Small / City car reviews
If a city car is top of your shopping list, then browse through our reviews to find out which small car would suit your lifestyle.
Nippy, compact, great for city driving, small cars are good first cars as well as handy for driving around town. With fun engines and quirky looks, city cars can hold their own for longer journeys too these days.
We have a wide range of small cars for sale listed on the site, plus expert advice about small 4x4 cars, small cars with big boots, and fun fast city cars. Read our small cars reviews, including full performance figures, running costs, practicality, safety and handling statistics and options data. Browse photo galleries and research into potential problems using thousands of owners’ reviews.
Quick find
Small / City car reviews
- Results 1 to 10 of 235
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Audi A1 Sportback (2018 onwards) Review
Smart, high-tech hatch is desirable but not exciting
New price: £19,185 - £28,880Read full reviewPROS
- Comfortable, nicely equipped cabin
- Good fuel economy
- Attractive personalisation options
CONS
- 2.0-litre model underwhelming
- Pricier than rivals, steep PCP finance
- No diesels available
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Citroën C3 (2017 onwards) Review
French Fiesta fighter is a quirkily appealing alternative
New price: £12,150 - £19,310Read full reviewPROS
- Quirky, attractive styling
- Personalisation options
- Comfortable interior
- Impressive ride
- Lots of safety kit
CONS
- Looks won’t suit everyone
- Jerky auto gearbox
- No autonomous braking available
- Not the sharpest drive
- Optional 17-inch wheels affect that ride comfort
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Kia Picanto Hatchback (2017 onwards) Review
Kia’s smallest car has big style and kit
New price: £9,895 - £14,895Read full reviewPROS
- Well-equipped, well-made interior
- Plenty of trims to choose from
- Easy to drive
- Big boot for its size
CONS
- Engines need working hard
- Styling may be fussy for some
- Slightly higher running costs than rivals
- Hard ride on sporty models
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Kia Rio Hatchback (2017 onwards) Review
Capable, frugal Rio eclipsed by excellent rivals
New price: £12,495 - £18,285Read full reviewPROS
- Seven-year warranty
- Practical
- Plenty of standard kit
CONS
- Dull drive
- Not cheap enough
- Doesn’t stand out from its rivals
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Nissan Micra Hatchback (2017 onwards) Review
The Micra is back on form with sharp looks and lots of kit
New price: £12,880 - £22,790Read full reviewPROS
- Edgy design inside and out
- Competitively low emissions
- Sense of fun, modernity
CONS
- Cramped rear headroom
- Poor over-shoulder visibility
- Not the most economical, with hybrid version lacking
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SEAT Ibiza Hatchback (2017 onwards) Review
Mk5 Ibiza won the Parkers New Car Award 2019 for Best First Car
New price: £15,620 - £21,545Read full reviewPROS
- Sharp exterior styling
- Practical interior
- Lots of equipment
- Easy to drive, but also fun
CONS
- Some interior plastics are very hard
- SE-spec cars feel basic inside
- No more SC three-door or ST estate
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Suzuki Ignis SUV (2017 onwards) Review
Cheerful micro-SUV offers low-cost city motoring
New price: £11,849 - £15,849Read full reviewPROS
- Cheap to buy and run
- Seating for four adults
- Should be reliable
- Lots of customisation
- Great in the city
CONS
- Some poor-quality finishing
- Safety kit lacking
- Comfort is version-dependent
- Uninspiring to drive
- Struggles on motorways
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Vauxhall Viva Rocks (2017 onwards) Review
Little reason to buy one over a regular Viva
New price: £11,675 - £12,075Read full reviewPROS
- Funky styling
- Surprisingly good to drive
- Comparatively spacious cabin
- Cheap to run
CONS
- Small boot
- Just one engine on offer
- Lack of advanced safety kit
- Poor value compared with regular Viva
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Suzuki Swift Hatchback (2017 onwards) Review
Fun-to-drive alternative to the mainstream offerings
New price: £12,499 - £18,499Read full reviewPROS
- Perky performance in Boosterjet form
- Engaging at all speeds, with sporty handling
- Faster, lighter and more economical than predecessor
- Packed to the rafters with standard equipment
CONS
- Price gap to rivals has narrowed
- Sport not the bargain it once was
- Dealer network not as wide as rivals'
- Interior feels cheaper than other superminis
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Volkswagen Polo Hatchback (2017 onwards) Review
Polished Polo is well built and spacious, with an extensive range
New price: £15,920 - £23,160Read full reviewPROS
- Impressive array of on-board technology
- Efficient engine range, plus powerful GTI
- Strong brand image
- Spacious for a supermini
CONS
- The fanciest equipment is optional
- Refinement occasionally lets it down
- Variable ride comfort
- Not especially fun to drive
