As a city dweller, you often have two realistic choices for your daily commute – either submit to the life of the public transport user or opt for a compact vehicle that’s perfectly designed to navigate busy city streets and hectic urban roundabouts.
City cars are not only economical to run but are generally more eco-friendly than their bigger brothers and can make light work of an otherwise daunting city trip. That is, of course, as long as you choose the right car!
VW up! – One of the newest models on the list, this nippy little number has all of the cutesy appeal and convenience of many other smaller city cars but should manage to hold its value thanks to the reliability and appeal of the Volkswagen brand. It’s also a surprisingly durable little beast with great suspension that means it’s just as comfortable cruising the backroads as it is exploring the city.
Vauxhall Viva – A 5 door beauty with great fuel economy and a very reasonable price, the Viva has been a dependably popular city car in the UK for a while now and the latest model is certainly not to be sniffed at. It’s practical, economical and looks great, with a variety of colour options to consider. The only downside is that in order to make room for 5 seats, the boot is a little on the small side. For our money, this car represents perhaps the best value for money on the list so, by all means, hit up your nearest Vauxhall dealers today for a test drive.
Skoda Citigo – The clue is very much in the name with this one! Skoda is a brand that has seen something of a renaissance and it’s been more than earned thanks to new models such as this incredibly smart and surprisingly roomy little monster. There are four levels to choose from, but we’d opt for the SE spec, which includes air conditioning and electric windows.
SEAT Mii – With a naming convention that almost brings to mind a certain Nintendo console, the Mii is a decidedly cutesy little goer with a 1.0-litre engine and configurations in either 59 or 74bhp. It’s mechanically very similar to both the up! And the Citigo but can generally be found for a discounted price due to the lesser familiarity of the SEAT brand. The Mii is also a lot less flashy and more refined than its close cousins.
Suzuki Celerio – A follow-up to the much-maligned Alto (that never seemed to sit right on British roads), the Celerio is easily the most efficient car on this list and has a boot like Mary Poppins’ handbag! An ideal first car for city dwellers that will cut through the chaos of a mid-morning traffic jam like a knife through butter.
This is a small selection of the affordable city cars currently ringing our bells as the most suitable city drivers, but it’s a sector of the automotive market that’s constantly expanding. So, be sure to keep your eyes peeled and your browsers tuned to local dealers if you want to catch the next great city car deal.
