There are situations behind the wheel that are much more frustrating than traffic jams. Indeed, we are talking about those agonizing moments when we drive around and around looking for a parking space. No matter how many knots we tie for poor Saint Cucufat, parking in a city is easier the smaller our car is.
Unfortunately, small city cars often have prohibitive prices. In this article we are going to compile some of the best small vehicles (from segment A and some from segment B) that we can buy at a decent price if we are going to move exclusively in urban environments. As always, we will do so taking into account other important points, such as reliability.
Nissan Pixo
It is one of the most unknown cars of the Japanese brand, and that plays in our favor. Although it did not have great sales, the fact that many people do not know this little guy guarantees that its price stays at acceptable levels.
The Pixo is a rebadged version of the Suzuki Alto, and was sold exclusively with 1.0 gasoline engines. Aesthetically, it is not the eighth wonder, but if you are interested in getting a simple car of about 68 hp, you cannot ask for less from a city car that can be found between 3,000 and 5,000 euros.
Citroën C1 and Peugeot 108
When we talk about small cars and reliability, almost all eyes turn directly to the Toyota Aygo. But… let’s be honest. These two PSA models are the exact same car as the little Japanese one. All three (four if we also include the Peugeot 107 in the equation) were manufactured jointly in Kolín, Czech Republic, and have the same engines and quality standards.
You can find a Citroën C1 for a bit less than 8,000 euros if you have a little patience and are looking for the most recent model. The same applies to the Peugeot 108.
On the other hand, if you are looking for something cheaper, the Peugeot 107 —and the first versions of the C1— can be purchased for less than 4,000 euros, although you have to keep a close eye on the mileage. In all cases, we recommend purchasing gasoline versions.
Mitsubishi Space Star
If we go back to the 2015 version, we can acquire a Mitsubishi Space Star 120 MPI for about 8,000 to 8,500 euros if we go to a dealership. The price, obviously, will be considerably lower if we look for a unit from a private seller.
The Space Star is a simple car, but well-resolved. This model we are talking about has a 1.2 gasoline engine that develops about 80 hp. Its urban fuel consumption is about 5 liters per 100 km and its environmental badge is C (green).
Opel Karl
Not many were sold in Spain, but definitely, we can acquire a unit of this Opel at a lower price than we would find if we wanted to get an Opel Adam.
With a little patience, you can find a 2017 Karl for about 7,000 euros with the 1.0 gasoline engine. A simple car, but also quite attractive.
Suzuki Swift
The Swift is not as small a car as the ones we just mentioned, since it is a subcompact. However, it is a fantastic car both for driving around the city and for making short trips on ring roads and highways.
To find a Suzuki Swift at a good price, you have to look at somewhat older models, from around 2007. Around those dates we can already see units between 4,000 and 6,500 euros depending on the mileage, with the 1.3 GL gasoline engine.