Let us assume that you live in the city, need to get from A to B and are averse to public transport. While the humble motor car is slowly being squeezed out of city centres it remains one of the most practical and pleasant ways of getting about town.
Sure the traffic and parking issues can sour the experience at times, but to many that is still far preferable to the prospect of squashing into a crowded bus or tube, if it wasn’t then there would be far fewer cars on the road.
Cost is one major obstacle that prevents people from owning their own car, especially if they live in a city with ‘great public transport’ options, yet it can be far less costly than you think.
The insurance, servicing, road tax and the annual MOT charges can be well under £1,000 for most small cars and for a similar amount you can find plenty of second-hand city cars too.
We looked around for some of the best small city cars that won’t break the bank while still giving you the pleasure of being able to get about town without having to mingle with the masses.
The criteria
To qualify, our city car had to be no more than 10-years-old, a hatchback, petrol-powered and cost under a grand and have a valid MOT.
We can’t get too picky at this end of the market but with an all-in first year cost of £2,000 and potentially well less than half that for a few more, this is one eminently affordable way to get about.
That amount may not include petrol or parking charges but remember that you will be saving on bus, tube and train fees which mitigate much of those expenses.
Hyundai i20
Year: 2009
Engine: 98 bhp 1.4-litre
Urban Fuel Consumption: 39.2 mpg
Citroen C2
Year: 2009
Engine: 75 bhp 1.4-litre
Urban Fuel Consumption: 35.8 mpg
Volkswagen Fox
Year: 2009
Engine: 55 bhp 1.2-litre
Urban Fuel Consumption: 37.2 mpg
Mazda 2
Year: 2009
Engine: 74 bhp 1.3-litre
Urban Fuel Consumption: 40.9 mpg
Vauxhall Astra
Year: 2009
Engine: 113 bhp 1.6-litre
Urban Fuel Consumption: 32.5 mpg
Fiat Grande Punto
Year: 2009
Engine: 77 bhp 1.4-litre
Urban Fuel Consumption: 37.7 mpg
Peugeot 207
Year: 2009
Engine: 95 bhp 1.4-litre
Urban Fuel Consumption: 34.9 mpg
Peugeot 107
Year: 2011
Engine: 67 bhp 1.0-litre
Urban Fuel Consumption: 52.3 mpg
Fiat Panda
Year: 2009
Engine: 60 bhp 1.2-litre
Urban Fuel Consumption: 39.8mpg
Suzuki SX4
Year: 2009
Engine: 107 bhp 1.6-litre
Urban Fuel Consumption: 33.2 mpg
Renault Twingo
Year: 2009
Engine: 75 bhp 1.2-litre
Urban Fuel Consumption: 37.7 mpg
Ford KA
Year: 2009
Engine: 69 bhp 1.3-litre
Urban Fuel Consumption: 33.6 mpg
Nissan Micra
Year: 2009
Engine: 79 bhp 1.2-litre
Urban Fuel Consumption: 38.2 mpg
In Conclusion
So, there you have it, a selection of roadworthy vehicles that offer up to 40.9 mpg in city driving and can be pressed into service for a few more years with the help of some regular servicing.
The variety of cars on offer is broader than you might expect, being petrol-powered means that they are less likely to be banned from the city centres too.
The bodywork may bear the scars of a decade of use and the interior will be less than pristine, but it sure beats having to queue for the bus every morning.