What new small car would you recommend to replace our Qashqai?

We have a Nissan Qashqai 1.6 diesel automatic which will have to go shortly when the warranty expires due to many reliability issues. We want to downsize (now in our early seventies) and fancy a smaller petrol automatic. Annual mileage of about 10,000 mainly local but will include four trips a year from Cornwall to Cheshire (600 miles round trip). Our bucket list includes a Honda Jazz, Mazda 2 & Toyota Yaris or is there anything else you might suggest for comfort & low noise motorway trips at 70mph?

Asked on 23 July 2017 by

Answered by Honest John

The current Honda Jazz 1.3 i-VTEC CVT-7 is slow, but refined on the motorway and very economical. You should get 50+mpg. A Mazda 2 1.5 auto is lovely. A little jewel of a car. But not as economical. If going for a Yaris, go for the hybrid. That makes by far the most sense and you could even see 70+ mpg. Other possibilities are a Renault Captur 1.2 EDC or a Peugeot 2008 1.2 Puretech 110 EAT6.

Tags: fuel economy downsizing small cars buying advice

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Toyota Yaris (2011 - 2020)

Fairly big boot by class standards, tempting hybrid option, Toyota has an epic reliability record.

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Unrivalled practicality and versatility. Plenty of room for four adults to travel in comfort. Surprisingly fun to drive, especially 1.5iVTEC Sport model.