Fiesta vs. Polo vs. Civic

[mhulks]

I’m after a smallish hatchback. Only needed for 7k miles / year. Reliability is important and, being honest, something decent looking.

As things stand, my ordering of the above options is probably Polo, Fiesta then Civic. Would folk agree? Are there particular engines, models etc I should seek out or avoid?

Budget is up to £6K.

Thanks!

Edited by mhulks on Monday 27th December 16:59

[Pica-Pica]

Budget?

[Glosphil]

A Civic is larger than a Fiesta or Polo & has a lager engine - 1.4+, rarher than 1.0+.

[mhulks]

Sorry! Up to £6k.

[LightningBlue]

You should be able to get a tidy 1.8 Civic Type S GT for that budget, I'd go for that out of those options - excellent economy, spacious inside and still look great. Just check all the goodies work

[ZX10R NIN]

Most cars are robust & reliable so with a 6k budget you have a lot of nice options that are 2010 or newer with less than 60k, from your list it would be the Fiesta first preferably in Titanium 100 spec:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111290...

Then the 1.8i Civic Type S GT 140:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112170...

With the Polo last.

If you want a nice looking reliable well spec'd car I'd say take a good look at the Alfa Giulietta 1.4T 170 in Veloce spec:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112230...

If four doors aren't a must then the Astra GTC SRI 180 is a very good buy at this price point:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111099...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109287...

The 1.6T 208 in either 5dr Feline 120:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109287...

3dr XY 155:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111159...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112210...

The above would be my top three given you're brief.

[stevemcs]

In order of reliability, Civic, Fiesta, Polo, although if the Polo is on your shortlist then i'd consider the Fabia and Ibiza.

However the Yaris and Jazz will meet the criteria of small and be miles more reliable. I'd also suggest the VW UP, its reliable although we have seen a few with AC compressor failure.

[Pica-Pica]

stevemcs said:

In order of reliability, Civic, Fiesta, Polo, although if the Polo is on your shortlist then i'd consider the Fabia and Ibiza.

However the Yaris and Jazz will meet the criteria of small and be miles more reliable. I'd also suggest the VW UP, its reliable although we have seen a few with AC compressor failure.

That would be my list too, except the Civic is not especially small, or easy to see out of for parking, etc.

[georgeyboy12345]

At your budget, you might struggle to get a good Fiesta - you'll want a post-2014 1.0 Ecoboost engine as they didn't have problems with the coolant hose failing and setting the engine on fire, but then post 2014 models will be high mileage and be due the expensive wet cambelt replacement soon, that is a £1000 job. The other option is one of the 1.25 Zetecs that are a bit slower, but then they will also be due the cambelt soon too at 8 years/100,000 miles. They have a more conventional timing belt, so will cost £4-500, but it's still a cost you don't need.

For the Polos, go for a post-2012 model and avoid the TSI engines if you want maximum reliability. Here's a nice 1.4 Match that had the cambelt replaced in 2018, it'll need doing again in 2023.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111249...

Also worth considering is the Seat Ibiza and Skoda Fabia, as they are essentially the same car. You can usually get newer/lower mileage over a Polo. Here's a nice Seat Ibiza 1.4 Toca
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110268...


The nice thing about the Honda Civic, is the 1.4 i-VTEC is chain driven. These are very reliable cars, I'd have no hesitation in getting a higher mileage one like this
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112060...


Other Japanese cars I'd be looking at

Mazda 2 1.5 Sport
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107054...


Suzuki Swift 1.2 SZ3
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112140...


Toyota Yaris 1.3 VVT-i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111129...


Korean cars are also worth a look - these two are only just out of their 7 year warranty

Kia Proceed 1.6 S Ecodynamics
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112100...


Hyundai i30 1.4
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111069...


Even these French and Italian cars are reliable choices

Renault Clio 0.9 TCe
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112210...


Fiat Punto 1.4 8v
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111189...


Alfa Romeo 1.4 TB
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112020...

[mhulks]

Thanks for all this information. It’s hard to get away from the reliability the civic seems to being - a key criteria of ours.

I hadn’t appreciated the chain driven aspect too - is this the same for the 1.8 petrol engine?

[georgeyboy12345]

Chain driven doesn't necessarily mean the car will be more reliable - for example a lot of German cars have chain driven motors, but can have problems with stretched timing chains (usually due to poor tensioner design) that can wreck the engine! The Hondas are pretty good though. It varies from model to model.

The 1.8 i-VTEC in the Civic is also chain driven, is very reliable and economical, I would definitely consider this engine too.

I'm pretty sure the Swift, Yaris, Hyundai, Kia and Clio also have timing chains rather than belts and don't have problems with chain failure.

[ZX10R NIN]

mhulks said:

Thanks for all this information. It’s hard to get away from the reliability the civic seems to being - a key criteria of ours.

I hadn’t appreciated the chain driven aspect too - is this the same for the 1.8 petrol engine?

Everything I listed above is as reliable as the Civic but some will have to have cam belt changes & others have chains too, for me the Giulietta is the pick.

Also if you don't mind going bigger the Mazda6 is great value (especially when compared to Focus sized hatches) at the moment:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107124...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112230...

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

These also have cam chains & would be my pick over a Civic.

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Tuesday 28th December 17:16

[exelero]

georgeyboy12345 said:

At your budget, you might struggle to get a good Fiesta - you'll want a post-2014 1.0 Ecoboost engine as they didn't have problems with the coolant hose failing and setting the engine on fire, but then post 2014 models will be high mileage and be due the expensive wet cambelt replacement soon, that is a £1000 job. The other option is one of the 1.25 Zetecs that are a bit slower, but then they will also be due the cambelt soon too at 8 years/100,000 miles. They have a more conventional timing belt, so will cost £4-500, but it's still a cost you don't need.

For the Polos, go for a post-2012 model and avoid the TSI engines if you want maximum reliability. Here's a nice 1.4 Match that had the cambelt replaced in 2018, it'll need doing again in 2023.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111249...

Also worth considering is the Seat Ibiza and Skoda Fabia, as they are essentially the same car. You can usually get newer/lower mileage over a Polo. Here's a nice Seat Ibiza 1.4 Toca
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110268...


The nice thing about the Honda Civic, is the 1.4 i-VTEC is chain driven. These are very reliable cars, I'd have no hesitation in getting a higher mileage one like this
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112060...


Other Japanese cars I'd be looking at

Mazda 2 1.5 Sport
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107054...


Suzuki Swift 1.2 SZ3
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112140...


Toyota Yaris 1.3 VVT-i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111129...


Korean cars are also worth a look - these two are only just out of their 7 year warranty

Kia Proceed 1.6 S Ecodynamics
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112100...


Hyundai i30 1.4
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111069...


Even these French and Italian cars are reliable choices

Renault Clio 0.9 TCe
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112210...


Fiat Punto 1.4 8v
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111189...


Alfa Romeo 1.4 TB
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112020...

Why is it a thousand pins job though?

[stevemcs]

exelero said:

Why is it a thousand pins job though?

It’s been ages since I’ve quoted on one but apart from all of the timing tools you need to buy it’s something like 9-10 hours, cambelt kit, new covers, sump off so oil and filter change etc