Expert answer

Hi Ger,

If you’re sticking with automatic, then your choices are very limited. We found only the Opel Grandland and SsangYong Korando, neither of which we’d be huge fans of.

Here are the manual models we found that otherwise fit the brief:

Cupra Formentor: We really like this car as it looks great, and it drives well. You might find it a little too low down for your liking as it’s not as tall an SUV as the Qashqai, but worth a look.

Dacia Duster: Not quite as solid as the Qashqai perhaps, but it’s very comfortable and you’d get more for your money - you could get a 2024 version for example.

Ford Kuga: A comfortable and well-built option. Plenty of them about.

Hyundai Tucson: Very spacious inside and in the boot. Loads of them around as it has been the best-seller for so long. Despite that it still looks interesting outside. Good reliability. Strong reputation shown by the fact that you’d probably only afford a 2022 example with your budget.

Kia Sportage: Identical to the Tucson under the skin so it just comes down to which of the two you prefer the look of. Though the Kia has a longer warranty in terms of time if mileage is low.

Mazda CX-5: Fantastic to drive and feels like a premium car in comparison to most others here. Might cost a little more to run and they’re not very plentiful on the used market.

Peugeot 3008: A stylish replacement for the Qashqai. Solid car. Double-check you can get on with the cabin layout.

SEAT Ateca: Once one of our favourite cars of this size, though it is getting on in years now. Might not feel as modern as some cars on this list, but is still well made, comfortable and spacious.

That’s still quite a long list, admittedly, but hopefully it helps you drill things down to a shortlist. We have our own preferences, and you will, too.

Feel free to come back to us if you want further help of course.

Expert answer

Hi Ed,

The G6 does not have a head-up display or a proper one-pedal-driving mode, though you can alter the level of brake energy regen through the infotainment system.

Neither does it have something called Highway Assist, though it does feature adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist etc. so it has all the hardware necessary to enable that, but XPeng doesn't appear to bundle them together to work like Highway Assist.

Read our detailed XPeng G6 review here

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Hi Louise,

It would be €710 a year. See our Motor Road Tax Prices in Ireland Explained guide for more information.

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Hi Shane,

When you're taxing a commercial vehicle for private use then the rate goes by the engine size. 

The Wildtrak can be had with 2.0 or 3.0-litre diesel engines, while the Ranger can be had with a 2.0-litre diesel or 3.0-litre petrol option. The 2.0-litre engines cost €710 a year to tax and the 3.0-litre units (doesn't matter what fuels them) are €1,494 per annum.

Read our Motor Road Tax Prices in Ireland Explained feature for full details.

Expert answer

Hi Tony,

We have indeed. Take a look at our Mazda CX-80 reviews page for the written and video reviews.

We've also since driven the car on Irish roads, so come back to us if you have specific questions not answered in the review.

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Hi Aileen,

Motor tax for cars only goes by the engine size if it was registered before 2008. If the 1.6 you’re talking about is older than that then the annual motor tax should be €514 (assuming the engine size is 1,501-1,600cc).

If the car is newer, then its tax goes by its CO₂ emissions. We’d need to know full details of the car before we could look that up for you, as the engine size and type alone aren’t sufficient.

Read our Motor Tax Prices in Ireland Explained page for more information.

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Hi June,

The first thing to note would be the size difference between these two cars. The BYD is larger overall and that’s felt inside too.

In terms of build quality, the Volvo feels more solid inside and out, though its cabin layout is more dated than the BYD's and has a smaller display. It’s also worth looking at the equipment levels of both cars, as the BYD comes with a lot of standard spec.

With regard to ride quality the Volvo is the more polished of the two, with a nicely sorted suspension setup and better one-pedal driving feel. The BYD has more performance, and has higher peak DC-charging speeds.

Read our review of the Sealion 7 here

Read our review of the Volvo EX40 here

Expert answer

Hi Gerry,

We do try to observe and mention real-world fuel consumption in our reviews, when possible, though the launch routes aren’t always very representative of the real world and sometimes are too short to get a proper feel for such things.

There’s no doubt that a car’s economy varies massively depending on where and how it is being driven, though I am a little surprised your Octavia hits nine litres per 100km at times. That sounds a little high. Maybe mention it to the garage next time you get the car serviced so they can look for any issues.

(The Skoda Octavia review can be found here)

Expert answer

Hi Brian,

Thanks for the kind comments (anyone else interested, read the full review of the BYD Sealion 7 here). The Sealion 7 will arrive in Ireland in early March this year. 

Expert answer

Hi John,

When the Tayron was first unveiled, Volkswagen Ireland did indicate that yes, it would bring in the 193hp 4x4 model and we've not had an update since then. I can see that this model is not listed on the Tayron Product Guide currently available on Volkswagen Ireland's website, but that is not unusual at the launch of a new model as it may not be initially available.