Our first little one’s due and we’re looking for a brand new automobile. We don’t need second-hand dramas, so want one thing new, out there now, dependable, secure and in a position to carry child paraphernalia.
It’ll be a second automobile for my spouse for city and quick freeway journeys. She’s not bothered about model or fashion, however needs one thing straightforward to park with an auto gearbox that prices about $30,000. Please assist!
Michael Saxby, e-mail
ANSWER
Infants and toddlers are automobile wreckers. They vomit, spill milk bottles, smear home windows and wipe/drop meals in every single place. It’s good to contemplate completely different automobile varieties: SUVs appear the default, however sedans and hatchbacks are effective for one or two younger youngsters. Security is necessary, as is experience consolation, straightforward little one loading and pram area.
CHOICES
KIA CERATO HATCH S SAFETY PACK, $30,290 DRIVE-AWAY
New dad and mom are entitled to go ultra-sensible and Kia’s Cerato hatch is pragmatism personified. It’s enticing but bland, the cabin has primary fabric seats and tools, and whereas the drive’s by no means thrilling, it’s comfy and competent. The four-cylinder petrol’s thirsty at 7.4L/100km, and $2031 for 5 companies isn’t low-cost.
So why suggest it? It has a seven-year guarantee, nice visibility, huge rear area with air vents, easy-use ISOFIX factors and a big boot. It’ll simply match a folded pram plus buying, whereas the boot flooring’s a superb peak for nappy adjustments. Possibility the $1500 security pack, which has radar cruise management, blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert. It’s a fuss-free secure all-rounder prepared for the kid tsunami.
VOLKSWAGEN POLO 85TSI LIFE, $31,990 DRIVE AWAY
An excellent metropolis automobile with Euro fashion, a zesty three-cylinder engine and easy, well-engineered cabin. This era Polo’s correctly grown up, quiet on highways and enjoyable on the town. It’s costly – $31,990 drive-away for MY23 Polos – however feels extra stable than the Cerato. I purchased its sister automobile Skoda Fabia when our second little one arrived and by no means wanted extra space. The Polo’s rear seat’s surprisingly roomy, ISOFIX factors are straightforward to entry and the boot, whereas smaller than the Ceratos, handles a folded pram.
Customary gear contains alloy wheels, LED lights, a digital driver’s show, auto emergency braking, lane-keep help and an honest sized infotainment display. However there’s no rear air vents nor superior security.
The engine drinks simply 5.0L/100km (however wants premium), the guarantee’s 5 years and companies are stupidly costly – $3233 for 5. It’s polished, however dear.
HYUNDAI VENUE ACTIVE, ABOUT $30,500 DRIVE-AWAY
The quirky Venue’s not the very best metropolis SUV, however higher rivals bust your price range. It’s greatest to not stretch your self with an costly child coming.
The Venue’s boxy form interprets to first rate inside area, and because it’s a higher-riding SUV, loading bub in is much less backbreaking. The boot’s roughly the identical dimension because the Polo, with a two-tiered flooring. Preserve it low when the pram’s in, or raise it up for boot nappy adjustments. It’s enjoyable and simple to drive, however its four-cylinder petrol is sluggish and comparatively thirsty. The guarantee is 5 years and a five-year service pack’s an affordable $1817.
The Venue lacks crash-avoidance tech apart from auto emergency braking and lane-keeping help. Included is an 8-inch infotainment display, wi-fi cellphone charger, wi-fi CarPlay/Android Auto, 17-inch alloys and sturdy fabric seats.
WILDCARD
SSANGYONG KORANDO ELX, $31,990 DRIVE-AWAY
Let’s strive one thing bigger. Of the circa $30k medium SUVs, this SsangYong’s my choose. The Chinese language MG HS and Haval H6 are tempters, however the drive expertise lets them down. The Korean Korando appears to be like sharp, has 5-star security, a seven-year guarantee and a simple, quiet and fairly comfy drive expertise. It’s no sports activities automobile by way of the corners nevertheless it has huge rear area, straightforward little one loading and the most important boot of this group by a big margin. There are 18-inch alloys, heated entrance seats and an 8-inch infotainment display. Security contains auto emergency braking, blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert. There’s no radar cruise or rear air vents and real-world gasoline use is larger than the quoted 7.7L/100km. Servicing’s low-cost at $1475 the primary 5, however resale’s a problem.
VERDICT
I’d take a punt on the Korando, but when it’s too giant or left area, the Cerato wins.
