A reliable used family car

I'm looking to buy a secondhand reliable and economical family car, budget upto £5.5k/£6k. It should have no more than 75/80k on the clock ideally, so I've narrowed it down to Mazda 6, Skoda Octavia, Toyota Avensis or Honda Accord.

My daily commute is 36 miles return (50-60mins each way, 18 miles so queuing/30mph/40-50mph blasts) so figured a diesel would be OK even with a DPF?

Also reckon that one of those in diesel on those runs alone of 36-38mpg would save me £600+ year over the petrol equivalent - 25-27mpg, and thus more than pay for any extra diesel costs?

What do you think to my logic and can you recommend any other cars that fit the bill/which would be best above?

Asked on 18 November 2011 by jimbob the 7th

Answered by Honest John
The old shape Accord 2.2 CDTI does not have a DPF.
Dear Honest John,

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