Best New Cars For City Driving In 2021

Are you planning to buy a new car? Will you be driving the new car around the city but are confused about what would be the apt car for driving around the city? Are you excited about the all-new Jeep Wrangler but doubt its use and practicality for city driving?

Best New Cars For City Driving In 2021
Credit (Top) Hyundai USA; (Above) Toyota USA.

Should you buy a gas-powered car or should you get a hybrid or should you go all-electric? Well, if all these questions perplex you, you’re are at the right place. Because we have got you a list of best new cars for city driving in 2021. So keep scrolling as we talk you through the aptest cars for the urban lifestyle.

  • 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid (Starting MSRP $23,600)
2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid
Credit: Toyota USA.

The staple car of America needs no introduction. Frugal, practical, and reliable- that’s what the Corolla was always known for and with the hybrid powertrain it has become even more fuel-efficient. Rising gas prices have already started burning holes in our pockets and it only makes sense to buy a hybrid in such times. 

The Corolla Hybrid delivers about 52 mpg combined and is an extremely fuel-efficient car to drive in the city. Yes, it isn’t the most fun car to drive, but if you’re looking for something cheap, affordable, and reliable, there’s hardly anything that’s better than this one for city use.

  • 2021 Mazda CX-30 (Starting MSRP $22,050)
2021 Mazda CX-30
Credit: Mazda USA.

The CX-30 is a compact crossover and is a great city driver. It comes with enough power for city duties, churns out decent fuel economy numbers and its compact dimensions just help it zip past traffic with ease and fit in tight parking spots as well. Moreover, it can accommodate 5 passengers with ease and can swallow a good amount of luggage as well. This Japanese crossover ticks all the boxes right for what one would want from an urban daily driver.

  • 2021 Honda Insight (Starting MSRP $25,210)
2021 Honda Insight
Credit: Honda USA.

We’re aware that nobody wants to drive a sedan anymore. However, the Honda Insight is a very capable city car and you do want to dismiss a car just because it doesn’t have a tall stance. The Insight is a hybrid and hence will help you save a lot on fuel expenses. 

This car gets an EPA rating of 49 mpg in the city which is excellent. Also, it is very practical and offers a very comfortable cabin and good luggage space and is simply a good car for driving around the city. Again, not the most exciting car to drive but a great fit for urban driving conditions.

  • 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid (Starting MSRP $30,560)
2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid
Credit: Honda USA.

The CR-V is the best-selling crossover in the country and is now offered with a hybrid power unit. The CR-V is an alternative for Insight for those who badly need a crossover. It gets an EPA rating of 40 mpg in the city and that ensures you don’t end up spending a lot on fuel. 

The CR-V Hybrid can be a great companion in the city and at times you can also take it out on the highway. Plus, the CR-V Hybrid has a tight turning circle of 37.4 feet and so you can flick around turns and go around corners with ease.

  • 2021 Nissan Leaf (Starting MSRP $31,670)
Nissan Leaf
Pictured: 2022 model. Credit: Nissan USA.

The Nissan Leaf is a peppy electric hatchback and is one of the best cars around in the city. EVs perform the best in city conditions and the Leaf can prove to be a great buy. It gets a pretty potent powertrain that makes 147 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque which is good enough for city driving. On a single charge, the Leaf claims to haul for about 226 miles in the city. That range is sufficient for daily city runs.

  • 2021 Hyundai Venue (Starting MSRP $18,750)
2021 Hyundai Venue
Credit: Hyundai USA.

The Hyundai Venue is a subcompact crossover built specifically for city use. It has a very affordable price tag, has a tall stance, it is very flickable, has a small footprint, and has a very small turning radius of 33.4 feet. Plus, it offers a fuel economy of 30 mpg in the city. All these factors make it a great urban transporter.

  • 2021 Kia Soul (Starting MSRP $17,490)
Kia Soul
Pictured: 2022 model. Credit: Kia USA.

The Kia Soul is yet another frugal and practical urban commuter. Offered with two engine and gearbox options, the Soul is a zippy little car that can take you to every nook and corner of the city. It might look tiny on the outside, but Kia has somehow managed to create an exceptional amount of passenger and cargo room on the inside. It drives pretty well, can be steered easily, and wade through traffic without any hesitation and that’s perhaps the most important characteristic of a city car.

  • 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric (Starting MSRP $37,390)
2021 Hyundai Kona Electric
Credit: Hyundai USA.

Equipped with a motor that churns out 201 horses and with a battery that could last for up to 258 miles, the Kona Electric is a promising city car. Equipped with standard safety and driver assistance features like forward collision assist and blind-spot collision warning, this Hyundai electric crossover is also a pretty safe vehicle. It is a compact vehicle, has enough power, runs of cheap electricity and helps reduce city pollution- all-in-all, a perfect package for city driving!

  • 2021 Volvo V60 Recharge (Starting MSRP $67,550)
2021 Volvo V60 Recharge
Credit: Volvo USA.

Imagine you have to do duties like dropping your kids off to school, taking them to soccer practice, guitar lessons, and also sometimes you need space to stuff some groceries in the car while doing all of this. Now, this schedule might look hectic but there’s one car that can transform this schedule into a comfortable and luxurious experience, and it’s the Volvo V60 Recharge. 

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This plug-in hybrid station wagon is capable of hauling lots of luggage along with 5 passengers without consuming a lot of gas. Moreover, this is the smaller Volvo wagon and so it can go easily around the tight spaces in the city. And the standard set of safety features is an added plus in the city. The power and size of the V60 Recharge might make it look like a great vehicle for the highway but it is equally good for doing the city runs as well.

  • 2021 MINI Hardtop 4 Door (Starting MSRP $23,900)
2021 MINI Hardtop 4 Door
Credit: BMW Group.

The Mini is a cool, funky, and fun-to-drive car and is one of the most enjoyable cars to drive in the city. Its unique design helps you stand out in the boring cars of the town and the fun driving dynamics make your daily commute to your workplace that much more exciting.

  • 2021 Audi e-tron Sportback (Starting MSRP $69,100)
2021 Audi e-tron Sportback
Credit: Volkswagen Group.

The Audi e-Tron Sportback is a great alternative for your regular gas-guzzling luxury SUV. The e-Tron Sportback is a powerful coupe SUV that produces 402 horses and 490 lb-ft of torque and hauls up to about 218 miles on a single charge. That power and range are sufficient for city duties and if you’re looking for a stylish and futuristic luxury SUV that you’d be driving just around the city, look no further than the e-Tron Sportback.

  • 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class (Starting MSRP $36,230)
2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
Credit: Daimler AG.

The smallest Mercedes SUV is a no-frills, super practical luxury crossover SUV and is a very apt vehicle for city driving. Its engine makes enough power, its driving dynamics are spot on and can be flicked with ease and it can move around comfortably in the tight city spots. The GLA can prove to be a great buy for somebody looking for a slightly snobbish city vehicle.

  • 2021 Toyota 86 (Starting MSRP $27,060)
Toyota 86
Pictured: 2020 model. Credit: Toyota USA.

The Toyota 86 is a sports car for the city. It’s a small, nimble car that comes with a peppy 2.0-liter engine that delivers a decent 24 mpg in the city. Its tiny turning circle of 36 feet helps it squeeze past the traffic with ease. If you’re going to drive alone every day to work, the Toyota 86 could just spice up your sedate daily commute.

  • 2021 BMW 2 Series (Starting MSRP $36,895)
2021 BMW 2 Series
Credit: BMW Group.

Offered in coupe and convertible body styles, the 2 Series is an excellent urban commuter. It has just the right amount of power you would want in a car to drive around the city, it is very engaging to drive and it is also very plush on the inside. And with a price tag of around $37000 and an EPA rating of 25 mpg in the city, this Bimmer doesn’t come hard on the pocket either.

  • 2021 Tesla Model 3 (Starting MSRP $39,990)
2021 Tesla Model 3
Credit: Tesla Motors.

With a range of 263 miles, a motor strong enough to push it from rest to 60 mph in under 5.5 seconds, and with a whole list of autonomous driving suites, the Tesla Model 3 is perhaps the best vehicle that you can drive around the city. The Model 3 is quick and fun-to-drive and comes loaded with tech features. And its fast-charging abilities and the extensive network of Tesla chargers, make it a very appropriate preposition for city use.