Recommend me a sensible car!

[Ethixel]

Hi all, I am going to be in the market for a new car within the next 6 months so looking for some initial ideas for cars which fit my criteria! My budget is around 14k-16k which will be what I estimate to be around 6k part-ex for my Fiesta 1.6cdti Titanium X, and the rest financed through a personal loan.

I am going to be commuting around 40 miles a day 5 days a week, and using the car regularly on a weekend. Ideally I want something bigger than my Fiesta, and needs to have 5 doors as there will be a car seat in the back.

Stuff I want:
Heated leather/half-leather seats
Parking sensors
Apple CarPlay or sat nav
Good MPG (I would consider a hybrid but not sure I'd get one within my budget with the specified criteria)
Automatic gears
5 years old or less, 40k miles or less

Stuff that would be nice:
Heated steering wheel
Parking cameras

So far I've came across a Ford Focus Titanium X 2.0 diesel around 2 years old under 20k miles within my budget.
Could also go for a Seat Leon FR Technology 2.0 diesel for around the same price (would love an Xcellence Technology but these are slightly over budget!)
Maybe a Honda Civic roughly the same age? (Not sure what trim would fit my criteria - any suggestions)

It doesn't have to be anything fast or fun to drive, just something relatively sensible with premium features

Edited by Ethixel on Wednesday 12th December 13:06

[ZX10R NIN]

If you want your cake & eat it hybrid wise I'd be looking for an Infiniti Q50 S 35h, they come fully loaded with everything cameras nav heated seats etc:

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

They also do this same spec car in a diesel which are much more plentiful & ticks everyone of your boxes:

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

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

It also comes in the bigger Q70 form if you need the space:

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

You can get the Q30 with the same diesel drivetrain but they're not as nice a place to be as the Q50/70

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

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

The I300h is the other petrol hybrid option & whilst they're good cars they're not better than the Infiniti especially when it comes to spec:

SE

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

Luxury

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

F Sport this is the trim level you want:

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

Whilst I like a Ford for the money & quality (there fit & finish is a step above most Fords) the Infiniti brand is hard to beat at the moment.

[S100HP]

Ethixel said:

Heated leather/half-leather seats
Parking sensors
Apple CarPlay or sat nav
Good MPG (I would consider a hybrid but not sure I'd get one within my budget with the specified criteria)
Automatic gears
5 years old or less, 40k miles or less

Stuff that would be nice:
Heated steering wheel
Parking cameras

Pretty sure XC60 will do all this in budget

[Ethixel]

ZX10R NIN said:

If you want your cake & eat it hybrid wise I'd be looking for an Infiniti Q50 S 35h, they come fully loaded with everything cameras nav heated seats etc:

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

They also do this same spec car in a diesel which are much more plentiful & ticks everyone of your boxes:

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

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

It also comes in the bigger Q70 form if you need the space:

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

You can get the Q30 with the same diesel drivetrain but they're not as nice a place to be as the Q50/70

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

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

The I300h is the other petrol hybrid option & whilst they're good cars they're not better than the Infiniti especially when it comes to spec:

SE

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

Luxury

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

F Sport this is the trim level you want:

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

Whilst I like a Ford for the money & quality (there fit & finish is a step above most Fords) the Infiniti brand is hard to beat at the moment.

I previously worked at Nissan, and although I've never driven an Infiniti myself, I'd heard from colleagues that they were not impressed at all with Infiniti's when they had test drove/owned one. I must admit this was solely based on the Q30, but might be worth me exploring the Q50.

[Ethixel]

S100HP said:

Pretty sure XC60 will do all this in budget

Sorry, I should have specified that ideally I'd like a hatchback/saloon. XC60 may be a bit big for me - I'm also only 24 so may struggle to even get insured on something like this.

Edited by Ethixel on Wednesday 12th December 16:00

[ZX10R NIN]

Ethixel said:

I previously worked at Nissan, and although I've never driven an Infiniti myself, I'd heard from colleagues that they were not impressed at all with Infiniti's when they had test drove/owned one. I must admit this was solely based on the Q30, but might be worth me exploring the Q50.

The Q30 is a very different car to the Q50 the ride is in a different league so I'd go & test drive one, they don't drive aw well at the limit as a 3 series etc but for everyday driving they're great cars.