Luxurious hatch

[flatso]

Looking to replyce the wifes Infiniti EX37 as I am getting tired of trying to source parts for it, even the smallest things are a mission to get here.
It has a great engine, handles well, but the packaging (interiour space) and turning circles are an absolute failure.
The problem is that the wife got used to the rather posh interieur, good power dand nice extras (radar cruise, 360 camera).
So the search is now on to see what could fill the following needs:

1. Compact (Golf sized).
2. Luxurious interior
3. Reliable
4. Decent power

Thanks in advance

[Chris_91]

8V S3

[oilslick]

Budget?

[flatso]

oilslick said:

Budget?

15-20 Tsd.

[oilslick]

Not sure if it ticks the decent power box but I think it covers everything else. 8 years warranty left too if you service it at Lexus

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310233...

[oilslick]

This has considerably more poke and some more toys.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308010...

[joshcowin]

Lexus CT
Merc A class are nice interiors a250 gives OK performance a low mileage one is £30k with all the toys
BMW 1 series m135i would be my pick get a higher spec for the money compared to the m140i

Just seen your budget, sorry!

Id still go A class over the jap cars, the interiors are naff imo compared to the A class. My friend has one and its decent.

Edited by joshcowin on Monday 13th November 13:01

[wyson]

OK the EX37 is 4.6m long, so more a mid size crossover thing. Volvo XC60 ish class.

I’d go for a Volvo XC40. 4.45m long, so smaller, refined, all the toys you ask for. Light controls like a Japanese car with a comfort bias. If you get a T5 it will have 250bhp, so plenty of poke.

Edited by wyson on Monday 13th November 13:08

[culpz]

Well specced Golf R or GTI? Cupra's are surprisingly nice inside; it's all VAG stuff anyway, so some bits are just a bit more low-rent than others.

[flatso]

culpz said:

Well specced Golf R or GTI? Cupra's are surprisingly nice inside; it's all VAG stuff anyway, so some bits are just a bit more low-rent than others.

The MK7 Golf was an absolute revelation when I had a 1.4TSI auto,matic loaner. The GTI or R were also in my head. How do they compare to the A3?

[CivicDuties]

Focus Vignale:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311093...

[culpz]

flatso said:

culpz said:

Well specced Golf R or GTI? Cupra's are surprisingly nice inside; it's all VAG stuff anyway, so some bits are just a bit more low-rent than others.

The MK7 Golf was an absolute revelation when I had a 1.4TSI auto,matic loaner. The GTI or R were also in my head. How do they compare to the A3?

I haven't had much experience with Audi's tbh. Generally, the interiors should be better but I had a brand new 2016 Audi A4 1.4 TFSI Sport at the time and didn't think much of the interior at all. It scratched and marked easily and had too much chrome going on. Didn't rate it compared my VW's before and after. Depends how much you care for all that kinda stuff. It's not really a thing for me, so long as all the driver points are good. Cupra was best overall. The VW's and Seats always seem to drive better anyway, which is more of what I focus on. More than nice enough inside regardless.

[ChrisH79]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023091620...

Petrol L&K trim Octavia?

[ChrisH79]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023091620...

Petrol L&K trim Octavia?

[anonymous-user]

joshcowin said:

Id still go A class over the jap cars, the interiors are naff imo compared to the A class. My friend has one and its decent.

Edited by joshcowin on Monday 13th November 13:01

The A-Class interior is rank! Plastics are stupidly creaky, when I tested one last year I was shocked to find the entire climate control panel creaks when you operate one of the switches! The only nice part about the interior was the seats.
I rated the 2019+ Mazda 3's interior head and shoulders above it.

[Xenoous]

CivicDuties said:

Focus Vignale:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311093...

I was hoping this would be posted! For some reason it's where I immediately went. I really quite like the mk4 shape. Shame it's leaving us for good soon. Cheerio, Focus.

[joshcowin]

Pickle_Party_247 said:

joshcowin said:

Id still go A class over the jap cars, the interiors are naff imo compared to the A class. My friend has one and its decent.

Edited by joshcowin on Monday 13th November 13:01

The A-Class interior is rank! Plastics are stupidly creaky, when I tested one last year I was shocked to find the entire climate control panel creaks when you operate one of the switches! The only nice part about the interior was the seats.
I rated the 2019+ Mazda 3's interior head and shoulders above it.

You are talking about the old A class interior, the new one has metal control switches, its a great interior, feels very solid, is well insulated and just a nice place to be.

The Mazda interior looks decent, think you have picked the best Jap interior by a long way there. A class is still leagues ahead.

[jason61c]

I wouldn't touch a golf/a class/modern bmw if you want a sense of quality.

[joshcowin]

jason61c said:

I wouldn't touch a golf/a class/modern bmw if you want a sense of quality.

What would you buy then?

I can say the A class has a plusher interior than an a3, golf and bmw 1/2 series.

I like the BMW interiors also but they are not as luxury in feel and looks.

[joshcowin]

CheesecakeRunner said:

joshcowin said:

I can say the A class has a plusher interior than an a3, golf and bmw 1/2 series.

I like the BMW interiors also but they are not as luxury in feel and looks.

That’s the trouble, for want of a better word, with this segment of cars.

You get high quality and premium ones, but you don’t get luxurious ones. Mainly because there isn’t really a market for it, as the huge numbers of a Focus Vignales shows.

I do agree, Mercedes interiors do tend towards the plusher more comfortable, where BMW and VW go for sporting. But until you get to the E-Class, luxury doesn’t really come in, and even the E-Class is borderline.

I agree 100% with this. The vignales look really nice and I like ford however I haven't sat in a vignale focus.

My parents have a fairly new golf, my brother has a fairly new octavia vrs and a vw t-roc, all the same interior all functional not luxury. BIL has a M2 thats a nice interior shared with the 1 and 2 series but its not luxury.

My mate has an A class the interior is a step up to the others mentioned, his goes ok and returns big mpg (60ish mpg) I have no clue what engine it is tbh.

"The big changes come on the inside. The latest model is a huge leap forward over the tidy, yet slightly cheap-feeling predecessor. The design is unique, attractive, well-laid out and feels immaculately put together with lots of soft-touch plastics. It all adds up to a cabin which makes the previous class design benchmark, the Audi A3, look rather old-hat overnight. The giant leap forward in appearance, however, is thanks in no small part to its fantastic dual-screen MBUX infotainment system "

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/mercedes/a-class/int...