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Hi Alan,

Actually a really good car, that. Not as sophisticated as the later, more stylish Sportage, but fine to drive, more rugged than you’d think and actually surprisingly capable off-road. Fuel economy will be a bit steep compared to a more modern car (you’ll get around 35mpg on average) and the cabin is nothing to write home about, but it’s hugely reliable and, if it has a full Kia service history, should continue to be so.

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Hi Breda,

Well, on the one hand, both the Aygo and the Auris are very well built and reliable so both will minimise any potential for expensive maintenance costs, and both are very frugal and economical, so either would be a fine choice. The Auris might be a bit more of a painless switch if you've been used to a Golf, as it's similar in size and comfort levels.

But, as you say that your journeys have decreased in length, switching cars may not actually save you any money. Changing cars is usually more expensive than maintaining and running an older car, and you need to sit down and do your sums very, very carefully. Work out what the actual cost of change is for you (the price of either car you are considering minus the trade-in value of your Golf, but including the cost of finance) and balance that against the cost of continuing to run and fuel your existing car, factoring in some cash for a good service and a new set of tyres (often the best way to improve your fuel economy).

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Hi Dawn,

The problem here is that you need space for three child seats across the back, and it's getting harder and harder to find a car that can accommodate that. The Qashqai is a fab car, no doubt, but yes, unless it's the 1.5 dCi diesel model you're talking about, they can indeed be hard on petrol. Besides, it will also fall down on the three-across-the-back test. The Xsara Picasso should be able to manage three across though, so is the best suggestion out of the ones you've been looking at, but here's another possibility: if you're looking for space on a budget, try going for a van-based MPV such as a Citroen Berlingo or Renault Kangoo. They're surprisingly nice to drive, have masses of space both in the back and boot, and both can be found with 1.4-litre petrol or 1.5- or 1.6-litre diesel engines so tax and, generally, fuel economy shouldn't be an issue. Also, being van-based, they're often more reliable and ruggedly built than their car cousins.

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Hi Declan,

Well, obviously the 2.0-litre is more powerful, and with 150hp compared to the Golf 1.6 TDI’s 120hp, quite a bit more so. Lots more torque too, which makes driving much more effortless. There’s not a huge penalty in terms of fuel economy or emissions either, so you’re not going to have to shell out masses of extra cash in terms of running costs, and the 2.0-litre is more refined and smoother than the 1.6.

Is there any point to buying the 1.6 then? Yes — it’ll be cheaper to insure, and easier to sell on as most private buyers will shun the bigger engine.

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Hi Karen,

Assuming you're talking about the later 1.5-litre model, official fuel economy stands at 35.8mpg (7.9 litres/100km). In reality the car uses a little more fuel than that, however.

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Hi Diarmuid,

With that kind of mileage, I'm afraid the value just plummets and that's notwithstanding the fact that the Mazda6 is reliable and very well built. I'd say you're looking at a value of around €2,500 to maybe €3,500.

As for changing, with that kind of annual mileage I'd say it could be well worth looking at changing for a newer diesel model. The 2.2 diesel Mazda 6 is a bit of a favourite around here, really good to drive with good economy. Just get the calculator out and do your sums carefully to make sure that you'll be saving money in the long run. With the cost of changing your car, it can be worth looking at spending money on your existing car, giving it a good going over and a tune-up, which can both prolong its service life and improve the fuel economy.

Hope that helps

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Hi Patrick,

At that kind of mileage, you really should be going for a petrol. A 320i has plenty of poke, is very refined and nice to drive, and has decent fuel economy and emissions. 

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Hi Alanna,

Anything pre-2008 with a petrol engine is pretty hard to shift on these days, sadly, so I'd reckon you're looking at a value of possibly as little as €5,500 for the Mazda3 at the moment. To get the best from it, I'd suggest staying within the Mazda family (a Mazda dealer will usually give you a better trade-in on a Mazda than will another dealer) and trade up to a Mazda6 Estate. Loads of space, brilliant to drive, reliable and, with the 2.2-litre 129hp diesel, very economical too. SUV? Do you live up a mountain or at the far end of a rutted dirt road? No? Then you don't need one - stick to the family car market and the Mazda6 size class (which also includes cars like the Toyota Avensis, Ford Mondeo, Volkswagen Passat and Opel Insignia) is  where you'll get the best bang for your buck.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi Alanna,

If you like the Mazda, then it would be well worth considering an upgrade to the current-shape Mazda3 with the 1.5-litre SkyActiv diesel engine — it's smooth, refined, very economical and with the usual Mazda reliability. A lovely car. Also worth considering are the Honda Civic 1.6 iDTEC diesel or Kia cee’d 1.6 CRDi.

A few reviews for you:

Mazda3 review

Honda Civic review

Kia cee'd review

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Hi Mary,

At just 1,500km per year it's highly likely that a petrol car would be better suited to your needs. Diesel cars are usually more expensive to buy in the first place, and new petrol cars are much closer to their diesel counterparts than ever before in terms of fuel economy and tax so in your case the balance tips in favour of petrol. On top of that, diesel cars are designed to be driven at higher speed regularly and they don't take well to a life in town.

Recently we did a piece of research in conjunction with Cartell.ie looking into this very thing. Read the results of the research here.