QUESTION – JANE (10/08/16):

We currently have a 2010 Ford Territory which has been great but we don’t need a car this big anymore. It doesn’t fit in our little garage and it isn’t super fuel efficient.We would like a small SUV (but would consider a sportier hatch like a Mazda3 if the space was sufficient) that will be driven for short commutes on weekdays and longer trips on weekends. No off-roading, maybe the odd dirt road or country road. It’s our only car so gets driven every day.We want it to be stylish and would prefer leather seats. We need it to be appropriate for if we have a baby and be able to squish in a child, dog, pram and all our luggage.Reliability and safety is also important. We loved the Mazda CX-3 but the boot was tiny. The Honda HRV is almost perfect but a little sluggish and underpowered. The Suzuki Vitara S Turbo is also great but looks cheap on the inside. And the Mazda3 is great but not an SUV and we wondered if it would be a bit less roomy and baby friendly. That said we have no idea how much space is adequate for one child.Have we missed something obvious?

BUDGET:

$30,000

ANSWER – TOBY HAGON:

The new breed of small SUVs is a diverse bunch, as you have discovered.

The Mazda CX-3 is great to drive and well-presented inside, but has rear seat and boot space akin to a Mazda2 hatchback, which is not suitable for families.The Honda HR-V, meanwhile, has loads more space, but less punch and driving flair. That said, its CVT automatic transmission does a good job eking the most out of the engine, so don’t be afraid to rev it and you’ll find performance is decent.For more space and punch, though, the Mazda3 SP25 is fantastic buying. As for whether it will have enough space for a child, the biggest factor there will be what pram you buy. Buying a pram is almost as difficult as buying a car, so allow yourself plenty of time to research and take it with you when car shopping to see how much boot space it takes up.

undefined