The Cupra Raval, produced by the VW Group, has been named the best small car in the UK by Auto Express, winning the Supermini of the Year 2026 award. The car beat more established rivals including the Fiat Grande Panda and Kia Picanto.
What Makes the Cupra Raval Stand Out
Auto Express praised the Cupra Raval for its fun driving experience, reasonable price, and practical interior. The car lost marks for a "slightly disjointed cabin design," and reviewers noted they had not tested the cheaper version. They concluded: "This supermini-sized EV is in part a preview of what to expect when Volkswagen's ID.Polo goes on sale a little further down the line, but the Cupra has its own character and talents - enough to be rated Supermini of the Year at the Auto Express 2026 New Car Awards."
Second and Third Place
In second place was the Fiat Grande Panda, praised for its playful design, fantastic cabin, and good pricing. However, it lost points for lack of refinement at higher speeds, a sluggish powertrain, and limited information display functionality. Third place went to the Kia Picanto, which was Auto Express's City Car of the Year for 2025. It was commended for its fun driving dynamics, equipment list comparable to larger cars, and spacious interior. It lost marks for its slow 1.0-litre engine, lack of hybrid option, and the cheaper Dacia Sandero as a competitor.
Small Car Market Still Thriving
Despite the rise of SUVs, small cars remain popular in the UK. Companies like Kia, VW, and Toyota continue to launch new models, including quadricycles. Auto Express compiled its list of the best small cars on sale, with the Cupra Raval taking the top spot. The publication noted that the Raval is an electric supermini and offers a preview of the upcoming Volkswagen ID.Polo.
The journalist who wrote this article drove the Fiat Grande Panda at the SMMT Test Day at Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire. He said: "With the likes of the Citroen Ami (I know that's a quadricycle but let me have this one), the Picanto, returning Citroen 2CV, potential return of the Ford Fiesta, and continuation of the MINI Cooper Hatch, it feels like small cars are set for a resurgence. Those cars, both current and future, will have a job keeping up with the Fiat Panda Hybrid for proving that a small practical car with a small engine can be this good."
