Best practical hatchbacks
£13,000 for a practical hatch, but which one? FOR: Spacious and versatile, distinctive looks AGAINST: Fiddly cabin layout, not fun to drive FOR: Solid, roomy and very easy to live with AGAINST: Unexciting design, dark interior FOR: Great all-rounder, a
Our experts pick from three spacious diesel five-doors
Dear Lawrence, I need a diesel family hatchback capable of carrying large rugby players and their gear at the weekend. What will £13,000 get me? Paul Hogarth, Chester
THE RELIABLE CHOICE Honda Civic
THE Honda Civic is now in its 10th generation, but the old model still holds appeal. Its quirky looks won’t be to all tastes, and nor will the haphazard dash layout. Still, quality is good, and the Civic has versatility on its side thanks to its clever Magic Seats.
The Honda can’t match the ride and handling standards of the other two models here, although the diesel is super frugal. We spotted a 2016 1.6 I-DTEC Sport with 27,000 miles on the clock for £12,200.
THE Civic’s dash is well screwed together, but the touchscreen is fiddly. Rear legroom is good for tall adults, plus the 477-litre boot is roomy. Magic Seats in the back flip up or fold down easily, for added practicality.
DESPITE Honda’s reputation for reliability, the Mk9 Civic ranked in a rather average 61st place in our Driver Power 2017 satisfaction survey. Fifteen per cent of owners told us that they had a problem with their car.
THE SENSIBLE CHOICE Skoda Octavia
NO list of practical family models is complete without Skoda’s Octavia. It might not be the most interesting vehicle to look at inside or out, but the restrained styling hides a car of impressive quality for the cash.
The cabin and tech are easy to use, while the light controls and composed handling make the Octavia pleasant to drive. Its diesel engines are strong, plus economical in the real world. Our search revealed a 2016 1.6 TDI SE with only 7,000 miles for £12,765.
LITTLE else beats the Octavia for fit and finish at this price, and the layout is brilliantly simple. Two large adults can sit comfortably in the rear, with three at a squeeze, while the 590-litre load bay is enormous.
SKODA always performs well in Driver Power, and the Octavia’s 21st place in 2017 was actually one of the brand’s weaker scores. Still, owners reported that build quality and reliability were largely excellent.
THE VALUE CHOICE Vauxhall Astra
THE Astra is one of our favourite hatchbacks at the moment, and it’s not hard to see why. Under the smart body lies a cabin laden with convenience and safety tech, and there’s space for all the family.
Quality isn’t far behind the Skoda’s, plus the Astra has a composed ride and sharper handling than either rival. With so many trim levels it can be tricky making a choice, but a 1.0-litre petrol SRI Nav is our pick. A 66-plate model with 10,000 miles is yours for £12,500.
ALTHOUGH the Astra has more technology inside than the Honda, the cabin is still easier to get on with. Space in the back is above average for the class, but the Vauxhall is let down here by its 370-litre boot.
THE Vauxhall finished in a strong 27th position in our satisfaction survey this year. Electrical glitches were the most common faults among the 13.6 per cent of drivers who said they encountered problems with their cars.