logo
'I'm a used car expert and this is the best £7k small motor to buy'

'I'm a used car expert and this is the best £7k small motor to buy'

Daily Mirror19-07-2025
A motoring expert has recommended the best used cars for £7,000 or under which are great value especially for new drivers, with choosing a motor with a small engine with a small power output the key
Buying a first vehicle, especially a used car, can be a tricky business for many customers as it often comes accompanied with high insurance costs for inexperienced drivers. This means choosing a car that has a small engine, small power output, and isn't very large to keep insurance as cheap as possible.

However, with the cost of living going up and the second car market seeing prices rise, it can be hard to work out which car to buy, even if you have a relatively healthy budget of £7,000.

This was the problem faced by one motorist who went to AutoExpress for advice on the best car to buy for that price. In response, motoring expert Ryan Birch said it all depended on what one was looking for.

Whilst he recommended the Seat Mii, the Renault Twingo and the Citroen C1, when it came to practicality he suggested the Spanish Mii.

He said: 'From behind the wheel, the Mii is hard to beat. It shares a platform with the Volkswagen up! so the handling is crisp and it's surprisingly enjoyable to drive. The Mii is also surprisingly spacious, with more accommodating rear seats than the Citroen and a respectable 251-litre boot.
Ryan added: 'Lower-spec SE models are equipped with alloy wheels, electric front windows, air-conditioning and a leather steering wheel as standard. A DAB radio can also be specified, along with a dashboard-mounted navigation system and Bluetooth connectivity.'

Whilst the Mii was the practical choice, Ryan didn't rule out the Renault Twingo, praising it for having a good turning circle, robust interior and goo rear seat space.
Meanwhile, the Citroen C1 was given good marks for its distinctive looks, and the fact it was affordable and easy to drive. He caveated: 'Citroen offers a variety of coloured panels and trims to add a dash of personalisation to the cabin of its city car.

'However, material quality isn't up to the best in the class, and the layout of the controls isn't as intuitive as the SEAT's interior.'
This isn't the first time French cars have been recommended as good first cars. The Daily Express' Christopher Sharp also recommended another French car, the Renault Clio.

Writing in 2023 about why he recommended the Clio, which he'd named after a tank, Christopher said it's practicality and the fact it had great visibility made it ideal for a new driver getting used to Britain's roads.
He wrote in the Daily Express: ' The little Clio has a high rear end and a wide boot aperture. What this means is that it's easy to get big things in and out of it.
'The car was so capacious and the boot aperture so square that it had more carrying capacity than some SUVs at the time.
'Two of the most important elements of choosing a car for a new driver is that it must be comfortable and easy to drive.
'With soft suspension and light controls, the Clio had these in spades. Despite its 1.2 litre engine, it was an able motorway cruiser with impressive economy for the engine's diminutive size.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Citroen recall: C3 and C4 models affected by airbag recall
Citroen recall: C3 and C4 models affected by airbag recall

Scotsman

time15 hours ago

  • Scotsman

Citroen recall: C3 and C4 models affected by airbag recall

Drivers are being urged to act fast — how to check if your car is affected and what to do next 🚗 Sign up to the weekly Cost Of Living newsletter. Saving tips, deals and money hacks. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Martin Lewis' team issues urgent warning to Citroen owners over serious airbag fault 'Do not drive' recall affects 120,000 UK vehicles, including Citroen C3 and DS3 models Faulty airbags could explode on deployment, posing risk of injury or death Driving affected cars could invalidate insurance or lead to fines and legal issues Stellantis is offering free repairs and recovery — check your VIN to see if your car is at risk Tens of thousands of UK drivers are being told to immediately stop driving their vehicles. That's after a critical safety alert was issued for certain Citroen models — and failing to comply could invalidate your insurance or land you in legal trouble, Martin Lewis' MoneySavingExpert (MSE) team has warned. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The rare 'do not drive' recall, affecting around 120,000 Citroen vehicles in Britain, was triggered by a deadly airbag fault that could lead to the device exploding during deployment, posing a serious risk of injury or death. It's part of the wider Takata airbag crisis, which has seen millions of cars recalled globally. (Photos: Getty Images) | Getty Images Although no incidents have been reported in the UK so far, at least 18 deaths in France — mainly in hotter regions — prompted Stellantis, Citroen's parent company, to escalate the issue. The stop-drive order covers the following models: Citroen C3 (2009–2019) Citroen DS3 (2009–2016) DS Automobiles DS3 (2016–2019) Unlike typical recalls where drivers are given weeks or months to book a repair, a stop-drive recall is rare and urgent. It means the car is not road-safe under any circumstances. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad With many Brits reliant on their cars for daily life — from school runs to care duties — this will cause serious disruption. What Martin Lewis says you must do The MSE team has issued strong advice to all affected Citroen owners, and has warned that 'ignoring a stop-drive order can lead to fines, penalty points or even a driving ban.' 'You could also invalidate your car insurance, leaving you without cover if something goes wrong,' they added. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad To stay on the right side of the law and your insurer, you must: Stop driving the vehicle immediately. Check if your car is affected via the Citroen recall tool using your VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). Contact your insurer to notify them of the recall. Your VIN is a 17-digit number beginning with VR7 or VF7 and can be found in your vehicle logbook (V5C), through the windscreen, bottom corner, on the driver's doorframe, or inside the engine compartment. What happens next? If you own a Citroen C3 or DS3 from the affected years, check your VIN today and do not take any risks. If your vehicle is affected, you are not legally allowed to drive it until Stellantis has confirmed the issue has been fixed. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Stellantis will carry out repairs free of charge, and has stressed that all stop-drive decisions are based on multiple safety factors — including airbag type, vehicle age, usage, and climate exposure. In a statement, Stellantis said: 'Owners of such vehicles should immediately cease using their vehicle when safe to do so. While there have been no UK incidents, this is a precautionary move that reflects our unwavering commitment to customer safety.' Call Citroën's helpline on 0800 917 9285 if you believe you vehicle is affected. They will arrange for the airbag system to be replaced and organise transport or recovery (if needed) to get your car to a garage. Once the airbag has been replaced and the fix verified, you'll be allowed to legally drive your car again, your insurance will remain valid, and you'll be safe to get back on the road. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Are you struggling to make ends meet as costs continue to rise? You can now send your stories to us online via YourWorld at It's free to use and, once checked, your story will appear on our website and, space allowing, in our newspapers.

Car Deal of the Day: Polestar 4 is a head-turning EV for a super cool price
Car Deal of the Day: Polestar 4 is a head-turning EV for a super cool price

Auto Express

time16 hours ago

  • Auto Express

Car Deal of the Day: Polestar 4 is a head-turning EV for a super cool price

Distinctive design 385-mile range; high levels of kit Just £346.96 a month The Polestar 4 is doing a fantastic job of raising the profile of an already well known and charismatic Swedish electric car brand. It's a seriously desirable electric coupé-SUV that has a lot more going for it than just being 'a car with no rear window'. Advertisement - Article continues below One of those is value for money. While Polestar is undoubtedly a premium brand, there are still deals to be had with the 4, such as this one, which sees you taking the keys for less than £350 a month. Via the Auto Express Find a Car service, Carparison is offering the sleek Swede for £346.96 a month after a modest £4,462.32 initial payment. It's a two-year deal with a very reasonable 6,000-miles-a-year cap. But, should you need more, you'll only need to find an extra £15.13 a month to bump this up to 8,000 miles per annum. This deal is for the entry-level version, but in actual fact, it's the variant that'll appeal to most people, thanks to its long list of standard kit, and more importantly, high driving range. The Long Range Single Motor model packs a chunky 100kWh (94kWh useable) battery under its curvy body, giving a claimed range of up to 385 miles. A 200kW maximum DC charging speed means this large pack can be charged from 10 to 80 per cent in 30 minutes. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Meanwhile, the rear-mounted motor gives 268bhp and 343Nm of torque, allowing for a 0-62mph dash in 7.1 seconds. It's sufficiently fast for everyday driving, plus thanks to its smaller 20-inch wheels – compared with the rest of the range – it's the best riding 4 of the lot. The entry-level car has a whole wealth of standard equipment. Features such as an eight-way electrically adjustable driver's seat and a six-way passenger seat, ambient lighting, a heat pump, wireless phone charging, along with a Google-based infotainment system are all included. Polestar UK also throws in free metallic paint (silver) and the Plus Pack, which adds a posh Harman Kardon Premium Sound audio system, pixel LED headlights with adaptive high beam, and 22kW charging. The Car Deal of the Day selections we make are taken from our own Auto Express Find A Car deals service, which includes the best current offers from car dealers and leasing companies around the UK. Terms and conditions apply, while prices and offers are subject to change and limited availability. If this deal expires, you can find more top Polestar 4 leasing offers from leading providers on our Polestar 4 page. Check out the Polestar 4 deal or take a look at our previous Car Deal of the Day selection here… Find a car with the experts Hyundai reduces prices across its entire EV range Hyundai reduces prices across its entire EV range Korean brand acts swiftly to cut prices on all its electric cars, amid confusion over Government's grant scheme Congestion Charge EV exemption removal to generate over £75million per year Congestion Charge EV exemption removal to generate over £75million per year TfL is planning to raise the Congestion Charge to £18, and EV drivers will have to pay too Dacia's baby EV due in 12 months with a tiny £15k price tag Dacia's baby EV due in 12 months with a tiny £15k price tag Dacia's new model will be developed in double-quick time, and it'll be built in Europe to avoid China tariffs

Second-hand Citroen C3 sales halted over airbag recall
Second-hand Citroen C3 sales halted over airbag recall

South Wales Argus

time17 hours ago

  • South Wales Argus

Second-hand Citroen C3 sales halted over airbag recall

The warning was extended after the French manufacturer's parent company Stellantis issued a 'stop-drive' notice to certain Citroen models in June. It comes after a woman sustained fatal injuries caused by an airbag in a 2014 Citroen C3 in Reims, France, last year. Stellantis UK announces an immediate stop-drive action for all Citroën C3 (second generation) manufactured between 2009 and 2019 equipped with Takata airbags. Owners of such vehicles should immediately stop driving their vehicle. — Citroën UK (@CitroenUK) June 20, 2025 Now, second-hand Citroens are also being included in the warning amid thousands still being listed for sale across the UK, according to This is Money. 'Buyers could have been driving away in potentially dangerous motors while also invalidating their insurance,' an article states. Since then, a team of motor trade lawyers have now issued a nationwide warning to used car dealers to suspend sales of vehicles in stock What Citroens are being recalled? The vehicles affected are second-generation Citroen C3s produced from 2009 to 2016 and first-generation DS3s manufactured from 2016 to 2019. As a result, around 82,000 C3 and DS3 models have been removed from the road across France. What is the recall on the Citroen C3 2025? The vehicles use Takata airbag systems, which could be faulty. However, Stellantis UK said that there were no reported incidents of faults in the UK, but it has decided to take action regardless. The car manufacturer in a recent statement said: 'Stellantis UK is mobilising its full network of suppliers, retailers and manufacturing plant to support this action to ensure the fastest, safest and most convenient solution for each customer. Got a 'do not drive order' from Citroen or DS car, we've added a few extra items and clarifications to our 'what are your rights' news story... — Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) July 10, 2025 'Stellantis remains fully committed to acting swiftly, transparently, and responsibly in addressing this issue.' Owners have been told to book their vehicles in to be rectified as early as possible and to not drive them in the meantime. However, a study by Which? revealed that hundreds of these cars were listed for sale on major used vehicle websites with no information that the manufacturer had issued a stop-drive notice. How do I check my Citroen recall? If you already own an affected Citroen, you should be contacted by letter, or you can check whether your car is affected by using the VIN check tool on Citroen's website. Recommended Reading: You will need the vehicle identification number (VIN). You can find this: at point 1 on your MOT certificate in part 4 (vehicle details) at point E in the vehicle's log book (V5C) A spokesperson from Stellantis said that they were 'working to maximise' the number of vehicles it can repair each day, with priority given to those with urgent needs.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store