BUYING CARS

Dear Chris, I’d like a small 4x4 hatch or offroader for less than £7k with a maximum of 60,000 miles What are my chances?

Martin Westwood, via E-mail

Contact: mail@autoexpress co uk

WITH a design inspired by the innovative Fiat Multipla MPV, it’s no surprise the Panda offers excellent accommodation for its size

More surprising perhaps is its ‘go anywhere’ ability, at least within the limits of its ground clearance It’s much lower than a comparable

SUV, and we’d go for the 0 9-litre TwinAir engine over the 1 3 diesel, because it really suits the Panda’s nippy runabout feel It’s also worth looking out for a car with the sliding rear bench, so you can juggle the balance between legroom and luggage space For practicality and value, this 4x4 is hard to beat

THIS little Suzuki was on sale for 20 years from 1998, and it obviously has a lot of fans That’s reflected in the fact that you’ll need to go back to a 2007/8 model for a decent £7,000 car with fewer than 60,000 miles Although there’s lots to love about this big-hearted off-roader with its 1 3-litre VVT petrol engine, it won’t take long before you realise it’s a

Among that’s a bit sluggish And while the 89bhp 1 6 diesel is slower against the clock, it has the benefit of decent mid-range torque to improve driveability We recommend you look out for the 110bhp unit in the Cooper D if you can, and stick to the six-speed manual for the best efficiency

The All4 version isn’t as economical as the regular front-drive car, and the optional automatic gearbox makes a significant further dent in your economy