Top 10 best city cars 2023

Then there is its 82bhp atmospheric four-cylinder engine (now something of a rarity in cars of this size), which offers decent drivability and useful real-world performance. Less potent but more characterful is the thrummy 1.0-litre three-cylinder. Whichever you choose you’ll get one of the best manual gearboxes in the business (really), it’s light and precise shift allowing satisfying, wrist-flick changes.

It might not have the star appeal of the Volkswagen Up GTI models behind it, but as a well-rounded, sensible, well-equipped city car, it takes pride of place at the top of the class.

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2. Volkswagen Up

The Up may be the smallest car on offer in the Volkswagen range, but it doesn't miss out on all the hallmarks that the marque is renowned for. Although it is not the most revolutionary in the segment, the Up beats its closest rivals on finish and outright desirability.

That said, a recent rationalisation of its engine line-up means it's no longer our go-to pick of the segment. There’s nothing wrong with the smooth and eager 59bhp three-pot, but efforts to make it Euro 6 compliant have resulted in longer gear ratios that have blunted its previously peppy performance. Of course, there’s always the go-faster Up GTI, but that’s a slightly different kettle of fish. Speaking of which, with its punchy 113bhp turbocharged three-pot and endearing handling, this sportier strain of city car has a strong claim for being the driver's choice in the segment, although it's pricier.

Yet the core of the VW remains as compelling as ever, its rational wheel-at-each-corner stance and boxy exterior allowing you to carry four adults in surprising comfort and squeeze more than you’d think into the 250-litre boot. There’s a pleasing simplicity to the dash layout too, yet this still feels like a high quality VW product too. It drives like one too, with impressive refinement, a composed ride and accurate handling. 

It’s not quite the gamechanger the original Mini was in 1959, but the Up remains one of the most cleverly conceived and executed cars of the last decade or so.

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3. Kia Picanto

Just like its Hyundai i10 cousin, the Kia Picanto has grown up significantly since it first graced our roads.

The latest car is certainly better looking than its predecessors but is also finished better inside and gains a decent level of standard equipment. It even scores fairly well on the ride and handling front, with the Picanto dealing with the scarred British roads better than some.

Admittedly, its 66bhp 1.0-litre engine does feel a bit weedy at times, but at the top of the engine range is the punchy 1.0-litre turbocharged three-pot engine - a trump card that not even the related Hyundai can play. In fact, there's little that separates the Picanto from the i10, save their looks, equipment, that engine, and the fact that the Kia's boot is slightly smaller. If you like what you see, or your Kia dealer is nearer, by all means pick the Picanto.

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4. Suzuki Ignis

A quirky contender in this rather congested segment, the Ignis is a zesty car blessed with charm, value, space, versatility and fuel efficiency. The fact that it looks more like a crossover than some of its contemporaries do, meanwhile, does it no harm with market tastes being as they are.

It is brilliantly packaged, with a massive amount of interior space for its size. The interior looks a little bit flimsy and low-rent in places, and Suzuki's touchscreen infotainment system leaves a bit to be desired, but if you don't mind cheap cars looking and feeling like they're a bit cheap in places so long as they're fairly hard-wearing, chances are you won't care.

The car's on-road dynamics aren't as sharp or refined as some rivals'. Performance is relatively strong, with Suzuki's clever 12V mild-hybrid system adding torque just where an atmospheric engine needs it, and handling is fairly perky, although the ride can feel a little bit crude over bigger bumps.

It is possible to spec the Ignis with Suzuki's AllGrip all-wheel drive system, meaning this car will go further off road than many of its rivals. That, added to the rest of the car's appeal, makes for a surprisingly compelling and characterful package.

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5. Toyota Aygo X

Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised that Toyota’s tiniest offering was reborn as a crossover when the third generation machine hit showrooms in 2022. Yet while the raised ride height and tough body cladding are depressingly predictable fodder these days, X still marks the spot when it comes to delivering a surprisingly characterful city car.

Unlike its predecessors, which were developed in partnership with Citroen and Peugeot, the latest Aygo is a solo effort for the Japanese brand. The funky design inside and out gives it some decent kerb appeal, while the mature driving dynamics combine biddable handling with a controlled ride and long legged refinement - there are cars in the class above that don't feel as grown-up as the Toyota. The fingernail in the soup is the car’s 1.0-litre three-pot motor, which has served every generation of Aygo and with 68bhp struggles to haul this heaviest version yet with any alacrity. 

Anything else? Well, while the interior looks good, is robustly built and well-equipped, it lacks the space of the Hyundai or VW further up this list, while there’s no escaping the fact the plusher versions are priced the wrong side of £20,000. One neat feature that does help the car’s cause, however, is the optional folding fabric sunroof that gives the Aygo a pleasingly Citroen 2CV-esque vibe on a sunny day.

6. Fiat 500

The reborn Fiat 500 has now been on sale across three separate decades, which is quite an amazing thing to consider, given that it still looks so fresh some 15 years after its launch. And to keep it as appealing as it possibly can, Fiat has retained the existing mild-hybrid version, which has a 69bhp three-cylinder petrol engine - although despite similar looks the two have very little in common

Electric power suits the 500 beautifully, and this bubble-bodied EV is convincing both to drive and to own. There are EVs with more power and more range, but the 500 isn't entirely left behind on that score, provided you opt for the more powerful 117bhp model with its claimed 199 mile range (the 94bhp version with its 24kWh battery that means just 118 miles between charges), and thanks to its tiny dimensions and tight turning circle, it fulfils its primary purpose as a city car.

For those wanting to go faster, there’s the new Abarth 500e, which turns the electrical wick up to 152bhp but drops the range to 164 miles. It also features a novel sound generator that reproduces the distinctive snap, crackle and pop of the old ICE car’s Monza exhaust. It’s fun for a while, but soon becomes wearing, and overall the standard Fiat version is better suited to the zero emissions city car brief.

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7. Dacia Sandero

So the Dacia Sandero isn't a city car per se, but given the fact that it can be had for less than most of the cars on this list, it seems reasonable enough to include it. With a larger footprint than a regular city car, the Sandero is understandably more spacious inside, but its cut-price positioning does come at a cost.

Its interior looks and feels decidedly old-school, the seating position is a touch awkward, and while it will go around corners, it does so with considerable body roll. But its 89bhp turbocharged three-pot feels willing and returns decent economy.

The Sandero is also one of the few factory-warranted new cars you can buy in the UK with an LPG-fuelled engine, which is another string to its bow for those who're looking for low-emissions transport on a budget.

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8. Fiat Panda

The Panda is different in character from most of its rivals. Fiat itself states that it is more of an ‘essential car' than a city car, which hints at the cheery simplicity that characterises the car best. 

Now in its third generation, the Panda may be long in the tooth compared with its younger, fitter and more frugal competition, but it doesn't stop its charm shining through. While it may be sparsely equipped on the inside and suffer from an awkward driving position, but it remains robust and more practical than most on this list. It's now available as a mild hybrid too, giving a powerplant that’s as bang-up-to-date as it’s possible to be without being an EV.

However, it’s in 4x4 form that the Panda most appeals, giving the ickle Italian machine the gung-ho go anywhere ability of a mountain goat, as well as plenty of rugged visual appeal. It’s not cheap, but thousands of Alpine-dwelling owners surely can’t be wrong.

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9. Citroen C3 You

Like the Dacia Sandero, the C3 You really sits in the class above, its external dimensions making it something of a giant among minnows here. A de-contented version of the French firm’s otherwise average supermini, it aims to offer a lot of metal for not much cash (a pint of bitter under £14,000 to be reasonably precise). It also plugs the gap left by the firm’s C1, which axed towards the end of 2022.

As part of the paring-back process, the C3 loses its alloy wheels and some leather trimmed interior bits, plus has to make do with a lower order infotainment system, but this is hardly a poverty special. In fact, it looks rather smart, in a quirky Gallic way, while the kit that remains runs to air-con, electric windows and cruise control. The squishy seats are comfortable, if a little unsupportive when pressing on, and the boot is a relatively cavernous 300-litres - although the trade-off is rear seat space that’s no bigger than many of the smaller cars in this list.

To drive, the C3 has a pleasantly languid gate that makes it a small car that’s happy on big journeys, and while the soft suspension means some alarming body roll the Citroen sticks fairly faithfully to your chosen line. It’s not fun, but it’s capable and composed, while the naturally aspirated 82bhp 1.2-litre motor is never intrusive and gives a good account of itself when pressing on. The turbocharged Dacia is a fleeter, roomier and better equipped option, but C3 You has style and price on its side.

10. Citroen Ami

The one car in this list that can most accurately be called a city car, on account of it being well out of its depth (and quickly out of charge) anywhere outside the urban environment. More accurately a quadricycle than a car, the Ami is Citroen’s reliably quirky take on low cost town transport.

In very basic terms the Ami impresses, its compact dimensions, tight turning circle and electric powertrain making a perfect inner city companion. It’s very basic, but then it has nothing more than it needs for a car that’ll be used for short hops in congested streets, while there’s no denying that there’s something beguiling about its minimalist design and build. And while its 28mph top speed and 46 mile range look limiting, they're perfectly adequate for the Citroen’s intended surroundings.

Even so, that same single-minded approach means it's very much out of its depth elsewhere. The glacial performance, crashing ride and poor visibility when the weather turns nasty means it can feel terrifying on the open road. It’s beautifully realised concept in its very narrow operating window, but it’s a car that you can only justify if your driving needs very specifically meet the Ami’s limited dynamic and geographic scope.