Small City Cars That are Tougher Than You Think

• Anco BaardI remember thinking the day that fuel prices exceed the cost of a Coke is the day I take up cycling. That day has come and gone and fuel prices have nearly doubled. Unfortunately I am still far too lazy to cycle to the office so I am left looking at other alternatives.

Small city cars seem to be the newest trend in the automaker industry, much to my delight. I can pack away the bicycle for now and still afford to commute. But with so many of these cheap run-abouts on the market, which is the best? We did the research so you don’t have to.

Hyundai i10

There’s no way around it, the i10 is one of the best value for money vehicles in the segment. Starting at N$130 000 and packed with features such as front airbags, fog lights, central locking, aircon, USB/iPod, Bluetooth, electric windows and much more. The 1.25 litre motor is good for 64kw and Hyundai promises figures of 5.6km/l. Unfortunately the styling is bland compared to the competitors and the interior feels as cheap as expected.

Peugeot 107

The 107 is the better styled of the lot and has won many sales with its styling alone. The interior seems more expensive than it really is and at N$125 000, it’s hard to see why it’s so cheap. The feature list doesn’t help much either: airbags, electric windows and the list goes on. Sadly, costs have been cut in materials used and the plastics are hard and rough. Still, the 1.0l motor pumps out 50kw and is good for 4.3l/100km

Kia Picanto

The most expensive of the lot, coming in at N$135 000, it’s clear to see where your money is going. The build quality and feature list of the Picanto far exceed that of the competition. All materials used are of a high quality and the fit and finish are great. You get airbags, aircon, central locking, USB, Bluetooth, ISOFIX and all the usual bells and whistles. Styling is great as well, but can be hit or miss for some. The 1.0l motor is good for 51kw and uses 4.5l/100km combined cycle. If only Kia could have kept the price under N$130 000…

Toyota Etios

Toyota’s entry is not unlike the Peugeot 107 and Hyundai i10 in that it’s cheaply built. It shows with fit and finish being subpar and materials used being less than stellar. Even so, the Etios promises legendary Toyota reliability and superior after-sales service. It’s not bad looking or horribly priced either.

Usually in these road tests, it’s quite difficult to establish a clear winner as each vehicle covers a certain part of the market. Fortunately, with these four vehicles so far apart, it’s relatively easy to choose a winner. The Kia Picanto is great in all aspects bar price. It checks all the right boxes, but is just a tad too expensive in this segment. The Peugot and Toyotas, well priced as they may be, suffer from their cheap interior materials and shoddy workmanship and based on this alone fall out of the running.

This leaves only the i10. While not a real looker, it offers great value for money with a decent interior and a hefty feature list. It’s well priced and the 1.25l motor is frugal enough to warrant a look. If you’re looking for a cheap run-about, look no further than the Hyundai i10.