Citadines of less than 3, 50 m: Anti Smart

The Toyota IQ is our favorite of this selection. Its quality/price ratio for a city car is just unbeatable. It is no longer marketed and is only available on occasion. This city car who has not met with crazy success is the queen of cities. It is full of faults: not very well equipped, not very well finished, it is really not a good car in the countryside. But in town, it’s a happiness ! Large enough, it will not allow you to easily sneak in the red light but will allow you to take 4 people with you and 4 backpacks.

Small 5 -seater car

• Men Life, man on a daily basis
• |
• Sports-Lifestyle-Evasion-Play-Discover

Dacia Spring – Tests, Reviews, Price, Autonomy and Technical Sheet

Dacia Spring (2021): the new electric revolution at low prices

News Offer Loa: Ka+ in less demand

Ford Ka+: Currently in LOA from 99 euros per month

Slideshow to have 5 places for less than 9,000 euros, it is possible !

Buying guide: what is the cheapest mini-city ?

Opel Karl Rocks: boots and a raincoat for Karl

Fiat 500L Living: The 500 family is growing

Find your vehicle

Launched in 2006, Autoews is a reference site dealing with automotive news with files, tests, reports on large salons in the sector but also an opening to new mobility supports. Autoews is the pillar of the “Auto” vertical of the Horyzon group since 2016.

Citadines of less than 3, 50 m: Anti Smart

After the legendary Fiat 500 and Austin Mini who trusted the pavement in the 1960s, the following two decades experienced few small successful city cars, only the rustic Fiat Panda succeeding in emerging during this period. Big change in 1992 with the arrival of the Fiat Cinquecento which replaced the 126 with a rear engine – and flat like Ferrari – and especially with the Twingo a few months later. Little Renault has reinterpreted the genre with a dose of impertinence and a lot of practical sense. Its success has given ideas to other manufacturers and especially Japanese and Koreans.

Presented at the 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show, the Smart immediately marginalized classic productions. 2.50 m long, 1.55 m high and 1 wide by 1.55 m, the Smart City Coupé is the smallest car on the market.

If its size undoubtedly represents one of its best sales arguments, this is also a handicap since the smart is a strict two places with a reduced capacity for luggage. Bad to escape on weekends outside the romantic city.

Despite difficult beginnings, the production of this curious wheeled chip crossed the half-million copies last summer (122,000 units in 2002). She now seems to have found her clientele, even if very few parking lots grant her preferential parking prices. This is particularly true in French cities, which gives rise to a Cartesian spirit the interest of riding in this microbe at the price/services disappointing disappointing. To be enjoyed for two only while waiting for the FORFOUR on the Mitsubishi base which, it exceeds fateful 3.50 m.

If you are allergic at the City Coupé, here is a selection of city cars measuring less than 3.50 and all having at least 4 places: Fiat Seicento, Daihatsu Cuore, Fiat Panda, Renault Twingo, Suzuki Samouraï, Daewoo Matiz, Suzuki Alto. To your decimeters.

Which used city car to choose for big cities ?

There is a wide variety of ways to move around town: bus, tram, metro, bicycle, on foot or scooter … there is no shortage of options but the car remains one of the simplest and comfortable choices. By far the least economical or ecological alternative, it allows you to move comfortably and freely where you wish, or almost !

Today, the big French cities do everything to eliminate cars from their city center. There are fewer and fewer parking spaces in the streets, there are any days of pollution and what does not prevent traffic jams from dragging !

• City cars of less than 3 meters, to park in a pocket handkerchief !
• Citadines 3 meters to 3.5 meters, 4 places but very small !
• Citadines from 3.5 meters to 3.6 meters, small, practical and crisp
• Citadines of 3.6 meters and more, more habitable
• A bonus for the road

City cars of less than 3 meters, to park in a pocket handkerchief !

1. The Queen of Cities, the Smart Fortwo

Small, light and economical, the “Fortwo” model (translate, “for two”) is the car for the city. Equipped with a small engine, it will take you without any concern from east to west of the city. As a bonus, you will be able to park in any small parking space, where no other car can. With a remarkable turning radius, it is ideal for urban journeys. Only defect, it has only 2 places. Reliability question, nothing to worry about models after 2010, all engines are reliable. You just have to pay attention to the clutch and air conditioning that may encounter some concerns, due to a strong solicitation in the city.

For less than € 10,000, it is possible to buy a smart second and third generations without problem ! Favor cars with few kilometers to avoid large maintenance costs. Some second generation smarts have a diesel engine, forget them, the petrol engine will give you the Crit’Air 1 sticker, which is perfect for the city. A discoverable version is also available if you prefer to roll hair in the winds in fine weather !

2. Toyota IQ, 4 places and 2 meters 99, what more could ?

The Toyota IQ is our favorite of this selection. Its quality/price ratio for a city car is just unbeatable. It is no longer marketed and is only available on occasion. This city car who has not met with crazy success is the queen of cities. It is full of faults: not very well equipped, not very well finished, it is really not a good car in the countryside. But in town, it’s a happiness ! Large enough, it will not allow you to easily sneak in the red light but will allow you to take 4 people with you and 4 backpacks.

The trunk is very small, but you have the smallest 4 -seater city car on the market (2.99 meters) and especially with the best turning department. Motors and gearboxes are not exceptional, but it is a reliable car. For € 10,000, you have enough to buy 2 or buy a Toyota IQ not too mileage, well optionized and invite 3 people in a good restaurant in town. The only real drawback of Toyota IQ, it only has a Crit’Air 2 pastille.

Citadines 3 meters to 3.5 meters, 4 places but very small !

3. The Franco-Japanese trio Aygo /108 /C1

The Toyota Aygo, the Peugeot 108 and the Citroën C1 are strict 4 seats similar on paper but differently aesthetically. Under the body, we find exactly the same chassis, the same engines, rolling trains … So it’s up to you to choose between the three models according to your tastes. No big reliability problem on these models. We advise you to take a version with a few options because these small city cars are poorly equipped as standard (no electric windows, air conditioning, etc.). We recommend the 1.0 VTI of 68 hp is a very good compromise, even better if you find one with a canvas sunroof. Small defects of these models, the rear windows are only between the abuse and their trunk is very small. But they still allow to embark 4 people, sufficient to go on weekends, for example !

Citadines from 3.5 meters to 3.6 meters, small, practical and crisp

4. Fiat 500, we do not change a model that wins

Available in several variations (SUV, minivan, etc.), the classic Fiat 500 is an elegant car, perfect for the city. With her little boil which reminds us of the 1957 original Fiat 500, she has 2 comfortable front places, 2 at the rear with a narrow roof guard and a small trunk. Motorization side, favor petrol engines (Crit’air 1), small 4 -cylinders and very economical twin -cylinders are available. Reliability question, the Fiat 500 is not the queen. Favor a second generation model that is not very kilometered with fewer options than the opposite. The Fiat 500 also exists in a discoverable version: the 500C.

It is possible to find it easily for less than € 10,000 and you will have a very nice city car for going to the office and shopping. For € 10,000 to € 15,000, it is also possible to find an Abarth 500/595, the emblematic model of the Fiat 500 sportswoman. Rather reliable in mechanical gearbox, the robotic gearbox is not highly recommended in town, because the clutch wears out quickly and the box is not very reliable. Their consumption is also quite high and this small bomb is not very comfortable, but what sensations on board !

5. Volkswagen Up! and SEAT MII, simple but effective

Volkswagen Up! And the SEAT MII are the same cars but with a different design. These are strict 4 -seater, which make their competitors less than 4 meters away. Real small city dwellers with a very round boil at the front and a very straight rear. With their 3 doors, they make access to the rear squares but the roof guard remains reasonable for its category. A 5 -door version also exists and therefore eliminates this problem.

They do not have great qualities apart from the size of their trunk for the category and the fact of not having big faults. Reliability question is almost a flawless. Only problems on the gearbox have been listed, but a majority of vehicles have been repaired with the warranty. It is neither the most fun nor the best but it is a car without risk. It will be economical, will easily fulfill its city car missions, will be easy to resell but will not run heads. For information, this car also exists under the Skoda logo, it is the Citigo. Its brand image being even less good, it is little known and disseminated. It will certainly be even cheaper used, but will be more difficult to resell, especially than the UP!

6. Kia Picanto, wrongly known !

The Kia Picanto is a small 3 or 5 -door city car filled with quality which could be your new means of transport in town. With a sober and very simple design, it has no real defect. She is a reliable city car, she does not have a lot of equipment but it will do the trick for town trips. Kia after -sales complaints have been postponed, but this is the only problem on this vehicle. For less than € 10,000 you will be able to find a Kia Picanto 2 with good equipment. You can also find the latest generations (3), but at this price will be the first version with a little km.

Citadines of 3.6 meters and more, more habitable

7. The Franco-Germanic duo Twingo / Forfour

These two city cars are identical on the mechanical side but are very different on the aesthetic side. They have one of the best robbery on the market with the Toyota IQ for a 4 -seater car. It is a big asset in town for half-tours, to sneak into the traffic jams or to make a niche without worry. They both have the same engines. Three petrol engines of 70, 90 and 110 CV. These are very good city cars who have a small trunk but this problem is partly resolved thanks to a sliding bench that allows the size of the trunk. These two cars have experienced some reliability problems, which have been resolved since time, thanks to the reminders made by the two brands.

8. Ford ka, small budget but limited approval

The Ford Ka meets all the criteria of a good city car, it is reliable, economical, made less than 4 meters and a pleasant driving in town. However, she has changed little since 2008 and is found with engines and a fairly aging global architecture. Not very powerful, an average interior habitability, it will not disappoint you in its role of city car but its not necessarily more expensive competitors offer much better. With a single little powerful and quite greedy petrol engine, it is not the best city car on the market, but its low price on occasion could make you crack.

More recent, we will rather advise you to direct you towards its replacement the ka+. Based on a new platform, it changes radically and modernized. It is available in 5 doors only, is a little larger and much more habitable. If your budget allows it, choose in priority !

9. Opel Adam, an undisped flop

The Opel Adam is a little chic city car who received a nice drawing. Unfortunately, she did not receive the success he was intended for her and is therefore at the end of her career. However on the second -hand market, we find it at very correct prices which make it a very good choice of city car. It has the perfect template, a good look and a good 3 -cylinder economy engine. She also has some faults such as the size of her trunk or her rear seats, but nothing serious. Reliable and economical, it could make you crack.

10. Nissan Micra: simple and efficient

The Nissan Micra is a small 5 -door city car that offers conventional city car characteristics. With these 3 meters 82, it will be perfect for your trips to town. Very simple, not very well finished, not well soundproofed, we find it on the second -hand market at very affordable prices and good equipment. This is definitely not the pencil stroke of the year but it can make some or certain. We recommend the 1.2 petrol of 98 hp which offers a good compromise between power and consumption. Renewed in 2017, a new generation is also available, a little larger it is also more expensive but better equipped.
Find your used Nissan Micra with Capcar.

A bonus for the road

Renault Twizy: a very uncomfortable karting for the city

By far the most practical and fun car in town with its small size in width as in length, it is by far the least comfortable. There are no real windows, the doors are optional, no radio, no heating and forget the air conditioning. Twizy is a fun electric vehicle that can be the solution for some people who travel in town. With places for electric vehicles, park will no longer be a problem and always free, especially in Paris, its template also playing in its favor. Nicknamed the kart of cities, the Twizy will transform long and painful traffic jams into real playground ! You will find your happiness for less than € 5,000 on the second -hand market.