Expert answer

Hi Ankit,

Let's go through your list for a start:

Suzuki Swift: Even the top-spec model with loads of options comes in under budget, has adaptive cruise control and can be had with an automatic gearbox. Easy to drive, well-specified, should be reliable, though doesn't feel as substantial as some of the other cars listed. Read our Suzuki Swift reviews here.

Volkswagen Polo: Only the Style and R-Line versions come with adaptive cruise control, but those are slightly out of budget if fitted with the DSG automatic gearbox so unless you stretch the budget this isn't an option. That's a shame as it's probably the best car in this list all things considered. Read our Volkswagen Polo reviews here.

Toyota Yaris: The 1.5-litre hybrid is an automatic by default, and as you've identified, the Luna comes with adaptive cruise control. It's the only version in the Yaris lineup within budget with those items and it's an excellent car. The rear seats aren't huge, but the fronts are fine, it drives fantastically, should be very reliable and the hybrid system is efficient and good to drive. Quite likely the pick of the cars here all things considered. Read our Toyota Yaris reviews here.

Dacia Sandero Stepway: An automatic gearbox is available, and even the most expensive version is well within budget, but this car can't be had with adaptive cruise control - only the non-adaptive type is fitted. Otherwise, it's a spacious and well-equipped car for the money. Read our Dacia Sandero reviews here.

MG3: All versions are automatic and come with adaptive cruise control, so those boxes are ticked. And even the most expensive version is within budget so it's a realistic possibility. It's the most powerful car here, which is probably not important, but it's quite efficient as well. The Yaris is a more polished product, but the MG has a little more space. Read our MG3 reviews here.

Hopefully that's all of help. I'd strongly recommend you and your wife go check out a shortlist of cars in person and test drive them to see which you prefer, as it will come down to personal preference.

Let us know which you go for.

Expert answer

Hi Seamus,

This is obviously a tricky decision, and we wish your wife all the best in coping with this. When it comes to ride quality, the most important factors are the stiffness, overall, of the suspension, the size of the wheels, and the sidewall depth of the tyres. Basically, smaller wheels and normal suspension is the rule of thumb if you’re trying to get a car with a soft ride quality.

SUVs are actually generally quite bad for ride quality. That sounds counter-intuitive, because of course they’re taller and have longer-travel suspension, but the problem is that the springs and dampers have to be stiffened up to prevent the higher centre of gravity from inducing too much body roll. I would therefore suggest that keeping away from SUVs would be a good bet.

That said, the Subaru Forester you’ve mentioned below does indeed have a soft ride quality, again as long as you avoid the larger alloy wheel options. Ditto the smaller Subaru XV, which is helpfully lower to the ground and can get away with slightly softer suspension rates. Citroen, of course, is famed for having pillowy-soft ride quality, and the current C5 Aircross is pretty soft and springy, and has great seats into the bargain. You should definitely look at a Toyota Camry as well (very soft, and again with great seats) and the Skoda Superb.

Avoid anything that has a sporty designation (S line, R-Line, M Sport etc) as that will almost automatically have stiffer springs and bigger wheels.

Hope that helps. Below are links to our reviews of the cars mentioned above:

Subaru Forester reviews

Citroen C5 Aircross reviews

Subaru XV reviews

Toyota Camry reviews

Skoda Superb reviews

Expert answer

Hi Marie,

If it's running costs that concern you, you should probably consider coming down in price and, a little, in size a bit. Both the Evoque and the Q5 are premium-badge SUVs and while neither is excessively thirsty, both will be expensive to run and service.

I'd suggest, instead, checking out a Honda CR-V - tonnes of space, hugely reliable, comfortable and with the 1.6 I-DTEC diesel engine and four-wheel drive, both frugal and ideal for country roads. Good to drive too.

Other good options are the Mazda CX-5, the Kia Sportage, Hyundai Santa Fe, Volkswagen Tiguan or Toyota RAV4. Here are our reviews to help you decide:

Range Rover Evoque review

Audi Q5 review

Honda CR-V review

Mazda CX-5 review

Kia Sportage review

Hyundai Santa Fe review

Volkswagen Tiguan review

Toyota RAV4 review

Expert answer

Hi Jane,

It’s a tough call, because there’s no doubt that the Volkswagen Tiguan looks and feels classier and more upmarket than the SEAT Ateca, but it is also considerably more expensive. With my sensible hat on, I’d have to say go for the SEAT – it’s a fine car and much better value. Here are some test drives to help with your decision:

SEAT Ateca 1.4 TSI review

SEAT Ateca 2.0 TDI review

Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line review

Expert answer

Hi Dana,

No, not yet – it won’t be fully revealed to the public until 1st of September, and it will be some time after that before Irish prices and specs are worked out. However, we can infer from some of its rivals how expensive it might be. The primary cars that it will be going up against will be the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe, both of which have prices that start at €38-39k, and also the Nissan X-Trail, which, in seven-seat form, starts at €37k. So around the €37k mark might be a sensible bet.

That said, the new Volkswagen Tiguan, on which the Kodiaq is based, mechanically, starts at just under €30k, and there will be a seven-seat version of that soon too, so Skoda will have to carefully balance its prices to make sure that it’s a little, but not too much, cheaper than the seven-seat Tiguan. Complicated, isn’t it? I reckon somewhere between the €35,000 and €37,000 marks would be a reasonable guess as to the Kodiaq’s starting price.

Expert answer

Hi Martin,

I'd say around €18-19,000.