What Car - Used Car of the Year 2013

USED CAR OF THE YEAR 2013 This year’s 15 category winners cover every class, from small cars to luxury cars. What Car?’s annual survey reveals the best used buys

Supporting sponsors

Judges David Gerrans, Warranty Direct; Steve Huntingford, What Car?; John Owen, Fords of Winsford; Alan Senior, CDL Ltd; Rory White, What Car? whatcar.com NOVEMBER 2013

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USED CAR OF THE YEAR 2013

Estate car

ovErAll WinnEr (More than £6000)

PricE PoinT WinnEr (Less than £6000)

Mazda 6 Estate 2.2D 163 TS2

Ford Focus Estate 1.6 Z’tec climate

The winner of the estate category needed to have more than simply impressive boot space on its side. The best estate cars also offer a spacious interior, and are affordable to buy and own.

The Mazda 6 ticks all those boxes and more. first, it has a large 519-litre boot with a wide opening and usefully square shape.

Should you need more luggage space, the rear seats can easily be folded down using levers on both sides of the boot. There’s a huge amount of space in the cabin as well, allowing a family of four to get comfortable on a long journey.

Mazda introduced this 2.2-litre diesel in 2010, and it’s great. it develops 160bhp and 266lb ft of torque, which is perfect for when all that boot and cabin space has been filled. Best of all, it’ll do 52.3mpg.

Choose TS2 trim and there’s plenty of equipment, too, including cruise control, dual-zone climate control, automatic headlights, Bluetooth and a CD multichanger as standard. Safety is no less impressive, with the 6 scoring a five-star nCAP rating.

The Mazda’s fantastic reliability record was the decider for our judges. of all the 6s in our 2013 survey only 11% failed, the most common problems concerning the engine. Thankfully, the bills are pretty reasonable too; the average repair should set you back around £330.

if SPACe iS crucial and the budget is tight, then try the focus Servicing estate. Despite intervals rivals such as the 12,500 Vauxhall Astra matching the focus miles on price, ultimately the focus’s broader skill set gives it the win.

The boot on the focus is a pretty decent 482 litres, and there’s almost no wheelarch intrusion, so you should be able to quite easily fit in the stuff for a weekend’s DiY. Like the focus hatch, the estate is genuinely good fun to drive. The higher-powered 113bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine offers the best value on the used market, and Zetec trim gives you all you need and more, namely alloy wheels, a CD player, air-con and curtain airbags.

Age ’09/09 Dealer price £11,400 Private price £10,700

‘The Mazda has a large 519-litre boot that’s a usefully square shape’

Buyer’s guide Mazda 6 Power: 161bhp Fuel economy 52.3mpg 0-60mph 9.2sec Max speed 131mph Insurance group 26

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CO2 emissions 149g/km Annual road tax £140 Servicing intervals 1 year / 20,000 miles Euro NCAP rating y xy xy xy xy x

Servicing intervals 20,000 miles

Age ’07/07 Dealer price £5100 Private price £4500

Buyer’s guide Ford Focus Power 114bhp Fuel economy 42.8mpg 0-60mph 11.0sec max speed 118mph Insurance group 10

CO2 emissions 157g/km Annual road tax £175 Servicing intervals 1 year / 12,500 miles Euro NCAP rating y xy xy xy xy x

ESTATE CAR AND MPV

MPv

ovErAll WinnEr (More than £6000)

PricE PoinT WinnEr (Less than £6000)

Ford S-Max 2.0 TDci Zetec

citroën Grand c4 Picasso 1.6 HDi vTr+

for The SeConD year, our judges started with a long list of used MPVs, which was gradually whittled away until only the S-Max remained. it’s the MPV for people who don’t like MPVs, and offers a rare mix of space, practicality and fun drive.

The first two rows of seats provide plenty of leg- and headroom, and the third row is perfect for kids while still ensuring easy access. All five rear seats fold flat into the boot floor when they’re not needed and the generous boot space means you can carry bulky loads with ease. even with all seven seats in place, there’s enough room for a couple of bags.

The weight of seven people and their luggage calls for a strong, flexible powerplant to keep things moving, but it has to be affordable to run at the same time. ford’s 2.0-litre 138bhp diesel is, therefore, the perfect choice. it has the torque you need to tackle the steepest hills and its fuel economy of 47.1mpg will mean fewer trips to the pumps.

Zetec trim, including alloy wheels, air-conditioning and a CD player, will keep you comfortable and ensure good residuals.

The S-Max isn’t quite as reliable as other ford models, but there are no major concerns. only 24% of all examples recorded failures in our reliability survey, with electrical and engine issues being the most common.

PLenTY of MPVs can be had for less than £6000. none, Servicing though, offers such intervals an impressive 20,000 blend of space, practicality and miles style as this Grand C4 Picasso.

There’s enough room for five adults in the first two rows, and the third row seats are fine for kids. The middle row slides back and forth to maximise legroom or extend the boot space. The third row will fold away, yet there’s still space for luggage when it’s in use.

Steep depreciation makes the Grand Picasso a bargain, and the 1.6-litre diesel has enough power to transport seven if necessary. VTr+ trim includes alloy wheels, air-con, a CD player and electric windows.

Age ’09/09 Dealer price £10,900 Private price £10,000

‘With all seven seats in place there is still room for a couple of bags’

Buyer’s guide Ford S-Max Power 138bhp Fuel economy 47.1mpg 0-60mph 9.7sec Max speed 122mph Insurance group 19

CO2 emissions 159g/km Annual road tax £175 Servicing intervals 1 year / 12,500 miles Euro NCAP rating y xy xy xy xy x

Servicing intervals 12,500 miles

Age ’07/07 Dealer price £5500 Private price £5200

Buyer’s guide Citroën Grand C4 Picasso Power 108bhp Fuel economy 47.9mpg 0-60mph 12.7sec Max speed 112mph Insurance group 13

CO2 emissions 155g/km Annual road tax £175 Servicing intervals 1 year / 20,000 miles Euro NCAP rating y xy xy xy xy x (pre-’09 test)

whatcar.com november 2013

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USED CAR OF THE YEAR 2013

Executive & luxury car

In association with

ovErAll WinnEr (Less than £10,000)

PricE Point WinnEr (More than £10,000)

Age ’07/57 Dealer price £9000 Private price £8600

Age ’09/58 Dealer price £16,200 Private price £15,100

BMW 320d SE

Jaguar XF 2.7D v6 luxury

The facT ThaT this year’s overall executive and luxury category winner has come from the lower price point reinforces just how impressive BMW’s 3 Series remains. It outshone far more expensive cars with its remarkable blend of refinement, cabin quality and comfort for a relatively modest price.

This generation of 3 Series set the benchmark for how a compact executive car should handle. It grips well, it feels poised and steers accurately. The suspension is firm, but never overly so. all drivers should be able to get comfortable behind the wheel because there’s plenty of adjustment in the front seats and steering wheel. all but the tallest passengers will find the back seats comfortable as well.

The 3 Series does frugal, too. The 2.0-litre diesel 320d was uprated to 174bhp in 2007 and has a healthy 251lb ft of torque, yet you can expect to better 40mpg.

Se trim is the best-value choice. It adds reversing sensors and a multi-function steering wheel to the alloy wheels and front foglights of eS models, and it gets a cD player, air-conditioning and all-round electric windows as standard.

The 3 Series also scores well as family transport, because it achieved a five-star NcaP rating overall and a strong four-star child protection score.

‘it’s a benchmark for how a compact executive car should handle’

Buyer’s guide

Buyer’s guide BMW 320d Power 174bhp Fuel economy 42.2mpg 0-60mph 8.3sec Max speed 140mph Insurance group 28

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The Jaguar Xf finished runner-up in this category Servicing last year, but its intervals slightly steeper 10,000 depreciation than last year’s winner, miles the audi a6, had the judges agreeing the Xf was the best value now.

It’s a worthy winner because the Xf feels and drives like a proper executive should. It has nicely weighted steering, good body control and the 2.7-litre V6 diesel is strong. The engine is smooth, too, which makes the Jaguar a fine motorway cruiser as well. at those higher speeds there’s little noise in the cabin, which seats four in comfort. The Luxury trim is entry-level, but its kit list includes sat-nav, climate control, electric leather seats and parking sensors.

CO2 emissions 153g/km Annual road tax £175 Servicing intervals 1 year / 16,000 miles Euro NCAP rating y xx yx yx yx y (pre-’09 test)

Servicing intervals 16,000 miles

Jaguar XF Power 204bhp Fuel economy 37.6mpg 0-60mph 7.7sec Max speed 143mph Insurance group 41

CO2 emissions 199g/km Annual road tax £260 Servicing intervals 1 year / 10,000 miles Euro NCAP rating na

EXECUTIVE & LUXURY AND NEARLY NEW

nearly new car

ovErAll WinnEr (More than £6000)

vauxhall Astra 1.6i Exclusiv

Age ’12/12 Dealer price £9100 Private price £8700

Our NearLy NeW category considers any car up to 12 months old, but our judges were looking for more than just steep first-year depreciation. They wanted the space, practicality and low running costs that turn a cheap car into a terrific-value one.

The Vauxhall astra is that car. firstly, our pricing experts believe it is losing nearly half its value in the first year; that’s worrying for new-car owners, but great news for used buyers.

Thankfully, that dramatic drop has a lot to do with sales numbers.

There are hundreds of nearly new astras out there, which means you can be fussy about engine and trim combinations.

We think the smooth 1.6-litre petrol is the pick of the range.

With 116bhp, it feels punchy even with a family of four inside, and fuel economy stays at a respectable 44.8mpg. exclusiv trim gives you the equipment you’ll want, too, such as air-con, alloy wheels, cruise control, steering-mounted audio controls and a cD player.

Whichever astra you choose, though, comfort is a given. head- and legroom are generous both front and rear, and the wide cabin ensures decent shoulder space. The boot is big, and split-folding rear seats add extra versatility. considering the astra also has a five-star NcaP rating, it’s hard to think of another car less than a year old that offers such value for money.

‘the Astra’s space, practicality and low running costs make it terrific value’

Buyer’s guide Vauxhall Astra Power 114bhp Fuel economy 44.8mpg 0-60mph 10.9sec Max speed 114mph Insurance group 12

CO2 emissions 147g/km Annual road tax £140 Servicing intervals 1 year / 20,000 miles Euro NCAP rating y xy xy xy xy x

‘there are hundreds of nearly new Astras out there, so you can be fussy about spec’

Servicing intervals 20,000 miles

whatcar.com november 2013

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USED CAR OF THE YEAR 2013

Small car

oVerAll Winner (Less than £5000)

PriCe Point Winner (More than £5000)

Age ’07/07 Dealer price £4100 Private price £3600

Age ’10/10 Dealer price £11,500 Private price £11,000

Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 Design AC 5dr When you’re buying within a strict budget limit of up to £5000, the Vauxhall Corsa stands out as superb value, and that’s why it’s our favourite used small car.

The sheer number of Corsas on the market means that even dealer prices are at rock bottom and you won’t have trouble finding the engine and trim combination you want.

Despite the Corsa’s fairly dinky overall dimensions, it still has enough room for four adults with an impressive boot (featuring clever under-floor storage) behind. it’s easily big enough to cope with the weekly shopping trip.

There’s a baffling line-up of engines and trims to wade through, but we think that the 1.2-litre Design AC is easily the best bet. The 79bhp on offer is enough to make the Corsa feel grown up enough in town and on faster A- and b-roads, and the 1.2 does a decent average of 48.7mpg.

Design AC trim gives you 16-inch alloy wheels, air-conditioning, electric front windows and heated door mirrors on top of the Corsa’s standard CD player and central locking. your Corsa shouldn’t have to spend much time in the garage either, because the little Vauxhall did well in our reliability survey. Axle and suspension issues were the most widely reported issues, but repairs were cheap, averaging £304.

‘Dealer prices are at rock bottom; you’ll easily find the trim you want’

Buyer’s guide Vauxhall Corsa Power 79bhp Fuel economy 48.7mpg 0-60mph 13.0sec Max speed 104mph Insurance group 4

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CO2 emissions 139g/km Annual road tax £125 Servicing intervals 1 year / 20,000 miles Euro NCAP rating y xy xy xy xy x (pre-’09 test)

Servicing intervals 20,000 miles

Audi A1 1.4 tFSi Sport

A smAll CAr with Audi qualities is immediately cast Servicing as a desirable thing. intervals The fact that the 10,000 A1 is also good to drive and live with miles was enough for us to name it our Car of The year in 2011. Two years on, the A1 now looks superb value as a used buy.

The 121bhp 1.4-litre petrol engine is strong and frugal – the A1 will do 0-60mph in 9.0 seconds, an average of 53.3mpg, and emit just 124g/km of Co2 (£105pa road tax). The high-quality cabin has rear legroom enough for all but the very tall. sport trim adds sports seats, bluetooth and larger 16-inch alloy wheels to the A1’s standard electric windows and air-conditioning.

Buyer’s guide Audi A1 Power 121bhp Fuel economy 53.3mpg 0-60mph 9.1sec Max speed 124mph Insurance group 15

CO2 emissions 124g/km Annual road tax £105 Servicing intervals 1 year / 10,000 miles Euro NCAP rating y xy xy xy xy x

SmAll CAR AnD FAmilY CAR

Family car

In association with

oVerAll Winner (More than £6000)

PriCe Point Winner (Less than £6000)

Age ’10/10 Dealer price £8700 Private price £8300

Age ’07/07 Dealer price £4800 Private price £4200

Volkswagen Golf 1.4 tSi Se 5dr

The golf hAs consistently proved that you don’t have to buy big to get impressive cabin quality and refinement. now that the seventh-generation golf is on sale, the falling prices of this mk6 mean you don’t have to spend a fortune either. no other small family car matches the golf for fun and comfort. it has lots of grip and tight body control, and even the bumpiest corners won’t unsettle it. That said, the suspension is also effortlessly compliant no matter whether you’re shuffling around town or cruising along the motorway.

The steering is positive and is neither too light nor too heavy. unless you do a lot of motorway miles on a daily basis, we think the best value lies with the 1.4 Tsi petrol. it has enough power to move four people and their luggage and it’s smoother than the diesel models when worked hard. se trim keeps the price right and comes with plenty of standard equipment, such as electric windows, air-con, CD player, cruise control and alloy wheels. After mid-2010 the trim level switched to match and added a leather-covered steering wheel and automatic headlights and wipers. stick with se trim for the best value. most important, the golf boasts an impressive safety record. families will appreciate its five-star nCAP rating, which consists of impressive 97% adult protection and 84% child protection scores.

‘no other small family car matches the VW Golf for fun and comfort’

Buyer’s guide VW Golf Power 121bhp Fuel economy 45.6mpg 0-60mph 9.5sec Max speed 124mph Insurance group 17

CO2 emissions 144g/km Annual road tax £140 Servicing intervals variable Euro NCAP rating y xy xy xy xy x

Servicing intervals variable

Ford Focus 1.6 Z’tec Climate 5dr

fAmilies limiTeD To a £6000 budget must look to Servicing the mk2 focus, intervals but that doesn’t 12,500 mean they have to compromise on miles space, practicality or safety kit. They’ll be getting a car that’s great to drive, too, because the focus handles superbly. it has plenty of room for four six-foot adults too, and the boot is excellent.

The 1.6-litre engine was powerful enough to cope with a family of four, which made it popular, so there are plenty around at low prices.

The five-star nCAP rating is reassuring, as is the car’s reliability. our survey showed 23% of cars had issues, electrical failures being the most common, but the average repair cost was low, at £280.

Buyer’s guide Ford Focus Power 114bhp Fuel economy 42.8mpg 0-60mph 11.0sec Max speed 114mph Insurance group 12

CO2 emissions 157g/km Annual road tax £175 Servicing intervals 1 year / 12,500 miles Euro NCAP rating y xy xy xy xy x (pre-’09 test)

whatcar.com november 2013

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USED CAR OF THE YEAR 2013

Fun car

oveRAll WinneR (Less than £10,000)

PRiCe Point WinneR (More than £10,000)

Age ’09/09 Dealer price £7500 Private price £7200

Age ’09/09 Dealer price £19,900 Private price £18,700

this previous-generation renaultsport Clio is simply one of the best hot hatchbacks ever made, and now it’s a total bargain. it has a high-revving naturally aspirated 2.0-litre petrol engine and lightning-quick six-speed manual gearbox, and it’s the car’s sheer driver engagement that swayed the judges in its favour. the 198bhp petrol engine is the real focal point. it’s happiest above 4000rpm, egging you on to drive faster, harder, go for another gearshift – it’s a hoot.

We recommend going for a car with the Cup chassis. this will have lower and stiffer suspension than the standard car, plus quicker steering all of which makes it even more immediate, even more engaging to drive. it’s pretty firm though, so make sure you can live with the ride. such performance won’t cost a packet either, because the Clio will return more than 30mpg, and early 2009 models with a full service history and low mileage are temptingly priced. inside, things have been kept simple to keep down the car’s weight, but the other advantages of its relatively simple engineering and renault badge are low repair costs. it’s also nice to know that if the worst happens, the Clio’s five-star nCap ratings apply to this range-topping model as well.

if you’re after the ultimate in open-top fun and are Servicing prepared to spend intervals a bit more, the 18,000 Boxster is the car to go for. it’s miles brilliant to drive and is great value. now that its prices have sunk low enough, our favourite is this 2009 model. this was the year the Boxster got a 252bhp 2.9-litre engine and visual tweaks inside and out. it’ll do 0-60mph in 5.9 seconds, but still manages an average of 30.7mpg, so running costs are manageable, too, although be aware that servicing work can be costly. the Boxster could even be called practical, offering lots of cabin room for two, and enough luggage space for a couple of weekend bags.

Renault Clio R’sport 200 Cup

‘We’d recommend going for a car with the lower, stiffer Cup chassis’

Buyer’s guide

Buyer’s guide Renault Clio Power 198bhp Fuel economy 34.4mpg 0-60mph 6.9sec Max speed 141mph Insurance group 30

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Porsche Boxster 2.9

CO2 emissions 195g/km Annual road tax £260 Servicing intervals 2 years / 12,000 miles Euro NCAP rating y xy xy xy xy x

Servicing intervals 12,000 miles

Porsche Boxster Power 252bhp Fuel economy 30.7mpg 0-60mph 5.9sec Max speed 163mph Insurance group 43

CO2 emissions 221g/km Annual road tax £280 Servicing intervals 1 year / 18,000 miles Euro NCAP rating na

FUn CAR AnD mAnUFACTURER

Manufacturer award

oveRAll WinneR

vauxhall We knoW that buying a used car can be a daunting experience.

Windswept forecourts containing a sea of cars can be intimidating and offputting – and then there’s the finance and warranty to consider. that’s why we came up with our manufacturer award, which seeks to recognise a car maker committed to making the buying process as easy as possible, while offering a choice of cars at sensible prices. our judges felt that vauxhall offered all of the above, starting with its impressive model range, two of which have secured wins in this year’s awards. the Corsa, astra, insignia and Zafira sell in huge numbers as new cars, which means there are loads around. they also depreciate quickly, which is just what used buyers want. they’re great value too; they have all the safety and technology of rivals, because each comes with a five-star nCap rating and generous standard equipment. having a good product is important, but so is accessibility and aftersales service. vauxhall’s

network Q approved used scheme is one of the oldest and there are more than 350 retailers in the uk. finding your nearest outlet and the more than 10,000 vehicles continuously on sale, is easily done online. it’s there, too, that you can check vauxhall’s comprehensive approved-used package. all used vauxhalls sold through network Q come complete with a multi-point check, a history check confirming the vehicle’s age and mileage, any outstanding finance, if it’s been stolen, plus a five-day drive-away insurance policy to get you on the road.

Bundled in, too, is a 30-day exchange policy, allowing you to swap your car for one of equal value if there’s an electrical or mechanical fault that cannot be fixed. peace of mind can extend beyond those 30 days as well, if you protect yourself against big bills for up to 60 months with a network Q car warranty. this nationwide presence, a huge, affordable stock and comprehensive insurance package are what make vauxhall a worthy winner.

‘vauxhall has more than 350 retailers in the UK and 10,000 used vehicles on sale’

‘Good product is important, but so is accessibility and aftersales service’ whatcar.com november 2013

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USED CAR OF THE YEAR 2013

Reader award

READER AWARD

In association with

OVERALL WINNER

Honda THE RESULTS OF our online reader award are in, and you voted Honda the manufacturer you trust most when it comes to used cars.

We asked you to consider the quality of service you experienced, the quality of cars on offer, the kind of things included in your approved used packages, and your overall sense of value for money. Now Honda can add this award to an impressive tally of recent successes.

First, its cars were the most reliable of any manufacturer in our 2013 reliability survey, beating 37 other manufacturers. Across all its models, it scored a failure rate of just 10%, and the combination of low average labour costs and short periods off the road resulted in an average repair cost of £356.

Honda’s cars consistently placed well in their respective categories, too. The Jazz was one of the most reliable city cars, the Civic did extremely well in the small family category, and the Accord in the family category. First place for the HR-V as the most reliable compact SUV was enough to seal victory.

Good reliability means happy customers, and this was clear to see in the 2013 JD Power and Associates Survey, where Honda finished in a very close third place. Once again the Jazz proved popular, taking second place in the supermini category, while the Civic claimed third in the small family car group.

The CR-V was also a firm favourite, coming sixth in a very competitive compact SUV class.

Reading the comments from those driving a used Honda makes this latest award even less of a surprise. Owners had good things to say about the reliability of their cars, but what impressed them most was the way they were dealt with when things did go wrong. Their dealer experiences were very positive; Honda’s workshop teams proved thorough, helpful and courteous.

Understanding the cars you manufacture is one thing, but understanding the people who buy them is quite another.

Honda has proved once again that it knows both inside out.

‘Hondas were the most reliable cars of any manufacturer in our 2013 reliability survey’

‘Honda workshops were courteous and helpful when things went wrong’ whatcar.com NOVEMBER 2013

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SUV

USED CAR OF THE YEAR 2013

SUV

oVerAll WiNNer (Less than £8000)

PriCe PoiNt WiNNer (More than £8000)

Age ’07/07 Dealer price £7800 Private price £7200

Age ’10/10 Dealer price £12,900 Private price £12,300

Nissan Qashqai 1.5 dCi Acenta

Used Car of The Year winner in 2011, our 2012 sUV category winner, and now category winner once again for 2013, the Nissan Qashqai remains the best investment for those buying a used sUV. In fact, the Qashqai is really a small family car in disguise, but it sits taller and has more ground clearance, ensuring plenty of cabin space, a roomy boot and a commanding view. It also has the chunky looks sUV buyers seek, but it’s cheaper to buy and maintain than the traditional 4x4.

That’s especially true if you opt for the 1.5-litre diesel version, which our judges felt made the most sense. It’s just as much at home in town as on the motorway, and it’s on those longer journeys that the 52.3mpg fuel economy starts to impress.

The entry-level Visia trim version is well equipped, but the acenta adds climate control, a Cd multichanger and parking sensors to the standard Qashqai’s air-conditioning, alloy wheels and Bluetooth phone connectivity.

If you can afford it, the acenta is well worth the extra.

The good news gets better when you consider the Qashqai also comes with a five-star NCaP rating and superb reliability record.

Just 21% of Qashqais in our survey had any recorded faults, with axle and suspension issues being the most frequent; average repair bills were £312.

‘the Qashqai has chunky SUV looks, lots of cabin space and is very reliable’

The hYUNdaI Ix35 won this category because it did one Servicing thing better than intervals any of its rivals: 10,000 deliver real value for money. miles Launched three years ago, the ix35’s used prices have crept down to an affordable level, and there’s still the balance of hyundai’s five-year warranty to protect you should something go wrong. entry-level style trim gets air-con, alloy wheels, Bluetooth, heated seats front and rear, electric windows, a UsB connection and rear parking sensors; our judges just couldn’t ignore that list. The ix35 does the simple things well, too. There’s plenty of room for a family of four, and the two-wheel-drive ix35’s 2.0-litre diesel can still top 50mpg.

Buyer’s guide

Buyer’s guide Nissan Qashqai Power 105bhp Fuel economy 52.3mpg 0-60mph 12.2sec Max speed 108mph Insurance group 16

Hyundai ix35 2.0 CrDi 136 Style 2WD

CO2 emissions 145g/km Annual road tax £140 Servicing intervals 1 year / 12,500 miles Euro NCAP rating y xy xy xy xy x

Servicing intervals 12,500 miles

Hyundai ix35 Power 134bhp Fuel economy 51.4mpg 0-60mph 9.4sec Max speed 113mph Insurance group 18

CO2 emissions 147g/km Annual road tax £140 Servicing intervals 1 year / 10,000 miles Euro NCAP rating y xy xy xy xy x

whatcar.com november 2013

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OVERALL WINNER

Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI SE 5dr Age ’10/10 Dealer price £8700 Private price £8300

THE FACT THAT the Mk6 Golf hasn’t won our highest used accolade before now is no criticism of its abilities. It has long stood out as excellent to drive, and this is backed up by a practical interior and exceptional refinement.

What has changed is the cost: used Mk6 Golf prices have now fallen enough to persuade our judges that it offers buyers genuine value for money.

The best example of that value is the 1.4 TSI SE which, with prices starting from as low as £6200, is within reach of most family budgets. The 1.4-litre petrol engine has 121bhp of turbocharged power

that never feels out of place either in town or at motorway speeds.

However, what most clearly sets the Golf apart from other small family cars is its cabin. While not the most stylish, there’s no arguing with the interior materials or the finish, both of which have an exceptionally high-quality look and feel.

It’s the build quality that helps make the Golf a quiet, relaxing companion no matter how long the journey, as well as the fact that there’s enough head-, leg- and shoulder-room for four adults to feel comfortable.

The Golf is cheap to run, too; the 1.4-litre car’s fuel economy is impressive and its strong image means depreciation holds steady even after its third year. The five-star NCAP safety rating is the icing on the cake for most families.

Such a breadth of ability as well as affordability makes a used Golf a logical choice for a wide range of buyers. For that reason we name it our Used Car of the Year for 2013.

‘Lower used prices means the Mk6 Golf offers buyers genuine value for money’

‘What clearly sets the Golf apart from other small family cars is its cabin’

The Golf’s cabin is a great place to be; the interior fit and overall finish are excellent

whatcar.com NOVEMBER 2013

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