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Small cars are considered the best for driving in cities. They are advantageous because they can be easily maneuvered in traffic and narrow roads. Moreover, they can also be parked in limited spaces. As such, if you are residing in an urban area, you might be interested in getting a small car.
A wide variety of cars for city driving is available in the market these days; if you are interested in knowing about various features of the different city cars, then continue reading this article, which will also help you find the best one.
21 Small Cars For City Driving
Find below the 21 best small cars to invest in for a smooth city driving experience.
- Chevrolet Spark EV
- Chevrolet Sonic RS
- Autozam AZ-1
- Toyota Corolla Hatch
- Ford Fiesta ST
- Brabus Smart ForTwo Ultimate 125
- Fiat 500 Abarth
- Mini John Cooper Works Hardtop
- Toyota Prius Prime
- Volkswagen Polo
- Subaru Impreza
- Nissan Leaf
- Toyota AYGO
- Volkswagen e-UP!
- BMW i3
- Audi A1 Citycarver
- SKODA Citigo
- Toyota Yaris
- Citroen C1
- Seat Mii Electric
- Fiat 500 (120th Anniversary Edition)
These small city cars are explained at length below.
1. Chevrolet Spark EV
Chevrolet’s Spark EV is the first car on our list of small cars for city driving. Spark is a city car sold under the brand name Chevrolet, which comes under the American car manufacturing giant General Motors. This car was originally a product of Daewoo, released in 1998 as Daewoo Matiz.
Chevy’s Spark is currently in its fourth generation. Similar models are sold as Holden Spark in Australia and New Zealand markets.
Other car models inspired by this car are Europe’s Opel Karl, UK’s Vauxhall Viva, and the Vietnamese VinFast Fadil. Chevrolet’s Spark EV is a limited edition car under the Spark series, which is all-electric.
If you are looking for such a great city car, which has parallels in almost all parts of the world, then you can go for Chevy’s Spark EV.
It belongs to the class of city cars and is a five-door hatchback with a front-engine and front-wheel drive layout. Its all-electric features can give you excellent fuel efficiency and the relief of not harming the environment.
2. Chevrolet Sonic RS
The next model on our list of small city cars is another product of Chevrolet. Chevrolet’s Sonic RS is a city car categorized as a subcompact car.
In addition to its tiny size, it is the least noisy and well equipped, which qualifies it for a perfect drive in the crowded and already noise-polluted urban areas.
Chevy’s Sonic RS is quite spacious, despite being small in size. So, if you are looking for something small in size, but can still accommodate your family and luggage, then you can go for Chevy’s Sonic. You can even choose from its sedan or hatchback version.
Along with the comfortable ride, it offers certain advantages like a powerful turbocharged engine, ample space for luggage, Wi-Fi connectivity, and a 4G LTE hotspot.
However, some of its drawbacks, like being more expensive than rivals, less fuel efficiency, and few features for assisting the drivers- can keep you from going for this car.
3. Autozam AZ-1
The third car on our list of tiny city cars is the Autozam AZ-1, which is also famous for the names Suzuki Cara with the frame code PG6SA or the Mazda AZ-550.
This car is produced by the automobile manufacturing company Mazda, and its described as a ‘kei-class sports car.’ The term ‘kei-class’ refers to the category of ultra-small cars and micro cars in Japan.
This car was famous worldwide for its gullwing doors. It was a limited edition vehicle produced from 1992 to 1994.
If you have always wanted a two-door car, which was hinged at the roof rather than the side, then you can go for the Autozam AZ-1, which gives the additional benefit of being a sports car but at a lesser price than luxury cars.
Autozam AZ-1 is a two-door coupe with an RMR layout and a steel chassis platform.
This came equipped with a 657 cc turbocharged engine, which gave 63 lb.ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. You would enjoy your drive in this dashing-looking sports car.
4. Toyota Corolla Hatch
This Toyota product is currently in its twelfth generation and originally had only a sedan model. But now, if you are looking for a small city car by Toyota, then Toyota’s Corolla Hatch could be a good pick. It is even available in other bodies like Estate, Saloon, and Wagon.
This car was introduced in 2018 and is known by different names like Toyota Auris, Toyota Allion, Toyota Levin, and Suzuki Swatch. Toyota has an international presence, not only in terms of its products but also in terms of its production centers.
This car is produced in countries like Japan, Brazil, Taiwan, China, Thailand, Turkey, the UK, the USA, etc. You can easily access it in your country.
Toyota Corolla is committed to giving you a smooth ride and a fantastic driving experience. It is equipped with a turbocharged petrol engine, having a capacity of 1.2 liters. It is also available in hybrid engine models.
5. Ford Fiesta ST
The fifth car, which has managed to feature in our list of some of the most remarkable small city cars, is Ford’s Fiesta ST. Ford’s Fiesta series belongs to the supermini category, the second smallest category of passenger cars. It is currently in its sixth generation.
The fiesta series of the company Ford was launched under the strategy, ‘One Ford.’ With this strategy, the company aimed to develop car models of a global standard that could be sold by banking upon the economies of scale instead of developing regional models.
We can say that they have somewhat achieved their goals, as this Ford series has been one of the most successful car models in its history.
Ford Fiesta’s ST concept was introduced in 2011 and involved a revamped engine and exterior. The interior of the Ford Fiesta ST is classy and elegant, with comfy and aesthetic seats. It has been powered by an EcoBoost engine, having a capacity of 1.6 liters.
6. Brabus Smart ForTwo Ultimate 125
The Brabus Smart ForTwo Ultimate 125. This is another electric car that is categorized as a city supercar. This electric car is the one to go for if you are looking for a city car that is environmentally friendly and combines power and speed with elegance and efficiency.
This electrically empowered car is a sporty car that allows four driving modes.
The two-seater is the ultimate choice if you wish to pick an electric city car for your two families. Its front fascia is redesigned and grabs attention at the very first glance. Its 18-inch forged wheels, along with its facelift model, attract customers.
The car gives a top speed of 81 mph and can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in just 10.9 seconds. The electric motor’s output is 91 bhp. Considering these statistics, you can surely opt for this car. Its performance will not disappoint you.
7. Fiat 500 Abarth
Another small city car, renowned for its performance and thus has managed to feature in our list, is Fiat 500’s Abarth version. The Abarth version, officially called Abarth 595 Competizione, is a performance-oriented vehicle. It has been built to give you the experience of a car with enhanced performance.
Fiat 500’s Abarth 595 Competizione has an automatic transmission and a turbocharged petrol engine. You can choose the color of your between Fiat out of Scorpione Black, Cordolo Red, Irdeto White, and Campovolo Grey. However, the option of a manual transmission is not there.
This car can be considered an ideal family city car, which you can opt for if you are more concerned about your car’s safety features since it is full of safety features.
The seats are comfy and are manufactured by an Italian company. Fiat 500 Abarth will give you a fun driving experience; we advise you to try it.
8. Mini John Cooper Works Hardtop
Mini John Cooper Works Hardtop is another city car that deserves to be in your garage. It is more commonly known as the Mini Cooper JCW. The original ‘Mini’ was modified in 1961 by a British racer, John Cooper. This revised version, a high-performing car, was the first Mini Cooper.
Mini is now under the ownership of BMW, but the John Cooper Works (JCW) division continues to build excellent, high-performing vehicles.
The latest car model developed by Mini Cooper JCW is available in Hardtop and Convertible body styles. The ‘Hardtop’ variant is the one which we are considering in this list.
The car is committed to giving you the experience of a high-performance vehicle, with its inline-four turbocharged engine, with a capacity of 228 horsepower. The car’s unique styling is combined with its front-wheel drive model. You can go for this car if you want a powerful city car.
9. Toyota Prius Prime
The next car on our list of innovative and small city cars is another Toyota product: Toyota Prius Prime. Toyota Prius Prime is a modified and upgraded version of Toyota’s Prius Hybrid.
At the time of its introduction, Toyota’s Prius Prime was one of the few plug-in hybrids available in the market then, which became the reason behind its initial popularity.
If you are looking forward to buying a plug-in hybrid car and are committed to getting one from the Prius family, then you can go for Toyota’s Prius Prime.
However, it would be only your commitment to a Prius car that would make you buy this. Otherwise, its rivals perform better in almost all parameters and are thus preferred by customers.
Toyota’s Prius Prime can give you the advantages of owning an eco-friendly car with an EV drive mode, comfortable seating for passengers, and many features for driver’s assistance.
However, it yields less mileage and a poor driving experience compared to its competitors from other car brands and Toyota products. When deciding to buy this or not, keep these points in mind.
10. Volkswagen Polo
A product from the German car manufacturer, Volkswagen’s Polo, is one of the most popular city cars that doesn’t cost you a fortune. This hatchback has managed to maintain and sustain a consistent number of customers, even after having a lot of competitors in the hatchback segment.
If you are an old-school person, who buys cars that are trusted by many and enjoy the status of being a preferred one, then you can go for Volkswagen’s Polo as your city car. The car has two engine options, each with a liter of capacity. The transmission is also available in manual and automatic versions.
Another reason you should seriously consider Volkswagen’s Polo is because it comes with many safety features and is thus a choice for people looking for a family car. Its exterior is based on Audi A1’s platform, which has come off as a timeless design.
11. Subaru Impreza
Let’s now discuss Subaru’s Impreza. Impreza is a compact car built in 1992 by the Japanese automobile manufacturing company Subaru. The vehicle, currently in its fifth generation, is a successor to Subaru’s Leone. The WRX models under Subaru Impreza are its latest variants.
The car gives you a wide variety to choose from in terms of its body style. It is predominantly a hatchback, available in two-door, four-door, and five-do options.
Its base model was empowered by a flat-four engine, whose capacity could range from 1.5 to 2.5 liters. The latest WRX versions were upgraded in the sense of having a turbocharged engine.
If you are looking forward to buying this product from Japanese automaker Subaru, you must know the different names by which it is sold worldwide. In the North American market, it is called Outback Sport; and is sometimes referred to as ‘Scooby.’
12. Nissan Leaf
The next car on our list of small city cars is Nissan’s Leaf. It is another electric car that is getting popular these days. If you are looking forward to getting an electric car with a heritage of customer trust, then you can go for Nissan Leaf.
Nissan’s Leaf has been selling in the market since 2010. This electric car has a 240-volt charger, which can fully charge the vehicle in four years.
Though the car gives you good mileage on a full charge, it performs less in a cold environment. Even driving in a rugged topography can affect the mileage.
Presently, it comes with new EV controls, where you can check the amount of charge left on a display screen. It can also show how fast or slow the battery is charging.
The car’s robust features like an excellent air-conditioning system, intuitive infotainment controls, and driver’s assistance controls are its significant positives. However, while deciding to buy this or not, you should keep both the positives and negatives in mind.
13. Toyota AYGO
Another city car from Toyota that’s sold for its silky smooth drive is Toyota AYGO. Toyota AYGO gives you room to choose from a wide range of optional features at a lower cost and the assured fun city driving experience. It combines stylish design with practical features and intelligent technology.
Toyota’s AYGO has features like Vehicle Stability Controls, which activates brakes automatically and enables the regulation of the engine so that it can take control; and sensors that can detect if the car is about to skid towards the side- which qualifies it to be a safe and efficient city car, which can be driven in busy roads of the urban areas.
This small hatchback could be a good option if you are considering buying a family car with excellent infotainment and safety features and is suitable for driving in a city. Its upbeat use of technology gives you a connectivity hub, which you can entertain and navigate while driving this car.
14. Volkswagen e-UP!
The next pick for our list of city cars is another Volkswagen product, i.e., Volkswagen e-UP! This electric car can meet your requirements of a city car: small in size, easily maneuverable, and gives viable options to choose from according to your personal choice and the needs of the city you are residing in.
The car is empowered by an electric powertrain, which allows it to reduce emissions, which is desirable in an already polluted city environment. Despite being a compact car, Volkswagen’s e-UP! It is pretty spacious for both the luggage and passengers.
You can consider getting this car if you are looking forward to an electric vehicle with many personalization options, an exotic feel, and fewer emissions. All these upbeat features are available at a reasonable cost, which is relatively low compared to its rivals.
15. BMW i3
BMW’s i3 is a first-class city car, a plug-in hybrid car. Most of its models combine an electric motor with a gasoline engine, thus ceasing to be a pure EV. This hybrid character gives it the advantages of both.
This car yields excellent performance with low running costs. The EV technology that it utilizes gives it the capacity to have a lesser negative impact on the environment. It provides a good mileage: it can go for 188 miles with one full charge. This is combined with the capacity to give a good acceleration.
If you are looking for a luxury city car, which is small in size and is easy to handle and park in tight spaces, then you can go for BMW’s i3. Its performance will not disappoint you.
16. Audi A1 Citycarver
Another luxury city car on our list is Audi’s A1 Citycarver. Although it is not very small, it is still a smaller Audi and can be considered a city car; that’s why we have picked this up for our list. The Audi A1 is a signature car that enables the customer to show their personality through the car by making the desired choices.
The A1 Citycarver qualifies to become a city car due to features like an octagon-shaped grille and extra long ground clearance that can help drive the vehicle in congested city areas.
Apart from that, it comes with features like high connectivity and upbeat music and an infotainment system with Bang & Olufsen’s speakers. Its lighting system is also customizable.
Thus, if you want such excellence and refinement in your car, you can go for Audi’s A1 Citycarver.
17. SKODA Citigo
The next pick for our list of small city cars is Citigo, built by Czechoslovakian automobile manufacturing company SKODA. This Czechoslovakian car is upbeat and economical at the same time. It could be an excellent pick for you if you want an economical car.
The car can reach 70mpg, and thus gives massive value for your money. It is available in two engine types; both run on petrol.
Moreover, you can choose the specifications of your Citigo in and out for both technological and additional features, making it a tailor-made car. Your choice of features decides the price of the vehicle.
18. Toyota Yaris
Despite its small size, which qualifies it to be a city car, Toyota Yaris is wide and has a sporty design. Still, it can manage to sneak out of the traffic and can be parked in a limited space.
Toyota Yaris has many safety features, making it a good pick if you are looking for something like a family car. It has seven airbags and Toyota’s signature ‘Safety Sense’ program. These features help you maneuver the city roads safely.
Apart from these safety features, the car also has an upbeat infotainment system, consisting of a touch screen display and a reversing camera, which helps navigate the vehicle well. You can consider getting this car after looking at its features.
19. Citroen C1
The third last car on our list of small city cars is Citroën C1. Citroën C1 has been built to become an actual city car, which can quickly nip around the city. Its compact size and dimensions, along with remarkable maneuverability, attract customers towards it.
The car is available in both three-door and five-door options. If you are somebody who would like to go on the streets with an ‘Airscape’ car, then Citroën C1 could be the one for you.
You can choose to have an Airscape open-top version of Citroën C1. Despite its small size, it is pretty spacious and can comfortably seat four adults.
Having all these features, the Citroën C1 is the ideal car if you like exploring cities. Its comfy seats and compact cabin complement its size and maneuverability, giving the ultimate city car driving experience.
20. Seat Mii Electric
If you are looking for a small and maneuverable city car that is also electric, look at this Seat Mii Electric. It has the design of a perfect city car- small in size and runs on an electric engine. If you love to roam around the city, this car could be a good pick for you as it can enable you to enter emission-free zones as well.
The car has an electric motor that can give 82bhp and produces 156 lb. ft of torque.
This is combined with an excellent acceleration- it can accelerate from rest to 31 mph in just 3.9 seconds. It yields a top speed of 81 mph.
The car’s compatibility is enhanced because it can be charged using a public fast charger. It gives excellent mileage: it can go on for 162 miles with one full charge.
21. Fiat 500 120th Anniversary Edition
The last car on our list of small city cars is Fiat 500’s 120th Anniversary Edition. This car, launched in 2019, is a good city car with an exotic exterior finish. You will have a fun driving experience if you get this car for nipping around the town.
The car is available in many colors, but its roof is black-painted. It has the standard all-wheel drive design, which comes with a rear-axle disconnect. This car is empowered by a turbocharged engine having a capacity of 1.8 liters. It produced 210 lb-ft of torque.
This car built by Italian designers can be a good pick for you if you want a vehicle that combines performance with excellent design and affordability.
Conclusion
In this article, you learned about various city cars available in the market. You got to know about the wide variety and features of these cars. With this knowledge, you can choose which one you would like to get for yourself.
Except for the luxury cars, we have chosen cars that fell in a similar price bracket, so your budget constraints won’t play many roles in your choice this time.
