Automatic? Hybrid change? Mazda or VW? Room for 3 children? 5k/year?

Aidan Timmons and Motoring Editor Eddie Cunningham team up to help readers make the right choice with their next car. Aidan visits dealers all over the country to produce a monthly guidebook on the values of used cars. He is co-editor of Motor Trade Publi

I am flexible on buying a brand new or second hand. I drive a 2012 Toyota Avensis diesel and would like to buy an automatic. I travel from Dublin to Kerry every three weeks or so. I would really like a reliable automatic as opposed to the high van-type. I would like something of a similar size to the Avensis. I did sit into the Toyota C-HR automatic but am not sure how it rates in terms of engine etc. Another question, I am not great with is frost so can you clarify if all automatics are back-wheel drive? Sorry, you can see I am not great with the car terms.

Aidan: There is no correlation between a car’s transmission and which wheels are being driven, either front or back. The overwhelming majority of models on the market are frontwheel drive but be sure to check with your dealer if you opt for something other than the models Eddie and I list here.

We will stick with front-wheel drive for you. If you sat into an automatic Toyota C-HR then it must have been the 1.8-litre hybrid version as the 1.2 petrol model does not have an automatic version. I can see why this model might appeal to you if your frequent trips to Kerry are punctuated by short, stop-start, city or town-type driving. Your fuel economy on the long spin might not be as economical as a diesel but your commute around town is best served by a hybrid so a C-HR is worth considering.

If you can go new, do it but now is the time dealers start selling their ex-demo models so look out for good deals on already registered models with small mileage. The Auris hybrid is worth considering.

If you think that you need a diesel, then you would do well to look at the Skoda Octavia 1.6 TDi Ambition DSG (Ambition is the specification, DSG means ‘automatic’, in Skoda language).

If you are really worried about frost along your commute, look out for a used 2-litre diesel automatic 4x4 Skoda Octavia.

The 4x4 system kicks in automatically whenever one of the wheels starts to slip. You don’t need to do anything. I still think you should start with the C-HR or Auris. Eddie: The part of your question that resonated most with me was you didn’t want anything bigger than the Avensis. So apart from the ones Aidan has mentioned I think you’d do really well with the Prius hybrid: fine cabin and good fuel consumption, and it is not high van-like.

I am considering changing my VW Passat 2015 Highline DSG with 38,000 km. I am doing very small mileage (10k to 15k a year). I am considering a Lexus 300h petrol hybrid, English import, 25k on clock. Do you think this is a good option? How do they perform on winter road conditions?

Aidan: The IS300h is a lovely machine and frequently recommended. I do not have any first-hand experience with its characteristics in wintry conditions. Suffice to say, all models are tested in a variety of environments before they are into production.

Are you importing one yourself or was the car previously imported some time ago? If the former, then take due diligence when travelling abroad. The UK is wrongly considered a panacea for used cars. Buyers can get bitten if not very careful. Make sure to carry out a history check to verify the car’s provenance.

You are spending a good amount, so stick with a main dealer if possible and extract as much from them in terms of a service deal, warranty and whatever else you can muster.

Eddie: I think the Lexus is a good option no matter where you buy. But I’d be worried about you going to all that trouble just to buy a car with 13,000km fewer on the clock. I’d be concerned you’d lose out on both transactions. If you do go ahead I’d source the car/import in Ireland with a reputable dealer and trade in the Passat with him. Yours is a car that will be in demand. The IS300h less so. Make sure you don’t lose out on the swings and the roundabouts.

I have just sold my car privately and am thinking about buying a 171 Mazda6 or a 162 VW Passat both in the UK. They come in around the same price. I do about 30k a year. Which car would you recommend?

Aidan: Honestly, either. Neither will disappoint. I am an advocate of the Mazda6. I play a lot of golf so I appreciate cars with large boots and loads of rear passenger room, both of which the Mazda has in abundance.

The Passat is lovely, especially with the 2.0-litre diesel engine mated to the DSG automatic gearbox. Just be sure to do your math here. The market is healthily supplied with both cars at present and values are softening this time of year. It would be a shame to endure the travel and stress if you can pick up a decent model on your doorstep.

Eddie: I’d always go for the newer car so the Mazda shades it on that. Both are good buys. You in a great position to bargain without a trade-in. My advice is drive the best deal you can for either. Whichever you choose will do the business for you.

We are looking to change our 2011 Passat. I was thinking of a 2015 A4 but will this be big enough for three kids in the back (2, 6, 14)? The A4 looks small in comparison with the Passat. Would the A6 be a better alternative? Don’t want another Passat or a SUV/people carrier.

Aidan: Margins are fine when it comes to the perception of there being enough space in the rear passenger compartment so I strongly advise you get some real-world experience of fitting your children across the back of an A4 before committing to it one way or another. I think it will be fine but you are the only one who can make that call. Certainly, the A6 will be bigger but you will either need to spend more money or settle for an older model than with an A4.

What about a Skoda Superb? It’s a no-brainer if you need more space for rear passengers and boot.

If you can squeeze into a new model on a 152 or 161-plate then I would encourage you to do so. A regular 1.6 TDi Ambition is probably ample for you. The older model Superb is a fine car but it would be great if you could get into a current one.

Eddie: Take the children, child seat, booster seat etc and try them out on a Skoda Superb. It’s the car with the sort of space that you need.

I drive a 2002 Audi A4 petrol (bought 2011). I’ve added 25K miles (now 108K). I know it is worth close to nothing now. I have a baby whose buggy takes quite a lot of space in the boot and I’m planning on a second one.

My ideal car would be a 5 to 6 years old, medium mileage, well-maintained estate/SUV/ electric vehicle for €15k-€20k. It would suit my weekend shopping and greater Dublin area trips and could accommodate my 3/4 times a year to the west coast. Unfortunately, such a car does not exist and won’t be around for another 7-8 years.

I identified, as an alternative, the Skoda Octavia VRS petrol 2.0 Combi (2010–2014). It would give me a little bit of luxury to enjoy the 5k I drive each year. Could you please recommend some reputable dealers who could import it for me? Could you recommend a good alternative petrol-hybrid family car to suit my €15-€20k budget?

Aidan: Sorry to be blunt about this but you are trying to over-engineer a solution. I think you need to double-down on a spacious, petrol family car and eschew the performance part by sticking with a regular 1.2-litre petrol Octavia. Treat yourself to a Style model. Better still, although the power might seem like anathema to your 1.8-litre A4, the new 1.0-litre petrol engine from Skoda is a treat. See if you can get an ex-demo Ambition model or one of the cars coming back from the rental market. A lot has changed since your car was built. Think about it like this: the car you drive today is the car that you trade in or sell in a few years’ time. It makes sense to stick with something for which there is a receptive market. Or, simply buy a Toyota Prius. Keep it simple.

Eddie: You are running yourself up cul-de-sacs, I think. I agree with Aidan. Buy a Toyota Prius here from a reputable dealer. The car will last a long time and will give you best return on your greater Dublin area drives.