Should you really feel like you want to downsize your automobile or simply don’t wish to should squeeze into each parking house, you’re not alone.
Final yr, greater than 47,000 vehicles throughout the micro and lightweight segments have been offered, and with 15 fashions on supply there’s nonetheless loads of alternative for brand spanking new automobile consumers.
These vary from runabouts just like the Kia Picanto to modified pocket rockets such because the Hyundai i20 N, all of which attempt to cram as many options right into a small platform for as little cash as doable.
It may be onerous to slender down a listing of fashions to be thought-about, which is the place the CarExpert workforce is available in, with our particular person picks throughout the budget-friendly and premium classes under.
Scott Collie: Skoda Fabia or Mini Cooper
Skoda Fabia
The Fabia punches properly above its weight on the subject of boot and cabin house, and all that house gained’t price you the earth.
It’s polished to drive, and fairly good-looking to have a look at as properly. Skoda’s seven-year guarantee can be welcome in case you’re seeking to dwell together with your small automobile for a very long time.
Mini Cooper
I do know it’s tiny inside, costly, and kitschy, however I’ve all the time had a factor for the three-door Mini.
I’d have mine in Cooper S JCW Sport guise, with a bit extra punch and much more fashion.
MORE: Purchase a Skoda Fabia
MORE: Purchase a Mini Cooper
Josh Nevett: Abarth 695
You purchase an Abarth with the guts, not the pinnacle.
I do know Scott undoubtedly wouldn’t buy one, however I’ve lusted after one among these scorpion-badged nuggets for some time now.
The observe emitted from the Monza exhaust is an instance of engineering wizardry which supplies the 695 a quintessentially Italian really feel. It’s backed up by styling that screams enjoyable.
When you’re carried out driving round with a infantile grin, you’ll additionally slide into any metropolis parking house with ease.
Is it sensible? Nah. Is it low-cost? Hell nah.
I don’t care, I would like one anyway.
MORE: Purchase an Abarth 695
Jack Fast: Mazda 2 or Mini Cooper
Mazda 2
If I had to purchase an reasonably priced metropolis automobile I don’t suppose I’d go previous the venerable Mazda 2.
I do know it’s fairly dated now in 2024 and has been given numerous facelifts now to stay present, however the Mazda 2 is among the few small vehicles that also evokes a big-car really feel on the highway.
Final yr I took a Mazda 2 G15 Evolve on a highway journey again house to my household’s farm and it didn’t really feel out of its depth in any respect, even on the freeway at 110km/h.
I’d personally go for a hatchback variant, however the Mazda 2 can be the one car in its section to supply a sedan physique fashion if that pursuits you.
Mini Cooper
I lately spent a while abroad driving the new-generation Mini Countryman and was fascinated with how good the inside seems and capabilities.
I’m but to correctly expertise the brand new Mini Cooper but nevertheless it receives a really related inside format that includes a 9.4-inch round OLED touchscreen infotainment system because the centrepiece, together with a textile dashboard end.
On paper the flagship electrical Cooper SE seems like an absolute hoot with 160kW and 330Nm. It could personally be my choose of the vary.
The Cooper SE additionally has a large 54kWh battery pack with 403km of WLTP claimed vary, which means vary anxiousness shouldn’t be a pinch-point just like the outgoing mannequin.
MORE: Purchase a Mazda 2
MORE: Purchase a Mini Cooper
Jordan Mulach
Kia Picanto
An inexpensive automobile, with loads of options and a seven-year guarantee – what’s to not like?
The Picanto seemingly goes towards my ethos of getting a automobile that’s barely greater than what I want, nevertheless it doesn’t really feel such as you’re actually lacking out on something both.
Although I’ve but to drive one, I’ve heard good issues about its chassis and engine, plus it comes as a handbook which is sort of uncommon sufficient to make it much more attention-grabbing.
Toyota GR Yaris
It’s onerous to disclaim the GR Yaris is probably the most effective sizzling hatches in the marketplace.
Consider it as the fashionable Pulsar GTI-R (sure, we’re going area of interest right here). It’s a small automobile with a small engine that’s been turned as much as 11, offering the most effective set-and-forget driving experiences this aspect of a supercar.
I, like most, have solely pushed the pre-update mannequin, with its awkwardly tall seating place and questionably low-cost inside supplies. In Rallye trim it was a pocket rocket that compelled me to recalibrate my mind, as the quantity of grip it had was borderline terrifying however thrilling.
It really jogged my memory greater than something of my Bugeye WRX STI which was suitably modified. From what we’ve seen of the facelift, the entire considerations are to be fastened and the GR Yaris shall be higher for it.
MORE: Purchase a Kia Picanto
MORE: Purchase a Toyota Yaris
William Stopford: Mazda 2 or Hyundai i20 N
Mazda 2
It could be previous, however the Mazda 2 remains to be my choose among the many extra reasonably priced mild vehicles.
The powertrain is punchy, even with the six-speed auto, and it’s an pleasing drive general. The extent of normal security gear throughout the vary is superb, with even LED headlights and blind-spot monitoring obtainable from the bottom mannequin up.
That makes the bottom G15 Pure all you really want, and the one I’d advocate to somebody searching for an reasonably priced metropolis automobile.
The inside is a bit dated although, notably the tech, and this most up-to-date facelift is nowhere close to as classy-looking because the final one.
Hyundai i20 N
Among the many costlier mild vehicles, there are quite a lot of genuinely enjoyable choices together with the Mini Cooper and Toyota GR Yaris.
I’ll give the sting to the Hyundai i20 N. Having had a punt with this on the monitor, I discovered it genuinely pleasing to drive nevertheless it’s additionally straightforward to dwell with, whereas additionally costing 1000’s lower than a equally fascinating Volkswagen Polo GTI.
MORE: Purchase a Mazda 2
MORE: Purchase a Hyundai i20
James Wong: Volkswagen Polo
Whereas quite a lot of these are pitched as ‘metropolis vehicles’, the fact in Australia is that consumers of smaller autos nonetheless want them to do nearly all the pieces.
Pondering from a primary or final automobile purchaser perspective, it’s inevitable that the majority of homeowners will nonetheless want the odd freeway jaunt and even roadtrip.
My sister owns a pre-facelift current-generation Polo 70TSI Trendline, and having spent loads of time as a driver and passenger I feel it will nonetheless be my choose of this bunch.
You will get the facelifted mannequin with quite a lot of the high-end tech obtainable in bigger VW fashions, and the 1.0 TSI turbo petrol engine is a terrific little motor that provides loads of efficiency and nice real-world gas financial system.
Positive, the servicing is just a little dear and it has a thirst for 95 RON premium gas, however no different mild automobile is as snug on the town and on the open highway because the Polo.
