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Hi Patsy,

BMW offers three different diesel engines with xDrive four-wheel drive in the X3, the xDrive20d, xDrive30d and xDrive35d. The xDrive20d can be had with a manual or automatic gearbox and the official figure is 50.4mpg (5.6 litres/100km) no matter which transmission is fitted. The xDrive30d and xDrive35d are only available with automatic gearboxes and the official fuel economy figures are 47.1mpg and 46.3mpg respectively (6.0- and 6.1 litres/100km).

Those figures won't be obtainable in the real-world, obviously! We spent time with the xDrive20d during snowy conditions a few years back (read the full review here) and averaged 34mpg (8.3 litres/100km), though in normal conditions it should do a lot better than that. We also tested the xDrive30d (read that full review here), though apologies, but I didn't record the average fuel consumption figure at the time...

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Hi Patrick,

Generally Chevriolet Lacettis (and Chevrolets in general) are pretty solidly built, but they're a long, long way from being the most inspiring car around. Essentially, they're cheap, cheerless but solid transport, just as they were when they were still badged as Daewoos.

As for choosing between an Almera and a Lancer, we'd go for the Almera simply because it has a (slightly) nicer interior and is (slightly) nicer to drive.

Hope that helps

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Hi Alan,

The Sport only has minor trim differences on the Passat — it’s not a separate model, just a slightly sportier-looking body kit and some extra equipment on the inside. Essentially, there’s no difference at all.

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Hi Ger,

We always did have a big soft spot for Saabs in general, but the sad fact is that the last-gen 9-3 was neither a great car in and of itself, nor especially reliable. The 1.8t petrol engine was, at least, a little better than the diesel options in terms of reliability, but it’s probably going to be troublesome. Definitely don’t buy one that doesn’t have a full service history, and don’t pay too much for it either. I reckon €4,000 would be top value.

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Hi Aidan,

Go for the 530d. The engine is actually rather more robust than the 520d’s (although it definitely will cost more if anything does go wrong) and while you will pay a chunk more tax and fuel, you’re getting a much better car with exceptional performance and refinement.

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Hi Eoin,

OK, first off you're not mad and an M Sport spec BMW 318d or 320d is just about as perfect a car as you'll find. Mind you, test drive carefully before you buy as the M Sport suspension can be pretty stiff and unforgiving on certain roads, and the steering, while more incisive than what you'd get in the Golf, can also be a bit heavy and fake-feeling.

That said, there are things you can do to make your Golf drive with a little more sharpness and the first place I'd start is with the tyres. Most, if not all, cars these days come with high-efficiency low rolling resistance tyres that are there to maximise fuel economy, but don't do much for steering feel or handling prowess. So why not swap the boots for something a little more aggressive? A set of Pirelli P-Zeros or Michelin Pilot tyres might just make all the difference, so it's worth a try if nothing else.

You could also look at modifying the suspension to dial out that understeer, but we'd recommend you seek professional mechanical advice before going down that road.

Let us know what you do in any case.

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Hi Bartlomiej,

Well, it kinda depends what you mean by SUV. If you mean large, the likes of the Hyundai Santa Fe, Honda CR-V etc, then it's probably best to wait until the new 1.6-litre, front-wheel drive version of the Honda arrives later this year, as that will be a big, spacious SUV that has emissions of under 120g/km, although the lack of four-wheel drive might not appeal.

If it's the smaller ones you're looking at then I'd suggest a Skoda Yeti. It bridges the gap, size-wise, between the very small Nissan Juke and the large stuff like Mazda's CX-5 and the Kia Sportage. Go for the 1.6 TDI Greenline version and you'll have a spacious, rugged, practical family car with Band A4 tax (€200 a year) and it should do a pretty steady 50mpg most of the time.

Want something a bit more flash? The MINI Countryman, with its 1.6-litre diesel engine, is super-frugal, but you do need to spend a bit on options to get the right look.

It may also be worth waiting a couple of months until the new Renault Captur and Peugeot 2008 arrive on sale, as both should prove very affordable to run.

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Hi there,

We're surprised to hear you say this, as we've driven several versions of the new Golf on different wheels etc. without an issue. Even the sportier GTI model rides well.

Please come back to us with a few more details, such as the size of wheel, the tyres fitted and a description as best you can on where the rattle is coming from.

Of course, if it's a fault you should be talking directly to your dealer.

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Hi Niall,

There are two answers to this question. There's the right answer and then there's the answer that you can afford. The correct answer is the Land Rover Discovery; still the only car we've driven that can climb Everest yet carry seven fully grown adults in luxury car comfort. Trouble is, they're expensive as heck to buy and run. 

So, assuming you need the sixth and seventh seats for only occasional, child-transporting duties, there's the Hyundai Santa Fe. It's big, comfy, surprisingly good to drive and with excellent reliability. Circa €8k should get you into a 2006 model.

How does that sound?

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Hi John,

Interestingly, you haven't given us a budget to work with here, so that means a whole world of possibilities looked to be opening up, and then you hit us with the sub-2.0 clause, which instantly shut them down again.

So how about these for some suggestions:

Kia Sportage: you'll get a 2.0-litre diesel 4x4 auto for €35k and it's as stylish and good to drive as you could wish for.

Want something a bit more premium? How about an Audi Q3? Very stylish, but a bit more pricey. €41k gets you a 2.0 TDI quattro.

Finally there's the new Ford Kuga. Bigger and more practical than either of the other two mentioned, you'll pay €43k for a 2.0 TDCi diesel with Powershift auto.

What do you think?