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

Can you recommend a good hatchback?

I am in the market for a medium sized hatchback. The car must be fun to drive and offer a good balance between power and economy. I'll be doing 9000 miles a year, mainly 30 mile round trip a day on mixed roads, so petrol is my prefered option.

However, I am struggling to decide between a used plate Mazda 3, SEAT Ibiza FR or a Volkswagen Polo. Which car would you buy?

Asked on 11 March 2014 by kidsteruk

Answered by Honest John
Forget the Polo straight away. Bad engine with known problems. The Ibiza 1.2TSI 105 FR might be okay, but the Mazda 3 (I guess 1.6) is better built to higher standards.

Similar questions
I have a fair budget for a used car, preferably a petrol hot hatch with reasonable MPG consumption and also suitable for everyday car use. I am thinking of something up to a 2.0-litre engine. I am looking...
Can you recommend a reliable used hatchback for around £9,000? My annual mileage is around 20,000, consisting of short trips of no more than 15 miles at a time. The car would be preferably manual.
Joint problems mean I have incredible difficulty getting in and out of any seating. I love my 1995 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, it has only done 60,000 miles and runs like a rocket. But as I approach my 70th...
Related models
Stylish looks. Excellent steering and handling. Good quality interior. Impressive 2.2-litre chain cam diesel engine. Facelifted for 2012 and even better.
Cheap to run. five star Euro NCAP rating, clear and simple dash layout. Facelifted with improved engine range from spring 2012.
 

Value my car

Save £75 on Warranty using code HJ75

with MotorEasy

Get a warranty quote

Save 12% on GAP Insurance

Use HJ21 to save on an ALA policy

See offer