Which warm hatch for £1500

[Deluded]

I wouldn't say I'm bored with the CRV. It does a fantastic job at moving the family about, dogs included. I really like it, my partner really likes it, my daughter has no opinion as shes not even 2 year and the dogs make it really dirty in the boot, so they probably like it too.

My issue is fuel economy for performance given. It's a 150hp petrol 2.0l 16v. I average between 25-30mpg if I'm driving like a saint. That's not really a bad figure for a petrol 4x4 though really, however, when I compare it to other cars, it's pretty poor.

So, I want a warm hatch. Not a hot hatch, just something comfortably swift with good MPG and good insurance. I don't want a bog spec one as I will hate it. I need a hatch to get the dogs in the back. Boot size doesn't need to be massive, just adequate. I've got a roof box for everything else.

Bellow are a list of the cars I've been looking at but I want each of them for various reasons and know I will probably regret not getting one over the other so I need you to make me see sense on the crap ones...

Nissan Almera Sport (1.8 16v) - Bit bland looking but a nice place to be and the engine is reliable and quite pokey (117hp).

Mazda 323f sport (2.0 16v) - Love the front end, rear end looks a bit bland. Interior nice and should be reliable. Rust may be an issue? (130hp).

BMW E36 318ti Compact (1.9 16v). Used to have a 316 compact and loved it but felt it needed more power, hence the 318. Boot perfectly adequate for woofers. (140hp)

Fiat Stilo 1.8 16v - Nice looker, potentially rubbish electrics. Love the car otherwise. (130hp)

Alfa 147 1.6/1.8 - It's an alfa and looks lovely. Whats not to like, bar potentially wallet destroying reliability. Plus, maybe smaller inside than they look?

Seat Leon 1.8 20v non turbo - Has to be the 5 pot for me. Cupra too much to justify on insurance. Lovely exterior but interior looking a bit dated. 130hpish but maybe a bit thirsty?

To throw into the mix though, Hyundai Coupe Gen3 (2.0 16v) - Lovely looking car outside. Nice looking interior and is a hatch, but may not be a usable coupe hatch as it's quite shallow. Roof box fitting may be an issue? (140hp).

Anything else I havent thought of? And opinions of course

[Deluded]

Codswallop said:

Erm, it's got 5 valves per cyclinder, so is still a 4 pot. The nice sounding 5 pot is a 2.3 v5 (with 4 valves per cylinder). You can't get that engine in the Leon, but you can in the Golf and Toledo.

For what it's worth, the Toledo is a pretty good cheap sports saloon in my (biased) opinion.

Oh. Over looked that. Just assumed 20v meant it was a 5 pot. Boooo. Ah well. Toledo is out though really as the boot is next to useless. Golf is an option but I'm not a fan in all honesty. MK2 GTI yes please. Big fat bloaty mk4, no ta.

[Deluded]

SturdyJ said:

Wow. That makes me feel better. I averaged 27.9mpg driving up to Newcastle last weekend, average about 24mpg with 'varied' driving

This is my issue. I can get a far better performing beast and still achieve similar/better MPG figures. The CRV is no slouch but when I'm getting the same MPG as something a good few seconds quicker, it makes me weep.

[Deluded]

Codswallop said:

Boot on the Toledo is bigger than any of your other choices. I can get two mountain bikes through the opening with the front wheels off.

MG ZS 160 might be worth a look too.

Yes but it's hardly suitable for a pair of dogs, given that there is no parcel shelf for them to stick their heads through. Saloon is useless to me.

[Deluded]

Podie said:

A touch over budget, but have tyou seen what Toyota Celicas go for now?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3639602.htm

Hmm yeah I did consider those.. Same as the Hyundai really, but the boot on the celica looks pretty deep. Looks good for dog carrying.

[Deluded]

Codswallop said:

Ah. Fair enough.

though you could always poke airholes in the parcel shelf

Could take the speakers out and let them poke their heads through

Alfa 145... Seriously, a few years ago I probably would have had one.. Love them to bits but the reliability issue is what worries me. Rust too. Cloverleaf might be a bit of a stretch on insurance though. 1.6/1.8 might be a better bet, or even a 146 for rear doors and better doot. Majorly tempted by a Bravo HGT but for the same reasons, I wont get one. Plus finding a good one these days is next to impossible.