What small 5dr family car £6k

[willmagrath]

Hi all,

We currently have a 3 series touring and a 3dr peugeot 208 and a baby due.

I feel that having a 3dr car with the size of modern baby seats may not cut it.

Any suggestions for something small ish to replace the 208? Reliable, frugal, ULEZ, not an SUV, not too long, £6k ish.

Thanks

[Matt_T]

Would you consider a small SUV like the below?
Suzuki Vitara
Honda HRV
Mitsubishi ASX

I only mention because it is handy being able to mount kerb / hit potholes without worrying as much as you would in a small car

[Jamescrs]

Modern baby seats are unfortunately a pain in how bulky they are, I recall some years ago I had a Mk3 Focus and even that was really too small in the rear for a modern baby seat, my wife who is around 5ft7 was struggling for legroom in the front passenger seat and there was no chance of putting it behind the drivers seat.

A small SUV or dare I say MPV will likely be your best option here, a more upright seating position is a benefit.

[princeperch]

it isn't really a SUV although it looks like one and with the right spec it is capable off road.

with your budget there is one very clear answer:

Dacia Duster.

[willmagrath]

princeperch said:

it isn't really a SUV although it looks like one and with the right spec it is capable off road.

with your budget there is one very clear answer:

Dacia Duster.

Ooo, now, I would buy a duster to be fair. Always liked them and very cheap!!

[Chris_i8]

Renault Zoe?..assuming you have a drive to charge it up on rather than using public charging?!.

Astra 1.4t Elite?
Civic 1.8?
Kia Ceed?

[Tony_T]

Kia Sportage would be decent and not too big.

[willmagrath]

Chris_i8 said:

Renault Zoe?..assuming you have a drive to charge it up on rather than using public charging?!.

Astra 1.4t Elite?
Civic 1.8?
Kia Ceed?

Zoe isn't a bad shout to be honest!

[ZX10R NIN]

Infiniti Q30 Premium:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509025...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509196...

Mazda3 Sport Nav:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510046...

1.4T Astra Elite Nav:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410265...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509256...

Kia Rio 4:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510076...

Ceed GT:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510127...

If the Zoe could work what about a Gen2 Leaf:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503220...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510167...

[Pica-Pica]

Fabia. Takes four adults easily, plus all varieties of child seats.
If a taller vehicle needed a Yeti.

[Matt_T]

If you really want an easy life, get a small van-based minibus with sliding doors and run this for a couple of years.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/18991833

Edited by Matt_T on Friday 17th October 07:38

[AmaSco12]

Duster all the way. I manage 2 car seats in the back plus the boot is big enough for all the kids stuff. Mines done about 18,000 miles, of rough Scottish A roads and a few motorway blasts, in a year and all it’s cost me is a rear spring, a tyre (puncture), a service kit and an MOT. Cannot fault it in any way. Mines a 66plate 1.5 diesel.

[Oberheim]

Pica-Pica said:

Fabia. Takes four adults easily, plus all varieties of child seats.
If a taller vehicle needed a Yeti.

Fabia estates and Yetis are good shouts but the Skoda Roomster might fit the bill better - could get an excellent low mileage late (2015) Roomster for under 5K

[ScoobyChris]

willmagrath said:

Zoe isn't a bad shout to be honest!

If you’re considering electric, the Leaf is worth a look too. Lot of car for the money!

[POIDH]

Oberheim said:

Pica-Pica said:

Fabia. Takes four adults easily, plus all varieties of child seats.
If a taller vehicle needed a Yeti.

Fabia estates and Yetis are good shouts but the Skoda Roomster might fit the bill better - could get an excellent low mileage late (2015) Roomster for under 5K

As a Fabia estate owner (and having owned a Cordoba Vario and Polo 'bread van' before) I can confirm that small estate cars are the shizzles for needing small footprint / enough room for family. I carry my 18 month old nephew a few times recently - his car seat is huuuuge, and barely fits in his parents Mazda 2. But our Fabia gives him a lot more space and easier to get the seat in etc.

[Oberheim]

I'm a big fan of small footprint cars with decent load capacity.

The now extinct 'supermini estate' category fitted that brief superbly. Skoda Fabia estate, Seat Ibiza estate, Renault Clio ST and Dacia Logan MCV all offered compactness (including being narrow) with family-sized load lugging capability. None can be bought new nowadays - the rise of crossovers and compact SUVs killed them off.

[Russet Grange]

ScoobyChris said:

willmagrath said:

Zoe isn't a bad shout to be honest!

If you re considering electric, the Leaf is worth a look too. Lot of car for the money!

Couldn't agree more. Take this for example:

https://www.cinch.co.uk/used-cars/nissan/leaf/deta...

That's a three year old car, with fewer than 20k miles on the clock, that will cost almost nothing in fuel and is awash with kit. They're reliable too, no oily bits to go wrong or need cambelts etc. If you've got a driveway and don't want to drive more than 120 miles/day, these are an absolute no-brainer.

Other EVs out there, and the main negative is ChaDemo charging, but these are a very very good choice in many ways.

[princeperch]

Oberheim said:

I'm a big fan of small footprint cars with decent load capacity.

The now extinct 'supermini estate' category fitted that brief superbly. Skoda Fabia estate, Seat Ibiza estate, Renault Clio ST and Dacia Logan MCV all offered compactness (including being narrow) with family-sized load lugging capability. None can be bought new nowadays - the rise of crossovers and compact SUVs killed them off.

I have a Dacia Logan MCV 2016. It's probably as joyless as you can get from a performance and driving experience but you don't own a car like that to get your kicks. It's enormous inside with the seats folded down.

I have roof bars on mine and there isn't much I couldn't get into or onto it. Massive sheets of MDF or plasterboard or a ton of stuff to go to the tip.

I paid 6k for mine at 3 years old and it's cost me:

1) a few tyres but I am a cheapskate and only buy cheap Chinese ones so no wonder.

2) a set of pads and discs

3) a set of pads

4) an indicator stalk

5) the usual filters, oil every year.

In the 7 years I've owned the car it's prob cost me about £600 in consumables and servicing. I got two year free servicing when I purchased it and have self serviced it since.

Absolute peanuts. Id have another Dacia in a heartbeat but they are now getting expensive. They don't impress the neighbours or anything but if you plan to buy a car for 6k and run it into the group they are a compelling choice. I hope to keep mine for a little while yet, particularly as the road tax is only £20 a year.

Edited by princeperch on Friday 17th October 19:32

[Oberheim]

ScoobyChris said:

If you re considering electric, the Leaf is worth a look too. Lot of car for the money!

The Leaf is a good suggestion (my neighbour is very happy with his ‘19 plate Leaf) but it’s quite long at nearly 4.5 metres. OP would prefer a relatively short load lugger I think.

[ScoobyChris]

Oberheim said:

The Leaf is a good suggestion (my neighbour is very happy with his 19 plate Leaf) but it s quite long at nearly 4.5 metres. OP would prefer a relatively short load lugger I think.

The 208 is around 4m (slightly above or below depending on age) - I’m not sure how much you’d really notice 40-50cm…

Chris