Can you recommend a small car with low running costs?

We currently have a Lexus RX 400h, but the kids have left home and we now want to downgrade to a smaller car with lower costs.

We need it to be reliable, automatic and have fog lights as a minumum. Cruise control and bluetooth would be nice. My mother in law has a guide dog which would occasionally travel in the hatch over short journeys and I think a car not too low down would help her too..

We took a look at a Honda Jazz 1.4 CVT but my wife found it slow to pull away at busy junctions and did not feel confident driving it. Maybe this is expecting too much after an RX!

What else should we look at? Ford B-Max? (its mpg in 1.6 Auto looks disappointing)

Asked on 11 June 2014 by spencsj

Answered by Honest John
If you want an economical auto with a petrol engine it will be relatively slow. I was pleased with the performance of a Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboost 100 Powershift that did about 42mpg: www.honestjohn.co.uk/road-tests/ford/ford-fiesta-1.../

The B-Max should eventually get this engine and transmission. Not sure why the delay. Alternatives are a Hyundai ix20 1.6auto ot KIA Venga 1.6 auto, but they won;t be more economical than the B-Max 1.6.
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