When you live in the city, you need a compact vehicle as your daily driver. Thanks to their versatility, compact cars can easily fit into anywhere, be it a parking lot, garage, or even on the sidewalk. Also, because of the sizes, compact vehicles are less likely to guzzle gas than crossovers. In terms of maintenance, many of the cars on this list should cost less than $5,000 to maintain and repair for over a decade.

In as much as SUVs are pretty popular, compact sedans and hatchbacks are the go-to car choice for millions of people, especially in North America. In fact, over 1.24 million compact vehicles were sold in 2021. That said, the 2022 compact cars in this list are still pretty new, so they might be getting some updates as the year goes by. Here are the best 2022 compact cars on the market.

Related: These Were The 10 Best Compact Sedans In 2021

8 Audi A3

Blue 2022 Audi A3
Via Thelen Audi Blog

Audi initially offered the A3 as a hatchback, but switched to a sedan in 2015 and has maintained that body style to date. The 2022 A3 comes with a standard front-wheel drive and an optional all-wheel drive. All three trims of the A3—Premium, Prestige, and Premium and Premium Plus—get their power from a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that cranks out 201 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque.

Blue 2022 Audi A3
Via Newsy Today

With the Audi Drive Select features of the A3, drivers can adjust the steering effort, throttle feedback, and transmission shift attributes by choosing any of these modes: Individual, Dynamic, Comfort, and Auto. Audi claims the 29/38 mpg city/highway fuel economy rating represents over a 25% boost in fuel efficiency in comparison to the previous model year.

7 Honda Civic

Red 2022 Honda Civic
Via Forbes

Honda Civic checks all the vital boxes—reliability, comfort, design, fuel economy—that drivers must consider before buying a new car. The 2022 Honda Civic, which is currently available in sedan and hatchback body styles, will accommodate five persons, and it's only two inches longer than the previous model years.

Orange 2022 Honda Civic
Via Honda Newsroom

Two engines—1.5-liter turbo 4-cylinder and 2.0-liter 4-cylinder—power the 7 different trims of the new Civic. The former is rated 158 hp, while the latter is up to 180 hp. In terms of safety, the 2022 Civic earned the Top Safety Pick+ (TSP+) IIHS rating. This means the new Honda Civic is pretty much safe for occupants, pedestrians, and other vehicles.

Related: Here Are The Best And Worst Honda Civic Models Ever Made

6 Toyota Prius Prime

Red 2022 Toyota Prius Prime
Via Toyota USA Newsroom

The Toyota Prius Prime is very remarkable when it comes to gas mileage. With a fuel efficiency rate of 55/53 in the city/highway, the Prius Prime outlasts competitors like the Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid. The 5-seater Prius Prime is available in three trims—LE, XLE, and Limited—which are all powered by a Plug-In Hybrid 1.8L 4-cylinder engine with an output of 121 hp and 105 lb-ft.

Red 2022 Toyota Prius Prime On The Driveway
Via Toyota USA Newsroom

The Prius Prime comes with a leatherette steering wheel and a softly tuned suspension that gives you a similar thrill to riding a boat.

5 Mazda 3

Red 2022 Mazda 3
Via Mazda Redesign

The 5-seater Mazda 3 sedan is available in trim levels with the base model being the Mazda3 2.0, which has a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that's rated 155 hp and 150 lb-ft. The top-of-the-line trim is the Mazda3 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus, with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder that's rated 277 hp and 310 lb-ft.

Brown 2022 Mazda 3
Via VN News

Step inside the Mazda 3 and you are greeted with an array of high-tech features for your utmost comfort, and safety. There's the MyMazda application that allows owners to remotely lock the doors and send directions to the Mazda 3. So far, there have been no complaints or recalls on the 2022 Mazda 3.

4 Nissan LEAF

Grey 2022 Nissan LEAF
Via Nissan News USA

Once you hit the pedal of the new Nissan LEAF, you'd agree that there's nothing quite like the thrill of driving a 100% electric vehicle. Driving this compact Nissan through every twist and turn around the city is just as exciting as going on a freeway. And the best part is; you don't ever have to worry about the price of gas.

Grey 2022 Nissan LEAF
Via Nissan News USA

Since the Nissan LEAF doesn't use gas, there's no tailpipe, so you don't have to fret over emissions. The large lithium-ion battery installed on the floor of the Nissan LEAF provides all the energy it requires to drive the vehicle.

Related: Why A Nissan Leaf Is The Best Used Electric Car For First Time Buyers

3 Nissan Sentra

Orange 2022 Nissan Sentra
Via Nissan News USA

Need a daily driver? Want to enjoy a little luxury while you commute? Need to get your blood pumping from speed? Whatever you need in a compact car, Nissan's new Sentra has got you covered. The 2022 Sentra features a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an output of 149 hp. With this engine, you can cruise for over 39 miles on a gallon.

Orange 2022 Nissan Sentra
Via Nissan News USA

Nissan equipped the Sentra with a balancer shaft that cancels out engine vibrations and gives you a smooth ride. There's also the newly improved Xtronic CVT that has a Sport Mode, which facilitates spirited driving. In terms of predicted reliability, the 2022 Sentra seems to be doing great, with a J.D. Power score of 85/100.

2 Hyundai Elantra

Blue 2022 Hyundai Elantra
Via Hyundai

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra is a compact sedan that's available in 7 trim levels. With the Elantra, Hyundai takes the spotlight as a leader in modern-auto style and intelligent innovations. The new 5-seater Elantra has a 10.25-inch touchscreen, which is the largest in its class.

Blue 2022 Hyundai Elantra
Via Codigos De Paises

The base 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine puts out 147 hp, while the most powerful trim is the Elantra N Line, which comes with a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine that bursts out 201 hp. The fuel economy for all 7 trim levels of the Elantra is great. While the standard Elantra is rated 33/43 mpg in the city/highway, the top-of-the-line Hybrid Blue model gets 53/56 mpg in the city/highway.

Related: Everything You Need To Know About The 2022 Hyundai Elantra N

1 Volkswagen Golf GTI

Yellow 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI
Via Volkswagen Newsroom

Volkswagen was intentional in making the new Golf GTI a hot hatchback with responsive handling that makes maneuvering fun. The 5-seater 2022 Golf GTI is available in three trim levels, with the most powerful style being the 2.0T SE DSG. For 2022, the Golf GTI is pretty much all-new, with an improved suspension system and a stronger engine. Volkswagen also updated the infotainment and safety features.

White 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI
Via Volkswagen Newsroom

All trims of the 2022 Golf GTI get their power from a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with an output of 241 hp and 273 lb-ft. So far, there's no record of complaints or recalls on the Golf GTI filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).