Expert answer

Hi Aisling,

We can't answer that question definitively as yet, as we don't drive the new Tucson until January (keep an eye on our Hyundai Tucson reviews page for it). 

You can compare the data for the cars yourself on the Hyundai and Toyota websites. There is a wide range of pricing from both brands to cover from about €36,000 to €43,000 so you'll need to delve into the specifications to see if you get more for your money in either of them. They appear well-matched to us, though Hyundai's five-year warranty trumps Toyota's three-year offer. That only matters if you're keeping the car that long of course.

In terms of performance, the Hyundai is a little quicker and should feel it even without extending the engine, as it uses a turbocharged unit, whereas the Toyota's engine has no turbo.

There's very little to separate them in terms of efficiency, though the RAV4 appears to be slightly better on that count, depending on the version.

In contrast, the Hyundai has the more modern cabin and a larger boot. 

In short, there's no clear winner between them. So, we'd recommend you get a test drive in both before you decide, in as close as possible to the final specification you would consider buying.

Please do come back to us and let us know which you decided upon and why, as that will help other readers.

Expert answer

Hi Adaora,

OK, if you bring it in right now, and get it VRT’d before January 1st, then the VRT cost should be in the region of €1,700. After January 1st, that will go up a little as, with CO₂ emissions of 119g/km, and adding the extra calculation that Revenue will now be making to equalise emissions figures taken from the old NEDC test with the new WLTP test (which bring’s the Mazda3’s figures up to 144g/km) then it will be in a 19 per cent VRT  band, rather than a 17 per cent. That would most likely bring the VRT payable (including the NOx levy) to around €1,900, but all of that will of course depend on the individual car, its specification, condition and history.

Read these articles for more information:

How Much VRT is Paid in Ireland?

Guide to Importing Cars from the UK

Expert answer

Hi Maurice,

If you can't find the car on Revenue's own website, then you're going to have to work to your own estimate and hope that you're close. You can appeal the value Revenue comes up with at the car's inspection, but you must pay the VRT it deems is applicable first. And bear in mind that the OMSP will go up if the car has lots of extras. Based on what you've said, we'd estimate it to be about €50,000.

As the car is already over six months old and has done more than 6,000km, you won't have any VAT to pay.

I believe the WLTP CO₂ rating for that car should be under 50g/km.

So, going on that €50,000 assumption, if you register it before the end of December, it's in VRT Band A1 at 14 per cent, which is €7,000. A used plug-in hybrid up to two years old gets a €2,250 VRT rebate, so the net VRT cost to you would be in the region of €4,750.

If you wait until 2021, the VRT rebate won't apply, but the VRT rate will come down to seven per cent, which works out as €3,500, which would suggest that, if our assumptions above are correct, you'll save money if you wait. 

Note that I've not included the NOx levy in these calculations, as I can't quickly find what the NOx is for that model. The levy will increase slightly for you if you wait until 2021 registration, but not by a significant amount. You can read more about that in the relevant articles below:

How Much VRT is Paid in Ireland?

Guide to Importing Cars from the UK

Expert answer

Hi Aileen,

If you tax a commercial vehicle privately, it goes by its engine size, regardless of its age, so in this case the annual motor tax will be €514.

Full details in our Motor Road Tax Prices in Ireland Explained feature.

Expert answer

Hi Adam,

If you register that car before the end of 2020 then there is no uplift and your annual tax will be based on the 94g/km rating.

If you cannot register it until after 1 January 2021, then the CO₂ rating will be uplifted, and that new CO₂ rating will be used to determine the VRT paid on registration and the annual tax bill from then on. 

There is no uplifting of the NOx levy, incidentally, but the amount charged will change a little come 2021.

It may be worth your while reading our three relevant guides, which have been updated since the Budget 2021 announcements:

Motor Road Tax Prices in Ireland Explained

How Much VRT is Paid in Ireland?

Guide to Importing Cars from the UK

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 Emer,

A van taxed for private use is done so according to its engine size, so, if the Relay has the 2.0-litre engine, it will cost €710 per annum to tax. If it has the 2.2-litre engine, it'll be €951.

Full details in our Motor Road Tax Prices in Ireland Explained feature.

Expert answer

Hi Kathleen,

You've not told us which engine the car has or whether the car is already registered or not. We'd need to know more to work out its CO₂ rating. You should be able to work it out using our Motor Road Tax Prices in Ireland Explained feature.

Expert answer

Hi Paul,

Yes, that's correct, but you need to watch out for the fact that Revenue will be 'uplifting' the CO₂ figures of imports. So, if a 2016 car you're looking at now has CO₂ emissions of, say, 165g/km, and it's a diesel, Revenue will uplift that to 201g/km, and that's the number that will determine your VRT and motor tax going forward.

Full details of the uplift formulas etc. can be found in our Guide to Importing Cars from the UK.

Expert answer

Hi Noel,

You're right that cars have been WLTP-tested for a while now, but the WLTP CO₂ figure was not in use. Instead, an-NEDC-equivalent value was used and quoted in all official documentation. That was a legal requirement, incidentally, not an attempt by the car makers to mislead. 

Cars already registered will not benefit from the tax changes coming in 2021. We've covered this in detail in our Motor Road Tax Prices in Ireland Explained feature.