Mazda6, Peugeot 407 or Volkswagen Passat?

I have €5,000 to €7,000 to spend on a car that'll be good for commuting 100km per day. Currently looking at 1. Mazda 6 2. Peugeot 407 3. Volkswagen Passat - all diesels. Looking for something reliable with decent spec and low running costs/insurance (I'm 24!). I've read about some issues with Mazda diesels around this price range, also unsure of Peugeot's reliability and the Passats seem to be cursed with high mileage at this price point. Any advice on these or other cars you'd recommend would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Ciaran Redmond (Dublin)

Oct 2013 Filed under: choosing used car

---

Expert answer

Hi Ciaran,

Keeping your insurance affordable is mostly a matter of shopping around, although at 24 you may well be shopping for a size of car that most insurers will baulk at. You may get a better deal in that respect if you dropped down to a Golf/Focus/Astra-sized car. But if you must have the bigger machine then I'd go for the Mazda. It's sweeter to drive than the other two, vastly more reliable and spacious and practical too.

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Adviser
@neilmbriscoe