What is the best small car to replace a Jaguar?
My Jaguar XE is comfortable to drive but not so easy to park. At 87 I don't need the power as I no longer do lengthy journeys. I would like a petrol alternative with a decent-sized boot that's cheaper to run and insure, as well as easier to park, than the Jaguar. A Honda Jazz has been suggested; what else is worth considering?
– DB
Dear DB,
The Jazz is a great option; compact, comfortable and versatile. While it will undoubtedly be a step down in power compared with your XE, it's nippy enough to feel sprightly around town.
The Honda also has a solid reputation for reliability – but could you do better? Well, look at the Toyota Yaris Cross. Toyota's reliability record is even better than that of Honda, while you can get up to 10 years of warranty if you use a main dealer for servicing.
The Yaris Cross has a larger boot than the Jazz despite being barely any longer; the only downside is that its ride quality can sometimes feel rather firm.
If that's a concern, consider the new Citroën C3. The latest model is available with the option of a hybrid engine, which doesn't have the 'wet' timing belt that caused reliability issues in recent years. All new Citroëns now have the option of an eight-year warranty although, as with Toyota, main dealer servicing is a requisite.
The C3's boot isn't as large as the Toyota's, but the trade-off is that it's a smaller car all round – no longer than the Jazz, in fact. It also irons out bumps very well for a car of its size.
One final option would be a Suzuki Ignis, of which there are still a few available. The Ignis is a great little car, with characterful styling and a frugal mild hybrid powertrain.
Its boot space might not seem brilliant at only 260 litres, but the clever thing about the Ignis is that you can slide one or both of the rear seats forward, thereby increasing the boot to a whopping 373 litres. And with Suzuki now offering a long service-activated warranty of seven years on all its cars, reliability is a given.
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By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Finally, after years of enthusiasts begging for one, we finally got a Forester hybrid. Is it worth the hype? Here's what I think after driving one. Compact, all-wheel drive hybrid SUVs are all the rage right now. Just look at the Hyundai Tucson hybrid (which can also be purchased as a PHEV), Mazda CX-50 hybrid, Toyota RAV4 hybrid, Kia Sportage hybrid, or the Honda CR-V hybrid. They're all popular for excellent reasons: they're reliable, capable, comfortable, and relatively affordable. Then, not only does the Subaru Forester hybrid show up late to the party for 2025, but it's the most expensive of the bunch, too, with a price range of $36,385 to $43,295. 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You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Source: Kristen Brown New-to-Subaru buyers, though, may find it underwhelming Unless you're a devoted member of the Subie cult and upgrading from a 2003 Outback, the Forester Hybrid may seem a bit lacking. There's an 11.6-inch multimedia screen and a digital driver information display to replace the gauges, but other than that, there's not much that helps it stand out. The Mazda CX-50's interior is more posh and luxurious, while the Hyundai Tucson's interior is more technology-focused and clean. The RAV4 is more user-friendly, featuring analog controls for frequently used driver functions. The Forester hybrid had waterproof seats in the Sport Hybrid that I reviewed, which was a welcome addition with toddler passengers, but otherwise, there wasn't much that helped justify the higher price tag based on interior features and design. It also doesn't get as good of mileage as its competitors, but that's thanks to a more robust, full-time AWD system. Instead of an on-demand system that uses steering, throttle, or braking input to evenly split torque between the front and rear wheels, they're evenly split at all times, and mileage suffers as a result, just like in the gas-only Forester. As I mentioned before, I was averaging about 29.5 miles to the gallon, which is impressive, but it's not as remarkable as the AWD RAV4 hybrid's 36.3 mpg or the Hyundai Tucson hybrid's 37 mpg. This might make it difficult for first-time buyers to pay extra for a hybrid that doesn't score as high as its competitors. Source: Kristen Brown My toddlers felt at home in the Forester hybrid My three and two-year-old daughters are picky about rear seats. They don't like small windows, they don't appreciate the lack of a sunroof, and they especially dislike being cooped up. They immediately loved being in the back of the Forester because it was easy for them to see out of and climb into. My oldest daughter especially liked it when I'd have the sunroof open while we tested it off-road, because she could see into the trees without much effort. The rear seats had their own A/C vents, which came in handy as my loan was in June, and if they were older, they'd appreciate the charging ports for occupants on either side. I mentioned this already, but the Sport hybrid had waterproof seating, making it super easy to clean up my daughter's spilled milk after hitting up our local Dutch Bros. What helped inspire confidence as a driver and a parent was the long list of safety features that came with the Forester hybrid. All trim levels of the hybrid come with Subaru's award-winning dual-camera (tri-camera with pedestrian detection on upper models) safety suite, so I knew my girls and husband were safe. The cargo space was generous, too, with plenty of room for the family's luggage, a stroller, a diaper bag or two, and camping gear. Adding crossbars and a cargo box or basket would only increase that, and I'd generally recommend that to any adventurous family. Source: Kristen Brown Off-road, the Forester's capabilities truly shone When my husband and I were wandering the dusty, rocky trails in Central Oregon, we were impressed by how easy it was for it. With X-MODE, most of the thinking was done for us. The ground clearance was enough to keep us out of trouble, and the ride was smooth. The factory all-season tires performed wonderfully, even in the tricky sections of the trail, where the Subaru made it through with ease. All while in EV mode most of the time, saving the fuel for the drive home. I started picturing how easy it would be to reach even the most remote campsites, without having to worry about hauling extra fuel. It could get you there, back, and beyond on a single tank of gas, thanks to the hybrid technology paired with Subaru's legendary AWD system. The ride was so smooth, both of my girls were lulled to sleep before we made it back to the main road. The Subaru Forester hybrid would be an easy choice for families who plan to camp or go adventuring regularly. Final thoughts After all of us were tapping our imaginary watches like Judge Judy waiting for the Forester hybrid, it was nice to see that Subaru finally took hybridization pretty seriously. Nothing that made the Forester so wonderful was changed–it was just a more efficient Forester. As a Subaru owner, I loved it immediately, but I felt that the price, compared to the competition, would make it a hard sell to someone who'd never driven a Subaru before. But, Subaru knows that most of the air under their wings is from repeat customers, so they don't need new buyers. Overall, I enjoyed my time with the Forester hybrid. However, it made me anxious to see how the Outback hybrid will perform. About the Author Kristen Brown View Profile
