10 Best City Cars for Urban Driving

Living in a city is great; you've got most things on your doorstep and there's always a buzz of energy and activity. However, being on the roads in a city can be tricky, and finding the best city car even more so. 

A good city car needs to be small, have good fuel economy, be practical, and feature the latest technology to help you manoeuvre your way around the urban jungle. 

To help make your decision, Nationwide Vehicle Contracts lists the ten best city vehicles that are suited for urban living.

What is the best car for city driving you ask? I give you the Fiat 500. Probably the best city car ever, its been dealing with whatever cities have thrown at it since 1957, all while getting glowing reviews. 

The 500 is stylish, practical, and cheap to run and maintain, making it a great choice for city driving. Coming with a width of 1,893m and a length of 3,571mm, the 500 is perfect for navigating tight roads and car parks. You'll also do it in style, with the 500 donning its iconic round body that's lasted for generations. 

Under the bonnet, drivers have a range of choices from mild-hybrid petrols to fully electric units. Regardless of your choice, they're all very economical and pack-a-punch, meaning you won't be too sluggish when accelerating from a stationary position.

The interior of the 500 is also perfect for city living, there's a decent amount of storage options for your gadgets, and even four people can fit inside. You'll also get a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system on the dash, which features smartphone connectivity, meaning you can easily view your directions. 

If you’re after a quirky and eco-friendly solution for your urban commute, the Citroen Ami is one to consider. This ultra-compact electric vehicle (EV) is perfect for navigating tight city streets and parking in the smallest of spaces. Its petite frame, just 2.41 metres long, makes it one of the most manoeuvrable vehicles on the market.

The Ami is entirely electric, with a range of around 46 miles on a single charge, making it ideal for short city trips. Charging it is hassle-free too, as it can plug into any standard 3-pin socket and be fully charged in just three hours. While it might not be the fastest car around, it more than makes up for it with its environmental credentials and low running costs.

Inside, the Citroen Ami offers just enough room for two passengers, making it perfect for solo drivers or city dwellers who don’t need a lot of space. Though simple, its design is functional, with enough storage for daily essentials.

The i10 is slightly bigger than your average city car, with five doors and an interior big enough to accommodate a small family. It's ideal for city driving because of its sheer reliability and vast range of safety technology. 

Let's start with reliability. If you choose a Hyundai i10, I doubt you'll spend too much time in the garage. The engine is reliable and deals with stop-start traffic very well, and the interior is solid and built to last. In terms of technology, you get a rear-parking sensor as standard, and from the Premium trim, you get an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone connectivity. 

City driving can be hectic, and that's why the i10 comes with a load of safety technology. It includes lane keep assist, forward collision assist, a forward collision warning system, and electronic stability control. 

Engine options are decent for the i10; you get a standard 1.0-litre MPi unit with 67bhp or a 1.2-litre MPi with 84bhp. However, the standout stat is the fuel economy, which is a whopping 62.8mph for the standard engine. 

The Mini Cooper 3 Door is a very good city car. A modern twist on the classic Mini Cooper, it's perfect for city dwellers who require a compact, nimble, and fun city car. 

Under the bonnet, you can choose between a three or four-cylinder petrol engine, the latter of which returns 204hp and reaches 62mph in just 6.6 seconds! You'll also be able to navigate city streets well, not just because of its tight dimensions, but because it comes with a full range of driver assistance systems. 

Inside, the Cooper 3 Door is terrific. The dashboard features a circular infotainment system that features a wide range of technology, including a MINI Intelligent Personal Assistant and cloud-based intelligent navigation. 

Trust us, you can't go wrong with the Mini Cooper 3 Door. 

The Toyota Aygo X isn't your typical city car. In fact, it's not even a city car; it's an ultra-compact crossover SUV. Because of this, it's slightly more practical than a few others on the list, making it perfect for families living in the city. 

Urban families will love the Aygo X because it's versatile. It's compact enough for city driving, but there's also room for children in the rear, and it can more than handle itself out of the city. 

It'll come as no surprise that the Volkswagen Golf Hatchback makes it on this list. It's a small car that will never go out of fashion. 

The reason why the Golf is so popular for city drivers is because it ticks so many boxes. It looks good, is incredibly reliable, has a comfortable interior, is practical, and features a great range of technology. There's even a plug-in hybrid option available that offers a range of up to 60 miles. 

It's arguably the best hatchback on the market, making it a very good city car. 

You may well have never heard of the Ora 03 before, but let me tell you, you'll be hearing a lot more about it in the coming years. A small electric car, the Ora 03 is one of the best city cars around thanks to its great range of technology and stylish interior. 

The standout feature of the Ora 03 is its battery - it's a fact that Chinese manufacturers just make them better. The Pro+ version uses a 63kWh battery that returns up to 260 miles of range, a figure that many other electric city cars simply can't match. 

Inside, you'll get a spacious and premium cabin. There's enough room for four people to get comfortable, and there's superb technology, such as a pair of twin 10.25-inch screens and a full range of driver assistance systems. 

You're probably wondering what on earth the Honda Jazz is doing on the list. But think again. The days of the Jazz being a boring pensioner car are long gone. It now offers city dwellers a great all-around experience. 

Now in its fourth generation, Honda has added a bit of Hip-Hop to the Jazz (get it), with a smart interior, a refreshed exterior, and a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain that returns superb fuel economy. 

But where the Jazz stands out is its passenger space. There's plenty of room for four passengers to get comfortable, and its interior is SUV-like! You also get a large boot and 60/40 trips, perfect for when moving flat…

The Ford Puma is a crossover SUV that can handle just about whatever is thrown its way. City traffic? Tight and narrow streets? An adventure to the countryside? Don't worry, the Puma can handle it. 

Although larger than most other cars on this list, the Puma is still an exceptionally good city car. It has compact dimensions, an economical hybrid engine, and plenty of technology, including a 360-degree surround-view camera and Ford's SYNC4 infotainment system. 

Give the Puma a go, and we're sure you'll love it. If you're after more detail, check out our blog, Ford Puma: Why is it so successful?

James May would love this car. It’s the Dacia Sandero and it’s a great car to drive in the city. Coming at an affordable price and with a spacious interior, the Sandero is for those looking for a simple and reliable car. 

The Sandero’s appeal lies in its simplicity and value for money. You get plenty of interior space, a large 328-litre boot, and all the essentials you need for everyday driving. It may not be packed with high-end tech, but its user-friendly features, such as a simple media system with smartphone connectivity, make it a practical choice.

When you live in a city, you want a car that’s built to last, and this is where the Sandero comes into play. It has a simple and functional design that is almost bomb-proof (well, not really, but you get what I mean). The Sandero is more than capable of withstanding the hustle and bustle of city life. 

When it comes to navigating the busy streets of the UK, choosing a compact and agile car is essential. The models mentioned above offer a combination of manoeuvrability, fuel efficiency, and parking convenience, making them some of the best cars for city driving. Remember to consider your specific needs and preferences when selecting the perfect car to tackle the challenges of urban commuting in the UK.

For more information, why not check out our Top 5 Family Cars with the Most Legroom? We also produce a range of weekly blogs on various topics, which can be found in the blog section of our website.

Nationwide Vehicle Contracts are one of the UK's leading car leasing brokers and offer a range of leasing deals to suit every need. To find out more, check out our comprehensive car leasing guides or call one of our experts on 0345 811 9595.