Which hatchback for £7k to £11ish?

[ecotec]

Looking to buy a £7-11k hatchback for commute duties, 8k a year miles.

Looking for:
Reliability
Comfortable
Quick enough for dual carriageway + m'way use
Not much bigger than an Astra/Golf - limited driveway space
Manual (6 speed)
Cruise C,

Nice to haves:
Rear camera
Parking sensors
if petrol non turbo'd engine
Ideally less than £185 tax

Thoughts so far:

-Toyota Auris - 14 and before have 1,6 petrol, well spec'd in icon+ and Excel
-Honda Civic - petrol (perhaps the diesel?)
-Ford Focus (1.5 diesel not the 1litre ecoboost)
-Mazda 3 (had a '17 which was nice before)
-Volvo V40 (likely diesel one as they almost all are)
-Vauxhall Astra - 1.4 turbo (good value?)

I've crossed off:
-Golf - too expensive for what you get
-Leon - maybe?

What is the view on petrol v diesel? commute is 12 miles and half town, half dual carriageway. However longer journeys almost every weekend.

Likewise is a small turbo petrol a good solution? Or am I better to find an NA petrol - Mazda, Auris, Civic etc?

[SlowV6]

Just wondering why non-turbo for the petrol? If you reconsider then I would suggest Focus 1.6T ecoboost in either 150bhp or 180bhp form, or an Astra 1.6T (200bhp so somewhat of a sleeper). Both of these offer good value for money. Astra with that engine would be at the high end of the budget.

[ecotec]

SlowV6 said:

Just wondering why non-turbo for the petrol? If you reconsider then I would suggest Focus 1.6T ecoboost in either 150bhp or 180bhp form, or an Astra 1.6T (200bhp so somewhat of a sleeper). Both of these offer good value for money. Astra with that engine would be at the high end of the budget.

Thanks for your post,
Regarding avoid non-turbo - really just looking for less maintenance costs going forward but also performance, I hired a 1 litre ecoboost focus and it was dog slow and I hated the turbo lag. However the 150bhp focus or the 1.6t astra are rather in a different league so could both be worth a look - thanks

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

I wouldn't be too quick to discount the Golf.

[Mo28]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

I wouldn't be too quick to discount the Golf.

Second this. The golf comes with the best kit as standard than most hatchbacks in your price range.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Mo28 said:

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

I wouldn't be too quick to discount the Golf.

Second this. The golf comes with the best kit as standard than most hatchbacks in your price range.

Best advice is to sit in one & drive it before discounting

[ecotec]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Best advice is to sit in one & drive it before discounting

Will add it into the list, looking at spec it's seems Match or above has everything I want and i guess they will hold their value well too

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

ecotec said:

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Best advice is to sit in one & drive it before discounting

Will add it into the list, looking at spec it's seems Match or above has everything I want and i guess they will hold their value well too

We've run one Golf or another (and sometimes three at a time) since 1988, so I am a bit biased

And not all brand new either!

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

The other half has had this one since (nearly) new. Knocking on for 100,000 and everything is as it should be. Still delivers a super drive.

[ecotec]

I've taken the hint! found a Match with the winter pack on a '15 - will call the dealer tomorrow for a look.
2 yr warranty will vw at the moment too which is handy

[Yegap]

I’ve got a focus titanium X - it’s got great gear as standard and is so insanely cheap to run. Parts cost relative pennies compared to VAG, 60 mpg is easily achievable on a run, £0 tax. Comfort is decent but it’s let down by the seats imo. It’s not the most refined obviously but it’s very good for the price.

[C G]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

The other half has had this one since (nearly) new. Knocking on for 100,000 and everything is as it should be. Still delivers a super drive.

Is that The Park?

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

C G said:

Is that The Park?

It is.

[ecotec]

Yegap said:

I’ve got a focus titanium X - it’s got great gear as standard and is so insanely cheap to run. Parts cost relative pennies compared to VAG, 60 mpg is easily achievable on a run, £0 tax. Comfort is decent but it’s let down by the seats imo. It’s not the most refined obviously but it’s very good for the price.

thanks for the info, have you got a 1.5 derv?

[Whataguy]

I’ve owned civic, Auris and v40.

From the list, the golfs do drive well. If the budget allows, they are the best.

Civic was good, decent running costs and reliable.

Auris not as good to drive.

V40 unfortunately mine spent many days in the dealers - some parts seem to take a week to get into stock. Also issues with door locks failing (£400 each) as well as expensive servicing/parts. The v40 is actually closely related to the Focus as Ford owned them. Tech in the v40 is out of date compared to others now.

Mark 7 astras are right in budget, I’d considered the 1.4 myself and shortlisted it.

Edited by Whataguy on Monday 20th December 20:56

[Yegap]

ecotec said:

thanks for the info, have you got a 1.5 derv?

Yeah, it’s not bad ands decent steer for what it is. I forgot to say, the tech is bad. I’ve got used to it now but when I first got it having come from bmw idrive 4 it was very very difficult.

[Raino144]

There’s a Readers Cars thread with a 1.5 derv Focus on here… well worth a read

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Edit: now with link

[ZX10R NIN]

If you look at the alternates to the normal picks you can land yourself a very smart swift reliable well spec'd hatch for your budget.

1.6d Astra Elite Nav BiTurbo 160

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111179...

1.6d SRI VX Line Nav 160

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111129...

1.6T SRI Nav 200

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111259...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111029...

1.6d 4Tech 135 you'll have 1-2 years warranty too:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112160...

1.6i 4Tech 130:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112100...

1.6T Infiniti Q30 Premium 120:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110068...

2.0i Mazda3 Sport Nav 160

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111119...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111249...

2.0i Sport Nav 120

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111179...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111259...

1.4T Alfa Giulietta 150

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112140...

Leftfield

1.6T Nissan Pulsar Tekna 190 these are a rare find & they're very much at the lower end of your budget for a 2015 car:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112090...

[georgeyboy12345]

Don't get a diesel, you don't do enough miles. On the other hand, not too sure about your hang-ups with turbocharged petrols, the ones I have driven have been fine. Maybe stick above 1.4 litres and you'll be ok.

I wouldn't rule out Golfs or Leons, both are decent cars at your budget. Here are some

VW Golf 1.4 TSI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111049...


Seat Leon FRs

1.4 TSI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111019...

or for a bit more oomph, the 1.8 TSI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112060...


Also, essentially the same car is the Audi A3 and Skoda Octavia

Audi A3 1.4 TFSI Sportback
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111279...

Skoda Octavia 1.4 TSI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111199...


Other turbocharged cars worth considering

Alfa Romeo Giulietta

1.4 TB - this one has had the cambelt recently replaced and a FSH - the reliability of these is actually very good
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112020...

this 1.8 TBi will certainly be quick enough for motorways, slightly more fragile than the 1.4, but reliable if oil is changed regularly
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109087...


BMW 118i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112080...


Volvo V40 T3
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109277...


Here are some normally aspirated options

Mazda 3 2.0 SE-L
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112120...


Honda Civic 1.8 i-VTEC
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111169...


Kia Ceed 1.6 EcoDynamics
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112100...


Ford Focus 1.6 Titanium
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111199...

[David_M]

ZX10R NIN said:

If you look at the alternates to the normal picks you can land yourself a very smart swift reliable well spec'd hatch for your budget.
2.0i Mazda3 Sport Nav 160

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111119...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111249...

I have just bought one of these and am very happy with it. It is not a sports car, but very practical, comfortable, well-equipped and reminds me of my Mondeo Mk3 in the way that it handles.

Part of my rationale for buying it was chain cam and no turbo (trading in a Citroen puretech 1.2, which is an amazingly good engine but I was a little bit nervous about long-term longevity)