Big monster motors get all the hype today. Dodge Demons, Devel Sixteens, Mopar Hellephants, those are the talk of the automotive world in many ways. Even if it is a smaller engine that gathers the attention, the cars themselves tend to be pretty large. Think of the McLaren Speedtail or the Chevrolet Corvette. Those aren't compact cars by any means.

Compact cars don't get nearly enough credit for what they're capable of. While they won't necessarily blitz a top speed course at 200 mph, they aren't built for that. They're intended to be deeply fun in smaller spaces. These 15 cars do exactly that. They're a total hoot around the city and totally can change the viewpoint of the most die-hard super sports car fans.  Disagree with one of these? Let's talk about it in the comment section!

15 Hyundai Veloster N

via asicsonsale.com

The Veloster N has anti-lag from the factory. That alone is reason to put it on this list but keep this in mind too. This thing is so fast that any time you see it at an autocross that it's always near the top of the list. That proves how fast it really is.

14 BMW M235i

via motor1.com

When it comes to a fast small luxury car, the M235i is perhaps the best one here. It's fairly light and very, very fast no matter where it's at. It can easily tackle its top speed of 155 and it's more than capable of drifting around a small tight course. It puts smiles on everyone's faces and feels amazing inside.

13 Lotus Elise

via The Lotus Forums

The Elise is made for small people who love this segment. If you're over 6'3 don't consider this car. If you're under that though this could be a perfect choice. Wildly reliable, very fun anywhere that isn't all about top speed and not dumb expensive.

12 Toyota MR2

Via: Bing

Look at how beastly this car is. The intake above the C pillar, the awesome diffuser on the back, the perfect canards. This car was properly put together. It's mid-engine, turbocharged, and beautiful. They're reliable too. Just don't get the Targa top. They always leak.

11 Audi S3

Audi-RS3
via audiworld

The S3 and RS3 is a magical choice here that offers 4 doors and more space for a small family than any other entry here. I wouldn't try to put adults back there but these are stupidly fast and can go anywhere thanks to Quattro AWD. That's a killer combo.

Related: Swapped! Subaru Impreza Gets 500 HP Audi RS3 Turbo-Five

10 Dodge SRT-4

Dodge Neon SRT4
via Drag Times

The SRT4 is an awesome little car that proved that front-wheel-drive didn't have to be boring. The styling is pretty dang good for a car that didn't look much different than a Neon. It's pretty quick too though. The motor was notoriously powerful and very capable of hurting the feelings of what were thought to be more powerful cars.

9 Mazda Miata

White Miata
via Pinterest

How could this car be left off? The answer is always Miata, right? They're so cheap and so much fun that it's tough to ignore in any conversation about a fun small car. In reality, these can go toe to toe with cars much faster in a straight line.

8 Toyota Sera

yellow Toyota Sera with doors up
via barret-jackson.com

The Sera is a properly fun car that's totally capable of grabbing attention. It's more than the doors too, it's the body overall. The glass for instance is all-encompassing. It also has a shape that no other car sold here in the USA has. It's tough to come by but since it's over 25 yrs old they can be found.

7 Suzuki Cappuccino

Via: Bing

Also rare is this Suzuki that has old-school sports car proportions and most of the fun. These things nearly set off a total change for Suzuki who at one point built a 1.8 liter twin-turbo V8 for this car before ultimately canceling it. What could've been will never escape my thoughts. It would've been even more amazing than the Cappuccino already is.

6 Mazda AZ-1

Via The Drive

The AZ-1 has wild doors and an excellent little engine behind the driver that delivers power to the back wheels. It's not wildly fast but it feels exotic because it is. It doesn't need to be ridiculously fast to be so enjoyable. It can be a bit cramped inside so you might need a skinny passenger.

Related: 15 Weird And Wonderful Japanese Cars

5 Mini Cooper S

bmwblog.com

If you can find a well-sorted R53 Mini Cooper it'll pay you back in spades. They're stupid cheap and incredibly fun. The noise they can make is worth the price of admission alone but what comes with it is an exceptionally well-handling car that can also be a blast in a straight line thanks to that supercharger.

4 Fiat 500 Abarth

The Fiat 500 suffered some issues early on but the Abarth didn't have nearly as many issues and is objectively one of the easiest ways to get into a very cool Italian car that should hold its value pretty well. Prices are about as low as they're ever going to get I think and little details like the lack of a muffler from the factory make this a special edition.

3 Porsche 944

The 944 was my first car and it developed in me an appreciation for a car that wasn't wildly powerful but could still be a blast. They develop under 200 horsepower, but they handle exceptionally well thanks to a great wheelbase and overall track. The drivetrain is very well-balanced and the shape is stunning.

2 PGO Cevennes

I get flack for liking PGO cars so much but just look at this silly thing. It's a toy and it knows it. It's obviously mimicking the old Porsche 356 but everything is new. The interior is well-appointed and comfortable. The engine and transmission are from a modern Mini Cooper S so it's quick too. Even better, it's in the back so it handles like a real sports car.

1 Alfa Romeo 4C

via Autocar

The 4C is a really small car. I've driven a couple of them, and they're so nimble and fun to toss around that it's difficult to translate how capable it feels in a tight course. They look like they're worth 3 times as much as they cost. They feel like they're worth a ton more too.

Next: Alfa Romeo’s 8C-R Concept Stuns With Movie Star Looks