Everyone wants a big car these days, don’t they? And when we say a big car, we don’t just mean a big car; we mean a really big car.
(Excuse the repetition of “big car”, but it paints a picture: it’s all you see when you look on the roads now!) It could be a 4×4, it could be a pickup truck; heck, you might even spot a new Porsche Cayenne Coupe or a Mercedes-AMG G 63 if you keep your eyes peeled. Frankly, it’s not a terribly sensible trend, particularly somewhere like Northern Ireland.
Think about it, there are so many reasons for choosing a small car: compact means they are naturally more responsive when it comes to manoeuvring, they usually pay less road tax, they have low insurance costs, servicing is cheaper, and they have more personalisation packs.
Apart from being more economical, they look pretty smart too, as you can see when you browse through the different small cars available online. Let’s look at four solid choices, each with their own unique charm. To begin with, the most charming of them all… the Fiat 500.
Fiat 500—Italian chic
Its enviable, retro styling makes this the small car of choice for fashion-conscious buyers. It’s hugely practical for parking too because it’ll fit into the tiniest of spaces in a crowded city. The twin air engines are great fun and the handling is zippy.
Inside, the dashboard matches the exterior colour very pleasingly; and it has mock-Bakelite controls that make you feel you’re in another era every time you turn on the heater or the radio! The Fiat 500 should hold its value fairly well too.
Seat Ibiza—a technically advanced supermini
The Seat Ibiza must be one of the most technically advanced superminis money can buy. Compare it with its competitors at SERE Motors if you don’t believe us. It’s well engineered and the handling is everything you’d expect when admiring the sporty appearance.
The interior is spacious enough for a full group of adults, the boot is huge offering 355-litres of load volume and if there was any doubt about this then the fact that it’s only available as a five-door proves the point.
MG MG3—Cheap to buy, but doesn’t look it
The MG3 is cheap to buy but certainly doesn’t look it with its sharp body and sporty front end. Like the Seat Ibiza, it comes as a five-door only and has a nice spacious cabin. You’ll find pleasing an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and reverse parking sensors coming as standard on Excite models and door bins and electric rear windows as standard with all models.
A little pearl of wisdom: the MG3 sits in insurance group four due to its sub-£10,000 price. (Look out for those cheap annual premiums.)
Mitsubishi Mirage—a mirage you can rely on
Mitsubishi has a reputation for producing really reliable cars. The dependable and sturdy Mirage is no exception to the rule and to reassure you further, all versions come with six airbags and a stability control system. Both inside and out this model has a lot to offer. Inside there’s climate and cruise control, keyless operation, rain and headlamp sensors and DAB digital audio with four speakers and Bluetooth. Outside there’s a rear spoiler, privacy glass, colour-keyed bumpers and even 15-inch alloy wheels.
So, before you jump on the bandwagon and try to find the biggest car that money can buy, consider a small car—you’ll save money, command superior manoeuvrability and find parking a darned sight easier too!
