'I'm a used car expert and this is the best £7k small motor to buy'
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.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Auto Express
5 hours ago
- Auto Express
The VW Passat just got far more appealing with £5k of options for free
Volkswagen has updated the line-up of the plug-in hybrid version of the Passat by adding two new versions, called Match and Black Edition. The company claims that up to £4,905 of options now come free of charge. Joining the mid-range £47,650 Elegance, the entry-level Match replaces the old Life trim, but costs the same £45,555. The Black Edition costs the same as the outgoing R-Line, from £48,900, and Volkswagen says the new editions can be ordered from 14 August. Match is better equipped than the outgoing Life, with additional features including metallic paint, VW's LED matrix headlights, tinted rear windows and an 'assistance pack' which adds area view and emergency assist. Advertisement - Article continues below The new Black Edition comes with metallic paint, 19-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, tinted rear windows (darker than the Match's), heated front and rear seats, a head-up display, a 15-inch central touchscreen and the same assistance pack as the Match. The new Match and Black Edition trims are offered only on the PHEV Passat, which uses a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine mated to a plug-in hybrid system featuring a 19.7kWh battery – enough for an 82-mile electric-only range. The pricing quoted above is based on the 201bhp Passat eHybrid, but from £50,370 you also can get the more potent 268bhp version starting with Elegance trim. If you're after a well equipped plug-in hybrid estate car, then check out the Auto Express Find A Car, where you'll find loads of great used Volkswagen Passat GTEs starting from under £12,000. For now, the petrol hybrid eTSI Passat continues with Life, Elegance and R-Line trim levels with the now estate-only model starting from £39,950. Tell us which new car you're interested in and get the very best offers from our network of over 5,500 UK dealers to compare. Let's go…
Auto Car
5 hours ago
- Auto Car
Renault Group names Francois Provost as its new CEO and successor to Luca de Meo
Close The Renault Group has named François Provost as its new CEO. The Frenchman takes over from Luca de Meo, who officially moved to head up Gucci owner Kering on 15 July. Brit Duncan Minto, who has been serving as interim CEO since that date, moves back to his role of CFO. Provost takes the top job after serving 23 years with the French company, most recently as chief procurement, partnerships and public affairs officer. In a statement about his appointment, the Renault Group cited a particular focus on expanding the firm's presence across international markets and partnership development.
Auto Express
8 hours ago
- Auto Express
Hyundai is toughening up the Tucson
The first images of the next-generation Hyundai Tucson have appeared ahead of its release in the second half of 2026. This crucial new model will introduce a tougher and more rugged exterior design, a hi-tech interior and fresh hybrid powertrains, giving this all-new generation the ammunition it'll need to take on its key rivals – many of which have recently been updated themselves. Advertisement - Article continues below Hyundai has been tight-lipped about information specific to the Tucson, but the brand has released lots of broad details about new technologies that'll go into this next model. And given that it has now been seen testing with production-relevant details, the new Tucson's development appears to be further along than previously thought. Are you in the market for a new family SUV? Check out the Auto Express marketplace for some great deals on your next daily driver… The changes start with the car's exterior, which we can already see will look completely different to the current model's. Instead, it'll introduce a more rugged and blocky aesthetic, using the new hydrogen fuel-cell Nexo SUV as a starting point. Hyundai's chief exterior designer, Simon Loasby, told us: 'Art of Steel is our next-generation [design language] that we launched last year, and you will see that on multiple new models. We don't like to do nesting dolls, but you will see how that is developed across a range of products. We've got a busy two years of new stuff coming.' Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below He continued: 'We deliberately want to turn the volume up on the capability and SUV-ness. You don't need to be a rocket scientist to see that every region in the world is becoming more comfortable with SUVs and wanting to be [sat] up.' Advertisement - Article continues below This is obvious in elements like the much more upright nose, clamshell bonnet and chunky cladding around the wheelarches on the car in the spyshots. Look closely at the front bumper and you'll see daytime running lights coming down from the bonnet, with the main headlight units sitting low on the bumper. The windscreen has a wraparound style thanks to the use of blacked-out pillars. These also frame large side windows that create a more upright silhouette than the current generation. This more overtly rugged and SUV-centric design is in harmony with the latest Santa Fe, and is a distinct departure from the current Tucson's dramatically rising windowline and complex body. The rear of the car our spies caught has much more camouflage, so it's tricky to get a sense of many details, but the tailgate will probably be more upright than the current model's, leaving a more open and versatile boot space behind the second row. This prototype looks to be sitting on a set of large and intricately styled wheels, sitting in completely round wheelarches beneath the blocky cladding. Inside, we expect to see a brand-new technology package that informs the overall interior design. Loasby continued by telling us: 'On the interior space, it'll be a much more calm and comfortable space than a tech fest. That's been our balance with the product. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below 'Over the next two years you'll see our next generation of interiors coming out. We described internally as we presented it. The safest way to drive is to keep our customers' eyes on the road, so you build your philosophy around that. You quite quickly realise that the centre screen is actually just a distraction.' This suggests the new Tucson will balance the use of screens and physical controls, and avoid the integration of oversized digital interfaces. Instead, we expect there to be new displays high up on the dash, with key physical controls for the most-used controls and commands. 'We believe nine is the best number of both legal and physical, regular interactions,' Loasby said. 'They're all physical buttons and they will stay physical buttons because they are things that I want to adjust without looking away [from the road].' Beyond this, the new Tucson should retain its versatile five-seater interior, with plenty of rear legroom and a decent boot. With such a wide remit as a key model around the world, the Tucson will be available with a range of powertrains, but the hybrid options will take precedence in the UK and Europe. As such, expect a range of mild and plug-in hybrid options, with a new generation of full hybrids the most important addition. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Developed in-house by Hyundai for its next-generation models, the new hybrid system will combine a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with two e-motors – one large one mounted in the gearbox, and the other acting as a starter generator. Hyundai says this powertrain improves efficiency by more than four per cent compared with the previous system, while offering more torque and better driveability. Peak power is yet to be confirmed, but torque will be rated at 380Nm – 13Nm more than the brand's previous hybrid system in this segment. There won't be a full-electric version, because that option will be covered by the forthcoming Ioniq 4. There's also a good chance we'll see a high-performance N model, likely utilising similar hybrid technology, albeit with even more power – possibly borrowing from the 2.5-litre hybrid system in the larger Hyundai Palisade, which isn't sold in the UK. It'll pack its own unique hardware, plus a more aggressive design and chassis set-up. The Hyundai won't have an easy ride attracting buyers in the mid-size SUV market, because rivals are both numerous and very competitive. This is the biggest single segment in the global car market, so every mainstream brand has an offering. The Kia Sportage will be the Tucson's key rival in the UK, but it'll soldier on with older technology until it's eventually replaced. Instead, the Toyota RAV4 might be a big new threat because it's also been totally redesigned for 2026, as has the Mazda CX-5. Meanwhile, Volkswagen's new Tiguan features an excellent plug-in hybrid model with an impressive electric range, plus the wider group also offers Cupra's closely related Terramar and the slightly higher-class Audi Q3. Stellantis' Citroen C5 Aircross, Peugeot 3008 and Vauxhall Grandland also represent fresh options in the segment, and each can be specified with an all-electric powertrain as well as in hybrid guise. Our dealer network has 1,000s of great value new cars in stock and available now right across the UK. Find your new car… 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 New Citroen C5 Aircross SUV undercuts the Volkswagen Tiguan by a huge £7k New Citroen C5 Aircross SUV undercuts the Volkswagen Tiguan by a huge £7k Citroen's revamped flagship C5 Aircross SUV is available to order now with hybrid or electric power 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 The 'car with no rear window' is looking seriously cheap on lease right now. It's our Deal of the Day for July 28
