a compact car. The Golf retails for $24,190 which makes it a relatively affordable compact car option. Buyers can choose between a couple of options when purchasing the Golf. The Golf comes with 16 inch wheels and comes standard with an automatic transmission, although potential buyers can upgrade to manual for an increased price. It doesn’t have a lot of horsepower but it makes up for it in handling and reliability. The Golf gets great gas mileage as it gets 29 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway making this a great commuter car. The Golf comes in at 168 inch of length making it a smaller option even in the world of compact cars.

2. Honda Civic

The 2021 Honda Civic is another great compact car option. The Civic retails at $22,245 making this an even more affordable option. The Civic boasts very good power for a compact car. It comes standard with 150 horsepower but can be upgraded to a turbo-charged 180 horsepower. There are upgraded versions available from the sport sedan and EX sedan. The length of the Civic is a bit longer as it can range from 177 in. in length to 182 inches in length. The gas mileage for the Civic is even better. It gets 32 miles per gallon in the city and 42 miles per gallon on the highway. The 2021 model also comes with an upgraded touch screen equipped with Apple Play.

3. Toyota Corolla

The 2021 Corolla is an amazing budget option for a compact car. It retails at $21,020 which makes it incredibly affordable. The Corolla has a little less horsepower than the Civic but it’s nothing to sneeze at. The base models come with a 139 horsepower but there are also options to upgrade to a 169 horsepower engine for a price increase. The gas mileage is also great with 31 miles per gallon in the city and 40 miles per gallon on the highway.

4. Kia Forte

The Forte is an amazing option for a compact car coming in at $18,885. The base model comes in with 147 horsepower making it fairly powerful for a base model. It can also be turbocharged up to 201 horsepower. The gas mileage on the Forte is great with 31 miles per gallon in the city and 41 miles per gallon on the highway. The Forte is 183 inches in length making it a bit bigger than a few of the other options but the added power is a nice touch for a great price.