Expert answer

Hi Thomas,

The Tiguan eHybrid officially manages up to 121 kilometres on a charge of its 19.7kWh battery. That's up among the longest-range PHEVs on the market right now. Cupra's Terramar is built on the same underpinnings and has more or less the same electric range as well.

In comparison, the Tucson PHEV and Sportage PHEV manage 70km at most as they have a smaller battery. Same story for the Toyota C-HR. The Toyota RAV4 PHEV goes slightly further on a charge than those, but we suspect that situation will improve further in the new generation that is about to be unveiled.

Expert answer

Hi Dave,

Given you'll be on the motorway for an hour each way, presumably a few days a week at least, a diesel car seems to make the most sense in your case.

We'd also suggest that you stick to a car rather than an SUV as it will be better to drive, generally more comfortable and definitely more efficient.

Scouring the classifieds for options, here's what we reckon might suit:

Honda Civic 1.6 diesel
Hyundai i40 1.7 diesel
Kia Optima 1.6 diesel
SEAT Leon 1.6 diesel
Skoda Octavia 1.6 diesel
Volkswagen Passat 2.0 diesel
Volkswagen Golf 1.6 diesel

Come back to us if you'd actually rather stick with a premium marque. The above are a good bet in general when it comes to reliability, though as ever, take your time to choose a good example with a detailed service history, and take test drives as well.

Expert answer

Hi Brona,

That's a pretty open-ended brief to be honest. If you're looking a the MGS5 EV then we can assume your budget is in and around €30,000-€35,000. Even the entry-level model – Excite Standard Range – officially manages up to 340km on a charge.

Given your low daily mileage, that should be more than sufficient for your needs, even if the real-world figure drops a little in winter. That is of course if you are planning on getting a home charger. We'd recommend buyers only consider an EV if they can charge up at home or work.

Another good option for your needs is the Volkswagen ID.3 if you're not set on an SUV and, if space isn't a priority, maybe even the fantastic new Renault 5.

Come back to us with your opinion on the above and we'll try to help you narrow things down further.

Expert answer

Hi Niall,

With your requirements and budget, you'll certainly be looking at a used EV rather than a new one, which may mean buying a car that doesn't have much of its original regular warranty remaining (as the industry default is three years - though there are exceptions). However, the car makers include a longer warranty on the drive battery to reassure buyers of their longevity. Typically, this is for eight years and 160,000km (from new), though the precise figures vary from model to model.

You've not specified if any of your kids are in small seats or boosters so we assume three of them can fit across in one row of a normal car (do come back to us if we're wrong on that as that will limit your options considerably).

In terms of your driving use, and assuming you'll get a home charger to cover day-to-day charging, you're going to have to plan to use the public charging network on your longer journeys. Very few used EVs in your budget will do 400km on a charge all year around with five people on board.

Most should require just one top-up on that trip, however, taking no longer to charge than it will to get the kids all out and into the bathroom and for you to grab a coffee.

I'm sure you'd have to stop a few times on a 1,000km trip regardless of charging up the car.

Taking a look at what's on the market for under €25,000, here are some options we'd recommend:

Cupra Born: This is a five-seat, five-door hatchback about the same size as a Volkswagen Golf on the outside (and indeed it's the same underneath as the Volkswagen ID.3), but it has way more rear-seat space. Your budget gets you a 2022 example using the 58kWh battery pack, which means a realistic range of about 300km between charges.

Read our Cupra Born reviews here

Hyundai Kona Electric: The Kona is a five-door, five-seat crossover you should find as new as 2023 available within budget. That's the last of the previous-generation model. It's smaller in the boot and back seat than the Cupra mentioned above, but it is efficient. There are even some available with a 64kWh battery for a realistic range between charges of nearly 400km.

Read our Hyundai Kona reviews here

Kia e-Niro: This is another five-seat crossover, actually sharing its underpinnings with the Hyundai. However, the Niro is noticeably bigger inside the cabin and boot. There are loads of 2022 examples around with a 64kWh battery - meaning a real-world range of nearly 400km again. Sidebar: the Kia e-Soul is a stylish alternative sharing most of the same components, though it's less practical as a family car.

Read our Kia Niro reviews here
Read our Kia Soul reviews here

Skoda Enyaq: The Enyaq is a fantastic family car with much more space in the cabin and boot than all of the above. Sadly, there are very few about at your budget, though we did find a couple so it might be worth holding out for. The compromise is that you'll only be able to afford the 58kWh model, which should manage a little over 300km between charges.

Read our Skoda Enyaq reviews here

Volkswagen ID.3/ID.4: The ID.3 is VW's equivalent to the Cupra Born above and there are more of them about, most with the same 58kWh battery. Saying that, we did find a few with the 77kWh battery pack, enabling a much longer range. The ID.4 is notably larger inside and comparable with the Skoda Enyaq. It's not common within budget though.

Read our Volkswagen ID reviews

Hopefully that's some useful food for thought. Don't hesitate to come back to us if you want us to help narrow down your search.

Expert answer

Hi Chris,

Unless your daughter has a permanent address in the North where she can register the car, then yes, she will have to import it.

Expert answer

Hi Teresa,

There is certainly a move that way, though don't expect all models to change all at once. It would appear that the car makers (not just Volkswagen) have listened to buyers such as you and critics such as us on this, and there will be a gradual reintroduction of some physical switchgear. Organisations such as Euro NCAP and even the EU are closely monitoring this, too, so we have high hopes for a return to less reliance on touchscreens for basic tasks in a car.

Volkswagen's recent show cars that preview forthcoming production models - such as the ID.1 and ID.2 - have buttons as well as a touchscreen.

Expert answer

Hi Diana,

The seven-seat EV market is tiny thus far and most of the vehicles are based on commercial vans. Here's a list in order of starting price:

• Citroen E-Berlingo, from €38,693 (as 'LWB' model)
• Opel Combo Life Electric, from €39,504
• Peugeot E-Rifter, from €39,600 (as 'long' model)
• Citroen E-Spacetourer, from €48,626
• Opel Combi Electric, from €49,068
• Peugeot E-5008, from €50,995
• Opel Zafira Life Electric, from €62,495
• Volkswagen ID. Buzz LWB, from €67,785
• Kia EV9, from €77,500
• Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, from €114,111
• Volvo EX90, from €117,910
• Mercedes-Benz EQV, from €125,830

Expert answer

Hi Caoimhe,

You've not told us your budget, as that will be the limiting factor given how few cars there are that can hold three baby seats in one row. The previous-generation Peugeot 5008 could manage it, for example, while the Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90 can as well and so can people carriers such as the SEAT Alhambra or Volkswagen Touran. Unfortunately, all of those are cars that usually happen to have three rows of seating as well so they may not appeal to you at all.

If you can get by without ISOFIX in the middle seat then you may find some wider cars can accept your three child seats, but it'll be a case of going to try them out for size with your seats in tow, as there's such variety between baby seats and the space between the buckles in the middle of the back seat of a car.

Ones that come to mind include the Skoda Superb and Volkswagen Tiguan, along with the new Cupra Terramar, for example.

If you want to come back to us with your budget and whether you're going new or used, we can try to come up with a few other potential candidates.

Expert answer

Hi John,

You've not mentioned which gearbox specifically, so we'll assume you mean the DSG automatic. These can develop faults with the 'mechatronic' unit that controls gear shifting etc. If that has to be replaced then it's expensive, though sometimes just changing the transmission fluid helps.

That needs to be done regularly in DSG units using the 'wet-clutch' setup. Those with the dry-clutch system don't need such maintenance.

If you've thinking about buying a car using a DSG transmission, then make sure you take it for a decent test drive through the full speed range up to motorway speeds and monitor the gear changing for judders or other issues. If possible, spend some time in stop-start traffic as well as that can cause the clutch packs and mechatronic unit to overheat if they are weak and you'll soon notice if something isn't right.

Saying all this, the DSG transmissions aren't necessarily bad designs, you just need to ensure the one you're buying is still operating properly.

Expert answer

Hi Lorraine,

There really is a lot of choice out there, but we will try to help you narrow things down.

With your car as a trade-in, and the €16,000 budget on top, we'll look for cars up to about €27,000.

First up, narrowing the search to automatic SUVs post-2021 really limits your options to the Nissan Qashqai, which isn't very powerful, the Peugeot 3008 (which is quite rare) or the Skoda Karoq and Volkswagen Tiguan. The latter two are potentially worth a look as they're built on much the same underpinnings as your Ateca and their 2.0 TDI engines have plenty of go. There aren't many of them about with automatic gearboxes though.

Removing the constraint on that opens up the options considerably and one car that stands out for us right away is the Mazda CX-5. It's perhaps not as common as some others, but it's great to drive in particular and it should tick all your other boxes. Try to get hold of one to test drive for yourself.

A newer Ateca is of course an option, and we're big fans of the SEAT, but all the newer ones we found haven't a very powerful engine.

The Peugeot 3008 is another car we like and would encourage you to try it out for size. There are plenty of them about with a manual gearbox.

All of these should have the niceties you're looking for as well.

Come back to us if you need help narrowing your search further, or if you want our opinions on any other alternative to the above.

Expert answer

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.

Expert answer

Hi Peter,

We’d never consider those cars to be rivals. The entry-level EX90 is nearly €120,000 while the most expensive ID.7 Tourer listed on Volkswagen Ireland’s website is a little over half that.

The EX90 has seven seats and is a luxury car. The ID.7 is lovely inside, really spacious in the rear seats and has a massive boot, but it can’t compete with the Volvo’s interior in reality. Nonetheless, to drive, we’d take the ID.7 every time.

But does any buyer that can afford a certain level of outlay look at a cheaper car and think, “that’ll do me”? We don’t believe so.

Volvo EX90 review

Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer review

Expert answer

Hi Tomas,

As a commercial vehicle, VRT will be 13.3 per cent of the Open Market Selling Price (OMSP) of the Caddy. That’s the value Revenue puts on the vehicle as if it was being sold in Ireland. Best bet is look at the big classifieds websites such as Carzone.ie for similar vehicles to get a gauge for that value.

Expert answer

Hi Louise,

It would be €710 a year. See our Motor Road Tax Prices in Ireland Explained guide for more information.

Expert answer

Hi Seoirse,

I’m afraid there’s no way for you to do that yourself in the settings. It requires a change to the car’s country code, which can only be done by Volkswagen or via some “OBD” tools that independent garages use. If you have a good mechanic, mention that to them and see if they’re willing to help.

Expert answer

Hi John,

When the Tayron was first unveiled, Volkswagen Ireland did indicate that yes, it would bring in the 193hp 4x4 model and we've not had an update since then. I can see that this model is not listed on the Tayron Product Guide currently available on Volkswagen Ireland's website, but that is not unusual at the launch of a new model as it may not be initially available.

Expert answer

Thanks for the kind words Gerry - I've passed on your comments to the author, Neil.

For anyone else interested, the full review can be accessed here.

Expert answer

Hi Mike,

That engine has one of Volkswagen Group's so-called 'long life' timing belts that don't actually come with any set replacement schedule. That's very low mileage but even so there's no harm asking your mechanic to take the 'top cover' off each time the car is serviced to check the condition of the belt itself.

Expert answer

Hi Jake,

You can easily notify your local motor tax office that you will be using a pickup like the Amarok for private use, and then pay the required motor tax. Unfortunately, that may not satisfy the insurers. Best to ask them before you buy the vehicle if this will be sufficient, and also make sure you get a quote. 

If you have no joy, consider employing the services of an independent insurance broker to do the legwork for you.

Best of luck

Expert answer

Hi Connor,

If it is a pan-European warranty, then it should be valid and yes, an Irish dealer should be fine with carrying out warranty work if needed. If possible, get the car's VIN from the seller and contact Volkswagen Ireland with it to check its warranty status. 

Expert answer

Hi Megan,

That's a very difficult situation and also not easy to untangle from a legal perspective. The mechanic certainly has some responsibility if they sourced the engine for you, though I'd suggest that extends only to communicating with the seller of the engine. They are ultimately responsible for its condition, depending on how it was presented to your mechanic. 

Go back to the mechanic and tell them you think it's their responsibility to sort out one way or another and see how you get on. If you have no luck, consider getting in touch with the CPCC (Competition and Consumer Protection Commission) as it may be well-placed to advise you. 

Hopefully you have all of this fully documented. 

Best of luck

Expert answer

Hi Des,

Our information is 240,000km or 15 years on that car, but in truth, the dealer should know best. A car manufacturer wouldn't just change the interval for the sake of 'lining its pockets' as you've described and it's not unusual for changes to the interval to happen in a car's lifetime as experience is gathered. 

No harm double checking that information with a few other Volkswagen dealerships and, as the car is out of warranty anyway, you can always consider getting the work done at an independent garage. 

Expert answer

Hi Wayne,

I think it's a good time to change into an EV if it suits your needs. With that mileage, you really would have to have a charger at home to keep the cost down and to make charging as convenient as possible.

Once you do make the changeover you'll never want to go back. I speak from experience on that score (we're on our second new EV) despite still classing myself as a 'petrolhead'. A Volkswagen ID.4 did us well for three years on PCP (we also have three kids and that car had ample room for our needs) before we replaced it this year.

Don't expect technology and range to dramatically improve overnight as that just won't happen - it'll be a gradual improvement with each year. PCP is well suited to making that change without worrying too much about future values.

Expert answer

Hi Des,

The late payment penalty is 0.1 per cent per day after the allowed 30 days. If the van is as described, with a VRT fee of €200, then the daily penalty added on is just 20 cents... 

Expert answer

Hi Colin,

There's no definitive answer to this one as there are so many moving parts. First up, you'll get maximum value for your own car if you sell it privately. That is far less convenient than trading it in of course, but worth taking into consideration.

If you're going the trade-in route, there's no way to know for sure how much the cost to change will be until you start talking numbers with a dealer. I'd suggest you do that sooner rather than later with a number of different dealers to get a feel for the numbers involved. You don't need to commit to anything to do this. It'll take you time of course, but try to choose a few dealers that are not part of the same group or brand, and do the sums with them on both a new PCP and going for a used model as you mentioned.

Perhaps wait until the Budget announcements next month to see if there is anything new on EV incentives before committing to anything, but don't leave it much longer as some new cars can take a few months to arrive following an order.

The Enyaq is a fine electric car. Good alternatives include the Volkswagen ID.4 and forthcoming new Cupra Tavascan, plus the Renault Scenic. There's loads of choice at that price point.

Expert answer

Hi Ankit,

Let's go through your list for a start:

Suzuki Swift: Even the top-spec model with loads of options comes in under budget, has adaptive cruise control and can be had with an automatic gearbox. Easy to drive, well-specified, should be reliable, though doesn't feel as substantial as some of the other cars listed. Read our Suzuki Swift reviews here.

Volkswagen Polo: Only the Style and R-Line versions come with adaptive cruise control, but those are slightly out of budget if fitted with the DSG automatic gearbox so unless you stretch the budget this isn't an option. That's a shame as it's probably the best car in this list all things considered. Read our Volkswagen Polo reviews here.

Toyota Yaris: The 1.5-litre hybrid is an automatic by default, and as you've identified, the Luna comes with adaptive cruise control. It's the only version in the Yaris lineup within budget with those items and it's an excellent car. The rear seats aren't huge, but the fronts are fine, it drives fantastically, should be very reliable and the hybrid system is efficient and good to drive. Quite likely the pick of the cars here all things considered. Read our Toyota Yaris reviews here.

Dacia Sandero Stepway: An automatic gearbox is available, and even the most expensive version is well within budget, but this car can't be had with adaptive cruise control - only the non-adaptive type is fitted. Otherwise, it's a spacious and well-equipped car for the money. Read our Dacia Sandero reviews here.

MG3: All versions are automatic and come with adaptive cruise control, so those boxes are ticked. And even the most expensive version is within budget so it's a realistic possibility. It's the most powerful car here, which is probably not important, but it's quite efficient as well. The Yaris is a more polished product, but the MG has a little more space. Read our MG3 reviews here.

Hopefully that's all of help. I'd strongly recommend you and your wife go check out a shortlist of cars in person and test drive them to see which you prefer, as it will come down to personal preference.

Let us know which you go for.

Expert answer

Hi Des,

Yes, our understanding of the rules would suggest the same, that you will be liable for 23 per cent VAT and 10 per cent import dutyon registering the car in the Republic. 

Expert answer

Hi there,

Private taxation on a commercial vehicle reverts to engine size, so that Amarok would be €710 per year and the Navara would be €994.

Expert answer

Hi Ahmed,

It really depends on where you do most of your driving, and how many people you tend to carry around. The 115hp model is fine around town and at lower speeds if you're on your own, but if you have three other people on board regularly, or you often drive in hilly areas, you'll appreciate the extra performance of the 150hp engine. There won't be much of a difference in the real-world fuel economy. 

Expert answer

Hi Ciara,

We're in the same situation (without the pooch, sadly) so I understand your needs for sure. There are no electric Skoda estates as yet (at least one is on the way in the next few years, but that'll be too late for you), but there have been plug-in hybrid options. Not sure if you're buying new or used, but the current Superb Combi can be had new as a plug-in hybrid and it's an exceptional car. You'll find some of the previous-gen on the used market as well.

Other fully electric estate options include the MG5, but come back to us with your budget and new/used preference if you want us to help you narrow your search.

Expert answer

Hi Viktoria,

If you've owned and used the vehicle in Germany yourself for more than six months and you are moving to Ireland then no VRT should be payable. Have a read of the Transfer of Residence rules from Revenue to see if that applies to you. 

If not, and the T4 is registered as a commercial vehicle, then VRT may be payable at a flat rate of just €200.

Expert answer

Hi John,

It should be changed at least every 210,000km, regardless of time. 

Expert answer

Hi Michael,

So long as they have off-street parking and are willing to get a charger installed at home, then I'd suggest that a full-on electric car will suit them. For that outlay, there are loads of good options to consider:

Skoda Enyaq reviews

Volkswagen ID reviews

Kia EV6 reviews

Hyundai Ioniq 5 review

Expert answer

Hi John Paul,

You’re dead right in that four-wheel-drive EVs are currently rather expensive — the best value ones around at the moment are the Volkswagen ID.4 GTX, the Skoda Enyaq Sportline iV 80x and the Tesla Model 3 Long Range, all of which are in the region of €57,000 to €59.000.  Which is quite a lot of money, even if all three are excellent cars.

If you want to go front-wheel drive, but keep the SUV body shape, then there are still some very good options all the same. The Kia e-Niro, the Kia e-Soul and the Hyundai Kona Electric all share the same battery, electric motor and front-wheel-drive platform, and all are excellent cars. The Niro is fractionally the more practical, the Soul arguably the best to drive and the Kona a pretty good compromise between the two.

Or you could try the MG ZS if you want something a bit cheaper, but bear in mind that a new, longer-range model is coming in the new year that will bump up its price from €28,995 to €31,000. 

Mind you, you’ve said you’re happy to put winter tyres on, and this should really bring the various rear-wheel-drive models back into play. With the right tyres, and given the hefty two-tonne weight of larger models such as the ID.4 and Enyaq, you’re unlikely to experience any major traction issues, so don’t count those models out. 

Expert answer

Hi Karen,

The Alhambra is an excellent choice, and to be honest it’s probably the one we’d go for, though there are no petrol or hybrid versions as you probably know.

However, Ford is just now introducing hybrid versions of both the S-Max and Galaxy and those could well be worth checking out, not least because Ford has some very sharp 212-plate offers around at the moment, so you may be able to nab yourself a bargain.

If you want some other hybrid seven-seat options, you’re really looking at large SUVs, which are expensive to buy and run. The best ones are plug-in hybrids, too, but you did say that you don't have a way to plug a car in at home, so perhaps those are not for you.

Best of luck

Expert answer

Hi John,

Bad news, I'm afraid: the Grand California is not for sale in the States at all. You can tease yourself and find out more about it in our review.

Expert answer

Hi Bob,

There will indeed, though we don't know how it will be priced as yet. Read about it in our news piece about the updated Tiguan.

Expert answer

Hi Avdirrahman,

It's every 210,000 kilometres regardless of time.

Expert answer

Hi John,

In my experience (I test a few hundred cars a year and I have three kids myself), your only proper options are people carriers, MPVs and larger SUVs. We ended up buying a Volkswagen Touran, which was absolutely excellent, but there are plenty of other cars with the same kind of space. The Tiguan Allspace, Skoda Kodiaq and SEAT Tarraco all are virtually the same as that inside and ideal for the job. Watch out for smaller SUVs, such as the Qashqai etc, as their rear seats are no wider or more accommodating than an average estate. 

Now, depending on whether you're using ISOFIX and how wide the child seats are, you might find an estate that will accommodate the three, so don't give up just yet. The only way to know for certain is to bring the seats with you to try out in the backs of a few cars at a dealer or wherever. The Skoda Superb Combi and VW Passat Combi would be worth a try for sure.

Please do let us know in the comments below how you get on.

Expert answer

Hi Chris,

I'm afraid that classic motor tax (or 'Vintage' according to Revenue) only kicks in when a car is over thirty years old.

Expert answer

Hi Joe,

There aren’t any specific battery issues to look for, and the good thing about a plug-in hybrid is that you can’t fast-charge them, so there’s less likelihood of wear and tear on the battery cells from repeated rapid charges. Obviously, batteries do degrade a little over time, but you shouldn’t see more than a few percentage points wiped off the performance. Make sure you go for a fully-charged test drive first though, and if the range seems abruptly short (allowing for weather, traffic etc) then the battery might have been physically damaged at some point.

Other plug-in hybrids worth considering would be a BMW 530e, although that probably won’t squeeze into your budget, or a Volkswagen Passat GTE, which provides performance almost as good as that of the 330e, but for a much lower cost overall and it's more spacious. Don’t forget that the battery eats considerably into the 330e’s boot space, and it was never a big car inside to begin with. The updated Passat GTE (2020) was available as an estate, too...

BMW 330e review

Volkswagen Passat GTE review

Volkswagen Passat GTE Estate review

BMW 530e review

Expert answer

Hi Tom,

OK, so rather than run our bad-home-school-maths brains over this, we just went straight to the source, Volkswagen Ireland, and asked for a break down of the figures for us.

So, here goes:

Expert answer

Hi Luke,

Yes, it is possible — you just need to ring up your local motor tax office and get them to switch you to the private car system. The downside is that, yes, you will be taxed on the engine capacity at that point, which, with a 3.2-litre Ranger is going to be top-whack — €1,809. You might be better off looking for a newer Ranger with the 2.2-litre engine, or the older Volkswagen Amarok, which had a 2.0-litre.

Take a read of our Buying a commercial vehicle for private use feature.

Expert answer

Hi Tanya,

There should be a manual external boot release — on an 07 Jetta it’s a rubberised switch, up under the VW logo and above the number plate. If that’s not working then it could explain why the key fob release is being inconsistent. Either way, a visit to your Volkswagen dealer is probably in order. It may just be that the battery in the key needs replacing, but you may need a new key, or at worst a replacement boot release. 

Expert answer

Hi Eoin,

If you are, yourself, VAT registered, or if your company is and you’re buying the car through the company, then that may well be possible, but I would check with your accountant just to be certain before taking any leaps. Also, don't forget about the NOx levy and customs duty that will be due regardless. Read our Guide to Importing Cars from the UK feature for full details.

Expert answer

Hi Robert,

We don't believe there are any plans to officially sell the Grand California in the USA anywhere. Here in Ireland it costs from €79,920.

Read our Volkswagen Grand California review here

Expert answer

Hi Fiona,

It's easy to tax it privately, as well. You just need to inform your local Motor Tax Office of the change of category. The price is then based on the engine size. Assuming it has a 1,968cc engine, then that'll set you back €710 per annum. Read Motor Road Tax Prices in Ireland Explained for more.

Expert answer

Hi George,

Taxing it privately is an easy one - anybody can do that. Insuring it privately may be more difficult, so make sure you ring a few insurers to get an answer on that. If you're having no joy then consider employing the services of an independent broker.

Expert answer

Hi James,

I think that would be a wise investment. Even if you never change the setting out of the default Comfort mode, it's highly likely that Volkswagen did most of the core development work for the adaptive dampers using larger wheels, so the car should be well set up combining both.

Try hard to get a test drive in a representative example in the dealer network, though. I know that may not be likely, but well worth a try.

Expert answer

Hi Catherine,

In general, yes, the 2006 Polo is quite reliable. However, you have to adjust your expectations given that it would be over 14 years old now. Go for as simple a model as you can find and best to go for petrol rather than diesel to keep the maintenance costs low.

Expert answer

Hi Fergal,

Sadly, for all us Mondeo fans, it will die in its current form soon (most likely in the next 18 months or so). Now, it will be replaced, but most likely not by another saloon, but a crossover of some description instead, sitting above the Kuga in the current Ford range, and likely with a seven-seat option. 

Happily, there are still a few proper, full-sized four-door saloons around for you to choose from, and they’re good ‘uns. Our list starts with the Skoda Superb (massive inside, smooth to drive, handsome to look at and really good quality) and the VW Passat (all of the above but not quite so big inside). The Mazda6 is a big favourite of ours, too, not least because it’s so engaging to drive, and has such high quality and reliability levels, but Mazda is dropping the diesel engine option, so you might want to snap one up soon, before they’re all gone.

If you fancied going down the hybrid route, then Toyota’s excellent Camry is well worth a look, and there’s the Opel Insignia (probably one of the most underrated cars on the market) to consider too. If you fancy something a little moore stylish, check out the very slinky Peugeot 508. 

You could go up a grade, as you suggest, to the likes of a BMW 3 Series or Audi A4, but the problem is you need to spend a LOT extra to get one with decent spec, so our recommendation would  be to stick with one of the mainstream brands.

Here are our relevant reviews to help you decide:

Skoda Superb reviews

Volkswagen Passat reviews

Mazda6 reviews

Toyota Camry reviews

Peugeot 508 reviews

Opel Insignia reviews

BMW 3 Series reviews

Audi A4 reviews

Expert answer

Hi Dermot,

Volkswagen Ireland has not released the updated pricing as yet, but we understand it won't change very much for that model. The cost of the car is about €30,000 and the WLTP emissions rating is 124g/km. That means 15.75 per cent VRT, which would be €4,725 on that price. 

Expert answer

Hi Gerry,

Used privately, commercial vehicles are taxed according to their engine size. That's not too bad if you're talking about the older 2.0-litre version of the Amarok, which would cost €710 to tax privately. But if you're referring to the newer model with the 3.0 V6 TDI engine, then I'm afraid it's going to cost €1,494 a year instead. Full details can be found on Motor Road Tax Prices in Ireland Explained and Buying a commercial vehicle for private use.

Expert answer

Hi Dorothy,

It really depends on the specific version you are looking at. Some cars will go up in price, but conversely, some will drop in price. Come back to us with as much detail as possible on the specific model you are looking at so we can find its CO₂ and NOx emissions ratings and do the calculations.

Expert answer

Hi Evan,

When you go to tax a commercial vehicle privately then it goes on engine size, regardless of its age. That puts the 1.6-litre Caddy at €514 per annum.

Expert answer

Hi Aidan,

Well, generally speaking, vans fall into one of two categories for VRT. Most will be charged 13.3 per cent of the Irish open market selling price (OMSP), which in the case of a 2014 Transporter is likely to be in the region of €13,000. So 13.3 per cent of that is €1,279 and that should be your VRT cost, more or less.

Of course, there’s a chance that your Transporter of choice will fall into the second category, which gets charged a flat-rate of €200 if, says Revenue, “it always had less than four seats and at any time a laden mass greater than 130 per cent of the mass in service.” 

Expert answer

Hi Caroline,

For a a 1.9 engine, switching back to the old by-engine-capacity tax system, that’s going to be €673 per year.

Expert answer

Hi David,

A trade-in value of €10,500 doesn’t look too bad to us to be honest. Values for a 2013 Scirocco are going to be at about the €12-14,000 level, and they’re not the easiest cars to sell so the dealer is probably leaving themselves some headroom to allow for that. I wouldn’t price it at more than €14,500 privately.

Expert answer

Hi Nicola,

Yes there are, though we don't yet know about Irish availability of them. The three new colours are called Oryx White, Lapiz Blue and Kings Red Metallic.

Read the full 2021 VW Arteon news story here

Expert answer

Hi Aiden,

You will pay the princely sum of €710 for a year’s private car tax for a 2.0-litre Amarok. One of the benefits of VW’s decision to go with a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine instead of a larger unit. 

Expert answer

Hi Tommy,

I’m afraid that is the case — when you tax a commercial vehicle as a private one you go back to the old engine capacity tax system, so for a big car like a  Touareg, with a big engine, that can often work out much more expensive. 

Expert answer

Hi John,

The only form you’ll need will be form RF100 (you can find that here: https://www.dublincity.ie/sites/default/files/content/RoadsandTraffic/MotorTax/Documents/RF100_Car_GDPR.pdf) and I think a call to your local motor tax office would be a good idea as you’re taxing it privately. It shouldn’t be an issue — you just have to declare it — but they’ll be able to help you over any potential hurdles. 

Expert answer

Hi Fidelma,

A Skoda Kodiaq would be a very good bet — lots of space in the rear seat, plus the option of extra seats in the boot (although those ones are a bit tight for teens), but there’s no hybrid version as yet. Its close cousin, the SEAT Tarraco, will soon be offered as a hybrid, while the new Volkswagen Tiguan arrives next summer.

The Toyota RAV4 is pretty roomy, but there’s no seven-seat option and you might find the rear bench a little narrow for three teens side-by-side. The best thing to do is bring them on the test drive and see if they all fit comfortably.

Peugeot’s 3008 plug-in hybrid could also be worth a look, although you might be better off waiting for the larger 5008 version using the same powertrain. Toyota will be launching its new Highlander seven-seat hybrid SUV in early 2021, but that might be too far away for you. 

It all depends on how much you want to spend, as there are hybrid versions of the BMW X3 and X5, plus the Volvo XC60 and XC90. Come back to us with your budget if you want more specific advice.

Expert answer

Hi Ruban,

Yes, you can. Pretty much all of the home charging points use the standard Type 2 connector, so that will work with any car. Even if you buy a brand-specific charging point, it’ll work with any make or model. 

Expert answer

Hi Kenneth,

You can tax it privately, and all you need to do is to ring up your local motor tax office (you can look yours up here) and tell them that you want to tax a van as a private vehicle. You’ll be shifted on to the old by-engine-capacity tax system and so, with a 1.6-litre engine, you’ll have to pay €514 per year.

Expert answer

Hi Brian,

It’s difficult, to be honest. There are some online resources for NOx emissions, but they’re flaky at best, and the only number that Revenue will accept is the one on the car’s Certificate of Conformity. The best figure we can find for a 2017 Golf 1.6 TDI is 130mg/km of NOx, but that’s not necessarily the 100 per cent accurate figure for the car at which you’re looking. 

Expert answer

Hi Andrew,

In theory, you can register and tax a commercial vehicle without a VAT number, but it’s tricky. Generally speaking, you have to show that your business is registered for tax before you can apply for commercial rate motor tax, but there certainly have been individual cases of people explaining that they have a small business that’s not VAT-registered, but still need a van for their work, and the tax office has taken a lenient view. Your best bet is to fill in an RF111 form, use your PPS number instead of a VAT number and then explain your circumstances to your local motor tax office. And hope for the best.

Expert answer

Hi Rik,

If you mean literally haul it to a scrapyard and have it taken to bits, then yes, that won’t be a problem. If you mean take advantage of one of the numerous 'scrappage' offers that are around at the moment, then no. Most of those offers have stipulations that say the car you’re trading in has to be taxed and insured (often for up to six months beforehand), and driven to the dealership under its own power. 

Expert answer

Hi Mags,

OK, there’s a bit of a balance to be struck, here. The Avensis would, normally, be a good, solid choice and of the two cars you’ve mentioned, it’s the more economical overall. However, we’re always slightly wary of cars that may have been used in the past as taxis, so you’d want to carefully check the history on that one, using Cartell.ie, for example.

The Mazda CX-5 is one of our favourite cars, but if it’s a 2017 model you’re looking at, then you’d want to make sure that it’s the second-generation CX-5 — not that the older car is bad or anything, but the newer version is a deal more sophisticated and refined, so worth stretching the budget for. The current version arrived in Ireland during 2017. It would be a bit thirstier than the Avensis but of the two it would be our choice.

Others worth looking at? Honda’s CR-V is always an excellent choice (massively roomy, hugely reliable), VW Passat (go for the estate), or the Skoda Superb. Here are a few our reviews to help:

Toyota Avensis reviews

Mazda CX-5 reviews

Honda CR-V reviews

Volkswagen Passat reviews

Skoda Superb reviews

Expert answer

Hi Mary,

Of the three, it’s probably the T-Cross that we prefer. It is more expensive than the Skoda, but makes up for that by feeling rather more stylish and a little more engaging to drive. Both are very good, though. The Vitara is decent, and solid, but feels a little too cheap in the cabin these days, which does hold it back. Incidentally, if you’re buying new and you’re in the small crossover market, you should also look at the new Ford Puma — it’s the best car in the class by far. Here are our reviews to help you decide:

Ford Puma reviews

Skoda Kamiq reviews

Volkswagen T-Cross reviews

Suzuki Vitara reviews

Expert answer

Hi Joanne,

If it’s just the one car you want, then I think your best bet would be a Ford S-Max or Galaxy, or possibly a SEAT Alhambra. All three cars do all the important family hauling work really well, and the two Fords will tow a maximum 2,000kg load, while the Alhambra can haul as much as 2,400kg.

If you want to go down the two-car route, then maybe go for a Mercedes E-Class Estate, with the fold-down seats in the boot, as the family machine and a Volkswagen Amarok pickup (the early model with the 2.0-litre turbo engine so as to keep the tax costs down) as the tow-car. It can haul a whopping 3,500kg, but is also comfy and refined enough to be a daily driver.

Read our Ford S-Max reviews

Read our Ford Galaxy reviews

Read our Mercedes E-Class reviews

Read our SEAT Alhambra reviews

Read our Volkswagen Amarok reviews

Expert answer

Hi James,

OK, at 25,000km per year, you’re just about over the line for diesel to make good sense for you. Both the Passat and the Avensis are rugged, reliable cars so they’re both good choices. The Passat has the nicer interior and is more comfortable overall, and that 1.6-litre diesel is remarkably economical (we once drove from Galway to Glasgow, via Belfast, and back on one tank…).

However, the Avensis would have an edge on overall reliability, which, when dealing with cars of this sort of mileage and age, could be significant. I’d say, on balance, go for one of the Avensis, but carefully check over the history and condition of each car, and go for the one that’s the best in those regards, rather than mileage or price. Oh, and as with any four-door saloon with high mileage, check to make sure that neither has been previously used as a taxi. We recommend Cartell.ie for a full history check.

Read our Toyota Avensis reviews

Read our Volkswagen Passat reviews

Expert answer

Hi Gavin,

In terms of roominess, there’s no contest — the Civic is the winner here, by a long chalk. Bigger in the boot, too. Actually, we really like the current edition of the Civic. In terms of exterior and interior design, the Golf is ahead, but the Civic is actually the sweeter of the two to drive, and being a Honda it will almost certainly never break. Go for the Civic. 

Read our Honda Civic reviews

Read our Volkswagen Golf reviews

Expert answer

Hi Noel,

A Caddy van with a 2.0-litre engine is going to cost you €710 per year to tax as a private vehicle. As for taxing it as a commercial, a VAT number isn’t an absolute requirement in and of itself, but you may be asked to provide proof of trading or a letter from Revenue showing that you are registered for tax as a business. 

Expert answer

Hi Eimear,

I’m happy to report that you’re wrong — the Up (and the equivalent Skoda and SEAT versions) is one of those small car’s that’s oddly good on the motorway. OK, with 60hp you’re not going to be winning any Grands Prix, but it’s entirely adequate, keeps up with other traffic and is pretty decently economical too. Indeed, it’s probably a better bet than buying a basic Clio or similarly-sized car, which will be bigger and heavier but won’t necessarily be that much more powerful.

Read our Volkswagen Up reviews

Expert answer

Hi Mark,

If you’re prepared to wait a bit, there is an all-new Octavia RS coming, which will be available as a plug-in hybrid with 245hp. Now, it will depend on how you rack up those 30,000km as to whether a plug-in hybrid would suit you — if it’s all motorway miles then probably not, but if you do a lot of short-hauls around town, and can charge at home, then it could be ideal.

There’s also the diesel version of the new Ford Focus ST to consider, the new Golf GTI and SEAT Leon Cupra (all sharing their bits and pieces with the Octavia, of course), or what about a Hyundai i30 N — one of our favourite hot hatches? A few reviews to help you decide:

Skoda Octavia reviews

Volkswagen Golf reviews

SEAT Leon reviews

Hyundai i30 reviews

Expert answer

Hi Emir,

You’re quite right — with kids of those ages, most seven-seat SUVs simply aren’t roomy enough, unless you go for something genuinely massive and expensive, such as a Land Rover Discovery. So, I’d say the Ford Galaxy is indeed your best choice — lots of space, seven proper seats for seven proper people and it's good to drive too. Other options well worth looking at are the VW Sharan and SEAT Alhambra, and — if you can afford the running costs — the old Mercedes R-Class. 

Ford Galaxy reviews

Volkswagen Sharan review

SEAT Alhambra reviews

Hyundai Santa Fe reviews

Expert answer

Hi Nithin,

You’re kind of shopping in two separate segments of the market, there — small city cars (such as the Up and the i10) and larger superminis (such as the Yaris and Clio). If it’s one of the small ones you want, then the decision is kind of made for you. The Up is one of our favourites, but there’s no automatic option, so the Hyundai it has to be. No bad thing — it’s an excellent car.

If you fancy something a little larger and roomier, then I’d suggest going for the Toyota Yaris Hybrid — it gets you the automatic transmission you want, plus you’re future-proofing yourself a little with the hybrid powertrain.

Hyundai i10 reviews

Skoda Citigo reviews

Kia Picanto reviews

Toyota Yaris reviews

SEAT Ibiza reviews

SEAT Mii reviews

Opel Corsa reviews

Peugeot 108 reviews

Renault Clio reviews

Volkswagen Up reviews

Expert answer

Hi Bartosz,

Easily done, normally, but perhaps a little less so at the moment. It will depend on the precise model you have whether or not it’s App-Connect compatible, but a trip to your local Volkswagen dealer, once they’re open again, will sort you out.

Expert answer

Hi Anne Marie.

Well, normally for a learner driver and for mostly in-town driving, we’d recommend a hatchback, rather than an SUV or crossover, but if your heart is set on one… Of the list you’ve given us below, the Toyota is the best, although arguably as a 1.2-litre petrol, you’re not getting the best C-HR (which is the hybrid, but then that’s an automatic). The Volkswagen T-Cross would be an excellent choice, has a brilliant little 1.0-litre engine and is a bit more upright and square than the others, so is a bit easier to see out of, which might be helpful for your daughter while she’s learning. The Kona would also be an excellent choice, but we’d also add the Suzuki Vitara to your list as its a solid and rugged choice - and hugely reliable. 

Read our Renault Captur reviews

Read our Nissan Juke reviews

Read our Volkswagen T-Cross reviews

Read our Hyundai Kona reviews

Read our Opel Crossland X reviews

Read our Hyundai ix20 reviews

Read our Toyota C-HR reviews

Read our Suzuki Vitara reviews

Expert answer

Hi TJ,

It’s pretty easy, actually. You simply contact your local motor tax office and let them know that you wish to tax the vehicle for private use. They’ll then switch it over to the old by-engine-capacity tax system (€1,080 for a year’s tax for a 2.5-litre) and that’s the job done. You should probably inform your insurers too, although there shouldn’t be any major issues with that.

Expert answer

Hi John,

There's a lot less going on in the exhaust aftertreatment of a modern petrol engine than the equivalent diesel so I suspect the diesel needs the warm-up more. It may also be due to the extra strain on the starter and battery due to the high compression of the diesel engine. When the oil is cold, the friction may be higher, causing a higher strain again. 

Either way, it's nothing to worry about.

Expert answer

Hi Peter,

It depends on how the interior layout of the van is arranged. If there is no bulkhead or physical separation between the seating area and the cargo area, then it’ll be registered as a Category A vehicle and it’ll be taxed on the full CO₂ emissions. If, though, there is a fixed bulkhead or separation between the seats and the cargo, then it goes into Category B, as it’s allowed to have more than three seats but have the passenger and cargo/functional compartments in completely separate units. That should VRT is charged at a flat rate of 13.3 per cent of the OMSP. 

Expert answer

Hi Robert,

I'm afraid not.

Expert answer

Hi John,

It goes back on to the old by-engine-capacity tax system, if you’re taxing a van as a private car, so if it has a 2.0 engine then you’re looking at €710 a year. 

Expert answer

Hi Alannah,

Probably not much, no, though insurers seem to be wary of cars over 10 years old. Saying that, when you’re under 30 and on a provisional, you’re the risk factor, not the car. Keeping the engine size as small as possible will help (closer to 1.0-litre is better), but it won’t make a huge difference. 

Expert answer

Hi Vic,

Easy — you can see the California at one of VW’s network of commercial vehicle dealers. You can find the one nearest you here.

Or read our Volkswagen California reviews of course.

Expert answer

Hi Patrick,

We have indeed reviewed the A-Class Saloon and you can read our thoughts on the car here. As for whether it’s good value for money, it kind of depends on how you look at it. Compared to other similarly-priced cars — Volkswagen Passat, Skoda Superb, or Opel Insignia for example — it’s not good value as you’re paying the same or more for a smaller car, probably with less standard equipment. That three-pointed star on the bonnet costs a fair bit… On the other hand, viewing the A-Class Saloon as a slightly smaller (but not that much so) alternative to the C-Class saloon — an entirely valid point of view — it’s actually really good value. Models available range from the basic A 180 petrol and A 180 d diesel versions, through A 200 and A 200 d, all the way up to the slightly rabid 300hp A 35 AMG model. 

Expert answer

Hi Pat,

It probably depends more on the year than the mileage, but I’m going to assume with 100,000 miles on the clock, it’s probably a 2015 model? If so it should be worth around €12,500, or about €10,500 as a trade in. 

Expert answer

Hi Pat,

We certainly have noticed this trait in all Volkswagen Group DSG-based gearboxes (that's what the S tronic transmission is) and their attendant engines of late. The only explanation seems to be that VW’s various brands have trimmed back both engine power and responsiveness at low speeds, and especially at idle or when waking up from a stop-start cycle, in order to optimise their figures in the new WLTP emissions and economy tests. VW is certainly not the only one to do this, but it does seem to be more obvious with VW Group models than with some other manufacturers. Shifting the gearbox into Sport helps a bit, but it’s not a total fix.

One cure might be a total vehicle upgrade — we’ve noticed that the new ‘Evo’ versions of the 1.5 TSI petrol and 2.0 TDI diesel engines are noticeably less sleepy. Or, alternatively, trade in for a version with a manual gearbox — that is the simplest cure of all.

Expert answer

Hi Anne,

Is that a 100km round trip every day? Or 100km each way? Either way, you could potentially get away with a fully-electric car, assuming that you can charge at home and charge again at work. Either way, though, you’ll have to spend big and go for one of the latest electric cars with a  50kWh or 62kWh  battery, such as the Hyundai Kona Electric or the new Renault Zoe. What could well be an easier (and much cheaper) option would be to go for a hybrid. There’s only one hybrid-engined car in the Polo-size class at the moment, and that’s the Toyota Yaris. The current version is pretty good, but there is an  all-new one coming next year, so you might be best off waiting for that to appear. By then, the new Honda Jazz, also a hybrid, should be available. Or, you could keep it a lot simpler and go for a new Polo with the excellent 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine. It'll be tough to beat your diesel Polo for outright economy, though.

Expert answer

Hi Eleanor,

I think, in general, you’re being given a decent trade-in against your Passat, assuming that the cars you’re looking at have a new price tag of around €35,000. I think of the cars you’ve mentioned, the Skoda looks like the best deal (surprise, surprise) as it’s basically identical to the Tiguan underneath, and just as good to drive. Just as well-made, too. Obviously, going for a demo Tiguan makes a lot of sense too, but just remember that it’ll technically be a two-owner car once it comes to resale time. One final wrinkle is that the new Passat (not entirely new but with some significant updates) is just arriving in dealerships now, so would be worth checking out to see if you prefer that to an SUV.

Expert answer

Hi James,

Assuming that it has the 1.6 TDI engine, it’ll be €514 a year, as you revert to the old engine-capacity system when you tax a commercial vehicle as a private car. 

Expert answer

Hi Margot,

Well, you could go for the alternative option to both — the Toyota Auris Hybrid estate. Lots of space and excellent economy. I’ve put my reputation on the line recommending these to a couple of friends recently and so far, I’ve not been told off for sticking them with a bad car...

Other good alternatives are the Peugeot 308 SW, the Kia Ceed SportWagon, the VW Golf Estate and the Skoda Octavia Combi. The only issue, really, is finding any of these — estate sales in Ireland are so small that you may have to consider an import.

Here are our relevant reviews to help you decide:

Toyota Auris Touring Sports review

Peugeot 308 SW review

Volkswagen Golf Estate review

Skoda Octavia reviews

Expert answer

Hi Sharon,

OK, let’s deal with these questions one-by-one. There are a number of apps available that can give you the locations, availability and in-or-out-of-service condition of charging points. The ESB provides that through its e-Cars app, and there’s a very good independent one called Zapp Map, which also covers the whole of the UK if you’re planning any longer journeys.

All current electric cars (pretty much all brands will have at least one on sale by the end of next year, but for the moment the big players are Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Jaguar, Kia, Mercedes, Nissan, Renault, Tesla and Volkswagen) can be charged at home overnight on cheap rate electricity. The crucial question there is not the car, but your electricity provider and the tariff plan that you’re on.

Finally, battery capacity has been hugely improved in the past few years and, although that does come with a cost penalty, the average useable range of an electric car has gone up dramatically. Generally speaking you should expect to get at least 250-300km from most mainstream models now, with as much as 450km available from some of the more expensive cars.

Expert answer

Hi Philip,

First up, it's worth mentioning that there is not a massive worldwide problem with timing chains. They fail in some cars some of the time, but that does not mean they are inherently less reliable than timing belts. Every car is different in that regard so we'd urge you not to choose a car based on that.

There is no 'norm' - each car maker chooses which to use for a given engine and there doesn't seem to be any trend one way or the other as far as we can seen. 

The 2.0 TDI diesel engine in the pre-facelift Superb definitely used a timing belt, but there's a new engine in the facelifted model ('2.0 TDI evo') and we've not had a lot of information on the timing system. The one photograph of the image I've found shows a plastic cover to the front of the engine, suggesting that it does still have a timing belt.

Expert answer

Hi Betty,

It's theoretically possible, but it will depend more on the US state laws than Ireland's. The instruments will be in the wrong units, though those could be changed of course, and the European Certificate of Conformity may or may not be acceptable to the US authorities. It is likely to have to go through some form of single vehicle approval test and its safety and emissions must conform with the US laws. On top of all that, the import duty could be high.

One final thing to consider: you can't buy an unregistered car from Volkswagen Ireland - it would have to be registered before you take delivery.

Expert answer

Hi Michael,

When you tax a van as a private vehicle, for some odd reason, you revert to the old engine capacity tax system, so a 1.6-litre Caddy will be €514 a year to tax.

Expert answer

Hi Darragh,

If you’re taxing a commercial vehicle for private use then, yes, you do revert to the old engine capacity tax system. We don’t know why either — it’s a quirk of the Irish motor tax system. For a 2.0-litre Amarok, that tax is going to be €710 per year, while for the 2.2 Ranger it’ll be €951.

Expert answer

Hi Rory,

OK, the car that most obviously fits your criteria is the Toyota Yaris Hybrid. However, the cheapest one we’ve seen for sale is a 2015 model for €12,995 so that’s a bit over budget and already four years old. A Toyota Auris Hybrid would also seem to fit the bill, but again you’re looking at a much older car to fit your budget — probably a 2012 or 2013 car, so that’s not going to have the modern electronic systems you’re looking for.

I think the best bet might be to go small — like really small. Like Volkswagen Up or Skoda Citigo or SEAT Mii small. You’ll easily find one of those in budget, with a small petrol engine (1.0) and, if you shop around a bit, with the high-tech options you’re looking for.

Expert answer

Hi Steve,

I’m going to say probably not, but this is an utter minefield and you’ll probably get a dozen different answers from as many people. The problem is that Volkswagen doesn’t sell the California, or any current T6 Transporter variant, in the US, so you’d have to try and get it past the personal import regulations. If, for any reason, the car can’t pass those tests, then there’s no appeals process, at least not as I understand it. You can import it temporarily as a tourist, but it would have to be re-exported again within 12 months.

Expert answer

Hi Aaron,

How about a Ford Kuga? That budget would get you into a nearly-new 191 or 182 1.5 TDCi, and it’s a bit of an underrated car — good to drive, roomy and nicely built. A sum of €23,000 obviously buys you a lot of either the ubiquitous Hyundai Tucson or Nissan Qashqai. How about a Mazda CX-5 instead? Gorgeous to look at, great to drive and with a 150hp engine, it’s not slow either. You could also think of a Peugeot 3008, a SEAT Ateca, a previous-generation Toyota RAV4 (better to drive than you might think), or a Volkswagen T-Roc. 

Our Ford Kuga reviews

Our Hyundai Tucson reviews

Our Nissan Qashqai reviews

Our Mazda CX-5 reviews

Our Peugeot 3008 reviews

Our SEAT Ateca reviews

Our Toyota RAV4 reviews

Our Volkswagen T-Roc reviews

Expert answer

Hi Ronan,

Well, to be honest, if efficiency is your thing, then don’t buy a pick-up truck — they’re all pretty big and thirsty and around 30mpg is the best you’re going to get from any of them. Of the three you’ve mentioned, the VW Amarok is the best — the most space in the cab, the best comfort, the best on-road handling and ride. The Ranger comes in a decent second, the Nissan a little further behind in third.

Relevant reviews:

Volkswagen Amarok reviews

Ford Ranger reviews

Nissan Navara reviews

Expert answer

Hi Antoinette,

The thing is that they’re two very different cars — the Polo is a significantly smaller vehicle than the Auris. So, if you need the space, and you like the hybrid aspect, then definitely go for another Auris. If you’re happy with the space in the Polo, and you can live without the hybrid bit, then the Polo is a very fine car.

Expert answer

Hi Sean,

According to the documentation, the Tumeric Yellow example in our video is €65,865 before options (it has over €20k of options on it!). It doesn't appear to be listed on the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Ireland website, though, which has the four-seat Ocean model starting at €67,300.

Best bet is to contact your nearest dealer to get an up to date price. 

Expert answer

Hi there,

The A4 would be a little better in terms of comfort, but not in terms of space or practicality, and to be honest the benefits are pretty marginal. Either the Passat or the Superb make fantastic estate cars. The Superb has an edge on luggage capacity (around 60 litres extra), but the Passat is a little sharper to drive, and has arguably a nicer interior. A marginal decision then, but we’d probably go for the Superb on balance. Or, just to throw a spanner in the works, have a look at the excellent Mazda6 Tourer before deciding…

A few reviews to help you decide:

Audi A4 Avant review

Skoda Superb Combi review

Volkswagen Passat reviews

Mazda6 Tourer review

Expert answer

Hi Dagmar,

Thankfully, you’re absolutely right. As long as you can provide proof of transfer of residence to Revenue (such as a letter confirming your employment, proof of address etc), then you can import the car with no VRT cost whatsoever. 

Expert answer

Hi Robert,

Yes, it’s a very solid shortlist, although obviously we can’t comment either way on the Tiguan plug-in hybrid as we’ve not driven one yet. As for the Honda and the Toyota, the Honda is roomier and rather more engaging to drive (better for all those twisty roads) so is probably the one we’d go for. The new RAV4 is well worth looking at, though, and it has impressive performance, so it’s good for all that overtaking. Links to our reviews below:

Honda CR-V Hybrid review

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid review

Expert answer

Hi Simon,

We don't know of any common issue with these, but to be honest it sounds like the issue is one of two things.

1 - The handbrake lever is not being pulled up enough (I doubt that is the case, but you never know!)

2 - The handbrake cable needs to be adjusted. As this is a new car, then the garage that sold it really should sort it out for no fee. If it's out of adjustment under the car near the lever then they may need to check the mechanism within the rear hubs to see if something has gone wrong with the adjusters. 

Hope you get it sorted out.

Expert answer

Hi Tony,

Currently you can buy the following hybrids on the Irish market: Toyota Corolla, CH-R, RAV4, Prius, Yaris, and there are probably a few run-out  examples of the Auris Hybrid out there still in dealerships. There’s also the Kia Niro and the Hyundai Ioniq. There’s the full Lexus range — CT, IS, RC, GS, ES, LS, NX, RX and LC. There’s the Ford Mondeo Hybrid, too. There’s the new Honda CR-V Hybrid, some Mercedes diesel-hybrids and petrol plug-in hybrids, oh and the new AMG 53 six-cylinder mild hybrids.

Suzuki does mild hybrids too — for the Baleno, Swift and Ignis. Then there are the plug-in hybrids — Kia Niro and Hyundai Ioniq again, plus the Volvo XC90 and XC60 T8 models, along with the S90 and V90; the BMW i8, 330e, 530e, X5 40e, 225xe, and the MINI Countryman S E; there’s also the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport plug-ins, the Mitsubishi Outlander, the Volkswagen Golf and Passat GTE, the Audi Q7 e-tron and the Porsche Panamera and Cayenne.

I bet I've forgotten some...

Expert answer

Hi Mateo,

I think the best thing to do is to go and have a word with your nearest Volkswagen dealer. I suspect that it may not be as simple as whipping off your wheel and hooking the new one on — there are complex systems and a lot of wiring to work out, so I’d say that a word with the experts would be the best place to start.

Expert answer

Hi Peter,

You make a good point about the spare wheel, and it’s something we should look at more often. Actually, it’s a serious issue — a great many cars now come with no spare at all, as car makers trim them to save weight for emissions and economy tests.

Try the Kia e-Niro before you take the leap — it’s mechanically the same as the Kona but roomier inside, and should come with a slightly better standard spec. The Leaf is an excellent car, but we can’t comment on the longer range version as we’ve not driven it yet. Likewise the Volkswagen I.D., which looks set to be a game changer, but obviously as we’ve not driven one it’s hard to tell. Basically, the best advice is if you can hang on for a few months, that might be worth doing.

A few reviews to help you decide:

Hyundai Kona Electric review

Kia e-Niro review

Nissan Leaf reviews

Expert answer

Hi Darren,

It depends what you mean when you say ‘Kombi.’ If, by that, you mean a Transporter with windows and more than three, but fewer than ten seats, then that actually gets taxed as an M1 passenger car, and so you’re looking at CO₂ emissions of between 169- and 174g/km, and so VRT of 28 per cent or 31 per cent of the Irish Open Market Selling Price (OMSP). That means, at a very, very rough guess, a VRT bill of around €4-5,000.

If it has three seats or fewer, or is a crew-cab (which means that the load area must be physically separated from the seating area), then it’s 13.3 per cent of the OMSP, which would be around €2,000 to €2,500 (again, that’s a very rough guess). 

Expert answer

Hi Kevin,

Well, Ford still has the Galaxy and S-Max on sale, and both of those are very strong bets, with the Galaxy obviously being a better bet if you really need maximum possible space in the rear seats. Other than that… Erm… Yeah, it’s suddenly looking very thin on the ground for full-size MPVs. You could consider importing a new-shape Renault Espace from France, but then you’d be stuck with left-hand drive. Or you could have a ring-round SEAT and Volkswagen dealers to see if they still have any Sharans or Alhambras in stock. There is bound to be a a few still lurking around the back of someone’s forecourt. 

Expert answer

Hi Aoife,

If your five-year old is big/heavy enough to get by on a booster cushion, that would be a big help, as the narrowest cushions will generally fit into the middle seat of just about any car of Golf-Focus-Corolla size or bigger. If you’re still using a high-backed seat, then it becomes a little trickier, and you basically need to go for the biggest car you can with the widest back seat possible. Would you consider a Volvo S80? That has one of the widest rear seats known to human-kind, and if you get the 1.6 diesel version, they’re impressively economical too. If you need something smaller on the outside, consider a five-seat MPV such as a Volkswagen Golf SV.

Before you commit to any car, though, make sure you physically try out your car seats in it.

Expert answer

Hi James,

It depends on exactly what Kombi version it is. You see, under the recently changed rules for N1 commercial vehicle VRT and tax, if the van has fewer than ten seats, and the seats and cargo area are all in the one section, then it technically counts as a passenger car and you’ll be paying VRT at either 28 per cent or 31 per cent of the OMSP, and then passenger car motor tax too in Bands D or E.

If it has three or fewer seats, or if the cargo area is physically separated from the seating area, then it counts as a crew-van and you’ll pay 13.3 per cent of the OMSP, but to tax it as a private vehicle you’ll have to put it on the old engine capacity rating (why this is still in use we’re not sure, but it is) and that’ll be €710 a year assuming it has the 2.0-litre TDI engine. 

Expert answer

Hi Dara,

The best plug-in hybrids around at the moment are the Kia Niro PHEV, the Toyota Prius PHEV and the Volkswagen Golf GTE (assuming you can find a GTE in stock...). Now, these are smaller than your Qashqai inside, so you may need to make that compromise in order to get the plug-in hybrid efficiency. The revised Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is massive inside, and rather nice, but thirsty if you’re not plugging it in all the time and making maximum use of the electric part of the powertrain.

A conventional hybrid might also be worth a look, especially given that you’re driving mostly in town. Honda is just about to launch a hybrid version of the hugely impressive new CR-V, and the new Toyota RAV4 is arriving in dealerships around now. Both are well worth considering if you can stretch the budget out to something brand-new.

Here are some relevant reviews:

Kia Niro PHEV review

Toyota Prius PHEV review

Volkswagen Golf GTE review

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV review

Honda CR-V Hybrid review

Expert answer

Hi Roseanna,

First things first — if you’re doing mostly urban and motorway miles, you really don’t need an SUV. A more conventional hatchback, saloon, or estate is going to be more comfortable, better value, more economical and a better-engineered vehicle all round. If you’re looking for something with practicality then the likes of a Skoda Octavia Combi estate, a Volkswagen Golf Estate, a Kia Ceed SW, or the new Ford Focus Estate all have much bigger boots than any small-to-medium SUV (more than 600 litres, all of them, compared to around 450 litres for, say, a Nissan Qashqai), and they’re all better to drive and more frugal.

However, if you’re hooked on SUVs then we’d recommend a SEAT Ateca (plain wrapper, but it’s roomy, comfy and nice to drive) or a Toyota C-HR (small on the inside, relatively, but hugely stylish and the hybrid version is frugal). If you’re looking to ‘posh-up’ a bit, then the incoming new Audi Q3 is a bit of a stunner, or if you want something smaller and more affordable than any of those, try the updated Fiat 500X, which is kinda cute and charming.

Here are our relevant reviews for you to read more:

Skoda Octavia Combi review

Volkswagen Golf Estate review

Kia Ceed Sportswagon review

Ford Focus Estate review

Nissan Qashqai reviews

SEAT Ateca reviews

Toyota C-HR reviews

Audi Q3 reviews

Fiat 500X reviews

Expert answer

Hi Silvester,

We have got so many questions from readers about non-functioning stop-start systems (from all makes and models) that we put together this guide to help you get to the bottom of it:

Why won't my car's stop-start system work?

Expert answer

Hi Vincent,

Yes, you will. Camper vans qualify for a flat-rate of €102 motor tax and, if the conversion is done properly and the car is re-registered, then that should be fine. Check with your local motor tax office for any paperwork that you’ll need to fill out.

Expert answer

Hi Brian,

The Tiguan and the Ateca are, essentially, the same car, so you may as well get the SEAT, as it’ll be the cheaper of the two. There’s virtually no difference in terms of the way it drives nor the interior space and quality. The 3008 is an interesting alternative though — arguably more stylish inside and out, but it feels subjectively less roomy, and it may not be as solidly reliable in the longer term. Worth taking into consideration though. 

Read our reviews below:

Peugeot 3008 reviews

SEAT Ateca reviews

Volkswagen Tiguan reviews

Expert answer

Hi Fergus,

There should be no difference in VRT between a Transporter van and a a crew cab conversion. While the N1 commercial vehicle rules were tightened up this year to close off the loophole that allowed such big (often luxurious) 4x4s as a Land Rover Discovery or a VW Touareg to be registered as a commercial, ‘genuine’ vans with a crewcab setup should still qualify for the commercial 13.3 per cent VRT charge. Just make sure the vehicle has a ‘BE’ bodywork code and make sure to use a reputable specialist to do the conversion. 

Expert answer

Hi Gerry,

This is very difficult to diagnose remotely so we suggest you bring the van into a good mechanic to have it checked over. Various possibilities include a broken engine mount, the engine running poorly or down a cylinder or two or even just simply wheels out of balance.

Expert answer

Hi Kushal,

Do you mean the current model? If so, then it’s not too bad, but equally not a ball of fire. The most basic 65hp model is… well, it’s not quick,  but it’s sure not as glacially slow as the old 55hp version was. Put your foot down hard and you’ll have a wait a bit for momentum to build, but it’s not terrible. Happily, the 75hp version is much better again, and actually feels quite peppy in the lower gears.

Read our Volkswagen Polo reviews here

Expert answer

Hi Samad,

It's a timing belt, defined as a long-life item by Volkswagen.

Expert answer

Hi Roddy,

Well, it sounds definitely as if petrol is the way to go, and as you’ve mentioned the Ateca, that’s a good one to look at. It’s cheaper, by a little, than most of the competition, has an excellent 1.0-litre 115hp turbo petrol engine (don’t be put off by the small engine — it copes just fine) and isn’t ‘smaller’ at all — it’s the same size as the VW Tiguan, thanks to using the same chassis. The same goes for Skoda’s Karoq. A Peugeot 3008 with the 1.2 PureTech petrol engine would also be a good choice, but the Sportage isn't currently offered as a decent small petrol version, so we’d give that a swerve. The Nissan Qashqai comes with a good 1.2 turbo petrol, but doesn’t feel as good to drive in that form as the diesel. The Opel Mokka X is just too old a design and feels well out of date, but actually if you can cope with the smaller size, the Suzuki Vitara’s a good shout — good to drive, good looking and hugely reliable.

Read or reviews for more:

Volkswagen Tiguan reviews

Nissan Qashqai reviews

SEAT Ateca reviews

Peugeot 3008 reviews

Kia Sportage reviews

Suzuki Vitara reviews

Opel Mokka X reviews

Skoda Karoq reviews

Expert answer

Hi Ellen,

Yes, theoretically I’d say you’re absolutely right. A classic VW T2 should be considered a classic, and not as a camper or anything else. To be honest, Revenue can be pretty useless when it comes to assessing VRT on classics and vintage cars, because the market in Ireland is so small for cars like that. What you’ll probably have to do is (unfortunately) pay the VRT up front, and then challenge it.

Get on to your local classic car club, or better yet a VW owners club for some expert opinion (in writing, of course) and maybe get your solicitor to draw you up a letter outlining why it’s a classic and not a camper. You should get a rebate, but it may take some time and effort.

Expert answer

Hi David,

Well, the issue is actually that all those people going and buying in the UK are pushing down the values of second hand cars here. Cheaper imports, which have been flooding into Ireland since the decimation of Sterling following the Brexit vote, have been putting major pressure on second hand car prices in Ireland, and I’d say your VW’s value is something of a victim of this. It also, to be honest, doesn’t help that it’s the 2.0-litre version, as most second hand buyers are more likely to want the cheaper-to-run 1.6 TDI instead. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the market is, to put it lightly, in turmoil right now.

Expert answer

Hi George,

Technically speaking, it should not, as, before a tester does the exhaust smoke test, they should, according to the NCT manual, check 'visually that the emission control system is complete and properly connected.' Saying that, it's unlikely that many testers will notice that the DPF is missing and, so long as the DPF warning light is not illuminated, there's no reason for them to be suspicious.

In short, it shouldn't pass and contravenes the law on emission of pollutants, but it is unlikely to be picked up by an NCT test centre.

Expert answer

Hi Mark,

Well, it is — in effect — impossible for us to say with any authority as to how the 1.0 TSI engine is going to perform in the longer term, as the engine hasn’t been around all that long. What we can say is that, so far, there have been no horror stories emerging of any major reliability issues, and that Skoda has (a) good quality control systems and (b) a good reputation for high quality and reliability. After all, when people ask about the most reliable cars, we generally say Japanese, Korean and Czech — in that order. As long as you keep it properly serviced, I don’t think you’ll have any major problems.

Expert answer

Hi F D,

Well, the good news is that there are plenty of mid-size saloons that are more or less the same size as an Astra — yes, they have a big boot slung out the back, but the difference in overall length is usually only a few centimetres. The best is probably the VW Jetta; it's plain looking, but good to drive and really well made. Ditto the Toyota Corolla. There’s a Ford Focus saloon too, and a really lovely Mazda3 saloon (which is actually nicer looking than the hatchback). There was also an Astra saloon, but to be honest it was a bit awkward looking if you ask me. If you do like the Astra hatch, though, it might be worth seeking one out. Here are a few relevant reviews to read:

Volkswagen Jetta reviews

Toyota Corolla reviews

Mazda3 reviews

Opel Astra reviews

Expert answer

Hi Angela,

The current Golf’s boot isn’t all that much larger than that of the 2008 model, so if you’re struggling to fit your golfing gear into that one, then I don’t think the new one will help. Happily, there is a solution — go for the Golf Estate, which, with its 600-litre boot, has more than enough room for all of your clubs, the caddy, bags, shopping, one or two kitchen sinks etc. The Golf’s optional DSG automatic is very good too, so it’s well worth a look. Also worth a look is the Toyota Auris Touring Sports Hybrid, which has similar boot space combined with a 'saintly'  hybrid transmission, and there’s a handsome new Kia Ceed estate coming in the next few months.

Volkswagen Golf Estate review

Toyota Auris Touring Sports Hybrid review

Expert answer

Hi Ray,

The 4Motion bit means it has four-wheel drive.

Expert answer

Hi Rich,

OK, there’s a lot to unpick here. First of all, any car you buy (other than perhaps a classic Mercedes SL or an old Ferrari) will be a depreciating asset, so there’s not much point in thinking that buying one car over another will save you from that. Obviously some cars depreciate a bit less than others, but they do all depreciate in the end.

The XC90 is a cracking car, a really good one, but as you rightly point out it’s big and expensive, and if you’ve only got the two kids, you probably don’t really need the seven seats. The Santa Fe is an excellent car, reliable and hard-wearing, but you’re quite right that the cabin can be a bit low-rent at times. It might be worth having a look at the Kia Sorento — mechanically identical to the Santa Fe, but a touch roomier and we prefer the Kia’s interior. Also well worth having a look at slightly smaller seven-seat SUV rivals such as the Peugeot 5008, Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace and Skoda Kodiaq, all of which have genuinely excellent interiors and are good to drive too.

Mind you, once again, you’re right — you don’t need an SUV (no-one really does, but that’s a debate for another day) so actually the idea of an Audi A6 Avant estate is a really good one. You already like Audis, they’re great for quality and reliability and look awesome into the bargain, and have plenty of space for two growing kids. Worth looking at a BMW 5 Series Touring and Mercedes E-Class Estate too (the BMW’s a little better to drive, the Mercedes is bigger inside) and well worth checking out the gorgeous new Volvo V90 if the XC90 has taken your fancy. Here are all our reviews of the above cars to help you decide:

Audi A6 reviews

BMW 5 Series reviews

Mercedes-Benz E-Class reviews

Volvo XC90 reviews

Hyundai Santa Fe reviews

Kia Sorento reviews

Skoda Kodiaq reviews

Volkswagen Tiguan reviews

Peugeot 5008 reviews

Expert answer

Hi Kevin,

I must admit, you had us wondering... However, we took a detailed look at the UK and Ireland price lists and discovered that the 1.0 TSI 95hp engine is only offered in conjunction with a DSG automatic transmission here, whereas it can be had with a (cheaper) manual gearbox in the UK. That pretty much explains the large price jump.

Expert answer

Hi Peter,

In this instance, the sales people are being entirely truthful — the new 1.0-litre turbo engines are indeed equivalent to an old 1.6 or even 1.8 engine in the way they drive. You certainly won’t find them too ‘revvy’ on the motorway, as the small turbo increases low-down torque and makes the car feel very relaxed and easy to drive. Certainly that’s true for the Volkswagen Group, Ford, Honda and Renault-Nissan engines anyway. The best ones to go for, in our experience, are the VW Golf or Skoda Octavia (both using the same engine, of course), the Honda Civic (which should be the most reliable in the long term) and the Ford Focus (which can be a little on the thirsty side). Read our reviews below for more detail:

Skoda Octavia 1.0 TSI review

Volkswagen Golf 1.0 TSI review

Honda Civic 1.0 VTEC Turbo review

Ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost review

Expert answer

Hi Paul,

The Hyundai or Kia will be more efficient than the 1.6 i-DTEC Honda, but only just and at the expense of a considerable amount of performance — the Honda feels much brisker and is more comfortable than the other two as well. In that size range, it’s also well worth considering the VW Tiguan, especially the current-shape model, which is very frugal in 2.0-litre 115hp form. Some reviews below to help you decide:

Kia Sportage reviews

Hyundai Tucson reviews

Honda CR-V reviews

Volkswagen Tiguan reviews

Expert answer

Hi Justin,

The old-shape XC90 is definitely a good choice and yes they’re reliable (as long as you get one with a full service history and keep it looked after properly). They can be a little expensive to run, though, with big thirsty engines and high motor tax rates. It would definitely be worth considering the likes of a SEAT Alhambra or Ford S-Max as well, if you’re looking for lots of seats and space, or even a Volkswagen Caravelle or Shuttle if you want the absolute maximum in terms of seats and cargo room. Definitely room for the labrador in one of those, even if you don't like the look of the MPVs...

Expert answer

Hi Tomas,

The problem with the Qashqai+2 is that it’s the older model Qashqai, which is nowhere near as sophisticated as the current model. Do you really need the seven seats? If not, then I think that the Kia cee’d Sportswagon is a much better bet — bigger boot than the Qashqai, comfier and better to drive and with that seven-year warranty for peace of mind. A cracking choice.

Also well worth looking at the Octavia Combi and the VW Golf Estate, but make sure you’re going for a petrol engine with that mileage — you won’t need a diesel. Actually, with that in mind, the Toyota Auris Hybrid Sport Tourer estate is also well worth a look. Here are a few reviews to help you decide:

Nissan Qashqai+2 review

Skoda Octavia Combi review

Kia cee'd review

Volkswagen Golf Estate review

Toyota Auris Touring Sports Hybrid review

Expert answer

Hi Elizabeth,

Generally speaking, very good and improving all the time as more buyers start to seek out hybrid models. Lexus cars aren’t in as big demand new as the likes of Audi (Volkswagen isn’t really a Lexus competitor - think more BMW and Mercedes), but they’re popular in the second hand market because of their (justifiably) legendary reliability. 

Expert answer

Hi John,

Well, there are lots of good options. If you still like MPVs and like Renaults then the new Scenic is a bit of a cracker. Very comfy, and you can get it with an impressive 115hp 1.2 petrol turbocharged engine that should be rather more economical than what you’ve been used to. And it comes with cruise control as standard now.

Other, similar models worth considering are the Citroen C4 Picasso/Grand Picasso, VW Touran, Kia Carens or the Toyota Verso. Here are our relevant reviews:

Renault Scenic review

Citroen C4 Picasso review

Citroen C4 Grand Picasso review

Volkswagen Touran review

Toyota Verso review

Kia Carens review

Expert answer

Hi Seamus,

You haven’t actually specified a model here, so I’m going to guess that it’s an A4. To be honest, you’re not going to get an awful lot more interior space by changing for something the size of a Qashqai, 3008, or Kadjar. A little, but not a huge amount extra in real terms — most of the extra space in those cars is in the boot. If you’re determined, then go for either the Kadjar (it has the biggest boot) or see if you can stretch the budget to the new-shape VW Tiguan. Here are reviews of the cars you've mentioned, too:

Volkswagen Tiguan review

Mazda CX-5 review

Kia Sportage review

Nissan Qashqai review

Renault Kadjar review

Peugeot 3008 review

Expert answer

Hi Kevin,

If there’s no switch, you can’t. There is a technique that involves taking out fuses, but we seriously don’t recommend that…

Expert answer

Hi Tim,

You should be absolutely fine. That new 1.0-litre engine is a cracker and, with 75hp, we’ve found that it’s more than sufficient even for long motorway journeys. 

Expert answer

Hi Catherine,

Expert answer

Hi Diarmuid,

Your 161 Passat should be worth around the €20-23,000 mark as a trade-in (depending on the condition and history) and a new Passat Highline 1.6 TDI starts at €34,795, so your cost of change is going to be around €12-14,000.

Expert answer

Hi Fergal,

The Mondeo is a fine car, but it has fallen back a bit compared to previous versions and I don’t think it’s really comparable to the current crop of premium-badge saloons, which is a shame. The A4 is very, very good, but if you’re going to have to ‘rob a bank’ to get a BMW 520d then you’re going to have to do the same for the new A6.

That said, there are some very good mid-size saloons around at the moment that are better than a Mondeo, and which can give an A4 a serious run for its money. A Skoda Superb, perhaps? Volkswagen Passat? Mazda6? All well worth a look, and better value all-round than the A4.

Here are a few of our reviews to help you decide:

Audi A4 review

Ford Mondeo review

Volkswagen Passat review

Skoda Superb review

Mazda6 review

BMW 520d review

Expert answer

Hi Ray,

If you fancy a hybrid, then the best current model is the Toyota Prius. Its looks may divide opinion, but it is exceptionally economical, even on a long motorway run, and it has a roomy, comfortable cabin. Read our Toyota Prius review here.

If you fancy something a little more prestigious, then how about the Lexus IS 300h? Not quite as spacious as the Opel you have, but with exceptional build quality, decent economy and terrific refinement. Read our Lexus IS 300h review here.

BMW”s 330e plugin hybrid is another good contender, as is Volkswagen’s Passat GTE, but they’re both quite pricey and work better in downtown than they do on the open road. As far as hybrid SUVs go, Toyota’s C-HR is lovely, but rather small inside, so it may be worth waiting for Honda to launch its new CR-V hybrid next year. More reviews for you:

BMW 330e review

Volkswagen Passat GTE review

Toyota C-HR Hybrid review

Expert answer

Hi Kieran,

Yes, the 1.6 TDI engine in the Octavia should have manifold-in-head tech. All EA889 derivative engines, built from 2013 onwards, have manifold-in-head construction, and that goes for 1.6 as well as 2.0 diesels.

Expert answer

Hi Daithi,

Well, the best brands for residual values are generally held to be Toyota, Skoda or the premium German car brands. That said, Kia tends to perform quite well in residual terms right now, not least because of that impressive seven-year warranty. An Optima should make a good choice, then, as would a Toyota Avensis. That said, it’s very clear right now that the market is moving, rapidly, to being centred around SUVs and crossovers, not traditional four-door saloons, so you might be well advised to have a look at one of those — a Kia Sportage, perhaps, or Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson, Nissan Qashqai or Volkswagen Tiguan.

Expert answer

Hi F D,

They are essentially identical in size on the inside, with the same front and rear legroom and only a fractional difference in headroom. The A3 hatchback has a slightly smaller boot in three-door form (365 litres), but the five-door model (called the Sportback) has the same 380-litre boot as the Golf. The A3 saloon does have a bigger boot though, at 425 litres.

Expert answer

Hi Colin,

Yup, first world problem right enough, and actually not a new phenomenon at all. The old left-hand-drive-right-hand-drive swapover has been done better and worse by various car makers down the years, and it varies hugely from model to model. Anyone who’s driven a Mazda RX-8, and found the handbrake digging into their left thigh, for example, will have no doubts that even the Japanese, in spite of their right-hand-drive home market, often design cars for left-hand drive and then switch things around on the cheap.

Generally speaking, there should be no safety issues from the switch (wipers, as you point out, should really be swapped across and I can’t think of a model in recent years that hasn’t had that) although there was the old issue with the second generation Renault Megane that used a rod to switch the brakes across and which could still be activated by a passenger poking their shoes into the footwell…

As you point out, some buttons, switches, etc are often left the same and it’s all down to the investment needed to swap them around and the likely return on sales from right-hand-drive markets. Car makers do the maths very carefully, and while you’re right that it might only be €100 a car, that’s a multi-million up front investment, and one with no guaranteed return.

Incidentally, if you think it’s bad now, wait until after Brexit — if the UK car market slips, then the business case for right-hand-drive cars will fall further still.

Expert answer

Hi Tom,

The best ones to go for are the Volkswagen Golf Estate, Skoda Octavia Combi, Peugeot 308 SW, or Toyota Auris Touring Sports. Our reviews:

Volkswagen Golf Estate review

Skoda Octavia Combi review

Peugeot 308 SW review

Toyota Auris Touring Sports review

Expert answer

Hi Rosalind,

If you go for the current Touran (which launched two years ago) then no, it's not boxy to drive at all. Rather good in fact. The new Renault Scenic is also quite nice to drive, and if you go up a size, the Ford S-Max is actually slightly nicer to drive than the Mondeo that it's based on. Here are a few reviews for your interest:

Volkswagen Touran review

Renault Scenic review

Ford S-Max review

Expert answer

Hi Peter,

If you want a mix of fun, comfort and not diesel, it’s kind of hard to beat a Volkswagen Golf GTI. Superb performance, practical and comfy cabin and 45mpg if you drive it gently.

Other good options are a MINI Cooper (a touch noisy on longer journeys, but with very good seats), a Ford Fiesta ST (hands down the best hot hatch currently on sale, but perhaps lacking a little in comfort), or a Peugeot 308 in GT spec with the 130hp 1.2-litre PureTech petrol engine.

Expert answer

Hi John,

OK, lots and lots of options. How about a Fiat 500? Great looking, fun to drive, well made and that 1.2-litre petrol engine is willing enough to tackle motorway work from time to time.

Late 2000s MINIs fall into your budget too, and they're great fun to drive, roomier than the 500 (well, a bit) and solid on longer journeys.

You could be dead sensible and go for an Audi A3 1.6 petrol and there'd be nothing wrong with that - ticks all the boxes.

Or maybe something a bit more left-field? How about a Volkswagen Beetle? An original Mini (we did find one in your budget) or even a Smart ForTwo Brabus?

Expert answer

Hi Kay,

Yes, you should see a considerable saving on fuel, probably in the order of 10mpg at least, depending on how and where you drive. It is worth noting, though, that you will also be looking at considerably higher maintenance and servicing costs, as the 320d is much more sophisticated and high-tech than your Golf and, without careful, regular attention from a specialist they can start giving serious trouble.

Expert answer

Hi Sharad,

Skoda reliability is hard to beat; in fact Skoda often does better in reliability surveys than its Volkswagen overlord, so knocking off a regular 1,000km journey will be no bother to it.

As for economy, we recently tested the 1.0 Octavia and got close to 50mpg out of it in daily driving, so it's pretty frugal, really.

Expert answer

Hi Martin,

We haven’t actually done that, as yet, but here’s a quick rundown of our favourites:

1. Skoda Superb Combi: massive, roomy, cavernous, spacious, replete with space — whatever way you want to put it, the Superb is the best estate around simply because you can fit the most amount of stuff into one. Looks good too, and is exceptionally comfortable. Not the sharpest thing to drive, but you won’t really care.

2. Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate: really good looking, massive boot, staggeringly high quality cabin, comfortable, smooth 2.0-litre diesel and surprisingly good to drive.

3. Volvo V90: another one that’s surprisingly good to drive, with sharper steering than you’d expect. Gorgeous interior, exceptionally comfy seats and the only problem is that the boot isn’t quite as big as it should be. Exterior styling does kind of make up for that, a little.

4. Volkswagen Golf Estate: not the obvious choice perhaps, but adds extra space (lots of it — a 605-litre boot) to the Golf’s usual other qualities of quality and classiness. An ideal family car and more affordable to buy and run than an average SUV.

Expert answer

Hi Ryan,

Your Carens is going to be worth in the region of €16,000 to €18,000 as a trade in, and the cheapest new Carens is €28,000, so you’re looking at finding or financing €10-12k to trade up.

Generally speaking, all seven-seaters hold their value pretty well, not least because we’re still going through something of a baby boom at the moment and families are keen to trade-up to cars that can handle multiple child car seats. The best for resale are the Volkswagen Touran, Toyota Verso, Citroen C4 Picasso and your Carens.

If you like it, I’d stick with it for your new car — the Carens is one of the best compact seven-seaters around.

Expert answer

Hi Derek,

OK, you haven’t told us the year of your Mazda so that makes it a little hard to value, but seeing as it’s the 1.8 petrol I’m going to guess that it’s around 2006-2007. If so, then I’d say that the €4,400 trade-in offer is actually pretty good.

As to what car to get, if you’re looking for a small hatch then it’s very hard indeed to look past the Volkswagen Golf. It’s one of the world’s best-selling cars for a reason, and as long as you buy one with a full service history and keep it looked after, you should get plenty of years of reliable service out of one yet.

Ditto for the mechanically identical SEAT Leon and Skoda Octavia. The Opel Astra GTC is a fine car in many ways — handsome, good to drive, decent quality, but it was hamstrung by poor diesel engines (other than the range-topping 2.0-litre) and unless you’re looking at the 1.4 petrol turbo model, it’s possibly not the best purchase.

The Focus is definitely a good buy, and that TDCi diesel is frugal to run, but you just have to be slightly cautious about diesel power right now. If you’re not doing big miles, you’d be better off with a petrol car.

Expert answer

Hi Steve,

Generally speaking, no you shouldn’t avoid, but of course it’s not that simple. You’re quite right, Volkswagen does claim, and presumably would claim, that its updates do nothing to alter engine performance. There is some back up to this claim, though, as the fixes had to be approved and signed off on by the German federal transport authority, which at least gives some independent oversight to the process.

Now, there have been some reports in the press about issues with the updates, such as higher CO₂ emissions and a degradation in fuel economy, but those are as yet unverified. I think, in general, you should be fine buying a Volkswagen car that has to be recalled, though, if it turns out there are any issues, they will simply have to be brought back in again and fixed, but fixed better this time.

Expert answer

Hi Pearse,

Would you consider a Lexus? A hybrid engined IS 300h saloon looks good, is good to drive, isn’t German, is frugal and will be so reliable you can pass it onto your grandkids.

Alternatively, a BMW 420d Coupe makes a great buy, and they’re not THAT bad on the reliability front, but it’s a good idea to buy one from a BMW main dealer, as it will come with a very comprehensive two-year warranty.

Well worth looking at a Mercedes C-Class C 220 d coupe too — not as slick looking as the BMW, but with great quality and a really lovely chassis. The Volkswagen CC (four-door coupe on a Passat chassis) is also well worth a look, and what about a Jaguar XF 2.2 diesel, which is a saloon, but looks slinky enough to be a coupe?

Lexus IS 300h review

Mercedes-Benz C 220d Coupe review

Volkswagen CC review

Expert answer

Hi Peter,

It should be worth in the region of €6-7,000 as a trade in. 

Expert answer

Hi Donna,

The current Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage are both just about wide enough to take three child seats across the back, or you could try the SEAT Ateca or Volkswagen Tiguan too (this has the widest back seat of all those). The Skoda Kodiaq is brilliant, but it’ll be outside your budget if you want a diesel, or, if you can hang on until the summer, the new Peugeot 5008 is coming, which has three ISOFIX points in the back, and should come in for under €30k.

Relevant reviews:

Hyundai Tucson review

Kia Sportage review

SEAT Ateca review

Volkswagen Tiguan review

Skoda Kodiaq review

Peugeot 5008 review

Expert answer

Hi Brendan,

We really like the Ateca, and the 1.4 turbo petrol engine really suits it, so that’s the one we’d advise you to go for. There’s an updated version of the Qashqai coming very shortly, so bear that in mind if you’re looking at the Nissan — you might be able to get a better bargain on a run-out model.

SEAT Ateca 1.4 TSI review

Nissan Qashqai review

Facelifted Nissan Qashqai preview

Five best mid-sized SUVs and crossovers in Ireland

Expert answer

Hi Peter,

It depends on what kind of history the car comes with. If it has a fully-stamped-up service book and a folder bulging with receipts, tax discs and old NCT certificates, and is in obviously good condition, then I wouldn’t have too many worries. If it’s a bit tired and worn looking, and there are gaps in the history, I’d avoid.

Expert answer

Hi Martin,

It is a shame that the GTD Estate isn’t imported into Ireland by Volkswagen as it’s a cracking car, but the sad fact is that the market for compact estates is so small, and high performance compact estates smaller still, that it’s probably not worth Volkswagen’s while. That said, the GTD Estate is effectively imported in the guise of both the Skoda Octavia RS TDI Combi and the SEAT Leon ST 2.0 TDI 180hp FR — of those two, we’d go for the Skoda, as it’s marginally sharper to drive than the SEAT, looks great and is simply massive inside.

Other options are the Opel Astra Sports Tourer in SRi spec with the 136hp 1.6 CDTi diesel engine — not as powerful as the Skoda or SEAT, obviously, but a great car and terrific to drive. Lovely interior too. Or you could try the Ford Focus ST TDCi Estate, which is brilliant fun to drive, but sadly is again on the personal import list.

Lastly, there’s the option of going second hand or nearly new and buying something along the lines of a BMW 3 Series Touring or Audi A4 Avant.

Expert answer

Hi Helen,

Long-term hiring can often be a good idea, as opposed to buying a car and riding the waves of depreciation, but if you prefer buying then your three best bets are the Toyota Auris, Volkswagen Golf and Hyundai Tucson. All of these cars are in huge demand second hand, and as long as you keep the condition good, you should be looking at depreciation of no more than around 20 per cent of the original purchase price.

Toyota Auris review

Volkswagen Golf review

Hyundai Tucson review

Expert answer

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.

Expert answer

Hi Rahul,

There are a lot of other options from the Ford Focus to the Toyota Auris to the Peugeot 308 to the Hyundai i30 to the Kia cee’d and Nissan Pulsar. Of the ones you’ve mentioned, the two that I’d pick from are the Skoda (huge inside, practical, reliable) and the Mazda (high quality cabin, ultra-reliable).

Relevant reviews:

Audi A1 review

Skoda Octavia review

Volkswagen Golf review

Mazda3 review

Ford Focus review

Toyota Auris review

Peugeot 308 review

Hyundai i30 review

Kia cee'd review

Nissan Pulsar review

Expert answer

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

Expert answer

Hi Michael,

You've got a lot of options depending on the year and size of car you want. How about an Audi A4 2.0 TDI? Perhaps a BMW 520d? Something simpler? How about a Ford Mondeo 1.6 TDCi? Or a Volkswagen Jetta 2.0 TDI? A Mazda6? A Lexus GS? There's a whole world of choice out there for €12k. 

Expert answer

Hi Gerry,

Absolutely. Unless you’re doing at minimum 20,000km a year, it makes much more sense to have a petrol engine. Cheaper to buy up front, lower maintenance costs and no issues with exhaust filters (DPFs) etc.

Expert answer

Hi John,

The Skoda. Both the Volvo and the Volkswagen are decent, solidly built and generally reliable cars, but Skoda always seems to beat Volkswagen in major reliability surveys, so go for the Octavia if reliability is paramount.

Expert answer

Hi Declan,

If it is, you’ll get a letter from Volkswagen to ask you to book the car in for an inspection. If you’re still concerned, contact your local dealer to check.

Expert answer

Hi Anthony,

According to the EuroNCAP crash test experts, the three best-performing cars tested in 2016 were the Toyota Prius, Hyundai Ioniq and Volkswagen Tiguan. That said, the NCAP crash test is a laboratory test, and its parameters can be designed in to a car's structure. Only two car makers still have teams that investigate real-world accidents involving their cars and they are Volvo and Mercedes-Benz. Generally speaking, if I'm thinking of safety above all else, those are the two brands I'd look at. 

Expert answer

Hi Martin,

Well, we can't speak for Volkswagen or its IT department, but we have seen the prices (hence how we were able to include them in our review of the new Volkswagen Golf) and they're pretty much the same as before, with slightly better equipment as standard all round, which is actually much the same as UK spec. Any delay in getting the new details on the website are likely down to a delay in finalising the options pack prices and, let's face it, trying to make sure that the last few remaining examples of the outgoing model get sold. 

Expert answer

Hi Martin,

Probably the Tiguan, mostly because it's roomier and more comfortable. That said, there's no denying that the X1 is a terrific car and very desirable. Here are our reviews of the versions we have tried:

BMW X1 xDrive20d review

BMW X1 xDrive25d review

Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 TDI review

Expert answer

Hi Brendan,

No, Volkswagen didn't stop making the 1.4 Tiguan in 2008, but it was dropped from the Irish price list then as we all went diesel-crazy after the tax change. The car was always available to order, and it's possible that the car you're looking at is a UK import. 

Expert answer

Hi Hugh,

Assuming you mean the Volkswagen diesel software update, no, it shouldn't. Volkswagen has had to clear all the updates with the German federal transport agency to comply with a ruling that any changes won't affect the CO₂ emissions or fuel economy of the cars. 

Expert answer

Hi Patrick,

If you mean the current model, then I’m afraid it’s a little too early for us to tell, as it hasn’t been around long enough yet for any major reliability issues to shake out and all cars would still be under warranty. We’d be surprised if it has suffered anything major, though – it seems very well built.

The older model is also very well built, but you need to check for sticking exterior door handles, trouble with the diesel particulate filter (DPF), faulty electronic handbrakes, dodgy stability control modules, leaky sunroofs and excessive front brake wear. If it has the DSG automatic gearbox, you also need to check and make sure that it has been properly serviced, and on time, because it’s a complex piece of equipment that needs careful looking after.

Expert answer

Hi Fionna,

Well, to be honest, I would have thought that a Passat was an ideal car for a family of four. What you need is four roomy seats and and a a big boot - and the Passat has those. If you fancy something that looks a bit more like a family car, and here I mean an SUV or an MPV, then stop for a tic and have a think. Are you buying an image? After all, a ‘normal’ saloon such as a Passat (and the Mazda6, Toyota Avensis, Hyundai i40 and Kia Optima all make good alternatives) is generally speaking just as good at family duties and has lower overall running costs. Worth thinking about, at any rate.

Here are some of our reviews to get you thinking:

Volkswagen Passat review

Mazda6 review

Toyota Avensis review

Kia Optima review

Expert answer

Hi Luke,

We certainly have done a few reviews... The closest cars to your Galaxy in terms of size and space are the Ford S-Max (a little smaller,  but still very roomy) and the SEAT Alhambra (not as swish to drive as the Galaxy, but very spacious and with sliding side doors). There's also the Volkswagen Sharan, which is basically identical to the Alhambra, but a little more expensive. It wasn't on sale in Ireland for a while but it's back now and there are a few second hand ones knocking about.

If you fancy something a little smaller, then try the Opel Zafira Tourer. It's a really underrated car - nice to drive, well made and with decent cabin space.

After that, you're into the smaller MPVs such as the Volkswagen Touran, Kia Carens and so on. Good cars,  but much smaller than your Galaxy so you'd be trading down in size terms.

With our practical hats on, we'd go for the SEAT - it's big and useful and those sliding side doors are great.

Here are the reviews themselves if you'd like more detail:

Ford S-Max review

Ford Galaxy review

SEAT Alhambra review

Volkswagen Sharan review

Volkswagen Touran review

Kia Carens review

A few others worth considering as well:

Citroen C4 Grand Picasso

Toyota Verso review

Renault Grand Scenic review

Expert answer

Hi Martin,

As far as Brexit is concerned, you can basically pull out a random piece of string and tell us the length… Given the huge political turmoil taking place in the UK over Brexit, it’s literally impossible to predict what way car makers are going to jump, but we wouldn’t be at all surprised to see some actually raising prices, because of currency fluctuations.

Expert answer

Hi Debra,

It’s kind of difficult for us to diagnose a car over the internet unfortunately, but it sounds as if you may have a whole host of problems there. You’re quite right in that rattles are often something to do with either the timing belt or chain or the camshaft mechanism, but if you’re getting multiple fault codes on a diagnostic it could be that there’s a bigger issue that is causing lots of systems to develop issues. Have you brought it to a Volkswagen main dealer yet? That would be our recommended course of action.

Expert answer

Hi Peter,

With a short commute like that, you’re definitely better off with petrol and the Hyundai i20 is a fine car – roomy and well made and quite good to drive. Here are some of our reviews to help you decide:

Hyundai i20 review

Ford Fiesta review

Opel Corsa review

Volkswagen Polo review

Expert answer

Hi Mike,

Expert answer

Hi Jinesh,

It depends on what kind of size you need. If it’s a compact seven seater, then the best on the market are the Volkswagen Touran, the Toyota Verso and the Kia Carens, but it’s worth looking at the Citroen C4 Picasso too, and maybe even the new Renault Scenic, which goes on sale in the New Year.

If it’s a larger car you need, then the two best choices, by far, are the Ford S-Max and the SEAT Alhambra.

Here are our reviews to help you decide:

Volkswagen Touran review

Toyota Verso review

Kia Carens review

Citroen Grand C4 Picasso review

Renault Grand Scenic review

SEAT Alhambra review

Ford S-Max review

Expert answer

Hi Anne,

Actually, it’s not far off. I’d say, with a bit of practice, you should be able to beat 60-65mpg on a regular basis with that Polo, and to be honest you’re not going to get much better than that from any car. There are plenty of cars with official economy figures up in the 70s and 80s mpg, but those are laboratory figures and damned near impossible to reach in real world driving. If economy is your priority, then I’d stick with that Polo.

Expert answer

Hi Dan,

I think you’ll probably need to upgrade to an MPV with all those kids and all the kit you’ll need to carry around with you. If you don’t fancy a seven-seater then there’s always five-seat versions such as the Volkswagen Golf SV or Citroen C4 Picasso. Have a look at the likes of a Volkswagen Touran, Kia Carens or Toyota Verso too.

Our reviews to help you decide:

Volkswagen Golf SV review

Citroen C4 Picasso review

Volkswagen Touran review

Kia Carens review

Toyota Verso review

Expert answer

Hi Martin,

Nice car and the 115hp TDI engine can handle the strain (although the 150hp 2.0 TDI makes life a little easier). Great quality and lots of space. However, if you're shopping for the cheapest Tiguan, have a look at the new SEAT Ateca - it's mechanically the same but much better value for money. Our reviews:

Volkswagen Tiguan review

SEAT Ateca review

Expert answer

Hi Marie,

If it's running costs that concern you, you should probably consider coming down in price and, a little, in size a bit. Both the Evoque and the Q5 are premium-badge SUVs and while neither is excessively thirsty, both will be expensive to run and service.

I'd suggest, instead, checking out a Honda CR-V - tonnes of space, hugely reliable, comfortable and with the 1.6 I-DTEC diesel engine and four-wheel drive, both frugal and ideal for country roads. Good to drive too.

Other good options are the Mazda CX-5, the Kia Sportage, Hyundai Santa Fe, Volkswagen Tiguan or Toyota RAV4. Here are our reviews to help you decide:

Range Rover Evoque review

Audi Q5 review

Honda CR-V review

Mazda CX-5 review

Kia Sportage review

Hyundai Santa Fe review

Volkswagen Tiguan review

Toyota RAV4 review

Expert answer

Hi Dave,

If you find the overall aesthetics of a car matter to you then the Kuga ST Line is the best version of the new line-up to go for. It looks especially good in darker colours. We’re also fans of the Volkswagen Tiguan, though it is at the more expensive end of the market. A similarly good looking car, and more affordable, is the SEAT Ateca. Here are our reviews to help you decide:

Ford Kuga ST Line review

Ford Kuga Vignale review

Volkswagen Tiguan review

SEAT Ateca review

Expert answer

Hi Tim,

The Fiesta should be mostly as reliable as the Polo. In extremis, I'd say the Polo will still have a slight edge overall in terms of quality,  but as long as you buy a Fiesta with a full service history and look after it properly it should be fine. The base 60hp engine is very slow though, so unless all of your driving is in town, we'd suggest upgrading to the 82hp version. 

Expert answer

Hi Philip,

Volkswagen and its associated brands are currently working their way through the lists of cars to be recalled and modified to enable them to reach the required standards for emissions at all times, and not just on the official test, as was revealed by the ‘Dieselgate’ scandal. The original plan was to have all cars recalled and modified by the end of this year, but that schedule has slipped significantly.

If your car is one of those due for work, you will get a letter in the post in due course advising you to book an appointment at your nearest Skoda dealer.

As for compensation? Unlike American Volkswagen owners, European owners as yet are not being offered any, primarily because the laws are rather different on this side of the Atlantic, but owners (via the courts), national governments and the EU are all pressing Volkswagen on the issue of compensation payments so there may yet be something in the offing.

Expert answer

Hi Clare,

Well, if I gave the impression that I wasn’t too impressed, then that’s not quite right as we haven’t yet driven a new Citroen model equipped with the new Advanced Comfort suspension system. It won’t go into production until next year (2017). We have just driven the new Citroen C3, which has a very impressive ride quality on standard springs and dampers, so the omens for the new system are good.

Expert answer

Hi Fergal,

In a purely objective sense? No, there’s nothing. Will you get an interior that looks and feels a bit classier? Yes. Will you get a badge that has a bit more appeal? Yes. Do these things really matter? Not to everyone. If you’ve got a Mondeo then you already have a well-made, comfortable car that’s good to drive. So upgrading to an Audi or BMW will get you… a shinier badge. If you want something that feels as good as the premium stuff but costs less, have a look at a Volkswagen Passat or Mazda6 as a potential replacement. The only area in which the German cars are quantifiably better is in resale value.

Expert answer

Hi Donal,

The best compromise of value and oomph is probably to be found somewhere in the Volkswagen Group. I'd say if you want to mix a decent 2.0 diesel engine with low emissions and an auto box try out a SEAT Leon FR, preferably in very handsome ST estate form. It makes 150hp, but has Band A4 emissions. 

Expert answer

Hi Jane,

It’s a tough call, because there’s no doubt that the Volkswagen Tiguan looks and feels classier and more upmarket than the SEAT Ateca, but it is also considerably more expensive. With my sensible hat on, I’d have to say go for the SEAT – it’s a fine car and much better value. Here are some test drives to help with your decision:

SEAT Ateca 1.4 TSI review

SEAT Ateca 2.0 TDI review

Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line review

Expert answer

Hi Michael,

I’d suggest that a Passat GTE or 330e would be about perfect with that kind of mileage and usage. It will help, of course, if you have a driveway where you can fit a charging point, but once the batteries have drained and you’re running on normal hybrid power, both of those cars will average better than 40mpg. Here are our reviews:

BMW 330e review

Volkswagen Passat GTE review

Expert answer

Hi Des,

It depends on just how big a car you need, and if you need a full seven-seater. The Volkswagen Golf SV, for instance, has the space for three seats across the back, but doesn't have the folding seats in the boot of the bigger Touran. Both are excellent cars, but you'll save a considerable amount of money by going for the SV. Others worth considering are the Toyota Verso (available in both five- and seven-seat forms), Citroen C4 Picasso (ditto) and the Kia Carens (only a seven-seater).

Peugeot's 5008 and Ford's C-Max are also worth a look, but if you need something bigger, if basically boils down to two choices - Ford S-Max or SEAT Alhambra. 

Expert answer

Hi Christopher,

It's always difficult (impossible in fact) to predict what a specific dealer will offer against a specific car, but I'd suspect you're looking at a trade in value of around the €14-15k mark. 

Expert answer

Hi Brian,

There is a way of doing this, but it requires some very careful timing. Once you import a vehicle, you have seven days from its arrival on these shores to notify Revenue that it’s in the country and also to book the NCT inspection to get the final bill for Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT).

So that gives you a little wiggle room. Ideally, you would be best advised to find a company in the UK who can carry out the conversion and re-register the vehicle with the DVLA in Swansea, before importing it. If that’s not possible, then what you need to do is to make sure you have an Irish conversion company set up and ready to go who can carry out the conversion when the car arrives here, before it goes for its inspection. It’s ever so slightly legally dubious (letter of the law rather than spirit), but if you can keep the timings sharp, it could work.

Expert answer

Hi Mary,

It’s not standard, so you’ll have to check the specific car. It was available as an option, but there’s not a huge take-up rate on satnav amongst Irish car buyers.

Expert answer

Hi John,

No, it’s not just another cost to the consumer. Stop-start systems are designed to prevent the car from running the engine unnecessarily at standstill when doing so would be at its most wasteful of fuel. After all, if you’re not moving then what is the point in having the engine on? Stop-start systems are specially designed with either a beefed-up alternator or an integrated starter/generator so that it can handle multiple stops and restarts in rapid succession, and it’s estimated that on an average car, stop-start can save as much as ten per cent of overall fuel consumption – not to be sniffed at, never mind the benefits to city-centre air quality.

Admittedly, the car makers have brought in stop-start to bring their cars' official CO₂ and fuel consumption figures down, and the benefits are only really felt if you are stopping and starting regularly. If you spend all your driving time on the motorway then you won't use the system at all.

Expert answer

Hi Brendan,

Well, bearing in mind we have literally no idea what the market or running costs are like in Luxembourg, we reckon that a 2.0-litre Golf sounds like the best option there, especially if funds would stretch to either a GTI or GTD.

Read our Mercedes-Benz GLA review here

Read our Audi A3 Saloon review here

Read our Volkswagen Golf GTI review here

Read our Volkswagen Golf GTD review here

Read our BMW 1 Series review here

Expert answer

Hi Philip,

We don't have a precise on-sale date yet but it'll be towards the back end of 2017. 

Expert answer

Hi Bryan,

It’s VERY hard to value a car like that without seeing it, but I can give you some pointers. Obviously, the originality is a big selling point, so if you’re going to get anything done to it before sale, make sure it’s done carefully and considerately. To be honest, even if the paintwork is currently a bit faded, I’d be tempted to leave it be, as originality really is everything.

As for a value, you could be looking at around the €12-15,000 mark if its rarity plays out, although many good sixties Beetles go for around €9-10,000 if restored. I think you should get in touch with the VAGE Club Ireland, the Volkswagen owners'  club, and have a chat with one of their Beetle experts before you go about trying to sell it. They should be able to give you some good pointers.

Best of luck

Expert answer

Hi Miceal,

As a trade-in, somewhere in the region of €8,000 I would think.

Expert answer

Hi Eoin,

Mapfre and Carprotect provide decent cover, but, as always with these things, you need to make sure you read all of the small print, and we mean ALL of it, to ensure you know exactly what’s covered and what’s not and in what circumstances. Basically, rather like accident insurance, aftermarket warranties are there to cover utter disasters, not replacement of day-to-day items.

Expert answer

Hi Jennifer,

You could try a Skoda Superb Combi, but I think that many big dogs would overwhelm even that car’s massive boot. Perhaps you need to go down the road of a van-based MPV. Maybe try a Citroen Berlingo or Volkswagen Caddy Life? Seats for the kids and (hopefully) enough space for the dogs, plus their tailgates aren’t too high off the ground so the older dogs shouldn’t have too much trouble getting in and out.

Expert answer

Hi Sinead,

Expect to see it some time in 2018, although there will be a facelift and an update for the current MkVII Golf later this year.

Expert answer

Conor,

It’ll be arriving in 2017, and we should see a full production version appear, if not at the Paris Motor Show in September, then at the Detroit show in January.

Expert answer

Hi Olga,

The best two to choose from are the Ford S-Max and the Opel Zafira Tourer. Both should be big enough inside for your needs, and they certainly hit the remaining criteria pretty well. Cars like the Volkswagen Touran and Toyota Verso are also good, but they tend to be too small in the third row of seats for regular use.

Expert answer

Hi Aiden,

That’s a good-sized budget so you should be able to get a good-sized car. In terms of car-vans, the best ones are the Citroen Berlingo and the Volkswagen Caddy Life, but both are noisier than a conventional car, and less comfortable over long distances. With that in mind, I reckon you need an estate – have a look for a Mazda6 Tourer, Ford Mondeo Estate or Volkswagen Passat Estate – or keep an eye out for the best of breed, the Skoda Superb Combi. All are comfortable, roomy and have frugal diesel options.

Expert answer

Hi Dana,

No, not yet – it won’t be fully revealed to the public until 1st of September, and it will be some time after that before Irish prices and specs are worked out. However, we can infer from some of its rivals how expensive it might be. The primary cars that it will be going up against will be the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe, both of which have prices that start at €38-39k, and also the Nissan X-Trail, which, in seven-seat form, starts at €37k. So around the €37k mark might be a sensible bet.

That said, the new Volkswagen Tiguan, on which the Kodiaq is based, mechanically, starts at just under €30k, and there will be a seven-seat version of that soon too, so Skoda will have to carefully balance its prices to make sure that it’s a little, but not too much, cheaper than the seven-seat Tiguan. Complicated, isn’t it? I reckon somewhere between the €35,000 and €37,000 marks would be a reasonable guess as to the Kodiaq’s starting price.

Expert answer

Hi F D,

Short answer? We don't know yet. Theoretically, petrol engines heat up much more quickly than diesel engines (mostly because they're less thermally efficient) and therefore shorter journeys are less of an issue in that respect. It just depends on how much heat you need to generate to clean the filter and for how long. I'm sure that car makers will claim, as they did with diesel, that the filters are designed to be maintenance free, but then we've heard that before haven't we?

Expert answer

Hi Siobhan,

We've blanked out the reg in your question for the owner's privacy. A quick and free check with Cartell.ie reveals that the car is a 2004 Volkswagen Passat Saloon, powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine (1,595cc), producing 102hp. We can also find out that it costs €514 a year to tax. For a detailed history check go to Cartell.ie and sign up for one of its paid products.

Expert answer

Hi Mary,

Have you considered a Ford Focus? I’m not sure what the situation is in your area with dealers etc, but a Focus has terrific steering – firmly weighted, direct and full of feedback and feel, and it’s also comfortable and well made (although, as a bad-back sufferer myself I would always suggest as lengthy a test drive as possible to make sure you find the seats a good shape). Quality and reliability are also good, if not quite up to Toyota levels. Your budget should get you into a year-old, maybe 18-month-old model and the 1.0-litre turbocharged EcoBoost petrol engine should make for an ideal option for you.

Expert answer

Hi Valerie,

The problem is that you’re going to struggle in a premium-brand car to find the sort of rear-seat width that you need. The sad fact is that most sporty, expensive estates are designed around four passengers and the middle rear seat is usually an uncomfortable perch that’s often too narrow to comfortabley fit a car seat into.

So, I’d suggest you broaden your remit a little. Of the premium cars, realistically only the Volvo V70 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class are going to offer the kind of cabin space you need. If those are too expensive, look instead to the more workaday brands – Ford  Mondeo, Volkswagen Passat, Toyota Avensis, Mazda6 and Peugeot 508. You may not get the premium badge you crave, but you’ll get the interior room you need and at a much lower cost.

Expert answer

Hi Kevin,

The acceptance by AIB might well give you a little more leverage with Volkswagen next time around, not least because it will be another tick on your credit rating. Oddly, it’s usually the other way around – high street banks tend to be harder to get a loan from than car company banks, but acceptance criteria vary hugely across the different financial institutions so you never know until someone puts the details into the computer and someone says yes or no.

Having said all that, you might actually be better off with the bank loan than with the PCP. Although the monthly repayments might be higher, you do have the advantage of owning the car outright from day one, and not having to worry about condition and upkeep.

Expert answer

Hi James,

It's all just down to the way the power steering is set up and yes, all MINIs have quite weighty power steering, designed to feel sporty and make the car feel more agile. 

Expert answer

Hi Martin,

It'll be more of a thorough facelift, but Volkswagen may well decide to break out the Mk8 badges. Expect to see a major interior update with a big central touch screen (with gesture control) and some new and updated engines - including, possibly, a new family of 1.5 TDI three-cylinder diesels. 

Expert answer

Hi Ray,

You'll pay 13.3 per cent of the 'Open Market Selling Price' (OMSP - the Irish used value as estimated by Revenue).  It would obviously depend on the year and condition as to what that value would be. As an example, a 2009 Touareg commercial would be worth around €13,000 to €15,000. 

Expert answer

Hi Brendan,

According to the figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), 57 Passat 1.4 TSI models were sold in 2015 (53 saloons and four estates) and 42 so far this year (37 saloons and five estates). There were also two Passat GTE plugin hybrids registered so far this year, which also use the 1.4 TSI engine.

Expert answer

Hi Orlaith,

Most UK cars should come with a main analogue speedometer (the physical dial bit) with both mph and km/h markings. The good news is that the digital speedo display between the main instruments can be adjusted from the settings menu. A quick glance at the owner's handbook should see you right. 

Expert answer

Hi Katalin,

Expert answer

Hi Gary,

The answer is partially yes, but it’s nothing to do with R sales, which we are told are actually perfectly healthy. The GTI Performance model is being replaced by the GTI Clubsport, which gets an extra 34hp and some chassis revisions  to make the handling even sharper than that of the GTI Performance Pack.

Expert answer

Hi David,

Yes, they are different, but it’s not a simple difference. Basically, the ‘classical’ Audi quattro system uses a centre differential, supplied by Torsen, to deliver engine torque to both the front and rear wheels. The system has been hugely updated and altered over the years, both to improve efficiency and to allow for more torque to be sent to the rear wheels (the current version can send as much as 85 per cent of the engine’s power to the back).

The Volkswagen 4Motion system (which is also used on four-wheel drive Skoda models) is a simpler and lighter Haldex system that uses a differential and a series of clutches to send power to the rear wheels. It can disable power to the rears in order to reduce mechanical losses, friction and therefore improve fuel economy. This system has become markedly more sophisticated over the years, but it’s still primarily a front-wheel drive layout that can send power to the rear, while the Audi quattro system is a classic all-wheel drive setup that is always powering all four wheels.

Now, there’s a catch. Some Audi models, mostly the A3, Q3 and A1, use a modified version of the Haldex 4Motion setup, although it’s still badged as a quattro. And there’s a new 'quattro ultra' system coming shortly, which Audi says gives the benefit of all-wheel drive, but with less drag and better fuel economy.

So basically, yes, they are different, but the overall effect – extra traction in poor conditions – is more or less the same. A really keen and sensitive driver will be able to tell the difference between the two in terms of feel and handling, but for the rest of us mortals, they’re effectively the same.

Expert answer

Hi Christine,

The Kia Sorento should fit three seats across the back, but you should always take along your seats (and preferably your kids too) on the test drive to make sure everything and everyone fits in nicely. Cracking car that Sorento - other good options are the Hyundai Santa Fe or Land Rover Discovery Sport. If you need to go for an MPV the Ford S-Max, SEAT Alhambra or Opel Zafira Tourer are your best bets, but it's worth considering the Volkswagen Touran too - not quite so roomy, but cheaper to run and very pleasant to drive. 

Here are our relevant reviews:

Kia Sorento review

Hyundai Santa Fe review

Land Rover Discovery Sport review

Volkswagen Touran review

SEAT Alhambra review

Ford S-Max review

Opel Zafira Tourer review

Expert answer

Hi Tony,

There's no major recurrent fault for the flywheel on a Q5 specifically (although dual-mass flywheels generally come in for a lot of reliability criticism across all brands), but there was a recall for Volkswagen Group 2.0 TDI diesel engines a while back to replace faulty flywheels, so it's worth checking to make sure that's been done. If it doesn't show up in the service history, get in touch with Audi Ireland customer services, as they should be able to find out if a specific vehicle has or has not had the work done. 

Expert answer

Hi Rob,

Well, as far as discounts go, most dealers operate on about an eight per cent margin, so if you're asking for more than a seven per cent discount you're asking for a below cost price. You should get a decent discount for cash right enough, but explore the credit options too - dealers often get bonuses for selling a credit plan so if you can get a good one (at zero per cent interest obviously) and pay it off from your lump sum, it may give the dealer a bit more wiggle room for a discount.

As for the model, with a starter car and the current cost of insurance you need to be looking at no more than a 1.0-litre engine. Happily your budget will easily get you into a Volkswagen up! 1.0, one of the best small cars around (or equally you could go for a mechanically identical SEAT Mii or Skoda Citigo). Can't go wrong really, although if you're looking for other options you could try an Opel Karl (plain but decent), a Renault Twingo (fun but not as well made as the up!) or the Fiat 500 TwinAir (fabulous car, but get an insurance quote first).

Here are reviews of all of those to help you decide:

Volkswagen up! review

SEAT Mii review

Skoda Citigo review

Opel Karl review

Renault Twingo review

Fiat 500 TwinAir review

Expert answer

Hi Colin,

It depends which models you mean. I presume you’re looking at an Audi A3 and a Volkswagen Golf, which share a 1.6-litre diesel engine. On the base model of both cars, the quoted CO₂ figure is exactly the same – 99g/km. It could be that you’re looking at an A3 Saloon, which,  with the optional 18-inch alloy wheels, has a CO₂ figure of 109g/km, or possibly even the A3 Saloon quattro 1.6 TDI on 18s, which has a whopping (in comparison) figure of 130g/km. Extra equipment (or indeed a complete four-wheel drive system) and bigger wheels all have an effect on consumption and therefore emissions, you see...

Expert answer

Hi Ben,

Well, you can always haggle more and if the dealer isn’t budging, then simply shop around. There are plenty of examples of the C-Max out there to choose from, so don’t get hung up on just the one car if you feel like you’re not getting a good deal. While that does seem like a fair enough price, €17k is top end for a 2012 C-Max, so it had better (a) be perfect, (b) have a full service history and (c) come with a decent warranty.

As for the B-Max, yes there’s quite a big difference. The B-Maxis based on the Fiesta, the C-Max on the Focus so you can see from just that fact that the levels of space on the inside and in the boot are significantly different. Plus the C-Max is a far more comfortable car on a long journey than the B-Max, which can also be sluggish to drive as those sliding doors are actually pretty heavy for such a small car.

As for other cars worth looking at (and I’m assuming you mean against the five-seat C-Max, not the seven-seat Grand C-Max), the Volkswagen Golf Plus offers lots of space and plenty of comfort, as does the five-seat version of the Citroen C4 Picasso.

Here are a few reviews to help you decide:

Ford C-Max review

Ford B-Max review

Citroen C4 Picasso review

Expert answer

Hi Sandra,

Yes, very. Someone who’s not completing their NCT on time is someone who, for whatever reason, is not looking after their car properly. Avoid.

Expert answer

Hi Kevin,

That’s almost an impossible question for me to answer I’m afraid as, as you’ve pointed out, a car that many might consider comfortable and pleasant (the Honda CR-V) is uncomfortable for you. Mind you, you’re right about the C-Class Estate being small inside – it was never the biggest car around.

Expert answer

Hi Alan,

All are, in general, pretty solidly reliable cars as you would expect,  but the issues come with the added weight and complexity of those folding hard-tops. All three can suffer roof failure (often at the point of being half way up or down) and all three suffer equally from increased tyre and suspension wear relative to their hatchback cousins, not to mention higher fuel consumption. None, to be honest, are especially pleasant to drive.

Of the three, I’d say the Eos is the best built, the Focus by a slim margin the best to drive and the Astra fractionally the roomier in the back seat. As an alternative, what about an Audi A4 Cabriolet? You’d have to go for an older one to match the price, but it’s a better car and a better convertible than any of these. Alternatively, if you don’t need the back seats, get a Mazda MX-5 – literally the only small convertible that’s actually worth buying.

Expert answer

Hi Donal,

Short answer – no. That’s partially down to the fact that such in-depth comparisons have to take into account the type of mileage you do, the electricity tariff you’re on and more. The best I can suggest is that you have a good long look through our various electric car reviews and then use the cost calculators on both the ESB and SEAI websites to further refine your research:

BMW i3 review

Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric

Nissan Leaf review

Renault Zoe review

Tesla Model S review

Volkswagen e-up! review

Volkswagen e-Golf review 

Expert answer

Hi Larry,

The seven-speed DSG automatic works very well with the 2.0-litre TDI engine. Around town and in traffic is makes driving relaxed and easy while the long top gear means the engine revs remain low on longer motorway journeys. In fact, the noise insulation in the new Tiguan is very good and you'd almost forget that you're driving a diesel.

I also drove the manual version, and to be fair it drive very well too. If you can afford the price jump to get the DSG automatic though I would recommend it. 

Read our Volkswagen Tiguan review in full

Expert answer

Hi Brian,

Well, it's all down to the CO₂ emissions because it's that on which the rate of VRT will be applied. You need to do your homework though as cars that can be quite affordable in the UK can be wildly over-priced in the Irish market leading to you paying more VRT than you really should do.

Ideally, you need to be spending above €30k on a car to make it truly worth your while on importing a car, thanks to the exchange rate. The BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class are all well worth looking at, as well as higher-spec versions of the likes of the Skoda Superb, Volkswagen Passat and Mazda6. 

Expert answer

Hi Philip,

Short answer: no, they're not coming back. For a start, they only ever sold in pretty small numbers and so it's tough to justify the investment in creating new ones. Secondly, the folding hard tops themselves are generally significantly heavier than a cloth roof, and with every gramme counting towards the all-important CO₂ figure, don't bet on seeing a return any time soon.

Expert answer

Hi Philip,

No. During this year you will be written to by Skoda and Volkswagen inviting you to bring your car in for a recall, at which time the engine will be modified to bring it into line with the emissions regulations. Volkswagen has thus far assured us that the modifications will not lead to any degradation in drivability or fuel consumption, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see on that score.

At this point, there’s no legal way you can force the dealer to buy the car back, but it is of course your legal right to take a case against them selling you the car under false pretences. That, I would say, is unlikely to go anywhere as the dealer is highly unlikely to have known what was happening within Volkswagen at the time of selling you the car so really your only legal recourse is to take a case against Volkswagen itself. And in that instance, it’s a case of get in line, because there’s a lot of people ahead of you…

Expert answer

Hi Kaara,

Caddys are really good, no question and one of them should definitely be top of your shopping list. It's also well worth looking at a Citroen Berlingo, Renault Kangoo and Ford Transit Connect too though.

As for common Caddy problems? Look out for fuel injection and air mass sensor problems on older models and make sure anything you're looking at comes with a full service history. 

Expert answer

Hi Philip,

Volkswagen has made no announcement as yet, but we are expecting a new Polo-sized SUV to appear on sale in 2017 at some stage. I really doubt there'll be a three-door or open-topped version though.

Expert answer

Hi Aidan,

I think with a weekly Cork-Dublin run you should probably go for the diesel. Much better long-run economy. 

Expert answer

Hi Barry,

Tough choice - both really good but quite different cars. The CC is arguably more stylish and slightly the sharper to drive, the S60 has that wonderfully reassuring Volvo safety and a really gorgeous cabin. Personally, I'd say the Volvo just shades it but it's a close run thing and you won't go far wrong with either.

Expert answer

Hi Pat,

This is a question we get asked so often and there's no easy answer. Well, actually there is, but it's an answer that many people don't like - an MPV such as the Volkswagen Touran, Toyota Verso, Citroen C4 Picasso or similar.

There are very, very few (if any) conventional hatchbacks or saloons that will these days take three child car seats across the back. There are some conversion kits available that will allow as many as four child seats to be fitted to a 'normal' saloon, but these tend to be designed around the big rear-facing infant seats and won't take your own seats.

The best I can suggest, if you don't fancy an MPV, is to test drive the biggest, widest saloons you can find and make sure you bring the kids with you to actually try the seating properly so that you know for definite before you buy.

Expert answer

Hi Orla,

I think your best bet could be to go for a small van-based MPV, such as the Citroen Berlingo or a Volkswagen Caddy Life. They have seating positions that are a bit higher, but not so high as to need to climb up,  and there will be plenty of room in the back for a wheelchair. In fact many have been converted with wheelchair ramps and lifts in the back, which may be of some use.

Hope that helps and all the best to your mum. 

Expert answer

Hi Pauline,

You're absolutely 100 per cent dead right - diesel is not for everyone and especially not for those with overall low mileages and short commutes. And as the recent emissions scandal has shown us, diesel exhaust can be staggeringly bad for your health. 

As for finding a diesel without a DPF filter, I'm not sure you'll be able to. In order to meet the particulate emissions legislation under EuroV and EuroVI regulations you pretty much had to have one. Some people have, of course, removed the DPF to avoid maintenance issues, but then you're just spewing out a plume of highly carcinogenic soot particles as you drive...

So, I think your best bet is to go for a compact turbocharged petrol engine or, just maybe, a hybrid. The Toyota Prius would potentially be ideal for your daily drive, but could be a bit of an over-thirsty pain on that six-time-a-year longer journey. Try instead a car fitted with the Volkswagen Group's excellent 1.2-litre TSI turbo petrol engine (Golf or Skoda Octavia are the best ones), a Ford Focus with the 1.0 EcoBoost engine or maybe an Opel Astra 1.4 Turbo. Here are a few relevant reviews for you to consult:

Ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost review

Skoda Octavia 1.2 TSI review

Opel Astra GTC 1.4 Turbo review

Expert answer

Hi Eamonn,

Auto petrol SUVs are hard to find in most manufacturers' ranges, but there are a few you can have a look at - Skoda Yeti 1.2 TSI DSG, Nissan Qashqai 1.2 DIG CVT or Volkswagen Tiguan 1.4 TSI DSG, for example. All frugal, good to drive and well under €40k even with options.

Expert answer

Hi Patrick,

Well, the Passat is definitely better value - and it's only a little less spacious than the Audi. But you are trying to compare two quite different cars - one a regular family car, one a premium executive model. It depends on what you want more; value for money or something more prestigious and luxurious. Both are excellent cars though - reliable and nice to drive. 

Expert answer

Hi Oonagh,

Not many; you really need to be looking at MPVs such as the Volkswagen Touran and Toyota Verso, or the Ford S-Max or SEAT Alhmabra if you fancy something bigger. That said, the recently introduced Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage are just about wide enough, but it depends on what seats you're using. Also, larger seven-seat 4x4s such as the Volvo XC90 and Land Rover Discovery will take three-abreast, but they're expensive to buy.

Expert answer

Hi Kathleen,

The new Toyota Prius looks to be rather impressive, and with just 70g/km of CO₂ it'll certainly be cheap to tax. We reckon you should probably look beyond the Prius though, to the new generation of plugin hybrids that can offer significantly longer electric-only range (as much as 50km) and which still have a petrol engine and a decent fuel tank for longer journeys. Have a look at the Volkswagen Golf GTE or Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV for example.

Expert answer

Hi Peter,

The 2.0 TDI Golf is something of a canny buy - it's much punchier than the 1.6, yet comes with only a small penalty in motor tax and running costs, and in fact is good enough to undermine the case for buying the overtly sporting GTD.

That said, if you put the effort in, the 1.6 can be significantly more economical and, obviously, is cheaper to buy. In daily driving, unless you're really pushing hard, its performance is entirely adequate. You can read what our road test editor, Dave Humphreys, thought of the 1.6-litre BlueMotion model here.

As for the 2013 model, that was the MkVI Golf and it's still a fine car - reliable, comfy, spacious and nice to drive, but you will notice a palpable difference in quality and comfort between it and a MkVII.

Expert answer

Hi Brendan,

There is no specific market data for Ireland in this respect. The old rule of thumb still holds true - if you want ultimate reliability, buy a Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Suzuki, Subaru or Mazda. You could probably pretty easily add Kia and Hyundai to that list too now.

The best I can do for you is to point you towards the results of the JD Power Vehicle Dependability Study for the UK market in 2015. An independent research agency, JD Power ranks the various brands surveyed by problems per 100 cars - although it's worth remembering that those problems can range from minor electrical niggles to total engine failure, so you can't read everything into the stats. The last set of figures, ranked from best-performing to worst, were:

Expert answer

Hi Gary,

Yes, but it's not due to arrive until late this year. It'll likely have only very small exterior changes (expect a more Passat-like front end), but there will be some bigger changes to the interior, including a new centre stack with the option of a big, Tesla-like tablet-style touchscreen with 'Gesture Control.' We may also get sight of the new family of 1.5-litre turbo petrol and turbodiesel engines this year (although they're more likely to be reserved for the all-new MkVIII Golf in a couple of years' time), but we'll definitely get to see the ultimate hot Golf - a four-wheel drive 420hp version of the Golf R designed to take on the Ford Focus RS.

Expert answer

Hi Elaine,

I don't think the Fusion is going to be much good to you if you reckon you need an MPV - it's basically a slightly taller Fiesta and not all that roomy. Have a try and see if it'll fit your needs.

As for another Scenic, sad to say they're just not the most reliable things around. Have a look instead for a Toyota Corolla Verso, a Volkswagen Touran, a Kia Carens or a Mazda5. You'll have to look hard to find one within budget but they are out there.

Expert answer

Hi Martin,

Go for the Octavia or Avensis according to taste - both have superior reliability (crucial when you're buying an older car) and the Avensis will, just slightly, have the edge in that respect.

Expert answer

Hi Stan,

Are you sure you mean 3,200? That's incredibly low mileage so I'd be suggesting something small such as a Volkswagen up! or a Hyundai i10.

If you mean 32,000km then I'd say you need a compact diesel. A SEAT Leon 1.6 TDI DSG would seem to fit the bill.

Expert answer

Hi Sally,

Generally speaking, automatics and small engines don't go well together, but there are a few good ones. Any Volkswagen Group cars using a combo of either 1.2 TSI or 1.4 TSI petrol with the DSG gearbox should be pretty smooth and there are some Toyota Auris 1.4 D-4D diesels around with self-shifters. The Auris, while not exciting, is certainly smooth and comfy.

Actually, your best option could be to go hybrid or electric. The Honda Insight has a 1.3-litre hybrid powertrain and is an automatic and is surprisingly good to drive. Or what about the Nissan Leaf? If the roughly 160km electric range suits your lifestyle, there's nothing smoother than an electric motor.

Expert answer

Hi Bryan,

Go for the petrol 1.2 TSI. If most of your mileage is short hops then, even with a regular motorway run, you're not going to get the benefit from diesel. And a 1.2, driven with reasonable care, should get close to 50mpg on the motorway anyway. Plus, you'll save a good chunk of money at purchase time, which will easily outweigh any potential diesel fuel savings. 

Expert answer

Hi Libby,

The Caddy Life is actually a really good choice - hugely versatile and not at all bad to drive, for a car based on a van. It's also worth looking at the Citroen Berlingo (similar, but doesn't have the long wheelbase Maxi Life option) or the Renault Kangoo. If you fancy something a bit more comfy and car-like, have a look at a Ford S-Max or the SEAT Alhambra.

Expert answer

Hi Catriona,

Go for the petrol Golf. It's a hugely economical engine anyway, but if you're doing short hops and low mileage then there's just no point in buying a diesel. You'll never make back the extra purchase price in fuel savings and you'll run into problems with clogged diesel particulate filters, etc.

Expert answer

Hi Niamh,

I'd go for the Polo - of the three you're looking at it's the one (all things being equal) that's likely to be the most reliable. One thing though - you'll have to change it again next year as then it will be 10 years old and it's now proving almost impossible to get an affordable quote for a 10-year old car. 

Expert answer

Hi Brian,

Yes, you can tax and insure it privately, and indeed you should do because if it were taxed as a commercial, you'd be caught rotten if you were stopped with the kids in the back and it's a €4,000 fine. However, you can legally have it assessed for VRT as a commercial so that's a saving. The odd thing is that taxing it as a private car means, under the current rules, you'll revert to the old pre-2008 tax system, which is based on engine capacity. Odd, but there you go.

As for whether or not an import will be cheaper, it probably depends on how many of the specific style of T5 you want are available on the ground here. All I can suggest is that you do your sums, figure out how much the import will cost, and then have a shop around Irish dealers and ask them if they can match the numbers.

Expert answer

Hi F D,

Sadly, not. There used to be a Volkswagen saloon smaller than the Jetta but that was the Polo saloon and it hasn't been in production for years. So why not just go for a Jetta? Really nice car, actually. Kind of underrated and not all that big. It's is just a Golf with a boot, after all...

Expert answer

Hi Philip,

A very, very good point. However, I disagree with you on your broader 'hype about electric cars' comment - the only way we're going to be able to keep motoring, to keep some sort of private, personal transport going, is with electric cars. Now, whether that's with just batteries, or whether that's with hydrogen power or something else that hasn't yet been thought of, I don't know. But the days of digging up Jurassic forests in liquid form and burning them in engines is coming to a rapid close - it's not just about CO₂ and global climate change anymore either; the Volkswagen scandal has shown that we've been slowly and insidiously poisoning ourselves with other gases from car engines too. Some 1,200 people in Ireland this year will die from respiratory illness brought on by pollution, a major multiple of those who will be killed in road accidents.

Your apartment point is well made though, and shows just what a period of transition we are currently in. A huge investment is needed to create an environment where electric vehicles can work simply and sensibly, and for all the efforts put in recently to install charging points and fast chargers, it's not nearly enough. Governments and energy companies, and the car makers too, will all have a major role to play in this, but it's just that no-one's playing enough of a role just yet.

Expert answer

Hi Glen,

Somewhere in the region of €6,500 to €7,000 as a trade in I would think.

Expert answer

Hi Naomi,

Pre-2008 cars are taxed according to their engine size, so that Polo, which is actually 1,422cc, falls into the 1,401 to 1,500cc band, at €413 a year, or €229 for six months and €116 for three months.

Expert answer

Hi Paul,

Yes, and no. And a bit yes. It still depends on your lifestyle and driving habits. Lots of short journeys, mostly around town? Don't mind taking the time to plan long journeys carefully and be prepared to take breaks for charge ups?

Things are getting dramatically better though. Nissan has just updated the Leaf with a new 30kwh battery (read our review of it here) that extends its range to around 250km, which is a lot more useful, and if you're suitably loaded a Tesla Model S can go for 500km between charges.

If you're not quite ready to take the full electric car plunge, how about a plugin hybrid? Short hops under electric power with a petrol engine for longer journeys. Try the Volkswagen Golf GTE, Audi A3 e-tron, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV or a Volvo XC90 T8.

However, if you're looking for a second hand car, your options with electric power are severely limited, as sales have been slow so far.

Expert answer

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.

Expert answer

Hi Philip,

According to Volkswagen, paddle shifters for the DSG gearbox on that model are not standard, but are available as an option. And a not very expensive option either - only just over €100.

The insurance question isn't really one we can help you with, as there are many more factors to an insurance quotation than just the model of car. We can only suggest that you ring a couple of the bigger companies and ask to get a feel for the price difference.

Expert answer

Hi Andrew,

Well, of the posh-badge brigade, my personal favourite is the Mercedes-Benz C-Class - it's supremely comfy, beautifully made and really satisfying to drive, but, to be honest, you couldn't go wrong with any of those cars, it really is down to personal taste.

Your other question is an interesting one though. If you can live without the posh badge, and aren't quite so worried about driving dynamics, then a Skoda Superb is pretty much unbeatable. Same mechanical make up as the Audi but far bigger and way better value. Try a Ford Mondeo or Mazda6 if you want something with a keen chassis or a Toyota Avensis if you never, ever want it to break.

Some relevant reviews for you:

Updated BMW 320d review

New Audi A4 2.0 TDI review

Jaguar XE review

Mercedes-Benz C-Class review

Volkswagen Passat Highline review

Skoda Superb review

Ford Mondeo review

Toyota Avensis review

Expert answer

Hi Catherine,

The Ford's not bad actually, but make sure that it has been fully serviced and that the 1.6 diesel has had a steady diet of high-grade oil.

Your Passat should be worth about €7,000 to €7,500 as a trade-in.

Expert answer

Hi Brendan,

Worth checking out the Mazda6 2.0 SkyActiv-G estate, and the Ford Mondeo 1.5 EcoBoost isn't bad. Also have a look at the Skoda Superb 1.4 TSI although that's only available in Ambition spec.

Expert answer

Hi Graham,

I'm afraid not - it's simply not a model appearing on the official Volkswagen Ireland price list. You could try sweet-talking a Volkswagen dealer but they'll essentially just have to privately import it themselves so they'll just pass on the same costs to you.

We double checked the situation with Volkswagen Ireland and it confirmed the same.

Such a shame!

Expert answer

Hi Elaine,

You're kind of on the cusp of being better off with a diesel with that kind of mileage. There are a few cars that are worth looking at. Sticking with petrol? Try a Honda Jazz - small but very spacious, and the 1.2-litre engine is pretty frugal. Want to go for a small diesel? Try a Volkswagen Polo. Want something a little more fun, but still very frugal (albeit not very roomy in the back)? Try a MINI Cooper D.

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Hi Simon,

If you go to the settings menu and see a menu heading titled ‘App Connect’ then yes, Apple CarPlay will work, but you might need to go to your Volkswagen dealer to get an activation code.

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Hi Pat,

The dealers are, in fairness, being evasive because they don't have the full picture yet. None of us do, to be honest. However, there's no really good reason for not buying an A6. It's an excellent car, very frugal and lovely to drive, and beautifully built too. If it does turn out to be one of the cars on which the CO₂ emissions and fuel consumption has been under-estimated, then you will be compensated for any gap - Volkswagen Group has promised that customers will not be out of pocket as a result of all this. So I'd say go ahead - cracking car.