Gallery: Urban Runabouts
Peter Hetzmannseder01mini-cooper
Mini Cooper ----------- The longest and heaviest city car in the group, the [Mini Cooper](http://www.miniusa.com/#/MINIUSA.COM-m) ($20,400 base price) is also the most fun to drive. It's hard to say whether or not simply having the most powerful motor of the four cars is the biggest reason for the added fun factor, but even the basic Mini has relatively sporty handling to compliment the power. Nobody is going to mistake the two-door for a true sports car, or even anything along the lines of Subaru's WRX STi or the Mitsubishi Evo X. But there's enough performance there to put a smile on your face. Read More:[](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2012/10/ft-buying-advice-city-cars/) [Buying Advice: City Cars](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2012/10/ft-buying-advice-city-cars/)BMW drew upon the original Mini's rally-winning heritage and carried it forward to the new car. Tipping the scales at 2,525 pounds, the base model car is far from hefty, and with 121 horsepower it will satisfy most drivers' need for speed around town. Don't be fooled into thinking you can out accelerate even its base-model cousin [BMW 328i](http://www.bmwusa.com/standard/content/vehicles/2013/3/328isedan/default.aspx) off the line, but around town it will get you to the next corner with enough oomph to remind you of its racing birthright. Despite the history as a company that specializes in very small cars, Mini now races its larger, four-door Countryman in its most recent rally efforts during 2011 and 2012 (including a second place at the famed [Monte Carlo Rally](http://www.acm.mc/home.php)). Where the Mini shines in driving fun, it might be a bit less sunny compared to the other city cars when it comes to parking. It's no Suburban, but at a few inches over 12 feet, the Mini is more than three feet longer than the Smart Passion Coupe. You're still going to find lots of good parking spots, but with the Mini you are opting to pass a few spots on the side of the road in order to be able to pass a few cars while driving. [](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/fall-test)The Mini's size at the big end of the city cars also makes it the most practical for more than two people. Two adults can ride in the back seat, and won't even be all that uncomfortable for short jaunts. There's also a small trunk that can handle the usual daily shopping trips. There is the usual trip and car information directly in front of the driver, but unfortunately it's on a tiny display below the tachometer. Lots of real estate is dedicated to a massive center mounted analog speedometer, which dominates the dashboard. This must have been a design idea of somebody important, and nobody else on the interior design team was willing to speak up and say it's not a very practical idea. But the flaw doesn't spoil the fun of this sporty city car. __WIRED__ Best overall driving experience in our round-up. Room in the back seat for short friends or tall enemies. __TIRED__ Costs more money up front and more gallons per month than any other car here. More difficult to park because of the added length. Plastic-dominated interior feels like a much cheaper car. __Rating: 7 out of 10__
02fiat-500-sport
Fiat 500 Sport -------------- Like the Mini, the new [Fiat 500 Sport](http://www.fiatusa.com/en/2013/500/sport/) ($17,500 base price) builds on the legacy and nostalgia of a car that many Americans probably first noticed on a trip to Europe. The original *Cinquecento* introduced by Fiat in 1957 is a very small car, and you can't help but smile the first time you see one. The styling of the original is carried over for the new 500. Depending on whether that first smile was one of admiration or disbelief, the new 500 is going to be a car you'll either love or not love. That's because it's hard to really *hate* the 500, thanks to plenty of room up front, back seats that can carry adults if no other car is available, and enough trunk space for an overnight trip (for two, though probably not four). It's been a while since Fiat sold cars in the United States, and safe to say the company's last foray into the market didn't leave the best impression. The Italian brand was synonymous with "cars that did not work," and the name was also jokingly translated into several less-than-flattering acronyms. But now, Fiat is trying to wipe the slate clean with a new push into the North American market aimed at a younger audience that probably weren't alive -- let alone driving -- the last time the company sold a new car in the U.S. Today's Fiat is keeping it simple by only selling one model, the 500, though it comes in several different flavors. We drove the "Sport" model, which arrives with an upgraded handling package. Other options include a roll-down soft top, and the even sportier [Abarth](http://www.fiatusa.com/en/2013/abarth/) version that includes a turbo-charged engine and other performance enhancements from [the legendary Fiat tuner](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlo_Abarth). To shed the shady reliability record of years past, the 500s come with a [strong warranty](http://www.fiatusa.com/en/warranty/), and so far, the car has received good marks, though it hasn't been around very long. The 500 is not quite as big as the Mini, but does fall in the category of an actual four-seater. Though again, the back seats aren't for the tall or long road trips -- and definitely not both. The stock 1.4 liter four cylinder power plant puts out just 101 horsepower, so the car lacks the smile-inducing acceleration of the Mini. But what it lacks in power, it makes up for with handling. The light weight means both cornering and braking are well above average and more than good enough to bring out a grin. The lack of oomph from the engine does translate into good fuel economy, with freeway driving topping 40 miles per gallon. Inside, a painted dashboard keeps the interior clean and simple without looking cheap. The car has a purposeful simplicity to the interior that doesn't try to fake luxury. And a bonus: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named the Fiat 500 a "[Top Safety Pick](http://www.iihs.org/ratings/ratingsbyseries.aspx?id=732)" for 2012. __WIRED__ Sporty handling, thanks to a tuned suspension and 16-inch wheels. A four-year, 50,000-mile warranty should help ease fears based on Fiat's less-than-sterling reputation for reliability. __TIRED__ Good handling comes at a price -- your back pays for it over even the smallest pothole. __Rating: 7 out of 10__
Iver Hansen03smart-passion-coupe
Smart Passion Coupe ------------------- As the original modern micro-car, [Smart](http://www.smartusa.com/models/passion-coupe/overview.aspx) ($14,890 base price) keeps the title as the smallest. The one-liter engine is smaller than those in many motorcycles, and at 106 inches in length, it can park in many of the same spots. Like the iQ, the highlights begin and end with the ability to park just about anywhere, even perpendicular to the curb if necessary. Unlike the iQ, the Passion Coupe stays honest by admitting that there's only room for two seats. The car does feature a small rear cargo area in the back for the quick run to the corner store, but only if you're carrying a basket and not pushing a cart. It is definitely not suited for trips to Costco. The interior is similar to the iQ, with plenty of plastic in a relatively simple, clean layout. The size of the interior is surprising. With just two seats, the engineers managed to let the driver and passenger enjoy just about every inch available. The car has the head and legroom of much larger vehicles, even the Suburban. It's sort of like Smart took the front two seats of a big car and wrapped a body around them, added four wheels and an engine, and called it a car. Despite the room, it's still not as comfortable to drive as the bigger cars. The short wheelbase is great for making U-turns on a two-lane road. But it can be a bit bumpy on anything less than a nice smooth, two-lane road. Even the breaks in the concrete on the interstate can cause the car to move a bit more than you would like. Far from a roadtripmobile, the Smart will likely wear you out on longer journeys. Unfortunately, driving it around town (where its small size is an advantage) you have to suffer through Smart's "automated manual" transmission. If you're relaxed in the driver's seat, your head actually moves back and forth every time the clunky transmission shifts gears. You will quickly be wishing for your own clutch to smooth things out. With Mercedes Benz as its parent, the Smart scores remarkably well in safety tests. Passengers are wrapped in a protective cocoon of a frame designed for safety and protected by airbags. Sitting inside, you have an expansive view of your surroundings. But you do notice that most of the view is the surroundings and not the rest of the car. There isn't a whole lot more to it than what you see from the inside. __WIRED__ Fits into parking spots you didn't even know were parking spots. __TIRED__ Two seats and that's it. Transmission feels like you're teaching your 16-year-old nephew how to drive a stick -- except your nephew would eventually get better. __Rating: 5 out of 10__
04scion-iq
Scion iQ -------- The [Scion iQ](http://www.scion.com/cars/iQ/) ($15,265 base price) is more of a direct competitor to the Smart car than it is a challenger to the Mini or the Fiat. It's a true micro-city car (just a fraction over 10 feet) with the ability to turn any small gap into a parking spot. It lacks any of the performance of the two larger cars in our round-up, and the only time you're likely to break out into a smile while driving it is when you squeeze it into a parking space usually left to motorcycles. Driving the iQ takes a bit of getting used to -- not because it's tricky, but because it's noticeably bland. Step on the gas pedal and there's an odd feeling as the engine revs up to around 4,500 rpm and then just sort of stays there. The constant-velocity transmission allows you to drive around town without feeling gear changes. It's not silky smooth, or quick, just different. Driving the iQ is uninspiring, and for a car so small, it manages only 37 miles per gallon on the freeway. The only upside to the efficiency is that it drops to only 36 in the city. Still, there are mid-size American cars that average close to the same (even better on the freeway). Despite it's micro-sized exterior, the iQ is reasonably roomy inside. At least it's nice and spacious around the front seats. A rear window airbag does imply Scion intended passengers to ride in the back seat(s), and maybe a gold-medal-winning gymnast would be OK. But no normal-sized person is going to volunteer to sit back there, especially if they have to shoehorn in with another human. The interior features a fair amount of plastic and lacks the style of both the Mini and the Fiat, though the controls are laid out in a straight-forward, utilitarian manner that keeps things simple. Scion does provide a few options for customizing the stereo, and it offers a few highlight colors to appeal to a younger generation that wants to put their own touches on their car. But nobody is likely to buy this car to make a statement -- other than they drive a very small car. __WIRED__ Feels like a normal car from the driver's seat. Parks in half the space. City and highway mileage numbers are basically the same. __TIRED__ With only 94 hp hooked up to that constant-velocity transmission, you won't be passing anybody. Ever. __Rating: 6 out of 10__
