Practical 5 door hatchback?

[AA88]

I'm struggling for inspiration with a fairly limited set of criteria so I'm calling on the PHs massive for help.

We currently run a 2017 BMW X1 for family duties, a 2017 Focus RS for fun and a 2006 Seat Leon for commuting, tip duties and anything else!

The Leon has recently failed it's MOT and after a £200 bill to rectify I'm keen to get rid with 11+ months ticket. The question is, what to replace it with.

Criteria to meet below:

- 2014 or newer
- 5 doors
- manual
- good size boot
- 100bhp+
- less than 70k miles

I'm also keen not to have a base spec car but appreciate that might be asking too much! HELP!

[MightyBadger]

Keep the Leon.

[eleveneleven]

A Golf or an A4?

What's your budget?

[jaydeeuk1]

MightyBadger said:

Keep the Leon.

This. Why are you getting rid over a £200 bill? That doesn't pay for a set of tyres on many cars

[blue_haddock]

Pretty much any run of the mill hatchback will meet your fairly easy requirements but as has been said if its only cost £200 to keep your Seat on the road for a year i personally would think that is pretty cheap and reliable, certainly any modern car outside of the warranty are capable of throwing up a similar sized bill fairly quickly.

[ZX10R NIN]

AA88 said:

I'm struggling for inspiration with a fairly limited set of criteria so I'm calling on the PHs massive for help.

We currently run a 2017 BMW X1 for family duties, a 2017 Focus RS for fun and a 2006 Seat Leon for commuting, tip duties and anything else!

The Leon has recently failed it's MOT and after a £200 bill to rectify I'm keen to get rid with 11+ months ticket. The question is, what to replace it with.

Criteria to meet below:

- 2014 or newer
- 5 doors
- manual
- good size boot
- 100bhp+
- less than 70k miles

I'm also keen not to have a base spec car but appreciate that might be asking too much! HELP!

Need to know your budget before giving suggestions.

[AA88]

Sorry £10k budget.

I get the comments about keeping the Leon but we've had a few of these £200-£300 bills in the last 24 months and it just feels like a false economy paying out on a car worth £1500-£2000...

[MiseryStreak]

AA88 said:

Sorry £10k budget.

I get the comments about keeping the Leon but we've had a few of these £200-£300 bills in the last 24 months and it just feels like a false economy paying out on a car worth £1500-£2000...

Yeah that’s pertinent information as £200 to get a mid-noughties VAG product through its annual MOT is actually blessed. Regular bills of a few hundred quid is more typical.

Get something Japanese like a Toyota Auris, or a Honda Civic. As it’s a tip run car, it’d be far more useful to make it a small estate. Great for chucking bikes in too.

This was from a quick search. It won’t set your hair on fire, but will cost peanuts to run: https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12825981

Edited by MiseryStreak on Wednesday 23 February 21:57

[georgeyboy12345]

What about another Leon?

Here's a privately advertised 1.2 TSI with tech pack
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202082...

or from a dealer
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111189...

if you want a really big boot, here's a Sport Tourer
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202142...


Or one of these, that are essentially the same car as the Leon

Skoda Octavia 1.2 TSI Elegance - these have pretty big boots
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111019...

VW Golf 1.4 TSI Bluemotion
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111119...

Audi A3 1.2 TFSI Sportback
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202082...


Other ideas if you don't fancy something from VAG

Honda Civic 1.8 i-VTEC
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110278...

Kia Ceed 1.6 GDi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112280...

Fiat Tipo 1.4 T-Jet
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112230...

Mazda 3 2.0 Skyactiv-G
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202082...

Ford Focus 1.6
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110017...

Edited by georgeyboy12345 on Wednesday 23 February 22:13

[Tyre Smoke]

Hyundai i40 Touring.

Great cars.

[Haltamer]

9G Civic as linked above is an excellent car for practicality; It has the Magic seats that open up the extremely tall passenger area for storage, and the boot is huge.

[AA88]

I actually really like the look of that Civic, tell me more about these magic seats?!

Yes a newer Leon is a really good shout as well actually!

[Haltamer]

AA88 said:

I actually really like the look of that Civic, tell me more about these magic seats?!

https://youtu.be/a404aW0BBoM

The boot is 487L, Not far short of most estates - If you can find a civic tourer, they're truly preposterous - 624L Before folding the seats down.

Also, the load floor is fully flat in both of them when you fold the seats down, so you can load the hatchback up like an estate - Or camp in it quite comfortably!

[ZX10R NIN]

There are some great options out there for your budget especially when you look past the German offerings.

308 GT 205 this may be a bit over the top power wise but it's a very good reliable car & has one of the biggest boots in it's class:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111269...

GT Line 130

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201151...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202242...

Giulietta QV Line

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112100...

V40 T2 R Design

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201101...

When it comes to value for money it's very hard to beat the Astra as an overall package especially in Elite Nav spec:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202162...

SRI VX Line Nav

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110088...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201311...

Kia Ceed GT

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202112...

GT Line

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202032...

i30 T GDI

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202182...

T GDI SE Good value as you'll still have two years of warranty left.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202022...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202022...