Best cars for short journeys
Looking for a great little runabout? Discover the best cars for short journeys when it comes to price, fuel economy and easy city driving.
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By Tia North
Last updated: 22 July, 2025
The most recent government figures* reveal cars in the UK travel an average of 8 miles per trip, with more than half of trips driven under five miles.
Looking for an efficient car that’s ideal for short journeys? We’ve done the research for you, so put your feet up and read on.
What to look for in a runabout
The benefits of a small car are obvious. It’s cheaper to run, easier to park and it’s kinder to the environment because it has a smaller engine.
Traditionally, the kind of cars that have been regarded as runabouts are those in the city car category.
These tend to be small, practical and cheap to buy. In recent years, however, they’ve got better, with perky engines, funky designs, and can be fun to drive.
In this guide, we take a look at:
Hyundai i10
Volkswagen Up!
Renault Zoe
BMW i3
SEAT Arona
Fiat 500
Looking for a runabout? Spread the cost with car finance
Hyundai i10
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A nippy little city car that also feels comfortable on motorways and country roads, the Hyundai i10 is very well-equipped for a city car.
Many versions of this small Hyundai come with including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, if you don't fancy using the car's in-built system.
There are also lots of safety features that many of its rival don’t include – which is always welcome.
Volkswagen Up!
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The Volkswagen Up! is probably the best city car on sale. It shares a platform with the Seat Mii and Škoda Citigo, which are also excellent - and a bit cheaper.
The Up! features a lot of the qualities found in more expensive VWs, which means it's great to drive and very comfortable. Plus, you can find a used Volkswagen at a discounted price.
The line-up also includes a really fun GTI version and an all-electric version called the e-Up.
Renault Zoe
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The Renault Zoe was one of the first EVs to go on sale in 2012, and it has consistently improved since then.
This Renault now has an official 186-mile range, although 120 miles is probably more accurate in the real world – which is long enough for quite a few short journeys.
There’s lots of high-tech equipment, plus a smartphone app means you can control the charging remotely.
BMW i3
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BMW’s small EV really looks the part. Its futuristic design looks fresh and the i3's interior is filled with high-quality (and sustainable) materials and all the tech mod cons.
The range is now 193 miles, which should be plenty for the majority of urban drivers, but older cars also have small range-extender petrol engines.
You can find different variations of the i3 by opting for a used BMW - and they'll usually be cheaper as well.
SEAT Arona
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A compact SUV, the Arona has a very appealing and youthful design.
It enjoys the same engineering as several Volkswagen and Škoda models, so it's safe to say this SEAT SUV is reliable and trustworthy.
Go for the 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine and you should be able to get fuel consumption of around 50mpg, which is pretty good going.
Fiat 500
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We’ve included the Fiat 500 because it's still one of the coolest cars around.
It might not be the most practical car in its category, but it’s still a nifty little runabout and fun to drive. Plus, you can get a version with a fabric roof that folds back to make it a cabriolet.
The Fiat's 0.9-litre TwinAir engine is the most efficient on paper, but you’re probably better off with one using the 1.2 litre engine, as its real-world fuel economy tends to be better.
Other runabout options
There’s no sign of our love for SUVs dying down, so car manufacturers have started to build compact versions, which still have a slightly raised ride height, so drivers have better visibility of the road, making them safer and just a teeny bit sexier to look at.
It's also worth considering electric vehicles (EVs). You might be worried about range (how many miles they can be driven before the next charge), but that doesn’t matter if most of your journeys are short.
And if you have a carport, drive or garage at home, you can fit a charger, so it will run off your domestic electricity supply. Your bills will be slightly higher, but it’s still a fraction of what you’ll spend on petrol.
Choosing the best cars for short journeys
The best cars for short journeys are great on fuel economy, nippy with easy maneuverability, and not too pricey to buy. All of the cars in our list fit these criteria, but if you're still looking, we have thousands more cars to choose from at cinch.
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* Sources: Provisional Road Traffic Estimates Great Britain: October 2017 – September 2018 and National Travel Survey