Suggestions for a reliable small hatchback?

[Jackinthebox]

Hi everyone,

I am on the lookout for my first car, and need some help with some suggestions.

I would like to buy a used reliable hatchback (2009 and newer), preferrably on the small/narrow side due to having a tiny driveway, but with 5 doors as I have family members I will need to drive to places that would find it difficult to get in the back of a 3 door car. My budget is around £4500 - £5500.

I was considering a Ford Fiesta as I like the way they look, but my dad is adamant they are unreliable cars, although I haven't found any evidence to support that just yet.

So I turn to all of you - what are your suggestions for a small, reliable hatchback? Are Fiestas decent, or is there a better alternative?

Thank you in advance

[Ilovejapcrap]

suzuki swift

[Tyre Smoke]

Vauxhall Corsa.

Cheap to run, cheap to buy, cheap to insure. Buy from Vauxhall and get a warranty.

[aka_kerrly]

Jackinthebox said:

Hi everyone,

I am on the lookout for my first car, and need some help with some suggestions.

I was considering a Ford Fiesta as I like the way they look, but my dad is adamant they are unreliable cars, although I haven't found any evidence to support that just yet.

I suspect that your dad has memories of a 1978 Fiesta that was 10 years old and completely knackered. Things have changed since then and there is absolutely nothing wrong with a 10 year old 2009 Fiesta as a first car.

Find a well maintained one with evidence of servicing /prevantitive work and it will last years.

[cuprabob]

VW Up! / Seat Mii / Skoda Citigo

[rayny]

Narrow with 5 doors = Skoda Roomster

[Mo28]

Toyota Yaris and for your budget you should be able to get a 15/16 plate. They also come with a 5 year warranty so will still have a year or two left and it can also be extended for not much money.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say a five door Fiesta is great buy at this price point but you pay a premium for the fiesta over something like a Mazda2.

Fiesta

1.0T Fiesta Titanium X

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

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

Kia Rio 3

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

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

Mazda2 Sport

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

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

Now if it was me I'd buying one of these:

Alfa Giulietta Veloce

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

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

[ninjag]

Ilovejapcrap said:

suzuki swift

I'll second this, we've got two in the family both 1.2 petrol and they have been completely faultless. Great handling and pretty nippy plus they look good as well.

When it comes to replacing I'll probably get the 1.6 Sport for extra fun for me!

[shake n bake]

Yaris

[Pica-Pica]

Seat Ibiza?

[Dabooka]

Another for Suzuki Swift.

The smaller 1.2 had problems with the gearbox, not sure when that was resolved, but the 1.5s are fine and surprisingly nippy. The higher in the range specs are generously equipped too if that matters.

My '14 plate Sport has been utterly flawless except the alloys which blister and corrode a bit too easily. Mechanically wise it's been faultless.

[Jackinthebox]

Thank you everyone who has responded so far! I have a lot to consider and look into clearly, but I appreciate all of your responses.

[SCEtoAUX]

Aygo or Yaris

[ninjag]

Dabooka said:

Another for Suzuki Swift.

The smaller 1.2 had problems with the gearbox, not sure when that was resolved, but the 1.5s are fine and surprisingly nippy. The higher in the range specs are generously equipped too if that matters.

My '14 plate Sport has been utterly flawless except the alloys which blister and corrode a bit too easily. Mechanically wise it's been faultless.

Have you got anymore info on the gearbox thing as ours are both fine but would be good to know just in case. Both 2014 models.

[Macneil]

ZX10R NIN said:

I'd say a five door Fiesta is great buy at this price point but you pay a premium for the fiesta over something like a Mazda2.

Fiesta

1.0T Fiesta Titanium X

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

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

Kia Rio 3

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

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

Mazda2 Sport

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

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

Now if it was me I'd buying one of these:

Alfa Giulietta Veloce

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

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

One of those Alfas isn't a million miles away from me I might have a look myself. By the way, always appreciate you taking the trouble to do this when anyone asks after a car.

[Silenoz]

Hyundai i10. My OH is on her second, first one was a 14 plate 1.0 Premium that was a hoot to drive and ran faultlessly for the 3 years she had it. So much so that she's bought another one, this time a 1.2 auto Premium Plus that has all the kit on it. Never going to set the world alight but I did plenty of miles in the first one commuting from the North West to the South West and it was a nice car that felt bigger than it actually is.

[lornemalvo]

Just bought my wife a Skoda Citigo. Good reputation and easily the best in class in my opinion. Cracking car. (vw up and seat mii basically same car)

[Ron99]

rayny said:

Narrow with 5 doors = Skoda Roomster

Narrow with 5 doors = Vauxhall Viva. Body width = 160cm.

Fairly simple cars. No turbo, no direct injection etc so not much to go wrong compared to many other modern cars with complex engines, drivetrains and electronics.

3-4yr old Vivas can be found within OP's ~£5k budget
Note that half of them don't have aircon or USB socket as standard, if that matters.

Fairly slow but cheap to tax/insure/fuel and considering it's a 'granny car' it's surprisingly good to chuck about on a back road, as long as it's not poor weather because its Eco tyres fitted as standard aren't up to much in poorer weather.
55-profile tyres on steel rims have no fear of potholes.

Good all-round visibility and easy to park.

What's not to like? Well, there's the unfashionable badge. Also the clutch is unusual so it can be clumsy to pull away smoothly if not careful.

[sjc]

I drove an MG3 yesterday, other than the engine feeling a bit old hat, it was all perfectly acceptable, nothing rattled and loads of room.
You’d get a very recent one with loads of kit in your budget.