Buying a new small car

I'm a 22 year old man who can finally afford to splurge on a new or nearly new small car after getting a few years of NCB under my belt.

It's a toss up between a Ford Fiesta 1.25 Zetec and a VW Polo 1.4 Match. Both these cars have a decent image and what I need most is a reliable motor (and my heart has been set on one of these two so please don't say Yaris).

Asked on 19 September 2011 by timmyd

Answered by Honest John

Don't go near a Polo 1.4 Match with it's horrible old engine. Fiesta 1.25, fine. Polo 1.2TSI, fine. Just not the 1.4 16v.

Tags: best engine reliability small cars

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Related models

Ford Fiesta (2008 - 2013)

Well built with an upmarket interior. Enjoyable and involving to drive. Cheap to run 1.6TDCI ECOnetic. Exceptional reliability record. Very few problems reported despite more than 500,000 sold.

Volkswagen Polo (2009 - 2017)

Neatly styled and easy to drive. Room for five. Most come with full size spare. High quality interior. Double folding rear seats give flat load area. Frugal 1.2 TDI BlueMotion.