Car hunter

£7,000 to spend on a reliable family hatch

Renault Mégane

FOR: Comfy ride, good looks, safety record AGAINST: Some cheap trim, cramped in rear IF you’ve been happy with your Clio, consider stepping up to a Mk3 Mégane, which was only replaced last year. It’s the smartest-looking model of this trio, and post-2012 cars featured an updated design and a punchy 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine.

It rides smoothly and feels refined on the road, and at launch the Mégane was one of the highestscoring cars in Euro NCAP crash tests. We spotted a 2013 1.2 Gt-line with 26,000 miles for £6,995.

Skoda Rapid

FOR: Very roomy, solid build, safe to drive AGAINST: Unexciting design, dark cabin MANY people opt for the larger Octavia family car over the Rapid, but in Spaceback form this is an underrated choice in Skoda’s model line-up.

While the design isn’t very inspiring, it’s excellent value for money, with a solid and sensible interior, plenty of space and a range of economical engines. The ride is better on later cars, too, plus Euro NCAP awarded it five stars for safety. A 2014 1.2 TSI SE with 28,000 miles can be yours for just £6,850.

Toyota Auris

FOR: Durable, well equipped, hybrid option AGAINST: Average to drive, smallest boot here ALTHOUGH it won’t turn many heads, the Toyota Auris is a perfectly capable family car. Beneath the slightly dull exterior styling, it’s well screwed together, very reliable and gets on with the job with minimal fuss.

The ride and handling are acceptable rather than class-leading, but there’s a hybrid version for buyers after a frugal and easy driving experience. Also good is the 1.6-litre petrol model, and in the classifieds we found a 37,000-mile 2013 1.6 Icon for £6,995.