Best city cars

If you’re looking for a small and frugal car to use around the city, these are the best options.

While there’s been a growing trend for larger cars in recent years, for many drivers a smaller and more fuel-efficient car makes a better choice.

Known as city cars, these are some of the smallest vehicles on the road. Ideal for around town because of their small dimensions, they’re also a popular choice with new drivers because they’re usually cheap to insure.

City cars are also comparatively inexpensive to buy, and also cheap to run, and that makes them a great choice for those looking to reduce their bills. Let’s take a look at 10 of the best used city cars on offer.

Hyundai i10

One of the most popular used city cars is the Hyundai i10. Though introduced in 2009, the second-generation model – launched in 2014 – gets our vote. It’s surprisingly roomy for such a small car, while the styling looks fairly modern.

Most i10s come with plenty of equipment, with top-spec versions featuring the likes of an electric sunroof and heated seat. Around £5,000 will buy you a low-mileage Hyundai i10 of this age.

Seat Mii Electric

Electric cars lend themselves perfectly to being city cars, as the outright range is usually not quite so important. One of our favourite used choices is the Seat Mii Electric, which is also a sibling model to the Volkswagen e-Up! and Skoda Citigo-e iV. Seat claims an electric range of around 160 miles.

The Mii Electric is very well-rounded for such a small car, being pleasant to drive but also quite good fun. It comes as standard with five doors and offers a great amount of space considering its size. It’s great value on the used market, with prices starting from £10,500 for a 2020-registered example.

Fiat 500

If you want a city car to be all about style, it’s hard to beat the Fiat 500. Ever since this model was revived in 2007, it’s been renowned for its style. With various special editions and a superb amount of personalisation, there are plenty of cool-looking used Fiat 500s on the used market.

But the 500 should also be frugal to run, with its small engines and low insurance groups, particularly on more entry-level cars. Fiat even offers a convertible 500C if you want something a bit different. Used prices now start from as little as £2,000.

Volkswagen Up! GTI

Generally speaking, performance and fun aren’t top of the agenda on a city car, but if you want something you can have great fun driving, we strongly recommend the Volkswagen Up! GTI. Introduced in 2018, it brought a fun 113bhp 1.0-litre petrol engine and with a sweet manual gearbox, is a very enjoyable driving experience.

Despite being sportier though, the Up! still offers fairly low running costs, and is ideal for those wanting an affordable performance car. It also retains the standard VW’s strengths – quality, space and practicality. Used Up! GTI prices have stayed on the high side, but it’s unlikely to depreciate much further. You’ll pay from £12,000 for a 2018 example.

Kia Picanto

Another popular city car choice is the Kia Picanto, which continues to be one of this firm’s best-selling models. The Picanto is a car that punches well above its size and price, with a nicely-finished interior and excellent road manners.

Skip the most entry-level trim and it comes with a decent level of equipment too. Our vote goes towards the third-generation Picanto, introduced in 2017. Prices start from £5,500, and providing the service history is all up-to-date, should still be covered by Kia’s excellent seven-year warranty.

Smart Fortwo

Though a bit too compromised for some, there has arguably never been a better city car than the Smart Fortwo. This dinky model is perfect for narrow streets where parking is tricky, thanks to its dinky size and tiny turning circle.

We’d recommend a third-generation Fortwo, launched in 2015. Petrol versions were available for a number of years before Smart switched to only selling electric models in 2019. The EVs have a very compromised range of around 60 miles to a charge. Used prices for a ForTwo start from £6,000 for a 2015 car.

Peugeot 107

If you’re looking for a particularly low-cost city car, we strongly recommend a Peugeot 107. Despite being first introduced in 2005, it’s aged well, while its fairly inexpensive nature means it’s proven reliable and any repairs should be fairly affordable.

The 107’s small petrol engines also ensure it should be cheap to run, both in terms of fuel economy and also insurance, too, and make it an ideal first car candidate. Prices for a used Peugeot 107 also start from just £1,500.

Toyota Aygo

Toyota’s Aygo is actually a sibling model to the Peugeot 107 – and Citroen C1 for that matter – so it carries over all of the strengths we’ve previously mentioned. With the Aygo, we’d recommend a second-generation model, introduced in 2014.

With more modern styling courtesy of its ‘X’ front-end design, there’s loads of customisation available on the Aygo, with an electric canvas roof even offered when new. Used prices for a Toyota Aygo start from £4,500.

Ford Ka+

You’ll likely be familiar with the standard Ford Ka, but many aren’t aware of the Ka+. Sold between 2015 and 2019, it was a lot like a shrunken Fiesta in many respects, though is often an overlooked choice.

While the Ka+ might not be the coolest or most stylish small car, there’s a lot to be said for its enjoyable driving experience and practical interior. It’s also a very good used buy, with prices starting from £5,500.

Honda e

A slightly more eccentric used city car choice is the Honda e. This was an EV introduced in 2020 that showed a much more fun side of Honda, with its cool design and exceptionally modern interior – there are six digital screens in the cabin, and even the door mirrors use cameras.

With a range of only around 120 miles and a high starting price of £27,000, it’s hard to recommend a new Honda e. However, steep depreciation means you can pick up a three-year-old example for a very attractive £16,000.

Prices correct at time of publication [01/2024].