What is the ultimate city car?

Apr 21, 2025 by admin

As Australia’s population continues to grow, our cities have gotten both bigger and busier.

Despite this, city cars have lost their appeal, with new car buyers instead pivoting to compact SUVs and crossovers with extra ground clearance and an elevated seating position.

But there’s still a case to be made for something smaller that’s easy to drive, easy to park, and perfect for the office commute or a trip to the shops.

There are still plenty of vehicles on sale today that fit that criteria – the Kia Picanto, BYD Dolphin, Toyota Yaris, Mazda 2, and MG 3, to name a few.

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But that’s not to say the term ‘city car’ has a single definition, as you’ll see from our nominations below.

After all, some need cargo capacity to lug loads around town, while others might be better served by a luxury sedan that takes the stress out of long hauls in peak-hour traffic.

So, without further ado, here are the city cars that each member of the CarExpert editorial team would buy.

Let us know your pick in the comments below!

Marton Pettendy: Hyundai i20 N

I’m going to be boring here and stick with a mainstream brand that offers a five-year warranty, lifetime service plan and a well-populated nationwide dealer network for the times I leave the city.

But Hyundai’s smallest hot hatch is anything but boring, with more power and torque than its only direct competitor, the Volkswagen Polo GTI, and a manual transmission blessed with lightly sprung, perfectly placed pedals that make the daily grind as pleasurable as heel-toeing in the twisties.

The i20 N also comes with all the safety and multimedia tech you need. And at just $35,500 before on-road costs, it’s not only Australia’s most affordable bona-fide hot hatch but the last of a great yet dying breed.

Interest in buying a Hyundai i20 N? Get in touch with one of trusted dealers here

MORE: Everything Hyundai i20 N

James Wong: Abarth 695

Yes, I’m crazy.

There are few city motoring experiences more alive and engaging than the Italians’ ‘pazzo’ take on the Fiat 500, especially with a manual gearbox.

It’s loud, it’s quick, and it’s flippin’ adorable. There’s no parking spot it can’t fit in, because it’s basically a four-wheeled bike.

For me, a Melbournian in Australia’s most European city, why not do as the Europeans do?

Interested in buying an Abarth 695? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here

MORE: Everything Abarth 695

Jack Quick: BYD Dolphin

While I want to say the Ford Ranger Raptor just for laughs, I can’t in good conscience. Many people choose this, though.

With this in mind, my ultimate city car is an EV due to how nippy they are at low speeds, how quiet they can be, and also how easy charging them can be (provided you have space at home).

There are plenty of small EVs to choose from, but the one that stands out the most currently is the BYD Dolphin, which starts at $29,990 before on-roads. This is wild because many petrol-powered equivalents are now pricier at the base level.

Another city car I’d love to pick, but can’t because it’s not sold in Australia, is the Citroen Ami. Technically not a car but rather a quadricycle, I saw heaps of these during my European holiday last year and thought they would be so fun to drive around in.

Interested in buying a BYD Dolphin? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here

MORE: Everything BYD Dolphin

William Stopford: Mazda 2

I would have said the Ford Puma, given its compact dimensions, slightly higher ride height, but fun hatchback-like handling, but Ford Australia went ahead and dropped it. Boo!

I’ll keep it simple and go with the proven (codeword for bloody old) Mazda 2. The infotainment is horribly dated, but I still love the way it drives. It still looks sharp, and it feels built to last.

The MG 3 Hybrid+ is a runner-up, as I found it economical and the transitions between petrol and electric power generally smooth, though it’s still in need of a tweak or two to its powertrain.

Interested in buying a Mazda 2? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here

MORE: Everything Mazda 2

Jordan Mulach: Hyundai i20 N

What’s the point in having something small if it can’t be fun too?

The i20 N is, by all accounts, a pint-size i30 N, with the ability to outperform its big brother on the right road.

It is an absolute pleasure to drive and is arguably closer in its ethos and execution to a true 1980s hatchback than any other model on sale in Australia.

Add in backing from a major brand plus endless events for owners, and it’s hard to ignore why this is a performance car bargain.

Interest in buying a Hyundai i20 N? Get in touch with one of trusted dealers here

MORE: Everything Hyundai i20 N

Josh Nevett: Abarth 695

It’s not long for this world, but the petrol-powered Abarth 695 will go down as a pint-size motoring icon.

Compact, fast, fun and relatively practical with the back seats folded down – what more could you want from a car that’ll spend its time zipping around the city?

And in my humble opinion, there’s no better sounding four-pot going around. The 132kW T-Jet makes a mockery of some V8s when it comes to aural thrills, all while sipping less than 6.0L/100km.

While you can buy the 695 with a manual transmission, I’d take the auto for daily duties in the concrete jungle.

Regardless of variant and specification, Abarth’s final ICE model will bring a smile to your face during every drive, and you’ll never struggle to find a suitable parking space at the end of it.

Interested in buying an Abarth 695? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here

MORE: Everything Abarth 695

Sean Lander: Peugeot Partner

Let’s be honest, if you’re looking into buying a micro car and live in a built up area, you probably aren’t wanting to be the local Uber. So a three-seater van makes perfect sense.

It’s only about 200mm longer than a GWM Ora, can take up to 1000kg of payload and the BEST part is you can park in loading zones to quickly duck into a shop and grab your decaf-almond-soy-oat-milk latte.

It even comes in an EV version!

Yeah, I’m having a bit of fun here, because as the rural simpleton I am, I loathe the existence of these tiny cars. If you have to succumb to the requirement of a small car, you may as well have one that is practical too.

Interested in buying a Peugeot Partner? Get in touch with one CarExpert’s trusted dealers here

MORE: Everything Peugeot Partner

Max Davies: Mini Cooper

It’s a city car, so in my mind smaller is better.

Admittedly, I was swayed by Sean’s Partner pick for the loading zone benefits and was considering going for a Volkswagen Caddy, but then I remembered I’d have limited use for that. I’m therefore sticking to the classic city car formula and going for the three-door Mini Cooper.

I’ve always liked the look of the current-generation Coopers. They appeal to me as cute little things with funky styling, even if they’re nowhere near as little as the Minis of old used to be.

That fits perfectly as something fun and easy to drive around city streets, especially because it has those nippy driving characteristics modern Minis are known for. The interior is also a fun place to be with its left-field setup, and it’s all backed up by generally sturdy BMW tech – it just ticks a lot of boxes for me.

The only thing is it is fairly pricey, starting at just under $42,000 before on-roads for the base model. Still, this would be at the top of my city car list, and it wouldn’t be dreadful on longer weekend drives either.

Interested in buying a Mini Cooper? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here

MORE: Everything Mini Cooper