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Driving in the city can be challenging, especially if you’re commuting through traffic and congestion or if you need to park in a tight space.
Not all cars are best suited to an urban environment, which is why those who commute to cities choose to get a city car.
These cars have features and characteristics that best suit the urban environment and offer a driving experience that excels on these roads.
If you’re looking for a new car best suited to city driving, we at Car Adviser have taken a detailed look at some of the best city cars available in the UK for you to choose from.
These are the top 10 best city cars you can buy in 2023 according to our team:
Driving in an urban area, be that a large town or a major city, can be challenging and uncomfortable in the wrong car.
Specific models and car types are much better suited for that environment thanks to a few particular features and specifications that they have.
City cars are defined as vehicles that are compact and small. This makes them well-suited for inner-city driving because it can make it easier to nip through traffic and get into tight parking spaces.
As many cities have narrow lanes and roads, things can get uncomfortable when driving through a town in a larger saloon, estate, or SUV car. Superminis and smaller hatchbacks make the best city cars and should be the body type you look out for.
Size isn’t all that makes a good city car, though, as there are plenty of other factors you should consider when choosing the best car for you. One of them is the car’s emission level.
Many major cities and towns in the UK are now operating a low emission zone that charges drivers a daily rate for entering the area with a car with too high emissions.
If you’re in the market for a city car to dart around town, you’ll want to find a model that produces low enough emissions to avoid this charge.
There’s no universal minimum requirement, as each city will have its own criteria for what’s eligible, so check any potential cars against your area’s emission level requirements.
As emission levels get stricter and stricter over time, many people driving in the city have switched to hybrid or electric cars, which could be a good option for you.
Don’t disregard practicality when getting a city car too. There’s no point in getting an agile, small, and easy-to-drive car for your commutes and shopping trips if the storage space isn’t big enough to load anything. The best city cars will be the ones that are still small and compact yet offer reasonable storage space.
Finally, a good city car will be an option that is relatively cheap to buy and run. Some of the best city cars you can get are very affordable when bought second-hand or through a car finance package, and you should also be able to find models with high mileage to the gallon. This will mean you can make more trips from A to B without filling up, saving you money in the long run.
With these characteristics defined, here’s a look at some of the top 10 city cars, according to us here at Car Adviser.
Easily one of the most popular city cars of all time, you’ll find these cars darting about town no matter what area you’re in. The reason is that these cars are quality city cars, prioritising driving performance and handling to make them easy to manoeuvre.
They’re beloved by new and experienced drivers alike because of how accessible they are, but they are also an attractive option thanks to their looks That said, much like many other city cars, this little wagon is compact and only comes with room for one passager, making them unsuitable for families. If you need a little more space, you can get the 500L, although getting it does remove some of the charms from the classic model.
For those who want to be conscious about the environment while driving, the Fiat 500 also comes with an electric option, allowing you to zip around town while producing no emissions. This version maintains its typical performance, making it a decent electric car choice.
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If you’re looking for a city car that’s amazing to drive, then the up! may be the best option for you. Thanks to its brilliant quality chassis, this option outclasses other city cars of the same category and price point, making it an outstanding option and easily one of the best city cars you can get.
Unlike many other city cars, the Volkswagen up! is well suited to driving down country lanes as it is city roads, making it a good option if your area is a bit more rural. It handles bumpy roads and remains comfortable even when cruising at higher speeds.
The tailgate is all glass, allowing drivers brilliant visibility, which is excellent for reversing and comes as either a five-door or a three-door, meaning you can get a version that suits your requirements.
The up! also has an electric variety, saving you a bit of money in town, although this model is expensive. The up! also lacks features, as it doesn’t have an infotainment system which can make even new models feel outdated.
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The standard Toyota Aygo is a much-adored supermini and has been a favourite for students and city drivers thanks to its nimble driving style and suitability to urban environments. That said, the Aygo isn’t the most practical car and needs more boot or passenger space.
That’s where the Aygo X takes the slack. New in 2021, the Aygo X takes all that the British public loves about the Aygo and gives it the styling of a crossover.
Not only does this make the Aygo X spacier, but it provides the car with a higher driving position, too, making it a lot easier to see the road ahead of you, which aids inner-city driving.
The Aygo X also has a much better chassis than most city cars, allowing it to soak up bumps and potholes to create a smoother driving experience.
The car has a striking look and will turn heads, with its SUV-inspired side bumpers being a key visual component. Despite being bigger, the passenger seats are still noticeably tight, making them virtually ineffective at transporting passengers.
As it’s new, there are also not many options on the second-hand car market just yet, meaning you’ll have to spend the big bucks to buy this new.
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The Kia Picanto sits on the cusp of being classified as a city car. This is because the car has a big car kit list, is supremely spacious, and is very well put together with quality materials, helping it to stand out in the city car category and become a slight anomaly.
For city drivers looking for a compact car that also offers some practicality, the Kia Picanto is a great option, as it can fit a few passengers and has a good amount of room in the boot for shopping, suitcases, and other items.
If you’re getting a more modern Kia Picanto, you’ll benefit from an improved engine that meets most cities’ low-emission standards, making it a great option for drivers who want to avoid this charge.
Kia also offers a massive seven-year warranty with their cars, meaning that you’ll be able to get the vehicle fixed and maintained for a long time for free, providing that you keep up with the recommended servicing. This is another way you can save money with the Picanto.
The driving performance is also pretty good for Picanto. Although not jaw-dropping, the top range models have 99bhp, giving it a good amount of thrust from a standstill, making it a fun car to drive in the city. That said, it can feel a bit sluggish if you opt for a mid-range option with no turbo engine.
The car also comes with multiple safety features, such as blind-spot collision avoidance assist, lane-keeping assist, and a driving warning attention system, to name a few. This helps make the car safe to drive either on the motorway or in town.
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