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Hi Liam,

OK, first off you don’t need and shouldn’t be buying a diesel. With that kind of mileage, and doing most of it in town, you’ll never get enough efficiency out of the engine and you’ll run into trouble with the particulate filter and more potentially.

Of the three cars you’ve mentioned, I think that the Mercedes B-Class might actually be the most sensible, and it’s certainly the roomiest if you’re concerned about carrying big loads. Worth remembering that for similar money you could probably get yourself into a nice C-Class Estate too, which is only a little smaller inside and a whole lot nicer to drive. I’d be tempted to stick with the Mercedes, too, for safety reasons, if your son is going to start learning to drive.

The Tiguan is another very good option, and there are versions with Volkswagen’s excellent 1.4 turbo petrol engine if you shop around. Again, safe and good to drive, if not quite as roomy as the B-Class. I’d avoid the Duster at this point — it’s diesel only, and not as safe as the Merc or Volkswagen.

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Hi Eoin,

Young driver insurance is always going to be a sticking point, and adding sporty into the mix is just going to drive your premium up and up and up. You really need to stick to as small a diesel engine as possible, so how about a SEAT Ibiza 1.4 TDI? It’s a good looking car, roomy and reliable, and has a whiff of a sporting image that can be added to with body kit and wheel options as and when your budget allows.

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Hi Eamon,

Well, obviously the bigger the car the better, and if you can stretch to a long-wheelbase Range Rover...

At a more sensible level, the best car for long legs in both front and back is the Skoda Superb (both current and previous generation models). Also good choices are the Ford Mondeo, Toyota Avensis and Hyundai i40. If you need to come down a size, go for a Skoda Octavia or Honda Civic.

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Hi Jacinta,

Mostly, SUVs with three ISOFIX points in the middle row are the really big ones - Land Rover Discovery, Audi Q7 and so on. The good news is that Peugeot is about to launch the new 5008 and that has three ISOFIX points in the middle row, but it won't be on sale until July in Ireland. 

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Hi Cyril,

The A4’s a nice car, very comfortable and refined, but it’s not as roomy as the Passat. Don’t go for the 120hp, as it’s just underpowered. As for reliability and problems, it’s a solid car, but you need to keep an eye on the diesel particulate filter (DPF), water leaks from the air conditioning unit, glove box lids that don’t fit properly and worn seatbelt sockets. Check for signs of uneven tyre wear, and noisy suspension is probably the anti-roll bar drop links. No other major problems to report.

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Hi Paul,

It depends on what size you need. If it's a mid-size seven seater, then the Volkswagen Touran, Kia Carens, Toyota Verso and the new Renault Scenic. If you need something larger go for a Ford S-Max or SEAT Alhambra. Here are our reviews:

Volkswagen Touran review

Kia Carens review

Toyota Verso review

Renault Scenic review

Ford S-Max review

SEAT Alhambra review

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Hi Jakov,

In general, the built-in boosters leave more space between them for a third seat than using other styles of seat, but check it out carefully and make sure that the seat you're planning to use fits comfortably. 

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Hi Mark,

Tricky one. You'll need to talk to the people at the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) as they're the ones that set the regulations for what counts as a commercial vehicle. More than likely you're going to have to get rid of the extra seats, but have a chat with them first and make sure. 

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Hi Kim,

At the moment, I'd say the Kia Sorento, which is big, comfy, smooth and has the requisite seven seats. Hang on though, because the new Skoda Kodiaq and Peugeot 5008 are imminent and those are both cars with big appeal. Relevant reviews:

Skoda Kodiaq review

Kia Sorento review

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Hi Michael,

There are no major reported issues for the SEAT Exeo (and SEATs tend to be pretty solidly reliable) and the Insignia generally only suffers from minor electrical issues (usually in the central locking and alarm system) and the boot seals (which can leak and let in water). Of the two, we’d go for the Insignia - it’s roomier, it’s nicer to drive and looks and feels a bit more prestigious.