Best small car for the long-term?

What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks

Best small car for the long-term?

I'm looking to buy a small family car to keep the next seven years. In the past I've always bought 'nearly' new at 6-18 months old.

What would you recommend? I average 12k miles a year mostly on town, dual carriageway or short motorway journeys.

Asked on 28 December 2012 by steve_nw

Answered by Honest John

How small? Focus size I currently recommend a previous model Honda Civic 1.8iES or SE. Smaller, a KIA Rio or, if you like handling, a Mazda 2. Most reliable small cars are Honda Jazz and Toyota Yaris.

Tags: buying used cars reliability small cars

Dear Honest John,

Please help me choose my next car. I would like it to have:

Similar questions

Quiet and reliable car for under £4k?

I currently drive a 2005 Mk2 Octavia Estate and it's done 114,000 miles. It's now getting to the age/mileage that one thing after another is starting to go wrong, and coupled with general wear and tear...

Which is more reliable in a Honda Jazz - i-Shift or CVT-7?

Please help me choose between a Honda Jazz i-Shift and a Honda Jazz CVT. Which is more reliable? I can spend £3000 and I want the most reliable car. It doesn't matter if it is the first generation or second.

Over 25s

I am thinking of buying a 2002 Rover 25 1.4 for £2,200, but a friend warns me that Rover hasn't got the best reputation for reliability and thinks that mechanically it might let me down. This particular...

Related models

Honda Civic (2006 - 2011)

Practical and comfortable cabin, huge amounts in interior space, great 2.2 i-CTDi diesel engine, well built and reliable, enjoyable to drive.

Honda Jazz (2008 - 2015)

Neatly styled. Increased room and better performance than original Jazz. better to drive. Very versatile. CVT-7 returned in February 2011 replacing i-SHIFT. More reliable than first generation Jazz.