Expert answer

Hi Tony,

Currently you can buy the following hybrids on the Irish market: Toyota Corolla, CH-R, RAV4, Prius, Yaris, and there are probably a few run-out  examples of the Auris Hybrid out there still in dealerships. There’s also the Kia Niro and the Hyundai Ioniq. There’s the full Lexus range — CT, IS, RC, GS, ES, LS, NX, RX and LC. There’s the Ford Mondeo Hybrid, too. There’s the new Honda CR-V Hybrid, some Mercedes diesel-hybrids and petrol plug-in hybrids, oh and the new AMG 53 six-cylinder mild hybrids.

Suzuki does mild hybrids too — for the Baleno, Swift and Ignis. Then there are the plug-in hybrids — Kia Niro and Hyundai Ioniq again, plus the Volvo XC90 and XC60 T8 models, along with the S90 and V90; the BMW i8, 330e, 530e, X5 40e, 225xe, and the MINI Countryman S E; there’s also the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport plug-ins, the Mitsubishi Outlander, the Volkswagen Golf and Passat GTE, the Audi Q7 e-tron and the Porsche Panamera and Cayenne.

I bet I've forgotten some...

Expert answer

Hi Peter,

Titanium and Zetec are just trim level names and have nothing to do with the engine.

Assuming you're asking about the first-gen Ford S-Max (2006-2015), then here's the lay of the land:

1.6 TDCi diesel: timing belt

1.6 EcoBoost petrol: timing belt

1.8 TDCi diesel: timing belt

2.0 TDCi diesel: timing belt

2.0 petrol (all versions including EcoBoost): timing chain

2.2 TDCi diesel: timing belt

2.3 petrol: timing chain

2.5 petrol: timing belt

Expert answer

Hi Tunde,

Titanium is just a trim level name and has nothing to do with the engine.

Assuming you're asking about the first-gen Ford S-Max (2006-2015), then here's the lay of the land:

1.6 TDCi diesel: timing belt

1.6 EcoBoost petrol: timing belt

1.8 TDCi diesel: timing belt

2.0 TDCi diesel: timing belt

2.0 petrol (all versions including EcoBoost): timing chain

2.2 TDCi diesel: timing belt

2.3 petrol: timing chain

2.5 petrol: timing belt

Expert answer

Hi Peter,

The A16LET engine is a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol unit according to our records, producing 179hp and manufactured from 2009 to 2014. 

If your engine is pre-2010, the recommended change interval is 150,000 kilometres or 10 years, whichever comes first. For engines made after that date, it's still 150,000 kilometres, but the maximum time between changes is six years.

Expert answer

Hi Eimear,

It’s a tricky one and it kind of depends on what age of car you’re looking at. I think with your driving profile and the fact that, as you say, you don’t drive much in town, hybrid may not be right for you. Emphasis on the ‘may.’

If you’re buying a new hybrid, that equation changes a little. The current Toyota Prius, for example, gets an easy 65mpg on the motorway, which is better than I’ve ever got out of any diesel. Ditto the Kia Niro plugin-hybrid. It’s not just new cars either. A few years back I squeezed better economy out of a Lexus GS 300h on a run from Dublin to West Cork and back than I did on the same route, in the same week, with a Ford Mondeo Vignale diesel.

Expert answer

Hi Patrick,

I think if you’re buying new then diesel is still a safe enough bet for the moment. Yes, doubtless, there will be some future restrictions on diesel, either through tax, or tolls, or city centre usage restriction, but as long as the diesel engine in question is the most modern type possible, conforming to the latest Euro6d Temp regulations (as does that of the Mazda6) then it should be fine. If you’re a low-miles driver, and someone who mostly drives in town, then obviously it’s well worth considering a hybrid alternative or, for that matter, Mazda’s rather excellent 2.0-litre petrol engine.

Expert answer

Hi Marlene,

In terms of reliability, I wouldn’t have any worries — Hyundai’s reliability reputation is iron-clad, and besides; if you did have any trouble with it, there’s that five-year, unlimited mileage warranty backing it up. One word of caution though. The Kona’s best engine is the 1.0-litre T-GDi petrol version, which is a sweet engine with good economy and might be a better ownership bet unless you’re doing big miles every year. Alternatively, it’s well worth checking out the new all-electric Kona, which has a really long one-charge range. 

Read all our Hyundai Kona reviews here

Expert answer

Hi Jay,

I'm assuming you have a 2.0 TDCi diesel engine, not one of the 2.0-litre petrol units of that year (they all use timing chains, not belts). If so, then the recommended change interval is at least every 200,000 kilometres or 10 years, whichever comes first.

Expert answer

Hi Johnny,

If you have the first-generation Audi A3 1.6 petrol, then it's likely to be one of two things. The idle speed could be set too low or there's a seal missing from an unused engine bay harness 14-pin multi-plug allowing water in. Both are cheap and easy fixes for any mechanic to carry out.

Naturally, something else could be causing the problem, but these are known issues with that engine.

Expert answer

Hi Bharat,

That car's engine uses a timing chain, which does not usually require scheduled replacement.