Skip to main content

Looking for a new car for city driving purposes under $35,000? A few things make city living easier, like cars with a tight turning radius and good fuel economy. If the automaker offers Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), those are also listed.

The Toyota Prius is one of the best new cars for city driving

The best new cars for city driving include the Toyota Prius
The 2022 Toyota Prius | Toyota

Consumer Reports chose the 2022 Toyota Prius for a few reasons. It has an overall fuel economy of 52 mpg and received the green choice award. This Toyota sedan also had high marks on the road test, reliability, and owner satisfaction areas. The Prius is the original practical hatchback with a turning radius of only 35 feet. It is almost the perfect city car with an overall length of 179 inches.

Standard safety features include forward collision warning (FCW) and automatic emergency braking (AEB). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2022 Toyota Prius a five-star safety rating.

Price range: $25,075 – $33,370

Hyundai’s Elantra is one of the best new cars for city driving

With a redesign last year, the 2022 Hyundai Elantra gets many things right. It has enough fuel economy to keep you away from the gas station for a while (aka 48 mpg overall) and has a roomy interior. The turn radius of 37 feet, you can get around the city easily. AEB, blind-spot warning (BSW), and rear cross-traffic warning (RCTW) are standard.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the 2022 Hyundai Elantra the Top Safety Pick award. It received high scores on all of the important crashworthiness tests. That’s one of the reasons the Elantra is one of the best new cars for city driving.

Price range: $20,200 – $33,650

Check out the Toyota Corolla or the Corolla hybrid sedan

People love the 2022 Toyota Corolla for many reasons. What makes it one of the best new cars for city driving? It gets 33 mpg overall and 23 in the city with the standard version, or 48 mpg overall and 37 mpg in the city from the Corolla hybrid. The Corolla’s 37-foot turn radius makes it suitable for maneuvering around the city.

AEB and FCW come standard, while BSW and RCTW are optional. Consumer Reports says the hybrid option is more expensive up front, but it will pay for itself after four years of ownership. The IIHS gave the 2022 Toyota Corolla the Top Safety Pick Plus award.

Price range: $20,425 – $28,710

All of these options also have a rearview camera to make parking easier. Depending on where you end up, you might be thankful for that while street parking. While these are the best new cars for city driving, check out some of the best used cars for city living. If you are worried about door dings and other damage from city life, perhaps a used car would be a better option.

Related

All of the Best SUVs of 2022