Driving in the city is something of a necessary evil. The stop-start traffic, tiny parking spaces and incomprehensible one-way systems all feel miles away from the joy of the open road.
It doesn’t have to be this way, however, with our picks for the 10 best cars for city driving. Each has several handy features to make your commute as effortless as possible.
We’ve included petrol, hybrid and fully electric cars, giving you options whether you can plug in to recharge or not. Every car on this list is Clean Air Zone compliant (including London’s ULEZ), so you can drive right into the beating heart of the metropolis without paying an emissions charge.
Find huge savings off the brand-new price by buying any of these tempting options as a used car from Motorpoint.
- Ford Fiesta
- Fiat 500
- Vauxhall Corsa
- Honda Jazz
- Peugeot e-208
- Mini Hatchback
- Toyota Yaris Cross
- Skoda Kamiq
- Kia Picanto
- BMW i3
Ford Fiesta
The Ford Fiesta has spent years as the UK’s best-selling car for good reason. It's just the right size for UK cities – short enough squeeze into tight parking spots, while also being able to seat four adults in reasonable comfort. That’s before you get to the Fiesta’s pokey turbocharged engines, agile handling and decent equipment list, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard on all nearly new Fiestas, and rear parking sensors available on mid-level trims and up.
Shop used Ford Fiesta cars or read our Ford Fiesta review
Fiat 500
The Fiat 500 proves that affordable cars don’t need to feel like a budget-basement choice. Every version gets funky styling touches inspired by the ‘50s 500, along with fizzy petrol engines that make up for their limited power with great fuel economy. Interior space is tight with the two rear seats only useful for shorter journeys, but the trade-off is an extremely small footprint that’ll fit into almost any parking space.
View used Fiat 500 cars or read our Fiat 500 review
Vauxhall Corsa
Another great all-round city hatchback is the Vauxhall Corsa. Inside, you’ll find a nicely built interior with enough space for four adults, or five for very short journeys. If you’re shopping for nearly new examples, Corsa models tend to be a little more affordable than like-for-like Fiestas, and many come with generous equipment lists. City dwellers with access to a charging point should consider the Corsa Electric – the purchase price is fractionally higher than fuel-powered versions but running costs are fantastically low.
Browse used Vauxhall Corsas or read our Vauxhall Corsa review
Honda Jazz
Trekking through the concrete jungle is made much easier if you don't have to change gear, which makes the Honda Jazz and its responsive, frugal hybrid engine a tempting choice. It's not just the zippy powertrain that impresses, however, because the Jazz has an astonishing amount of rear head and legroom for such a small car, along with a boot that'll handle big shops with ease. The dashboard has a clean, minimal look and there are a few soft-touch spots dotted about the cabin to make it a comfier place to sit.
See used Honda Jazz cars for sale or read our Honda Jazz review
Peugeot e-208
Electric cars are more energy efficient than fuel-powered models, and that advantage is pressed home in the city, with EVs only suffering a small economy penalty from stop-start traffic. If you can charge at home or at work, the Peugeot e-208 is one of the best battery-powered options for tackling the town centre. It has a plush, premium cabin and a smooth, grown-up driving experience that could match many larger, posher cars. Plus, prices on the used market are roughly on par with petrol versions, doubling down on your fuel cost savings.
Check out used Peugeot e-208 cars or read our Peugeot 208 review
Mini Hatchback
You’ll see Minis all over the place if you venture into any UK city. Drivers love their super-sharp handling, strong turbocharged engines and premium quality. Three-door cars are the smallest and are easy to squeeze into tight spaces, but you’ll also find slightly longer five-door models which are a better choice if you more regularly carry rear passengers. Entry-level models are reasonably affordable but, if you have a little more to spend, don’t discount the rapid Cooper S hot hatch or the battery-powered Mini Electric.
Shop used Mini Hatchbacks or read our Mini Hatchback review
Toyota Yaris Cross
You might ask what's a big SUV doing on this list? Well looks can be deceptive because, despite the Toyota Yaris Cross’ chunky off-road-ready styling, it's only about 10cm longer than the Corsa supermini above. The Yaris Cross’ blocky shape means it still squeezes a family-sized cabin and a big boot into its small footprint and, while cabin plastics feel a bit cheap, they're very well screwed together. Its hybrid engine means the Yaris Cross excels in town – keep within city confines and you might see over 70mpg, while never having to worry about changing gear or charging the battery.
Shop used Toyota Yaris Cross cars for sale or read our Toyota Yaris Cross review
Skoda Kamiq
If you need a family car that also works in the city, take a look at the Skoda Kamiq. This compact SUV is a little taller, wider and longer in every dimension than the hatchbacks it’s priced to compete with, making it a great choice if you need enough room in the back to fit child seats. You also get a big boot that can easily swallow a pushchair and robust build quality that’ll stand up to whatever your kids can throw at it.
Browse used Skoda Kamiqs or read our Skoda Kamiq review
Kia Picanto
If you value dependability above all else, consider the Kia Picanto. This tiny hatchback is easy to live with in the city and can seat four adults at a push, but its best feature is the long seven-year manufacturer’s warranty, giving you peace of mind that you’ll be covered for a long time if something goes wrong. An easy-to-use dashboard means you’ll quickly feel at home behind the wheel, and the efficient engines should be kind to your wallet.
Take a look at used Kia Picanto cars or read our Kia Picanto review
BMW i3
It might look like something you’d see in Futurama, but the BMW i3 is perfect for cities you can visit now. And we really do mean perfect. The powerful electric motor gives you far nippier acceleration away from the lights than the smoky diesel taxi next to you, while producing no local emissions to clean up the air in your neighbourhood. What’s more, the i3’s airy cabin feels spacious and gives good visibility. The electric platform maximises rear-seat space so it’s actually spacious. We could go on – we loveheartemoji the i3.
Shop used BMW i3 cars for sale or read our BMW i3 review
Found your favourite city slicker?
Browse Motorpoint's huge range of used cars – all sold with a warranty and backed by our Quality Standard. For more great options, take a look at our picks for the best fuel-efficient cars you can buy.
