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Twenties: 20 city cars to choose from to speed up post-pandemic mobility
As the global economy gradually returns to its pre-pandemic state, city cars are also regaining their appeal and these are some of the best city cars in the market.
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'Twenties' is a new column in which we offer our top 20 list of anything and everything of interest, from food and history to pop culture and lifestyle — and more.
As the global economy gradually returns to its pre-pandemic state, city cars are also regaining their appeal. While the notion that city cars are cramped is not completely uncalled for, they are also relatively cheap, compact and usually make great first cars. Plus, they are fuel-efficient, making them the perfect partner for your daily commute in this recovering world.
With that in mind, these are some of the best city cars in the market.
1. Honda City Hatchback (2021)
Coming in with a sporty design, the Honda City hatchback is armed with a four-cylinder 1.5-liter engine that comes with a dual overhead camshaft (DOHC) and intelligent variable valve timing and lift electronic control (i-VTEC) technology. The model comes in six colors: phoenix orange pearl, rallye red, crystal black pearl, meteoroid gray metallic, lunar silver metallic and platinum white pearl.
The giant Japanese automotive brand provides three versions of the hatchback for the Indonesian market. The manual version comes in at Rp 336 million (US$23,100), the CVT version at Rp 343 million and the top of the three, the RS CVT, at Rp 362 million.
2. Honda Brio (2021)
Equipped with a four-cylinder 1.2-liter i-VTEC engine, the 2021 Honda Brio has four versions. The first two have the same manual transmission, but the M/T Urbanite Edition is tagged at Rp 185 million, as opposed to the standard M/T's Rp 178 million price tag.
The other two are named CVT and are both automatic. The Urbanite Edition is a bit pricier, coming in at Rp 200 million, while the standard CVT costs Rp 192 million.
3. Volkswagen Polo (2019)
The 2019 Volkswagen Polo is the fifth generation rebadged version of the Audi 50, and it comes with features and a performance that are fair for its price. The car has a four-cylinder 1.2-liter TSI turbocharged engine that can produce 105 horsepower at will.
The model comes in two variants. The first one is the TSI, which is priced at Rp 315 million, and the other is the VRS, which costs Rp 342 million. Bear in mind that as the Polo is the second most expensive car on the list, like most European city cars in the country, it isn't fantastic in terms of resale value. Plus, while the Polo is a relatively durable car, general spare part availability should also be considered before purchasing.
4. Suzuki Ignis (2020)
Although not that apparent, Ignis is Suzuki's take on Fiat Panda. The 2020 Ignis comes in four variants: the GL MT, GL AGS, GX MT and GX AGS.
Those variants have both transmissions buyers can choose from. A brand-new Ignis costs between Rp 175 million and Rp 204 million.
5. Mazda 2 (2022)
The latest Mazda 2 was released in the second half of 2019, and the compact hatchback comes with a sporty and athletic design. It can be said that the Mazda 2 is a more exclusive choice from its class as it comes in at a higher price.
The automatic five-seater comes in two versions, R and GT, at the price tag of Rp 289 million and Rp 308 million, respectively.
6. Kia Picanto (2022)
Despite its tiny size, the 2022 Picanto packs quite a punch. Kia released the first generation of Picanto at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show, and the car has been exclusively produced in Seosan, South Korea, ever since.
The Korean manufacturer released a new version of the Picanto in 2021, and it has two different variants. The first one is the manual transmission, which is sold at Rp 220 million, and the other is automatic, which is a bit more expensive at Rp 236 million.
7. Toyota Etios Valco (2013-2017)
Toyota unexpectedly decided to stop the production of Etios Valco in 2017 due to declining sales, four years after the model's introduction. However, one should not interpret the short lifespan as the quality of the car itself, as Etios Valco is a decent city car.
Because production has ceased, buying secondhand is the only way to get your hands on the car. The market price for a used Etios Valcos is somewhat reasonable, ranging from Rp 151 million to Rp 178 million.
8. Toyota Agya (2021)
Known for its dependability, it's hardly a wonder that the Toyota Agya is one of the best-selling city cars in the country. The car was first introduced at the Indonesia International Motor Show in 2012 and released to the market one year later, in September 2013. The 2021 version is produced in Toyota's factory in Karawang, West Java.
Buyers can choose from two different engine variants for the 2021 Toyota Agya. The first one is the 1.0 liter, which is priced at Rp 144 million, and the second is the 1.2 liter. The 1.2 liter has four different versions and is priced within the range of Rp 149 million to Rp 170 million.
9. Datsun Go (2019)
First released in 2014. Datsun Go is one of the best low-cost green cars (LCGC) in the Indonesian market. As the initial model did exceedingly well sales-wise, Datsun decided to give Datsun Go a facelift in 2019.
Coming in nine different versions, the 2019 Datsun Go is reasonably priced in the range of Rp 112 million to Rp 160 million.
10. Daihatsu Ayla (2020)
First introduced in Gaikindo's Indonesia International Motor Show 2012 with a hatchback version released to the market in September 2013, Daihatsu Ayla is another Japanese-manufactured car that made it into the "best-selling cars in Indonesia" list.
Since its release in 2012, the car has received two facelifts. The newest version was released in 2020 with two engine options (1.0 and 1.2 liters) and 16 variants. They cost between Rp 103 million and Rp161 million.
11. Suzuki Karimun Wagon R (2019-2020)
The Suzuki Karimun has a long history in Indonesia. The current (third) generation was adapted from the Indian Maruti Wagon R, which in turn was based on the fourth-generation Japanese Suzuki Wagon R.
Coming to the market with a 1.0-liter engine, the Karimun Wagon R is one of the cheapest LCGCs in the market at present. The 2019 and 2020 variants are priced between Rp 122 million and Rp 152 million.
12. Suzuki Splash (2010)
The Suzuki Splash was first introduced in 2008 and launched in late 2009. While the car itself has no performance issues and is known for its terrific fuel consumption, its looks aren't exactly favored, which might explain why it didn't do well sales-wise. Not to mention that the Splash typically suffers the most in terms of resale value among all the cars on this list.
Its failure in the market prompted Suzuki to stop production in 2014, which means the Splash is only available used. The upside is, due to the car's terrible resale value, one can purchase a Splash at a genuinely reasonable price, making it an excellent choice for a first car for the budget-conscious. Presently, prices start at around Rp 70 million.
13. Honda Jazz (2020)
The Honda Jazz was once one of the most popular cars in Indonesia and is still one of the best city cars in the market. First introduced in 2001, the model has received four facelifts since.
Honda offers four variants of their latest Honda Jazz in the Indonesian market. They are the MT priced at Rp 255 million, the CVT at Rp 265 million, the RS MT at Rp 288 million and the RS CVT at Rp 298 million.
14. Suzuki Swift (2022)
Originally a rebadge of the 1983 Suzuki Cultus, the 2003 Suzuki Swift went on to be known as one of the pioneers of hatchback city cars in the Indonesian market. Due to its general international popularity, particularly in India, Suzuki recently released a new version of the model, which is armed with the same 1.2-liter engine the Ignis has.
The Japanese manufacturer has not announced when the new Swift will be coming to Indonesia. Price-wise, it is predicted to hit the local market at Rp 213 million to Rp 226 million.
15. Hyundai Grand i10 (2019)
First introduced to the Indonesian market in 2009, the Hyundai Grand i10 was meant to be a replacement for the Hyundai Atoz to compete in the local city car segment. The Hyundai Grand i10's 1.2-liter engine can pump out a modest 86 horsepower at will.
The Korean manufacturer offers two different variants, the GLX MT and X AT, which are priced at Rp 184 million and Rp 211 million, respectively.
16. Hyundai i20 (2022)
The five-speed Hyundai i20 comes with a sporty design, featuring a four-cylinder 1.2-liter DOHC engine and 118 brake horsepower. It is the first hatchback that comes with a diesel engine option. However, it has not been announced whether the diesel version will be available when it is scheduled to launch in Indonesia in May this year.
The all-new model comes in both transmissions and is available in the gasoline or hybrid variant. Its price for the Indonesian market is expected to start at Rp 270 million.
17. Toyota Yaris (2022)
Along with Honda Jazz and Suzuki Swift, the Toyota Yaris was one of the early city cars in Indonesia. Since 2014, the Toyota Yaris has been produced domestically in the Toyota factory in Karawang. Due to its popularity, Toyota has renewed the car repeatedly.
The newest version of the Toyota Yaris was launched in 2021, and it comes with eight different variants at a starting price of Rp 248 million.
18. Suzuki Baleno (2019-2020)
Ditching its original SUV design, Suzuki reverted the Baleno into a hatchback in 2017. The car has been imported directly from India ever since its release. It last received a facelift in 2019.
Suzuki Baleno comes in both transmissions, and its price range is between Rp 235 million and Rp 247 million.
19. Nissan March (2019)
With its fun and cute design, the Nissan March remains one of the most reliable compact city cars on the market. The first Nissan March sold in Indonesia in 2010 was actually the fourth generation.
The 2019 release has five variants to choose from. The cheapest variant is priced at Rp 185 million and the most expensive goes for Rp 225 million.
20. Mini 5 Door (2022)
Standing at the top of its class, the Mini 5 Door is one of the readily available exclusive cars in Indonesia. The Cooper series has established itself as one of the most iconic car designs there is.
There are two options available for the 2019 Mini 5 Door in the country. The first is the Cooper with a 1.5-liter engine at Rp 795 million, and the second is the Cooper S with a 2.0-liter engine at Rp 995 million. It doesn’t suffer so much in terms of resale value compared to the Polo due to its collectibility, but the availability of spare parts should also be considered in this case as well.
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