Mid Size Hatchback around 5/6k??

[davidif]

I'm at a transition in my life, after a divorce a few years ago and starting to get back on my feet as it were.

I'm looking to spend 5 or 6K on a Mid sized hatchback. Not particularly looking for fun, just reliability ease of ownership and convenience. i do around 17-18k miles per anum so ideally want a diesel with a 1.6 engine or larger. i'm considering Honda Civic, Kia Ceed and Hyundai I30.

Any obvious candidates i may have missed?

All input greatly appreciated.

[irocfan]

obvious choice would be a Focus, slightly less obvious a DS3

[PTF]

Civic with the 1.6 i-DTEC engine gets my vote.

It's a very good engine and has been developed from the ground-up with DPF in mind, so shouldn't suffer the issues that other diesel engines can.

Mine is returning an average of 60mpg. The trip says 64mpg but it's optimistic. Hypermiling it'll push into the 80s mpg.

A 530 mile tank (with reserve light just come on) only takes about 39 litres to fill up. 600 miles on a £50-£55 fill up is realistic.

[blue_haddock]

I've currently got a 1.6 CRDi Kia C'eed and my god is it dull! Engine is no ball of fire and handling is not exactly anything to write home about.

[vtecyo]

You could get a very good top spec FN shape Civic with the 2.2 engine with that budget. Supposed to be pretty good, although I'm not that au fait with Hondiesels.

[Torquey]

Mazda 3 2.2. 182bhp and plenty of gadgetry inside.

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