Expert answer

Hi Michael,

You'll find someone somewhere that has had an issue with nearly every car on sale, but the Hyundai Tucson in general has been very reliable and we'd not hesitate in recommending it. The Kia Sportage is based on the same mechanicals, and it has the same strong reputation. If you're not set on diesel, you could consider the dependable Toyota RAV4 instead, or the Nissan Qashqai e-Power for that matter.

Come back to us with your budget and annual mileage if you want us to help you narrow your search.

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Hi Gary,

We'd definitely advocate for an estate over an MPV or SUV as they're more space efficient, more fuel efficient and generally better to drive, especially as you clearly spend quite a bit of time on the road.

Assuming you're on the motorway for much of that, then a diesel probably makes the most sense, though if you're generally at lower speeds, it's well worth considering a hybrid instead to keep your maintenance bills down.

Within budget are some lovely premium estates, such as the Audi A4 and A6 Avant, along with the BMW 3 Series Touring, Volkswagen Passat and Skoda Superb, though you might have to compromise and go for high-mileage examples.

There are a few diesel Ford Focus estates around as well, along with the underestimated Kia Ceed estate. On the hybrid side, there's an estate version of the Toyota Corolla to consider as well.

Come back to us if you'd like help narrowing down your search, as you have loads of choice with €20,000 to spend.

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Hi Frank,

We wouldn’t have considered those to be natural rivals as the Toyota starts at about €43,000 and the most expensive Kona Electric is €38,495 and in truth, the cabin ambience of the bZ4X reflects that – it’s a more luxurious car inside. The Toyota is also more spacious in the back seats, though they have similarly sized boots. The bZ4X is nicer to drive and smoother, though the Hyundai is a little more efficient in real-world driving.

In short, if the price difference isn’t part of your decision, you just need to go and test drive both to see which you prefer, as we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend either.

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Hi Mary,

There are loads of examples of the 2021-2022 Hyundai Santa Fe on the market using the plug-in hybrid powertrain, priced from about €40,000 to over €50,000 depending on the model year, mileage, etc. This is a really good car, and far more spacious than your Tucson, but we urge you to go along to a dealer with your baby seats to check out the space inside for them. There is no ISOFIX in the middle seat of the second row, nor in the third row, and it may still be a bit of a squeeze depending on how large your seats are. A dealer shouldn’t mind you trying out the space with your own seats.

Hybrid alternatives at the same price include the Kia Sorento, again as a plug-in hybrid. This shares its underpinnings with the Hyundai and the seven-seat layout, but it might be better suited to your needs as the middle row is better shaped to potentially take three baby seats. Though the middle position has no ISOFIX if that’s important to you. However, the two seats in the third row do have ISOFIX. Nonetheless, using the third row in any of these cars means a tiny boot.

Another option, though rarer on the used market, is the Toyota Highlander. It’s a seven-seater as well, comparable to the Santa Fe in terms of space. It’s similarly priced though, unlike the Hyundai and the Kia, it’s not a plug-in hybrid. That might be preferable depending on whether you are willing to install a home charger.

Another plug-in hybrid option is the Volvo XC90 T8. It has three individual seats in the middle row and, though the central one has no ISOFIX and is smaller than the outer ones, it still is likely to accommodate a baby seat. Worth checking out for sure.

Now, if you’re willing to consider a car or estate instead of an SUV, you’d do well to take a look at the Skoda Superb as it has a really wide rear seat and a massive boot. It’s also much more affordable than the cars above, available as a hybrid and should come with lower running costs.

Come back to us if you need further help narrowing your search down, but we do urge you to go try out a few of these cars for yourself.

Read our Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV review here

Read our Kia Sorento PHEV review here

Read our Toyota Highlander review here

Read our Volvo XC90 reviews

Read our Skoda Superb reviews

Expert answer

Hi Pat,

I can imagine that was a bit of a shock, but I’m sure Carzone has disclaimers on its site warning users that its automated valuations are to be taken as a guide only. Looking through its own listings I can see 2021 Corollas from as low as €18,000 and examples of the 2023 Yaris Cross priced as high €35,000.

Even so, a dealer won’t offer you a price for your Corolla that they will sell it at as they must prepare the car for sale, offer a warranty and still make a profit.

And it’s also worth bearing in mind that each and every transaction is different. On any given day, any given dealer may or may not want your trade in as, for example, they already have plenty of 2021 Corollas in stock. Or they have had lots of calls about the Yaris Cross and know they can go for a high price.

I can only suggest you shop around to get the best deal for yourself.

Expert answer

Hi Henry,

In general, modern Toyotas have no major issues with rust, but the fact that it’s coming from England means you really should have the underside inspected before buying it. That’s because roads in England are salted during the winter - especially in the north of the country - and that can have a detrimental effect on a car’s under-carriage etc.

Expert answer

Hi Barry,

If it’s registered as a commercial and is being imported to be registered as one in Ireland, then the VRT should be 13.3 per cent of its OMSP. That’s the Open Market Selling Price Revenue believes the vehicle to be worth in Ireland, which can be tricky to estimate, especially for something so rare, relatively speaking.

If Revenue says it’s worth €35,000 then the VRT as a commercial would be 13.3 per cent of that, or €4,655.

If this is a private vehicle then the VRT rate depends on the CO₂ emissions, and it’s likely to be in the top band, at 41 per cent. At the same OMSP, that would be a VRT bill of €14,350.

Don’t forget about the NOx levy, which will be high for that vehicle, but if it has been registered and used in Northern Ireland you shouldn’t have import duty or VAT to pay.

Expert answer

Hi Jack,

The EV6 has a longer range on a charge of its battery and is more efficient, though that’s probably not a major issue for you as you’ll likely charge up at home every night and - I assume - have plenty of range in either car to keep you going for a shift. I prefer the quality of the Toyota’s cabin and its smoothness on the road, two things it betters the Kia on. There’s not much difference between them in terms of interior space, but the Kia has a larger boot, which may be relevant to your needs.

I highly recommend you go and test drive both cars for yourself, so you get a feel for which you prefer. Do let us know which you go for and why.

Expert answer

Hi John,

That is all correct so long as certain conditions are met. You can check the validity of the Irish VAT number at the European Commission’s VIES VAT number validation page for a start.

You will also need proof from the buyer that the vehicle has been exported. Without that you may be liable to pay VAT on the sale to the UK government, even if you never actually charged the seller VAT.

And overriding all of this of course is the assumption that you are selling the vehicle as a VAT-registered entity with a VAT invoice. It would not apply to a private sale.

Expert answer

Hi Sonia,

I assume you mean as a trade-in, as most dealers wouldn’t be interested in buying cars such as this unless a car is also being sold. You’re not likely to be offered as much as €1,000 as a trade-in, though you may find a private seller willing to buy it for a little more.