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Hi Dave,

The Land Cruiser is indeed getting a new 2.8-litre diesel engine, which is claimed to be nine per cent more efficient than the old 3.0. It has CO₂ emissions of 194g/km, 177hp and 420Nm of torque. Shared with Fiat though? No - Fiat does have its own 2.8-litre diesel, but it's a commercial vehicle engine, usually used in the Ducato van. For its passenger cars (Jeep Grand Cherokee, Maserati Quattroporte, etc.) the Fiat group uses a VM Motori built 3.0 V6 diesel.

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Hi Darren,

We checked this with Toyota Ireland. Here's the response:

"The 2011 Avensis D-4D has a DPF. C2 is a low ash oil - it must be used with the DPF. Any Toyota Dealer Parts dept. can supply this oil. Once it's a C2 grade it is fine."

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Hi Olive,

It depends on which engine you're considering. The Auris Terra 1.33, at €20,750, is €1,750 cheaper than the Aura model with the same engine. The difference is €1,250 when it's the 1.4-litre D-4D diesel, which costs €22,250 as a Terra or €23,500 for the Luna specification.

If you're using PCP or Hire Purchase to pay for the car then these differences become negligible in terms of additional monthly costs.

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Hi John,

Both excellent - spacious, reliable, comfortable and reasonably frugal if you go for the diesels. The Avensis will be more economical overall, but the Mazda is much more enjoyable to drive and better equipped as standard. Head says Avensis, heart says Mazda.

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Hi Des,

As a trade in, probably around €1,500 to €2,000, but it would have to be immaculate to reach that.

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Hi Brendan,

Both decent cars. Go with the Corolla if reliability is your overriding priority (although the Skoda's hardly fragile or anything) and go with the Skoda if space and a big boot are your priorities.

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Hi there,

There are many, with Ford, Nissan, Opel, Toyota and Hyundai, for instance, all having notably good offers. You can get as much as €4,500 'scrappage' (not really scrappage, but actually a trade-in bonus really), but it depends on which model you're trading in against.

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Hi Caroline,

The Yaris. Dacia actually has a pretty good reliability record and, in spite of their cheapness, they do seem to be solidly built. But a Toyota is a Toyota and the Yaris is the only small hatchback built to withstand a tactical nuclear strike. Not really, but you get the idea.

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Hi Denis,

Best to stick with a Toyota Verso (neé Corolla Verso) or a Volkswagen Touran so - both have space for seven, and big boots if you leave the rear seats folded down. Both should be endlessly reliable too. Honda's FR-V also worth a look if six seats (in two rows of three) would work for you.

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Hi Joe,

They're both pretty similar to be honest, although at the moment the Corolla is only available as a four-door saloon and the Pulsar as a five-door hatch.

Both are solid, reliable, unremarkable workhorses. If you're looking for excitement, sexy styling or dynamism, you've come to the wrong place - but both major on space (the Pulsar in particular has massive space in the back seats), comfort and simplicity.

The Corolla's diesel engine lags a bit behind the Nissan's in terms of performance, but other than that, they're pretty closely matched and seeing as both will probably be endlessly reliable you can safely choose according to your taste.

New, Corolla prices start at €20,995 and Pulsar prices start at €19,995.

Relevant reviews:

Nissan Pulsar review

Toyota Corolla review