Looking around your local area at the cars that people are driving, you may find yourself noticing a shift in fashion from the past decade. Large four by four cars and impressive saloons are decreasing in current sales popularity. If you think about it, there is a lot of sense in skipping over larger sized cars and looking into something a little smaller. There's a rising type of car known as city cars that are becoming ever more prevalent - let's look at some of the many reasons this is happening.
Economy
This is a big reason and has several aspects to it. First of all, as everyone is aware, the western economy has taken a significant hit in the past few years, and most people are feeling the pinch on their bank accounts as wages fail to keep up with our evolving lifestyles. Gone are the days when people could happily afford to overspend on a car that was, honestly, beyond their actual needs. A city car is cheaper to run in every way. First of all, they have a low up front cost - clearly, smaller is still cheaper in the car world (unlike phones and computers!). Second, they consume less fuel by virtue of having less weight to move around. You can easily expect to get 70 miles per gallon out of a modern small city car. That's about 40% better than a typical larger saloon, not to mention an SUV. You'll notice this especially in cities, where the lower energy cost of start-stop traffic in a lighter car becomes obvious.
Practicality
A big car has always been a liability in the city. Tight corners, crowded traffic jams, and limited parking space are the nemeses of a big car. A zippy little model can squeeze between other cars and fit comfortably into cramped parking spaces, potentially saving you much time and money, as well as reducing stress. A family driveway that formerly had room for only one car could potentially find space for another if you replace a saloon with a city car.
Fashion
The neat looks of city cars are finding more and more fans. There are plenty of eye catching designs out there, so you can easily find one that suits your personality and adds some fun to city driving. Many offerings now include customisable trim so you can make sure you get exactly what you want when buying.
So if you are thinking of changing your car, don't forget to check out some of these less traditional offerings. Most makers have a range of city cars in their current line-ups, so be sure to take them for a spin.
