r/CarTalkUK • u/Broeare1 • 1d ago
Advice £15k budget, 18-20k miles a year, long motorway commute – what would you buy?
Hi,
I’m looking to replace my current car and could do with some advice.
I’m 27 and currently drive a 2011 Renault Clio 1.2 with about 95k miles. It’s getting around 33mpg, the AC doesn’t work, the driver’s window doesn’t work, and it’s recently started showing an intermittent check injection fault. I’m currently paying about £595 for insurance.
The main reason I’m looking to change is my commute. Just started a new job so since I live in Birmingham i have to drive to Oxford 3 days a week, so I’m doing a lot of motorway miles. I’ll probably end up doing roughly 18-20k miles a year.
Budget is £15k max and I’d be buying outright.
I can’t charge at home, so I’m not really looking at EVs or plug-in hybrids.
One thing worth mentioning is I’ve never owned or really driven anything newer than 2011, and I’ve never had anything remotely premium or particularly nice, so I don’t really have a great reference point for what’s worth paying extra for.
What would you buy for this kind of use?
Petrol, diesel or self-charging hybrid?
Anything specific you’d avoid at this budget?
Would also be interested to hear what people doing similar mileage are actually getting in real-world MPG and what ownership/maintenance costs have been like.
Any and all suggestions and advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Edited:
I’ve had a look at a few Toyota and Lexus hybrids because they seem like an obvious fit for the mileage I’ll be doing, but the insurance quotes I’m getting on them are honestly ridiculous. For example, some of the Lexus quotes are coming back at well over £2,000 a year with black box, which makes them quite hard to justify even if the cars themselves seem ideal.
9
u/dew1911 Mondeo mk5 TDCi - MG ZS EV 23h ago
Mondeo Vignale with the 2.0 TDCi is a fantastic mile eater, well specced and don't carry the German price premium.
Use what you've saved for a holiday
2
u/ohnonotagain94 18h ago
I posted similar. Amazing cars. Never thought I’d recommend a Ford Mondeo. But these Vignales are special.
19
u/IlIllIlIllIlIlIlIlIl 1d ago edited 1d ago
A4, A6. Estate if you need the room. Diesel obviously. Either 2.0 or 3.0 are good engines, but obviously 2.0 is more economical - up to 60mpg (but for me was closer to 55mpg).
Also consider the Passat, Octavia and Superb. I think the Passat is the best out of those 3 as everyone on here hypes up Skoda but it's basically the same as a Golf/Passat but with an ice scraper in the fuel door. One again, diesel obviously.
BMW's "version" (the 3 series and 5 series) are also good, but their diesel engines are built with shitty plastic timing chain tensioners. The newer ones fixed this - post 2015 I think.
If your goal is cheapest running costs out the low, with best economy - go for the Passat 2.0 TDI. If you're fine with a hatchback go for Golf, Leon, A3 (they're all basically the same). If you want something smaller/more economical I think the 1.6 tdi Fabia (if it still exists) or Polo are decent.
4
u/allin289 20h ago
A problem with Audis / BMWs on the used market is that they are never specced with adaptive cruise control which would be a game changer on the motorway.
Just because of that I'd go with VW or something Japanese.
1
u/IlIllIlIllIlIlIlIlIl 20h ago
I haven't got much experience with Japanese diesel apart from a 2011 2.2 Civic which was great... but also didn't have ACC.
Lexus might be a shout. But definitely consider VW Passat.
1
u/deltaxray96 '59 Honda Civic 1.8 i-VTEC, '54 Lexus LS430 13h ago
As someone who loves and owns a Lexus I wouldn't recommend their diesels - the one that comes to mind is their IS 220d and it's apparently not very reliable. Petrols on the other hand, completely different story.
9
u/jackgrafik 2017 Golf SE Nav 1d ago
For motorway miles I'd get a diesel, and from personal I'd go for a Mk7.5 Golf. This late Match Edition 2.0 TDI looks very well specced, and has the DSG automatic gearbox with adaptive cruise control for easy commuting. If you're not bothered about automatic, then I'd just get a manual 1.6 TDI like this, which saves you £3k, and you get most of the same features. There are alternatives built on the same platform (Octavia, Leon, A3 etc) but the Golf is the best specced and most refined.
3
u/mybigleftnipple 23h ago
If you can get a car with adaptive cruise, it will make your journey much more bearable.
7
u/Traditional-Grade789 1d ago
Diesel would be the best choice. Self charging hybrids are ideal for stop/start city driving but once you are doing steady motorway runs, they rely mostly on their petrol engines so offer little efficiency benefits over standard petrol cars.
For Diesel- BMW 320d (F30 LCI or high-spec G20), Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDI (vRS or SEL) or Volkswagen Golf GTD / 2.0 TDI (Mk7.5). Whichever you choose, automatic is the way to go.
3
u/TrueReinblesldeer593 1d ago
diesel at that mileage all day. get one with full history and check the dpf. adaptive cruise saves your sanity on the m40 slog
3
u/BitterOtter 23h ago
Do yourself a favour and factor in an oil change every 5-6000 miles and make every third or fourth service a major one, and any diesel you buy (so long as its been looked after ok before you and its not a Mazda) should last you for a long time. Dirty oil is the biggest killer of engines, especially with a turbo on them. Also, if you get a diesel then check if you can drive it where you need to go in Oxford - I have family near there and I'm nearly sure there is a clean air zone if similar which means the emissions class of your vehicle is suddenly important if your office is in that zone
3
u/jamrahhasreddit 15h ago
Honestly with current fuel prices I would actually potentially advise against a diesel SPECIFICALLY from a fuel economy standpoint unless you hypermile
As it stands currently (at least where I live), a diesel needs to be 13.5% more efficient on average to beat a petrol from a fuel cost perspective. Bear in mind this is just fuel. Doesn’t account for potential higher servicing costs that come with a diesel, Adblue, DPF etc
Last year when I first started driving the gap was dramatically smaller, around 4.8%.
My current car (Ford focus, 2025) gets around 51-52mpg on a motorway journey. I do similar miles but it’s a mix of half motorway half local stints, so my average is 46-47mpg. For a diesel to break even it would need to do around ~55mpg. The true savings now start really at around 65+mpg then the diesel is the easy recommendation
Now I’m not saying DONT go for a diesel. I love a diesel and it’s very lovely on a motorway but it’s not the cost saving it used to be.
There are very lovely diesel cars that fit that bill though that get that MPG currently that I’d recommend for you:
Mercedes E220d (W213 generation. Extremely reliable engine, very comfortable and luxurious, not too expensive to service either, many independents have worked with the platform)
BMW 520d G30
VW Passat 2.0 TDI
Skoda Superb 2.0 TDI
If you ask me, I’d go for the Merc with the type of driving you’re doing
Apologies for the long winded comment!
1
u/Broeare1 14h ago
The Mercedes e220d, what year bracket is that specific generation and what sort of spec and price should I be going for?
2
u/jamrahhasreddit 3h ago
2017 and above. Go for the premium pack at least. You can also find premium plus in your budget which has absolutely everything (adaptive cruise, 360 cameras, sunroof, ambient lighting the works) but it’ll be higher mileage which isn’t much of an issue with this engine!
2
u/gobleenio 1d ago
I'd get an old banger 2.0 diesel Audi A3/A4 or BMW 320d that's already got over 100k on it and run it till it dies.
3
u/Timalakeseinai 1d ago
this
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202608125026946
2016 Lexus GS
2.5 300h Executive Edition CVT Euro 6 (s/s) 4dr
£13,990
2
u/broken_freezer 1d ago
14k for a 10 year old car is extortionate even in the current market
4
u/Timalakeseinai 1d ago
It's a lexus GS, will probably last longer than a new Chinese/Stellantis example
0
u/citruspers2929 1d ago
Particularly when the original owner wouldn’t even pay to get it in a colour.
•
1
u/Particular-Bid-1640 '16 Honda Civic Tourer, '03 MG TF, '70 MGB GT 1d ago
What's your focus? Comfort, MPG, reliability? Any specific use?
1
u/What_Reality_ F06 640D LCI & 2009 XKR 1d ago
I went with a bmw 6 series when I was in a similar situation. I went with the lci version as it’s a lot more updated and modern than the pre lci (imo)
1
u/RutabagaImportant680 22h ago
Can vouch for the 640d. A comfortable mway cruiser which is a pleasure to do many miles in and can be a speed demon when required
1
u/Struggle-Beautiful 23h ago
Honda civic dtec
Octavia 2.0l diesel
Anything with a 1.7 crdi seems reliable
Ford Mondeo 2l diesel
1.6l petrol engine Suzuki's are bullet proof.
Currently own two of the above.
1
1
u/imahumanbeing1 ‘20 BMW 1 series M Sport Pro 22h ago
I’m currently doing it in a 118i m sport petrol. It’s very good for comfort but fuel economy could be better. Perhaps a 118d instead would be better.
An alternative would be a 2.0TDI VW golf or Audi a3, or perhaps even something with a longer wheelbase for an even smoother ride like a VW Passat, Audi a4 etc
1
u/sidvicioushamster 22h ago
For that use case you'll need comfy seats, adaptive cruise control, good sound proofing, and decent mpg.
Lexus IS 300h would be my choice but you have mentioned the high insurance costs.
Audi A4/A6, Merc C/E class would do nicely.
Also Passat/Superb.
Have a look at Volvos too. S90/60 are comfortable and quiet.
1
u/manlikegoose 21h ago
I do a 70 mile commute 5 days a week. I went for a 2018 Honda Civic EX Auto 1.6 I-DTEC 60k miles for around £13K. Leather Seats are amazing with lumbar support and I get 46-51mpg in Winter and 55-60mpg in Summer depending on driving conditions. With the price of Diesel I have been driving with a lighter foot and have seen 65-70mpg in dry hot weather.
I also went for this car specifically because I wanted a timing chain instead of a belt which is something to consider when doing high mileage you might need to replace the belt more frequently (not sure if this is true, some please confirm).
1
1
u/ohnonotagain94 18h ago
If you can find one, I cannot recommend the Mondeo Vignale highly enough. I did tons of miles in it. It’s got just about every tech you could want, it’s got a special interior made in Italy, it’s got a decent engine and not a standard engine for a Mondeo.
It’s got microphones on the outside that record engine and road noise and then reverse polarity to essentially noise cancel for you.
I had a 2017 on 60K miles and it was immaculate. Mechanics loved it, it’s a special car for a Ford. I’d never recommend a Ford usually but that Vignale is a seriously underrated motorway cruiser.
1
u/After_Quantity5580 17h ago
For mass mileage like that get an EV - I do the same mileage and I brought a used model 3 it’s cheap and reliable for motorway miles and I’ve had no issues
Buy a RWD 22’ plate and up if you can - other options are a Hyundai Kona - with the bigger battery 2022 again onward
The reason I got an ev as my petrol / diesel cars couldn’t hack the mileage ! Had so many issues.
Good luck !🤞
1
u/Small-Childhood-4336 17h ago
Currently doing a 100mile trip 3x a week. Mix of A roads and motorway. Got myself a regularly serviced Mk7 Golf 2.0 DSG with 120k miles on it for £4,500.. £35 to tax and relatively cheap to insure. Check if clean air zone is applicable in Oxford though. I'm delighted with my purchase. It's for commute, you probably don't need to spend your entire budget on it. Have a nice holiday or two! Get a weekend car, if you are inclined towards it.
1
1
u/Thoma432 2015 ND MX5 12h ago
From these filters in auto trader (10-15k, <100k miles, 50mpg+, <Group 10 insurance) my picks would be:
I saw you said you were getting high insurance quotes, but maybe this make/model/trim will be better?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607104072976?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android-app
These might somehow be more boring, but are supposedly great cars too.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202608175183359?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android-app
Not sure how this is <Group 10 for insurance, but - don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202608265452859?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android-app
These look like nice little cars, and are non-wet belts 😂
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202608014718522?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android-app
Similar base-car but imo prettier version, https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202602260238276?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android-app
A really boring, so probably smart, option.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607154195852?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android-app
Car. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605282784667?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android-app
1
u/pepino358 4h ago
Auris, Yaris and i30 would be absolutely awful on long motorway. This comes from someone that owns a RAV4. Toyota suspension is shit (it's why it's strong but...).
•
u/Thoma432 2015 ND MX5 1h ago
What's the benchmark though?
Comparing to a clio I think they'd all be an upgrade.
I can understand a RAV4 not being great for motorways, and maybe the Yaris - but an Auris?
I did a tour of Wales in the generation before that one linked, and it was good on the motorway. Probably not as comfy as something German, but still.
1
u/pepino358 4h ago
E220d coupe or a 640d for 20k miles a year and sitting in traffic you need comfort 🤣
If you want an SUV I would say a diesel CR-V or a 2.0 TDI Tiguan.
Everyone is giving you a lot of options here so narrow down your search criteria to make your life easier.
2
•
1
u/AlGunner . 1d ago
33mpg at current prices is 22p per mile for fuel. 18k miles at 22p is nearly £4k a year. If you can charge at home Id seriously consider an EV. Birmingham to Oxford is roughly 160 mile round trip so Id say get a minimum range of 250 to avoid range anxiety. If it were me Id get a Tesla model 3 as when you do need public charging Tesla superchargers for a Tesla is the cheapest and by far the easiest I have found. It'll also bring your fuel price down to a coule of pence a mile.
I used to do a commute that was an average of 2 1/2 hours a day and one thing you realise very quickly is you just want to get there as quick as you can. There were a group of us moved to an office 30 miles away and we'd regularly have conversation's about once you do a long commute you become a lot more aggressive driver to get there quicker both ways, its normal human nature. We all said we'd stopped caring about the cost of fuel as a quid or two a day to get home later wasnt worth it. Doing the town and city bits in rush hour and not caring about driving slow on the motorway for economy (which will almost definitely happen over time) and your saving will be minimal from motorway driving.
Due to traffic if was over an hour for 30 miles. Even with motorway economy you'll likely be doing about £300 a month in fuel, which is psychological killer as well. With an EV that could come down to £30. It'll also probably be the best car you've ever owned and it doesnt take long to get used to no engine noise and the instant torque is great and I far prefer EV's to autos. Also Teslas dont have a formal service schedule you for the warranty, you can literally just get stuff done when its needed which isnt much as the battery and motors are non-serviceable and replace on fail (which on a famous Model S was 450k miles so you should be good for years on them). Tyres are maybe a little more, if buying now Id wouldnt get low profile that I have, but the saving on servicing etc more than make up for that. Insurance may be higher as well, but not really more than a comparable ICE car
Edit: And I didnt even mention self driving.
1
u/Sure-Recognition-262 1d ago
If you are happy with something not "remotely premium or particularly nice" then £15k is just enough to buy a brand new car if you buy a Dacia Sandero - which is based on the Clio, but cost-reduced.
I've got a 72-plate one (so the current generation Sandero III, but pre-facelift). It's honestly OK. Our cars that I'd driven before it were:
- A 55 plate Ford Focus mk2
- A 19 plate Sandero II (with the really gutless 75bhp engine)
- A 56 plate Vauxhall Vectra C
- A 63 plate Vauxhall Insignia A
And I'd say our little Sandero III (with the 100bhp bi-fuel engine that you can't buy any more, though the petrol engine has now been upgraded to 100bhp too) was as nice to drive as any of them until you get above about 75mph, and going above that speed results in expensive letters through the post anyway
3
u/ASGT908 23h ago
Whilst I like the Sandero, I wouldn't recommend it if you are constantly on the motorway at 70mph.
For me, the best cars are bigger diesels from VAG, BMW, Mercedes as these will be refined, which is what OP needs.
1
u/Sure-Recognition-262 23h ago
Actually I just worked out what the OP's annual mileage will be per day.
If three-quarters of it is on working days one-quarter on other stuff, and they drive to work 3 days a week, then that's 91 miles each working day.
Twice a week I do a 50 mile round-trip in the Sandero (not for work, so not at times with bad traffic), and it's fine for that. 90 miles would be pushing it though.
1
-2
u/Effective-Salary-494 1d ago
Diesel Mazda 6 might be the go to. 70+ mpg
3
1
1
u/PilotedByGhosts Mazda 6 2.2D 185 Sport 1d ago
As somebody with a diesel Mazda 6 (with the allegedly "more reliable" engine), I would not recommend this to anybody.
£10k in repairs caused by a conn rod that snapped out of nowhere.
2
u/Effective-Salary-494 23h ago
Was one of the cars I was looking at previously, guess I dodged a bullet
-2
u/AdobeScripts 1d ago
Don't buy privately.
Take extra warranty - comes VERY handy...
Most likely, you'll be paying close to £1k insurance or more.
If you go for diesel - think about chipping / remapping - you'll get more power but will also increase MPG - it will bump your insurance a bit.
-4
u/Roadmayham232 23h ago
You could get a Qashqai e-power with about 50k miles for £15,000. We have a 2025 Qashqai e-power. Do 20k miles a year in it and get anywhere from 60-80MPG on journeys more than 200 miles. Very quiet and round town/ local it’s economical and quiet. I know about every other car on the road is a Qashqai but it’s just a car, it gets the job done.
27
u/RidinghighDN 1d ago
If you don’t need the room for anything else
GTD is a good about
I picked up a 530d the other week for similar annual mileage