Comfortable Commuting Car for a Car Hater...

[Sterillium]

Help.

A family member (who doesn't really like cars) needs advice on what to buy for a life of commuting. They always ask me because I love cars, but I don't love the kind of car he generally buys so I don't know anything about them...

What would fit the bill do we think?

>>> To be used for 25 miles per day on A and B roads
>>> Must be comfortable and luxurious
>>> Must be at least 50mpg
>>> Must be very reliable (it will be used and abused as white goods)
>>> Must look good in the company car park (apparently "at least as good as a Range Rover"... whatever that means )
>>> Doesn't really care about body type, so saloon, estate, whatever
>>> Not "too old", but, again, no clue how old is too old?!?
>>> Has to be automatic

£25k -or- lease less than £500pcm (I know absolutely zero about leasing)

[NDNDNDND]

Might be able to man-maths his way into a Tesla?

I can't think of a better car for someone who wants as little to do with their car as possible, but still projects the right image in the corporate car park.

[Pebbles167]

Current Nissan Qashqai. Fits the criteria, although outright purchase price is just over £25k. Easily find a lease deal for under £500 though.

[Bannock]

Lexus GS 450h.

[Truckosaurus]

Bannock said:

Lexus GS 450h.

I'd suggest an RX rather than a GS as they are more plentiful (and still in production).

There's only 9 GSs younger than 10 years old on the whole Autotrader.

(Edit: but will get nowhere near 50mpg in the real world)

A CT200h might meet the MPG requirement but you'll look like an Uber driver.

[Bannock]

Well nearly new, prestigious, luxurious and economical is quite an ask. So it's kind of "pick 2 out of the 4". Unless you consider diesels luxurious, in which case I'd probably suggest a Mercedes E with a 6-cylinder engine.

There's one Lexus ES in budget on Autotrader - only 3 years old and 53mpg combined.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210140...

[CG2020UK]

This has a Volvo SUV written all over it.

XC40 maybe?

[sunnyb13]

+1 for Volvo suv.

[ZX10R NIN]

If they have no interest in cars & it's pure white goods then they can still have a decent car, I'd recommend the Kia Xceed in 1.5T 4 Spec:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210190...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212122...

They'll still have 6 Years of warranty left & a real world average of 45mpg:

Or if they don't need to be high up the Ceed in GT:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211071...

GT Line S:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212032...

Or a brand new 1.0T Stonic GT Line S hybrid with two years free servicing & a £1500 contribution if you take they're finance:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212192...

Or if they defiantly won't settle for less than 50mpg, the diesel hybrid Ceed GT Line is the one:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212062...

[cheesejunkie]

ZX10R NIN said:

If they have no interest in cars & it's pure white goods then they can still have a decent car, I'd recommend the Kia Xceed in 1.5T 4 Spec:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210190...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212122...

They'll still have 6 Years of warranty left & a real world average of 45mpg:

Or if they don't need to be high up the Ceed in GT:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211071...

GT Line S:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212032...

Or a brand new 1.0T Stonic GT Line S hybrid with two years free servicing & a £1500 contribution if you take they're finance:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212192...

Or if they defiantly won't settle for less than 50mpg, the diesel hybrid Ceed GT Line is the one:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212062...

All great options but do they fit this requirement ...

Sterillium said:

>>> Must look good in the company car park (apparently "at least as good as a Range Rover"... whatever that means hehe)

... for me they do but I'm guessing maybe not for someone who hates cars but for whom presentation is important. Unfortunately badge snobbery exists and if Range Rover comparisons are on the criteria a Kia probably doesn't cut it.

I'd lean Volvo XC(biggest one you can buy in budget that's not too old to be acceptable) for that reason. Even though it wouldn't be my first pick in car for the rest of the criteria and would agree with your choices.

[georgeyboy12345]

I think these requirements just scream Lexus or something from Toyota group

Lexus ES300h saloon
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210140...

GS300h saloon
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212202...

CT200h hatchback
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212192...

UX250h SUV
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210251...

Larger NX300h SUV
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206016...

IS300h saloon
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211292...


Sticking with Toyota Group, you could get this brand new in stock Toyota Corolla 1.8 VVT-h hybrid with £3800 off list
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211081...

Of if they want an SUV they could have this RAV4 2.5 VVT-h
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210220...

If that's a bit big, they could go for this C-HR 1.8 VVT-h
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211221...


If they are scared of hybrids or for some reason dislike Toyota group, there's always this Volvo V40 T2
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211111...

[msportpanda]

Sounds like this person is best off with a premium softroader of somesort:

GLC
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212142...

X3
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211221...

Q5
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212092...

[Marc p]

740e?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212092...

I always say though that there is no such thing as a person who doesn’t care about cars, they are just people yet to drive the right car. If my only experience of cars were 1.0 Fiestas, Renault Espaces and Vauxhall Insignias, I’d probably despise cars as well

[anonymous-user]

Marc p said:

740e?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212092...

I always say though that there is no such thing as a person who doesn’t care about cars, they are just people yet to drive the right car. If my only experience of cars were 1.0 Fiestas, Renault Espaces and Vauxhall Insignias, I’d probably despise cars as well

Sounds like this person does care about cars, because it has to "look as good as a range rover" but cost less than £25k and do 50mpg... so actually, someone who does care about cars would be much easier to help as they wouldn't provide impossible criteria

[Sterillium]

MrBig said:

so actually, someone who does care about cars would be much easier to help as they wouldn't provide impossible criteria

[ZX10R NIN]

cheesejunkie said:

ZX10R NIN said:

If they have no interest in cars & it's pure white goods then they can still have a decent car, I'd recommend the Kia Xceed in 1.5T 4 Spec:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210190...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212122...

They'll still have 6 Years of warranty left & a real world average of 45mpg:

Or if they don't need to be high up the Ceed in GT:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211071...

GT Line S:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212032...

Or a brand new 1.0T Stonic GT Line S hybrid with two years free servicing & a £1500 contribution if you take they're finance:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212192...

Or if they defiantly won't settle for less than 50mpg, the diesel hybrid Ceed GT Line is the one:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212062...

All great options but do they fit this requirement ...

Sterillium said:

>>> Must look good in the company car park (apparently "at least as good as a Range Rover"... whatever that means hehe)

... for me they do but I'm guessing maybe not for someone who hates cars but for whom presentation is important. Unfortunately badge snobbery exists and if Range Rover comparisons are on the criteria a Kia probably doesn't cut it.

I'd lean Volvo XC(biggest one you can buy in budget that's not too old to be acceptable) for that reason. Even though it wouldn't be my first pick in car for the rest of the criteria and would agree with your choices.

Missed that part in that in that case an Evoque HSE Dynamic is the pick:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212082...

Autobiography:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212072...

3.0d F Pace:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211141...

[codenamecueball]

Volvo S60 - can be had nearly new for that and a sharp looker, except 50mpg is attainable only in dreams.

[Mouse Rat]

New shape E class coupe would tick most of those boxes.