The UK's Narrowest Cars 2026

Let's be honest, driving in the UK can be a bit of a squeeze. Our towns and cities weren't designed for the wide, bulky SUVs that now fill our roads. Between navigating tight Victorian streets, squeezing past parked cars, and trying to fit into ever-shrinking parking bays, a smaller car starts to look like a very sensible idea. Indeed, a narrow car isn't just easier to thread through traffic; it opens up a world of parking spots that others have to pass by.

But choosing a narrow car doesn't mean you have to settle for something basic or boring. The market is packed with clever, characterful, and surprisingly practical options. From quirky electric quadricycles designed purely for the city to versatile superminis that feel like they have a Tardis for an interior, there’s a narrow car to suit almost any need. Whether you want funky styling, rock-bottom running costs, or the practicality to handle the weekly shop with ease, our guide will help you find the perfect fit.

The cars in this guide have been selected to represent the best options currently available. Our recommendations are the result of a unique three-part scoring system that takes into account real-world tests from our team of expert reviewers, ratings from real-life owners who live with these cars every day, and an analysis of market data from CarGurus UK to identify which models offer the highest percentage of good and great deals. This combined approach ensures our list highlights cars that are not only great to own but also good value to buy.

The UK's Narrowest Cars 2026

1. Hyundai i10 (1,680mm)
2. Fiat 500e (1,683mm)
3. Honda Jazz (1,694mm)
4. Kia Picanto (1,595mm)
5. Fiat 500 (1,627mm)
6. Suzuki Ignis (1,690mm)
7. Hyundai Inster (1,610mm)
8. Leapmotor T03 (1,627mm)
9. Citroen Ami (1,390mm)

1. 2026 Hyundai i10 (1,680mm wide)

CarGurus expert rating: 5 out of 5
CarGurus user rating: 4.7 out of 5
Percentage of good/great deals available on CarGurus: 29.8%
Overall CarGurus rating: 4.5 out of 5
Width: 1,680mm

The Hyundai i10 is a real gem in the city car class, offering a fantastic package for those who spend their time on tight urban streets. Its narrow body is a huge advantage for slicing through traffic and grabbing those elusive parking spots. But despite its small price and size, the i10 feels robustly built and thoughtfully designed inside. Great visibility and simple, easy-to-use controls prove that you don’t have to sacrifice quality just because you’re downsizing.

While it’s narrow on the outside, the i10 is surprisingly roomy on the inside. It’s a five-door only, and there’s enough space in the back for two adults to sit comfortably – a rare treat in this class. The 252-litre boot is very usable, too. For power, the 1.2-litre petrol engine offers a great blend of performance and economy for town and motorway driving. Although now discontinued, if you fancy a bit more fun, the sporty N Line trim gets a 99bhp turbocharged engine that provides surprisingly lively performance.

The CarGurus Verdict: "This generation of i10 is one of the best small cars around, and sets a benchmark for others to follow. It’s smart, economical and well-equipped, and on top of that it’s comfortable, practical and good to drive, with a great reputation for reliability." - Alex Robbins, senior car reviewer

Read our full Hyundai i10 review

2. 2026 Fiat 500e (1,683mm wide)

CarGurus expert rating: 4 out of 5
CarGurus user rating: 4.8 out of 5
Percentage of good/great deals available on CarGurus: 38.9%
Overall CarGurus rating: 4.4 out of 5
Width: 1,683mm

The electric Fiat 500e takes everything we love about the 500 – the style, the charm, the city-friendly size – and gives it a thoroughly modern twist. It’s nippy and agile, making it a joy to pilot through traffic, while its light steering makes parking a breeze. You can choose from two versions: a base model with a 23.8kWh battery or a more powerful version with a 42kWh battery and more poke. Both offer that instant response you only get from an electric motor, making the 500e feel cheerful and much more grown-up to drive than its petrol sibling.

Of course, its narrow frame means the back seats are still cramped and the 185-litre boot is small. But the 500e counters this with a cabin that feels genuinely premium. The interior is smart and modern, the driving position is much improved, and it’s packed with tech, including a slick 10.25-inch infotainment screen on most models. For drivers who want a narrow car without sacrificing style or features, the 500e is a brilliant choice.

The CarGurus Verdict: "The Fiat 500e is a fantastic small EV, a car that you can buy with your head as much as your heart. It’s relatively affordable, great to drive around town, and now up there with the best rivals when it comes to infotainment." - Chris Knapman, editorial director

Read our full Fiat 500e review

3. 2026 Honda Jazz (1,694mm wide)

CarGurus expert rating: 4 out of 5
CarGurus user rating: 4.3 out of 5
Percentage of good/great deals available on CarGurus: 34.1%
Overall CarGurus rating: 4.4 out of 5
Width: 1,694mm

The Honda Jazz is a master of illusion, packing the practicality of an MPV into the small footprint of a supermini. Its tall, upright stance makes it incredibly space-efficient, but it’s the narrow body that makes it a true hero of the city. Fantastic visibility from the big windows and slim front pillars makes parking and navigating congested roads completely stress-free. It’s a unique blend of easy manoeuvrability and a Tardis-like sense of space.

Inside, the Jazz’s party trick is its famous 'Magic Seats'. The rear seats don't just fold flat; they also flip up like cinema seats, creating a tall load space in the middle of the car that’s perfect for awkward items. The boot itself is a generous 304 litres, too. All this remarkable practicality is packed into a narrow, user-friendly hybrid package, making the Jazz one of the most versatile and clever small cars you can buy.

The CarGurus Verdict: "The Honda Jazz makes no bones about the fact it puts practicality first. What matters more is its roomy interior, and its clever seating." - Alex Robbins, senior car reviewer

Read our full Honda Jazz review

4. 2026 Kia Picanto (1,595mm wide)

CarGurus expert rating: 4 out of 5
CarGurus user rating: 4.1 out of 5
Percentage of good/great deals available on CarGurus: 29.4%
Overall CarGurus rating: 4.3 out of 5
Width: 1,595mm

The Kia Picanto is a perfect example of how a narrow car doesn't have to mean a compromised car. Its compact size makes it a natural for tight city streets, but step inside and you’ll be surprised by how spacious and solid it feels. Adults can sit in the back without too much complaint, and its 255-litre boot is one of the biggest you’ll find in any city car, growing to a massive 1,010 litres when you fold the seats down. This blend of a slender profile and impressive practicality makes the Picanto a brilliant all-rounder for urban life.

Driving the Picanto is as easy as you’d hope. The steering is light, making parking a doddle, but it still feels composed and confident when you head out of town. While the standard 67bhp 1.0-litre engine is fine for city pottering, we’d recommend the discontinued 83bhp 1.25-litre version. It gives you that extra bit of punch for motorway trips without feeling strained. It’s an enjoyable and capable small car that proves you can have it all in a pint-sized package.

The CarGurus Verdict: "Kia has put together a cracking small car in this latest Picanto, and it ticks plenty of boxes for customers. We’d avoid the entry-level models, but go for a 3 trim or higher and you’ll have a well-equipped and comfortable supermini that drives well and looks good, too." - Chris Knapman, editorial director

Read our full Kia Picanto review

5. 2008-2020 Fiat 500 (1,627mm wide)

CarGurus expert rating: 3 out of 5
CarGurus user rating: 4.8 out of 5
Percentage of good/great deals available on CarGurus: 38.9%
Overall CarGurus rating: 4.2 out of 5
Width: 1,627mm

The Fiat 500 is a modern design icon, and its success is all down to its irresistible retro charm. Its chic design and tiny size make it a perfect companion for city living, allowing you to zip through traffic and nab parking spots others can only dream of. Let’s be clear, this isn’t a practical car – the back seats are tight and the boot is a tiny 185 litres. But that’s not the point. The 500 is a car you buy with your heart, choosing style and personality over outright space.

In its natural habitat, the city, the 500 is a hoot to drive. Its light steering and agile feel make it eager to dart through traffic. The most characterful engine is the 900cc two-cylinder TwinAir petrol, which has a unique thrum and plenty of poke for town driving. It gets a bit noisy on the motorway, but for sheer fun and style as a narrow urban runaround, the Fiat 500 is hard to beat.

The CarGurus Verdict: "If you’re a sucker for the Fiat 500’s looks then nothing much is going to put you off it. And frankly none of its deficiencies are so great as to affect your decision." - Brett Fraser, contributor

Read our full Fiat 500 review

6. 2017-2025 Suzuki Ignis (1,690mm wide)

CarGurus expert rating: 3 out of 5
CarGurus user rating: 4.4 out of 5
Percentage of good/great deals available on CarGurus: 35.1%
Overall CarGurus rating: 4.1 out of 5
Width: 1,690mm

Don’t be fooled by its chunky SUV styling; the Suzuki Ignis is a tiny car in disguise. It’s shorter than a MINI and almost as narrow as a VW Up, making it a master of Britain’s tight towns and cities. But here’s the clever bit: because the Ignis is tall, it offers enough room inside for four adults to sit comfortably. Higher-spec models even come with sliding rear seats, allowing you to choose between more legroom or a bigger boot. It’s a brilliant piece of packaging.

The Ignis feels most at home in the city, where its peppy 1.2-litre petrol engine and dinky dimensions shine. Nipping through traffic is a joy, and parking is a cinch thanks to its narrow body and fantastic visibility. The ride can be a bit bouncy, but that’s a small price to pay for a car that’s so easy to thread through tight streets. The boot is a reasonable 260 litres, though this does shrink if you opt for the Allgrip four-wheel-drive version.

The CarGurus Verdict: "This is a car with immense character, and that means you find yourself looking past the flaws and instead enjoying the cute looks, perky engine and dinky dimensions. If you’re after a fun, town-friendly car that’s a little left-field, then the Ignis is worth a look." - Alex Robbins, senior car reviewer

Read our full Suzuki Ignis review

7. 2026 Hyundai Inster (1,610mm wide)

CarGurus expert rating: 4 out of 5
Percentage of good/great deals available on CarGurus: 18.2%
Overall CarGurus rating: 3.8 out of 5
Width: 1,610mm

Say hello to the Hyundai Inster, a new small electric car that’s big on clever ideas. Its narrow body makes it a perfect fit for UK roads, giving it an edge over rivals like the Renault 5 when it comes to manoeuvrability. But this isn’t just a city car. With a choice of two batteries, you can have a range of up to 229 miles, which is more than enough for the occasional long-distance trip. It’s a small car with big ambitions.

In town, the Inster is a gem. It’s nimble, light on its feet, and a doddle to park. The electric motor gives you more than enough zip for urban traffic. But the real magic is inside. Despite its small size, the Inster is incredibly versatile, with rear seats that slide and fold completely flat. You can even fold the front seat down to carry long items. The boot is a decent size at 351 litres, too, proving that this narrow car is a masterclass in smart packaging.

The CarGurus Verdict: "The Hyundai Inster might not be the cheapest of the cheap electric cars (you definitely are paying for the versatile interior, funky styling and big-car tech), but it still makes a very strong case for itself. It’s a clever, comfortable and characterful little EV that’s properly usable and genuinely fun to drive." - Vicky Parrott, contributing editor

Read our full Hyundai Inster review

8. 2026 Leapmotor T03 (1,627mm wide)

CarGurus expert rating: 3 out of 5
Percentage of good/great deals available on CarGurus: 26.7%
Overall CarGurus rating: 3.7 out of 5
Width: 1,627mm

The Leapmotor T03 is all about budget-friendly city driving. Its main selling point is its tiny size. At just 3.6 metres long, it’s exceptionally easy to pilot through congested streets and squeeze into parking spots that even other small cars would struggle with. Its narrowness makes it feel more nimble in town than slightly larger rivals, and the 94bhp electric motor provides enough pep for the urban crawl. It’s a dedicated city runabout, and it does that job well.

Of course, a car this small and cheap comes with compromises. It’s a strict four-seater, and the boot is a tiny 210 litres with a narrow opening that limits what you can carry. Inside, the equipment level is surprisingly generous for the price, but the driving position feels a bit awkward because the steering wheel only adjusts for height. You’ll never forget you’re in a budget car, but if a narrow footprint and low running costs are your absolute top priorities, the T03 is worth a look.

The CarGurus Verdict: "Being so narrow, it’s great in town, yet it feels a bit more substantial and confident than the Dacia Spring. You know it’s cheap, and you’ll never forget that it’s cheap, which is one reason why we’d favour a really good used EV over the T03 or the Dacia Spring." - Vicky Parrott, contributing editor

Read our full Leapmotor T03 review

9. 2026 Citroen Ami (1,390mm wide)

CarGurus expert rating: 2 out of 5
Percentage of good/great deals available on CarGurus: 0.0%
Overall CarGurus rating: 3.3 out of 5
Width: 1,390mm

Is it a car? Not quite. The Citroen Ami is technically a quadricycle, and that’s its superpower in the city. At just 1.4 metres wide, it’s one of the skinniest vehicles on the road, meaning it can wiggle through gaps in traffic that would stop a normal car in its tracks. With a tiny turning circle and a top speed of 28mph, it’s been built with one job in mind: conquering the concrete jungle. As a zero-emission electric vehicle, it’s also exempt from the London Congestion Charge, making it a ridiculously cheap way to get around the capital.

Don’t expect much in the way of luxury, though. The Ami is a strict two-seater with no boot to speak of – your shopping goes in a 63-litre void behind the passenger seat or a 64-litre cubby in the passenger footwell. The 8bhp motor is just enough to keep up with city traffic, and while its left-hand-drive setup might sound odd, its narrowness and brilliant visibility mean you’ll hardly notice. It’s a basic, functional, and charmingly unique machine designed as the ultimate urban mobility tool.

The CarGurus Verdict: "The Ami is a vehicle that oozes charm and originality. But it’s not one you’d necessarily want to own. As such, we can only recommend it in any capacity to prospective buyers who are fully aware of its incredibly narrow remit." - Chris Knapman, editorial director

Read our full Citroen Ami review

FAQs

What is the narrowest car for sale in the UK?
The Citroen Ami is technically the narrowest vehicle on our list. However, as it's a quadricycle, the narrowest true 'car' is often a city car like the Kia Picanto or Hyundai i10, which are designed specifically for tight urban environments.

What are the main benefits of owning a narrow car?
The primary benefits are easier navigation through congested city streets and the ability to fit into tight parking spaces that larger cars can't use. They also tend to have lower running costs, including better fuel economy and often cheaper insurance.

Are there any good electric narrow cars?
Yes, the choice is growing. The Fiat 500e offers fantastic style and a premium feel, while newcomers like the Hyundai Inster and Leapmotor T03 provide budget-friendly electric options designed for the city.

Which narrow car is the most practical?
The Honda Jazz is widely regarded as the most practical small car, thanks to its incredibly versatile 'Magic Seats' and spacious interior. The Hyundai i10 and Kia Picanto also offer surprising practicality for their size, with usable rear seats and some of the largest boots in their class.

Are narrow cars safe?
All new cars sold in the UK must meet strict safety standards. While smaller, lighter cars can behave differently in a collision compared to larger vehicles, modern narrow cars are equipped with advanced safety features like multiple airbags, stability control, and autonomous emergency braking. It's always a good idea to check a car's specific Euro NCAP safety rating.

Can a narrow car be used for long journeys?
While most narrow cars are designed for city driving, many are perfectly capable of handling occasional motorway trips. Models like the Hyundai i10, Kia Picanto, and Honda Jazz are comfortable and stable enough at higher speeds, although cars with smaller engines may feel a bit strained.

What Makes CarGurus Best Cars Guides Different?


Most car buying websites publish lists of the best cars across a variety of categories, with recommendations generally driven by editorial expertise. Here's what makes our best cars guides different: we combine the insights and verdicts of our team of car-testing experts with other factors that we know matter to buyers - real owner experiences and current market value.

To that end, our expert reviewers come from some of the UK's most trusted automotive publications including What Car?, The Telegraph, Auto Trader, Electrifying.com, and Carbuyer. They put each car through real-world testing, and create detailed reviews noting performance in a range of categories, from practicality and driving manners, to running costs and reliability.


But we don't stop there when it comes to creating our best cars guides; we also analyse hundreds of thousands of used car listings on CarGurus UK to track which models consistently offer the highest percentage of best deals relative to how many are listed for sale. Then we factor in user reviews and ratings gathered on CarGurus to get feedback from people who actually live with these cars every day. Our best cars algorithm then creates a final Overall CarGurus rating that combines expert ratings, user reviews, and the percentage of listings on CarGurus UK rated as good or great deals. This three-way approach reveals not just which cars excel on paper, but which ones deliver satisfaction and value when you're ready to buy.

The CarGurus UK market data in this guide was last updated in January 2026. Values were accurate at time of publication and should be used as a guide only.

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