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Daily Mirror
19-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
'I'm a used car expert and this is the best £7k small motor to buy'
A motoring expert has recommended the best used cars for £7,000 or under which are great value especially for new drivers, with choosing a motor with a small engine with a small power output the key Buying a first vehicle, especially a used car, can be a tricky business for many customers as it often comes accompanied with high insurance costs for inexperienced drivers. This means choosing a car that has a small engine, small power output, and isn't very large to keep insurance as cheap as possible. However, with the cost of living going up and the second car market seeing prices rise, it can be hard to work out which car to buy, even if you have a relatively healthy budget of £7,000. This was the problem faced by one motorist who went to AutoExpress for advice on the best car to buy for that price. In response, motoring expert Ryan Birch said it all depended on what one was looking for. Whilst he recommended the Seat Mii, the Renault Twingo and the Citroen C1, when it came to practicality he suggested the Spanish Mii. He said: 'From behind the wheel, the Mii is hard to beat. It shares a platform with the Volkswagen up! so the handling is crisp and it's surprisingly enjoyable to drive. The Mii is also surprisingly spacious, with more accommodating rear seats than the Citroen and a respectable 251-litre boot. Ryan added: 'Lower-spec SE models are equipped with alloy wheels, electric front windows, air-conditioning and a leather steering wheel as standard. A DAB radio can also be specified, along with a dashboard-mounted navigation system and Bluetooth connectivity.' Whilst the Mii was the practical choice, Ryan didn't rule out the Renault Twingo, praising it for having a good turning circle, robust interior and goo rear seat space. Meanwhile, the Citroen C1 was given good marks for its distinctive looks, and the fact it was affordable and easy to drive. He caveated: 'Citroen offers a variety of coloured panels and trims to add a dash of personalisation to the cabin of its city car. 'However, material quality isn't up to the best in the class, and the layout of the controls isn't as intuitive as the SEAT's interior.' This isn't the first time French cars have been recommended as good first cars. The Daily Express' Christopher Sharp also recommended another French car, the Renault Clio. Writing in 2023 about why he recommended the Clio, which he'd named after a tank, Christopher said it's practicality and the fact it had great visibility made it ideal for a new driver getting used to Britain's roads. He wrote in the Daily Express: ' The little Clio has a high rear end and a wide boot aperture. What this means is that it's easy to get big things in and out of it. 'The car was so capacious and the boot aperture so square that it had more carrying capacity than some SUVs at the time. 'Two of the most important elements of choosing a car for a new driver is that it must be comfortable and easy to drive. 'With soft suspension and light controls, the Clio had these in spades. Despite its 1.2 litre engine, it was an able motorway cruiser with impressive economy for the engine's diminutive size.'
Auto Express
17-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Car Deal of the Day: Cupra Terramar is an upmarket family SUV without a premium price tag
Upmarket look and feel Practical family SUV; frugal mild-hybrid power Just £238.85 a month – cheapest we've seen so far Ever since the Volkswagen Group hived off Cupra from its SEAT mother-brand in 2018, it has traded on an image of upmarket performance cars with a strong dose of everyday ease-of-use. Advertisement - Article continues below Since then, Cupra's model range has broadened and its latest offering is the Tavascan – a family-sized SUV with that distinctive racy image. However, our Deal of the Day goes to show that this premium appeal doesn't have to come with a premium price tag. Leasing deals on the Terramar have been slowly getting cheaper and cheaper in recent months, with this offer being the cheapest we've seen so far. Via the Auto Express Find a Car service, Leasing Options is offering the sporty SUV for just £238.85 a month right now. An initial payment of £3,216.19 is all that's needed to get the ball rolling, and it's a two-year deal with a 5,000-miles-a-year cap. But should you need more, an 8,000-miles-per-annum plan can be arranged for just an extra £22 a month. This deal only gets you the entry-level V1 trim. But, with Cupra's mission to offer a premium feel on all of its cars, you won't feel short-changed with the cheapest model. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below V1 trim gets you 18-inch alloys, LED front lights and rear lights with configurable designs, three-zone climate control, a heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel, front bucket seats, plus a 12.9-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and sat-nav. Powering this Terramar is one of Volkswagen Group's excellent 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged mild-hybrid petrol engines. With 148bhp, it's a punchy unit and is paired with a slick seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, while that mild-hybrid system boosts fuel economy to over 47mpg. It's a nice car to drive, with sharp steering helping to give a sporty feel. The inside reflects Cupra's premium aspirations with a high-quality feel and plenty of copper detailing. It's a roomy SUV, too, with a 540-litre boot that can be enlarged to 630 litres when the rear seats are slid forwards. The Car Deal of the Day selections we make are taken from our own Auto Express Find A Car deals service, which includes the best current offers from car dealers and leasing companies around the UK. Terms and conditions apply, while prices and offers are subject to change and limited availability. If this deal expires, you can find more top Cupra Terramar leasing offers from leading providers on our Cupra Terramar page. Check out the Cupra Terramar deal or take a look at our previous Car Deal of the Day selection here… Find a car with the experts New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment BMW or Mercedes would do anything to keep the new Xiaomi YU7 from sale in the UK and Europe, and this is why Electric Car Grant in detail: Which cars will get the UK EV discount? Electric Car Grant in detail: Which cars will get the UK EV discount? The government has set out its plan to help reduce the cost of affordable EVs by introducing a new £3,750 Electric Car Grant for new EVs sold under £3… Electric Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake will keep going long after rivals need to stop Electric Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake will keep going long after rivals need to stop The second of Merc's new-era EVs is here in the form of an attractive estate with a huge range
Auto Express
16-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Help! I need a small, nimble first car for £7,000
Dear Auto Express, I need a first car that's small, nimble and easy to drive. My budget is £7,000. What can I get that's safe and relatively modern? - Jamie Fern, E-mail Passing your practical driving test is a significant moment for anybody. Once you're torn up your L-plates, the only barrier between you and a new level of freedom is finding your first car. Advertisement - Article continues below Of course, being a newly qualified driver, you'll probably be on the lookout for something which is small enough to help you to gain confidence when navigating narrow streets or tight carparks, while also being cheap to insure and run. Typically, the Citroen C1 has ruled the roost among new drivers. If you aren't drawn by its cute styling, you might be convinced by its dependable three-cylinder engine, which it shares with its Toyota Aygo relative. It's not the most sumptuous city car, but some colourful personalisation options do spice up the cabin. The SEAT Mii is the Spanish brand's twist on the Volkswagen up!, making it by default one of the most complete small cars you can buy. It boasts great build quality, grown-up handling and a surprisingly spacious cabin. The styling might be too conservative for some, though. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below The same can't be said for the quirky Renault Twingo. Being rear-engined and rear-wheel drive, the French city car is the reverse of its two competitors here, and this layout gives the Twingo fantastic manoeuvrability in cities. Here's our expert pick for three of the best first cars available for £7,000, together with links to buy them through our Find a Car service… For: Solid build, slick dynamics, roomy Solid build, slick dynamics, roomy Against: Plain design, fiddly parcel shelf Advertisement - Article continues below Stubby dimensions, short overhangs and clean detailing give the SEAT Mii a pleasant if not distinctive look. From behind the wheel, the Mii is hard to beat. It shares a platform with the Volkswagen up! so the handling is crisp and it's surprisingly enjoyable to drive. The ride is supple, too, and wind and tyre noise are well suppressed for this class of car. The most powerful 74bhp version offers solid performance for town driving and the three-cylinder engine feels peppy enough. A 60,000-mile 2019 Mii falls well within budget. None of these models is especially plush inside, but the SEAT gets closest to providing the feel of a bigger class of car. The dashboard layout is user-friendly, the switchgear is sturdy and the hard plastics feel durable rather than terribly cheap. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below The Mii is also surprisingly spacious, with more accommodating rear seats than the Citroen and a respectable 251-litre boot. Lower-spec SE models are equipped with alloy wheels, electric front windows, air-conditioning and a leather steering wheel as standard. A DAB radio can also be specified, along with a dashboard-mounted navigation system and Bluetooth connectivity. See our used SEAT Mii deals For: Tight turning circle, rear seat space, robust interior Tight turning circle, rear seat space, robust interior Against: Vague steering, small boot Advertisement - Article continues below With its engine over the rear axle and powering the rear wheels, the Twingo's set-up is closer to a Porsche 911 than it is to most other hatches or city cars. The design is unique, with rounded surfaces, tiny overhangs and a sloping glass tailgate. By relocating the engine and freeing up space at the front of the car, the Renault Twingo has a turning circle to rival a London Taxi. There's lots of body roll and the Renault tends to fidget over bumpy roads, but although wind noise builds at higher speeds, it's comfy enough. You can get a 2016 Renault Twingo with 20,000-miles on the clock for under £7,000. Renault added splashes of colour inside the Twingo to lift the ambience, with coloured accents on the steering wheel and air vents. It may not be as well screwed together as the SEAT, but the cabin feels solid and durable on the whole. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Visibility is great, too, and standard equipment includes a DAB radio, Bluetooth and a USB connection. The standard stereo is a six-speaker set-up, but some models also feature a subwoofer for punchier sound. There's plenty of space in the rear, even for four adults, although the rear-engined Twingo has the smallest boot in this company, at a mere 188 litres. Advertisement - Article continues below See our used Renault Twingo deals For: Distinctive looks, easy to drive, affordable Distinctive looks, easy to drive, affordable Against: Cheap interior, tight rear seats Closely related to the Toyota Aygo, the Citroen C1 uses that car's running gear. However, while it does its best to maximise the space inside, and has a glass rear hatch that makes it look more distinctive than the SEAT, the driving experience isn't quite on the same level. Its 1.0-litre three-cylinder motor is shared with the Aygo, and can feel out of its depth on a motorway, because it's short of punch even compared with its rivals here. It's fine around town, though, and the C1 is very easy to drive, with light controls. For £7,000, you can bag a 2018 Citroen C1 that's covered 26,000 miles. Like Renault, Citroen offers a variety of coloured panels and trims to add a dash of personalisation to the cabin of its city car. However, material quality isn't up to the best in the class, and the layout of the controls isn't as intuitive as the SEAT's interior. Still, all versions offered for sale other than the entry-level C1 Touch received a seven-inch touchscreen that's equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the higher-grade models; this is useful because the standard interface isn't particularly slick compared with its rivals'. Unfortunately, while the C1's boot is bigger than the Twingo's, the rear seats are very tight for taller adults to squeeze into. Those approaching six feet tall will be short on head and legroom. See our used Citroen C1 deals Did you know you can sell your car with Auto Express? Get the highest bid from our network of over 5,500 dealers and we'll do the rest. Click here to try Auto Express Sell My Car now ... Find a car with the experts New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment BMW or Mercedes would do anything to keep the new Xiaomi YU7 from sale in the UK and Europe, and this is why The Electric Car Grant is here: Government's new £3,750 EV discount in detail The Electric Car Grant is here: Government's new £3,750 EV discount in detail The government has set out its plan to help reduce the cost of affordable EVs by introducing a new £3,750 Electric Car Grant for new EVs sold under £3… New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range The all-electric IM5 brings new technology and design to the MG line-up
Irish Examiner
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
Cupra Terramar VZ review: A sleek hybrid SUV ready to rival the Tiguan and RAV4
Here at Examiner Motoring in the last while we have been banging on extensively about Cupra. 'Cup what?' is the response from most people, and, to be honest, it's been a pain in the ass to answer the most commonly asked question that comes our way: 'What are you driving this week?' Especially when the answer is: 'A Cupra.' Despite the fact the nameplate has been around for some time now (Cupra has been with us since 2018 as a standalone brand and they've sold over 650,000 of them across Europe), Irish people seem to be distinctly unaware of anything about it and, frankly, it's beginning to feel like I'm a one-man marketing campaign. To be fair, the company's arm here in Ireland – Cupra is a sub-brand of SEAT and owned by Volkswagen – they seem to have put a bit of a push on lately to get some attention and that's why we've tested so many of them this year alone. We're doing our best to help. This week we test the Cupra Terramar VZ PHEV, the company's latest entry into the mid-sized SUV market and which is based on the same VW Group platform as the VW Tiguan and Cupra's own Formentor. In a fiercely competitive market segment, this is a car aimed at propelling Cupra sales to new and unprecedented heights, but here in Ireland, the distributors are going to have to start throwing some serious gelt into a marketing campaign to broadcast the news that a), it actually exists; and b) it's a rather good product and not at all the niche thing people might think it to be. Cupra has actually laid a lot of store on its EV products – the Born and the Tavascan, as well as the forthcoming Raval – but it does make cars across a variety of drivetrains including MHEV, petrol and PHEV. The Terramar is offered with all three. Essentially, while the company does view EVs as its future, like most other companies, it has come to the broad realisation that many people are not yet ready – or willing – to become adopters. Consequently, the Terramar is supposed to be one of those transitional cars which will ease the public towards an electric future. It will eventually replace one of those cars which as a joint Cupra and SEAT identity – the Ateca; to that end it has some pretty heavy lifting to do, taking on such big sellers here such as the Toyota RAV4 and the Hyundai Tuscon, not to mention its near sibling, the VW Tiguan. New Cupra Terramar The Cupra adventure has been something of a novelty, but if there was one broad criticism to be thrown at the company, it is that there has been a bit of over-egging the pudding by producing a somewhat confusing model line-up filled largely with similar-sized SUVs. There is the Arona, the Tavascan, the Formentor and now the Terramar. Sure, the Formentor is bigger than the rest of them, but the other three all seem, remarkably, to be fighting for the same space. It seems that sensory overload is also part of the Cupra grand plan. To add further confusion, the company has, like so many others, reacted quickly to the public's cooling off on EVs and now most models come with MHEV, PHEV and petrol variants – apart of course from the excellent Born, which remains resolutely electric, and the coupe-esque Tavascan. But I digress. The Terramar, like most of its siblings, is a fine-looking thing and does stand out from the pack. A mixture of busy lines – front, rear and sides – along with very fancy 'Matrix LED Ultra' headlights (with their three-point triangular light points), the 'four-legged spider' badging and the copper inserts all over the interior and the alloys. There are five powertrains offered – two PHEVs, one MHEV and two petrols – and it was the more powerful of the former that we tested. This petrol/electric mix produces some 268 bhp (200 kW); it utilises a 1.5-litre petrol engine paired with an electric motor fed by a 19.7 kWh battery. Power is transmitted to the front wheels through a six-speed DSG gearbox. The 0-100 km/h time is an earthy 7.3 seconds, and top speed is 215 km/h, so it's not lacking in punch; there is also an EV-only range of 112 km, which is well on the right side of useful. The claimed 0.4/0.5 l/100 km (700 mpg) fuel consumption is, of course, preposterous, but you can reasonably expect to get close to 4.9 l/100 km (57.1 mpg) without sweating it. Stylish Cupra Terramar As a front-driver, you will get a smidge of torque steer when you stamp on the loud pedal, but otherwise, this is a very well-sorted handler. Sports suspension might not be everyone's cup of macchiato, but in this case, the 10 mm lower set-up dials out body roll and the front MacPherson struts and rear multilink set up make for a supple ride and spot-on handling. Six-piston Akebono brakes are an advised option and work really well in tandem with two-valve shocks to give an assured feeling when you're kicking ass. This hybrid is heavy, though, and that becomes more noticeable the more you press on as the steering is ever so slightly vague. Compared to, say, the Tavascan, the Terramar's interior is slightly old-school (no swooping centre console struts here), but it is very well put together, and the overall vibe is classy. The infotainment system is excellent, and the optional Sennheiser sound system is fantastic. Like many cars in the segment, rear legroom is a little tight, and the boot space (400-490 litres) is compromised a bit by all the hybrid baggage you have to carry around. All told, then the Terramar is possibly the least exciting of all the Cupra models we've recently tried. Given that the company's stated intent is to offer a product which is both different and infused with what might be called Cupra's 'enthusiastic DNA,' this seems a touch off-message. Oddly, however, that might make it appeal to a broader audience than some of its fellows, particularly so for the excellent ride and handling, extensive technology and its frugality. Even though so many folk profess to know nothing about Cupra, the brand is slowly but surely gaining traction. Its very distinctive styling and premium build quality are very evident here as with other models, but just not as much in your face. That it is competitively priced and not thrown in among the premium sharks will further enhance its potential popularity. But the basic advice here is that if you've not heard of the brand, then the Terramar is a really good place to start looking. You will be very pleasantly surprised. Read More 41662784[#embed10]
AU Financial Review
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- AU Financial Review
If you're trading in your Tesla, this could be a good replacement
What is it? The Cupra Tavascan is, yes, yet another electric SUV which will be compared with the Tesla Model Y. The big difference here is that the Tavascan is Spanish. Sort of. All Cupras are designed in Barcelona (the brand is a spin-off from VW Group's Spanish SEAT car company) and many are built there, though this one is put together in China, like 70 per cent of the world's EVs. The name is an homage to Catalonia, or at least to the small village of Tavascan within that Spanish region. What does it cost? It's $74,490 plus on-road costs for the dual-motor VZ model we sampled, plus another $800 for the premium paint (Tavascan Blue) on our car. The more affordable Endurance, with a single motor and a longer range, starts at $60,990 plus on-road costs.
