BEST USED CITY CAR Skoda Citigo

OUR PICK 1.0 SE 60 5dr (2015, 65, 37k, £5,990)

SECOND-hand city slickers don’t come any better than the pint-sized Skoda Citigo. Combining grownup driving dynamics, penny-pinching running costs and surprising practicality, the Czech model should be your first choice if you’re looking for a compact machine.

The car’s popularity when new means there’s plenty of choice, and with prices starting from around £2,500, it won’t break the bank, either. There’s also a nippy all-electric version that can cover more than 100 miles on a charge.

But it’s the smooth and eager 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol that will suit most drivers. Available with either 59bhp or 74bhp, it can keep up with the flow of traffic, yet will happily return 50mpg even when worked hard. There’s also a slow-witted ASG automatic transmission option, but we’d stick with the light and precise five-speed manual.

As you’d expect, the car feels right at home in the urban jungle, where its dinky dimensions and light controls let it tackle the tightest streets and parking spots with ease. Yet the Citigo is equally happy on the open road. Through a series of corners, the grippy and agile handling makes it great fun, while a smooth ride and decent refinement mean long-haul trips are far more relaxing than you’d expect.

Any city car worth its salt has to cope with a busy family life, and the Skoda is no exception. There’s a choice of stylish three-door or versatile five-door bodystyles, while clever packaging means there’s comfortably enough room for four adults inside. Better still, the usefully shaped 250litre boot matches models from the class above for size.

Entry-level S versions feel a bit sparse, but SE models feature air-con and Bluetooth connectivity, while SE L and Elegance trims adds luxuries such as heated seats and nav. Buy a post-2017 facelift car and you’ll also get low-speed collision-avoidance kit. Factor in Skoda’s famed reliability and excellent customer care, and it’s easy to see why the Citigo is a sensational second-hand city car choice.

PRACTICALITY Citigo’s 250-litre boot is among the largest in the city-car class, while folding seats add to its flexibility

COMFORT Although the Skoda is strictly a four-seater, there is enough space for two adults to sit comfortably in the back