Another 'Which Car?' thread - do we have any better option than an Impreza?

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Another 'Which Car?' thread - do we have any better option than an Impreza?

Inphinity

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# 214076 26-Apr-2017 22:17

So we're looking for a new or near-new (approx <2yrs <30k kms) mid-size vehicle. We've considered the Focus, Mazda3 and Impreza thus far. The budget is circa $30k. The main requirements are comfortable seating for 4, reasonable boot space, and all of the safety. Sedan, hatch, SUV, bodystyle not a big deal, but a Swift is too small and a Highlander is too big - so, something in the mid size range.

As far as we can see, the Impreza looks to be what we're after - it's about the size we need, and at $30k with most of the gadgets thrown in (including, now, EyeSight with brake assist etc), seems to tick the boxes. The Mazda3 and Focus both start a few thousand above the Impreza, and both look like we need to up-spec to at least the $36k - $38k range to get the safety extras, unless I"m missing something.

The car won't do particularly high mileage, so while fuel economy is a consideration it's not at the top of the priorities.

I'm hoping there may be some other suggestions for what to look at that meets those requirements (and to help ensure my Subie-bias isn't having too big an impact). We can't really stretch the budget any further, but happy to go to it's limit to get the best option. Appreciate any input, thanks :)

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# 1771060 27-Apr-2017 08:35

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The recently updated Impreza is highly regarded, though its performance falls a bit short of the Focus or the SP25 variant of the Mazda3. It also has a CVT transmission which isn't to everyone's tastes, so pay attention to this when you test drive it.

I have a Mazda3 myself and find it mechanically brilliant, albeit with some minor annoyances in the cabin features. For example, lack of cargo hooks and having to move the front seats forward before lowering the rear seats. If you are an iPhone user then you should be aware that Mazda don't support Carplay, though there has been some suggestion that this will be able to be retrofitted to some existing vehicles later this year.

Also keep in mind that Mazda offer three years of free servicing and a five year warranty, although the latter two years of that warranty have some limitations. To the best of my knowledge Subaru and Ford still offer a three year warranty only.

All three of the options that you have cited are class leading, and you are unlikely to be disappointed regardless of which you buy.

trig42

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# 1771068 27-Apr-2017 08:48

What about a CX-5? I've seen them on Trademe in the 2-3 years old/less than 40000k for under $30k

Inphinity

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# 1771093 27-Apr-2017 09:42

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alasta:

The recently updated Impreza is highly regarded, though its performance falls a bit short of the Focus or the SP25 variant of the Mazda3. It also has a CVT transmission which isn't to everyone's tastes, so pay attention to this when you test drive it.

Thanks for the feedback. CVT shouldn't be a problem :) From a performance point of view, it's not a particularly high priority. The entry-priced Focus is only a 1.0-litre turbo, so I suspect not a big performer either. We will keep an eye out for the 1.5 Trend dipping in to the price range, though based on the info on their website there is a lack of some fairly key (at least for our needs) safety features (such as ISOFIX) on Trend/Titanium models. The Mazda3 was really nice, we did test drive one, it's purely the price differential (we would look at the GSX, which is $36k and thus beyond budget unless we can find a lightly used one, which thus far has not presented itself) that throws us back to the Impreza I think.

trig42:

What about a CX-5? I've seen them on Trademe in the 2-3 years old/less than 40000k for under $30k

Thanks for the suggestion, I will look in to it. I haven't looked much at the CX-5, so I'm not sure where they fit in terms of features etc that we're after but if I find one in the price range we'll certainly go check it out.

WyleECoyoteNZ

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# 1771101 27-Apr-2017 09:59

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The current\new Honda Civic sedan is worth a look.

Huge boot in the sedan (519 litres, as a comparison a Commodore is 495 litres). In my opinion, the RS Turbo and NT Turbo are the ones to look at\go for. New, they're $39,990 and $42,990 respectively.

NT gives all the 'Advanced active safety' equipment as standard. 127kW\220Nm is the output from the 1.5 VTEC, is a CVT transmission but runs on 91.

5 year unlimited Km's warranty and 24\7 roadside assistance with all new Honda's too.

As there still relatively new, a second hand one maybe harder to find, and with Honda's Price promise, they very rarely sell on the demo stock.

The Civic hatch is due in early June, with the RS Turbo version of that is bit of a looker. On a slightly unrelated note, the new Civic Type R Hatch just set the hatch record at the Nurburgring with a 7:43.8 lap time. No word on the Honda NZ site about whether the Type R is coming here.

meesham

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# 1771106 27-Apr-2017 10:05

I'd recommend a Kia Cerato or Hyundai i30, they're both excellent cars and are around the same size. Great build quality, nice to drive, pretty economical, decent amount of space in the back and good boot space (unlike the Focus). I have a 2015 Kia Cerato and it was one of the few cars that size that could happily fit 3 car seats in the back (2 of them rear facing) and the pram in the boot. I've had far less problems than the 2013 Toyota Rav4 I had before it and the build quality is much higher (the Rav was full of rattles and squeaks). The Kias and Hyundais of today are a completely different beast to the ones being built 10-15 years ago.

Coil

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# 1771113 27-Apr-2017 10:17

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-1309877637.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=1300157850

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-1306504219.htm

alasta

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# 1771134 27-Apr-2017 10:46

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meesham:

I'd recommend a Kia Cerato or Hyundai i30, they're both excellent cars and are around the same size.

I agree that these are a very good quality product, but the i30 is due for a major update very soon so make sure you get a good discount if you are buying the outgoing generation.

djotter

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# 1771157 27-Apr-2017 11:20

Considered electric? A Nissan Leaf can be easily had for under $30k and is perfect for a runabout (try for a 30kw model for a bit of extra range). I have only read that people find them spacious and boot space is bigger than you would think, but I have not personally tried one. Take a test drive and see for yourself :)

ilovemusic

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# 1772685 30-Apr-2017 00:57

forget the impreza, korean junk or daft ev's.

go for the class leader... vw golf mk7.

plenty to choose from within your parameters.

mattwnz

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# 1772687 30-Apr-2017 01:05

Inphinity:

alasta:

The recently updated Impreza is highly regarded, though its performance falls a bit short of the Focus or the SP25 variant of the Mazda3. It also has a CVT transmission which isn't to everyone's tastes, so pay attention to this when you test drive it.

Thanks for the feedback. CVT shouldn't be a problem :) From a performance point of view, it's not a particularly high priority. The entry-priced Focus is only a 1.0-litre turbo, so I suspect not a big performer either. We will keep an eye out for the 1.5 Trend dipping in to the price range, though based on the info on their website there is a lack of some fairly key (at least for our needs) safety features (such as ISOFIX) on Trend/Titanium models. The Mazda3 was really nice, we did test drive one, it's purely the price differential (we would look at the GSX, which is $36k and thus beyond budget unless we can find a lightly used one, which thus far has not presented itself) that throws us back to the Impreza I think.

trig42:

What about a CX-5? I've seen them on Trademe in the 2-3 years old/less than 40000k for under $30k

Thanks for the suggestion, I will look in to it. I haven't looked much at the CX-5, so I'm not sure where they fit in terms of features etc that we're after but if I find one in the price range we'll certainly go check it out.

The CX5 is just being updated to a brand new model, so you maybe about to pickup an old run out model cheaper, as you would expect a really good discount on an old model. The new models look very nice. The CX5 is also largely just a mazda 3 , with a taller cabin and higher driver position. There is also the CX3, but that is quite small and is basically a mazda 2 with a taller cabin and higher driver position.

meesham

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# 1772701 30-Apr-2017 07:35

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ilovemusic:

forget the impreza, korean junk or daft ev's.

go for the class leader... vw golf mk7.

plenty to choose from within your parameters.

Class leader in unethical business practices and unreliability maybe.

Geektastic

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# 1772706 30-Apr-2017 08:10

meesham:

ilovemusic:

forget the impreza, korean junk or daft ev's.

go for the class leader... vw golf mk7.

plenty to choose from within your parameters.

Class leader in unethical business practices and unreliability maybe.

I've never had an unreliable VW. Have they changed?

My pick would be an Outback 3.6.

Fuel economy a bit steeper than the weedy small version but driving experience much more fun, overtaking safer and since you are not doing high miles, fuel less of an issue. Also more room than the Impreza without being an obviously larger car by a big margin.

meesham

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# 1772717 30-Apr-2017 08:43

Geektastic:

I've never had an unreliable VW. Have they changed?

Here's the latest Consumer Reports rankings: http://www.consumerreports.org/car-reliability/car-brands-reliability-how-they-stack-up/

Coil

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# 1772721 30-Apr-2017 08:58

meesham:

Geektastic:

I've never had an unreliable VW. Have they changed?

Here's the latest Consumer Reports rankings: http://www.consumerreports.org/car-reliability/car-brands-reliability-how-they-stack-up/

Love it how Audi s number 6 and VW is like 22 on that list. Funny how they all use the exact same parts and platforms.
Coming from someone who used to work for VW/Audi and loved the brand, i'd suggest we avoid the current and past offering in the Golf range.

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# 1772726 30-Apr-2017 09:31

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WyleECoyoteNZ:

The current\new Honda Civic sedan is worth a look.

Huge boot in the sedan (519 litres, as a comparison a Commodore is 495 litres). In my opinion, the RS Turbo and NT Turbo are the ones to look at\go for. New, they're $39,990 and $42,990 respectively.

NT gives all the 'Advanced active safety' equipment as standard. 127kW\220Nm is the output from the 1.5 VTEC, is a CVT transmission but runs on 91.

5 year unlimited Km's warranty and 24\7 roadside assistance with all new Honda's too.

As there still relatively new, a second hand one maybe harder to find, and with Honda's Price promise, they very rarely sell on the demo stock.

The Civic hatch is due in early June, with the RS Turbo version of that is bit of a looker. On a slightly unrelated note, the new Civic Type R Hatch just set the hatch record at the Nurburgring with a 7:43.8 lap time. No word on the Honda NZ site about whether the Type R is coming here.

this

Swype on iOS is detrimental to accurate typing. Apologies in advance.

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