Expert answer

Hi Mary,

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read our Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV review here

Read our Kia Sorento PHEV review here

Read our Toyota Highlander review here

Read our Volvo XC90 reviews

Read our Skoda Superb reviews

Expert answer

Hi Ger,

If you’re sticking with automatic, then your choices are very limited. We found only the Opel Grandland and SsangYong Korando, neither of which we’d be huge fans of.

Here are the manual models we found that otherwise fit the brief:

Cupra Formentor: We really like this car as it looks great, and it drives well. You might find it a little too low down for your liking as it’s not as tall an SUV as the Qashqai, but worth a look.

Dacia Duster: Not quite as solid as the Qashqai perhaps, but it’s very comfortable and you’d get more for your money - you could get a 2024 version for example.

Ford Kuga: A comfortable and well-built option. Plenty of them about.

Hyundai Tucson: Very spacious inside and in the boot. Loads of them around as it has been the best-seller for so long. Despite that it still looks interesting outside. Good reliability. Strong reputation shown by the fact that you’d probably only afford a 2022 example with your budget.

Kia Sportage: Identical to the Tucson under the skin so it just comes down to which of the two you prefer the look of. Though the Kia has a longer warranty in terms of time if mileage is low.

Mazda CX-5: Fantastic to drive and feels like a premium car in comparison to most others here. Might cost a little more to run and they’re not very plentiful on the used market.

Peugeot 3008: A stylish replacement for the Qashqai. Solid car. Double-check you can get on with the cabin layout.

SEAT Ateca: Once one of our favourite cars of this size, though it is getting on in years now. Might not feel as modern as some cars on this list, but is still well made, comfortable and spacious.

That’s still quite a long list, admittedly, but hopefully it helps you drill things down to a shortlist. We have our own preferences, and you will, too.

Feel free to come back to us if you want further help of course.

Expert answer

Hi Nathy,

Generally, once a new car arrives at a dealership, the company’s administration department will begin processing the registration as soon as possible. I’m unsure that this is an automatic process, as in past experience, all of the customer’s details had to be manually inputted into the vehicle registration system.

However, as Audi will invoice the dealership for the car once it lands there, it is unlikely that the company will hold off or defer any registration process, as once it’s completed, it can include that car with its monthly sales/registration figures, which is important for targets, commissions etc. Unless specifically outlined and agreed ahead of time, it is unlikely that the dealership will defer this process. 

Expert answer

Hi Stephen,

That sounds like great value despite the age, though be aware that it’ll cost significantly more than that to import it when you take into account VRT and the NOx levy.

Expert answer

Hi Martin,

If you go to https://www.mlit.go.jp/jidosha/jidosha_fr10_000019.html (and use a browser that will automatically translate it from Japanese to English for you) you can scroll down to item 6 and get Excel files full of information for loads of JDM cars. Those hold engine codes, etc, fuel consumption and CO₂ data, but not NOx information that we can see unfortunately. 

Expert answer

Hi Waltter,

It depends on which all-wheel-drive system your car has. Most of them have an automatic system that sends engine power to the rear wheels only when slip is detected at the front. Some have a centre differential that you can lock yourself using a button on the dashboard marked "4WD Lock" or similar. This is for low speed use only and can only be turned on at very low speeds. It will revert to automatic functioning once you exceed about 40km/h.

Expert answer

Hi Alisa,

That is a terrible situaton and I'm not sure if you can do anything. If you buy a used car from a private individual then there is usually no warranty and though you never met the actual seller, it sounds as if you were aware it was a private sale and there was no mention of warranty. 

If you have other information that you have not disclosed to us, perhaps contact the CPCC (Competition and Consumer Protection Commission) and talk through the situation to see if there is anything more you can do.

Expert answer

Hi Lorraine,

The MG is certainly worth a look as it's exceptionally good value and also quite a spacious car. The Hyundai is perhaps a better-known quantity with a wider dealer network, but MG offers a great new-car warranty as well so don't be put off by that. If you're tempted by all the mod cons for that price I expect the MG might win for you, though make sure you go drive both for yourself to see which you prefer.

Buying new suits some people and not others. If you're buying with finance then it works well, and there's nothing quite like that new-car feel either. But others don't want to pay for the early years of depreciation that a new car comes with.

Of the used cars you mentioned, the Karoq and Ateca were never offered as hybrids. The Formentor was available as a plug-in hybrid if you'd consider that. It's a lovely car for sure. 

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 Patrick,

The exact figure will be on the car's log book, and we assume you mean the 1.5 TSI 150 as the 1.5-litre engine only came in that guise in the Karoq.

We found data for three different UK trim lines (I'm assuming you're looking at importing from the UK) and all came back with a NOx rating of 29mg/km. However, the highest CO₂ rating for these cars was 127g/km, not 133g/km, so it's possible that the actual NOx figure of the car you're looking at might be a little higher than 29mg/km.

It won't be much higher anyway so that's a good estimate for you to calculate the NOx levy from.