I have just changed my stance on the ideal city vehicle. If I could afford to buy and maintain two cars the ideal daily driver, city vehicle I would choose would be the Suzuki Jimny.
Now the Jimny is still overpriced, in my opinion. The top of the line, automatic transmission variant costs PhP815,000 and that's not including taxes, registration, insurance, etc. The model is relatively old, it hasn't had a facelift in a couple of years. But it's the best choice for a daily driver city car, in my current opinion.
Why? Earlier today a delivery truck and an Avanza taxi got into a fender bender. I was driving home using my mom's 2005 Rav4. We could not get through because the Rav was too wide and both vehicles were taking up too much space on the road. They would not move because, according to the taxi driver, the inspector wasn't there yet to take photos and file a police report.
It was annoying because I could not get through. Other cars managed to get through, and I basically clogged the small gap. Apologies to other motorists. I would have backed up if the cars behind me didn't tailgate. Needless to say I doubt any other cars would have made it through the small gap, except narrow cars.
The Jimny is a narrow vehicle. It would have fit easily with some clever maneuvering.
Take note, though, that I said the Jimny would be an ideal daily driver city car. I will not choose it if I could only afford one car, seeing as how I have a family already and the car is relatively cramped in the second row (specially with me driving it). I have tried to fit at the back of a Jimny with the front seat set-up for my position and there is little to no legroom (a simple test of space I do when I visit car showrooms is I set-up the driver's seat to my comfortable position then I sit behind to see how spacious the back is). But that's because I'm five foot ten.
But as a city car, it's perfect. My wife and I can fit easily. The second row can carry our groceries and other miscellaneous stuff. If flash flooding occurs, it's relatively high enough that we won't have to worry about flooding the inside or the engine. It's got a 1.3L engine that seems like it could give good mileage. And it's got four-wheel drive. The legit four-wheel drive. So in the event that I have to, say, climb over some sidewalks to avoid traffic (like earlier today) it could have tackled that problem easily. Hell, it could even carry my daughter and her nanny should the need arise.
Plus, despite its age, it still looks good in my eyes. The only modifications I'd do to a Jimny would be to maybe add a snorkel (purely aesthetic but would give me the option to try off-roading, also for deeper floods) and replace the mags. That's it.
Out.
