Most affordable cars that come with an auto-parking feature as standard
20 Sep 2022|19,402 views
Due to the confines of multi-story carparks in Singapore, the biggest fear a new driver have is likely at the end of the journey when they have to park their cars - especially when it comes to parallel parking. In fact, even after driving for the past eight years and being confident on the roads, I still wouldn't consider myself to be particularly good at parking a car...
Thankfully, with the advancement of technology, you can now get cars that can pretty much park itself - most will only require you to control the accelerator and the brakes. The only downside is that most of the cars with such features tend to be on the pricey side.
But don't worry, we have spent the time to seek out the most affordable cars (below $200,000) that come with an auto parking system so you don't have to.
*Photos might not correspond with the actual trim level of the car listed
SEAT Arona 1.0 Eco TSI DSG Style
Horsepower: 114bhp
Fuel consumption: 20km/L
Why you should get one:
The SEAT Arona is one of the most affordable cars you can get in Singapore in today's market. And the best thing is, it still comes with park assist! Yes, this puny crossover has the ability to park automatically!
Powering it is a small but powerful engine. With just 1.0 litre, it puts out 114bhp and 200Nm of torque, resulting in a zippy drive. Having a small engine means the Arona enjoys the lower Cat A COE, which also means a low road tax that completes its entire package as an affordable choice.
With a fairly big 400-litre boot, this compact crossover actually has a larger boot than the Golf!
Opel Crossland GS 1.2 Turbo GS Line
Horsepower: 129bhp
Fuel consumption: 19.6km/L
Why you should get one:
The Opel Crossland has always been a feature-packed SUV that offers plenty of value. It's design is a pleasant one, and it has since been updated to be in line with Opel's current Vizor design language. This gives it a new face that resembles cars like the Mokka, which is really eye-catching.
Priced just below $150,000 and packing a 1.2-litre engine that meets the power limit of the Cat A COE, the Crossland is an affordable candidate for drivers who want a comfortable SUV that's filled with features - including an automatic park assistant feature.
Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI DSG Beats
Horsepower: 114bhp
Fuel consumption: 20.4km/L
Why you should get one:
If you are looking for a car with auto-park systems, you are probably someone who don't want to deal with any sort of hassle when parking your car at the end of your journey. Well, the Polo's small size sure makes it a cinch to manoeuvre.
Of course, the Polo has more to offer than just that. With its sharp looks and punchy performance from the 1.0-litre turbocharged engine, this is a zippy little hatch that's perfect for city driving.
Volkswagen T-Cross 1.0 TSI DSG R-line
Horsepower: 114bhp
Fuel consumption: 18.5km/L
Why you should get one:
With such a unique, funky design that sets it apart from other cars, things can go two ways when you spot a T-Cross in the wild - you either have no idea what you are looking at, or you'll immediately recognise what it is.
Despite being the smallest crossover that you can get from Volkswagen here, it actually isn't as puny as you'd imagine - its length is just a smidge shorter than the Honda HR-V. And it even has a larger boot space than the Toyota CH-R!
With a punchy 1.0-litre engine, there's more than sufficient power for your everyday drive, and without the road tax penalty that a large engine would incur. So you can just sit tight and enjoy the drive.
SEAT Ateca 1.4 TSI Xcellence 8-Speed
Horsepower: 148bhp
Fuel consumption: 16.1km/L
Why you should get one:
The SEAT Ateca is a likeable SUV featuring sharp lines and a sporty face. With the facelifted version, the perky 1.4-litre turbocharged engine now pushes 148bhp and 250Nm of torque to the wheels through an Aisin eight-speed automatic gearbox that offers a high level of refinement.
Despite being a mid-sized SUV that offers plenty of space along with 485 litres of boot capacity, you wouldn't have to worry about parking it in tight spaces - there's park assist!
Renault Arkana 1.6
Horsepower: 141bhp
Fuel consumption: 20km/L
Why you should get one:
If you want an SUV without giving up any style points, the Arkana would be a great option. Being a coupe-like SUV, you get a swoopy design with a sloping roofline. In fact, upon first impression, the Arkana looks somewhat like an oversized liftback sedan on stilts.
And it really offers much more than just a unique styling. It also features a unique hybrid drivetrain with a multi-mode dogbox transmission linking its 1.6-litre engine to two electric motors. The result is stout and smooth power delivery.
The practical side of things are also well taken care of. There's plenty of leg and head room and insulation is great. And, of course, like all other cars in this list, the Arkana can park itself with minimal input from the driver.
BMW 1 Series Hatchback 116i Sport
Horsepower: 107bhp
Fuel consumption: 18.2km/L
Why you should get one:
At just under $200,000, the BMW 116i Sport is the most expensive car in this list but it comes with plenty of premium features such as memory seats, ambient interior lighting and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
While it is now front-wheel driven, the 1 Series is still every bit a proper BMW. Build quality in the cabin is as you'd expect from BMW, and the ride quality is pliant with good body control as well. There's also plenty of tech and safety features to sweeten the deal.
Here are some related articles that might interest you
Carparks that P-plate drivers should avoid in Singapore
Carparks that P-plate drivers should avoid in Singapore (Vol 2)
You should slow down to a crawl at these 5 places if you don't want an accident
Do you park your car at an open-air HDB car park? Here are some ways to protect it from the heat
Sgcarmart
Join the Sgcarmart Community
Become a Community member to enjoy exclusive promos & freebies for you and your car!
- Be the first to enjoy exclusive promos & giveaways
- Enjoy membership perks for Sgcarmart services
Due to the confines of multi-story carparks in Singapore, the biggest fear a new driver have is likely at the end of the journey when they have to park their cars - especially when it comes to parallel parking. In fact, even after driving for the past eight years and being confident on the roads, I still wouldn't consider myself to be particularly good at parking a car...
Thankfully, with the advancement of technology, you can now get cars that can pretty much park itself - most will only require you to control the accelerator and the brakes. The only downside is that most of the cars with such features tend to be on the pricey side.
But don't worry, we have spent the time to seek out the most affordable cars (below $200,000) that come with an auto parking system so you don't have to.
*Photos might not correspond with the actual trim level of the car listed
SEAT Arona 1.0 Eco TSI DSG Style
Price: $128,888
Horsepower: 114bhp
Fuel consumption: 20km/L
Why you should get one:
The SEAT Arona is one of the most affordable cars you can get in Singapore in today's market. And the best thing is, it still comes with park assist! Yes, this puny crossover has the ability to park automatically!
Powering it is a small but powerful engine. With just 1.0 litre, it puts out 114bhp and 200Nm of torque, resulting in a zippy drive. Having a small engine means the Arona enjoys the lower Cat A COE, which also means a low road tax that completes its entire package as an affordable choice.
With a fairly big 400-litre boot, this compact crossover actually has a larger boot than the Golf!
Opel Crossland GS 1.2 Turbo GS Line
Price: $144,500
Horsepower: 129bhp
Fuel consumption: 19.6km/L
Why you should get one:
The Opel Crossland has always been a feature-packed SUV that offers plenty of value. It's design is a pleasant one, and it has since been updated to be in line with Opel's current Vizor design language. This gives it a new face that resembles cars like the Mokka, which is really eye-catching.
Priced just below $150,000 and packing a 1.2-litre engine that meets the power limit of the Cat A COE, the Crossland is an affordable candidate for drivers who want a comfortable SUV that's filled with features - including an automatic park assistant feature.
Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI DSG Beats
Price: $157,900
Horsepower: 114bhp
Fuel consumption: 20.4km/L
Why you should get one:
If you are looking for a car with auto-park systems, you are probably someone who don't want to deal with any sort of hassle when parking your car at the end of your journey. Well, the Polo's small size sure makes it a cinch to manoeuvre.
Of course, the Polo has more to offer than just that. With its sharp looks and punchy performance from the 1.0-litre turbocharged engine, this is a zippy little hatch that's perfect for city driving.
Volkswagen T-Cross 1.0 TSI DSG R-line
Price: $159,900
Horsepower: 114bhp
Fuel consumption: 18.5km/L
Why you should get one:
With such a unique, funky design that sets it apart from other cars, things can go two ways when you spot a T-Cross in the wild - you either have no idea what you are looking at, or you'll immediately recognise what it is.
Despite being the smallest crossover that you can get from Volkswagen here, it actually isn't as puny as you'd imagine - its length is just a smidge shorter than the Honda HR-V. And it even has a larger boot space than the Toyota CH-R!
With a punchy 1.0-litre engine, there's more than sufficient power for your everyday drive, and without the road tax penalty that a large engine would incur. So you can just sit tight and enjoy the drive.
SEAT Ateca 1.4 TSI Xcellence 8-Speed
Price: $175,888
Horsepower: 148bhp
Fuel consumption: 16.1km/L
Why you should get one:
The SEAT Ateca is a likeable SUV featuring sharp lines and a sporty face. With the facelifted version, the perky 1.4-litre turbocharged engine now pushes 148bhp and 250Nm of torque to the wheels through an Aisin eight-speed automatic gearbox that offers a high level of refinement.
Despite being a mid-sized SUV that offers plenty of space along with 485 litres of boot capacity, you wouldn't have to worry about parking it in tight spaces - there's park assist!
Renault Arkana 1.6
Price: $195,999 (COE estimated at $113,000)
Horsepower: 141bhp
Fuel consumption: 20km/L
Why you should get one:
If you want an SUV without giving up any style points, the Arkana would be a great option. Being a coupe-like SUV, you get a swoopy design with a sloping roofline. In fact, upon first impression, the Arkana looks somewhat like an oversized liftback sedan on stilts.
And it really offers much more than just a unique styling. It also features a unique hybrid drivetrain with a multi-mode dogbox transmission linking its 1.6-litre engine to two electric motors. The result is stout and smooth power delivery.
The practical side of things are also well taken care of. There's plenty of leg and head room and insulation is great. And, of course, like all other cars in this list, the Arkana can park itself with minimal input from the driver.
BMW 1 Series Hatchback 116i Sport
Price: $199,888
Horsepower: 107bhp
Fuel consumption: 18.2km/L
Why you should get one:
At just under $200,000, the BMW 116i Sport is the most expensive car in this list but it comes with plenty of premium features such as memory seats, ambient interior lighting and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
While it is now front-wheel driven, the 1 Series is still every bit a proper BMW. Build quality in the cabin is as you'd expect from BMW, and the ride quality is pliant with good body control as well. There's also plenty of tech and safety features to sweeten the deal.
Here are some related articles that might interest you
Carparks that P-plate drivers should avoid in Singapore
Carparks that P-plate drivers should avoid in Singapore (Vol 2)
You should slow down to a crawl at these 5 places if you don't want an accident
Do you park your car at an open-air HDB car park? Here are some ways to protect it from the heat
Sgcarmart
Join the Sgcarmart Community
Become a Community member to enjoy exclusive promos & freebies for you and your car!
- Be the first to enjoy exclusive promos & giveaways
- Enjoy membership perks for Sgcarmart services
Photos by Editorial Team, Manufacturers
