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Hi Eileen,

Yes, very. Mazda updated the 2 in 2011 and made some detail improvements that boosted fuel economy while trimming CO₂ emissions. You should be able to manage better than 50mpg with a light right foot.

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Hi Janice,

Yes, but perhaps not the most economical in the class. Going on personal experience, a Mercedes-Benz E 200 or E 250 CDI will average in the high forties mpg whereas a BMW 520d or an Audi A6 2.0 TDI should easily get over the 50mpg barrier in everyday driving.

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Hi John,

Yup, a small diesel sounds like it should be ideal for you. Depending on what kind or size of car you need I'd recommend either a MINI Cooper D 1.6 (small and sporty), Opel Astra 1.3 CDTi (slower, but more spacious), Toyota Auris 1.4 D-4D (similar to Opel but probably more reliable) or that old favourite the Volkswagen Golf 1.6 TDI BlueMotion (ultra economical). Or, if you need more space how about a Skoda Octavia Combi estate 1.6 TDI or a Citroen C4 Picasso 1.6 HDi?

Help us with your needs and we'll narrow that down a little!

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Hi Felicity,

Go for the diesel. By personal experience I can tell you that it's close to impossible to sell a Mk1 Qashqai with a petrol engine. It's a fine car and potentially the better buy for in-town use, but the market wants diesel, so follow the market.

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Hi Jaro,

Are you talking about the E46 model (1998 to 2006) or the E92 (2007 to 2013)?

If it's the E46, check carefully for any suspension problems - listen for clonking noises from underneath and look closely for uneven tyre wear. There was also a problem with radiator cooling fans failing. It's easily replaced but the problem is that the damage may already have been caused so if the car you're looking at has had a new fan, check carefully for any signs of head gasket damage or overheating.

If it's the E92, then cabin rattles and nosies are your biggest problem. They can be fixed but they can be a nightmare of trial and error to do so. Some electronic systems can also give trouble, especially the optional Bluetooth phone system, but that can usually be fixed with a software patch from a BMW dealer. The petrol 320i version can burn through a lot of oil, so take a long test drive to check for any signs of leaks or a smell of burning oil or blue exhaust smoke. There have been reports of total engine failures for the 320i too, but thankfully they seem to be very rare.

Hope that all helps

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Hi Eddy,

I presume you mean the last, rather than current generation. Quite a nice car, actually, majoring on comfort and economy rather than pin-sharp handling and there's that fixed-hub steering wheel and central digital instruments to liven up the cabin. 

Best version to go for is either of the 1.6 or 1.4 HDi diesel models - the 1.4 petrol is just not up to scratch, although the rare 1.6-litre petrol Sebastian Loeb rally edition is worth seeking out as a rare slice of warm hatch - if that's your sort of thing.

In terms of reliability, it's a bit of a mixed bag. There are no huge mechanical issues, but you've got to watch for electrical glitches in the speed limiter and cruise control systems and keep an eye out for disintegrating cabin trim. 

You also have to make sure that all five of the safety recalls have been carried out, including ones for electrical fires, poor brake performance and faulty airbags.

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Hi F D,

As a general rule of thumb, torque is important for acceleration and power is what determines the top speed of a car (all other things, like aerodynamics, etc. being equal). In the case of your car, it has no turbocharger so its power and torque are produced quite high up the rev range. To improve overtaking, make sure you select a low gear early in the manoeuvre and get up to speed before you are alongside the car you're overtaking so you have less time 'exposed to danger'.

In terms of replacing the car with one with more oomph it sounds to me like you'd enjoy something turbocharged. Opel does a turbocharged version of that engine. 

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Hi Danielle,

An updated Polo is indeed imminent, but from what we've seen it won't be a massive change from the current car, certainly in terms of styling, and the only major mechanical change will be the addition of a new 1.0-litre TSI turbocharged petrol engine. While that will probably make for an enticing drive, it's a sad fact that the current 1.2-litre Polo is a touch sluggish to drive, and the mechanically similar SEAT Ibiza has some refinement issues. On that basis, we'd go for the Rio - it's neatly styled, comfy, well made and lively to drive. And it comes with that seven-year warranty. It's a tough package to beat.

Let us know how you decide in the comments below.

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Hi Thomas,

It needs to be done at 160,000km or every eight years.

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Hi William,

There are three engines available in the latest Corolla, and though we assume you mean the 1.4-litre diesel, here are all the official figures for completion:

1.33-litre petrol model: 50.4mpg (5.6 litres/100km)

1.4-litre diesel model in Terra grade: 74.3mpg (3.8 litres/100km)

1.4-litre diesel model in Aura or Luna grade: 72.4mpg (3.9 litres/100km)

1.6-litre petrol with automatic gearbox: 50.4mpg (5.6 litres/100km)

Note that these figures are all official 'combined cycle' results and don't usually reflect what drivers achieve themselves.