Expert answer

Hi there,

Generally speaking SsangYongs are very reliable, not least because the older models tend towards the crude and simple end of the scale. On the Actyon just keep an eye out for sticking transmissions (or lumpy changes if it's an auto) and fragile cabin trim. Oh, and for a diesel car it's not very fuel efficient - you'll be lucky to break 30mpg in daily driving.

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Hi Paul,

It could be down to a number of factors, but excessive fuel consumption can usually be traced to a few specific areas:

Are the tyre pressures correct all round? Tyres that are under pressure can seriously increase your fuel consumption.

Are you using a roof rack or roof box, or are you constantly carrying around heavy loads in the boot?

Has the engine been serviced recently?

Finally, there’s your own driving style, which is often the bigger contributing factor to fuel consumption. If you’re trying to save fuel, try accelerating a little more gently, anticipating the traffic flow a little further ahead, backing off earlier and not idling the engine when standing still for long periods.

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Hi Jackie,

It should be pretty solid, although if it’s the 1.9 TDI diesel then they can suffer from fuel injection and air mass sensor issues. Also, with a car of that age, you’ll need to check everything (literally everything) to make sure it’s working OK. If it’s in good condition and comes with a full service history though, then it should be fine.

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Hi Sean,

Volvos tend to be built pretty tough, actually and the S40 is based on the second-generation Ford Focus, a car thatwas noted for its reliability, so it's starting from a strong base. There were a couple of recalls involving a potential fuel leak and some issues with the windscreen surround, and the key and remote locking system have been known to give trouble too. The popular 1.6-litre diesel engine can also develop problems with the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve and it needs to be topped up with high-grade oil at service time. Other than that, you shouldn't have any major problems.

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Hi Clo,

Nothing to worry about on the reliability front anyway - we've been trawling the web for Tuscon owners ranting about problems and there just don't seem to be any. The only concern is over the fuel economy, not that it's bad, but it does seem to be inconsistent and it's not helped by the fact that the Tuscon's trip computer is apparently calibrated for US gallons, which can make for inaccurate read-outs. There's also the fact that the Tuscon was designed and built when Hyundai was just on the cusp of its transformation from budget brand to major player, so things like cabin quality and refinement are merely OK, rather than the excellent ratings we tend to give the current Hyundai range.

Hope that helps

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Hi Gerard,

It’s a very good family car from the point of view of safety and comfort, and yes that 1.5-litre diesel is hugely economical (you should see better than 50mpg on a regular basis). You just need to keep a close eye on electrical items such as the central locking, the key-card and the windows and beware of traditionally steep depreciation for large French cars.

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Hi Gerard,

I write this as a former (recovering?) Laguna owner and the best I can tell you is to tread very, very carefully. Admittedly, I owned the previous generation Laguna that was quite simply a reliability disaster and one that cost Renault a fortune in warranty claims. The third-generation car, the one you're looking at, is much better in reliability terms, but still, you need to be suspicious of anything that uses electricity – make sure absolutely everything electrical is working properly and watch it like a hawk to check for failures. The 1.5 dCi engine is actually pretty good, and robust too, and you should pretty easily get high-forties mpg out of it. However, you're going to be on a pretty steep depreciation slope as nothing loses value faster than a big French car. That's fine if you're planning to keep and use it until it dies, but not so good if you're planning to trade-in in a few years. As a family car, it's actually quite good though – spacious and comfy, with a big boot and Renault has an excellent reputation for safety too.

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Hi Jenny,

The X3 18d is a little underpowered right enough. Not disastrously so, but if you’ve tried the 20d you’ll feel the difference and there’s very little in it in terms of fuel consumption. On balance, we’d probably go for the Audi, as it’s (arguably) better looking, has a nicer interior and is smoother and more comfortable to drive. Very reliable too.

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Hi there,

There were two slightly differing versions of the first generation pro_cee'd 1.6 petrol when it comes to CO₂ emissions. The version running on 16-inch alloy wheels records 145g/km, while the one on 17-inch wheels emits 148g/km. It makes no major difference, as both will fall into Band C for motor tax, with an annual bill of €390. In terms of fuel economy, there's also a slight difference, with the 16-inch wheel version doing a claimed 46mpg, while the 17-inch one is slightly worse off at 44mpg. Resale values for these cars seem to be holding up quite well, with asking prices for a 2011 model hovering between €11,000 and €14,000.

Hope that helps

Expert answer

Hi Stella,

OK, the good news is that your Yaris is an in-demand model and values for cars from around that era are holding up well because of the scarcity of new car sales since the financial crash. I'd hope that you'd get around €8,000 for it, but let's play safe and assume you get €7,000 and you can add your €1k to that. That opens up an entire world of MINIs to you, and not just old models - you should be able to get into the second-generation post-2006 model, which is noticeably more refined and well made. I'd suggest trying to track down a nicely specced 1.6 Cooper and enjoy the heck out of it. As a MINI owner myself, I can tell you that they're great fun to drive and not quite as impractical as you might think.

Now, reliability. There's no two ways about it - Toyotas are staggeringly reliable and break very rarely. MINIs aren't bad, not bad at all, but they're just not quite as bank-vault solid as the Japanese car. Buy carefully, make sure you get one with a full and complete service history and you should be fine. Regular servicing isn't too pricey (about €190 for a normal service) and fuel economy should be pretty good too.

Hope that all helps