City cars: chances are if you're looking to buy a car at the moment you're looking for one of these – something small, good in the city, economical and cheap.
A few years ago, other than cheap tin pots that were strictly for getting from A to B, car manufacturers only went as small as the supermini – think Fiesta or Corsa. In 1996, just prior to the arrival of the mould-breaking Ford Ka, city cars amounted to just one per cent of the UK car market.
These days demand for these tiny city cars has escalated significantly with more families owning two or even three cars. Take that fact in combination with the search for cheap cars that are cheap-to-run, practical and good in the urban environment and the city car is the obvious choice.
In 2008 it was the only segment to post growth in a calamitous market. In 2009 the scrappage scheme - and the availability of decent brand-new cars for four thousand pounds - has propelled the city car into the stratosphere.
The city car, otherwise known as the mini car, has finally come of age and smart, stylish and comfortable cars in the segment abound.
The obvious market leader is the Ford Ka, recently released as an all-new model based on the Fiat 500, another city car that reinvigorated the segment last year.
The Hyundai i10 has made motoring less expensive than ever before, with the scrappage scheme meaning cars are as cheap as they're ever likely to get.
Add in the ever-present ultra-small Smart Fortwo Coupe, equally small but brand-new premium-ish Toyota iQ and even the possibility of the Tata Nano (famously the world's cheapest car at around £2K, according to its makers) and there's a wide choice of city cars to suit wallets and needs.
We're casting an eye over the best city cars on the market in 2009, including some old favourites, new kids on the block and one or two odd ones out, so when 2010 rolls around you hit the ground running.
If you're looking for something larger try our run down of top ten superminis and top ten hatchbacks, but for city cars, read on.
Top ten city cars
Ford Ka
As the Fiesta leads the supermini segment, the Ka leads the mini segment. Finally updated after over a decade of the original model selling strongly, the new Ka is based on the Fiat 500 but adds a more supple and responsive ride.
The 1.3-litre turbodiesel will suit most needs, but the other engines are capable too.
Original Ka models had the greatest loyalty of all of Ford's models, and it's likely to be a similar story with the new Ka.
There's a good reason for this - Ford's city car is the best in the segment.
Ford Ka round-up
• Read review: Ford Ka review
• Prices: £8,595 to £11,195
Hyundai i10
Prices start very low for the Hyundai i10, and stay low with high level of equipment, a five-year unlimited mileage warranty and low running costs. Quality isn't compromised and is high on the Korean manufacturer's new city car.
A long wheelbase makes for good handling, meaning the i10 is not simply a 'city' car, and there's one of the biggest interiors in the class. Avoid the sluggish autobox if possible.
If you want a cheap and reliable car to do the business the i10 is probably the car for you. Four doors good.
Scrappage is currently making the i10 insanely cheap.
Hyundai i10 round-up
• Read review: Hyundai i10 review
• Prices: From £7,400 to £8,800
Toyota iQ
At first glance the iQ is impressive. A tiny car that still offers decent space, fantastic mileage and snazzy looks.
The iQ's most obvious problem is that it's very expensive – you can get a larger better-driving supermini for similar money, which makes the iQ a bit pointless, unless you're wooed by the premium interior.
Mileage is unlikely to be as good as advertised in real-life conditions, though CO2 figures under 100g/km really are something to be proud of. The iQ's 67bhp 1.0-litre engine is gutsy, the gearbox slick and handling is good.
It's good in the city, it's well-equipped and well-built. It's tiny size does mean that its uses are limited outside of urban areas, though, and its steep list prices are a puzzle for what is realistically a three-seater.
Toyota iQ round-up
• Read review: Toyota iQ review
• Prices: From £9,615 £14,730
Mitsubishi i
Mitsubishi got in quick with the i, as demand in Japan has been tilting towards increasingly small 'kei' cars over the decade.
The i is designed purely and squarely for use in the city, so it should come as no surprise that it's excellent in the built-up environment.
It looks pretty funky too, and has bewildering amounts of interior space.
But the same problems that let down the iQ bedevil the i too. It's very expensive for what it is, and it's limited on the motorway.
Still, there's an electric version on the way, which could make more sense than an ICE version.
Mitsubishi i round-up
• Prices: £9,539
Fiat 500
The revitalised 500 is funky, fun, fairly cheap and Fiat's reinvention of the sector for the 21st Century.
The 500 may not drive as well as the Ka, but its iconic looks are likely to win the hearts of as many buyers.
Drop-top and hot hatch Abarth versions are also available, but the vanilla varieties are sure to keep hip young things happy on their journeys around town.
Also has an edge over some others by offering very cheap entry-level models.
Fiat 500 round-up
• Read review: Fiat 500 review
• Prices: From £8,500 to £14,620
Peugeot 107/Citroen C1/Toyota Aygo
Essentially the same car, with only some cosmetic changes to really differentiate between the three.
In our tests the 107 returned the best real-world fuel economy by a mile, and all the models are well-built for the urban environment.
The 107 also looks the best, though Toyota and Citroen have kept their respective models up-to-date too.
Peugeot 107/Citroen C1/Toyota Aygo round-up
• Read review: Peugeot 107 review
• Prices: From £7,785 to £10,315
Smart Fortwo
Now bigger and, by all accounts, better with some real fuel economy figures to shout about and a few different powertrains to suit different drivers. Electric models are slated for 2010.
Also a lot tougher than the previous version, and not quite as mind-bogglingly expensive as the first effort seemed.
Slight increase in size means it can't quite manage nose-first parking any more and the Fortwo still struggles on motorways, but it's now a more realistic all-round proposition as a car, and still noticeably smaller than anything else out there.
Smart Fortwo round-up
• Read review: Smart Fortwo review
• Prices: From £6,912.44 to £13,398.29
Fiat Panda
Beloved of Top Gear's James May and employed by the Top Gear presenter as a city car runaround.
Getting a little long in the tooth now, so it's a little basic, not the most practical and rather lacking in safety credentials when compared to newer city cars.
Cheap to buy, though, and cheap to run. The Panda possibly makes the most sense as a pure city car, with everything that entails.
Fiat Panda round-up
• Prices: From £7,095 to £12,195
Suzuki Alto
Suzuki's smallest car, and a good one. Tiny, built just for the city and well made. It's also practical and impressive when it comes to running costs.
You can't go far wrong.
Suzuki Alto round-up
• Read a review of the Suzuki Alto
• Prices: From £7,245 to £9,114
Suzuki Splash/Vauxhall Agila
Not entirely the same vehicle but similar enough to be classed together. These models were completely rebuilt last year for the European market.
The Agila and Splash are decidedly pricey, but blurs segments by being closer to mini-MPVs in size than other city cars so there's a lot more interior space than other minis.
The Suzuki Alto may make more sense.
Suzuki Splash/Vauxhall Agila round-up
• Read review: Vauxhall Agila review
• Read review: Suzuki Splash review
• Prices: From £8,750 to £12,625
Other city car possibilities
We've tried to give a good mix of city cars in the top ten, but the following list of also-rans, curios and niche models comprise some that are just as good, some that don't make the grade and some that may yet be a madman's dream.
Volkswagen Fox
Pretty well priced and roomy inside, the Fox drives well in and out of town but has been rather left behind by newer, smarter models.
Still, well worth considering if you're in the market for a city car, especially if you have motorway work to do.
• Read review: Volkawagen Fox review
• Prices: From £7,110 to £8,665
Nissan Pixo
A badge-engineered Suzuki Alto, so should be a capable car.
Should be cheap to buy and run, though not as cheap as originally thought, and will last forever.
• Prices: From £6,995 to £9,555
Chevrolet Matiz
Weak but incredibly cheap offering from Chevy that's basically a ten-year-old rebadged Daewoo. Soon to be replaced – save your pennies.
• Prices: From £6,625 to £8,935
Renault Twingo
Where the reborn Fiat 500 delighted, the reborn Renault Twingo disappointed.
It's not a bad car, and it ticks all the correct city car boxes – practicality and generally good driving manners included – but loses out to other minis on the block.
• Read review: Renault Twingo review
• Prices: From £7,285 to £12,145
Kia Picanto
Currently gettable under the scrappage scheme for a ludicrous £10 per week on some leasing deals, the Picanto isn't a great car but it's bloody cheap – even without a scrappage incentive.
• Read review: Kia Picanto review
• Prices: From £6,495 to £8,495
Perodua Kelisa
An unlovely – if very cheap – car that inspires nausea in most, but Perodua customers are unfailingly loyal. There must be a reason, we just don't know what it is.
• Prices: From £4,674 to £6,604
Niche and future city cars
A selection of models destined to appear in the future or on the edge of the radar.
G-Wiz
The ugly face of green motoring, the G-Wiz is, nevertheless, emissions-free at source and should cost buttons to run. Lingering doubts on safety though, and only good for urban use.
The maths do work out over a few years, but asking price still likely to be off-putting.
• Prices: From £8,495
NICE Mega City
Back on the block, the Mega City is another all-electric model for use in the city. Plans are afoot to do exciting things with recharging, but buyers are still unconvinced by all-electric cars.
• Prices: From £12,064
Aston Martin Cygnet
Probably destined to never see the light of day, Aston's idea of a luxury city car based on the Toyota iQ still seems rather fanciful and as strange an idea as ever.
The original plan had it that only existing Aston customers would be able to buy one. If they do come to light, expect them to be silly.
Tata Nano
Nowhere to be seen as yet, with some hoops to jump through to satisfy safety requirements and some maths to do to work out whether there's any financial sense in offering the £2K car in the West.
You can probably import one for £30K if you want to.
Peugeot i0n
Scheduled for release in 2010, the i0n is essentially the same model as the electric version of the i Miev - Mitsubishi's electric version of the i.