Six of the Best Cars for City Drivers
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Driving in the city isn’t easy. You’ll need to squeeze into narrow parking spaces, navigate crowded streets, and slam on your brakes whenever a biker or pedestrian zips in front of your vehicle. Then there’s the wear and tear caused by constantly stopping at red lights or bumping through the potholes that aren’t uncommon on city streets.
Driving in the city? It’s not for the fainthearted. And it requires a special kind of car.
The best city cars are small enough to handle crowded streets and narrow parking spots and rugged enough to survive bumpy urban roads and the frequent stops and starts that come with city driving. You’ll also want a car with a bit of power to make the quick merges and lane changes that city driving often requires.
And then there’s mileage: You want a car that won’t require frequent stops at the higher-priced pumps you often find at city gas stations.
So, which car is best for your city-driving experience? Here are our top recommendations.
In this article
Best for affordability: 2023 Kia Rio
Living in the city is expensive. You don't want to overspend on a car. That's one of the perks of the 2023 Kia Rio: It's pretty cheap.
U.S. News & World Report says that the Rio has a starting manufacturer's suggested retail price of $16,750, on the low end of the subcompact car class. The lower monthly car payment with the Rio can help you afford the higher apartment rents charged in so many big cities.
The Rio gets good mileage, too, with U.S. News & World Report stating that you can expect 32 miles a gallon while driving in the city and 41 with highway travel. Again, this can help you save at the pump. Gas prices are high today but tend to be especially high in and around big cities. You’ll want to spend as little time at the pump as possible.
The Kia Rio doesn't have many frills, but it boasts a comfortable ride and can seat five. On the negative side, the Rio's engine can be noisy when traveling at high speeds. (Of course, high speeds might be rare when driving on crowded city streets.)
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Best for fuel efficiency: 2023 Honda Civic
Kelley Blue Book ranks the 2023 Honda Civic as its compact car best buy of 2023. That's good news for city drivers who want a car small enough to navigate narrow, often-crowded streets while still providing enough pep to handle quick merges and lane changes. Even better? The 2023 Civic shines, too, when it comes to fuel economy.
According to Kelley Blue Book, the 2023 Civic gets up to 36 miles a gallon, a nice way to protect your wallet from today’s high fuel prices.
And while you're saving money on gas, you won't have to spend too much to purchase the 2023 Civic. Kelley Blue Book says that the Civic starts at a base price of $23,750. That's more expensive than the Kia Rio but not overly pricy for a new car today.
Driving the Civic is a pleasant experience, too, with Kelley Blue Book reviewers saying that the car handles bumps well without jostling passengers, and boasts a relatively quiet ride even at higher speeds. The Civic also comes with what reviewers say is a tastefully done interior. Even taller adults will find plenty of room throughout the vehicle, too, according to Kelley Blue Book’s review.
Best for narrow streets and parking spaces: 2024 Mazda 3
When it comes to city driving? Small is nice, especially when squeezing into a spot outside your favorite restaurant or shop. But a small car can be luxurious and have plenty of power. Just look at the 2024 Mazda 3.
Car and Driver ranks the newest version of the Mazda 3 as one of its best new compact cars. Why? The Mazda 3 features what Car and Driver calls premium interior finishes and "grown-up" driving dynamics.
In other words, this small car boasts a big performance.
In its review, Car and Driver says the Mazda 3 can pass for a premium-class compact car despite a base price tag of just $25,335. The car's engine is spunky, too, according to the review. This will help if you need to merge quickly on a crowded city street.
The car's fuel economy is solid, too, with Car and Driver reporting that the Mazda 3 gets 28 miles a gallon in city driving and 37 when motoring down the highway.
And unlike many compact cars, the Mazda 3 comes with a fairly large 8.8-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability coming standard. You can pay extra for a 12-speaker Bose stereo system and SiriusXM satellite radio if you want to upgrade your entertainment experience.
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Best for power: 2024 Acura Integra
At a starting price near $32,000, the 2024 Acura Integra is not the most affordable car on this list. But it is one of the most powerful. If driving a car with some pep is important, you might consider investing the extra dollars in this vehicle.
U.S. News & World Report says that the Integra is a particularly fun car to drive, one that offers a smooth ride thanks to a well-tuned suspension. The Integra also receives positive reviews for its spacious and comfortable cabin and easy-to-understand infotainment system.
Buyers can choose from two engines with the Integra, a base-version turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder with 200 horsepower, or a 2.0-liter turbo-four with 320 horsepower. Both perform well, though the costlier 2.0-liter version will give you more power.
U.S. News & World Report says that the base-model engine provides peppy acceleration and enough power to navigate city streets and highway driving easily.
Best electric car for city driving: 2023 Chevrolet Bolt
Small, fun to drive, and affordable: The three most important positives make the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt a top choice for city drivers interested in an electric vehicle.
According to Edmunds, the 2023 Bolt retails at a starting manufacturer's price of $27,495, a reasonable price tag for an electric vehicle. At the same time, the Bolt handles well, a good choice for crowded city streets. And because of its smaller size, it's easy to fit the Bolt into tight parking spaces or crowded garages.
One of the main reasons to invest in an electric vehicle is to avoid high gas prices. You want to ensure that your electric vehicle gets plenty of miles on every charge. This shouldn’t be a problem with the Bolt. According to Edmunds, the Bolt can run 259 miles on a full charge, which should last longer when driving short distances in the city.
The new version of the Bolt also comes with new features, such as an adaptive cruise system and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, according to Edmunds. Reviewers also say that the Bolt is fun with its one-pedal driving system. The car's redesigned interior is more spacious, too, according to Edmunds.
And thanks to the Federal EV Tax Credit of $7,500, the Bolt is even more affordable to own, a nice perk for the more cash-strapped of city drivers.
Best for thwarting thieves: Nissan Leaf
Want a small car that seems especially resistant to car thieves? This can be an important perk when driving and parking your car in the city, where car thefts are more common.
Consider investing in the Nissan Leaf electric vehicle. The Highway Loss Data Institute ranked the Leaf as one of the cars least likely to be stolen for the model years 2020 to 2022, the most recent years analyzed by the institute.
According to the institute, the Leaf was the 15th least likely car to be stolen for those model years. And while it’s not the least-stolen car, it also ranks as one of the more affordable cars on the institute's list, with a base price of about $28,000, a reasonable price tag for an electric vehicle.
And if you're worried about theft? Avoid the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, Dodge Charger HEMI, and Infiniti Q50, the three cars most likely to be stolen for the model years 2020 through 2022, according to the Highway Loss Data Institute.
Related: The Best Car Insurance Companies
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The bottom line
Of course, these aren’t the only cars that make sense for city drivers. But they are some of the best choices. If you’re ready to buy a car to motor through the urban jungle? Make sure to do your research first. Look for a city car that boasts good mileage, has enough power, and is small enough to fit into tight parking spaces and maneuver down narrow city streets.
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Writer
Dan Rafter is a freelance writer who has more than 20 years experience covering personal finance. He's written for the Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, Bankrate, CreditCards.com, Rocket Mortgage, NortonLifeLock and several others.
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