The Five Best Compact Cars For City Living

It’s no joke – driving in the city can be a seriously tough task. Between busy streets and tight parking spaces, a city drive is not a task for a timid driver who’s not fully confident in his or her ability to maneuver safely. For many, having anything bigger than a compact model is simply not compatible with city life.

For the sake of those brave urban warriors in search of a quality compact, here’s our collection of recent models that are best suited for braving the congested streets of your beloved city.

2016 Chevy Spark

Small and nimble and with enough class to turn heads along the block, the 2016 Chevy Spark is the ultimate vehicle for urban living. Boasting an impressive 41 miles per gallon highway and 30 miles per gallon city the Spark is efficient enough to get you where you need to go without burning through gas like it’s going out of style. Plus, with its compact-yet-roomy design, the Spark can comfortably guide you through narrow streets and into tight parking spaces with ease.

Loaded with plenty of safety tech like Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning, the Spark is designed to keep you and your passengers as safe as possible. With 10 standard airbags and a high-strength steel cage, the Spark can withstand just about any unforeseen collision and keep you and those with you as out of harm’s way as can be.

For those annoyingly tight parking spaces, the Spark comes fully loaded with a standard rear vision camera with available Rear Park Assist which can not only guide you as you back in but can even audibly and visually alert you if you get too close to an object. And, although it seems small enough to fit in your pocket the Spark actually boasts and impressive 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space – meaning you’ll still have enough room the bring along just about anything you need.

Drivers can also seamlessly connect to their Spark through Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, introducing a whole new level of connectivity to sporty urban models sure to keep you connected and in touch with your world even when you’re zipping around the city in your Spark. And, with 4G LTE Wi-Fi available throughout the cabin, your passengers can stay connected with no problem as well.

Available in ten vivid colors with a premium cloth interior and a 7-inch diagonal color LCD touchscreen infotainment system, the Spark offers just about everything a modern city driver could ask for in a conveniently-sized, efficient little model.

Scion iQ

Drivers looking for something a little simpler can settle for the Scion iQ, a tight little compact that’s undeniably sporty, if a little weak under the hood. Boasting 37 miles per gallon combined and up to 17 cubic feet of cargo space, the iQ offers plenty of room for everything from a quick jaunt out of town to your daily errand-hopping.

Designed specifically for urban drivers living in hilly areas or with tight parking, the iQ features three transmission modes for varying power levels to the engine and measures just 10 feet long from nose to tail. Perhaps most impressive about the iQ, however, is its tight and controlled handling, which allows it to make a U-turn in spaces that would normally require a three-point turn from other compacts. Plus, with a muscular front profile the iQ is easily one of the least “cute” compacts we’ve seen in a while.

Smart ForTwo

Looking for an even smaller, nimbler compact? For those looking for a tiny two-seater to zip through city streets should look no further than the Smart Fortwo. At just eight feet long and five and a half feet wide, the ForTwo boasts a tiny 22.8-foot turning radius for supreme maneuverability around tight corners.

With 35 miles per gallon combined fuel economy and up to 89 horsepower from its three-cylinder turbocharged engine, this sporty little compact comes in at just around 2,000 lbs and is available in manual or automatic transmission options. A twin-section tailgate opens wide for easy loading and unloading, while a folding passenger seat allows for a surprising amount of cargo space for such a small vehicle.

Eight standard airbags and a specially designed high-strength cage offer plenty of protection on the road as well, meaning you can ride knowing your ForTwo is there to protect you on the road. Plus, with a premium integrated infotainment and sound system, you’ll be plenty entertained on the road in your sporty little Smart compact.

Kia Soul

Of course, there’s always the city driver looking for a truly cool model to cruise around the city at night. Whether you’re a hip, young urbanite or perhaps a human-sized rapping hamster, you may want to consider the ever-popular Kia Soul.

Between plush, premium seats that come with available heating and ventilation to stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer, music-sensitive mood lighting and a panoramic sunroof, The Soul offers everything a young city dweller might want to roll with style and turn heads around the block. Plus, a push-button engine starter uniquely placed by the shifter and the 8-inch color LCD UVO touchscreen infotainment system open up a world of tech innovations found throughout the Soul that will leave you not only comfortable, but connected.

Chevy Sonic

For those compact consumers looking for all te convenience and portability of a small model but who need just a little extra room on the inside, there’s the Chevy Sonic. Built to deliver in all the areas that other compacts simply can’t match, the Sonic is a revolutionary new breed of small car that will deliver and won’t disappoint – no matter who’s driving.

Boasting an available turbocharged engine capable of 40 miles per gallon highway, the Sonic is no joke when it comes to urban efficiency. At just over thirteen feet long and around five feet wide, this model also features a surprising amount of space on the inside, featuring a whopping 47.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded down. Plus, with comfortable seating for up to five, you can bring your crew along with you for all those crazy urban adventures.

New and innovative safety technology like Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning and an available rear vision camera help you stay safe on the road and successfully maneuver those tight parking spots, while 10 standard airbags and a high-strength steel frame give you supreme peace of mind on the road.

Sonic drivers can also expect to be fully entertained thanks to the model’s available 7-inch diagonal touchscreen featuring Chevy’s MyLink conductivity suite. This allows drivers and passengers to connect a smartphone via Bluetooth for hands-free calling as well as music streaming all at a simple touch of your finger.

For city drivers looking to upgrade from the bare bones of a standard compact model, look no further than the all-new Chevy Sonic small car.

Experienced city driver knows what a hassle getting around the crowded urban streets can be. Between heavy congestion and the never-ending battle for parking, city living can be exceptionally tough for car owners. That’s why many urbanites are choosing small compact cars like these. If you’re in the market for a vehicle that’s a little better suited to the concrete jungle, look no further than the 2016 Chevy Spark or these other impressive compact models – you may just find the vehicle you’ve always been looking for.