Please can you recommend a decent small used car

[Starbrites]

Hi, I need to buy a decent small used car and I'm not entirely sure what I need to be looking for. I wondered if you'd be good enough to give me some suggestions? I need something fairly small but that will be good on motorways. I will be doing approx 13,000 per annum. I'd like something cheap on insurance, cheap on road tax, cheap on petrol but is a good, reliable car that will last me a good few years. Thank you.

Celerio*

I drove corsas for years and loved them. Only changed when I needed bigger

I'd look at Toyota Yaris too. Or Mazda 2.

The Kia Rio is quite refined on the motorway, it's a bit like a Polo in that regard (except probably a bit cheaper).

18 year old Yaris is still going strong here.

We just got a three year old Toyota Aygo and I really like it. Yaris also great but bigger and this more expensive.

We just scrapped a Hyundai i10 and it was the worst car I have owned, soooo many issues (ate oil, alternator, gearbox, engine light, fanbelt,.). but people like them so maybe we were unlucky

Another Ford Fiesta fan here - am on my second 2nd-hand one. Cheap to run and service/repair, and actually quite fun to drive. Solid enough on motorways so you don't feel buffeted around by lorries and so on. My current one is an 'eco-boost" - which means it has such an efficient engine that I don't have to pay any road tax.

I recently sold my very trusty VW polo. I had it almost 6 years and had no issues whatsoever with it, over the years I replaced the battery (it still had the original one and was a 57 plate) and did many motorway journeys in it. Such a reliable little car, VWs are ace.

We have a Seat Ibiza and would really recommend it. Very economical with fuel. We also looked at Ford Fiesta, Ford Focus (bit too pricey for us) and Toyota Yaris (smaller boot than a Seat Ibiza). We dismissed Kia Rio as I didn’t like the feel of it, and weren’t able to look at a Hyundai i10 or i20 locally.

You’ll find most small cars don’t have amazing acceleration but in my experience something like a Seat Ibiza, Ford Fiesta or Toyota Yaris is more than capable of handling the motorway. What I would avoid is the size below this, so Toyota Aygo, Seat Mii, that sort of size. They are definitely more town cars in my (admittedly limited) experience.

I've recently bought a Hyundai i10 also. It's fab, really happy with it. Even though it is a smaller car it's very comfortable inside and has a decent boot space. Would definitely recommend.

Another vote for Ford Fiesta, bought mine new twenty two years ago, gave it in turn to 2 grandchildren, till they got their own wheels, will go to the 3rd when he passes his test. Never a major problem with it. Great little cars.

Agree on not getting a Fiat 500 - they score really badly on which for crash protection. We’re getting a bigger car now but I’d recommend the Yaris too - family member had one that was reliable for about 12 years!

DM has just got a VW Up! which I've been really impressed with.

Hers is only a 1 litre which coped well enough on the motorway, but is at its absolute limit at 70mph. It's fine for her as she only does about 2000 miles a year, but I think I would look at a slightly larger engine if I was going to be using it more regularly.

Toyota Yaris...they are little warhorses

I have a Ford Cmax, my model is a medium size but it is efficient on fuel (diesel) and £30 per year tax

Came to recommend the Hyundai i10 too, love mine been going strong since I bought it way back in 2010!

I have a VW polo which I love. Decent on fuel and absolutely fine on motorways, mine is a 1.2 2014. Had a new battery and new window regulator and that's about it

Skoda Citigo/VW Up/Seat Mii - all the same car with different badges.

Lovely to drive and Drivers surveys put the CitiGo at 100% as in none of the drivers surveyed had ever had anything go wrong with it.

There are two 1 litre engines, one is slightly more powerful than the other. We have the normal one though and it's fine on the motorway.

DS has driven over 360 miles (including nearly 300 miles of motorway) in one of ours. I filled up the tank (£40 from light on) and i've still not got to the light coming on again.

Honda or Toyota.

Ford ka. Cheap as chips and a great little car 20 pound road tax

Thank you all so much for all your advice and recommendations. I've noted down all of your suggestions and am going to have a look on Autotrader. I do like the sound of the Hyundai i10.

Just to add, my fil works with cars so I get good advice on what to steer clear of. I was given the go ahead on the Hyundai i10 and he really knows his stuff so I'm pretty confident I've made a good purchase. It really is lovely.

Ford KA. You can only get used ones now. They are generally around £30 to tax (new model) and they mostly fall into a low insurance group. They're decent on motorways, too. My DM used to call them "pocket rockets".

I have a 5 door Toyota Aygo, tax free, get just under 60 to the gallon, zip up and down the motorway with no problem. Plan to keep it til it dies a death.
Also had it 3 years, other than tyre change it's not needed ay work on it yet

I took my Toyota Aygo on the M1 on Sunday (only for three junctions) and it was fine, did 75mph no bother. Yes, I imagine it won't hit 00mph but that's a good thing. I love it :)

Countryman