SMALL CAR for petite lady

[strawberryblue]

Hello,

I am on a car hunt but I am not sure where to start!

I want automatic besides that not sure.

I am petite 5ft so want something small and will only be me in it really.

Any ideas??

So far have looked at

Minis
Fiat 500

Any help and pointers on a car make to check out would be fab!

I’m 4ft 11 and have a Corsa. I can get everything in the right position for me and reach the pedals without being right up against the steering wheel. Current one is manual but had an automatic previously and got on well with it.

I love mini fantastic cars

5 ft
Love love love my mini automatic
Such fun to drive and you can cram a surprising amount of shopping etc in there.

My family call it a Granny Jeep.
Gets my vote.

I agree that it's the design of car rather than the size that matters. I have a Renault Scenic, seat height is adjustable and the gear box is in front near the radio, reach to the the pedals is fine. Whereas when I drive DHs Kia estate the reach to the pedals is quite far so I have to pull the seat forward, then I'm bumping my knee off the dash. Also the gear box is in the middle between driver and passenger so I have to pretty much reach backwards for it.

Also any Ford I've driven seemed quite a long reach to the pedals.

I’m under 5ft so I get what you mean, some cars I can’t comfortably reach the pedals or see out properly.

I had a mini and LOVED it, had it for 6 year and didn’t have any issues. I have a Skoda Octavia now that I have two kids

I did some lessons in a Toyota aygo when my instructor's regular car was off the road. It was great and really dinky

I'm 5'2" and have owned 3 Fiat 500s (one was the arbarth) and have also had a Mini Cooper and Mazda MX5. MX5 is fantastic in summer but limited for shopping and not great in bad weather due to rear wheel drive. Mini the as okay but nothing special. Fiat 500s are fantastic, I passed both mine onto my 5'1" daughter, they're all she's ever owned and has no intention of changing. The Abarth is particularly good fun to drive! We've never had any issues with any of them and had the first for 10 years used daily.

I like Polos, adjustable seat height and very neat turning circle.
I also like the reliability, being as mine never have a garage and always start.
5’ and driven Polos for over 40 years.

I don't know what you mean. Why are they not real automatics?

I've only ever driven automatic Fiat 500s and I've never had a problem with them. I think they're fantastic cars.

Volkswagen Polo or even smaller, a Volkswagen UP!

Not sure a car has to be higher spec for this. I haven't driven a car since 2005 where I haven't been able to move the steering wheel - there's usually a lever underneath. Ready to be corrected here though, I thought it was just standard practice now!

Micra
Kia piccanto
Citreon c1
Toyota aygo
Toyota yaris

No minis are beautiful. Mini all the way.

Toyota Yaris Hybrid! Fabulous little car!

I'm just under 5ft and love my automatic Ford Fiesta. My seat goes up and the steering wheel comes down, I get a much better driving position than when I test drove the Mini and the Aygo. Micra came a close second.

Seat Ibiza, looks big but drives & parks like a small car with good equipment levels, I would recommend the Xcellence Lux, the top of the range with reversing camera & parking sensors.

I'm 4ft 11 and been driving 35 years. Just because you're short, doesn't necessarily mean you need a small car. Some of them are dreadful to drive if you're short. The best car I ever drove was the old egg shaped Citroën Picasso. I currently drive a Toyota Yaris. Yes to height adjustable steering wheel and seat. Spend time when trying cars getting everything into exactly the right position. Ignore salesman staring, saying "the seat slides forward and back you know!" 🙄🙄🙄. If you do not have an excellent view, if you're very close to the steering wheel or your leg has trouble depressing anything correctly, then avoid. Under no circumstances should you be peeping over a very high dashboard.

Do you do motorway driving at all OP?

I have a hybrid-Toyota Yaris. I am under 5 feet 👣 so it suits me.

I am 4ft 11 and had a fiesta which I loved, very smart, economical, could adjust the seat up and down as well as back and forth which was important.

I'm 5ft. I generally find if the seat moves really well in all directions then I can be comfortable and safe. Currently drive a vauxhall corsa with no issue.

@strawberryblue. Before I suggest a car, what is your rough budget/new/used etc

@Sticksareforlookingat they're not true automatics they're called "automatic manual transmission" essentially a manual clutch less car which fiat call 'duologic'
They are different to drive vs an actual automatic (which won't roll on a hill and will creep forward in traffic)
I'd been used to driving a mini so it was totally different having to apply the handbrake etc.
guess it's what you're used to.
(Get a mini next time, BMW engine, it's like a go kart in a good way! )

We have a Peugeot 10something that’s cute.
Im similar height to you but I do prefer a big car 🤣
In the past we’ve had a Cleo or a Fiat which are very similar