Getting around in a dense urban area often means resorting to a certain kind of car. Ideally, it should be compact and manoeuvrable enough to be able to get through dense traffic, and to easily nick those parking spaces.
There’s a very competitive market for this kind of vehicle. But if you’re looking to make a purchase, it can be difficult to know what to look for. So, what qualities make for a great city car?
Size and Maneuverability
Let’s kick off with the two qualities we’ve already touched on. Smallness tends to correlate with manoeuvrability, especially when space is limited (as it often is in places where the land price is sky-high). A small car carries less weight than a big one. Moreover, that weight tends to be lower to the ground, meaning that you can easily swing around corners without feeling like the vehicle is going to topple.
You’ll find plenty of vehicles of this type on the second-hand market. For example, you could look for a used Vauxhall car from an approved dealer in your local area.
Visibility
In a city car, being visible can be very useful. It’ll make it easy for other motorists to see you, for one thing. For another, a conspicuous vehicle is easier to spot in a packed-out car park. As such, it might be a good idea to go for something brightly-coloured – provided that it suits your taste.
Fuel Efficiency
City driving involves lots of starting and stopping. You can think of yourself travelling over many short journeys, rather than a few longer ones. Because of this, fuel efficiency really matters. Look for an efficient vehicle, and adopt efficient driving habits.
Running costs
We should also think about running costs outside of fuel. Look at your road tax, insurance, and consumables. You might also consider that clean-air charges are being rolled out in major cities throughout the UK. Go electric, and you’ll avoid them entirely.
The infotainment system
You’ll be spending a lot of time behind the wheel, often in gridlocked traffic. Staying entertained is vital, and that means a good infotainment system that can integrate easily with your phone. A navigation app like Waze might make all the difference to your experience, so make sure you can actually use it.
City driving isn’t as stressful as it’s cracked up to be, provided that you’re driving something appropriate. By putting a little thought into the decision, and shopping around for the best possible vehicle, you’ll have a much better experience on those early-morning commutes!