Hatchback for the wife

[Chrispee]

Mrs CP has come around to the idea of replacing her ageing Mazda 2 with something a bit more modern so I'm asking the car buying collective for some inspiration. Her brief is relatively wide, she wants a more modern hatchback of some sort and is very brand agnostic. I will be driving it too so will put our requirements out there, we can get by with a supermini again as its only the 2 of us plus a mid sized dog, but open to going up to Golf/Focus/Astra sized hatch for a more mature driving experience/toys etc

Things we are after: Petrol engine, 5 doors, some technology e.g. parking sensors, cruise control and phone connectivity also important - ideally Car Play/Android Auto but Bluetooth connectivity we can get by with. As I will be driving it a lot I'd like something a bit warm/"peppy" for interest so ideally a punchier turbo engine. Less important than her needs but if I can squeeze a warm hatch in that meets the other requirements then why not

Current list:
Some sort of Fabia/Polo/Ibiza - Ibiza FR could be a winner but open to others experiences
She likes Mini's but 5 doors are awkward looking in my eyes and finding the right spec seems to be a minefield
Clio - looking a 1.2TCE dynamique/nav perhaps?
Suzuki Swift Sport (1.4 boosterjet) - would need to stretch the budget but seems to tick a lot of boxes
Fiesta Ecoboost ST Line etc - should i be concerned about a wet belt change in a few years costing a large chunk of the cars value?
One of the Korean offerings - I20 or Picanto/Rio?
Slighter bigger - an Astra/Golf/Leon/Ceed hatch or similar

Other suggestions very much welcomed

Budget around £12k, room either side as it will be kept for a long time.

Thanks

Edited by Chrispee on Thursday 29th June 11:47

[illmonkey]

Think you need to up your budget can't get 2 pints for that around here.

[Chrispee]

illmonkey said:

Think you need to up your budget can't get 2 pints for that around here.

checked down the back of the sofa and managed to find the other 11.988k we had planned to spend

[C69]

£12k could get you a current-model Vauxhall Corsa with a fairly decent spec. However, for that budget, it's likely to have the 75PS 1.2-litre engine, so not exactly a warm / hot hatch.

[dunc69]

Golf 1.4 TSI GT. 150bhp, 40+ mpg and you should get a 2015 / 2016 car at your budget.

[Bannock]

C69 said:

£12k could get you a current-model Vauxhall Corsa with a fairly decent spec. However, for that budget, it's likely to have the 75PS 1.2-litre engine, so not exactly a warm / hot hatch.

I recently had a 128bhp 1.2 Turbo 7-speed auto Corsa as a loan car. I found it to be an absolute gem of a car. Didn't want to give it back. Went like stink and handled beautifully. 36 cars I've owned, not one of them a Vauxhall. Re-thinking that now.

OP might get the 99bhp version in budget. But I'd recommend stretching to get a 128bhp version if possible, it really felt like a proper little hot hatch in the guise of a lady's shopping trolley. Brilliant, I love things which fly under the radar like that.

[FamousPheasant]

The swift sport is worth a test drive. They are weigh under a ton and come with plenty kit. Mine feels faster than the numbers suggest and it's deceptively spacious for the type of car. 7 year warranty too.

[tomsugden]

You'd need to up the budget a bit, but these are terrific fun

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/15003323

[clockworks]

£12k should be enough to get a 2019 Picanto GT Line S.

Comes with everything you could reasonably expect in a small car as standard, including heated steering wheel and electric sunroof ( sunroof was dropped in 2021).

99bhp from the 1 litre turbo triple is enough to be fun.

2019 will still have 3 years of warranty, as long as it has full service history.

I'm on my second one, the only time I've owned 2 of the same model in 45 years of driving.

[Killer2005]

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/15145181

[biggbn]

Chrispee said:

Mrs CP has come around to the idea of replacing her ageing Mazda 2 with something a bit more modern so I'm asking the car buying collective for some inspiration. Her brief is relatively wide, she wants a more modern hatchback of some sort and is very brand agnostic. I will be driving it too so will put our requirements out there, we can get by with a supermini again as its only the 2 of us plus a mid sized dog, but open to going up to Golf/Focus/Astra sized hatch for a more mature driving experience/toys etc

Things we are after: Petrol engine, 5 doors, some technology e.g. parking sensors, cruise control and phone connectivity also important - ideally Car Play/Android Auto but Bluetooth connectivity we can get by with. As I will be driving it a lot I'd like something a bit warm/"peppy" for interest so ideally a punchier turbo engine. Less important than her needs but if I can squeeze a warm hatch in that meets the other requirements then why not

Current list:
Some sort of Fabia/Polo/Ibiza - Ibiza FR could be a winner but open to others experiences
She likes Mini's but 5 doors are awkward looking in my eyes and finding the right spec seems to be a minefield
Clio - looking a 1.2TCE dynamique/nav perhaps?
Suzuki Swift Sport (1.4 boosterjet) - would need to stretch the budget but seems to tick a lot of boxes
Fiesta Ecoboost ST Line etc - should i be concerned about a wet belt change in a few years costing a large chunk of the cars value?
One of the Korean offerings - I20 or Picanto/Rio?
Slighter bigger - an Astra/Golf/Leon/Ceed hatch or similar

Other suggestions very much welcomed

Budget around £12k, room either side as it will be kept for a long time.

Thanks

Edited by Chrispee on Thursday 29th June 11:47

Auris 1.2t, decent looking, well species, very reliable

[MrGTI6]

Astra 1.6T 200 might be worth a look. The later model from about 2016 onwards.

[ZX10R NIN]

Chrispee said:

Mrs CP has come around to the idea of replacing her ageing Mazda 2 with something a bit more modern so I'm asking the car buying collective for some inspiration. Her brief is relatively wide, she wants a more modern hatchback of some sort and is very brand agnostic. I will be driving it too so will put our requirements out there, we can get by with a supermini again as its only the 2 of us plus a mid sized dog, but open to going up to Golf/Focus/Astra sized hatch for a more mature driving experience/toys etc

Things we are after: Petrol engine, 5 doors, some technology e.g. parking sensors, cruise control and phone connectivity also important - ideally Car Play/Android Auto but Bluetooth connectivity we can get by with. As I will be driving it a lot I'd like something a bit warm/"peppy" for interest so ideally a punchier turbo engine. Less important than her needs but if I can squeeze a warm hatch in that meets the other requirements then why not

Current list:
Some sort of Fabia/Polo/Ibiza - Ibiza FR could be a winner but open to others experiences
She likes Mini's but 5 doors are awkward looking in my eyes and finding the right spec seems to be a minefield
Clio - looking a 1.2TCE dynamique/nav perhaps?
Suzuki Swift Sport (1.4 boosterjet) - would need to stretch the budget but seems to tick a lot of boxes
Fiesta Ecoboost ST Line etc - should i be concerned about a wet belt change in a few years costing a large chunk of the cars value?
One of the Korean offerings - I20 or Picanto/Rio?
Slighter bigger - an Astra/Golf/Leon/Ceed hatch or similar

Other suggestions very much welcomed

Budget around £12k, room either side as it will be kept for a long time.

Thanks

Edited by Chrispee on Thursday 29th June 11:47

Your budget will land you a 1.0T Kia Rio First Edition 120, that has everything you've listed & more as well as some warranty left too:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303225...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305317...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306299...

Or just go for it & get a 208 GTI Prestige which is a great steer & has all the tech you're looking for:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209139...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305227...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304015...

[ninjag]

Suzuki Swift Sport or Peugeot 208 GTi would be my choices. The latter is a hoot to drive!

[Chrispee]

Thanks for all the input so far all. We've upped the budget a bit and had a weekend looking at a few things: tried a 1l TSI Seat Arona that was nice but decided actually a touch big. Ibiza an option still.

Also tried a Fiesta Ecoboost ST line in 125 flavour and a Swift Sport. The fiesta was ruled out because it was a 3 door - which also renders a 208gti out of the frame as I understand they are all 3 doors.

The Swift Sport we really liked, smaller, had the gadgets etc. Mild concern about the infotainment already being a bit dated and not the easiest to read Google maps etc, the sound quality as that was something we didn't have time to really check out and any input around infotainment would be appreciated.
It was a very quick little thing which brings me onto the crunch point. It has what looked to be aftermarket bits fitted...Dealer claimed these were a
factory option which I was dubious about and this leads to the natural jump of is it mapped/any other mods. It sounded great and the wife was fine with it but I'm put off by the mild worry of warranty and/or insurance implications - this is a runaround for the her and I don't want the hassle. I'm going to speak to Suzuki tomorrow and see what they say about warranty

Also seen a Picanto GT Line S and full fat Mk8 Fiesta ST we are going to have a look around

Any other recommendations always welcome

Edited by Chrispee on Tuesday 4th July 21:11

[pb8g09]

tomsugden said:

You'd need to up the budget a bit, but these are terrific fun

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/15003323

Was thinking the exact same thing

[LightningBlue]

Chrispee said:

Thanks for all the input so far all. We've upped the budget a bit and had a weekend looking at a few things: tried a 1l TSI Seat Arona that was nice but decided actually a touch big. Ibiza an option still.

Also tried a Fiesta Ecoboost ST line in 125 flavour and a Swift Sport. The fiesta was ruled out because it was a 3 door - which also renders a 208gti out of the frame as I understand they are all 3 doors.

I thought you could get the 208 GTI as a 5 door but do you ever have people in the back? Most people want 5 doors for some reason but very rarely use the back seats. When I’ve had 3 door hatches I’ve just asked back seat passengers to go through the near side door so it doesn’t mess with my driving position. So many cars looks have been ruined by adding back doors such as the Mini which is truly hideous in that form. The best looking small 5 door hatches are the Clio, Kia Rio, 208 and newest shape Ford Fiesta, all of which are decent cars.

[ninjag]

308 GTI can be had in five door. The Peugeot Sport ones are just in budget.

[ZX10R NIN]

Chrispee said:

Thanks for all the input so far all. We've upped the budget a bit and had a weekend looking at a few things: tried a 1l TSI Seat Arona that was nice but decided actually a touch big. Ibiza an option still.

Also tried a Fiesta Ecoboost ST line in 125 flavour and a Swift Sport. The fiesta was ruled out because it was a 3 door - which also renders a 208gti out of the frame as I understand they are all 3 doors.

The Swift Sport we really liked, smaller, had the gadgets etc. Mild concern about the infotainment already being a bit dated and not the easiest to read Google maps etc, the sound quality as that was something we didn't have time to really check out and any input around infotainment would be appreciated.
It was a very quick little thing which brings me onto the crunch point. It had a HKS exhaust fitted...Dealer claimed this was a factory option which I was dubious about and researching this showed no evidence it was ever a factory thing. This leads to the natural jump of is it mapped/any other mods. It sounded great and the wife was fine with it but I'm put off by the mild worry of warranty and/or insurance implications - this is a runaround for the her and I don't want the hassle. I'm going to speak to Suzuki tomorrow and see what they say about warranty

Also seen a Picanto GT Line S and full fat Mk8 Fiesta ST we are going to have a look around

Any other recommendations always welcome

Again the Rio First Edition 120 I linked to above (even with an increased budget) really does tick the boxes.

[Glosphil]

Last December bought the wife a mid-2019 Fabia SEL with the 3-cylinder 1.0L 110hp engine & 6-speed box on 22k miles for just over £12k. From a main dealer so Skoda 1 year warranty.

Decently equipped & more than adequate performance. Cruises well on motorways in its relatively high 6th. Good low down torque (148 ftlb) which is useful on the hills around us.