Nationwide Vehicle Contracts lists the eight best cars that are narrow enough to fit on a tight driveway
Having a driveway is one of the many benefits of having your own house. In a perfect world, your driveway should fit your car easily, but we all know this isn't the case. That's why you've clicked on this article!
The average UK driveway has a minimum width of 3 meters (3,000mm), but if you live in a city, this will likely be less. When choosing a car, it's essential to you and your family that it can fit in your driveway.
To make the selection process a little easier, car leasing specialists, Nationwide Vehicle Contracts, show you the top eight cars that will fit in a tight driveway. Check it out below.
1. Fiat 500
You could have guessed the Fiat 500 would feature on this list, so here it is. A perfect city car thanks to its small engines and cute exterior, the Fiat 500 has become a contestant on the roads in Britain since its launch in 2007.
An ideal car for urban driving, the Fiat 500 measures 3571mm in length and just 1627mm in width making it easy to park and manoeuvre into a small driveway.
The small Italian car would best suit those just starting out in their first home. It has a range of engines featuring hybrid technology, meaning it returns a good fuel economy and has low overheads to run. However, don't expect much interior space and a large boot.
2. Suzuki Ignis
The Suzuki Ignis is the definition of a car that can multitask. Its styling makes it look like a small SUV, but its small dimensions and weight compete with city cars and hatchbacks when on the road.
Coming in at 3,700mm in length and 1,660mm in width, the Suzuki Ignis is perfect for a small driveway. You also sit nice and high when behind the wheel, meaning you get a good field of view to get your angles right.
The Ignis comes with good equipment as standard and features mild hybrid technology under the bonnet, keeping running costs to a minimum.
3. Mini Hatchback
The Mini Hatchback was born to accommodate those with less space. A modern-day version of the iconic Mini Cooper, the Hatchback belongs to be parked in a tight driveway and will look damn good when doing so.
With dimensions of 3,863mm in length and 1,727mm in width, the Mini Hatchback makes manoeuvring into a tight driveway an absolute breeze. You get rear parking sensors as standard to help, which can be upgraded to add front sensors and a rear camera.
The Mini Hatchback is a bit more expensive than some of its rivals, but you get what you pay for. It has a great range of fuel-efficient engines and a classy interior. The five-door Hatchback would be a sensible option for a bit more interior space.
4. Toyota Aygo X
The Toyota Aygo X is an ultra-compact version of the original crossover, redesigned to fit the bill of busy urban life. Although coming with rugged SUV styling, the Aygo X is a great city car and would be a solid choice if you have a narrow driveway.
Measuring 3,700mm in length and 1,740mm in width, the Aygo X provides an agile drive that's perfect for the hustle and bustle of city life, or navigating the car into a tight driveway.
The Aygo X carries the typical Toyota characteristic. There's nothing fancy about the interior, it comes with simple and easy-to-use technology, and the engines are low maintenance and cheap to run.
5. Ford Fiesta
Just like the Fiat 500, it'll be tricky to go for a drive in Britain and not see a Ford Fiesta. The reason for this is that it's so versatile. It's good on the open road but can also work as a compact city car and manoeuvre well into tight spots.
At 3,969mm in length and 1,735mm in width, the Fiesta is on the large side for a hatchback, but it's still an absolute doddle to park. It has a great field of vision and comes with rear parking sensors as standard.
The Fiesta is also one of the most affordable hatchbacks on the market and is a great bang for your buck. It has a range of engines featuring hybrid technology and comes standard with easy-to-use technology.
6. Nissan Juke
The Nissan Juke is one of the UK's most popular and affordable SUV crossovers. This is because it's a perfect blend of practicality and performance. If you live in the suburbs of a city but also like driving in the country, the Nissan Juke would be an excellent choice for a lease car.
With a width of just 1,800mm, the Juke should be small enough to fit in most narrow driveways. Although the view out the rear window isn't great for reversing into your drive, all Juke's above the entry-level trim get a rear-view camera as standard.
7. Ford Puma
The second SUV crossover to feature on this list is the Ford Puma, which is like a bigger brother to the Ford Fiesta. It's taller, wider, and longer than the Fiesta, but it will still easily fit on your small driveway.
The Puma measures 4,186mm in length and 1,805mm in width, less its rivals such as the Peugeot 5008 and the much bigger Citroen C5 Aircross.
Like the Fiesta, the Puma has a range of punchy engines that are fun to drive, all featuring hybrid technology which keeps running costs down. With the bigger dimensions comes more space inside the car for the family, and a 456-litre boot makes family holidays that bit easier.
8. Skoda Octavia
I'm not trying to convince you that the Skoda Octavia is a small car, because it's not. It's the longest car on this list, but even so, it's relatively narrow for an estate car, making it accessible for tight driveways.
The Octavia comes in at 4,689mm in length and 1,829mm in width, so it should be able to fit in a tight driveway. However, because of the extra length, you might have to manoeuvre quite a bit to get your angles right, which could be time-consuming. At least your parking skills will improve!
Because of the length, the Octavia is one of the most practical cars on the market. It has a spacious interior, a generous boot of 590 litres, and simple-to-use technology that's built to last.
Looking for more motoring advice? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts produce comprehensive blogs on a range of topics, including the Top 10 Cars To Take To The Golf Course and Why Have Car Prices Increased?
