We had a 1.6 TDCi C-Max for 5 years, it was a late 2005 Euro 3 car with no PDF. It gave us excellent service, only problem was a cracking alternator belt, cost £35 fitted. We had it serviced exactly as per Fords schedule using the correct Ford spec oil.

When we came to swap it another 1.6 TDCi C-Max was at the top of the list, however, there were problems. The 2010 Euro 4 car had a DPF with the Eolys additive and Ford were quoting £300 a top up every 37,500 miles, another motoring expense to be avoided. Even so we drove one but when we got back into our 5 year old example it was far better, walked away.

So after looking on the Ford web site and spotting that the TDCi 1.8 did not have a DPF we though we would try one of those.The mpg looked slightly poorer but no DPF to worry about. The first was a slug compared to our 1.6 so tried another, exactly the same, walked away.

We eventually bought a Kia Ceed SW 1.6 CRDi. Its a far better car, more comfortable, way quicker, more refined, more economical and the luggage space is much better and easier to access. Ours is a late 2010 which does have a DPF but there are no known issues with Kia DPF's. Your budget would only stretch as far a 2008 car probably )possibly a 2009 car) but if you bought carefully and got one with a full Kia service history (preferably) it would still have some warranty remaining.

Worth a look, I was sceptical when I walked into the Kia showroom but just over 3 years later still not disapointed.

Looked at the Kia- out of my price range

No its not, your £4500 budget should get you a good 2008 Ceed SW CRDi.

not great mpg

We get 51 mpg out of our Ceed SW, we got 45 mpg out of the 1.6 TDCi C-Max, why is that not great?

Again - still heard nowt about the 1.8 litre.

I said in my last post that the 1.8 was a poor drive compared to our 1.6 TDCi. Very unrefined engine and unresponsive.

Is the mpg any different between the two?

Never owned the 1.8, as I said above it was poor on test drive. But the official figures show its at least 5 mpg worse.

The Kia is ok - but looks too narrow. I need a car that will fit two car seats and an older child in the back.

The C-Max is not wide in the rear, the Ceed is just as big in that respect with better legroom.

If you want a car big enough for 2 child seats and an older child you need to be looking at something bigger. A Mondeo Estate or S-Max should be investigated.