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Ask the Expert: Which small used car could replace our trusty Fiat?

Dear Alex,

We recently had to scrap our Fiat Panda, which was a second car. We require another for a few more years, but not many, as we are both in our early 80s. Can you suggest a reliable, but not more than eight-year-old, replacement? I am thinking of the Kia Picanto[1] and Smart ForFour, while the Honda Jazz and others seem out of my preferred price range of £5,000-£7,000. I could spend more but the Panda only covered around 3,000 miles a year, with very few motorway trips. 

– AL

Dear AL,

The Kia and the Smart are both good options for that price, though the latter has a small boot and the former isn’t as good in the second-generation form you’re getting for this budget as the later third-generation model. 

My preferred option at that price point would be the second-generation Hyundai i10[2]. It’s reliable and surprisingly comfortable, with a smooth ride. Avoid the rather spartan S and plump for an SE or Premium version, which are easier to sell on.

The 1.0-litre engine should be perfectly acceptable for zipping around town. I found a post-facelift 2017 1.0 SE with a very reasonable 40,000 miles on the clock and a full service history for sale for £6,495 – well within your budget.

Another good bet for that sort of cash would be the Skoda Citigo[3]: a similarly diminutive runaround that lends itself perfectly to low-mileage urban driving.

The Citigo is a badge-engineered version of the Volkswagen up!, and a little cheaper. These are great cars to drive, generally dependable with good ride comfort. 

There are two versions of the 1.0-litre engine – one with 59bhp, the other with 74bhp – and the latter is the one to have. I came across a 2015 example with 47,000 miles, in top-spec Elegance form, for £6,495. 

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References

  1. ^ Kia Picanto (www.telegraph.co.uk)
  2. ^ Hyundai i10 (www.telegraph.co.uk)
  3. ^ Skoda Citigo (www.telegraph.co.uk)
  4. ^ visit our Advice section (www.telegraph.co.uk)
  5. ^ here (www.telegraph.co.uk)
  6. ^ here (www.facebook.com)
  7. ^ A-Z Car Finder (www.telegraph.co.uk)

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