Compact hatchbacks are the ideal choice for drivers who want a car that’s easy to drive and park in Singapore’s tight urban space. CarBuyer.com.sg ranks the best of the compact hatchback bunch here

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UPDATED July 2021 - updated Honda Jazz
UPDATED June 2021 - updated Suzuki Swift Sport
UPDATED April 2021 – updated Suzuki Swift, added Nissan Note e-Power
First published: June 2020

SINGAPORE 

Welcome back to another instalment of our Best Cars Of Singapore stories, a guide series that will be updated regularly, and where we help you pick the best cars in each segment here in Singapore.

We’re looking at compact hatchbacks, a segment that’s popular among younger and/or first-time drivers, or simply those who don’t need such a big car in tiny Singapore.

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The appeal of compact hatchbacks here is clear to see. Their small dimensions mean that they’re easy to drive and park in an urban environment and there’s less to worry about dinging or scratching in tight spots.

The other advantage of a compact size is of course a compact price tag.

Most of these cars cost around S$100,000 or so with COE, making them the perfect choice as starter cars for the first time buyer. Overall running costs are lower too, as they incur lesser road tax due to their smaller engines, while usually returning decent fuel economy as well, and smaller insurance premiums. 

Certificate of Entitlement (COE) prices affect these cars the most, which is why in recent years more people have simply switched up to a mainstream sedan or small SUV, which is also why Kia’s Picanto and Hyundai’s Getz have totally disappeared from local price lists.

However the best compact hatches still command a following, and for good reason. CarBuyer.com.sg makes it easy for you to zero in on the best you can get in Singapore, and below we sort out the wheat from the chaff to recommend the best compact hatchbacks you can buy here in Singapore, to ensure that your money is well spent.

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What to look for in a compact hatch?

1. Small size, good visibility
2. Small engine less than 1.6-litres
3. Fuel efficiency better than 6.0L/100km
4. Ability to fit four adults, boot space of at least 250-litres

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Continue to Page 2 for an all-time Honda favourite

• Page 2 – Honda Jazz
• Page 3 – Suzuki Swift Sport
• Page 4 – Volkswagen Polo
• Page 5 – Also consider: Nissan Note e-Power

• Page 1 - Introduction, what to look for
• Page 2 – Honda Jazz
• Page 3 – Suzuki Swift Sport
• Page 4 – Volkswagen Polo
• Page 5 – Also consider: Nissan Note e-Power

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Honda Jazz

Our pick: Honda Jazz 1.5 E:HEV Luxe from S$104,999 with COE (July 2021)
Read our review of the Honda Jazz here

The new fourth-generation Honda Jazz is now here in Singapore, and once again Honda has knocked it out of the park with an extremely well-rounded package. Like its predecessors, the new Jazz brings innovation to the segment that puts it a class above once more. You can read all about the new Jazz in our launch story, and watch our walkthrough video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIfujjh4OVk&t=1s

For the first time, the hybrid version is available for sale through official channels, and it is the one to go for we reckon. The availability of the Jazz Hybrid is significant, as Singapore moves towards encouraging greener cars. Going the hybrid route will, in the long run, become the more financially sound option, thanks to tax breaks and of course, the eventual savings from your fuel bills.

Officially, Honda says that the Jazz Hybrid will deliver 3.8L/100km, which is a pretty impressive figure. 4.0L/100km is actually achievable for the average driver in Singapore, which isn’t too bad either, and it puts the Jazz Hybrid streets ahead of the non-hybrid variant in terms of overall efficiency.

The other benefit of having a hybrid drivetrain is that it adds an extra pep to the drive, with the Jazz Hybrid's energetic nature complemented by the torque boost of the electric motor on acceleration. Add to that the usual Jazz traits of being fun and easy to manoeuvre, and you get a car that’s genuinely entertaining to drive despite its humble origins.

The rest of the car remains immensely practical as usual. The car’s tall stance and clever ‘Ultra’ seats, in which the seat bases can be folded up, has been a hallmark since the first Jazz was released, and proves to be extremely useful indeed, allowing the Jazz to accommodate larger and awkwardly-sized items that would normally struggle to fit in other cars of a similar size.

Locally, the Jazz Hybrid is only available in top-spec Luxe trim from official distributor Kah Motor, and while the price tag is slightly on the high side (S$104,999 inclusive of COE), you do get a lot of stuff for the money, with wireless Apple CarPlay, six airbags and LED lights all round.

If you want a slightly more affordable Jazz, there is the non-hybrid Jazz that's available in Base trim (S$98,999 with COE) that has manual everything, or the Luxe non-hybrid Jazz that goes for S$100,999 with COE.

But as we mentioned, it’s probably worth stretching for the hybrid version, because it will deliver better value over the long term. The Jazz’s tremendous practicality and decent drivability has now been boosted by excellent frugality, and that only helps strengthen its hold as the king of the compact hatchback segment.

Continue to page 3 for another Japanese hatch that has been updated with mild hybrid tech

• Page 1 - Introduction, what to look for
• Page 2 – Honda Jazz
• Page 3 – Suzuki Swift Sport
• Page 4 – Volkswagen Polo
• Page 5 – Also consider: Nissan Note e-Power

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Suzuki Swift Sport

Our pick: Suzuki Swift Sport from S$112,900 with COE (June 2021)
Read our review of the 2021 Suzuki Swift Sport here

UPDATE JUNE 2021: We now rank the Swift Sport as the better choice since it brings a whole lot more to the table for a modest increase in price.

The long-awaited Swift Sport debuted here in April 2021, almost three years after the regular version did, thus both the regular Swift below, and Swift Sport here are already facelifted. But we almost figured it was dead in the water and never coming at all - like we said, the compact hatch class has been seriously smooshed by small SUVs, what chance would a more expensive Sport variant stand?

We didn't count on the new Swift Sport packing 'proper' 48V mild hybrid technology though, which allows it a VES A1 rating thus keeping it quite eye-openingly affordable in this era of higher COE prices. Sure, there's a S$15k premium over the normal Swift, but what the Swift Sport brings to the table is far more than just 15 percent.

Somehow Suzuki have managed to keep the car at just over 1,000kg, even with mild hybrid tech aboard, and with the car's 127hp turbo 1.4-litre engine - plus additional electric motor boost - the Sport is zingy, peppy, and still an all out ball to drive at any speed. As editor Lionel notes in his review 'the car seems to accelerate seamlessly anywhere in the engine’s operating range.' And while it isn't balls out quick, it still handles very well: 'Suzuki Swift Sport is not really a genuinely fast hot hatch, but has handling prowess that is hard to beat.'

The Swift Sport also has adaptive cruise control and additional active safety features onboard, is built well, and the sportier equipment in the cabin also remind you exactly where your money's gone. Like previous versions, it should be cheap to run too - 4.7L/100km is impressive.

But more importantly, as a manual, sport-oriented hatch, there's pretty much no competition for the Swift Sport at this price range. Historically, it's been the starting point for those who want more driving fun, or just a little bit more zing to an otherwise boring mainstream. The new Swift Sport does all that, and is even more responsible to boot.

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Our previous pick: Suzuki Swift 1.2 Standard from S$97,900 with COE (June 2021)
Read our review of the Suzuki Swift here

The Suzuki Swift’s heyday was arguably the mid-2000s, when historically low COE prices helped it gain favour among car buyers looking for an affordable compact runabout.

But the Swift’s appeal stretches beyond just its competitive price tag. For the money you get a well-built, high-quality Japanese car that’s fun to drive and cheap to run, and the latest version, launched in 2018, continues that tradition.

The Swift has been given a mid-life facelift for 2021, and now features a new 1.2-litre engine that incorporates mild hybrid technology. It develops a modest 80hp and 107Nm of torque, but it remains as peppy and lively to drive as ever, while delivering excellent fuel economy, with a quoted average fuel consumption figure of 4.1L/100km.

Suzuki has also chosen to equip the updated Swift with a whole host of premium features. There's only one trim level available, Standard (S$88,900 with COE), but for the money you get six airbags, adaptive cruise control, hill hold assist, lane departure warning and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. You can also have a two-tone paintwork for S$1,000 extra to add a bit more personality to your Swift.

There are downsides, though. The Swift is a compact hatchback and feels it – fitting five adults is possible but it will be a squeeze, and the boot space is a little tight, even if it’s larger than the previous generation at 268-litres.

But as a car for the youthful driver with few family commitments, the Swift offers plenty of smiles per mile, without asking for too much of your money in return.

Continue to page 4 for a Continental offering that offers great value

• Page 1 - Introduction, what to look for
• Page 2 – Honda Jazz
• Page 3 – Suzuki Swift Sport
• Page 4 – Volkswagen Polo
• Page 5 – Also consider: Nissan Note e-Power

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Volkswagen Polo

Our pick: Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI Beats from S$116,900 with COE (July 2021)
Read our review of the Volkswagen Polo here

A German hatchback for under S$110,000? The Volkswagen Polo is proof that you can have Teutonic engineering without having to fork out an arm and a leg.

And you're not getting a cut-price inferior product either. The latest sixth-generation Polo is a well-sorted product that’s mature and upmarket. It feels like a much more expensive car than it is, in terms of overall quality and equipment.

The Polo’s 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo engine is not the most powerful around, producing just 115hp and 200Nm of torque, but it is refined and smooth, and gives it a big car feel that makes it almost a Golf Lite. It also handles pretty well thanks to its lightweight MQB platform architecture, while the quoted average fuel consumption of 4.9L/100km is a big bonus too.

For your money, you’re getting a lot of car with the Polo. The entry-level Comfortline spec (S$106,900 with COE as of July 2021) offers automatic headlights, keyless entry, and an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay connectivity.

There’s also a funky Beats edition (S$116,900 with COE) that throws in a premium-branded Beats sound system, an eye-catching red interior with unique upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, Park Assist, and Volkswagen’s pretty neat Active Info Display digital instrument cluster.

If you can stretch to it, the Beats version is the one to go for. But even the Comfortline variant is a very accomplished car in its own right, and you won’t go much wrong with the Polo if you want a compact hatchback that makes you feel like you’re driving a much more expensive car.

Continue to page 5 for a new contender with a unique drivetrain

• Page 1 - Introduction, what to look for
• Page 2 – Honda Jazz
• Page 3 – Suzuki Swift Sport
• Page 4 – Volkswagen Polo
• Page 5 – Also consider: Nissan Note e-Power

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Also Consider:

Nissan Note e-Power

Our pick: Nissan Note E-Power Premium from S$102,800 with COE (June 2021)
Read our feature on the Nissan Note e-Power here

If saving fuel is one of your primary concerns when it comes to buying a compact hatchback, then you might want to consider the Nissan Note e-Power, which packs in an innovative drivetrain that could prove to be the way of the future.

The Note e-Power features an electric motor that drives the wheels, but the batteries that power it are charged up by an onboard 1.2-litre petrol engine that serves as a generator of sorts. The result is a car that boasts electric car-like characteristics, but without the hassle of having to plug it into a charging point to charge it up.

With this setup, the car puts out 114hp and 280Nm of torque, which is just about adequate for daily driving. But as the car runs primarily on the electric motor, the Note makes for a very refined and quiet ride, with minimal noise intrusion from the engine. The official fuel consumption figure is quoted at 4.6L/100km, which is very achievable in regular driving.

As a compact hatchback, the Note just about passes muster. There's adequate room all round, and the feature count is decent, with items such as lane keeping assist and autonomous emergency braking all present here. Prices start at S$101,800 with COE for the Lite variant, which gets you most of the goodies, while the Premium version (S$104,800 with COE) throws in Nappa leather upholstery and a snazzy set of alloy wheels.

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