Which Mini MPV?

[Ecosseven]

Afternoon all,

My girlfriend is looking for a new car based on the following criteria.

1. Reliable.
2. Low running costs.
3. High seating position (she is 5'1" and her previous car was a Renault Modus).
4. The badge is irrelevant as are the residual values as she will keep the car until it dies.
5. Decent warranty.
6. Performance and handling doesn't really matter as she only needs a car to get from A to B in comfort.

Her budget is around £8500 and she wants something less than 2 years old with less than 20k miles on it.

The current short list is as follows.

1. Kia Venga
2. Hyundai ix20
3. Citreon C3 Picasso
4. Vauxhall Meriva
5. Fiat Panda (I know it's not an MPV but she likes the style and the high(ish) driving position)

I think the Kia Venga actually offers good value for money with it's long warranty, highly versatile seating arrangement and decent spec.

So, people of PH, what would you recommend?

Thanks in advance.

[iggysport]

Vengas a good choice, ix20 is a better looking car in my opinion.

Not sure how well them 2 sold though, don't see many on the road so not sure how many are about on the used market

[Caulkhead]

If she likes the Fiat Panda but wants to be higher up:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

[anonymous-user]

Personally I love the Fiat Panda. Absolutely honest car and a great drive too!

[Ecosseven]

Caulkhead said:

If she likes the Fiat Panda but wants to be higher up:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

Good shout. I hadn't thought about the Cubo.

The Dacia Duster and Sandero are also worth considering.

[Caulkhead]

Ecosseven said:

Caulkhead said:

If she likes the Fiat Panda but wants to be higher up:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

Good shout. I hadn't thought about the Cubo.

The Dacia Duster and Sandero are also worth considering.

There's the Citroen badged one called a 'Nemo' I think as well which you can get with a sort of autobox if that helps.

I run a Fiat Doblo as a general hack and the dealer lent me a Qubo during a service and I thought it was a decent little motor - reasonable chassis, 60mpg and great round town.

[clockworks]

I ran a Qubo 1.3 Multijet for nearly 3 years. Great little car, made better with a remap to 96bhp. The Fiat diesel is apparently a better engine than the one fitted to the Citroen and Peugeot versions (Nemo and Bipper).

Surprising amount of toys for a cheap car if you go for the "Dynamic" trim level - Bluetooth and USB audio included.

Two negatives - front tyres only last about 10k, and you don't get carpets in the passenger compartment, just in the boot!

[TheTurbonator]

Isn't that Skoda Yeti supposed to be brilliant? Know nothing else about or the price range of it though.

[Jim the Sunderer]

I'm waiting for that chap to suggest spending £500 on building a home-made rack, and the rest on 1969 Mustang.