My wife has enjoyed a Smart (now called fortwo) for the last 10 years but now needs an automatic 4 seat, 4/5 door small car to carry small grandchildren or older, less mobile pensioner friends.

We need four seats with good legroom + easy access in a short car (preferably < 4m). We regularly use a W169 auto Mercedes-Benz A class (2005 model) when abroad and this seems ideal except that it is no longer built. Perhaps next comes a Honda Jazz CVT (maybe a Jazz Hybrid?)or a Volkswagen Up.

The car would be used for lots of short local trips with the occasional longer one (50 - 75 miles round trip) and luggage capacity is not so important but easy parking and shopping use is important.