I want to change my Civic - advice please.

I am on my 5th Honda Civic, which I keep for three years and the time for a change is here. I like the Civic but the rear visibility has meant a few minor shunts.

The fuel consumption over three years is about 39mpg overall but falls down on shopping trips and in cold weather. Do you have any suggestions for a replacement? You suggested the Hyundai i30 three years ago. Would you still recommend it. A hybrid is worth considering: the Jazz or the Auris, though the latter is stretching my budget. My wife has a Jazz, but I find it hard to drive smoothly.

Steering like a bus and fierce brakes makes me over-steer and constantly have to correct. Nobody else has ever mentions this. I do 14,000 miles a year motorway and shopping. A Polo might suffice but motorway driving may be tiring. The Civic hybrid is a bit old fashioned now and rear visibility probably worse than mine.

By the way getting on, now in my 72nd year. Might be my last car?

Asked on 15 January 2010 by AD, Ashford, Kent

Answered by Honest John
The new Jazz, from February 2011, is nothing like you describe. It is spectacularly easy and pleasant to drive, especially with its CVT-7 transmission, but also fine with the 5-speed manual. My parents are looking very seriously at one. An Auris hybrid is nice. www.drivethedeal.com had them at decent discounts, but still a lot dearer than a Jazz or a Jazz hybrid. Hyundai i30s and KIA cee'ds are okay, but the petrol manual models are very low geared, so fussy on the motorway. Better an automatic or a six-speed diesel.
Tags: advice owning
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