The first city car appeared in the 1970s. Since then, it has remained one of the most popular car models. The biggest brands keep reinventing this vehicle to meet everyone's needs. Would you like to buy a city car? It's not easy to choose one with all the offers on the market, but this guide will help you find your model.
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Our selection
"The new Fiat 500 is a very charming and classy mini-city car! It offers a magnificent view thanks to its panoramic roof. A real little…"
"A very beautiful and versatile city car! The Citroën C3 adopts a new design with even more surprising features. We particularly appreciate the connected option…"
"Perfect in both sporty and normal driving modes, this Audi A1 Sportback is one of the best city cars on the market. Aesthetics, power and…"
"If you like hybrid cars, this latest generation Ford Fiast will satisfy you. The Ecoboost engine is both economical and powerful. Its Cool&Connect finish is…"
"The Renault Clio V promises you a real pleasure to drive every day. Whether inside or outside, you will appreciate its modernity and comfort. What…"
The new Fiat 500 is a very charming and classy mini-city car! It offers a magnificent view thanks to its panoramic roof. A real little wonder at an unbeatable price!
13 098 £ on Elite Auto
A very beautiful and versatile city car! The Citroën C3 adopts a new design with even more surprising features. We particularly appreciate the connected option and the driving aids.
12 442 £ on Elite AutoThe Citroën C3 is back with a vengeance with its third generation! The French carmaker, in an effort to always offer a comfortable car at the best price, presents its city car with a 1.2 VTi 3-cylinder gasoline engine of 83 hp. The 5-speed manual gearbox is particularly intuitive, both on the highways and on the back roads. It is more stylish with high-tech accessories.
But it is especially popular because of its options such as the MP3 function, digital radio, cruise control and driving assistance. In terms of ergonomics, it is a fairly spacious car with adjustable seats and central locking. In addition to being economical, it is also ecological and follows the Euro6 anti-pollution standard.
Perfect in both sporty and normal driving modes, this Audi A1 Sportback is one of the best city cars on the market. Aesthetics, power and sturdiness are all there!
22 954 £ on Elite AutoIts 110 HP speak volumes about its performance! This Audio A1 Sportback is a very versatile city car. It can cover long distances, but is also very comfortable in sporty driving. Equipped with a 3-cylinder in-line 1.0 TFSI engine with direct injection, it is fast, stable and leaves no one indifferent on the asphalt. Added to this, its 7-speed gearbox is highly technical.
It offers many advantages, not to mention equipment such as Bluetooth, steering wheel controls, adjustable seats and steering wheels, on-board computer and starting aid. But what seduces the most is its very elegant and refined interior. Despite its torque that rises to 5000 rpm, the Audi A1 Sportback remains an economical car with its 5.8 L/100 km.
If you like hybrid cars, this latest generation Ford Fiast will satisfy you. The Ecoboost engine is both economical and powerful. Its Cool&Connect finish is very appreciable.
14 373 £ on Elite Auto
The Renault Clio V promises you a real pleasure to drive every day. Whether inside or outside, you will appreciate its modernity and comfort. What are you waiting for to get behind the wheel of one of the most popular city cars of the moment?
15 606 £ on Elite AutoThe Renault Clio V is equipped with a 3-cylinder in-line petrol engine with 91 horsepower and 160 NM of torque. It swallows the 0 to 100 km/h in 12.2 seconds and can reach a maximum speed of 180 km/h. It is equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission. Inside, the driver benefits from a 7'' digital dashboard. In addition, the central screen houses the new EASY LINK multimedia system offering navigation and DAB digital radio.
More modern, the design of the Clio V resembles the Clio 4 except for a few details. At the front, we notice LED lights following the C shape, doors with chrome beads, a honeycomb grille and new lights at the rear. In terms of interior space, this city car offers a lot of room and comfort. It is also very generous in terms of trunk volume (391 to 1,069 L).
The Peugeot 208 is a very pleasant city car to drive for all your trips in town. Its design will not leave anyone indifferent! Thanks to its modern design and its dynamism, you won't even feel the miles go by.
16 331 £ on Elite AutoThe Peugeot 208 has a 3-cylinder gasoline engine with 100 horsepower and a torque of 205 NM. In terms of performance, it takes 9.9 seconds to go from 0 to 100 km/h and its top speed is 188 km/h. This city car also has a 6-speed manual transmission. Once installed, the driver benefits from an analog head-up display above the steering wheel (i-Cockpit) and a large central screen oriented in his direction.
As for the design, this car has a real personality with its aggressive look and its imposing grille. Compared to its predecessor, this city car offers a comfortable space for passengers in the back with 7 cm more. For your luggage, it has a trunk volume of 264 L that you can increase by folding the back of the rear seat.
With the new Volkswagen Polo, you'll be able to get around town safely. The driving pleasure is always there and this city car should logically seduce you because of its great versatility.
13 903 £ on Elite AutoThe new Volkswagen Polo is powered by an 80 horsepower inline 3-cylinder gasoline engine with 93 NM of torque. It has a 5-speed manual transmission and reaches 0 to 100 km/h in 15.5 seconds. Its top speed is set at 171 km/h. At the front, you have a dashboard with a foam coating on the upper part. In addition to the digital instrumentation, the driver benefits from a 6.5" color touch screen.
At the wheel of this Polo, enjoy a driving experience facilitated by Front Assist! A system that offers an emergency braking function as well as pedestrian and cyclist detection. For your safety, the city car also has a fatigue detection system and an audible and visible warning if the seatbelts are not fastened. In the back, we appreciate the large and comfortable space and a satisfactory trunk volume of 351 L.
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| TOP OF THE TOP | NOT EXPENSIVE | TOP OF THE RANGE | EXCELLENT | Extra | Great | Polyvalent | |
In accordance with our commitment, this buying guide does not contain any sponsored products. |
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| OUR SELECTION |
Fiat 500
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Citroën C3
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AUDI A1 Sportback
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Ford Fiesta
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Renault Clio V
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Peugeot 208
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Volkswagen Polo new
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The new Fiat 500 is a very charming and classy mini-city car! It offers a magnificent view thanks to its panoramic roof. A real little wonder at an unbeatable price!
|
A very beautiful and versatile city car! The Citroën C3 adopts a new design with even more surprising features. We particularly appreciate the connected option and the driving aids.
|
Perfect in both sporty and normal driving modes, this Audi A1 Sportback is one of the best city cars on the market. Aesthetics, power and sturdiness are all there!
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If you like hybrid cars, this latest generation Ford Fiast will satisfy you. The Ecoboost engine is both economical and powerful. Its Cool&Connect finish is very appreciable.
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The Renault Clio V promises you a real pleasure to drive every day. Whether inside or outside, you will appreciate its modernity and comfort. What are you waiting for to get behind the wheel of one of the most popular city cars of the moment?
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The Peugeot 208 is a very pleasant city car to drive for all your trips in town. Its design will not leave anyone indifferent! Thanks to its modern design and its dynamism, you won't even feel the miles go by.
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With the new Volkswagen Polo, you'll be able to get around town safely. The driving pleasure is always there and this city car should logically seduce you because of its great versatility.
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Motorization
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Fuel injection 1.0 70 BSG 3-cylinder naturally aspirated
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Multipoint fuel injection 1.2 VTi 3 cylinders atmospheric
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Fuel injection 1.0 TFSI 3 cylinder
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Turbo Injection 1.0 EcoB 3-cylinder
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3-cylinder, 12-valve fuel injection at 160 Nm at 2,750 rpm
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In-line 3-cylinder injection of 1,199 cm3, 12 valves at 205 nm at 1,750 rpm
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In-line 3-cylinder fuel injection, 12 valves at 93 Nm 5500 rpm
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Energy
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Essence
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Essence
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Essence
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Gasoline (Ecoboost)
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Essence
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Essence
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Essence
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Maximum real power
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69 Ch
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83 Ch
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110 Ch
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125 Hp
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91 hp
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100 hp
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80 hp
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Transmission mode
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Traction
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Traction
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Traction
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Traction
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Traction
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Traction
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Traction
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Options and equipment
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Knee airbag, Bluetooth, Radio UConnect (with USB port), Start & Stop System, Glass roof 7" touchscreen
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8" touch screen, Ford Applink, Rear parking assistance, Automatic air conditioning, Hill start assist (HSA), Speed limiter, GPS navigation
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Bluetooth, Isofix seats, GPS navigation, Alloy wheels, LED interior lighting, Seat occupancy sensor, Cruise control, Audi Pre Sense front
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Start Assist, Ford Applink, Automatic Air Conditioning, Lane Keeping Alert, Touchscreen 8, Anti-Plash Kit, Auto Low Beam, Defrosting Exterior Mirrors
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Steering wheel-mounted audio controls, Touchscreen, Bluetooth hands-free kit, DAB digital radio, Hill-start assist, Rain sensor, Dynamic handling control, Keyless start, Cruise control, Brake energy recovery
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Radio with 7" touch screen, Peugeot i-Cockpit with analog head-up display and 3"5 color matrix, DAB function, Depth-adjustable steering wheel, Driver's seat with manual height adjustment, Tire repair kit, Electric power steering, Single-zone automatic air conditioning.
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Puncture recovery kit, Height adjustable front driver's seat, Automatic headlight illumination, Electronic immobilizer, DAB+ digital radio reception, Cruise control, Preparation for "We Connect" and "We Connect Plus", Wired App-Connect, Bluetooth interface.
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Originally, the city car was especially dedicated to city travel. Indeed, its small size allows it to go everywhere and to park easily. But it was only suitable for uses that involved low annual mileage. Then more versatile and more efficient models appeared. Sporty city cars, for example, will be perfect if you often take the highway, and hybrid models will be the best solution if you want to do something for the environment.
The engine also influences the choice of your city car. The diesel engine, for example, consumes less fuel than a gasoline model. It also benefits from a long service life. However, it is clear that it is not really adapted to urban use. The gasoline engine, on the other hand, has the advantage of running more quietly than the diesel engine and can hold its own on long journeys. As for hybrid city cars, these are fairly recent models that are not yet very widespread. Hybridization consists of combining an electric motor with a thermal engine in order to reduce fuel consumption. In addition to being economical, hybrid city cars are also environmentally friendly.
There are currently top-of-the-line city cars that offer you many features from the latest technology. For example, some models are equipped with multiple airbags, electronic stability control, automatic braking in case of emergency and other options that are designed to ensure your safety. These city cars also offer you all the comforts of modern cars. For example, they can incorporate dual-zone climate control, allow touchless opening or enable Bluetooth connectivity.
For the sake of practicality, it is best that you anticipate the number of passengers who will frequently travel in your car and choose your model accordingly. There are different models with two, four or five seats. For family use, for example, the five-seat model would be ideal. Only multi-purpose city cars have this many seats. However, the third seat in the back of the multi-purpose models should be considered as a back-up seat or you may feel uncomfortable on long distance trips. The two seats are reserved for micro-city cars while 4-seater models are classified as mini-city cars.
City cars are not known for having large cargo spaces. This is not a real disadvantage when you can live without it. However, when it comes to family use, it's best to choose a car with generous trunk dimensions. City station wagons have proven that it is possible to have a spacious trunk in a small car. Almost all city station wagons also have folding rear seats, so you can adjust the space to your liking.
A city car is above all a discreet vehicle, which can be driven very well in town. Couple, teenager, single... this category of car is made for you. But what are the advantages of a city car compared to other models?
First of all, it is a car that is easy to handle and drive. It is a very popular means of transportation in urban areas, and it is perfect for driving in back alleys, but it also performs well on highways or normal roads. Finding parking for this type of car is also easier because of its size. On the other hand, the city car never loses its value and beauty. It remains a very trendy car and comes in many models, types, colors, etc. Basically, it's a car for short trips around town.
Owning a city car also means saving on maintenance. Since it is only used in the city, and rarely on the outskirts, parts last longer. For fuel, you can choose between diesel and gasoline. This eliminates any clogging of components such as injectors or turbo. Prefer models with a Start and Stop system to reduce fuel consumption. But a city car offers more comforts with its equipment and interior. For example, you can take advantage of technologies such as Bluetooth connectivity, adjustable seats, cruise control and many others.
Mini-city cars are easily recognizable by their small size, which does not exceed 3.7m. Compact, they can circulate even in the narrowest streets of the city. Their great advantage is that thanks to their small size and turning radius, they are extremely easy to park. So easy, in fact, that Smart cars have even invented a new style: parking in the width. However, their use is strictly limited to the urban environment. Indeed, they will have difficulties on highways or during long distance trips.
The versatile city cars are bigger than the mini models, but they do not exceed 4.05 m. They are known for their sturdiness, and their power. This model is ideal for your trips around town, but also for use outside urban areas. The only reproach that can be made to the multipurpose city cars is that the passenger compartment is not extensible. So they can't carry more than four people without the passengers feeling cramped.
If you have a passion for sports cars, sporty city cars are for you. If you have a passion for sports cars, sports cars are for you. Driving a sports car means feeling the power of a powerful engine and enjoying the benefits of top-of-the-line equipment. Dynamic, sporty city cars are adapted to the city. Moreover, they are economical even when you drive nervously.
The 5-door city cars are both stable and very practical for large families. The entry and exit of the car are facilitated by the presence of the two other rear side doors. It is the ideal car to circulate with the family in urban areas, but not only... In fact, 5-door city cars are increasingly used in extra-urban environments. It also has a larger trunk, very useful for vacations and trips. Moreover, you can perfectly arrange the rear space to optimize the comfort of the passengers.
However, the 5-doors are heavier and have less handling. And despite the fact that recent city cars are packed with technology, they are not as fast. The aesthetics sometimes leave something to be desired since it is longer. But the main drawback is the price, which is not cheap.
In terms of aesthetics, 3-door city cars are close to perfection. For this reason, more and more young people and couples are attracted by the purchase of this type of vehicle. Well worked design, nice lines, such are its assets. But these small city cars are also increasingly equipped to enhance the safety of passengers. Finally, it is a very affordable and economical car.
But comfort is neglected in favor of looks and other features. Indeed, passengers in the back always feel cramped despite the fact that the front seats are adjustable. The trunk is also small, and can only hold light luggage.
The choice of a city car depends mainly on your needs and the number of people in your household. A 5-door is the ideal option if you have a lot of people. It's also a very comfortable car and offers many customization options. If you're looking for exterior appeal and ease of use, a 3-door is the way to go. It's ideal for a romantic drive or a short trip with friends.
Buy your car at a good time to get it at the best price
The time of purchase has a huge influence on the price of a car. To get a discount, you can buy your car during promotional periods. You can also choose a model that will soon be replaced. In addition, while waiting for the new version to come out, you can get up to 25% off.
Compare your car with other insurers to find the best deal for you
It is possible to get good insurance at a low price by playing the competition. Indeed, insurers often offer advantageous deals for new members. Every year, you can therefore put them in competition so that you can find the conditions that will be more favorable.
Drive smoothly to reduce fuel consumption
By reducing fuel consumption you can save money and preserve the environment. To do this, you need to drive smoothly while avoiding high speeds. You should drive at a constant speed and without jerking the gas pedal or braking.
Clean your engine often to keep it running smoothly
To avoid clogging and corrosion of your engine, you should clean it regularly. In this way, you avoid gas evacuation problems and over-consumption of fuel. We therefore advise you to proceed to a cleaning from 40,000 km done and when you notice an oil or coolant leak.
Maintain your car at regular intervals
You must maintain your car regularly to prevent it from deteriorating prematurely. Every car model has a service booklet that specifies the maintenance intervals. This can be a time or mileage interval. It is important to respect this interval to perform an oil change or a replacement of parts for example.
The best city car depends on your needs and budget. Read our buying guide to find out more.
The city car is light and benefits from technological advances that make its average consumption 5L/100. Some city car diesel models can even offer you a consumption of 3.2 Liters/100 km. Indeed, a car that runs on gasoline consumes more than a diesel model.
If your car is electric, you can claim an ecological bonus in the form of financial aid for the purchase. To qualify, you must choose a fully electric car that emits less than 20 grams of CO2 per kilometer or a plug-in hybrid that has more than 50 kilometers of range.
If your car is not a long-distance car, you can take out an insurance policy specifically designed for "short-distance drivers" based on the number of kilometers driven in a year. You can also take out a third-party insurance policy that includes at least the civil liability of your vehicle.
You should start by removing, with a blower, the dirt accumulated on the engine. Next, you should use a degreasing product that is appropriate for your type of engine and a brush or a paintbrush for a thorough cleaning. Finally, the rinsing must be done avoiding the electrical parts of the motor.
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