26/01/10

Little cars that'll work hard but won't cost much to keep. There's a broad choice: here are the ones we like most
1 Fiat 500
Price: £9300-£13,750
It’s easily the cutest small car – and, despite huge demand from buyers, Fiat has kept prices sensible. Here we’re sticking with the steel-roofed original, though for an extra £3000, model for model, you can get a convertible version and there’s also a hotshot Abarth variant, too. It uses the running gear and engines from the current Panda, so it’s sturdy if a touch ordinary to drive. The engines are revvy and willing, although the entry 1.2 petrol feels out of its depth on the motorway if the car is loaded. The 1.3 diesel is the pick, but it makes the 500 expensive to buy. The cabin is nicely finished even in the cheapest models and with seven airbags aboard it’s well up to the mark on safety. The boot’s a good size but the 500 seats only four and the rear two are cramped. It’s popular – as it deserves to be. Verdict ****

Read the full motors.co.uk review on the Fiat 500 by clicking here
 

2 Citrn C1
Price: £8495-£10,695
Spirited town tiny has low CO2 emissions of 106g/km and manages up to 62.8mpg, but the C1 can still seat four six-footers in fair comfort. If you plan to carry passengers regularly, though, five-door versions are worth the extra they cost. The C1’s well made and tough while the 1.0 three-cylinder petrol engine is lively. Tiny boot and jolty ride in town are the only drawbacks. Badges and minor body bits aside, the C1 shares engines, cabin and body with Peugeot’s 107 and the Toyota Aygo: they’re made in the same factory. While they look similar and drive the same, the C1 is our pick simply because of the keen discounts available from new. Verdict ****

Read the full motors.co.uk review on the Citrn C1 by clicking here

3 Hyundai i10
Price: £7760-£8885
Five-door town car is decent to drive and is surprisingly well equipped for the price - even the cheapest model has air conditioning and central locking as standard, plus four airbags, too. There's sufficient room for four and even a fifth seat belt is provided, although squeezing in three on that narrow back seat is only OK if the journey is short and the passengers thin. A plucky 1.2-litre petrol engine provides the power and while it isn't quick, and it's noisy as it revs, it will deliver up to 56.5mpg, while its 119g/km of tailpipe emissions means cheap road tax. If you go for the top-level Style you get alloy wheels, a fancier dash and cabin, but we like the simplicity and sheer value of the entry model. Not least because - like all its range-mates - it carries a five-year Hyundai warranty from new. Verdict ****

 Read the full motors.co.uk review on the Hyundai i10 by clicking here