Expert answer

Hi Francis,

Can I suggest then chopping it in for another Hyundai, this time an i40 Tourer? It's massively spacious so you won't (aside from the seat height) feel like you're trading down. It's also very comfy and, with your long-haul runs and high-ish mileage in mind, hugely economical. Drive the 1.7 115hp CRDi version gently and you should top 60mpg. 

If you don't fancy another Hyundai, then picking a similar estate from the Ford Mondeo, Opel Insignia, Volkswagen Passat or Peugeot 508 ranges should do the job just as well.

Let us know what you end up doing

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Hi Paxton,

Well, it depends what you mean by SUV. Large? Small? Proper 4x4 or front-wheel drive? Our favourites run the gamut from Peugeot 2008 to Skoda Yeti to Honda CR-V to Kia Sorento to BMW X5, but it just depends what you’re looking for.

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Hi James,

A solid 8 out of 10 I'd say. A really good family car, with lots of space, that's also good to drive. They're pretty solid on the reliability front too. Just watch for uneven front tyre wear, clogging diesel particulate filters and issues with the standard-fit electronic parking brake - it's usually just a faulty sender switch in the clutch mechanism though. Listen for clonking noises coming from the steering, watch for faulty seatbelt adjusters and beware of drooping rear electric windows.

Hope that helps

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Hi Feena,

If you need actual space for seven full-sized adults (as opposed to jump seats for occasional use by small kids) then pretty much all of the medium-sized SUVs, such as the Opel Zafira, Peugeot 5008, Citroen C4 Picasso and Ford C-Max are out of the question. They're simply not big enough. You'll need, therefore, to trade up to a proper, full-size SUV and in that category there's simply nothing better than a Ford Galaxy. There's real space in the third row even for big people and while the 2.0-litre 140hp diesel engine is a bit juicy on tax (Band C) it's pretty good on overall fuel economy .

They're robustly made too, and while the Galaxy isn't on Ford's official Irish price list any more, a quick ring around the dealer network should easily turn up either a dealer demo model or a very young used car.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi Ciaran,

Keeping your insurance affordable is mostly a matter of shopping around, although at 24 you may well be shopping for a size of car that most insurers will baulk at. You may get a better deal in that respect if you dropped down to a Golf/Focus/Astra-sized car. But if you must have the bigger machine then I'd go for the Mazda. It's sweeter to drive than the other two, vastly more reliable and spacious and practical too.

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Hi Aidan,

I'd suggest either a Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi, a Volkswagen Golf 1.6 TDI or a Kia cee'd 1.6 CRDi. All of them fall into your price bracket, all are well built, reliable and economical and all are comfy for a lengthy daily commute. You won't go wrong with any of them and there are plenty of each available so shop around and be choosy.

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Hi Ian,

We checked this query out with Peugeot Ireland and received this response:

"Please be advised that Tom Raftery Car Sales Shannonbridge & Athlone is not an Authorised Peugeot Dealer for Peugeot New Vehicle Sales, Parts or Aftersales. As we are no longer in contract with Tom Raftery Car Sales, he cannot look after warranty or deliver new Peugeot vehicles or represent himself as an Authorised Peugeot Dealer. Therefore he will not be in a position to offer you any Peugeot special deals for 2013/2014."

"We most certainly will have consumer offers across a number of Peugeot passenger car models for orders pre-Christmas and these offers will be announced in the coming weeks."

In the meantime, please consult our website www.peugeot.ie for your closest Authorised Peugeot Dealer and sincere thanks for considering the Peugeot brand."

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Hi Helen,

Well, obviously, the 207 is a newer and more sophisticated car than the 206, and I reckon you'll find it to be a much more comfortable drive (better seats, especially) than the older 206. That said, the 207 is much, much heavier and the 206 always felt much more fleet of foot and more enjoyable to drive.

The 206 has something of a reputation for unreliability, but the upside is that most of its problems are of the minor, electrical variety. The engines and gearboxes are long-lived and robust,  although if you're buying a heaver diesel model, look for excessive wear and tear on the front suspension and brakes.

The 207 has a couple of recurrent niggles as well, the most important of which is the engine's anti-polution monitor, which can go haywire and cause the engine to switch into limp-home mode. Beware also of diesel models that don't quieten down when they're warmed through; check for suspension failure, especially at the front; and as ever beware of electrical gremlins. Make sure every button works properly.

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Hi Pamela,

There's a few: Renault Scenic. Toyota Verso. Peugeot 5008. Citroen C4 Picasso. Land Rover Discovery. Chrysler Voyager. Ford Galaxy & S-Max. SEAT Alhambra. Volkswage Sharan. Renault Espace.

That list isn't it either!

Expert answer

Hi Christopher,

I think what you need here is a car of medium height, not low slung like a hatch or tall like an SUV, but in the middle, so that it's easy (apologies for being indelicate) to get your bum on the seat and swing your legs in more easily. A tall hatch, essentially. So perhaps have a look at a five-door Ford C-Max, or possibly a Honda Civic or Volkswagen Golf Plus. They usually present an easier entry-exit setup than something more low and rakish. Try a few out and see what works best for you.