Best city cars to buy 2023

City cars have always offered value for money and low running costs in a compact package, but, not too long ago, buying one of these small cars meant making sacrifices in areas such as on-board tech, refinement and sometimes even build quality and safety. 

Now though, thanks to some significant technological improvements and a much more competitive market, the best city cars give the bigger motors a real run for their money.

City cars are still built down to a price, of course. The tight profit margins have even seen a lot of manufacturers turn their attention away from this sector of the market in recent times. There’s not a single car in our list, however, that will make its owner feel like a cheapskate behind the wheel.

The best city cars may not be limos, but solid construction, careful application of soft-feel materials and generally high specs make most city car cabins comfortable places to be.

These cars are normally bought with a budget in mind, which is why all the models listed below offer great value-for-money in terms of a low purchase price, attractive finance deals and rock bottom running costs. 

The best city cars to buy

1. Fiat 500
2. Hyundai i10
3. Toyota Aygo X
4. Volkswagen up!
5. Kia Picanto
6. Citroen Ami
7. Suzuki Ignis
8. Smart EQ ForTwo

1. Fiat 500

We’re such big fans of the latest Fiat 500 that we named it our City Car of the Year at our 2022 New Car Awards.

The latest generation of the 500 is only available as an electric car, but there are still plenty of nods to this retro model’s heritage, such as the lack of a traditional grille at the front. Step inside the 500 and the interior’s classic overall look remains, but with some larger dimensions and upgraded materials and tech.

Standard kit is generous with a 10.25-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 16-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, automatic wipers, cruise control and climate control all included. The battery tech is rather impressive for a small EV, too. Opt for the larger 42kWh battery pack and the 500 can achieve up to 200 miles of range between charges. It can also be rapid-charged from 10 to 80 per cent in as little as 35 minutes at a rate of 85kW.

2. Hyundai i10

With the latest i10, Hyundai has dramatically boosted the refinement of its five-door city car. Instead of following the apparent trend for numerous personalisation options, this particular model takes a more grown-up approach.

The i10 is only available in five-door form, showing its focus on usability, but with solid build quality and some decent materials inside, it feels more upmarket than ever.

The latest model is also lower, longer and wider than its predecessor, so it offers almost as much space as a supermini, along with impressive practicality and a driving experience that makes you feel like you’re in a larger, more expensive car. The ride is refined and the i10 handles well, even if it isn’t the sharpest driving car in its class.

3. Toyota Aygo X

After discontinuing the standard Aygo, Toyota has updated its pint-sized city car with a new crossover-style look, along with a number of upgrades both inside and out. The Aygo X sits higher which allows for a better view of the road – one of the main advantages of a crossover – and it does a good job of soaking up bumps in the road for a slightly more civilised driving experience. 

The Aygo X is pretty striking to look at, but, while it stands out with its bulky bumpers and ride height, its roots in the previous Aygo are still evident. It’s noticeably roomier than the standard Aygo was in the front, though, and the extra length has also allowed Toyota to increase boot size to a total of 231 litres.

The interior of the Aygo X is a vibrant place to be and manages to be fairly attractive, with flashes of colour and plastics that don’t feel overly cheap. All trim levels come with features such as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a rear camera and adaptive cruise control. Opt for the Air Edition and you can even have a folding canvas roof.

4. Volkswagen up!

The Volkswagen up! has been on sale for over 10 years but, thanks to some well-timed updates, it continues to be one of the best city cars you can buy.

The up! is a lot of fun to chuck around on a B-road, while remaining comfortable on a cruise and absorbing all but the biggest bumps in town. Inside, the interior design of the latest up! is still very simplistic, but there’s plenty of standard kit on offer including air conditioning, a DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity and even a cooled glovebox.

If you want some extra performance to add to the already enjoyable driving experience, the 113bhp up! GTI offers plenty of pocket-sized thrills, but these are no longer available to buy brand new.

5. Kia Picanto

The latest Kia Picanto is good to drive, has a big-car kit list, is spacious and well-made, and all of these crucial factors have helped it climb up the city car rankings over the years. The list of improvements goes on, too, as the Picanto builds on the stylish design of its predecessor, but with a higher quality and better equipped interior, more space, a grown-up driving experience and extra personalisation.

The entry point to the engine line-up is a 66bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder unit, while at the top of the list is a turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder unit, producing 99bhp. A five-speed manual gearbox is standard, although an automatic is available on the 66bhp cars. 

A host of driver assistance tech can be found, too, including forward collision avoidance assist, blind-spot collision avoidance assist, lane-keeping assist, driver attention warning and lane following assist. So, whether you're travelling in town or on the motorway, the Picanto is reassuringly safe to drive.

6. Citroen Ami

From a technical perspective, the all-electric Ami is one of the most basic cars on sale today, but, in typical Citroen fashion, it is also one of the quirkiest by quite some margin.

The Ami is designed to be accessible for anyone – it’s very cheap, and is officially classed as a quadricycle, not a car. This means that it’s even possible to drive one legally without a licence in some countries - this isn’t the case in the UK, though.

This tiny Citroen is extremely easy to park given its dimensions, yet on the inside there’s a fair amount of space. Despite a tiny top speed of 28mph, it’s actually great fun to drive about town. You’ll get a range of around 44 miles on a charge, this may not seem like much but it’s important to remember that the Ami is only designed for short distance city driving.

Prices for the Ami start from around £8,095, and Citroen currently offers a PCP deal that costs as little as £19.99 per month. There’s also the option of a cargo version with one seat and more luggage space, which could make it a good choice for local delivery drivers.

7. Suzuki Ignis

Much like the Toyota Aygo X, the Suzuki Ignis is another SUV-inspired city car. Suzuki has gone one step further than Toyota here, though, as you have the option of four-wheel drive. 

The Ignis’ looks may be somewhat divisive but it offers plenty to the discerning city car buyer. The boxy shape makes it very versatile and spacious, and it’s nippy and nimble around town. It’s also packed with kit thanks to Suzuki’s generous specification, with even the entry model featuring DAB audio and Bluetooth.

The interior ambience is a little less sophisticated than some of its rivals, with some of the plastics feeling brittle and scratchy, and that lack of sophistication is also evident if you take the Ignis on a run out of town. If you are feeling particularly brave, however, the four-wheel-drive SZ5 variant should prove better at off-roading than most other city cars.

8. Smart EQ ForTwo

The Smart EQ ForTwo is the latest interpretation of the original Smart Car that launched in 2000. While it retains the compact shape of its ancestor, the EQ ForTwo is fully-electric, so you can zip around the city without incurring any emissions-based charges - such as the London ULEZ.

At a maximum of 83 miles, the Smart’s battery range is far smaller than some of its rivals - including the Fiat 500 at the top of this list - but if you’re using it for the short-distance city driving that it’s intended for, this should prove plenty. When you do need to charge, you can top up from zero to 100 per cent in under an hour at a rate of 22kW. 

You won’t have a problem navigating busy urban streets, either, as the Smart’s compact dimensions make it very easy to park, and it even boasts a smaller turning circle than a London Black Cab. The EQ ForTwo is also one of the cheapest EVs currently on sale, with pricing starting from under £24,000. 

Need a bit more space? Check out our list of the best superminis…