Smallest Car in the World? Peel P50 vs Today’s City Cars (Sandero, Golf & More)
The Peel P50 isn’t just small — it’s absurdly small. Built on the Isle of Man in the early 1960s, it still holds the Guinness World Record as the smallest production car ever made. One door, one seat, three wheels, 137 cm long (53.9 in) and, famously, no reverse gear.
Today’s hatchbacks have grown, bulked up with safety tech, bigger cabins and electric platforms. But just how big are these cars compared to the P50?
Here’s the clearest size comparison you’ll find, and see exactly how modern city cars dwarf the world’s tiniest car.
Peel P50 — the tiniest car ever built
- Length: 137 cm (53.9 in)
- Width: 104 cm (40.9 in)
- Height: 120 cm (47.2 in)
- Wheelbase: 102.9 cm (40.5 in)
- Boot: 0 L!!
- Turning circle: 4.55 m (14.9 ft)
The P50 is shorter than some motorbikes. You could park it sideways in a UK parking bay and still open the door (the only door). It weighs barely more than a big dog and has no meaningful storage. It exists purely to commute one person and a sandwich.
How today’s cars compare
We’ve chosen a globally recognised mix of Europe’s best-selling hatchbacks and one modern EV to compare to the P50.
Volkswagen Golf (2024) — the global benchmark hatchback
- Length: 428.2 cm (168.7 in). That’s 3.1× longer than the P50.
- Width: 178.9 cm (70.4 in). That’s 1.7× wider.
- Boot: 381–1237 L. That’s 381 litres more than the P50, because the P50 has… none.
The Golf shows how far “compact cars” have grown. Park them nose-to-nose and the P50 ends just past the Golf’s front axle.
Here’s how they look next to each other.
Toyota Corolla Hatchback (2023) — world’s best-selling nameplate
- Length: 437 cm (172.0 in)
- Width: 179.1 cm (70.5 in)
- Boot space 361–1052 L. The P50 owner carries their shopping on their lap.
A Corolla is over 3× the length and nearly double the height of the P50. You could fit three P50s in a row and still have room to walk around them.
Dacia Sandero (2020) — Europe’s affordability hero
- Length: 408.8 cm (160.9 in)
- Width: 178.4 cm (70.2 in)
- Height: 149.9 cm (59.0 in)
- Boot space: Up to 1108 L with seats down is roughly 1,108 litres more storage.
One of Europe’s smallest modern hatchbacks, yet it’s still nearly 3 metres (9.8 ft) longer than the P50. Even the Sandero’s wheelbase is almost double the P50’s entire length.
See how small the P50 looks next to the Sandero.
Volkswagen Polo (2021) — the grown-up supermini
- Length: 407.4 cm (160.3 in)
- Width: 175.1 cm (69.0 in)
- Height: 145.1 cm (57.1 in)
The Polo is a tiny bit shorter and slimmer than the Sandero, and it feels small… until you compare it to a P50, which it outsizes in every possible direction. A Polo is 3× longer, 1.7× wider, and has a wheelbase more than twice the length of the entire Peel.
See them compared at the front, back and side.
Volkswagen ID.3 (2023) — the modern electric hatch
- Length: 426.4 cm (167.9 in)
- Width: 180.9 cm (71.2 in)
- Height: 156.4 cm (61.6 in)
The ID.3 towers over the P50 like a city bus over a bicycle. It’s 3.1× longer, 1.7× wider, and almost 40 cm (15.7 in) taller. Its 385 L boot is enough to carry… well, several P50s’ worth of belongings.
Take a look at them both here.
So… how tiny is the P50 vs Modern Hatchbacks? (The big numbers)
- Length: Modern hatchbacks are 3–3.5× longer
- Width: Modern hatchbacks are around 1.7× wider
- Height: Most hatchbacks are 25–35 cm taller
- Boot space: The Peel has no boot space, these hatchbacks have 300–1200 L
- Weight: Modern hatches are 4–6× heavier
- Turning circle: P50 wins — 4.55 m (14.9 ft) is absurdly tight!
Should tiny cars make a comeback?
The P50 showed that extreme downsizing is possible, and in theory, tiny cars could cut congestion, lower energy use and free up urban space. In practice, crash safety rules, EV battery bulk and our appetite for comfort make them hard to build today.
So while the idea of ultra-small cars is appealing, the trend is moving the other way. For a deeper look at how and why, see our ‘Autobesity’ article.
FAQs
Is the Peel P50 still the smallest car ever made?
Yes. At 137 (53.9 in) long and 104 cm (40.9 in) wide, it remains the smallest production car ever built.
How big is the Peel P50 compared to a modern hatchback?
Around 3× shorter, 1.7× narrower, and with 1,000 L less storage than a typical hatchback.
Could a Peel P50 work in modern traffic?
Technically yes, it could probably weave between two cars, but practically no. Its size, crash safety and speed make it unsuitable for today’s roads.
How much smaller is the P50 than a Golf?
About 291 cm (114.6 in) shorter, 75 cm (29.5 in) narrower, and with 381–1237 L less boot space.
Cars mentioned in this article
