The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Saturday
WHICH SMALL AUTOMATIC CAR IS BEST FOR £10,000?
QMy 2006 Ford Fiesta Style 1.25 has been very reliable but I need to exchange it for an automatic car due to surgery on my left foot. An automatic would enable me to return to the road sooner than I might with a manual car. Reliability and drive quality are more important than the latest technology. I have a budget of £10,000 but could spend more for the right car. Which make and model do you suggest?
– KM
A
My first thought was to suggest like-for-like. For £10,000, you can get a tidy seventh-generation Fiesta to replace your sixth-generation car, with the 1.0-litre turbo engine and an automatic gearbox, and these drive well.
But the reliability aspect might be trickier. The Powershift gearbox fitted to these cars can suffer from big bills; and the 1.0-litre engine requires a timing belt change every 10 years – an expensive job.
At the other extreme is the Toyota Yaris. For your money, you’ll get one of the earliest hybrids, which are reliable and frugal around town. Trouble is, they’re less so on the open road, where they feel noisy and sluggish, so don’t satisfy your requirement for a decent driving experience.
With all this in mind, a good halfway house would be a Hyundai i20. The i20 isn’t quite as reliable as the Yaris, but it has a solid reputation and is practical, comfortable and spacious. For £9,995, you can get a tidy 2016 example with the 1.4-litre engine, 36,000 miles and a full service history, in Premium trim.
Another option is the Suzuki Swift. This isn’t quite as comfortable as the i20 and its interior trimmings are little plasticky. But it is fun to drive, with zippy steering and an eager little engine. It’s also great value.
I found a 2019 1.0-litre Boosterjet SZ5 automatic, with one owner from new and 40,000 miles, for £10,750. The Swift’s reputation for reliability is good, as is Suzuki’s generally.
You should also look at the Volkswagen Polo. For comfort, there are few better small cars, while inside it feels better quality with smarter materials than most of its rivals.
The Polo is quiet and easy to drive, too, with plenty of space for both passengers and luggage. On the downside, its reputation for reliability is less stellar than either the Suzuki or the Hyundai. If your interest is piqued, I found a 2015 1.2 TSI SE with 36,000 miles and a full history for £9,975.