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Hi David,

OK, if you're determined to go diesel and you need a reliable 60mpg plus then the only safe option is to get yourself a Golf BlueMotion. Your Polo plus your budget should get you easily into one, but you have to remember that getting good fuel economy is actually all about your driving style. We recently managed to get better than 60mpg out of a 1.2 TSI petrol Skoda Rapid, and that was with four big blokes on board...

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Hi Noel,

Nothing too serious to worry about it. That 2.0-litre TDCi diesel engine does suffer occasionally from cutting out unexpectedly, but it's usually just a software fault and the ECU can be easily updated by a dealer. Other than that keep an eye out for issues with the keyless entry and ignition system (a rarely-seen option anyway) and keep an eye on the cabin - creaky trim is common and apparently the seat bolsters can collapse even on surprisingly low mileage cars.

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Hi Eamonn,

I'd say about €3,500. A little more if it's the D5 diesel version, but it's not the most beloved Volvo model and was unfashionable at the time because it was stuck with engines of 2.0-litre capacity and more.

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Hi Jay,

Well, that's pretty much all you'll ever see at a taxi rank in Berlin or Munich so draw your own conclusions. Just watch the 2002 - 2010 E-Class like a hawk. They were pretty shoddily built my Merc standards and developed a lot of electrical, braking and transmission problems.

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Hi Blaithin,

In my personal experience the most efficient car I've ever driven was the Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion - it easily averages better than 60mpg in everyday driving and I'm not the most economical of drivers. €20k should get you a nicely specced 2010 or 2011 model.

How does that sound?

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Hi Paul,

Yes! And I'm not just saying that because I own a 2009 one... MINIs are generally pretty well made and reliable, just watch the 1.6 diesel engine for problems with the turbo and the injectors, and check the cabin carefully for signs of abuse or wear and tear. Clubmans are prone to developing an annoying rattle in the little 'ClubDoor' behind the driver's door, but there doesn't seem to be an easy cure for it. If the car cuts out under hard acceleration, check the diesel filter; it can clog and cause fuel starvation.

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Hi Ashasan,

I'm presuming you mean the 407 Solaire. They're better made than you might think. There are some issues with the 1.6 HDi engine though, including a sticking exhaust gas recirculation valve, sticky throttles and faulty injectors. Blown turbos have been known as well, but they're rarer. Cabins are better made than the French car norm, so if it's a bag of rattles, suspect that it's been in an impact. Many 407s will be ex-fleet cars, which is a good thing - it means that they will have been serviced on the button for the first few years.

Hope that helps

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Hi Patrick,

The Stepway gains some SUV-like styling and a 4cm higher ride height over the conventional Sandero, so it's a little bit more bouncy on rougher roads as a result, and it will roll a bit more in bends over its relation. That's a hyper critical road tester's view though, as the soft, comfort-biased suspension is fine at nornal speeds.

The SUV-look suits it, really smartens it up and makes it stand out, though the trade off for this - thanks largely to the addition of those roof bars - is an appreciable increase in wind noise at speed. That's fine unless you're doing lots of motorway miles in it.

Rear legroom isn't overly generous, while the trim and materials are all fairly uninspiring, though robust. The diesel isn't very refined, but should return excellent economy, the petrol three-cylinder engine is more willing and more refined, but less economical.

All in I rather liked it though, good honest transport.

You can read my colleague Neil's Irish road test of the Dacia Sandero Stepway here.

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Hi Alan,

Electric Ireland charges a standard 19.28 cent per kWh as of Jan 20th 2014, according to moneyguideireland.ie. Other suppliers charge more or less the same although there can be a variation of up to 3c per kWh. 

In terms of what is charged to charge an electric car, the energy companies make no distinction. The plug points are downstream of your electricity meter so it's counted as the same juice that goes into your fridge, dishwasher or vacuum cleaner.

The total amount of tax charged on your kWh amounts to about 11 per cent, including both VAT and Carbon Tax, according to Sustainable Energy Ireland. 

So, why is this so much lower in tax terms than the 50-odd per cent levied by various charges on pump fuel? Simple: expediency. On the one hand, the Government must be seen to be encouraging the use and development of electric motoring. On the other, there is currently no simple and reliable way to distinguish between electricity being pumped into your car's batteries and what's being used to light, heat and wash.

That said, you can sadly and safely expect that to change, rapidly, if electric car sales ever take off in a big way. The Government has been very careful and canny about making sure that improving vehicle economy hasn't eroded it's annual €1 billion+ tax take from petrol and diesel sales, so if battery cars start eating significantly into that, expect some form of battery levy or electron tax to be enabled tout suite.

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Hi Glenn,

Assuming you mean the 90hp model, then the official fuel economy was 64.2mpg on the combined cycle.