Searching for a new car

born_again

moneysaver1978 said:

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.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202512168641714?sort=relevance&searchId=b3f6d626-c327-4673-bf41-66912e56d60c&make=Vauxhall&model=Mokka&page=1&postcode=ls212ay&transmission=Automatic&year-from=new&advertising-location=at_cars&fromsra&backLinkQueryParams=channel=cars&make=Vauxhall&model=Mokka&postcode=ls212ay&sort=relevance&transmission=Automatic&year-from=new&flrfc=1

Herzlos

moneysaver1978 said:

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).

Displacement doesn't mean that much anymore with turbos. Our 1.4L Mokka produces 2bhp more than the 2.5L it replaced. 

From a quick look on autotrader they are all 1.2L's, but I assume it's the same one that's in the much bigger Grandland. 

moneysaver1978

Woodstok2000 said:

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....

Wow, that's an eye opener! We know of at least 3 people who have had a lot of problems with MINI so they must have improved quality last few years.

rhino_horn said:

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.

Definitely, no French cars for us! Fun fact: our Nissan was apparently made by Renault (or at least in their factory in France) so had the same wiring issues.

We loved a 2015 Ford B-Max 1.0c (with Ecoboost) - very nice to drive, low road tax, but alas too big for us and manual only.

Grumpy_chap

moneysaver1978 said:

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.

Correct, the Jazz is almost Tardis-like as far more spacious inside than the external appearance would suggest.  My Mum has one and it is a very versatile car.  I understand that the latest Jazz cars may no longer have the "magic seats" which fold up cinema-style.

Woodstok2000 said:

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

Which is the proof that threads like this have limited function because of the very personal nature of selecting one car over another.  I had the predecessor to the Corolla Hybrid, the Auris Hybrid and found it the dullest, most boring car ever.

moneysaver1978

According to https://www.carsuk.net/mg-is-the-most-unreliable-car-brand-in-the-uk-and-mini-the-most-reliable/ - Vauxhall is 3rd in the list which makes me a bit unsettled!

We do like the look of the Toyota C-HR but could we realistically get a decent one with low milage with new tech?

Is Autotrader the best place for car searching? Is it worth speaking and registering with local garages with our preferences or would it backfire on us?

photome

You say you want a higher driving position 

most in that list are small and low

the Cupra Formentor, Mokka and CHR are the best to look at from that list for driving position 

have you not considered a Seat Ateca, Skoda Karoq , VW Tiguan, all the same car and all have a higher driving position

Stubod

IMHO it's a no brainer to go Japanese / Korean, and self charge hybrid. I ended up with a (last model) Kia Niro and love it. Does everything I need and returns 65+mpg (actual). Fully auto, and adaptice cruise control, also comes with a 7 year warranty. The only other car I would consider on your list is either a Toyota self charge hybride, or a Jazz....which seem to be really good.......

...good luck with your search, it took me 2 years of looking before I decided on a Niro, and when I (eventually) change it will either be another Kia, or a Toyota....

NB read lots of (bad) reports about Vauxhall, (and Ford) engine and gearbox problems...and avoid a wet belt if you can??)

CliveOfIndia

moneysaver1978 said:

an automatic gearbox, are comfortable, have a low-ish insurance group, and where possible, a higher driving seat position. 
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.

Just a few months ago we bought a 2-and-a-half year old Mazda CX-5, which may suit your criteria.  It's the first time I've owned a Mazda, but so far I can't fault it.  I went for the manual version simply because I prefer a manual, but there were lots of automatics on the forecourt as well.

One thing that swayed us - as we were browsing around, an RAC man happened to turn up to mend a customer's tyre or something.  He asked if we were thinking of a Mazda, we said "maybe, not sure yet".  He said he'd owned 3 of them and that they were super-reliable.

It's not like he was on commission from the garage or anything, and I would hope he knows a bit about cars!

Anyhow, I'm rambling - it just may be another one to add to your shortlist ?

moneysaver1978

photome said:

You say you want a higher driving position 

most in that list are small and low

the Cupra Formentor, Mokka and CHR are the best to look at from that list for driving position 

have you not considered a Seat Ateca, Skoda Karoq , VW Tiguan, all the same car and all have a higher driving position

Thank you! Seat Ateca and Skoda Karoq are around £18k or more so we thought for that price, we should consider Toyota or others with better specs. VW Tiguan is outside of our budget (approaching 23K or more).

Stubod said:

IMHO it's a no brainer to go Japanese / Korean, and self charge hybrid. I ended up with a (last model) Kia Niro and love it. Does everything I need and returns 65+mpg (average). Fully auto, and adaptice cruise control, also comes with a 7 year warranty. The only other car I would consider on your list is either a Toyota self charge hybride, or a Jazz....which seem to be really good.......

...good luck with your search, it took me 2 years of looking before I decided on a Niro, and when I (eventually) change it will either be another Kia, or a Toyota....

NB read lots of (bad) reports about Vauxhall, (and Ford) engine and gearbox problems...and avoid a wet belt if you can??)

We were in Japan and South Korea recently - the cars there look so much nicer! We do have Kia Niro already on our list! Which year did you go for?

Good call about the wet belt, I need to read up more on this. I know Ford had a Powershift issue for many models but they have fixed it or have they...?!!!

moneysaver1978

CliveOfIndia said:

moneysaver1978 said:

an automatic gearbox, are comfortable, have a low-ish insurance group, and where possible, a higher driving seat position. 
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.

Just a few months ago we bought a 2-and-a-half year old Mazda CX-5, which may suit your criteria.  It's the first time I've owned a Mazda, but so far I can't fault it.  I went for the manual version simply because I prefer a manual, but there were lots of automatics on the forecourt as well.

One thing that swayed us - as we were browsing around, an RAC man happened to turn up to mend a customer's tyre or something.  He asked if we were thinking of a Mazda, we said "maybe, not sure yet".  He said he'd owned 3 of them and that they were super-reliable.

It's not like he was on commission from the garage or anything, and I would hope he knows a bit about cars!

Anyhow, I'm rambling - it just may be another one to add to your shortlist ?

I did like the look of CX5 but unfortunately my OH don't so it sadly is not in the list haha. Although they were a wee on the pricey side if I remember correctly.