ECONOMY
Vauxhall Astra
WE FOUND: 1.0 Turbo ecoTEC SRi (2018/67, 24k miles, £8,000)
Engine: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 105bhp Economy: 58.9mpg CO2: 110g/km Euro NCAP: 5 stars (2015)
IN recent years many buyers have shunned diesel engines in favour of a downsized petrol unit, and it’s hard to argue with this. Cars such as this 1.0-litre Vauxhall Astra show how a small petrol engine can be as frugal as a diesel, plus cleaner and quieter.
The engine in the Astra is fun to use, and the rest of the car is excellent too, because it’s good to drive, comfortable, practical and well equipped in SRi form. Go for SRi Nav trim if you need sat-nav, though.
FUN
Toyota GT86
WE FOUND: D-4S (2013/63, 71k miles, £9,995)
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 200bhp Economy: 36.2mpg…