Best City Car: Skoda Citigo
Why it won...
Cars that move the goalposts are what get us most excited, and the Skoda Citigo hasn’t just moved them, it has put them on another pitch altogether. In a sector full of talent, it stands out as genuinely groundbreaking.
Of course, we can’t mention the cleverly packaged city car without acknowledging its almost identical VW up! and SEAT Mii stablemates, but only one of the trio could win our award – and the Citigo gets our vote.
Why? Well, there are two main factors that swayed our judges, and the first is price. The Citigo is cheaper than its VW Group cousins, so pound-for-pound it’s better value.
But the main reason for recommending the Skoda over the VW and SEAT is the ownership experience. The Czech brand topped the manufacturer standings in our annual Driver Power reader survey again this year, and its garages always score highly in our dealer chart. As a result, it’s hard to argue against the Citigo in a straight fight.
The Citigo recipe includes a choice of three or five doors, smart looks and clever packaging which combines a compact exterior with a deceptively spacious interior.
It can comfortably seat four adults and the refinement and performance ensure this city car is surprisingly adept over long distances. Brilliant interior quality, tidy handling and supple suspension do the rest. Small cars simply don’t come any better than this.
Our choice: 1.0 MPI 75 Elegance GreenTech
For many drivers, this is all the car they will ever need. There’s space for four, the three-cylinder engine delivers brisk performance and stop-start kit brings tax-busting emissions and tiny thirst for fuel. Elegance trim adds big car extras, including sat-nav, Bluetooth connectivity, heated seats and air-con.
Commended
Fiat Panda
Fiat is famed for its small cars – and the latest Panda is another example of its expertise. We love its Latin charm and lively character, while its stylish interior and cute looks are just what we’ve come to expect from the company’s smallest offerings.
Hyundai i10
The evergreen Hyundai i10 is still a force to be reckoned with in the city car sector but after two years at the top, it’s no longer the class leader. When it comes to value for money and kit the i10 takes some beating, though, and the tiny dimensions make it perfect for nipping through crowded city streets.
