Looking for a replacement for a Volvo C30 is difficult, but try to find a compact and comfortable car for an Autoblog reader!
It is striking that there is a discrepancy between what the government wants us to do and what we can actually do. Of course, electric driving is great. Quiet, fast and no direct emissions. But for many people it is not yet a possibility. If you drive a lot of kilometers and just act normally, you will have to charge at least 1 or 2 times a day. Even an EQS with a 700 km range has less than 500 km in winter with a smooth driving style.
Search for a comfortable and compact car
In Puck's case, an EV won't work either, because she drives very far every day. She currently has a Volvo C30. You know, one of those nice and quirky three-door hatchbacks. It currently has 500,000 km. The MOT is coming and Puck doesn't feel like investing large sums of money again to keep the Volvo running. Very understandable.
Puck has been looking for a successor for some time, but that still proves to be quite difficult. Everyone recommends the Volvo V40 to her and that makes sense: that was also the successor that Volvo had in mind. But Puck thinks that model is a bit too boring. It doesn't really appeal to her. A Mini and 500 is nice, but really too small.
You can view the wishes and requirements for a comfortable and compact car below:
| Current/previous cars: | Volvo C30 D2 |
| Buy / lease: | Buy |
| Budget | 25,000 |
| Annual mileage | 45,000 |
| Fuel preference | Diesel or PHEV |
| Reason for purchasing another car | Current Volvo is used up |
| Family composition | 1 + Golden retriever |
| Preferred brands/models | Car must suit me |
| No-go brands/models: | Mini Cooper & Fiat 500 |
How do we get the figures?
- Consumption: via Spritmonitor and/or Fuelly
- Fuel costs: via United Consumers, Petrol 95 E10 (€ 2.09) and diesel (€ 1.90)
- Insurance: average of various providers, Utrecht, 5 claim-free years, 31 year old woman, all-risk
- MRB: via tax authorities, province of Utrecht
Seat Leon eHybrid FR (KL)
€24,900
2021
65,000 km
What is it?
Of the quarter A3-Leon-Octavia-Golf, the Seat Leon has the most original look. In addition, this is the current model: if you buy a new one, you get this one. In terms of technology, it is a very excellent PHEV. With this car you can fill up with petrol, but you can drive very economically. The Leon is only available as a five-door. The FR version provides a slightly sportier interior and exterior design. In principle you could also have chosen the duller Golf or slightly more businesslike Audi A3 with the same drivetrain. The Leon is a generation more modern for the money. The interior has improved compared to its predecessor (while the A3 and Golf took a step back).
How does it drive?
Like a Golf or Audi A3. This Seat is above all everyone's friend with a very slightly sporty undertone. That in itself is also nice if you drive a lot of kilometers. The performance is very pleasant. With smaller hybrids it is mainly economical or fast. Both are not possible, but with this drivetrain it is possible. They are very economical (if you drive normally) but deliver excellent performance. Also nice: an automatic is always standard.
View the driving test below:
Costs Seat Leon eHybrid
- Consumption: 1 in 27.17
- Fuel costs: €193
- Weight: 1,514 kg
- Motor vehicle tax: €41
- Insurance: €115 (all risk)
- Total costs per month: €349
Maintenance forecast
It's an almost new car, so it can't be much. In fact, the car in this case has a fairly extensive warranty. Delicious. Yes, with a plug-in hybrid, replacement hangs over ownership like a kind of sword of Damocles, but you can really make good progress with it over the next few years. Only after about 10-12 years do you have to deal with real relegation that you have to take action, but then you have already covered a lot of kilometers.
Depreciation forecast
Naturally, you will depreciate significantly on a fairly recent car, especially if you drive it a lot. But hey, then you have a very recent, modern, safe and economical car with a lot of equipment. So you get something in return. We also see that Leons depreciate more than Golfjes and Octavias. But that's not a problem, because you also benefit from this when purchasing a more modern Leon for the same money.
Mercedes-Benz A180d Launch Edition (W177)
€24,950
2019
60,000 km
What is it?
Of course we also have to deal with a diesel. In this case we opted for the Mercedes-Benz A-Class. The reason for this is simple: it is the nicest car in its class for long distances. The comfort, interior and finish actually seem to belong in a class higher. Technically the car is less special: a fairly basic diesel engine and an automatic transmission. Tip: without AMG-line stuff, the A-Class looks a lot more elegant.
How does it drive?
Masterful! Perhaps a top choice if you are looking for a comfortable and compact car. The Mercedes-Benz A180d is a very mature car. The driving quality is excellent: very comfortable without being soft or swampy. It is not a cornering rider par excellence, but the car is nowhere out of its comfort zone. The engine is not above average powerful, on the contrary. Compared to what you have now, it doesn't make much of a difference. The engine is very economical, really very economical. Check our here A-Class driving test!
Costs Mercedes-Benz A-Class
- Consumption: 1 in 20.16
- Fuel costs: €236
- Weight: 1,345 kg
- Motor vehicle tax: €135
- Insurance: €125
- Total costs per month: €496
Maintenance forecast
No spark plugs to replace! Tasty! All kidding aside, there are a few things to keep in mind. To ensure that Mercedes-Benz could sell new diesels around this period, the engine had to meet all kinds of strict requirements. A number of measures have already been taken and you will encounter them. During maintenance, such as the particulate filter. This may entail some costs over time.
View the A-Class W177 purchase advice below:
Depreciation forecast
Also? Well, that's not too bad. The fact is that diesel no longer sells new, but there is certainly still interest in used ones. Just like no one wants to use electric and new ones do. So in a few years there will only be petrol and hybrid versions, but no diesels. You can then easily sell the few copies that are there.
Mazda 3 e-SkyActiv-X Comfort (BP)
€24,939
2021
41,000 km
What is it?
The most stubborn C-segment car in its class, just like the Volvo C30 once was. The Mazda 3 is available as a five-door hatchback, but also as a four-door sedan. It is quite beautiful, but lacks a bit of stubbornness. It is not only a special car from a design-technical point of view, the technology is also quite special. The interior is very attractive with excellent finishes and finishes. It's close to premium.
How does it drive?
Surprisingly premium. In terms of insulation, you notice that it is not quite a premium car, but it comes close. It is a quite sporty car. On the Dutch highways you still have more than enough suspension comfort, by the way. But the '3' is more tightly tuned than other cars that have sporty pretensions. The engine (with variable compression) is a gem. The only thing it doesn't really do is drive very economically.
Mazda 3 costs
- Consumption: 1 to 15.31
- Fuel costs: €342
- Weight: 1,324 kg
- Motor vehicle tax: €65
- Insurance: €95
Total costs per month: €502
Maintenance forecast
It's a modern Mazda, so you're safe. It remains to be seen how the special technology of the SkyActiv-X engine will hold up, but knowing Maza, they brought the technology to the market too quickly, but first it had to be properly crystallized. Furthermore, the mileage is so low that in the beginning you mainly need minor maintenance services.
Depreciation forecast
The Mazda 3 also suffers from the Japanese car syndrome. This means that when they are almost new they depreciate considerably. The car we mention here is simply the new model. But as the years go by, the buying public knows that you have to have a Japanese car for the sake of reliability. So in that respect you are exactly right with this car.
YOLO: Audi A3 Cabriolet 1.6 TDI Ambiente Pro Line+ (8V)
€15,945
2015
110,000 km
What is it?
Initially we wanted to look for an Audi TT diesel, but we couldn't find it. The Audi A3 was also available as a convertible for a while. A smart plan from Audi is 'to base it on the sedan, not the hatchback. It is a beautiful car to look at. The main attraction, of course, is that the roof can be taken off (and put back on again). The advantage is that it is still just an Audi A3, so you have great seats, a beautiful interior and in this case also a back seat for the dog.
How does it drive?
Not exciting for a Yolo perhaps, but driving with an open roof always gives a new dimension. Whether in an MX-5 or Corniche: open-top driving has something to offer. Furthermore, it drives just like an Audi A3, but a little heavier and a little less stiff. However, you have to drive them side by side to notice the difference. The 1.6 diesel engine is absolutely not a powerhouse, but just adequate. The 2.0 TDI is hardly thirstier and has a little more oomph and is therefore worth considering, especially because it was available with an automatic transmission. But again: put that roof down and you can enjoy all the sun's rays. And when it rains, you have the sound of drops on the soft top.
Costs Audi A3 Cabriolet
- Consumption: 1 in 18.8
- Fuel costs: €253
- Weight: 1,375 kg
- Motor vehicle tax: €149
- Insurance: €105
Total costs per month: €507
Maintenance costs
The great thing is that despite the car's chic appearance, underneath it is a relatively sober Golf. It's all pretty straight forward engineering. You do have to maintain the hood, but in this case the car is still so new that you won't have to worry about it for a few years. Just like with the Mercedes, you are faced with some environmentally friendly interventions, such as a particulate filter, which may entail some maintenance or costs. It is true that a diesel that drives long distances often causes fewer worries than a diesel that only drives short journeys.
View the Audi A3 8V purchase advice below:
Depreciation forecast
Very difficult. It's a bit like rye bread with anise sprinkles and curry ketchup. That doesn't taste good for everyone. So the standing time will undoubtedly be a bit longer. On the other hand: it is almost non-existent and there will undoubtedly be people who drive a lot of kilometers and who like a convertible: it gives an extra dimension to the car.
Conclusion: comfortable and compact car
What to choose? That's a tricky one, because this seems to be a very taste-sensitive issue. If you are looking for the nicest car for longer distances, go for the Mercedes-Benz A180d automatic. If you are looking for a comfortable and compact car, this is a top offer. The luxury of a large Benz in a compact package. The Seat is potentially very economical, but given the fact that you mainly drive long distances, the advantage of a PHEV is somewhat lost. You have to charge a lot for that extremely favorable consumption, the advantage can quickly turn into a disadvantage. If you are unsure whether you are going to drive 30 or perhaps 40 a year, then nothing can beat good old diesel.
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This article Compact and comfortable car for 25K grand Autoblog Advice first appeared on Autoblog.nl.
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