Car band - which are more reliable and not ridiculously expensive?

[Carscarscars]

In the market for a new car. What are decent car brands i should look at? So far i’ve looked at Ford, Vauxhall, Kia…

not interested in Citroën, Peugeot, VW, BMW, Audi or mini’s for various reasons, including price!

must haves:

• 5 doors
• heated windscreen
• manual
• enough boot space to fit an average sized pram
• comfortable enough/big enough for 2 kids/2 adults but doesn’t have to be a huge 4x4

What car or brand of car would you recommend or not recommend?

What kind of budget do you have in mind?

Mazda! Built by Ford in the UK and use a lot of the same bits, but with Japanese tech so a bit ahead of the Ford equivalent. I love mine!

would be helpful if I wrote that! Around 16K for a second hand, no more than 4/5 years old

We have a Skoda Kamiq that fits the brief.

Ford

Skoda Octavia
Toyota Corolla or Avensis
Kia Sportage / Hyundai Tucson. Basically the same car with slightly different bodywork & interiors. (These are medium sized SUV crossovers, not big SUVs)
Honda Civic
Mazda 3 (conventional hatchback) or CX-3 (SUV crossover). Same car, different bodywork.

Skoda Karoq or Kamiq
Mazda3 CX3

Skoda or SEAT tend to be good value - similar to what was said about Mazda previously

Skoda or Kia would suit your requirements.

You’ll have more options with Ford for a heated windscreen as I think until recently they were the only manufacturer on the market that had them.

Honda and Suzuki are reliable cars.

Kia 100%

Sportage a brilliant option but honestly Kia, very underrated, we've had 4, one new three used and service from Kia has been brilliant everytime. Sadly husband has a work car now and want able to get another Kia but was very surprised how much we liked them and our main priority has been value for money

Currently driving a Ford (smax if you’re interested) I had a load of prestige German cars before it but I’ve had this Ford for years now and I LOVE it. It might not be the most luxurious but it’s the absolute perfect practical family car. Parts/servicing are cheap as chips and (touch wood) it’s super reliable despite having over £100k on the clock. Even my DH (who currently has a Volvo) said to be “why does your car never go wrong?!” I really didn’t think I’d like it as much as I do. It’s old now but I have absolutely no plans to replace it.

Suzuki S-cross or Vitara is worth looking at.
Reliable and well priced.

Oh yes, as someone else has mentioned upthread, the heated windscreen in my Ford is a gift from heaven when you live in the cold frozen north!

There's a reason that so many taxis are Skodas. Good value and reliable.

Ford Focus. Mk4 as the backseat leg room is significantly better than older models. We have the hatchback which is plenty for 4 and a regular pram but you could look at the estate for extra boot space if you felt you needed it.

YY to Skoda Octavia

This. Heated windscreen will massively limit your choices

I have always driven Fords. They are incredibly reliable- the only time I have called out the RAC was for a flat tyre, in over forty years, including eight years driving emergency calls from home as a junior doctor.
My current model is a Focus, which sails through its MOT each year.
There is tons of boot space, plus the rear seats fold flat. I have had a six foot real Xmas tree in it. The back seat takes three adults comfortably.
The front and rear windscreens are both heated, and defrost really quickly - essential, as I live on the edge of the Scottish highlands.
Can’t recommend it highly enough, OP.

Toyota or anything Japanese

We have a Vauxhall Corsa - our third. This one (2019 model) has a heated windscreen and heated front seats, and Apple CarPlay - feel very spoiled! We've driven to France on holiday twice in our old Corsa. 2 adults & 2 kids - one primary school age and one teenager. I imagine other Vauxhalls eg Grandland would have similar features. Reasonably priced to fix anything too as there are so many of them.

Seat Leon.

My Fiesta covers all your points except I doubt it will fit a pram in the boot, you would have to go to a car trader and see if yours fits before seriously looking at them. My old Focus would though. I've loved all my Fiestas and Focus, last a long time and been very reliable.

I'm from a Toyota family... all our Toyotas have taken us to 100000 miles without problems. The Yaris always had a moveable boot, so you can make it bigger to hold a pram, or smaller for more leg room every day. They have served our family of 4 well, including UK caravan type holidays