Spec me a small premium hatchback

[EvilRob]

Wife needs a new car...

Budget: £25-30k
Age: Up to a couple of years old
Mileage: Up to 30kish but condition more important

Must haves:

• Automatic
• Heated seats and steering wheel
• Memory seats
• Decently fast (200 bhp or so)
• Adaptive cruise control
• Android auto
• Reversing cam

Plugin hybrid would be ideal, 30 mile round trip commute per day and would be good to have an alternative to my M850i for longer journeys when we have passengers so still needs form of ICE.

Short list currently looking like M135i (although a bit overkill on the power requirement) or A3 40 TFSI e. The A Class 250 e premium plus looked good - liked them on viewing some but no heated steering wheel so now ruled out. Usual frustration with all these brands in finding ones with a good spec without driving across the country.

Ideas gratefully received. Open to other brands if the quality is there.

 

[Gilbert89]

VW MK8 GTI with Winter Pack + Rear Camera Optioned?

I believe Winter Pack includes Heated Washer Jets, Heated Seats (Front and outer rear) and Heated Steering Wheel.

Just a suggestion, admittedly not done huge amounts of homework with cars in that price range since out of my price range

Edit: Another suggestion would be a BMW 128ti? Ticks all the same boxes an M135i would but lacks 4WD but saves some weight, down slightly on power but assuming you could get a newer, better condition one for the same or less money?

 

[Diddums]

Mini? Dunno if they come with heated steering wheels.

 

[nlel1975]

When you have got some models in mind, you can check from which year supports Android Auto here…

https://www.android.com/auto/compatibility/

 

[EvilRob]

Checked out the golf GTIs but they seem to be about the same price as the the BMW or Audi! 128ti doesn't seem to have ACC.

Mini would be a good shout but I thought they are a very old car now?

 

[MissChief]

Wife needs a new car...

Budget: £25-30k
Age: Up to a couple of years old
Mileage: Up to 30kish but condition more important

Must haves:

• Automatic
• Heated seats and steering wheel
• Memory seats
• Decently fast (200 bhp or so)
• Adaptive cruise control
• Android auto
• Reversing cam

Plugin hybrid would be ideal, 30 mile round trip commute per day and would be good to have an alternative to my M850i for longer journeys when we have passengers so still needs form of ICE.

Short list currently looking like M135i (although a bit overkill on the power requirement) or A3 40 TFSI e. The A Class 250 e premium plus looked good - liked them on viewing some but no heated steering wheel so now ruled out. Usual frustration with all these brands in finding ones with a good spec without driving across the country.

Ideas gratefully received. Open to other brands if the quality is there.

If a 135i is overkill what about a 128ti?

New & Used Cars for Sale - Auto Trader UK

www.autotrader.co.uk

 

[Gilbert89]

Checked out the golf GTIs but they seem to be about the same price as the the BMW or Audi! 128ti doesn't seem to have ACC.

Mini would be a good shout but I thought they are a very old car now?

VW Golf is basically an Audi A3 - Less “Brand” Bragging Rights.. But I’d rather take a Sporty GTI over a similar priced S Line A3.

Unless it’s S3 Money?

 

[EvilRob]

VW Golf is basically an Audi A3 - Less “Brand” Bragging Rights.. But I’d rather take a Sporty GTI over a similar priced S Line A3.

Unless it’s S3 Money?

Not S3 money. If it was for me I'd agree with you, but for wife refinement is probably more important than sportiness - assuming there is a difference there.

 

[[TW]Fox]

The A Class 250 e premium plus looked good - liked them on viewing some but no heated steering wheel so now ruled out.

Really?

I have one and there's absolutely no way that I'd rule out an entire car based on it not having one. Its just not that useful a feature.

 

[Diddums]

Checked out the golf GTIs but they seem to be about the same price as the the BMW or Audi! 128ti doesn't seem to have ACC.

Mini would be a good shout but I thought they are a very old car now?

Not really sure tbh, Fox will be along at some point to tell us.

No EV consideration?

 

[[TW]Fox]

Mini would be a good shout but I thought they are a very old car now?

They are, they are great but really not what you'd want at this sort of price.

 

[[TW]Fox]

I think there are two options here - 1 series or A class depending on preference. Both great cars. I don't think the A3 is as good as either of them.

 

[EvilRob]

Really?

I have one and there's absolutely no way that I'd rule out an entire car based on it not having one. Its just not that useful a feature.

I have one too and rarely use it. I don't have to drive very often on cold mornings though. Must have for wife. She hates the cold, so fair enough.

 

[EvilRob]

Not really sure tbh, Fox will be along at some point to tell us.

No EV consideration?

Right, no pure EVs.

 

[EvilRob]

Looks like it does have to be the M135i for adaptive cruise control. Pretty ridiculous really. The 128ti ticks all the other boxes and would be a more suitable car.

 

[Jimbeam3678]

Could be of some use, if nothing else to give you an idea. interesting video as well.

 

[jpaul]

how about cla shooting break - slightly stretch goal - but has the space of a hatch and premium zf gearbox unlike vag

Auto Trader UK - New and Used Cars For Sale

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ok wrong about their gearbox - rule that out

 

[mjt]

Cupra Leon/Formentor?

 

[EvilRob]

how about cla shooting break - slightly stretch goal - but has the space of a hatch and premium zf gearbox unlike vag

Auto Trader UK - New and Used Cars For Sale

Find your next car with Auto Trader UK, the official #1 site to buy and sell new and used cars. Over 400,000 cars online. Simple, easy, quick!

www.autotrader.co.uk

ok wrong about their gearbox - rule that out

Nice car but too big

 

[Nasher]

A3s etc aren't actually that small. They are also just an even more expensive Golf. The S1, Abarth etc are small hatches.

You aren't going to get a very refined ride from any of these TBH. Especially the sporty German stuff.