Leased of his problem

I have to choose a car from what is available in our leasing pool. I've noticed your column in the paper and thought you might be the person to ask what might be best for me. I'd prefer a hatchback and petrol engine but there are none. I like a car with quiet engine, comfortable interior (for 3 in back occasionally), secure road holding and good acceleration (but not sporty super fast). My favourite car to date was a Renault Laguna - can't recall the model but top of the range with comforts such as automatically dipping mirrors and built in satnav. I had 3 in a row and before that a top-range Vauxhall Cavalier twice. I have never had a BMW. I did fancy a Lexus. I currently have an Audi A4 2.0 SE 4-dr which is OK but I miss a few of the comforts and find the boot huge but too small an opening to get stuff into it. Can you help me choose from what is available the one that would be the best for me? It looks to me either the Audi 2.0 TDi SE 4-dr Multitronic or wait for a BMW 520d SE 4-dr Steptronic Auto 177.

Asked on 8 August 2009 by

Answered by Honest John

I'd go for the Audi. The new A4 B8 has a particularly useful 2.0 litre 143PS diesel engine. I did 620 miles on a single tank (with 105 miles to spare) in its cousin, the SEAT Exeo, with the same engine, averaging 49.9mpg, and 67mph on the computer. You should get close to that on a run in the A4 Multitronic. The 520d is bigger, heavier and far less likely to deliver the same combination of economy and speed.

Tags: buying executive cars new cars

Dear Honest John,

Please help me choose my next car. I would like it to have:

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