A compact vehicle comprising: a chassis frame supporting a front wheel, a rear wheel, a driving device for driving the front wheel or the rear wheel, and a steering device for steering the front wheel or the rear wheel; a passenger compartment arranged generally at a center of the chassis frame; and a single passenger seat in a width direction of the vehicle, the passenger seat being arranged in the passenger compartment, characterized in that: a passenger protecting structure is formed by an outer shell of the passenger compartment and a sub-frame (212, 213, 222, 223, 224); the passenger protecting structure is formed by a seat section protecting structure and a front section protecting structure; the seat section protecting structure: covers lateral sides and an upper side of the seat; has a single opening on a front side of the seat, allowing the passenger to get on/off; and is supported on the chassis frame so that the seat section protecting structure can swivel horizontally together with the seat; and the front section protecting structure: is capable of coupling to the seat section protecting structure so as to shut the opening of the seat section protecting structure; and is supported on the chassis frame independently of the seat section protecting structure. a chassis frame supporting a front wheel, a rear wheel, a driving device for driving the front wheel or the rear wheel, and a steering device for steering the front wheel or the rear wheel; a passenger compartment arranged generally at a center of the chassis frame; and a single passenger seat in a width direction of the vehicle, the passenger seat being arranged in the passenger compartment, characterized in that: a passenger protecting structure is formed by an outer shell of the passenger compartment and a sub-frame (212, 213, 222, 223, 224); the passenger protecting structure is formed by a seat section protecting structure and a front section protecting structure; the seat section protecting structure: covers lateral sides and an upper side of the seat; has a single opening on a front side of the seat, allowing the passenger to get on/off; and is supported on the chassis frame so that the seat section protecting structure can swivel horizontally together with the seat; and the front section protecting structure: is capable of coupling to the seat section protecting structure so as to shut the opening of the seat section protecting structure; and is supported on the chassis frame independently of the seat section protecting structure. a passenger protecting structure is formed by an outer shell of the passenger compartment and a sub-frame (212, 213, 222, 223, 224); the passenger protecting structure is formed by a seat section protecting structure and a front section protecting structure; the seat section protecting structure: covers lateral sides and an upper side of the seat; has a single opening on a front side of the seat, allowing the passenger to get on/off; and is supported on the chassis frame so that the seat section protecting structure can swivel horizontally together with the seat; and the front section protecting structure: is capable of coupling to the seat section protecting structure so as to shut the opening of the seat section protecting structure; and is supported on the chassis frame independently of the seat section protecting structure.