Which reliable five-door car offers reasonable fuel economy and performance?

My wife and I are looking to replace our ageing and ailing 5-door, 1.6 petrol Ford Focus. Happy with 'used' as opposed to new, as it will be mainly used by my better half for short journeys with the odd...

Why isn't my Ford C-Max returning quoted mpg figures?

Last year I bought a brand new 2012 Ford C-Max Zetec, and I have got to say the mpg I am getting is nowhere near as good as the manufacturer stated. I understand I will not get 68.9mpg. However, I have...

Which economical, comfortable car for high mileages?

I'm looking at spending about £8000 on a car to replace my now tired 200,000-mile Focus. Since I'm doing over 30,000 pa, it needs to be both economical and comfortable on a long drive (120 miles a day)....

Real life high MPG and reliability - what's the best car?

Accompanying my new job is a 18000 to 20000 mile annual commute, mainly on motorways but also occasional A roads. I have a budget of up to £11500 but more important than the initial outlay is my main...

Fuel consumption suddenly dropped?

Last year my Jaguar X-Type diesel's fuel consumption suddenly dropped from 52 to 44mpg. I have put two lots of injector cleaner in the tank; changed the fuel & air filters; checked the MAF and DPF operations...

Should I pay the extra for a Fiat 500 Abarth?

I am in the market for a convertible and know you extol the virtues of the FIAT 500. Would it be silly to pay the extra for an Abarth pokier version, or just go for a top engine ordinary FIAT 500C? My...

Should we use diesel additive in our engine to keep it in good condition?

We are focusing on news regarding fuel additives for use in diesel engines. With diesel cars now over 50 per cent market share in the UK, and very significant numbers in use, there's a valid story concerning...

Ultra economical automatic for a high mileage driver?

I do 33,000 miles pa mainly on my 110 mile per day commute along fast A roads and dual carriageway. I have a poorly left knee and am six foot tall with long legs so need a comfortable automatic. I am...

What do you make of diesel ECU tuning?

More and more people are looking at tuning their diesels for more economy and or power. In this day and age of ridiculous fuel prices isn't it time we had a decent investigation into the pros and cons...

Which hatchback for short journeys?

I drive 8000 to 9000 miles per year, mostly shortish distances. I have to replace my Honda Accord diesel. I would like a 4-door saloon or hatchback, petrol at about £10,000 without trade-in, not more than...