Living or driving in a city means adapting to a certain lifestyle, which can influence what car you drive. Because of their size and fuel efficiency, cars like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla are uniquely suited for driving in cities.

Visualize switching lanes on a six-lane highway at rush hour in a Ford F-150 or trying to parallel park a Chevy Suburban. Now think about how much gas these cars would require for those daily hour-long commutes. Face it—certain types of cars just aren’t suited for city life.

To find a car with optimal city-driving potential, you’ll need to look for three characteristics: fuel economy, size, and reliability. It doesn’t hurt to factor in the price as well. Don’t start a frantic search just yet—

Jerry

, the

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savings, has done all the searching for you. Below, we’ve listed 2022’s top cars for driving in the city.

Keep scrolling to discover which city-friendly car is best for you!

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BMW 2 Series

Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP): $37,345

Rating: 8.5/10 from Car and Driver

Standard mileage: 26 mpg city; 35 mpg highway

Predicted reliability: 82/100 from J.D. Power

For those who can’t decide between a practical city car and one with a luxurious flair, the

BMW

2-Series may be the ideal compromise. Not only do they come with all the top-line features of BMW, but they also add the sportiness and practicality of a sedan.

Volkswagen Jetta

MSRP: $21,190

Rating: 8.5/10

Standard mileage: 31 mpg city; 41 mpg highway

Predicted reliability: 76/100

It’s hard to believe you can get a turbocharged engine, excellent mileage, and a chic interior for such a low starting price, but the

Volkswagen Jetta

pulls it off. Despite its classification as a compact car, the cabin has plenty of space for toting around your friends or picking up extra groceries.

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Honda Civic

MSRP: $23,365

Rating: 9.5/10

Standard mileage: 33 mpg city; 42 mpg highway

Predicted reliability: 82/100

Whether you’re commuting on the interstate or weaving through city streets, the

Honda Civic

is a classic. Between its smooth handling, good fuel economy, and quality interior, the Civic is one of the most practical and quality commuter cars on the market. Even the base trim comes with plenty of safety and driver-assistance features.

MORE: The best type of car insurance to get if you commute long distances

Hyundai Ioniq (hybrid)

MSRP: $24,645

Rating: 8/10

Standard mileage: 59 mpg combined

Predicted reliability: 80/100

If fuel economy is your number one priority, your safest bet is to go for a hybrid. Not all hybrids are so budget-friendly, but the

Hyundai Ioniq

’s starting price sets it apart. Just because you buy a car for its efficiency doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it—the Ioniq features a tidy interior, a decent infotainment system, and great safety ratings.

Kia Forte

MSRP: $20,115

Rating: 7.5/10

Standard mileage: 31 mpg city; 41 mpg highway

Predicted reliability: 87/100

If you need a compact car with plenty of trunk space, the

Kia Forte

’s your answer. Like others on this list, it has an attractive MSRP and fuel economy, but the Kia Forte has a more upscale feel than its rivals. Not only does it have high-quality cabin materials, but some models include a great infotainment system and extensive safety features like driver drowsiness monitoring and lane keep assist.

Tesla Model 3

MSRP: $46,440

Rating: 8.5/10

Standard mileage: 138 MPGe (MPG-equivalent) city; 126 MPGe highway

Predicted reliability: Unavailable

With a reputation that precedes itself, the

Tesla Model 3

’s price tag makes it one of the more approachable Tesla models. And the Model 3 gets the best mileage of any commuter car on this list by far—up to 390 miles on a single charge. The Model 3’s extra front trunk makes it another great option for those needing extra space, too.

Toyota Corolla

MSRP: $21,200

Rating: 8/10

Standard mileage: 31 mpg city; 40 mpg highway

Predicted reliability: 85/100

Toyota Corollas

are the quintessential commuter car, but new models come with unique options like a hatchback or manual transmission. Safety features such as pedestrian and cyclist detection—as well as Toyota’s reputation for excellent reliability in general—make the Corolla an excellent choice for city-dwellers.

Volkswagen GTI

MSRP: $30,540

Rating: 10/10

Standard mileage: 24 mpg city; 32 mpg highway

Predicted reliability: Unavailable

As the only vehicle on our list with a 10/10 rating, the

Volkswagen GTI

is the ideal city car. Its compact body is agile enough to dart through traffic and parallel park in the smallest of spaces. Plus, the interior is upscale and shockingly comfortable for a small vehicle. Add on nifty driver-assistance aids, safety features, and an infotainment system, and it’s easy to see why this vehicle is an all-around great pick.

MORE: How to make your car last longer

SUVs for city driving

More and more drivers are ditching practical sedans for more fun and spacious SUVs and crossovers. And there are quite a few commuter-friendly options out there.

Chevrolet Equinox

MSRP: $26,995

Rating: 7/10

Standard mileage: 26 mpg city; 31 mpg highway

Predicted reliability: 85/100

As one of the more practical options, the

Chevy Equinox

offers decent mileage and great reliability ratings. With lots of cargo room, spacious seating, and a comfy ride, the Equinox covers all the bases. The plentiful safety features and intuitive infotainment system are just icing on the cake.

Hyundai Kona

MSRP: $22,545

Rating: 9/10

Standard mileage: 30 mpg city; 35 mpg highway

Predicted reliability: 82/100

The

Hyundai Kona

is one of the most fuel-efficient SUVs on the market, making it a prime candidate for city driving. It’s also one of the most affordable. It gets plenty of speed on the highway and can even handle its own in snowy weather.

Kia Soul

MSRP: $20,505

Rating: 8.5/10

Standard mileage: 28 mpg city; 33 mpg highway

Predicted reliability: 87/100

The

Kia Soul

has a cult following for a reason—its excellent MPG and starting price are just the tip of the iceberg. The Soul is shockingly spacious, rivaling almost all others in its class, making it the perfect commuter car whether your trips involve school pickups or hauling lots of gear. The Soul can also slip in and out of any parking spot, especially with its backup camera.

MORE:

The top podcasts for road trips and long drives

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

MSRP: $30,290

Rating: 8.5/10

Standard mileage: 41 mpg city; 38 mpg highway

Predicted reliability: 81/100

While the standard engine in the

RAV4

gets the job done, the hybrid model takes the experience up a notch. Getting better mileage than a compact sedan, the RAV4 hybrid will also save you money in the long run with its great reliability score and predicted low ownership costs. It also comes with all the perks of a new-model SUV, like an updated infotainment system, driver assistance features, and plenty of cargo space.

How to find car insurance for your city car

Whether you decide on the Toyota Corolla or spring for the BMW 2-Series, you want to make sure you keep your car functioning at optimum levels. The first way to do this is by staying on top of regular maintenance. Another crucial factor in taking care of your car is having reliable insurance coverage.

Just like your best commuter car,

car insurance

policies aren’t one-size-fits-all. When you use the

Jerry

app to shop for policies, you’ll get access to customized quotes in under a minute. Gone are the days of long forms and torturous phone calls—just download the app, answer a few questions, and receive the best quotes from over 50 top companies.

As a licensed broker, Jerry can sign you up for a new policy with zero hassle. Have questions along the way? Jerry agents are only a text away at all times. Excellent customer service isn’t the only reason Jerry is the No. 1-rated insurance app—users save an average of $887 per year on coverage!

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