Ford Focus, Opel Astra or Hyundai i30?

I intend to replace my car soon with something more powerful than my 1.0-litre Corsa. I've been looking mostly at an Opel Astra, Ford Focus, or Hyundai i30, and my budget is up to €10,000. Would there be an obvious standout to buy in those three, or any major issues with them? Also, I cover about 650km/week between commuting and life, 90 per cent of which is on good regional roads. Would you have a recommendation either way on whether to choose a petrol or diesel engine?

Thanks

Colm McGrath (Kildare)

Aug 2018 Filed under: choosing used car

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Expert answer

Hi Colm,

OK, first off, with that kind of mileage you’re well into the sort of levels that would justify a diesel engine, although the best of the down-sized turbo petrols are still certainly worth looking at. Of the three cars you’ve selected, I’d leave the Astra, as your €10,000 budget won’t get you into a new-shape model, and the older Astra was pretty dull. Of the other two, the Focus is the best, by far, to drive, and has solid reliability, but the i30 is better for interior space, and would be the more reliable in the long run.

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Advisor
@neilmbriscoe