Golf GTI - Lesser replacement......

[Novexx]

"Her indoors" will be getting rid of her Mk7 Golf GTI shortly & a suitable replacement is being considered. In a perfect world it would be another GTI, but after two that have comprehensively leaked, she wants to move away from VW & also look at something in the £20>£25K list bracket.

Apparent she isn't interested in a "sporty" car / doesn't see the point, but has complained in the past about soft, sloppy cars with light steering & no guts when driving other cars.....go figure that one. The shortlist is all new / nearly new, all manual & looks something like;

Ford Focus ST-Line / 1.5 - 182ps

Ford Kuga ST-Line / 1.5 - 150ps

VX Astra something or other 1.4 - 150ps

Hyundai I30 / 1.4 - 140ps

Kia Ceed GT Line / 1.4 - 138ps


The Focus is probably favoured as it's a known quantity (not because it's the most powerful), but neither her or I have any experience of the others, so any opinions or alternatives appreciated.

[Belle427]

Id probably go focus st but the hyundai i30 looks a good alternative, especially the cooking n version.

[p4cks]

Audi A3 CoD?

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say the Kia Ceed GT 200 is a good shout it's a nice warm hatch comes loaded with kit & there's the 7 year warranty & you can land a low mileage nearly new model for very sensible money as well as being a better steer than everything you've listed.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

2019 Model

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/new...

ProCeed GT

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Another pick would be the Hyundai i30N, I know you weren't looking for a hot hatch but it's hard to ignore these:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

308 GT

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[KhabibSmesh]

Take a look at Civic Sport (or Sport+) 1.5 - 182PS.

Looks are subjective but it comes with a lot of tech and less of them on the road.

[rat840771]

Second the Civic sport plus, loving it. Adaptive suspension, Vtec, 7k redline. I’ve seen 55mpg on a run, give it some beans and it’s really shifts. Loads of room as well

[tallpaul26]

BMW 120i/220i. New if auto is ok or used if you want a manual.

184 bhp, 0-60 in 7 seconds.

[ZX10R NIN]

OP any of those work for you.

[Novexx]

OP back again - thanks for the response from all.

A3 is out of the question, the consecutive leaks on VAG products has put a spanner in that one I'm afraid... BMW not on the radar at all, too "premium"

It probably going to be a warm hatch or a Kuga - Civic maybe a possibility.

Reading between the lines the Astra doesn't seem to be much appreciated & a bit flat / iffy - anyone know if this is accurate?

[ZX10R NIN]

The 1.6T 200 do feel flat as they're long geared which blunts the feel but if you watch the speedo they are getting a move on.