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Hi Diarmuid,

On the site we have a full test of the XF Sportbrake estate here, powered by the diesel engine. I never added in the average economy figure as my driving that week was mostly in an urban setting. For the record, it used about 9.0 litres/100km (31.4mpg). It should do a lot better on the motorway.

Is that of help?

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Hi Patsy,

BMW offers three different diesel engines with xDrive four-wheel drive in the X3, the xDrive20d, xDrive30d and xDrive35d. The xDrive20d can be had with a manual or automatic gearbox and the official figure is 50.4mpg (5.6 litres/100km) no matter which transmission is fitted. The xDrive30d and xDrive35d are only available with automatic gearboxes and the official fuel economy figures are 47.1mpg and 46.3mpg respectively (6.0- and 6.1 litres/100km).

Those figures won't be obtainable in the real-world, obviously! We spent time with the xDrive20d during snowy conditions a few years back (read the full review here) and averaged 34mpg (8.3 litres/100km), though in normal conditions it should do a lot better than that. We also tested the xDrive30d (read that full review here), though apologies, but I didn't record the average fuel consumption figure at the time...

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Hi Martin,

You're in an enviable position and, before going into more detail, we'd be very happy with any of those cars as an ownership proposition.

Personally, I'd be sorely tempted by the Evoque. There are plenty of colour and wheel options to change its appearance to your liking, it's much more of an occasion inside and it drives like a hot hatch (the chassis is very much road-biased, though it does well enough off-road when needed). Admittedly, certain versions of the BMW and Audi may be more economical, but I'd look at it very closely.

When the current BMW X3 came out it really took a leap forward from its predecessor in terms of comfort, quality and refinement, but between that and the Audi Q5 I may too be swayed by the fact that the Audi has had a more recent update. I also prefer how the Q5 looks. There's very little between them depending on which engines you're looking at.

The best advice is to go test drive each car for as long as possible, paying close attention to the specifications of the test cars.

In terms of automatic gearboxes, unless you're looking at a petrol Q5 (which I doubt!) or the high-performance SQ5 TDI model (fantastic) then the only option is the dual-clutch S-Tronic unit. This helps with efficiency and allows the driver more control when he wants it, but is not as smooth as a traditional torque converter gearbox, as fitted to the Evoque and BMW. They're both smooth systems, but the eight-speed item in the BMW is the most impressive, managing to minimise fuel consumption increases.

Hopefully that's of help, but come back to us if you need more

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Hi Patrick,

I've always had a bit of a soft-spot for the current C5. No, it's not as sharp to drive as a Mondeo or Passat, but it's a lovely, comfy car with tremendous long-haul refinement. Pick of the bunch is the 1.6 HDi diesel model and you should get an easy 50mpg out of it.

As for faults, check for a chuffing sound from the engine when it's running, as that could indicate that the fuel injectors are in need of replacing. Make sure it's had a cambelt change and watch for diesel particulate filter warning lights, which indicate that it needs a good long run at high engine speed to burn the collected diesel soot out of the filter. Suspension problems are quite common - usually worn ball-joints or bushes. Other than that, they're pretty solid.

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Hi Frank,

The new-shape BMW 5 Series is a fabulous car, especially if it has the right equipment, such as a leather interior, etc. The 520d is nothing short of fantastic when new, though we've heard reports that this 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine can have expensive problems as it gets older - especially if oil maintenance is not adhered to strictly. If the one you're looking at has a detailed service history then there's less worry.

However, if you do very small mileage we'd question why you're going for a diesel car at all. The fuel economy might be tempting, but you should look around and see what petrol models you can get for your money too, as modern petrol engines are improving in terms of fuel economy and emissions - and they're generally cheaper to buy and maintain. They're also quieter and far better suited to low mileage use.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi Martina,

It's been a while since we drove the Volkswagen Golf Plus in truth, and bear in mind that the one that's on sale right now is based on the previous generation Golf. However, while it's usefully more spacious than the Golf itself, it's not the most practical or versatile car for the money. Nonetheless, it does everything well and that 1.6-litre TDI diesel engine is great. It's relatively quiet and refined, while having plenty of performance. It also is cheap to tax and fuel.

Let us know if you'd like alternative suggestions for your money.

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Hi Donal,

The Discovery is one of our very favourite cars, especially for the way it can carry seven full-sized adults in luxury-car comfort down the motorway. With big mileage like that though you will be rocking up the fuel bills, as a 2.7-litre V6 diesel Disco will only get about 29mpg in normal driving conditions. That said, you won't get any better from any of its rivals, so there you go.

As for reliability, Land Rover has come on in leaps and bounds in this respect recently, but there's no getting away from the fact that its vehicles tend to be more fragile than the Japanese competition. Small electrical niggles are the most likely problems but both the gearboxes and the air suspension can give problems too and those are rather more serious issues. The V6 diesel engine is pretty solid though.

It would be worth checking out both a Toyota Land Cruiser and Mitsubishi Pajero too, but while both of those would be more likely to have better reliability, neither can hold a candle to the Disco's on-road refinement and comfort.

Let us know which way you go

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Hi Thomas,

It seems to be a bit all or nothing with the Voyager and reliability. Some owners skate through life with nary a problem, others have no end of hassle. The primary issues seem to be electrical, including wiper motors, ignition systems, fuel pump controls and electric tailgates and sliding doors. The interior is also pretty fragile in places, and items such as interior lights and instrument lighting can give trouble, as can the radio systems. 

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Hi Saz,

If you're buying something that old, a lot of the potential fuel consumption is going to be down to the condition of the car and how badly worn the engine is. On that basis, I'd suggest you hunt around for a late nineties, early 2000s Suzuki Alto 1.0. They're as close to indestructible as any car can get to and the dinky little 1.0-litre engine should return mid-forties MPG, even around town. Again though, if you're looking to maximise economy, make sure it's serviced, make sure it gets a good high-grade engine oil and some decent tyres. There's nothing like good maintenance for driving your fuel bills down.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi James,

The official fuel test rating for that model of Civic (it is a Civic you're talking about, right?) was 44mpg, but in daily use we'd expect you'd get closer to 35mpg, especially if you're using it in town a lot. 

As for reliability, generally Honda is one of the best car makers when it comes to longevity and solidity, but we have heard tales of this generation of Civic eating its way swiftly through brake pads and discs and there are the usual minor electrical maladies to check for too. We have also heard of suspension wear and tear issues, but those don't seem to be widespread.

Hope that helps