Talk to me about your small cars

[Icedlatteplease]

I'm was very much in love with my old but very economic, paid for outright medium sized sensible family car. I always thought i would drive it into the ground then buy electric in 5 to 10 years time

However it developed engine problems recently and has been stuck in various garages for the best part of three weeks while they fail to work out what's wrong.

I've been borrowing other cars from family and suddenly I have cold feet. I might have realised that maybe the grass is greener and when it is finally fixed it might be time for a change.

I have recently driven a small beautiful 20 year old still very nippy Toyota yaris and a way too large skoda fabia which frankly is all style and no substance. However it does have a very comfortable driving position which given I have a significant back injury that refuses to go away has been an absolute revelation. And I like the blue tooth connectivity.

So recommend me a small car.

I like them small and economic but still comfortable enough for two adults in the back. Must be an auto and properly adjustable driving seat/stearing wheel. A decent ncap safety rating is high up the list too. I'm unlikely to buy new on principle but its not entirely inconceivable. I have good credit and a small amount of savings so have a range of finance options for the right car. But it must be the right car

Any suggestions as to what I should be looking at?

That is incredibly reassuring. How old is your jazz?

So do I. 64 plate, no central locking, handle to wind down the windows. Had it for 4 years and the only cost was to change the tyres.

I like small cars, had a Panda, a Mini One and now have a Yaris. Loved them all, the Mini was my favourite to drive, felt more solid than the other 2 but the boot is better on the Yaris - the Panda had a small boot but very efficient because it's very square so you can use all of it, no funny corners if it makes sense.
The back seat of the Yaris is fine, I often carry 3 teenagers on mine - I am sure one of my daughter's friends is about 6ft. All very economic too, mine are manual but all in the 40+ mpg range (the mini closer to the 40 mark, the yaris closer to 50) - not sure how that translates into auto cars.

We have a VW Polo. DH is 6’4 and before we moved used to 3 other men to work in it on a lift share basis. DS2, 6’5, has one too, DDIL has an Audi A1 which is built on the same chassis, and they can fit friends in the back easily.

We’ve got MIL’s Honda Jazz here to sell. It’s a very roomy little thing tbf. DH drove it up the motorway and said the automatic gearbox, he’s fussy about them, was very good.

You need a Hyundai in your life!

I’ve had an i10 and an i20 and they are lovely cars to drive, surprisingly roomy inside and not too expensive. Nice interiors too.

I'm loving thus I'm getting so much good info.

Jazz, ibiza and toyota owners, please tell me about lumber support for driver, is the steering column adjustable?

Nope hyundai out on Ncaps. I could have a hyundai in my life but I wouldn’t want to crash in it

I have a feeling I would end up buying a Honda over polo on price. Is the polo much nicer?

You people are encouraging my love of toyotas and hondas!!

Totally agree. I drive a Mazda 3 and love it to bits. But the road tax is at the high end.

Love my Suzuki Swift. Second one I’ve had. I passed the first on to DH and he reluctantly swapped it after a further 5 years, for a Suzuki Vitara, cos he needed a bigger boot for the dogs
I tend to buy top of the range small cars, rather than spend the same money on a mid range medium car.

I love my yaris. It's hybrid & really economical, would recommend to anyone but it's an automatic which I know some people don't like.

Definitely look at the Seat Ibiza. We have one. Very economical to run. You’re clearly more knowledgeable about cars than I am but it might tick your boxes. Never had a problem with ours and we’ve had it for nearly 5 years (it’s nearly 7 now). Ours is a more basic spec so has Bluetooth but no parking sensors, but I’m sure you can get fancier versions.

It definitely would sit two adults in the back - ours has three seatbelts - but if any of the adults you transport regularly are tall, I’d get them to come with you on a test drive. Our younger DC is still in an extended rear facing seat which doesn’t leave a lot of room for the front passenger. DH is only 5’8” so it’s ok but it wouldn’t be the right car for a family of 6 foot plus people.

Sorry, posted too soon. It doesn’t feel like a tiny car and had a bigger boot than a Yaris at the time we bought it. I think it’s a good size and does what it does well.

Ford Fiesta! Good fun to drive, and economical to run and repair. Sadly, they've just stopped making them, but there are loads of second-hand ones around. I'm on my second!

I have a Toyota CH-R hybrid. It’s petrol but partially electric. It’s very economical and on some short journeys I can get up to 99 mph . They do the Yaris Cross now too which is also hybrid and might be even more economical.

I've got a 5 year old Yaris hybrid, I love it! Would recommend, it feels huge inside, have 6'2" plus height DS & DP both are comfy in the back

We downsized to a toyota yaris cross. We loved the yaris but it was too small in the back & boot (got to fit 2 kids in) and the cross was great. Excellent fuel economy, decent space, hybrid so they're all automatic and I with it being a 'compact suv' it's slightly higher than the yaris so should be better getting in and out of for your back.
Have also had 2 mazdas and loved them. Also had a hyundai which I hated with a passion. What can I say, I'm a japanese car kinda girl 😂

And my DP has Honda Jazz, which he loves, especially fold up back seats

You made me laugh with the old person comments. I love old people cars, usually, however....

I live in an old person area. We used to have lots of low milage jazz' because the only dealership Was a Honda. Its recently turned hyundai and we are starting to see the hyundai's hit the second hand market.

I'm absolutely cursing!!

That’s great to know. Makes decisions easier to have personal review 🙂

The polo is slightly sturdier than the jazz. The quality of the plastics slightly better, the metal slightly less likely to dink.
both mechanically brilliant little cars, I prefer the driving position of the polo and I think the polo feels a little more plush, the jazz is more practical in its approach. It’s a personal preference.

I have a wee corsa and love it. I had a fiesta before and both quite cheap to run and fix xx

I've had a Yaris and an Aygo and they're both good cars, I've got a Hyundai i10 now which is also great.

I love a small car.

@ReignOfError - the road tax on our 2018 Mazda3 is much lower than our 2008 Vectra and it has much better petrol consumption, so I take that as a win

I'm still lisses off at Mazda for not doing an electric car with a decent range Their so called reasoning for this is that most people use them only for short trips and seem to assume that you'll have a different car for longer trips - which to me seems the opposite of "sustainable"