Looking for used electric or hybrid SUV...
Hi,
I am in the market for second hand car and would like to buy a small hybrid or electric SUV; what would you suggest? I am very confused as there are so many different cars out there now. I have been looking at the CH-R and Kona Electric, but think they are overpriced. Do you think now is a good time to buy or should I wait?
Catherine, Dublin
CATHERINE OCONNOR (DALKEY)Jun 2020 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Catherine,
Now is a good time to buy a hybrid, that’s for certain, but given that the Toyota C-HR and Hyundai Kona are among the very few hybrid crossovers currently on sale, you may struggle a little to find choice beyond those two models. It could be well worth looking at a Toyota Corolla or Auris hatchback or estate instead — they’re more practical, in any case, and there’s very little actual difference in height. Alternatively, there’s the Kia Niro hybrid, which was on sale from 2017. Prices for early Niros are now down to around €20,000, and they’ll still be under warranty until 2024.
Diesel Avensis or petrol Corolla?
Hi there,
I’ve had a 1.4 petrol, three-door 2000 Toyota Corolla for years, but I need to change it and I’m looking at a 1.4 petrol five-door 2010 Toyota Corolla or a 2.0 diesel five-door 2011 Toyota Avensis. They're similar mileage with the Avensis slightly more expensive, but the tax is more on the Corolla. I don’t do a lot of mileage but my husband commutes and could take my car occasionally.
Denise Murphy (Rhode)Mar 2020 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Denise,
If you’re not doing big miles every week, then the diesel Avensis just makes no sense (other than the fact that it’s a bit bigger and comfier than the Corolla). With relatively low mileage you’re much better off with a petrol engine, and besides — even if your husband is using it occasionally for longer runs — that Toyota 1.4 engine is very economical so I think the Corolla is the best choice here.
Weights of the Astra, Megane and Corolla?
Empty car weight for 2020 examples of the Opel Astra, Renault Megane and Toyota Corolla?
Wafaa H (Rhode)Feb 2020 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Wafaa,
Well, obviously vehicle weight will vary according to engine and equipment, but let’s take the best-case scenario in all cases: petrol engine and a manual gearbox (except in the case of the Toyota, which is only available as a hybrid). The officially quoted kerb weights are: Opel Astra 1.2 Turbo - 1,205kg. Renault Megane 1.3 TCe - 1,231kg. Toyota Corolla 1.8 Hybrid CVT - 1,345kg
Do these Toyotas use the same powertrain?
Hello guys,
Is the 2005 Toyota Avensis 1.6 engine and gearbox the same as 2005 Corolla Verso 1.6 engine and gearbox?
Thanks
Val Koen (Dublin)Nov 2019 Filed under: servicing
Expert answer
Hi Val,
Yes, they use the same engine and gearbox. There may be some external differences and different wiring looms of course, but the mechanicals are the same.
A Toyota a replace my Skoda Superb with?
Hi,
I currently have a Skoda Superb estate, which I find handy for the occasional bulky load. I was thinking of probably changing it for a similar model (having daydreamed of more exotic cars like a Ford Raptor - I'm just not willing to pay the annual road tax). However, there is a view out there that the most reliable cars are Toyotas. Is there a Toyota that would come close to to the Superb estate in terms of load capacity?
Thanks
Philip
Philip Donegan (Ballina)Aug 2019 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Philip,
Well, you’re right about Toyotas being reliable. In fact, if reliability is your ultimate goal, then Toyota, Honda and Subaru are usually your safest bets. That said, Skoda is rarely that far behind the big Japanese names in reliability terms, and often is the best-performing European marque in that regard. In terms of load capacity, the answer is almost, but not quite. The roomiest boot in the in the Toyota range right now belongs to the Corolla Touring Sports estate. Now, this is one of our favourite cars right now — good looking, good to drive and with a seriously frugal and future-proofed hybrid engine, but with a 598-litre boot, it’s some 62 litres short of the Superb Combi. Still worth considering though, as, if you can live without the extra litres in the back, then it’s a more cost-effective purchase than the Skoda.
Another alternative is the new RAV4 Hybrid. Again, this is smaller than the Superb in the back — 580 litres when loaded up to the windows — but the boot is big and square, and again the hybrid engine is frugal and it’s got reliability on its side.
Worth remembering though that Skoda is refreshing the Superb this year (order books are open now for delivery later in the year) and there will be a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid in fact, this time around, so it might be worth waiting for that before making a final decision.
Relevant reviews:
Toyota Corolla 1.8 Hybrid Touring Sports estate (2019) review
Most economical 1.4-litre cars?
What is the most economical 1.4 petrol or diesel car in Ireland, max 2015?
Ed Burke (Cork)Expert answer
Hi Ed,
That is an answer that will vary massively depending on which model of car you’re talking about. There are some Hyundai i30s and Kia Ceeds from around that era that came with a 1.4 diesel engine that would be hugely economical. You might be able to track down some Peugeot or Citroen models (a 2008 would be a good choice) with a 1.4 HDi diesel engine that’s good on juice, too. There’s also the Toyota Corolla or Auris D-4D, or if you don’t fancy diesel, the same cars with the 1.33-litre VVTi petrol engine, which was not too thirsty.
Looking for a spacious family car...
Looking for recommendations for a family car for a two-year old and a newborn. Petrol, good legroom and boot size, affordable and doesn't feel 'huge' to drive or difficult to park. Already checked out Skoda Octavia and Nissan Qashqai so any advice on these? We weren't looking to buy a brand new car but they both seem to have good scrappage deals...
Orla Greaney (Dublin)Mar 2019 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Orla,
Get the Skoda. Trust me, as the father of two growing boys a Qashqai is just not big enough inside. The Octavia, on the other hand, has lots of rear legroom (crucial for people in rear-facing child seats or boosters) and a massive boot, especially if you go for the very practical Combi estate version. If you’re looking for other alternatives, stick within the mid-size estate market — they’re much more practical for families than a compact SUV, and usually cheaper too run too. Oh, and they’re not much bigger than the hatchbacks they’re based on, so parking etc. is still a doddle.
Good alternatives to the Skoda are the Ford Focus Estate, the Kia Ceed Sportswagon, the Hyundai i30 Tourer and the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports. Click on those links to read our reviews of each.
Have you a list of all the hybrids in Ireland?
Do you have a list of hybrids?
Thanks
Tony O'Brien (Shankill, Dublin 18)Feb 2019 Filed under: hybrid
Expert answer
Hi Tony,
Currently you can buy the following hybrids on the Irish market: Toyota Corolla, CH-R, RAV4, Prius, Yaris, and there are probably a few run-out examples of the Auris Hybrid out there still in dealerships. There’s also the Kia Niro and the Hyundai Ioniq. There’s the full Lexus range — CT, IS, RC, GS, ES, LS, NX, RX and LC. There’s the Ford Mondeo Hybrid, too. There’s the new Honda CR-V Hybrid, some Mercedes diesel-hybrids and petrol plug-in hybrids, oh and the new AMG 53 six-cylinder mild hybrids.
Suzuki does mild hybrids too — for the Baleno, Swift and Ignis. Then there are the plug-in hybrids — Kia Niro and Hyundai Ioniq again, plus the Volvo XC90 and XC60 T8 models, along with the S90 and V90; the BMW i8, 330e, 530e, X5 40e, 225xe, and the MINI Countryman S E; there’s also the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport plug-ins, the Mitsubishi Outlander, the Volkswagen Golf and Passat GTE, the Audi Q7 e-tron and the Porsche Panamera and Cayenne.
I bet I've forgotten some...
Need room in a 2016 car for my three kids...
Looking for a car that would fit three car seats in back... don't want a seven-seater... for a five-year old, two-year old and new born. Will be changing to a 2016 at the most - any info would be great.
Aoife Flynn (Co Waterford)Jan 2019 Filed under: child or baby seats
Expert answer
Hi Aoife,
If your five-year old is big/heavy enough to get by on a booster cushion, that would be a big help, as the narrowest cushions will generally fit into the middle seat of just about any car of Golf-Focus-Corolla size or bigger. If you’re still using a high-backed seat, then it becomes a little trickier, and you basically need to go for the biggest car you can with the widest back seat possible. Would you consider a Volvo S80? That has one of the widest rear seats known to human-kind, and if you get the 1.6 diesel version, they’re impressively economical too. If you need something smaller on the outside, consider a five-seat MPV such as a Volkswagen Golf SV.
Before you commit to any car, though, make sure you physically try out your car seats in it.
What new hybrid would suit my aunt's use?
Hi,
My aunt is looking at buying a hybrid. She currently has a 2010 SEAT Ibiza with 40,000km on the clock, which is in immaculate condition. As indicated by the mileage she doesn't do much driving and what she does is city and suburbs. She's interested in a new hybrid (as opposed to electric - she thinks it's too early in its development) that is reliable. Ideally she'd like an automatic, but doesn't want to pay a huge premium for that. Her budget is €20,000 plus the Ibiza.
What would you suggest?
Thanks
Enda
Enda Lowry (Dublin)Dec 2018 Filed under: hybrid
Expert answer
Hi Enda,
For starters, as far as I can work out, all new hybrids currently on sale are automatic, so there's no such thing as paying a premium for that side of things. On a trade-in, I'd suspect that your aunt will get no more than €3,500 for the Ibiza, even though the mileage is very low, so let's work with a budget of around €23,500.
That would get the top-of-the-range Toyota Yaris Hybrid, which is a perfectly good car for low mileage use by one person. The Yaris has been updated recently and it remains a very solid buy. For a few grand more, the entry-level version of the brand new Toyota Corolla Hybrid is within reach, which is a far more substantial car, but outside the budget you mentioned.
There are no other new hybrid cars on the market within budget, I'm afraid. At this price point, we'd suggest that an efficient petrol engine is possibly better value, but if your aunt really wants a new hybrid, then the Yaris is not a bad option at all.