I am a community midwife working in a semi-rural practice in Hertfordshire. Due to the NHS belt-tightening, we now have to replace our vehicles previously leased by the Trust with our own private cars. I need to find a car that is rugged enough to cope with bad road surfaces and narrow country lanes, as well as being relatively frugal and cheap to run. Reliability is also a major concern.

The car needs to be able to carry all the paraphernalia required by a community midwife to carry out home deliveries in the snow, as well as meeting the demands of a growing family with ballet and music runs thrown into the mix. I had thought about a diesel engine to reduce running costs but with daily mileage of around 100 miles and lots of short runs, I don't think diesel would be appropriate. I would love a higher SUV-type driving position but with a budget of £15,000, I may have to sacrifice this wish. I would certainly consider the "nearly new" market. Any suggestions would be welcome.