Outlander PHEV or Volvo XC40?
Hi,
We are in the process of moving from an S60 Volvo to a SUV type of vehicle. We have narrowed it down to the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV S-Edition or Volvo XC40. Is there any major positive or negative aspects of either that isn’t obvious to the ordinary punter? Help much appreciated in making the final decision.
Ann McDermott (Galway)Oct 2018 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Ann,
The XC40 is a really likeable car, but you’ll probably find that it’s neither as refined, nor quite as comfortable to drive as the S60 (the ride quality just isn’t as good). It’s also less roomy in the boot. The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is a very clever vehicle, but to make the most of it, you need to have a driveway and a charging point, and be covering most of your mileage around town. The battery pack, on a full charge, should get you around 35km of electric-only driving, but if you head out on the motorway a lot, you’ll run the battery down very quickly and then fuel consumption will hover at around the 30mpg mark.
Read our reviews below:
Tiguan, SEAT Ateca or Peugeot 3008?
Which automatic SUV do you recommend: Volkswagen Tiguan, SEAT Ateca or Peugeot 3008?
Thanks
Brian McCarthy
Brian McCarthy (Listowel )Oct 2018 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Brian,
The Tiguan and the Ateca are, essentially, the same car, so you may as well get the SEAT, as it’ll be the cheaper of the two. There’s virtually no difference in terms of the way it drives nor the interior space and quality. The 3008 is an interesting alternative though — arguably more stylish inside and out, but it feels subjectively less roomy, and it may not be as solidly reliable in the longer term. Worth taking into consideration though.
Read our reviews below:
Is the Ford C-Max a wise investment?
Thinking of changing my 2010 Ford Focus Style 1.6 TDCi hatchback for a 2012/2013 Ford Focus hatchback of similar engine size. Or maybe a Ford Focus C-Max of similar age. Any advice on what would be best? Wondering about selling on the C-Max in a few years - is there much demand for them with the wide variety of SUV/crossover vehicles available now?
Fiona O'Rourke (Cork )Aug 2018 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Fiona,
A C-Max would possibly not be a great plan — demand for MPVs is definitely on the way down as people make the switch to SUVs. I think a regular Focus could well be the better bet — unless you need seven seats, it’s not that much less practical, and it will definitely be easier to sell on again later.
Why do Irish car buyers not get discounts?
Hi,
I wonder if you could explain something I don't really understand about the Irish car buying market, even though I have a big interest in cars and the industry. Why is it that Irish car buyers hardly ever seem to get the sort of discounts that buyers in Britain do? I'm not just referring to the fact that overall new and used prices are cheaper there.
I wanted to buy a new or nearly new Peugeot 508 here recently and thought I would get a reasonable discount, which I pushed for, as that model does not sell as well as many of it's rivals and I thought the Peugeot dealer would be delighted to sell a saloon seeing as the market for them is declining so much and so many people now want SUVs instead. Alas, I could not get any sort of decent discount for a new or nearly new 508. It is well known that in Britain the buyer often gets a sizeable discount for car types or models that lag behind many rivals in sales, or for certain brands such as Vauxhall/Opel and Citroen. From what I observe and hear, you don't get decent discounts either for certain makes and models here in Ireland.
Higher VRT and other taxes here, don't explain these differences alone. I thought with Brexit and the vast increase in used and nearly new imports that Irish dealers would be more price competitive, but I'm surprised also that the prices of good fresh second hand cars here haven't come down more in this backdrop. For some good reasons, I'd prefer to buy here than from abroad, but it just seems that Irish car buyers can't catch the breaks that UK buyers get at all! Do you agree with me or can you kindly explain these differences in both markets?
Thanks, JC
JC Holohan (Waterford)Jun 2018 Filed under: used car values
Expert answer
Hi JC,
The big issue, really, is the size of the market. In the UK, vast dealer groups, with multiple outlets, are the norm and, obviously, these groups can be more cost-efficient and can potentially offer bigger discounts. Although there are dealer groups in Ireland, the norm is still very much the individual family-run business. That’s equally true on the import side of things — although there are now importers here that are tied directly to the car maker itself, many are still private, individual, locally-owned companies and those struggle to match the sort of discounting that is more common in the UK market. Plus, the fact that we buy in and around 100,000 to 130,000 cars a year here means that there’s less volume to spread discounts across. The UK market shifts two million cars a year — a considerable difference. VRT and VAT costs also play into it, as the wholesale price is often kept artificially lower to try and keep the added tax price down as much as possible.
Looking at maybe a new petrol SUV.
Hi,
I'm looking to change my 151 Toyota Corolla 1.4 Luna diesel at the end of this year or early next year. It currently has 93,000km on the clock. About 70 per cent of our driving is on short journeys such as short runs to town of about 10km. Would I be better to stay with diesel or go to petrol? I'm thinking about getting a crossover/SUV, something like a Peugeot 3008, Nissan Qashqai or a Kia Sportage, or would I get better value getting a smaller SEAT Ateca, Suzuki Vitara or Opel Mokka? My children are all adults now and are only around at weekends so our mileage will be decreasing a bit. Any advice would be great.
Thanks
Rob
Roddy McMyler (Kilkenny)Jun 2018 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Roddy,
Well, it sounds definitely as if petrol is the way to go, and as you’ve mentioned the Ateca, that’s a good one to look at. It’s cheaper, by a little, than most of the competition, has an excellent 1.0-litre 115hp turbo petrol engine (don’t be put off by the small engine — it copes just fine) and isn’t ‘smaller’ at all — it’s the same size as the VW Tiguan, thanks to using the same chassis. The same goes for Skoda’s Karoq. A Peugeot 3008 with the 1.2 PureTech petrol engine would also be a good choice, but the Sportage isn't currently offered as a decent small petrol version, so we’d give that a swerve. The Nissan Qashqai comes with a good 1.2 turbo petrol, but doesn’t feel as good to drive in that form as the diesel. The Opel Mokka X is just too old a design and feels well out of date, but actually if you can cope with the smaller size, the Suzuki Vitara’s a good shout — good to drive, good looking and hugely reliable.
Read or reviews for more:
I need a larger car for my golfing needs!
I currently drive a 2008 Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion. I would like to change to a car that is higher off the ground. I need a boot big enough to hold golf club and caddy, but not looking for a big expensive SUV. Does the new Golf fit with these conditions? I also would like an automatic; what makes do you recommend please?
Kind regards
Angela
Angela Osullivan (Wicklow)Feb 2018 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Angela,
The current Golf’s boot isn’t all that much larger than that of the 2008 model, so if you’re struggling to fit your golfing gear into that one, then I don’t think the new one will help. Happily, there is a solution — go for the Golf Estate, which, with its 600-litre boot, has more than enough room for all of your clubs, the caddy, bags, shopping, one or two kitchen sinks etc. The Golf’s optional DSG automatic is very good too, so it’s well worth a look. Also worth a look is the Toyota Auris Touring Sports Hybrid, which has similar boot space combined with a 'saintly' hybrid transmission, and there’s a handsome new Kia Ceed estate coming in the next few months.
Looking for a large family car...
I'm looking for a family car and have two children under three.
I've had coupes (currently in an Audi A5) all my life so ideally I'd like to switch it up and get an SUV. I'm at a loss of what to get - I'd love the Volvo XC90 and can afford it, but the pragmatic side of me is telling me not waste a huge amount of money on a depreciating asset like that, no matter how great it is.
On the other end of the scale I think the Hyundai Santa Fe is a great looking car, but I can't stand the plasticky feeling of the interior and the ugly interior layout. Do you have any recommendations that would allow me to keep the luxury feel of my Audi, but not cost the earth like the Volvo?
Or... do I just compromise and get a 3-4-year-old Audi A6 Avant estate?
Rich K (Dublin)Feb 2018 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Rich,
OK, there’s a lot to unpick here. First of all, any car you buy (other than perhaps a classic Mercedes SL or an old Ferrari) will be a depreciating asset, so there’s not much point in thinking that buying one car over another will save you from that. Obviously some cars depreciate a bit less than others, but they do all depreciate in the end.
The XC90 is a cracking car, a really good one, but as you rightly point out it’s big and expensive, and if you’ve only got the two kids, you probably don’t really need the seven seats. The Santa Fe is an excellent car, reliable and hard-wearing, but you’re quite right that the cabin can be a bit low-rent at times. It might be worth having a look at the Kia Sorento — mechanically identical to the Santa Fe, but a touch roomier and we prefer the Kia’s interior. Also well worth having a look at slightly smaller seven-seat SUV rivals such as the Peugeot 5008, Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace and Skoda Kodiaq, all of which have genuinely excellent interiors and are good to drive too.
Mind you, once again, you’re right — you don’t need an SUV (no-one really does, but that’s a debate for another day) so actually the idea of an Audi A6 Avant estate is a really good one. You already like Audis, they’re great for quality and reliability and look awesome into the bargain, and have plenty of space for two growing kids. Worth looking at a BMW 5 Series Touring and Mercedes E-Class Estate too (the BMW’s a little better to drive, the Mercedes is bigger inside) and well worth checking out the gorgeous new Volvo V90 if the XC90 has taken your fancy. Here are all our reviews of the above cars to help you decide:
Looking to buy a 2016 or 2017 SUV...
I'm looking to buy a 2016 or 2017 SUV, 1.6 to 1.7 diesel, Manual gearbox with cruise control. I'm not too bothered by my most other factors, other than a decent comfortable motorway drive with good fuel economy. Can you advise which are the most fuel efficient SUVs for motorway driving in Ireland within this range? Currently, I'm considering a Kia Sportage or Honda CR-V or Hyundai Tucson.
Thanks, Paul
Paul Keyes (Dublin)Jan 2018 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Paul,
The Hyundai or Kia will be more efficient than the 1.6 i-DTEC Honda, but only just and at the expense of a considerable amount of performance — the Honda feels much brisker and is more comfortable than the other two as well. In that size range, it’s also well worth considering the VW Tiguan, especially the current-shape model, which is very frugal in 2.0-litre 115hp form. Some reviews below to help you decide:
Which SUV to replace my Audi with?
Hi, I have a 2013 Audi 2.0 TDI S line Black Edition quattro with only 21k miles on the clock. I only purchased as an import last summer and love it. It’s my first premium car and enjoy the feeling that brings.
However, recently, I am wondering whether it’s right for me. I’m 6’4” in height and find getting in and out of it's low height a bit of chore. I also use it as main family car for two tall toddlers (three and two) for crèche runs etc. So space is quite tight. I’ve been considering replacing it with an SUV for the ride height, space, practicality and better fuel economy. Must be good to drive also. I would love to stay premium, but probably wouldn’t afford it in that category. Was looking at the Mazda CX-5 as a compromise or alternatively the new Peugeot 3008, Kia Sportage, Renault Kadjar or Nissan Qashqai. Annual mileage is roughly 10k km and budget is what I’d get for the Audi.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Seamus Hadrill (Dublin)Dec 2017 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Seamus,
You haven’t actually specified a model here, so I’m going to guess that it’s an A4. To be honest, you’re not going to get an awful lot more interior space by changing for something the size of a Qashqai, 3008, or Kadjar. A little, but not a huge amount extra in real terms — most of the extra space in those cars is in the boot. If you’re determined, then go for either the Kadjar (it has the biggest boot) or see if you can stretch the budget to the new-shape VW Tiguan. Here are reviews of the cars you've mentioned, too:
We need a reliable family car for two kids...
Hi there,
We are starting to look for a good reliable family car suitable for two young children as our journeys now require a lot more space for everything. I know the estates are probably the most practical, but not our preferred choice so if possible could you recommend more compact options with the best interior space?
We were considering the following: Nissan Quashqai - which is best spec? Renault Kadjar - is it reliable however? Skoda Octavia? Any options from Toyota or Hyundai? Reliability is very important. Your thoughts on the above would be really appreciated.
I also note that most, the Kadjar in particular, are available mostly in diesel. Our mileage is probably around 15,000km a year. Would we be ok with a diesel option?
Many thanks
Mark Yeates (Dublin)Dec 2017 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Mark,
Yes, estates are definitely the most practical, and generally offer a lower purchase price and lower running costs than an equivalent SUV or crossover. They tend to have bigger boots, too. The best Qashqai spec is generally SV or SVE, which come with the touchscreen, air conditioning and some other nice toys. The Kadjar is essentially mechanically identical to the Qashqai, so should be fine from a reliability front.
The Skoda Octavia Combi estate would probably be the best overall bet for you. The rear seats and boot are massive and very kid-friendly, and they’re reliable. With your mileage, you’re probably better off with a petrol engine, so go for a 1.2 TSI for the best overall value.
It’s well worth looking at a Toyota Auris Estate too — it's huge inside and virtually unbreakable. Worth considering the hybrid as well. Hyundai is also well worth a look. The Tucson makes a good SUV option, and the i40 Tourer estate is a terrific car, but you’ll struggle to find anything other than a diesel. Here are a few reviews for further reading: