Expert answer

Hi Aine,

CLA for my money. The GLA is nice, and obviously a bit more practical, but it doesn't feel special enough to justify the price tag. 

The CLA on the other hand looks terrific and is really sweet to drive. The small diesel engine is fine - not the quickest ever or anything but it'll do and a realistic 65mpg will make up for any straight-line deficiencies.

One thing - make sure you spec the smallest wheels and the tyres with the deepest possible sidewalls. The CLA rides pretty hard and big wheels with low profile tyres make it really uncomfortable.

Further reading:

Review of the Mercedes-Benz CLA (on Irish roads)

Review of the Mercedes-Benz GLA (on Irish roads)

Expert answer

Hi Simon,

Both are excellent choices. In fact the RAV4 probably doesn't quite get the attention it deserves - it's good to drive, spacious and well made. Good value too. 

That said I think I'd go for the CR-V. The 1.6 i-DTEC front-drive model would probably be sufficient. It's very spacious, really comfy and good on economy too. There is a new four-wheel drive 1.6 160hp version on the way though, so it may be worth waiting until that arrives in the summer before you make a final decision.

Further reading:

Irish road test of the Toyota RAV4

Irish road test of the Honda CR-V 1.6 i-DTEC

Expert answer

Hi James,

Yup, very. No reported common faults as yet and almost all of them will still be under warranty even if something does crop up. A cracking little car.

You can read our road test of the latest Hyundai i10 here

Expert answer

Hi there,

Easy: Golf. Or Focus. They're both good. 

Need a little more? OK, the Golf (and I'm talking about the models currently on sale) is a touch more sophisticated and a little more spacious and if you're really nit picking then it has a better 1.6 diesel than the Focus.

It's also true to say that the Volkswagen 1.2 TSI petrol is a slightly better engine than Ford's 1.0-litre turbo EcoBoost, but here the gap is much narrower. 

The Focus has it won with dynamics though - even though the Golf is nice to drive there's just no beating the Focus' steering feel and response and its chassis balance. 

So, honest answer? Golf. Or Focus. They're both excellent.

Further reading:

First drive of the new Ford Focus

Irish road test of the current Volkswagen Golf

Expert answer

Hi Tom,

It really does depend on what you mean by 'better'. The 1.5 has been around a long time so the 1.6 is more refined and more powerful, but the 1.5 is still more economical and emits less CO₂, so it's cheaper to tax. On top of all that the 1.5 is €1,500 cheaper. Our money would be on the old engine unless you value performance highly or you expect to do a lot of towing.

Further reading:

Irish road test of the current Nissan Qashqai 1.5 dCi

First drive of the 1.6-litre engine - in the old-shape Nissan Qashqai

Expert answer

Hi George,

I would tread very, very carefully indeed. The engine can be a big trouble spot with dodgy turbos and inconsistent power delivery. Watch for  excessive smoke (black or white), check the oil carefully and if it shows even the slightest sign of overheating, head for the exit.

Clutches can go pretty easily, so make sure the gearshift is working alright, and everything electrical is to be assumed broken until proven otherwise. They eat tyres too, and uneven wear is a sign of impending suspension doom. Also, a lot of Espaces tend to get used as ersatz delivery vans when they get past a certain age and price point so check carefully for signs of wear and tear in the cabin.

Basically, you should probably avoid it and track down a similar vintage Volkswagen Sharan or Hyundai Trajet instead.

Expert answer

Hi Margaret,

Yup, plenty strong enough. So much so that the first time I drove it I thought that I was driving the diesel. In fairness, it was late and I was tired but it's still a cracking engine, potentially Volkswagen's current best.

Expert answer

Hi there,

I'm afraid to say it's very, very unlikely to be anything wrong with the NCT's equipment - Renaults of that era were not, ahem, the most robustly built vehicles and suspension issues with them were more or less endemic. 

That said, if you've replaced the shocks already and the problem has reoccurred then there may be another issue. Perhaps the mounting points are at fault and are allowing too much energy up into the shock, causing it to wear prematurely? I think a thorough diagnostic visit to your nearest Renault dealer might be in order.

Expert answer

Hi Conor,

Hmmm. Tough one. I'd always be tempted by the younger car, and if it's the 1.6-litre diesel Passat then there's a good chance you'll never have to refill the tank - I once did Galway-Dublin-Glasgow-Dublin-Galway-Dublin on a single tank of juice in one.

That said, the Audi would be hugely tempting and while there's really no fundamental difference between the too (you are paying extra for the badge and not much else really) there's no denying the extra feel good factor of the A6.

All things being equal then, and assuming both cars come with and equally full service history, I'd be minded to treat yourself and go for the Audi. 

Further reading:

First Irish drive of the new Volkswagen Passat

Expert answer

Hi Mary,

Hmmm. Tough choice. Please note that the following is based purely on personal taste and other opinions are available. They're wrong, but they're available...

1. Honda CR-V: Not the glamorous choice but it's massively spacious, comfy, well made and frugal. Might be worth waiting for the new 150hp 1.6 diesel which arrives later this year - alongside a facelift.

2. Audi Q5: Super-slick, nice to drive and has a cracking 2.0 TDI diesel engine. 

3. Mitsubishi Outlander: Referring specifically to the PHEV plugin hybrid, it's the most cost-effective and practical way of going (partially) electric and it's hugely clever. 

4. Hyundai Santa Fe: Stylish, spacious and affordable plus it has a five-year warranty. Hard to beat, really. 

5. BMW X3: It's a sight better looking than the original X3 but it's still quite stiff-riding and it's not as nice to drive as the Q5.

6. Subaru Forester: Not pretty and it has a terrible cabin (all cheap plastics and ancient-looking displays) but it's probably the most ruggedly reliable car here and has genuine off-road ability. 

Further reading:

Road test of the Honda CR-V 1.6 i-DTEC

First Irish drive of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

Road test of the Hyundai Santa Fe

Road test of the Subaru Forester