Can you recommend a reliable, safe 3-door car to replace our daughter's Volkswagen Polo?

My daughter lives in the south of England and does a fair bit of motorway driving. She currently has a Volkswagen Polo that is eight years old and is starting to cost her money. We would like to help replace her car and are looking for something safe, reliable, good value and with good running costs, of about the same size as her current Polo. I also do not like 3-door cars. Irrational? My husband and I are not very car-savvy and are now a little confused as to what to consider for her, and she has no particular views. Please could you offer us some guidance as we are completely at sea?

Asked on 5 February 2011 by MA, Nairn

Answered by Honest John
Mazda 2 1.3TS2. £30 tax. Economical. Huge fun to drive. Reasonably relaxed on the motorway. There is nothing irrational about not liking three doors. Far less practical than five doors.
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