Is there a supermini suitable for local use and occasional longer drives?

I would like to buy a small car to get to the train station, do occasional school runs, go into the village, and also, when required, to use as a work car for occasional 270-mile round trips, mainly on the A303 and some motorway. There are so many choices - can you advise any particular direction please? Priorities are safety, preferably four doors, low tax and insurance, though refined enough to do the odd longer journey. Must be less than 4000mm length and easy to park. Mazda 2, Yaris, Justy, Fiat 500, Colt, Swift?

Asked on 5 June 2010 by Jimmy Bean

Answered by Honest John
Mazda 2 1.3TS2, Suzuki Swift 1.3 or 1.5 (if secondhand).
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