Record high gas prices at the pumps haven’t lowered Americans' taste for large gas guzzlers.

According to Forbes magazine, eight of the top sellers for 2007 have been trucks, minivans or SUVs.

While a truck or SUV might be the ideal way to get from point A to point B for a farmer, plumber or suburban mom, urbanites face a whole different set of road hazards. Meter maids, buses, crazy cab drivers, endless pedestrians and an ever-shrinking number of parking spaces make a Dodge Ram or a Chevy Suburban impractical for the inner-city dweller.

Of course there is public transportation, but anyone who has stood alone at an elevated train stop in New York or Chicago at 1 a.m. knows this can be trading one set of problems for another.

With this in mind, Car and Driver magazine recently came out with a list of the Top Ten Urban Vehicles, or What To Drive in Cities Where You Shouldn’t Drive.

2008 Smart Fortwo

It may look like a car a Dodge Ram eats for breakfast, but the Smart does have a nice list of attributes. When it premiers this winter, it will be the shortest car sold in the United States, which will make parallel parking during rush hour a much easier chore. It also gets 43 mpg on the highway, but don’t be in too big of a rush to get where you are going. It has a 71 horsepower, 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine, and a top speed of 90 mph. But above all, the car is affordable, with a base price of $12,000, leaving urbanites with enough money in their pockets to enjoy their city’s nightlife and culture.

2008 Mini Cooper

Until the Smart premiers, the Mini Cooper will be the shortest car sold in the United States. It is more expensive than the Smart, starting at around $18,700, but with that price comes a higher-performance engine of 118 or 172 hp, and a sportier look and feel.

2008 Toyota Yaris

The Yaris was originally designed by Toyota for the European and Asian markets, but has been shipped to America as well. With a starting price of around $12,000 for a hatchback, the Yaris has a unique, bubbly, almost goofy appearance, but with the intention of creating more space inside. Its suspension is designed to prefer ride over handling, making potholes and speed bumps a less jarring experience.

2008 Honda Fit

Starting at around $14,585, the Honda Fit’s 109-hp four-cylinder engine won’t inspire any gasps, but this car was designed for handling. The car handles so well, it came in first in Car and Driver’s 2006 lane-change test, even beating a Corvette. That can make those cross-lane dashes for the last parking space on the block just that much easier.

2008 Suzuki SX4

A small, compact wagon, the SX4 has a starting price of around $16,000 and sports a best-in-class cargo space and standard all-wheel drive. Car and Driver recommends the SX4 for those who live in the snowy northern cities and like to pack up the car for weekend excursions to the ski lodge.

2008 Volkswagen Rabbit

The Rabbit is a little pricier than other compact cars on the list, starting out at around $15,620. But its five-cylinder engine and sound suspension prompted Car and Driver to award first prize to the Rabbit in a recent compact car battle.

2008 Volvo C30

The Volvo C30 is pricey for a compact car at $23,445, but on the flip side, it is the cheapest Volvo on the market. Its rounder, sleek design is a markedly different look than the traditional boxy design Volvo is known for. It also has 17 exterior and 12 interior color options.

2008 Mazda 5

Despite being a wagon/minivan that seats six, the Mazda 5 is only 16 inches longer than the Rabbit, and starts at around $17,995. With double sliding rear doors and high ceiling space, there is maybe no better car for the urbanite with little urbanites in the back seat.

The Beater

One option Car and Driver recommends for the urbanite who literally just needs a ride from point A to point B is The Beater. Check out the classified section or craigslist.com and find the cheapest car you can find, for no more than $400. For those who have had their stereos stolen, paint job scratched, tires slashed and want to avoid attracting carjackers with a nice BMW, nothing beats The Beater.

Pre-Runner

For only $525,000 you can put yourself behind the wheel of a custom built Ford F-150 Pre-Runner. For the day when the compact car just isn’t doing it anymore, either because of overzealous cab drivers or too many potholes, Car and Driver recommends the Pre-Runner. This pickup truck is perhaps not ideal for getting around town, but for when you really need to get out of town. Riots, blackouts, earthquakes, wildfires, terrorist attacks or an alien invasion all could be reasons you need to suddenly head for the hills, and the 37-inch tires and hand built 648-hp engine will help you run right over those Miatas and Smart cars as you make a mad dash to safety.