Finding the right car when you have specific needs can be challenging.
For those struggling with back problems, joint pain, or mobility issues, the simple act of getting in and out of a vehicle can be a daily struggle.
Meanwhile, those who share their car with partners or family members of different heights know the frustration of constantly adjusting seats and mirrors.
Small cars have long been popular in the UK for their fuel efficiency, easy parking, and lower cost—but their traditionally low seating positions can create real obstacles for many drivers. Conversely, larger SUVs offer excellent accessibility and visibility but can be intimidating to drive, expensive to run, and challenging to maneuver in tight urban spaces.
This growing need has prompted manufacturers to develop a specialised category: small cars with high driving positions that combine the best of both worlds.
2025 Best Small Cars With a High Driving Position
Toyota Yaris Cross
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The 2025 Toyota Yaris Cross stands out for drivers needing a small car with a high driving position.
Its elevated seating provides excellent forward visibility thanks to a low dashboard and bonnet, making it perfect for those who find traditional hatchbacks too low.
For those with mobility challenges, the raised seating position helps with getting in and out.
The 400-litre boot comes with an adjustable-height floor on all models, eliminating the awkward bending when loading items.
Families sharing one car will appreciate the extensive seat and steering wheel adjustments, making it easy to switch between different drivers. The straightforward dashboard layout with physical climate controls ensures anyone can operate it without fuss.
As a 2025 award winner, the Yaris Cross represents a current solution in this specialist segment, avoiding outdated models that might soon disappear from showrooms.
Ford Puma
Retail Price: £27,480.00
Savings: £4,976.00
Motorfinity Price: £22,504.00
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The 2025 Ford Puma takes its place in our list of best small cars with high driving positions, though its unique selling point is a bit different.
Unlike traditional high-riding small SUVs, the Puma offers a balanced approach to elevated seating that prioritizes driving dynamics alongside visibility benefits.
When stepping into the Puma, you'll notice how Ford has cleverly designed the driving position.
While not sitting as high as some rivals, the seat height strikes a smart balance - high enough to improve visibility while maintaining the car's sporty character.
The wide-opening doors and well-positioned seats make getting in and out easy, especially helpful for those who value accessibility.
For urban drivers navigating busy streets, the Puma offers practical advantages. The seating position, combined with large windows and slim pillars, helps you spot potential hazards sooner.
Light steering and a tight turning circle make city driving easier, while standard rear parking sensors assist with tricky parking spots.
Dacia Sendero
Retail Price: £19,915.00
Savings: £970.00
Motorfinity Price: £18,945.00
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The 2025 Dacia Sandero makes a compelling case in our list of best small cars with high driving positions by delivering remarkable value alongside practical visibility benefits.
As one of the UK's most affordable new cars, it proves that enhanced driving position and good visibility don't have to come with a premium price tag.
The vehicle is also reliable. It comes with a standard three-year/60,000-mile warranty, which is average for the class.
The wide-opening doors and optimal seat height make getting in and out exceptionally easy, a feature particularly appreciated by those who value easy access in their daily routine.
Living in a bustling urban environment? The Sandero's design really shines in city use. The light controls and responsive steering make navigating tight spaces effortless, while the well-tuned suspension smooths out urban road imperfections effectively.
The higher driving position gives you a confident view of your surroundings, helping spot potential hazards in busy traffic situations.
Volkswagen Golf
Retail Price: £28,185.00
Savings: £4,067.00
Motorfinity Price: £24,118.00
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The 2025 Volkswagen Golf earns its spot in our list of best small cars with high driving positions through thoughtful design and engineering excellence.
This latest iteration continues the Golf's legacy of balancing practicality with driver comfort, now enhanced with improved visibility features and an optimized seating position.
When you enter the Golf, the first thing you'll notice is the commanding view of the road ahead. The carefully calibrated seat height combines with large windows and slim A-pillars to create excellent all-round visibility.
Getting in and out is effortless thanks to wide-opening doors and an optimal seat height, making it particularly appealing for those who value easy access in their daily routine.
While some rivals offer more dramatic styling, the Golf's focus on usability and comfort, combined with its elevated driving position, makes it a compelling choice for those seeking a premium small car with excellent visibility.
Volkswagen T-Roc
Retail Price: £31,060.00
Savings: £4,622.00
Motorfinity Price: £26,438.00
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The 2025 Volkswagen T-Roc sets new standards in the compact SUV segment with its optimised high driving position, delivering a commanding view that enhances both safety and driving confidence.
The vehicle's elevated stance has been engineered to provide superior visibility while maintaining the agile handling characteristics that urban drivers demand.
When you enter the T-Roc, the carefully calibrated seating position immediately demonstrates VW's attention to driver-focused design.
The high-set seats, combined with slim A-pillars and large windows, create excellent all-round visibility that surpasses many competitors in its class.
The wide-opening doors and optimal step-in height make daily access effortless, particularly benefiting those who value easy entry and exit.
The practical benefits extend to daily usability, with the raised seating position enhancing comfort on longer journeys.
A generous 445-liter boot (392 liters in 4Motion versions) and efficient engine lineup, notably the 1.0 TSI 110 achieving 44.7mpg in real-world testing, make the T-Roc a compelling choice for those seeking SUV-like visibility without compromising on compact car convenience.
Skoda Kamiq
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The 2025 Skoda Kamiq strengthens its position in our list of best small cars with high driving positions by focusing on practicality and comfort rather than a towering stance.
While it doesn't offer the highest driving position in its class, it compensates with exceptional visibility and thoughtful design that makes it particularly appealing for urban drivers.
When you enter the Kamiq, you'll notice how Skoda has prioritized visibility through clever design choices.
Though the seating position isn't as elevated as some rivals, the combination of narrow front pillars, large windows, and excellent all-round glass coverage creates outstanding visibility in all directions.
This makes the Kamiq particularly effective for urban driving, where clear sightlines matter more than pure height.
For city dwellers, the Kamiq's approach to visibility proves highly effective. Its tight turning circle and precise steering make it exceptionally maneuverable in confined spaces.
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Dacia Duster
Retail Price: £21,820.00
Savings: £998.00
Motorfinity Price: £20,822.00
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The 2025 Dacia Duster leads our selection of cars with high driving positions, offering SUV-like visibility at an unmatched price point.
The elevated stance provides clear road views while maintaining easy access for all passengers.
In daily use, the Duster's high position proves invaluable.
The commanding view over traffic combines with large windows and optimized pillar placement to maximize visibility.
The light steering and manageable dimensions make urban navigation surprisingly easy despite its SUV stature.
Practicality matches the strong visibility benefits. The 472-liter boot (in 2WD models) exceeds many pricier rivals, while the spacious cabin accommodates adults comfortably in both rows.
Engine choices focus on efficiency, with the new hybrid delivering 55.4 mpg while maintaining adequate performance for both city and highway driving.
The interior prioritises durability over luxury, featuring hard-wearing materials that withstand daily use.
Retail Price: £18,305.00
Savings: £886.00
Motorfinity Price: £17,419.00
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The 2025 Citroen C3 delivers impressive high driving position benefits in a compact, value-focused package.
The elevated SUV-like stance combines with thoughtful design elements to create excellent visibility for urban driving.
Citroen is, without a doubt, one of the best small cars out there for its accessibility. It is very easy to get in and out with wide-opening doors and comfortable seat heights. For tall drivers, it has adequate headroom and legroom, and even the tall passengers in the rear don't feel cramped, as is the case with many small cars.
Practicality matches the visibility advantages, with the C3's SUV-inspired design creating good space efficiency.
The 310-liter boot handles daily needs capably, while the raised roofline ensures good headroom for both front and rear passengers.
The interior uses durable materials that prioritize function over luxury, with clever touches like a fabric dashboard strip adding visual interest.
Hyundai Inster
Retail Price: £1,621.38
Savings: £371.38
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The 2025 Hyundai Inster offers a high driving position in an incredibly compact body (just 3.8m long).
Despite its small exterior, it provides surprising interior space with excellent visibility through large windows, making it ideal for those who find traditional cars too low.
For mobility-challenged drivers, the elevated seating position makes getting in and out easier, while the cabin is wide enough to prevent shoulder-rubbing.
The 02 trim adds versatile sliding rear seats that can prioritise either passenger space or luggage room (up to 351 litres).
The comfortable driving position with intuitive controls works well for households sharing one car, while the electric powertrain gives responsive city performance with a smooth ride over urban roads.
With up to 229 miles of range and a five-year warranty, the Inster provides a modern solution to the high-position small car challenge.
Volkswagen ID3
Retail Price: £35,730.00
Savings: £7,451.00
Motorfinity Price: £28,279.00
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The 2025 Volkswagen ID.3 brings innovation to the high driving position segment with its electric powertrain and elevated stance.
The EV's purpose-built platform enables an optimized seating position that enhances visibility while maintaining compact exterior dimensions.
Inside, the ID.3's elevated driving position provides excellent forward visibility through the large windscreen, though the thick A-pillars create minor blind spots over the front corners.
The light steering and raised seating make urban navigation straightforward, complemented by standard parking sensors and an optional reversing camera.
The high-set position gives drivers a commanding view that's particularly valuable in city traffic.
The ID.3's practical aspects match its visibility benefits. With 385 litres of boot space and adjustable floor height, it handles daily cargo needs effectively.
The ID.3's practical aspects match its visibility benefits. With 385 liters of boot space and adjustable floor height, it handles daily cargo needs effectively.
Toyota Aygo X
Retail Price: £20,895.00
Savings: £2,251.00
Motorfinity Price: £18,644.00
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The Toyota Aygo X brilliantly solves the challenge of finding a truly compact car with an elevated driving position.
This "jacked-up supermini" combines the tiny footprint of a city car with a higher seating position that gives drivers "a more commanding view of the road ahead" - directly addressing the visibility pain point identified in our research.
For those with mobility challenges, the Aygo X's raised height makes entry and exit easier than traditional low-slung hatchbacks, while the well-cushioned seats provide comfort even on longer journeys.
This addresses the medical accommodation needs without requiring a full-sized SUV.
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Multi-driver households will appreciate the "decent amount of adjustment in the seat" combined with "fewer than three turns lock-to-lock" steering, making it adaptable for different drivers while remaining easy to manoeuvre in tight urban spaces.
The Aygo X delivers an excellent balance between city-friendly dimensions and accessibility, with "light steering and good visibility" making it perfect for navigating busy streets.
2025 High Position Small Cars Comparison
Our comprehensive comparison table breaks down nine popular models for 2025, comparing everything from seat height and visibility features to boot space and fuel efficiency.
Take a look at how these vehicles stack up against each other, helping you find the perfect balance of elevated driving position and practical features for your needs.
| Vehicle Model | Seat Height | Boot Space (L) | MPG Range | Key Visibility Feature | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mazda 2 | Standard | 255 | 50.9-56.2 | Large windows, slim A-pillars | Urban commuting |
| Ford Puma | Mid-High | 456 | 49.6-52.3 | Balanced height, good all-round view | Dynamic driving |
| Dacia Sandero | Mid | 328 | 49.6-53.3 | Wide door openings, clear sightlines | Value-conscious buyers |
| VW Golf | Standard | 381 | 49.6-52.3 | Optimized seat position, large glass | Premium comfort |
| VW T-Roc | High | 445 | 44.7 | SUV-like height, panoramic view | Family versatility |
| Skoda Kamiq | Mid-High | 400 | 48.1-52.4 | Large windows, narrow pillars | Practical family use |
| Dacia Duster | High | 472 | 52.0-55.4 | Commanding position, large glass area | Budget SUV buyers |
| Citroen C3 | Mid-High | 310 | 52.0 | SUV-inspired height, good visibility | City maneuverability |
| VW ID.3 | Mid | 385 | Electric* | Purpose-built high position | Tech-focused drivers |
Big Cars and High Driving Positions
These small cars provide excellent visibility and are very comfortable, eliminating the need for a big car just for a high driving position.
However, if your needs are a bit diverse, ad you are after a more commanding view, easier access, a sense of security, and more oversized cargo and passenger space, a big car with a high driving position is an ideal choice. Check our expert picks, as we have compiled a list of the best cars with high driving positions that provide complete value.
Compact SUVs and High Driving Positions
As the name suggests, compact SUVs offer a good balance between size and manoeuvrability. Their demand is increasing daily, and they are a popular choice due to their aesthetics and versatility.
Most compact SUVs offer high driving positions, making them attractive choices for those who prefer compactness but more practicality and space as compared to a small car.
If you're seeking more than just a vehicle, but a comfortable, safe, and powerful driving experience with a high driving position, then a compact SUV could be the perfect choice for you.
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