The big city with its narrow streets and the eternal lack of parking spaces makes you change your habits. The biggest cities are quite small in their center – sometimes two big cars do not have enough room to pass one another. Let us write down the characteristics of the optimal car for the urban streets, and give a comparison rating of such cars. You can take this info into account when reading AVR van rental LAX reviews.
Criteria of choice
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Engine capacity
To choose a city car, you need to start with the main – the engine. The best options for the metropolis are small cars with an engine capacity of up to 1.6 liters. This determines their efficiency: usually, the smaller the volume, the smaller the fuel consumption. Nevertheless, the spent summation of liters depends on the driving style and the conditions, in which the car is driven. Especially the turbocharged engines with a large power reserve can show large consumption.
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Type of fuel
The established opinion that diesel engines are more economical than gasoline engines is not quite true. Modern gasoline engines set records of efficiency, but the typical features of a diesel engine in the form of vibrations, a specific smell and problems with frozen diesel fuel remain relevant.
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Transmission
In the city with its traffic jams, the automatic transmission is preferable. Slow swirling of cars at rush hour and driving in start-stop mode in inconvenient. In fact, such trips are exhausting, the hand gets tired of constant changing of speed, and the leg goes numb. Of course, this is a matter of habit, but comfort in a modern car takes not the last place, and this trend should not be resisted.
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Vehicle size
The main thing that defines a city car is its small size. It is easier to maneuver in a limited space without consequences. The disadvantage of it is in its capacity: the smaller the car, the less space is in the cabin, and therefore the choice according to this criterion should be built on the balance of the opportunity to take more luggage and the real need for it.
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Security systems
There are different security systems:
- Brake force distribution system;
- Emergency braking assistance system;
- Pedestrian detection system;
- Blind spot monitoring system
- Adaptive cruise control;
- Parking assistance systems;
- Road sign recognition system;
- Driver condition monitoring system, etc.
Nevertheless, the driver himself remains liable for the security.
The cars, which suit the big city the most are:
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Smart ForTwo (2008-2013)
Length: 2.69 meters.
Fuel consumption (mixed cycle): 4.2 liters per 100 km.
Smart ForTwo was originally designed for the city. Therefore, it is not surprising that this model was included in our rating of city cars. The length of this micromodel averages exactly half of any conventional car. This advantage allows you to park Smart ForTwo car in a very limited space.
The most amazing thing is that this car model can park even in a place where at first glance it is impossible to park. Another advantage of a compact car is its maneuverability and lightness, which makes it easy to get away from the potholes, bumps and other irregularities in the city. The only drawback of the car is the lack of cargo space, which can be a problem when shopping at a hypermarket.
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Jeep Cherokee (2013-2015)
Length: 4.62 meters.
Fuel consumption (mixed cycle): 5.2 liters per 100 km.
Of course, this SUV, due to its size, is not very convenient for parking in the city, but still, thanks to its innovative developments and diesel engine, it consumes very little fuel. In addition, thanks to its carrying capacity and reliable chassis, and impact-resistant wheels, you will easily cope with bad roads in urban environments.
So, if you often have to drive a car on bad roads and rarely drive into small but tight parking lots, having bought a Cherokee car you will not have to necessarily check every bump and small potholes on the road and you will not have to worry that pits on the road will damage the suspension.
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Subaru Forester (2003-2008)
Length: 4.48 meters.
Fuel consumption (mixed cycle): 8.5 liters per 100 km.
The Subaru Forester car has a fine line between the crossover and the station wagon. The highlight of the small model is in its permanent all-wheel drive, which can be useful in the city in the winter, in case the utilities are not able to cope with the snowdrifts. Among other things, this car has large windows that create excellent visibility for the driver. In addition, thanks to the optimal size of your body, it will be quite easy to park in front of a shopping center or near a house. A four-cylinder motor car is considered quite economical, taking into account its drive to all four wheels.
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Volkswagen Golf (2012-2015)
Length: 4.25 meters.
Fuel consumption (mixed cycle): 4.9 liters per 100 km.
Volkswagen Golf is an excellent car for urban conditions. This model of car is very popular in Europe, where there is always very dense traffic and very narrow streets. Golf fits perfectly into the urban environment. In addition, this model is not particularly popular with hijackers, so you will not have to worry about your car once again when you leave it at night in the parking lot. In addition, this high-quality car is relatively not so expensive in relation to other competitors. Besides, it is famous for its efficiency.
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Audi A3 (2006-2013)
Length: 4.23 meters.
Fuel consumption (mixed cycle): 5.2 liters per 100 km.
If you dream not only of an economical car for the city, but you also want something more luxurious, then you can buy an Audi A3 car. It is noteworthy that this model of car is very roomy as a station wagon, but due to its size, it is excellent for parking in small parking lots. This car is much more stylish than many others of our rating are. In general, the car is practical and belongs to the luxury class segment. In other words, it is luxury hatchback.
“Cars for the city” is a very vague definition. Everyone puts something in it. It is important to understand that it is impossible to find a universal car for a city that would fit absolutely everyone. It is all about individual preferences. We hope our article has helped you with the choice of your perfect car for the city roads.