Small cars with high driving position

By Tia Harrison-North

Last updated: 1 April 2025

Small cars with high seating positions aren’t as hard to come by as they might sound. Although it might seem counterintuitive, there are a fair few smaller cars that can keep you seated high and comfortable.

Whether you want a compact SUV or a family hatchback, here are our top picks for small cars with high driving positions.

What are the best small cars with a high driving position?

• Citroen C3 Aircross

• Honda Jazz Crosstar

• Audi Q2

• Dacia Sandero

• Volkswagen Golf

• Skoda Kamiq

• Ford Puma

• Mini Countryman

Best small cars with a high driving position

Citroen C3 Aircross

The Citroen C3 Aircross starts of as a small SUV, but has the option to be bought as a seven-seater if you want to upgrade to something bigger.

Both cars are spacious with a high seating position, making it easy to see your surroundings.

Sam Sheehan, our motoring editor, took the C3 Aircross for a spin and said: “There’s loads of space for a couple of tall adults up front, with a decent amount of legroom.

If you’re tall it might be worth avoiding a model with the panoramic glass roof because this cuts down on headroom.”

Honda Jazz Crosstar

Everyone loves a Honda Jazz (right?), so the Honda Jazz Crosstar has got to be even better – especially if you want a small car with a high driving position.

The whole interior is spacious and comfortable, and there’s a 298-litre boot that’s easy to load into and would fit a pushchair or good-sized suitcase.

The Jazz Crosstar also brings us ‘Magic Seats’. These can be folded down to create a loading space from the boot, or backwards into the boot to create a space behind the front seats.

Audi Q2

If you want a small car with a high seating position that feels luxurious – have you met the Audi Q2?

It’s a subcompact crossover SUV (that means it’s small and a bit hatchbacky) that’s comfortable to drive and gives a great view of the road.

Ben Welham, our motoring journalist, tried the Q2 for himself and said: “The beauty of having a small SUV is that is often behaves in a similar way to the hatchback on which it’s based.

“In the Audi Q2’s case, this is certainly the way. It definitely fits the ‘A3 on stilts’ stereotype in its handling.”

Dacia Sandero

There’s not enough love in this world for the Dacia Sandero. It’s so good at so many things, and it’s also great value for money.

This time, we’re praising it for being a reliable small car with a high seating position. It’s based on the Renault Clio, but feels more refined to us and not as aged as the Clio can sometimes seem.

The Blue 95 dCi diesel option can achieve up to 62.7mpg if you’re driving sensibly, with low CO2 emissions at 98g/km.

Volkswagen Golf

So, we’re throwing you a curveball here and offering a true hatchback – the iconic VW Golf.

Despite being a relatively small car that sits low to the ground, you’ll be pretty high up in the driving seat and have an impressive view of the road out of massive windows all-round the car.

The door openings are wide, and the boot is spacious (381 litres – to be exact), making it perfect for families who need extra space and easy access.

Skoda Kamiq

The Skoda Kamiq is one of the best small cars with high driving positions if you’re an SUV fan.

What really makes the Kamiq stand out from other SUVs in the small sector is the sheer amount of glass. We’re talking about the massive windows all-round the car, and thin pillars that don’t block your view at any angle.

If you need boot space, you’ll have 400 litres to fill up. That can be extended to 1,395 litres if you fold down the rear seats.

• Skoda Kamiq vs. SEAT Arona: which is better?

Ford Puma

Another small car with a high driving position, the Ford Puma gives us giant windows and slim pillars that make for an excellent view.

This one has a focus on a peppy drive. It’s based on the Fiesta hatchback, which has some of the best handling of all the small hatchbacks, and gives us a smooth and comfortable ride.

Sam rated the Puma 4.5 stars out of five. He said: “The Ford Puma is a practical, stylish small crossover that’s big on space and fun.

It's super practical, with a roomy cabin and durable build quality, so you'll be comfy even on long motorway journeys – including for passengers.”

Mini Countryman

Minis are a lot of fun, with a quirky design and eye-catching infotainment system. They can also be some of the best small cars with high seating positions.

We rate the Mini Countryman as one of the best choices. Scoring a full five-star Euro NCAP rating and sharing parts with its BMW cousins, it’s reliable and secure.

You’ll get a full view of the road from very plushy seats, and reversing cameras give you even more visibility.

What makes a small car have a high seating position?

A high seating position doesn’t mean the car itself sits high up – though it helps. This is just a car that isn't too loungey or low to the ground, so you can get a clear view of the road at all angels.

Benefits of a high driving position

A high driving position can be more comfortable than the laidback seats in some models, as your posture will be supported, and you won’t be craning your neck to see around the car.

You might also feel safer higher up, and it could have benefits for those with limited mobility.

How to adjust your driving position

There are a few ways to get a higher seating position and a better view of the road, including adjusting your seat and steering wheel.

Adjusting your seat

There will be different ways to adjust your seat depending on the car you’re in, but there will typically be levels or buttons around the seat with different functions.

Typically, you’ll be able to adjust the height, angle and position of the chair. There are often buttons at the top of the chair or side closest to the door to move the position of the seat, and ones towards the bottom to adjust the height.

Some cars have electric controls that use buttons instead, and may even have memory functions to remember your perfect driving position.

Adjusting your steering wheel

Again, how you can adjust your car steering wheel will depend on the model. Usually, there’s a small level under the steering column that will allow you to adjust the heigh and depth of the wheel.

Typically, this lever makes the wheel loose, and you can move it around before securing it by locking the level back in place.

Always make sure your seat and steering wheel are firmly secured in place before driving.

Explore small used cars

That’s a few of our top picks for the best small cars with high driving positions – but those aren't the only models on the market.

Take a look at our full range of small used cars to see what other options are available.

Read more about small cars:

• Small cars with low road tax

• Comfortable small cars