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City Cars

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

The best buys and the ones to avoid for the city car market in 2006....

The Best

OUR PICK

Peugeot 107
The result of a joint effort between PSA (Peugeot/Citroen) and Toyota, the Peugeot 107 is practically the same as the Citroen C1 and Toyota Aygo except for the bonnets, lights and bumpers.

Toyota actually builds the cars and supplies the 68 bhp, 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder engine.

PSA’s 54 bhp 1.4 HDi engine isn’t available in Irish versions of any of the cars.

We like the 107 because there’s a barebones €11,550 base model and a broad range of gradually more expensive models above that.

The C1 is the same price but doesn’t have as expansive a range and no sequential manual option.

The Toyota is better specified but more expensive as a consequence.

All are fun and cheap to drive, with a robust and tough feel to them.

Kia Picanto
Kia designed the Picanto with Europe very much in mind and it shows – it’s cute, well packaged, well equipped and cheap as biscuits at just €11,795.

1.0-litre, three-cylinder engine is revvy and insurable but no ball of fire with just 60 bhp.

Service intervals are yearly and it manages 4.9 litres/100 km.

Standard equipment includes an MP3 player, four disc brakes with ABS, electric windows and non-remote central locking.

Four-cylinder, 1.1-litre only produces 64 bhp and costs €2,200 more, but it does include alloys, air-conditioning, a leather wheel, rear electric windows etc.

All in all, a superb price for an attractive and well made city car.

Fiat Panda
The Panda redefined the whole city-car market when it was launched two years ago.

Despite the bargain basement price, equipment levels and quality are high and despite the extra competition the Panda is still holding its own.

The 54 bhp, 1.1-litre model is sluggish and not as economical as newer rivals (5.6 l/100 km) but it only costs €11,815 with tons of equipment.

The 60 bhp 1.2-litre engine isn’t worth the extra cash unless you opt for the Emotion model, which also offers air-conditioning, alloy wheels etc. for €14,115.

That money will also buy you the perky 70 bhp, 4.3 l/100 km, 1.3-litre Multijet diesel - the best engine in the range - though the value of the basic car is tough to beat.

The 4X4 Climbing model is daft unless you live in a bog.

Suzuki Swift
We told you it was very good and now the Irish Car of the Year judges, as well as the editors at Ireland’s Car Buyer’s Guide Magazine and the UK’s Car Magazine are in agreement.

All have given the Suzuki Swift their top pick for 2005.

Its 1.3-litre, four-cylinder motor produces 93 bhp, which is enough for a 0-60 time of 11 seconds making it faster than any of its rivals. (The ‘sporty’ Citroen C2 VTR, for example, costs three grand more and is down a substantial 18 bhp.)

Apart from its pace, the Swift is also very attractively styled with a well-appointed interior and decent driving dynamics.

At €13,995 it’s great value but could use a 1.0-litre model to get that price down to the €12k mark and improve its 6.1l/100km combined cycle economy rating.

VW Fox
Though the Lupo didn’t set the world alight, we have high hopes for the new Fox.

The price should remain around the €13,000 mark but for your money you’ll get more safety, more quality, sharper dynamics and much better looks.

There’s a Fox Sport in the works, too, a successor to the Lupo GTi with the same 125 bhp 1.6-litre engine under the bonnet though the expected €25k price is likely to keep it a rare sight on Irish roads.

Downsides include the lack of a five-door model though the optional adjustable rear seat, as found in the Citreon C2, will compensate somewhat.

The 55 bhp 1.0-litre will be popular with first time buyers while the 75 bhp 1.4 will be quite nippy.

The 70 bhp 1.4 TDI is be a cracking engine but too expensive to make sense.

The Rest

Chevy Matiz: It’s getting on now but there’s no denying the package and engine range make a lot of sense to value conscious Irish buyers.

Diahatsu Charade: ‘Thrash-me’ engine, decent spec and spacious interior make the Charade a decent buy, but newer rivals underscore its lack of funk

Smart ForTwo: Attention grabbing and inexpensive to run but it’s no fun out of town. €13k base model is cheap but sparse.

Citreon C1: Sweet little city car but Peugeot and Toyota models offer a broader range. Wait for the cash incentives before you buy.

Citroen C2: Shorter and funkier than a C3 but no better to drive. Tons of kit for the money and cash-back incentives should ease resale shock.

Toyota Aygo: Every bit as good as the 107, unsurprisingly, but there’s no stripped out entry-level model.

Avoid

Ford Ka: Too old with a coarse engine and nasty interior. Not that spacious, either, and three-door only. The game has moved on.

Seat Arosa/VW Lupo: Too small, too slow, too ugly and too expensive. Didn’t sell for a reason.

Suzuki Alto: Forget the Alto – it’s for the blue-rinse brigade. Get thee to a Swift instead.

Suzuki Wagon R/Opel Agila: Upright box designed for Japan but pedalled in Europe with few takers. Ugly and silly.

Peugeot 1007: Upmarket city car for sophisticated urbanites, according to Peugeot. Electric sliding doors are about the only thing slower than the car itself.