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Best Compact Cars of 2023
Our list can help you find the best compact car of 2023. Each year, our KBB.com editors examine every vehicle and choose the cars on this list based on the best value, safety options, features, fuel economy, and more.
How we rate vehicles |What Our Ratings Mean
- 0-1.0: This is the rarest group of all because a really bad new car is really, really hard to find these days. We recommend that you pass on any vehicle receiving a rating between 0 and 1.
- 2.0: Cars landing in this set are also rare. Only true love and limitless passion (or a free vehicle) should allow you to give in to temptation for one of these vehicles.
- 3.0: Is the vehicle you’re looking at in this range? We’d bet that if you look a little harder, you’ll find a better vehicle at a similar price to fulfill your needs.
- 4.0: This is the area where the rubber meets the recommendations. The 3-4 range is full of good cars and some great ones. Starting here, it’s OK to listen to your heart.
- 5.0: These scores represent the cream of the crop, with “5.0” representing, well, near perfection. Any car you choose in this group will treat you very well over time.
How Kelley Blue Book Rates Cars
Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing.
Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.)
We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.
FAQ
What is the top-rated vehicle among best compact cars of 2023?
Currently, the 2023 Honda Civic tops the list of KBB.com’s best compact cars of 2023. After hours of test driving and analysis, our experts assigned the Civic a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.
What are the top 3 vehicles among best compact cars of 2023?
The 2023 Honda Civic, 2023 Hyundai Elantra, and 2023 Toyota Corolla are the highest-rated models on KBB.com’s list of best compact cars of 2023.
Which of the best compact cars of 2023 is the most affordable?
The 2023 Subaru Impreza has a starting price of $18,692, making it the most affordable option on KBB.com’s list of best compact cars of 2023.
Which of the best compact cars of 2023 is the most fuel-efficient?
With a combined fuel economy of 35 MPG, the 2023 Toyota Corolla is the most fuel-efficient vehicle on KBB.com’s list of the best compact cars of 2023.
What is the #1 best compact car of 2023 in America?
Currently the 2023 Honda Civic tops KBB's always up-to-date list of the best compact cars of 2023 in America. It gets 4.7 out of 5 stars from our car experts, has a starting MSRP of $29,684 and gets 31 MPG. Learn more at Kelley Blue Book.