Hi

I'm looking for a MPV or estate, I can do up to 700 miles a week and my budget is £10k max.

Is there an engine that really stands out for reliability?

Your requirements have the Honda Civic Tourer 1.6 I-DTEC written all over them. I would take one over any of your choices. Excellent economy, plenty of space and the 1.6 I-DTEC is one of only a few modern diesel engines not to give much problems if used for short journeys. I'm assuming by your 700 miles per week that this won]t be what you will be doing(!), but when buying used you could end up with something just about to have a very expensive failure due to previous owners having only used it for short journeys. So it is important.

Out of your choices, definitely avoid anything with the Mazda 2.2 diesel engine. It has a pretty terrible reputation for failures and while this does seem to be centred on cars used for short journeys, how would you determine how a potential buy has been used by previous owners?.

The 1.6 used in the Octavia, along with other VAG brands, is the engine at the centre of the diesegate scandal and there are plenty of owners out there suffering from the supposed 'fix'. So I would be reluctant to go there, but the 2.0 is worth a look.

The 1.6 in the 508 and Grand C Max is the same engine, and does have something of a reputation. Having done some research, it does seem that with diligent servicing they can be very reliable. But a different story if service intervals are left too long and the oil used is not of the correct type.

The 2.0 in the 308 seems to be a stronger engine so less to worry about.

The B Class and Active Tourer?. I'd put them both in the same boat. Your budget will get an older car and/or with bigger miles because you are paying extra for the badge rather than a better or more reliable car. While nether are terrible, neither are great either, so I wouldn't bother.

The Kia Carens is a decent enough engine and car. But there are quite a few other Hyundai/Kia (same company) models which would probably suit your usage better due to better aerodynamics giving better mpg at motorway speeds. Look at the estate versions of the Hyundai i30 and i40 along with the Kia Ceed and Optima.

I'm also curious about just how much space you need?. The boot capacity of the Merc B Class and BMW Active Tourer are fine but not what you'd call massive (like an Octavia), they are around the same as a Honda Civic hatchback. I'm asking because if a Civic hatchback has enough space, there are much more of them than the estate (tourer) version.

When it comes to reliability, there are a few engines that are known for their dependability:

1. Toyota 1.8-litre hybrid: This engine is known for its fuel efficiency and reliability, making it a great choice for those who do a lot of miles.

Actually it doesn't unless those miles are in urban areas. Self-charging hybrids are by far at their best doing urban work, which is why most taxis are hybrids in urban areas and diesels in rural areas or when used on long routes like inter-city-airport work. They are very reliable I grant you. Not cheap to buy for the performance you get.

1. Honda 1.6-litre i-DTEC: Honda is known for making reliable engines, and the i-DTEC is no exception. It's fuel-efficient and has low emissions, making it a good choice for those who want to keep running costs down.

2. Mazda SKYACTIV: Mazda's SKYACTIV engines are designed to be efficient and reliable. They use advanced technology to reduce emissions and increase fuel efficiency, while also providing good performance.

On paper, perhaps, but in reality the Skyactiv-G 2L petrol is fine, but not spectacular in performance, reasonable on fuel, but reliable.

The 2.2L diesels can be good in terms of performance and reasonable on mpg, but are only reliable over the longer term if they are predominantly used on longer journeys throughout their life, and as such (likley not knowing how they werer previously driven [e.g. if that was mainly short trips from cold]) they aren't recommended due to possibly expensive reliability issues. They have a long, well documented history of DPF and oil dilution issues related to short journey (form cold) usage.

The Honda is a fine choice. Odd choice of words though Ana, sounds right out of the brouchure!

Of the models you listed, the Mazda 6 2.2D estate and the Skoda Octavia 1.6 TDI are both available with reliable engines. The Mazda 6 is known for its strong performance and fuel economy, while the Octavia is practical and comfortable.

See above for the Mazda. As a long-term (earlier non-SA petrol) Mazda car owner myself, I wouldn't recommend buying a second-hand SA-D diesel-engined one unless you know the car's entire usage (not just service) history, which is unlikely. I would've thought that the 2L TDi would be a better choice for a larger car like the Octavia from VAG.

It's always a good idea to research each specific model and engine thoroughly, as well as read reviews and talk to other owners, to get an idea of their reliability and suitability for your needs.

Indeed, though that's why they're asking us for our opinions.

My Prius+ easily gets 60 mpg, certainly around town and if not thrashed on the motorway.

Has 7 seats, the back row is only really for kids though, and loads of room when all folded.

Very easy to drive with hybrid / automatic power train.

First off like to say thank you for the replies, didn't expect so many so soon and thanks to everyone who mentioned Honda's and Civic estate, how the hell I managed to overlook this one in my search I don't know, I had a 52 plate type-r many years ago and one of the best engines of any car I've had. Honda should have been on my radar, but thanks all for bringing Honda back onto my radar and actually confirming that they are still excellent engine's.

Keep the advice coming

Yopu might want to consider the Seat Exeo ST or newer equivalent Leon ST (both estates) with the 2L TDI engine - the 1.6 might be fine (and in the Octavia), but it might be more relaxing using a biggere engine with more power / torque for long journeys, especially motorway driving or overtaking, plus they are still good on mpg.

Not that common though, but then similar VAG offerings from Audi, VW and Skoda are available with those engines, especially the 2L TDI.

The Honda 1.6TD seems to have a decent reputation for both reliabilty and performance. Always get a thorough test drive of whatever you initially choose as your 'final three', and don't rule out changing your mind after looking/ test driving any of them to go for others.

Best of luck.