Cars.com Names Top Cars for City Drivers
October 02 2007 - 2:22PM
PR Newswire (US)
CHICAGO, Oct. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Living in the city means having
some additional things to consider when purchasing a new car. While
size is certainly an issue, city living presents other challenges
as well. In compiling a list of the best cars for city dwellers,
Cars.com's automotive experts considered size, performance, ride
quality and cabin comfort. They also looked at helpful features
like parking sensors and backup cameras, and analyzed turning
circles and stop-and-go gas mileage. "There is a reason why
insurance premiums are higher for city dwellers," said Cars.com
managing editor Patrick Olsen. "Parking on city streets, driving on
less-than-perfect roads and navigating through traffic can be a
risky proposition. However, with the right car, city driving can be
a little more enjoyable." From a range of body styles, here are the
cars that impressed the Cars.com experts most: The Ultimate Urban
Car 2007 Mini Cooper - It didn't take long to decide on the
ultimate urban car: At just more than 12 feet long, the Mini Cooper
was the shortest car in contention. Add in a reasonably tight
turning circle, and the Cooper can take parking spaces everyone
else passes up. For good measure, Mini also offers parking sensors
for the rear bumper. The Cooper is the ultimate car for what it
gives, as well as for what it doesn't give up. Despite its size,
the cabin can seat four adults and is outfitted with six airbags,
and the hatch design and folding backseat provide a surprisingly
roomy cargo space. Front-wheel drive and traction control mean
winter driving in this stylish car is no problem. The pricier S
model gives excellent power and braking on city streets, and you
can even get a convertible version. -- Length: 145.6 inches --
Turning circle: 35.1 feet -- Seats: 4 -- City MPG*: 26 - 27
(premium gas) Other Worthy Contenders 2008 BMW 328i wagon - The
latest generation of BMW's venerable 3 Series is arguably its best
yet. Once radical in the styling department, its sharp edges have
become the norm in today's modern urban design. A much faster
twin-turbo engine is available in the 335i, but the wagon -- which
packs 35 percent more cargo room than the sedan without incurring
any extra length -- comes only in the 328i. Plus, it has all those
BMW attributes at a price that's easier to digest. The steering may
be a bit heavy for some, but that's the tradeoff for owning an
"ultimate driving machine" in the city. -- Length: 178.2 inches --
Turning circle: 36.0 feet -- Seats: 5 -- City MPG: 17 - 18 (premium
gas) 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid - City dwellers know what a nightmare
traffic can be. Ford's Escape Hybrid brings a little relief to city
air quality thanks to its low CO2 emissions -- and it offers a
break for your wallet, too. According to the EPA, the Escape Hybrid
is the most efficient SUV on the market. Besides the fact that the
gas engine automatically turns off when stopped -- so you don't
have to waste precious fuel in rush hour -- the hybrid can also
cruise in near-silence on electric power at slow speeds. Now
there's a surefire way to impress your friends. -- Length: 174.7
inches -- Turning circle: 36.7 feet -- Seats: 5 -- City MPG: 29 -
34 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid - Even though Honda's futuristically
styled Civic Hybrid looks much like the mainstream Civic, it has
lower emissions and uses a lot less fuel. A small turning circle
means enhanced maneuverability in tight spots, and the optional
navigation system has more than 7 million points of interest, so
you'll be sure to find that new tapas restaurant or blues lounge
you're looking for. Stellar crash-test scores for front, side and
rear impacts are also reassuring and set the Civic apart from most
of its competitors. An impeccably finished cabin adds to the car's
appeal. -- Length: 176.7 inches -- Turning circle: 34.8 feet --
Seats: 5 -- City MPG*: 40 2008 Honda CR-V - What the SUV lacks in
turning radius and seating flexibility -- folding the second row is
a real drag -- it makes up for in features, with sturdy plastic
bumpers and a cargo-area storage shelf on which you can stack 20
pounds of groceries. Gas mileage is respectable for an SUV, and the
ride is comfortable enough for bumpy streets. The large rear window
makes for good visibility, and an optional backup camera means you
can ace that back-alley parking. -- Length: 178.0 inches -- Turning
circle: 37.8 feet -- Seats: 5 -- City MPG: 19 - 20 2008 Honda Fit -
Pay a slight premium for the Honda nameplate, and you get a
friendly-looking hatchback that's a cut above most economy cars.
The Fit has just enough zip for stop-and-go duties, and gas mileage
is predictably thrifty given that the car weighs just three-fourths
of a Toyota Camry. It's small enough to squeeze between garbage
trucks and buses, and its tall windows and large mirrors take the
guesswork out of tight maneuvers. The front and rear seats can fold
flat for extra cargo space. -- Length: 157.4 inches -- Turning
circle: 34.3 feet -- Seats: 5 -- City MPG: 27 - 28 2008 Land Rover
LR2 - If you want an SUV to use in the city, you'll be best off
with a small one. Most premium and luxury SUVs are larger, but
there are a few that qualify as compact. The best choice for
tackling city life is the handsome Land Rover LR2. For ease in
maneuvering and parking, it's shorter from bumper to bumper than
the Acura RDX and BMW X3, and it has a tighter turning circle. Even
so, its headroom and front-seat legroom are better than either
competitor. Standard parking sensors on the rear bumper and
optional approach and puddle lights are also great to have. --
Length: 177.1 inches -- Turning circle: 37.1 feet -- Seats: 5 --
City MPG: 16 (premium gas) 2008 Mazda5 - There aren't many minivans
that scream "city-friendly," but the Mazda5 takes the family-hauler
concept and shrinks it to a manageable size that still has room for
six. The 2008 model has a fresh look but retains its distinct
Japanese edginess. Even though it's 20 inches shorter than a Honda
Odyssey, the Mazda5 is still substantial, coming in at almost
exactly the same length as a Toyota RAV4. Steering is sharp for
tight parking maneuvers, and the ride is relatively smooth. --
Length: 181.5 inches -- Turning circle: 34.8 feet -- Seats: 6 --
City MPG: 19 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata - The Mazda MX-5 Miata isn't the
shortest car on our list, but it has the smallest turning circle --
4 feet tighter than the Mini's. This makes it most adept at hanging
U-turns, and its nose swings sharply into parallel parking spaces,
which are easy to navigate when the top is down. It slips through
congestion where most cars are gridlocked. Unfortunately, when the
weather turns bad, so does the Miata's viability as a city car:
Top-up visibility and rear-wheel drive aren't great, and potholes
start to look (and feel) mighty big. -- Length: 157.3 inches --
Turning circle: 30.8 feet -- Seats: 2 -- City MPG: 20 - 22 (premium
gas) 2008 Scion xB - If you're looking for an affordable car that
sets you apart from the crowd, Scion's xB is an easy way to go. The
xB delivers on the promise of its boxy shape by offering loads of
cargo room in a compact package -- up to 69.9 cubic feet -- which
makes it ideal for carting your belongings around. Engaging
steering response and the tight turning radius are a boon for
narrow streets, too. -- Length: 167.3 inches -- Turning circle:
34.8 feet -- Seats: 5 -- City MPG: 22 About Cars.com Cars.com is
the most comprehensive destination for those looking to buy or sell
a new or used car. The site lists more than 2 million vehicles from
13,000 dealer customers, classified advertisers and private parties
to offer the more than 8 million unique visitors who log on to the
site each month the best selection of new and used cars online, as
well as the content, tools and advice to support their shopping
experience. Cars.com combines powerful inventory search tools and
new-car configuration with pricing information, photo galleries,
buying guides, side-by-side comparison tools, original editorial
content and reviews to help millions of car shoppers connect with
sellers each month. Launched in June 1998, Cars.com is a division
of Classified Ventures, LLC, (http://classifiedventures.com/),
which is owned by leading media companies, including Belo
(NYSE:BLC), Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE:GCI), The McClatchy Company
(NYSE:MNI), Tribune Company (NYSE:TRB) and The Washington Post
Company (NYSE:WPO). DATASOURCE: Cars.com CONTACT: Jackie Brennan,
Public Relations Specialist, +1-312-601-6229, mobile,
+1-219-577-6106, , or Steve Nolan, Public Relations Manager,
+1-312-601-5163, mobile, +1-630-310-2468, , both of Cars.com Web
site: http://www.cars.com/ http://classifiedventures.com/
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