Please recommend a smallish car

[ifonly4]

Can anyone recommend a smallish car, idealy around Ford Fiesta, Nissan Note, Vauxhall Corsa size. 1.2/1.4 and ideally with key ignitition, ie not all electrics. If you know the precise model that'd be good and any minor problems you've had would be good to know.

We bought a three year old car, have had nothing but problems and now garage are basically advising to get rid of it as it's got a well known problem which ideally need recalling, as well as other issues.

A mini? I love mine and haven't had a problem yet.

I had a Dacia Sandero - absolutely fine and inexpensive.

A fiesta theres a reason it outsells any other car comfortably. They do come with keys but of all the potential problems I've not heard of any to do with keyless entry.

Skoda. We have citigo (v small). Wanted the fabia.

Mazda 2. Absolutely loved mine only reason I changed it was that it was a 3 door and I needed 5 after having DS. No issues with it whatsoever

Kia picanto are cheap and reliable. I got a basic 14 registration recently for £3200.

Jus Rio. 7year warranty as standard. I had mine for 8 years, it was a brilliant car.

Jus Rio. 7year warranty as standard. I had mine for 8 years, it was a brilliant car.

I've got a Hyundai ix20 16 plate and I love it!

In the family we have two Skoda Citygos and a Fabia. Very happy with all of them - good build quality, all bought second hand and still going strong. Haven't had any problems with any of them over a total of about 8 driving years. Recommended!

l've had five Toyota Aygos and l love them. Cheap (to run and insure) and cheerful, nippy and easy to park.
However. l'm seriously considering changing to a Dacia Sandero next month, for one reason only.
The servicing costs are ludicrous. l'd had my latest Aygo for a year in June. lt had less than 3000 miles on the clock. But l had to pay for a yearly (equivalent to 10 or 12k miles) service on what amounted to a virtually new car. Next year it will be a 'big' service (the alternate ones are, so l was told) and will be over £250. lt'll still technically be below the mileage of a first year service.
l can't fault the car, l've loved all of them. But the servicing policy and charges are extortionate. So l'm going to vote with my purse and go elsewhere.

Honda jazz. I think they were awarded most reliable car ever in or something?

Can definitely recommend a Kia picanto. Mine costs £30 to fill the whole tank and is very economical.

Depends what you need. Do you need a 4 door? I have a little Fiat 500
(2 door). It runs cheaply, nice interior, smooth drive, and fits into spaces that other cars have to avoid due to size which is handy in town/multi stories. There are so many around you can pick them up quite cheaply second hand.

Vauxhall Corsa, top of the range (can get 3 yr old model for reasonable price) - it has heated seats, windscreen and steering wheel plus parking sensors (annoying) and car play so you can plug in your phone and have the satnav on the built in screen. Great little car (crap on hills, but you can't have everything).

Thanks so much for your replies. Any other replies still welcome. There's a few models mentioned in replies by garage and a couple that DH was looking at last night as well, so really useful. Any other replies still welcome.

Ideally, we'd want to keep our present car a few years, but from what garage have said it might be best to cut out losses. Need to make a fairly quick decision, but intending to do our research more this time.

I got the Mazda cx3. It's my first grown up car :) keyless though, I think a lot of cars are

I drive a Fiesta and I love it and would highly recommend it. I won't recommend my particular model because it has keyless entry and ignition, but the size, shape, reliability, comfort etc are all great.

My DD drives a Citroen C1 and that's a great small car too.

I wanted a fiesta but couldn't afford it so I got a Ka+ instead. It's v cheap to run, small but still has 5 doors. Enough space for me and my 2DC and luggage for a 2 week holiday.

Kia Rio or picanto. Great cars. Plus if you get approved used it will have 7 year warranty

We’re a small car family so we’ve had a few. Husband had a Yaris for 10 years and loved it. Replaced with a Kia Picanto and hates it - he has never had any major issues with it but loads of minor niggly things. I’m certain he’ll go back to Toyota for his next car - though he might go for the Aygo as the Yaris is now quite a bit bigger.

Likewise, I had a Fiat Panda that I bought when it was 3 years old and kept for 10 years. It was a great little car, economical and better than the Picanto at hills (we live in a hilly place!). Only downside was tax, as it was old, so £120 I think? Husband’s Picanto is zero tax.

I have replaced the Panda with a Mini this year and I absolutely love it, but it’s a much bigger car in comparison. The Panda just fits anywhere - I imagine the Fiat 500 will be similar sized if you prefer something prettier. The Mini is better on fuel economy but I would expect a car 10 years newer to be. Mine has keyless ignition though.

The past few cars I've always have a corsa very reliable. My new one is a Vauxhall viva, it's cheap to run and I sure, and is low tax.

Skoda fabia, insanely reliable and fairly cheap to run.

Seat Ibiza! Ours is a 2016 1 litre engine with key ignition. We've been very happy with it so far.