Best small city cars of 2025
If your driving consists mainly of getting from here to there in the urban environment, then it’s absolutely the case that the best things come in small packages.
Step in — perhaps literally — the city car. These tiny cars are perfectly suited for the inner-city runaround thanks to compact dimensions, low running costs and excellent manoeuvrability. We've picked out the best of the bunch.
What's good
What’s not so good
Once a very sensible, but rather tame looking thing, the Hyundai i10 has been transformed. It now looks properly funky thanks to sharp angles, a two-tone paint finish that gives it a floating roof and some rather bold alloy wheels available across the range.
It’s packed with standard safety tech too such as lane-keeping assistance and automatic emergency braking. Your best bet is the 1.0-litre turbocharged car, which brings a healthy amount of poke to the dinky hatch.
It’s packed with standard safety tech too such as lane-keeping assistance and automatic emergency braking. Your best bet is the 1.0-litre turbocharged car, which brings a healthy amount of poke to the dinky hatch.
What's good
What’s not so good
When it comes to the SEAT Mii, Skoda Citigo, Volkswagen Up triplets, the Up is definitely ‘The Posh One’. The plastics used inside feel that bit classier than those in the other two, and optional styling packs make things feel better still. There’s room for four adults (although a Hyundai i10 can carry five), and the boot’s a good size.
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What's good
What’s not so good
Audi is relatively rare among premium manufacturers, as while BMW's smallest car is the significantly larger 1 Series, and the Mercedes A-Class is also from the segment above, the A1 makes a nice urban runabout if you're after a bit of posh.
Featuring eoms excellent technology and with a range of peppy and efficient petrol engines, there's a lot to like about the little A1, even if it's not quite as fun as a MINI.
Featuring eoms excellent technology and with a range of peppy and efficient petrol engines, there's a lot to like about the little A1, even if it's not quite as fun as a MINI.
What's good
What’s not so good
Despite being a small car, the Jazz is immensely practical, with its tall shape providing lots of headroom, and its clever rear seats folding up, cinema style, to allow you to put tall items behind the front occupants.
The Jazz is also fantastically easy to drive, comfortable and has an almost peerless reputation for reliability, while its petrol-electric hybrid nature also makes it one of the cheapest cars out there to run.
The Jazz is also fantastically easy to drive, comfortable and has an almost peerless reputation for reliability, while its petrol-electric hybrid nature also makes it one of the cheapest cars out there to run.
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True, it's a little more imposing than some city cars, but the Aygo X really is quite dinky, at just 3.7 metres long and just 1.74m wide.
It's also a pretty handsome thing, with those rough-and-tough styling cues being more for show than off-road go, but giving it a distinct character nonetheless. The Aygo X's high ride height means it's easy to see other traffic in town, while cabin space is good, and running costs should be low.
It's also a pretty handsome thing, with those rough-and-tough styling cues being more for show than off-road go, but giving it a distinct character nonetheless. The Aygo X's high ride height means it's easy to see other traffic in town, while cabin space is good, and running costs should be low.
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What’s not so good
Despite the name, the MINI is a little larger than some of the cars on this list, but as an urban runabout it takes some beating.
Characterful, personalisable, stylish and fantastic to drive, few cars are as much fun to nip about city streets in, while there's also an electric version if you want to eliminate your urban emissions.
Characterful, personalisable, stylish and fantastic to drive, few cars are as much fun to nip about city streets in, while there's also an electric version if you want to eliminate your urban emissions.
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What’s not so good
Compact and fun to drive, the Vauxhall Corsa is a good city car. You can nip in and out of city streets easily, while the engine options are economical, making short trips in town simple. The interior quality could be better though, while some cars can cram more things in the boot and seat people with extra comfort.
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What’s not so good
Small. Check. Economical. Check. Easy to drive. Checl The Kia Picanto is still a cracking city car, because it’s narrow, with quick steering and agile responses, so it makes mincemeat out of most urban-driving situations. It’s less convincing out of town, where the road noise and wallowy suspension inhibit enjoyment. Higher-spec models come with a touchscreen that allows you to mirror your smartphone, and an automatic emergency braking system to enhance safety.
Your pick should be the turbocharged 1.0-litre, 100hp option. Not only is it surprisingly fun, but it's about as economical as the entry-level 67hp car too.
Your pick should be the turbocharged 1.0-litre, 100hp option. Not only is it surprisingly fun, but it's about as economical as the entry-level 67hp car too.
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What’s not so good
When designing the Suzuki Ignis, the manufacturer clearly decided SUVs were selling like mad, so why not build a small one? It certainly stands out with its high-up stance, exaggerated wheel arches and angular side windows. The angular body is spacious enough to easily carry four adults.
The 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine is good, and is boosted by the presence of a small electric motor to help economy and performance. DAB radio and electric windows are standard on all models, but it’s a shame the plastics feel cheap.
The 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine is good, and is boosted by the presence of a small electric motor to help economy and performance. DAB radio and electric windows are standard on all models, but it’s a shame the plastics feel cheap.
What's good
What’s not so good
True, it's getting a little long in the tooth now, but there's still a lot to like about the Fiat Panda. It's nice and affordable, for one thing, while it's also an attractive little car, with decent space inside as well.
Some of the cabin plastics could be a little nicer, and it only comes with four seats as standard, so be sure to specify or look out for a five seater if you need this option. But as an unpretentious, enjoyable city car, the Panda has a lot going for it.
Some of the cabin plastics could be a little nicer, and it only comes with four seats as standard, so be sure to specify or look out for a five seater if you need this option. But as an unpretentious, enjoyable city car, the Panda has a lot going for it.
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