Recommendations for a small car that's good for motorway driving?

Loopy28

My work have decided that rather than paying my mileage on my private vehicle, they are going to give me a company car that will be changed every three years.
I do approximately 30k miles a year and this is mainly motorway driving.
I've got a choice from most vehicles although if you're talking Audi or BMW, the best would be the A1 or 1 series.
I'd like a smallish car but one that performs well on the motorway and is comfortable with long distance driving but also has some oomph.
I've been comparing the Peugeot 208, Fiesta ST, Audi A1, BMW 1 Series but there are also Mazda, Vauxhall, VW etc

As I don't get to test drive them first, it's all guess work! Any recommendations welcome

Iceweasel

There's no doubt in my mind at all - the most pleasant car (from the ones you've listed) to spend 30K motorway miles in is the BMW 120d.

Go for the M-Sport version if you can - the seats are more comfortable.

Even better would be the 320d M-Sport.

WellKnownSid

The 208 is great on the motorway - but TBH I wouldn't expect it to be in the same class as some of the others listed. I only got mine because it was a) cheap and b) we have a Peugeot dealer less than three hours' drive away unlike other brands.

What is preventing you from test driving all of them? I know I would if I was about to spend three years / 90,000 miles in one...

If the budget can stretch to a Fiesta ST - would it stretch to a Focus? Not that big - but a step up in comfort.

Poppy9

BMW 1 series from your choice listed. Simply no competition and I drive a Fiesta and OH a BMW!

gilbert_and_sullivan

Even if you can't test drive them all why not have a day going round a few dealerships and at least sitting in those you fancy to get a feel, some are claustrophobic inside, some are too Germanic being dark and gloomy (for me), some have awful all round visibility and poor excuses for door mirrors.
30k miles per year is a long time to be in someone else's poor choice.

You should be able to whittle the list down to 2 or 3 which you can then test drive.

But before that won't you be checking BiK figures to see which cars might cost you least in tax, in which case if its an option a Auris or baby Lexus hybrid might be good additions to the list.

onlyroz

The Peugeot 308 is quite a bit nicer than the 208.

Rain_Shadow

If assume the current 1-series is a lot different from earlier ones ?

I have only driven a 55 reg and it was cramped and uncomfortable and had abysmal visibility

Head_The_Ball

Loopy28 wrote: »

..I've been comparing the Peugeot 208, Fiesta ST, Audi A1, BMW 1 Series but there are also Mazda, Vauxhall, VW etc

As I don't get to test drive them first, it's all guess work! Any recommendations welcome

What is stopping you test driving a few possible choices?

Why not arrange test drives at a few dealerships?

We test drove a Mercedes A Class, a VW Golf, a Ford Focus, an Audi A3 and a BMW Series 1 last year before choosing the BMW.

Strider590

Rain_Shadow wrote: »

If assume the current 1-series is a lot different from earlier ones ?

I have only driven a 55 reg and it was cramped and uncomfortable and had abysmal visibility

Same criticism my folks had when they bought one, that and the virtually non-existent boot space.

loskie

No problem with test driving, in fact you would be daft not to. In fact some brands have specialist demos for fleet users.
A good long test drive at that, you are going to be in the car a long time.

Volvo V40 would be my choice D3 or D4 in SE Spec.

getmore4less

DO you have big car suppermarket anywhere near you that will have at least some of the models, maybe not brand new but close, then there are the main dealers.

Get the list ,tabulate the BIK cost along with a feature list(get the details on line) to at least start a short list and go see.

it may be that on particular models you an add enough goodies to seeing it agains a more expensive lower spec option.

what are you driving now and why may be a start.

Just about any car on the market can cruisie the motorways these days, comfort comes with cars that do this with less stress and a bit more mass.

cruise and auto would be on my min spec list.