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Hi Jenny,

You almost certainly will find an X3 18d to be a bit underpowered compared to a X3 20d, and especially if you're trading down from a 520d. There's about 40hp and 67Nm between them, which is not to be sniffed at. There is a tax band between them too (the 18d is Band B2, the 20d is Band C), but it's not a massive gap and the 18d won't be as economical as you think simply because you have to work it harder.

Know what? I'd just think about upgrading your 520d instead. Why not get a nice 520d Touring, treat yourself to an M Sport pack and have one of the finest, nicest cars we've ever driven?

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Hi Brendan,

Good choices, all of those, if you're looking for a more affordable 3 Series alternative. The new-shape Mazda3 (the one that's only just been launched) seem to be especially excellent, and with Mazda's reliability you won't be spending too much on repairs or maintenance down the line. The Golf is always a safe bet too, although if you're used to the saloon shape it may be worth having a look at the little-seen Jetta - an underrated gem, that car. Or, alternatively, you could try the Audi A3 Saloon, which I reckon is the best compact sports saloon around at the moment.

See how you get on and let us know which one you go for.

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Hi Patrick,

The Stepway gains some SUV-like styling and a 4cm higher ride height over the conventional Sandero, so it's a little bit more bouncy on rougher roads as a result, and it will roll a bit more in bends over its relation. That's a hyper critical road tester's view though, as the soft, comfort-biased suspension is fine at nornal speeds.

The SUV-look suits it, really smartens it up and makes it stand out, though the trade off for this - thanks largely to the addition of those roof bars - is an appreciable increase in wind noise at speed. That's fine unless you're doing lots of motorway miles in it.

Rear legroom isn't overly generous, while the trim and materials are all fairly uninspiring, though robust. The diesel isn't very refined, but should return excellent economy, the petrol three-cylinder engine is more willing and more refined, but less economical.

All in I rather liked it though, good honest transport.

You can read my colleague Neil's Irish road test of the Dacia Sandero Stepway here.

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Hi Gerard,

Sadly the answers are yes and yes. I always quite liked the 75 (and its sporty offshoot the MG ZT) but the sad fact is that reliability is not their strong point. 

While the 75 was probably the best built Rover ever that's not saying much and quality was always an issue. The head gasket issue is linked to the intake manifold, which warps as it ages and causes gasket leaks and failures. 

Sorry to say but it's probably best left well alone.

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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 Vittorio,

Oooh. Aargh. Ummm. God, this is actually a real toughie as I utterly adore both cars and they're both ideal picks. 

OK, I'll lay out the pros and cons and you'll have to make your own mind up from there.

The Octavia will likely prove to be the more reliable in the long term and is much more spacious and practical than the Beemer. The 320d, by contrast, is much sweeter to drive thanks to all the usual BMW rear-drive balance and it does have a nicer interior. 

To be honest though, I'd grab either with both hands and not let go. See which one you can find that's in better condition or is better value.

Let us know what you decide

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Hi Paula,

Yup, you're onto a winner there. A lot of motoring writers get a bit sniffy about the Nissan Micra, but actually it's a car with which there is very little wrong. That third generation model that you're talking about is actually probably the best one of all, with a nice, comfy, spacious interior, a peppy little 1.2-litre engine and a chassis that's actually more entertaining to drive than you would think. Of course, the automatic gearbox will sap a little bit of power, but as long as you're not entering any traffic light Grands Prix, you'll be fine. Reliability simply shouldn't be an issue as the Micra has always been conspicuously well built. Just check carefully to make sure it's been serviced regularly and that the oil for the automatic gearbox has been changed regularly too.

Let us know how you get on

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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 Nicola,

Probably the best bet for you is to simply cross the Toyota showroom and get yourself into a Corolla. It and the Auris are pretty much mechanically identical, but the Corolla has a much bigger boot, albeit it's not a hatchback, so perhaps not quite so versatile as the Auris. Or, if you're considering buying new (or at least nearly new), why not check out the Auris Sport Tourer estate? Nice car, big boot, reliable, can't go wrong.

Let us know which way you go in the comments below

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Hi John,

The lowest price seems to be around €24k, but I'd expect to pay a little more than that on average - say between €26k and €27k for one from a main dealer with low mileage.