Size Might Matter
If you’ve ever squeezed into a “compact” parking spot and thought, there has to be a better way, you’re not alone. Around the world, a handful of tiny cars and microcars are still being produced and driven today, expected to share the road with some of the biggest beasts we’ve come to know and love. Depending on your needs, your interests could fall to either side of this list.
1. Citroën Ami
This little electric runabout is only about 2.41 meters long (7.90 feet), about half the size of your standard sedan. It’s built for short city hops, making it the perfect companion for running errands or commuting to and from work.
2. Mobilize Duo
Renault’s Mobilize brand keeps things ultra-compact with the Duo at roughly 2.43 meters (7.97 feet) in length. It’s aimed at urban mobility and sharing-style use, so it’s more “zip through town” than “road trip machine.” In some countries, like France, Spain, and Germany, you don’t even need a license to drive it.
3. Fiat Topolino
The Topolino comes in at about 2.53 meters long (8.30 feet), honoring the brand’s name of “little mouse.” It’s sold as a quadricycle in parts of Europe, toeing the line between car and golf cart.
4. Microlino
The Microlino is roughly 2.52 meters (8.26 feet) long and is inspired by the BMW Isetta from the 1950s. It’s designed for city life where parking is tight, and trips are short, but it can still handle all of your groceries when needed.
Ferdinand Braun Keutner on Wikimedia
5. Wuling Hongguang Mini EV
This popular compact car is small, low-cost, and perfect for the eco-conscious driver. It’s China’s best-selling electric vehicle as of 2023, and has all the high-tech gadgets you’d expect from a full-size vehicle.
6. Suzuki Alto
Suzuki has been producing this vehicle since 1979, making it a long-standing popular vehicle worldwide. It’s said to have good handling, acceleration, and just enough room to get you where you need to go.
7. Daihatsu Mira e:S
Another kei-class favorite, the Mira e:S is a space-conscious hatchback that prides itself on its eco-friendliness with a sports car look. It’s only 3.39 meters (11.1 feet) long, but still has four seats and trunk space to serve every purpose.
8. Fiat 500e
The electric Fiat 500e stays compact at about 3.63 meters (11.9 feet) long. It feels like a proper modern car, just scaled down to be city-smart. If you want tiny-ish but still highway-capable, this car is the perfect middle ground.
9. Kia Picanto
The 2025 Picanto is listed at 3.59 meters (11.7 feet) in length, and it’s basically a city-car classic. It’s small enough to make tight parking painless, but roomy enough that you won’t feel like you’re wearing the car.
10. Hyundai i10
The Hyundai i10 is another true city hatch, with a commonly listed length of 3.67 meters (12 feet). It’s still short and maneuverable, but it doesn’t feel like you’re compromising every time you bring a bag or a passenger. If you’re trying to keep life simple while staying practical, the i10 fits that mission nicely.
1. Ford Transit Extended
If you want a vehicle that looks like it could carry a sofa and your entire friend group at the same time, this is it. In extended form, it stretches to 6.67 meters (21.9 feet) long, making it the perfect car for people who enjoy the outdoors or work in a field that requires some serious construction work.
2. GMC Sierra 3500HD Long Bed
This heavy-duty beast hits 6.76 meters (22.2 feet) in a long-bed crew-cab configuration, and it absolutely owns the lane. The hood feels like it starts in one ZIP code and ends in another. You don’t drive this so much as you captain it.
order_242 from Chile on Wikimedia
3. Chevy Silverado 3500HD Long Bed
The Silverado 3500HD crew cab with a long bed comes in at about 6.73 meters (22.1 feet), which is a whole lot of truck. The bed length alone is 98 inches, and the car’s powerful engine makes it perfect for hauling boats, trailers, or other large-scale items.
4. Ram 3500 Crew Cab
Go with the crew cab and the 8-foot box, and you’re looking at around 6.61 meters (21.7 feet) of Ram. It’s the kind of length that makes compact cars seem like accessories. The upside is you’ll never doubt you brought enough trucks.
5. Cadillac Escalade ESV
Luxury can be enormous, too, and the Escalade ESV proves it. Sitting almost at 5.76 meters (18.9 feet), you’ll have your own first-class lounge at your fingertips. It has all the modern upgrades too, making it feel like you’re in a James Bond movie.
6. Jeep Grand Wagoneer L
The “L” is doing heavy lifting here, because this one reaches roughly 5.73 meters (18.8 feet) in overall length. It’s big, plush, and unapologetically dramatic; it should almost arrive with its own theme music. This is the perfect car for a family road trip.
7. Jeep Wagoneer L
Same long-body idea, similarly huge footprint, just without the higher-quality features. It’s the kind of SUV that makes you feel like you should be towing something, even if it’s just a cooler. You’ll be grateful for cameras and sensors, because it can be hard to see your surroundings with so much truck to contend with.
8. Chevrolet Suburban
The Suburban has been the “big SUV” blueprint forever, and it still shows up at roughly 5.73 meters (18.8 feet) long. It’s roomy enough to swallow luggage, sports gear, and your entire extended family. This type of car is perfect if you don’t desire the look of a truck or jeep, but still need some heavy-duty lifting.
Michael Satterfield on Unsplash
9. GMC Yukon XL
The Yukon XL comes in at about 5.69 meters (18.7 feet) long, packed with luxury from bumper to bumper. If nothing else, you’ll definitely feel like you own the road in this supercharged beast. Just be prepared to pay top dollar for it.
10. Ford Expedition MAX
The Expedition MAX checks in at around 5.6 meters (18.4 feet) long. It’s big in a family-friendly, road-trip-ready way, like it was designed around coolers and carry-ons. You’ll appreciate the space most when everyone’s tired, and nobody wants to pack strategically.
