8 of the best cars for city drivers

Hyundai i10

The Hyundai i10 is quickly becoming a favourite among city drivers. It’s surprisingly spacious for a small car and has been built with urban living in mind. Nimble enough to travel down one-way streets and manoeuvre into small spaces, the i10 also boasts a boot with more than enough room for your weekly shop and decent legroom in the back even if you’re over six-foot. Its engine might not be the most powerful on the market, but its light controls make it easy to drive and large windows give good visibility. The exterior design is quietly refined, and the standard trim has a built-in SatNav – ideal if you do decide to head further afield.  

Toyota Aygo

This standout supermini is often recommended as a great first car thanks to its reputation for reliability, good fuel economy, and youthful styling. The Aygo has been courting attention since it first went into production back in 2005 and still turns heads thanks to its oversized grille, contrasting roof, and contoured bumpers. It’s a fun drive too - agile and responsive - and has a range of features included as standard including electronic stability control and a speed limiter. The only downside might be its smaller than average boot; there’s still room for a few bags but you might struggle to fit your suitcases.

Fiat 500

If you’re looking for a city car with serious style, then you can’t go wrong with the Fiat 500. It has a distinctive shape and takes style cues from vintage vehicles giving it a unique look that is sure to split opinion. It’s not all about looks though; the 500 is compact and handles well on city streets thanks to its accurate steering and impressive safety features (including seven airbags!) There’s no need to worry about the fuel you burn while stuck in stop-start traffic either, the Fiat is economical to run and has enough cabin space to be comfortable on long journeys.  

Kia Picanto

The Kia Picanto was designed for city drivers and is great at handling busy streets thanks to its firm suspension that really makes a difference on corners. Steering is agile and alert but doesn’t feel flimsy; in fact, the interior is reassuringly solid and has a clear dashboard that’s easy to navigate. The engine might start to protest if you try to push past 70mph, but if you’re mostly using your car to take the kids to school or commute to the office and back then you’ll find the Picanto a good value option.

Citroen C1

The Citroen C1 has been one of the leading superminis on the market since it launched in 2005. It’s kept its place at the top thanks to the impressive level of driver comfort it offers and its low running costs. The C1 is a city car but it can still cope if you need to put your foot down and it’s pleasingly agile when taking on corners. There’s room for improvement when it comes to reliability and its design might be divisive but if you love it, you’ll be rewarded with a smooth drive and responsive steering.

Peugeot 108

Sharing much of its engineering with the Citroen C1, the Peugeot 108 is a good all-rounder. Its styling might not be anything to shout about but it offers great cabin space for its size and the boot is generous enough to fit the weekly shop and the school bags comfortably. The 108 is made for short-distances and will give a good level of comfort when travelling from A to B. Higher trim models offer even more features including air conditioning, heated mirrors, leather seat trim, and folding rear seats.

Smart ForTwo

The unusual design and compact dimensions of the Smart ForTwo have earned this car a cult following. It’s the perfect city car, ideal for cutting through congested streets and wiggling its way into the tightest parallel parking spaces. Inside, drivers might not have a lot of space to enjoy but the ride is smooth, and the tight turning circle make this a small car that’s a lot of fun to drive. The floating infotainment screen comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard as well as a built-in SatNav.

Renault Zoe

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly city car then the Renault Zoe could be a great option. It’s a cost-effective choice that comes equipped with a host of driver assistance features to make finding your way around complicated one-way systems a breeze. Automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and parking sensors will help you tackle traffic jams and park like a pro while cruise control and Bluetooth will help make the drive even more enjoyable.