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The best city cars

Want a used car to suit your city life? Here are 10 of the best city cars to consider

MINI Cooper S Convertible driving

By Tia Harrison-North

Last updated: 3 July 2025


Best city cars for sale

If you're looking for the best city cars, you've got a fair few options to choose from.

City living comes with its own joys and challenges. And getting around can be fun if you choose the right mode of transport.

For those who don’t want to be tied down to train timetables, your best choice is a dedicated city car. 

We've picked some of our favourites to help you decide. See the best city cars in our guide below.

The best small city cars

  • Ford Fiesta

  • Volkswagen Polo

  • Mini Cooper

  • Toyota Yaris Hybrid

  • Audi A1

  • Skoda Fabia

  • Honda Jazz

  • Renault Clio

  • Renault Zoe

  • Vauxhall Corsa

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Ford Fiesta

Blue Ford Fiesta parked

The Ford Fiesta has topped the sales charts for what feels like forever, but there’s a good reason for that – it’s simply one of the best small city cars you can buy.

This is thanks to the Ford's excellent handling on winding city streets, smooth drive when stopping and starting in traffic, and good levels of interior comfort.  

Whether you’re in the market for a current-shape car or the previous model, this used Ford will put a grin on your face.

The 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is punchy and economical, and space is decent inside that neat silhouette.

Sam Sheehan, our motoring editor, said: "it has been Britain’s long-term number-one car model for a reason and has been designed to excel on our unique mix of roads, acting as a great, practical all-rounder at a competitive price."

Read our Ford Fiesta review

Volkswagen Polo

Orange sixth generation VW Polo

Believe it or not, a Volkswagen Polo is as big as a VW Golf of only a few generations ago.

Better still, modern engineering means you’re getting Volkswagen Golf-like running costs in a Polo-sized body, which is good news in anyone’s book.

It offers a comfortable and smooth drive, and the petrol engines sip like they hate the taste of unleaded.

All of these help make it this used VW the best city car if you split your time between the metropolis and the motorway.

Yes, it can cost more to buy than rivals, but you’ll reap that benefit when you come to sell it.

Read our Volkswagen Polo review

Mini Cooper

MINI Cooper S Convertible driving in town

It doesn’t matter if you’re young and have just passed your test or a bit older and drove the original model – Minis are cool. 

The neat shape is instantly recognisable, and the good news is that every model drives with a verve that backs up the style.

A Mini’s interior looks smart and manages to feel oh-so-retro yet utterly modern with that cool floating speedometer and central light-ring.

It feels classy, too, which can almost make you forget that the back seats and boot aren’t as roomy as you might hope (210 litres, to be specific).

There's now the Mini Cooper Electric as well. This is even better for city driving as you'll have access to great charging infrastructure.

Read our MINI Cooper Electric review

Toyota Yaris Hybrid

Toyota Yaris side

High economy and low emissions are today’s buzzwords, but you needn’t worry with a Toyota Yaris hybrid.

Toyota has been developing and honing hybrid technology since the 1990s – so they know what they are doing.

Whether you’re looking at today’s model or the previous one, you’ll be getting a cutting-edge petrol/electric combination that makes this used Toyota one of the best cars for city driving.

You'll get up to 70.6mpg from the 1.5-litre hybrid engine.

And it’s wrapped in unassuming bodywork that houses plenty of space for four people and their stuff. There’s even loads of standard equipment – it’s a win-win.

Read our Toyota Yaris review

Audi A1

A blue Audi A1 driving on a rural road with green grass and bare trees in the background.

The Audi A1 is the brand's rival to the Mini. It’s small, looks cool, is really well put together and has stacks of standard kit.

The Audi petrol engines will give you a great blend of rev-happy performance, while proving reasonably averse to the sight of a fuel station forecourt.

Strong resale values means you’ll pay a bit extra for a good one, but you should make that money back down the line.

Plus, choosing a used Audi can help cut costs and get you a top-spec model for cheaper.

Read our Audi A1 review

Skoda Fabia

Skoda Fabia front three quarters

The Skoda brand has come on leaps and bounds in recent years. The great value Fabia is a superb city drive for those in the know.

True, if you’re looking for fun you might want to look elsewhere, but it’s hard to argue against this sensible choice.

The Fabia blends a hugely spacious cabin with the sort of equipment that makes you feel good about owning it, plus the ride is really comfortable.

The engines are similar to those in the Polo – efficient and not particularly thirsty. 

Sam said: "Skoda claims around 80mpg for the diesel engines. We all know that isn’t going to happen in real-world driving.

"You should still get 60mpg with careful driving. Petrol engines should return 45mpg plus without too much difficulty."

Read our Skoda Fabia review

Honda Jazz

Honda Jazz front three quarters

The Honda Jazz is the best city car to choose if you simply want complete peace of mind.

It’s the best city car for space, so you and four friends can take that trip into town, safe in the knowledge the 304-litre boot is more than big enough for everything you buy.

Honda's VTEC petrol engine is the sweeter of the two on offer, and even entry-level S trim comes with equipment that makes ownership more of a joy, including auto lights and wipers, a DAB radio and air conditioning.

Read our Honda Jazz review

Renault Clio

Renault Clio driving

A Renault Clio is going to be inexpensive to buy and run, and yet it definitely doesn’t feel in any way cheap.

Its interior is pretty robust and full of standard kit, with even entry-level Expression models having cruise control, Bluetooth and heated door mirrors.

The smooth 0.9-litre petrol engine is a fine choice for that fully grown-up driving experience and can get up to 60mpg.

Sam said: "You won’t struggle to get comfortable in the front of a Renault Clio, because there’s plenty of both legroom and headroom, and the seats and steering wheel offer decent adjustment levels."

Read our Renault Clio review

Renault Zoe

Renault Zoe exterior

The fact the Renault Zoe is electric makes it one of the best small cars for city driving.

Even the entry-level 88bhp motor gives the Zoe a proper spring in its step. This only gets better with the later, higher-powered versions, which have up to 134bhp.

Cars built after 2015 claim an official 250 miles, but you’re unlikely to see that kind of range in colder winter weather and later models haven’t really extended that.

A full charge can take up to nine hours at home, but a quick charger in town will slash that to less than 3 – or pretty much the same as the average shopping trip.

Read our Renault Zoe review

Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa driving

Ok, the Vauxhall Corsa isn’t the world’s most memorable car but it’s a bargain. And there’s almost guaranteed to be one out there that’s perfect for you.

There’s a vast engine range in this used Vauxhall line-up, covering petrol, diesel, economy and performance, and a huge variety of trims, most of which are decently kitted out.

Vauxhall's SRi version has all the essentials such as air-con and a touchscreen, while Excite models even have a heated steering wheel. The Corsa also feels light and easy from behind the wheel, which makes it a great car for city driving.

Read our Vauxhall Corsa review

Choosing the best city car

While these are some of the best city cars on the market, it's not a definitive list.

You might also be interested in models like the Fiat 500 or electric 500e, or the trio of Volkswagen up!, Skoda Citigo and SEAT Mii.

Choosing the best city car for you will depend on what you're after, but it's worth considering things like boot space, fuel efficiency and tech.

Take a look at our full range of used cars to see other options.

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