Small Family | Motornet.ie

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Small Family

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

The Best

OUR PICK

Ford Focus
The Focus leads the class in terms of handling and refinement and boasts better build quality and space than most of its competition, too.

Irish range has been expanded to seven engine choices spanning four body-styles and six trim levels so most buyers will be happy.

Avoid the non air-conditioned €19,455 Freedom and €20,420 LX models and opt for the €21,825 1.4-litre Zetec with A/C, alloys and a leather wheel if you can afford it.

1.6-litre offers you an extra 20 bhp for a grand more.

The fine 115 bhp 1.6-litre TI-VCT is only available in Ghia and Titanium models, while 109 bhp 1.6-litre TDCi is limited to the LX (no A/C) or Ghia trim levels, which is a shame because it’s the best engine on offer.

The handsome saloon and estate models are also unavailable in Zetec trim level so either buy the Ghia or don’t bother.

Lack of air-conditioning will limit trade-in appeal and make you pong in the meantime.

Sporty ST model is a superb machine and reasonably good value at €35,385, fully loaded, while bio-fuel FFV engine is available in LX trim only.

Skoda Octavia
The Octavia used to be the poor man’s Bora but now it’s the smart man’s Jetta as the Octavia piles on the equipment while keeping the price affordable.

It’s basically an all-new Jetta underneath so you get the same massive boot with extra hatchback practicality.

It’s also a dashing looker with a quality finish inside and out.

Handling is reasonably fun, too, and with Skoda’s image is on the up - resale values should remain strong also.

The €19,315 75 bhp 1.4-litre Ambient model with remote locking, power windows and foglights is a great buy, although the 1.4 struggles with the weight, so the best model is the 1.6 Elegance, which offers 102 bhp, climate control, alloy wheels, a leather steering wheel and more for just €22,770.

Diesels are excellent - they’re not worth the extra unless you cover a lot of miles or someone else is paying

The 105 bhp 1.9 TDi Elegance (only model with essential A/C) is three grand more than 102 bhp 1.6 Elegance.

Honda Civic
All-new Civic is staggeringly funky compared to the excellent but dreary old model.

The futuristic dashboard, ultra-modern engines, superb quality and fine dynamics means the new Civic easily earns its spot on our top five.

The entry-level SE price jumps a whopping five grand to €22,825 though the new car features climate control, steering wheel audio controls, a six-speed manual, four electric windows, remote locking, stability control and curtain airbags.

The 83 bhp 1.4-litre engine is down 7 bhp and is 2.6 seconds slower to 100 km/h than the old model (14.2 vs 11.6), but it is more economical at 5.9l/100 km.

An extra €1,800 buys you a 140 bhp 1.8-litre SE-S that comes with alloy wheels, foglights, rear disc brakes and an alarm.

The 1.8-litre Civic can hit 100 km/h in just 8.2 seconds while still managing 6.4 l/100 km.

The saloon starts at €25,755 in SE-S spec with the 1.8-litre engine only.

Diesel and Type R are on the way, also.

Opel Astra
For the first time in ages, Opel’s small family hatch is not only competitive, it’s a potential class leader.

All drive with vigour and they look great too, especially the 3-door sport-hatch.

The interior is better than any Opel in recent memory also though it’s the fine chassis that has everyone talking.

Entry-level ‘Life’ models don’t have A/C so our favourite is the €22,195 ‘Club’ model with a peppy 90 bhp 1.4-litre engine, air-conditioning and plenty of equipment.

1.4-litre SXi is the young driver’s choice with a leather wheel, 16-inch alloys and air-con for €23,095.

The 105 bhp 1.6-litre isn’t really worth the extra €1,300 and while the 1.7 CDTi diesels are good they’re also overpriced.

New 1.3 CDTi is also worth a look at €22,650 in Life trim or €24,450 in air-conditioned Club trim.

The 90 bhp 1.3-litre turbo diesel has the same performance as the 1.4 petrol but manages 4.8 l/100 km versus the 1.4’s 6.3l/100 km.

€30k buys you the rapid 150 bhp 1.9-litre CDTi but performance junkies will want the €35,995, 240 bhp OPC version.

Estate version is also on sale, with a Convertible model expected in 2007.

Citroen C4
Citroen is back on form with its new C4.

The C4 boasts wonderfully original styling which, along with some clever and useful innovations, signals a return to form for the French carmaker, once revered as a design and technological pioneer.

Note the transparent floating speedo and fixed steering wheel boss as signs of Citroen’s re-emergence as a free thinker.

For the young Irish buyer, the 1.4 VTR is tough to beat.

Gorgeous 3-door body style, 16-inch alloys, air-con, leather wheel, cruise control and a trip computer all for a spanking €21,900.

€300 more buys the elegant 5-door SX model that’s just as well equipped.

There are cheaper models but without air-con they’ll be more difficult to sell.

92 bhp 1.6 HDi models start at €23,600 but €1.900 more gets you the SX with A/C and alloys.

The 110 bhp, 1.6-litre VTS is also great value at €24,250 complete with 17-inch alloy wheels, rain-sensing wipers etc.

180-bhp, 2.0-litre VTS is great value at €31,700 but it’s off the pace compared to turbo-charged rivals from Opel, Ford and VW.

The Rest

VW Golf – The Golf’s a class act but the VW’s appeal is waning in light of quality issues and miserly equipment. A/C is €2,500 option on €35k GTi. Scandalous.

Mercedes B-Class – New B-Class is an appealing car but it’s eye-wateringly expensive. €28k entry-level B150 has hubcaps and A/C is €1,500 more.

Mazda3 – Closely related to the Focus and a great car to drive, but range is limited and the saloon is ungainly.

Peugeot 307 – Recently face-lifted but mechanically little has changed. Fine handling but build can be dodgy and rear is cramped. Looks a little ungainly, too.

Seat Leon – Funky hatch that’s almost a small MPV, which is confusing because Seat also has a small MPV. Handling, space, quality up to par, though.

Volvo S40/V50 – Based on the Focus platform but funky dash aside it’s no better and hardly worth the massive premium. Great car, but too expensive.

Toyota Corolla – It’s your basic box with wheels, the Corolla. Utterly reliable if completely devoid of passion. Equipment and pricing is improving, though.

BMW 1-Series – Sweet car with balanced rear-drive handling but eye-wateringly expensive and not exactly dripping with equipment. For badge slaves only.

Audi A3 – Handsome and likeable Golf derivative with fancy badge. Golf is almost as prestigious and much better value, though.

Renault Megane – Recent facelift makes it look even better and 5-Star safety are hard to ignore but handling is so-so and build quality is patchy.

VW Jetta – Handsome Golf-with-a-boot revives old name and original car’s spirit. Spacious rear with huge boot as much as any family could need.

Avoid

Toyota Prius – Inexplicably popular Prius is expensive and not as cheap to run as you might think. Buy a diesel car to save cash or a bike if you want to save the planet.

Seat Toledo – We like the Leon but quite why it needed an extra few inches of ugly boot we can’t fathom.

VW Beetle – Recently revised, but still more expensive, worse handling, with few doors and less space than a Golf. Pointless.

Subaru Impreza – Facelifted again but it’s too little too late. 4X4 and 1.6-litre engines only, and it’s also tinny and under-equipped unless you go for performance models.

Suzuki Liana – Mawkish Suzuki is dire to drive and has little to recommend it beyond being very, very cheap.

Alfa 147 – Too old and too overpriced now. Newer cars do it better and cheaper so don’t even bother looking.

Fiat Stilo – Fiat has tried hard to sell the Stilo but air-con and discounts can’t hide stodgy dynamics, questionable quality and dreary looks.

Kia Cerato – Bland Korean with miserable engine range and inexplicably high prices. Not a sound investment.

Nissan Almera – Middle of the road offering when it was new and the years have not been kind. New one arrives before you trade this one. Avoid.

Chevrolet Lacetti – In this competitive market the re-badged Daewoo is off the pace. So-so car with tricky resale and blurry image.

Mitsubishi Lancer – Hard to believe the world’s maddest car, the Evo IX, is based on this dreary offering. It dies soon so avoid it.