£5,000 for a small family hatchback to be a cheap runabout
DESPITE the huge rise in SUV sales in recent years, the small family hatch segment is still one of the most popular, because these cars offer excellent practicality along with affordable purchase and running costs.
Vast numbers of small family hatchbacks have been sold over the past four decades or so, and if you explore the used-car classifieds, you’ll see that there is a huge variety of suitable cars for sale. Here, though, we’ve picked some of the most obvious contenders because they’re the ones available in the biggest quantities.
But there are plenty of others, such as the Kia Ceed, Peugeot 308, Volkswagen Golf and Toyota Auris, plus the Mazda 3, Honda Civic and Skoda Octavia. All are worth considering for their blend of availability and affordability – just two of the many qualities that this trio brings to the table.
Dear Richard, I have £5,000 to spend on a small family hatch. It doesn’t need to be ULEZ-compliant; what should I buy?
Anna Carter, Via E-Mail
Contact: mail@autoexpress.co.uk
THE FUN CHOICE
Ford Focus Mk3
FOR: Great to drive, wide model range, well equipped
AGAINST: Lacklustre Powershift auto, small boot
THE third-generation Focus was launched in 2011, and just like its predecessors, it brought a level of driving enjoyment to the segment that most of its rivals couldn’t match.
In typical Ford fashion, the Focus also offered excellent value for money, with lots of standard equipment – as long as you avoided the entry-level Studio and Edge editions. All hatchbacks came with five doors, although there was an Estate as well, for those who needed extra capacity; both bodystyles are within reach of a £5,000 budget.
THE RELIABLE CHOICE
Hyundai i30 Mk2
FOR: Reliable, well equipped, great value for money
A
