Searching for a new car

moneysaver1978

We have slowly started looking for a new 2–3-year-old car to replace our problematic 2012 Nissan Note automatic (which was gifted from a relative and for which I am the registered keeper).

We’ve done an initial spreadsheet looking at cars within a £15–20k budget that have an automatic gearbox, are comfortable, have a low-ish insurance group, and where possible, a higher driving seat position. There are just two of us, we live in the suburbs in the top part of Kent, and we don’t drive every day (mostly shopping, visiting relatives, or weekend trips). I also don’t like very small cars (e.g. Smart Two or Nissan Micra).

OH wants a good-looking car and under-seat heating; I want an “almost luxury” feel inside, with good tech (rear camera, etc.), something comfortable, practical, and reliable.

Here's our spreadsheet to dig through:

Brand	Model	Fuel
Ford	Puma	Mild-Hybrid
Ford	Focus	Mild-Hybrid
Ford	Fiesta	Hybrid
Cupra	Formentor	Petrol
Cupra	Leon	Hybrid
Honda	Jazz	Hybrid
Kia	Niro	Hybrid
MG	ZS	Petrol
MG	MG3	Hybrid
MG	ZS+	Hybrid (great tech, great value, plus long warranty)
Mazda	Mazda2	Hybrid (relative had a Mazda for years with no issues so reliability is high)
Peugot	208	Petrol
Renault	Clio	Hybrid
Toyota	C-HR	Hybrid
Toyota	Corolla	Hybrid
Vauxhall	Corsa	Petrol
Vauxhall	Mokka	Petrol (car hire in Spain, not my cup of tea but OH loves it)
VW	Polo	Petrol
VW	Taigo	Petrol

I realise car choice is subjective and that there’s no such thing as a 100% reliable car (pretty rare these days!), and you’re often at the mercy of the dealership or local garage.

What are your thoughts? Are there any technical questions we should be asking ourselves (or dealerships)? Anything in particular to look out for, such as specific gearboxes?

We have limited car-buying experience and, other than avoiding Nissan, we have no strong manufacturer preference.

Herzlos

Your OH loves the Mokka, it fits the requirements, job done!

We've got an 2018 Mokka petrol and it's been pretty nice. 

moneysaver1978

Herzlos said:

Your OH loves the Mokka, it fits the requirements, job done!

We've got an 2018 Mokka petrol and it's been pretty nice. 

Ha, that's true! It's also the most expensive from the spreadsheet at £22K (although a 2025 reg) as we couldn't find any older Mokka with auto transmission.

Isthisforreal99

On what basis are you ruling a Nissan out? On the basis of your current 'problematic' Note? In the same way that one relative had a Mazda for years is not a general indicator of reliability your negative experience with your Note should not deter you from Nissan. Would have thought a Juke should make your list.

Think you need to get the list narrowed done, there is quite the range there. You say you don't want a small car but you have a Honda Jazz there?

Personally I would avoid MG. 

Finally 'low insurance group' means virtually nothing these days.

twopenny

My neighbour used to test drive cars and he said avoid the Corsa (among some others).

There are a lot of hybrids there. Are you set up for home charging? Are you happy to wait in some charging point for half an hour? Our car park has started requiring a parking charge while charging because people were linking up and going shopping.

What sort of roads do you drive? We're over run with massive vehicles out here on country lanes and they are getting scratched pulling into hedges to pass.
Room at home for parking a large vehicle?

What is the maintenance like, more or more expensive and does that matter?

Car_54

twopenny said:

There are a lot of hybrids there. Are you set up for home charging? Are you happy to wait in some charging point for half an hour? 

The OP hasn't suggested that any of the hybrids are plug-in.

Grumpy_chap

From the use description from the OP, I was going to suggest the Honda Jazz and I noticed that is one of the options the OP has in their list.

moneysaver1978

moneysaver1978 said:

Herzlos said:

Your OH loves the Mokka, it fits the requirements, job done!

We've got an 2018 Mokka petrol and it's been pretty nice. 

Ha, that's true! It's also the most expensive from the spreadsheet at £22K (although a 2025 reg) as we couldn't find any older Mokka with auto transmission.

I stand corrected, I have just found a 2024 one for 12K with 1.2L engine size (I need to check if the engine size is good enough).

Isthisforreal99 said:

On what basis are you ruling a Nissan out? On the basis of your current 'problematic' Note? In the same way that one relative had a Mazda for years is not a general indicator of reliability your negative experience with your Note should not deter you from Nissan. Would have thought a Juke should make your list.

Think you need to get the list narrowed done, there is quite the range there. You say you don't want a small car but you have a Honda Jazz there?

Personally I would avoid MG. 

Finally 'low insurance group' means virtually nothing these days.

Fair point! I did see Juke but don't like the shape of it and haven't seen any Nissan with some form of "luxuryness" or new technology inside. In other words, I'd like a MSE-style Lexus.

Interesting about MG - I know they had issues in the past but the Chinese owner have upped their game and reviews these days seem good.

Thanks for the advice about the insurance group, that's useful info!

twopenny said:

My neighbour used to test drive cars and he said avoid the Corsa (among some others).

There are a lot of hybrids there. Are you set up for home charging? Are you happy to wait in some charging point for half an hour? Our car park has started requiring a parking charge while charging because people were linking up and going shopping.

What sort of roads do you drive? We're over run with massive vehicles out here on country lanes and they are getting scratched pulling into hedges to pass.
Room at home for parking a large vehicle?

What is the maintenance like, more or more expensive and does that matter?

That's good info! Other than Corsa, what other cars did your neighbour advise to avoid?

All the hybrids in our list are self-charging so no plugging. We do have a 2-car driveway however since we don't have a set driving routine, we have ruled out electric and plug-in hybrids.

We'd like maintenance to be as low as possible with good reliability hence why we have ruled out the liked of Mercedes, BMW, Audi.

moneysaver1978

Grumpy_chap said:

From the use description from the OP, I was going to suggest the Honda Jazz and I noticed that is one of the options the OP has in their list.

I might be mistaken but Jazz didn't look that small which is why it is on the list.

Woodstok2000

Avoid MG at all costs.

https://www.carsuk.net/mg-is-the-most-unreliable-car-brand-in-the-uk-and-mini-the-most-reliable/

Our neighbour has the Corolla hybrid and loves it. Nice looking car too....

rhino_horn

Toyota
Have bought over 100 and none have gone wrong (car dealer - I source vehicles for customers)
Make sure they have been serviced with the 10k / 1 year service intervals, that way you get 10 years of warranty

Don't go french.