Living in the city is very different from living in a rural area. The more rugged terrain of rural areas requires different vehicles than the motorway-dominated cities. There are various pros and cons to both ways of living.
Choosing the right car to navigate your terrain can help you make sure that you keep any bills related to your car quite low. Having the wrong car can create more bills and expenses for you. For example, having a car that’s too big for most city parking spaces can result in lots of money lost on parking.
You may feel hesitant to buy a car to suit your needs in case it turns out to be a bad option. Fortunately, there’s a way to have use of the right car without committing to it for a few years. Leasing a car gives you the freedom and flexibility to try various cars and find the right one for your lifestyle. Visit Lease Loco and see more details on ideal cars to lease for urban living.
Size
One of the most important factors one should consider when picking a car for urban life is size. The size of the car is important for navigating the city. Smaller cars like hatchbacks and minis are the most ideal for urban living.
Their small size allows for better navigation in the city. Aside from motorways, the city is full of cars, other commuters, cyclists, public vehicles like buses as well as commercial vehicles. This means that there’s not a lot of space and it’s very busy. Smaller cars are easier to get around in these conditions.
They’re also easier to control when it comes to dealing with traffic and sudden stopping and starting. The one concern one might have when driving a smaller car, especially if they have a family, is the amount of space available in the car.
While hatchbacks are economical in size, they do generally come with a lot of space. They have four doors as well as a boot that’s big enough for taking trips.
Fuel Efficiency
Another important factor to consider is the fuel efficiency of the car. Smaller cars tend to have smaller engines and better fuel efficiency. Having a car with great fuel efficiency is a must for urban living.
It might seem like there’s lower fuel consumption in a city due to the city limits, but this may not be true. There are lower driving speeds, which does mean there’s less fuel consumption. At the same time, driving on motorways requires a lot of braking and accelerating from a standstill.
This can also affect fuel efficiency. So it’s best to have a car that already doesn’t require a lot of fuel. This way you can avoid spending too much money on the amount of fuel that you need to get around.
Fuel or Electric Vehicle
When discussing fuel efficiency, the kind of engine you choose should also be a consideration. You can get rid of the worries about fuel consumption by deciding to switch to an electric or hybrid car. These cars typically require less to run than traditional fuel/diesel cars.
Safety Features
As we’ve already mentioned, there are lots of things to worry about when driving in a city or urban area. There are lots of potential accidents when you’re considering other motorists, public commuters, commercial vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. Having a car that comes fully equipped with great security features can prevent any accidents.
Some of the best security features for the city and urban living are the following:
Front Collision Avoidance
This avoidance system uses frontal cameras to detect cyclists, pedestrians, and other cars. It then can apply the brakes and avoid collisions. Enabling the driver to avoid an immediate impact if it identifies that one might occur.
Blind Spot Collision Warning
This system alerts the driver when there are other vehicles in their blind spot. It uses cameras to detect the other vehicles in the blind spot and ensures the driver doesn’t change lanes.
Lane Follow Assist/Lane Keeping Assist
Lane assists systems make sure to keep the driver within their rightful lane. The Lane Follow Assist uses frontal cameras to automatically keep the car in the centre of the lane. It also keeps track of the positions of the other cars and adjusts itself accordingly.
The Lane Keeping Assist utilises frontal cameras to ensure that the car remains in its rightful lane. If the car starts to drift, the system will send notifications and counter steer to prevent the drifting.
Driver Attention Warning
This warning system detects indications that the driver is tired or starting to lose control of the car. Once it identifies these indications, it will notify the driver that it’s potentially time to take a break from driving. It allows the driver to know that they need to leave the road.
High Beam Assist
The high beam assist will automatically adjust the brightness of the headlights depending on vehicles that are ahead of the driver or oncoming.
Final Thoughts
Smaller cars are the answer when you’re trying to answer the question of which car is best for an urban lifestyle. Smaller cars make navigating the city easier and require less fuel to run. At the same time, you can find small four-door cars. Providing adequate space for a family while meeting the requirements for successfully navigating a city or urban landscape.