Small Family Cars Best Buys

The Golf is all the car you’ll ever need, the Octavia is the budget choice and the Prius will satisfy your green conscience

Volkswagen Golf
Price: L15,850-L32,005
Target Price: L14,692-L32,005
MPG: 33.2-74.3
CO2: 99-199g/km
For: The Golf is refined and comfortable, yet still fun to drive. The cabin is classy and practical, residuals are strong, and there’s lots of safety kit.
Against: The most basic engines in the range don’t have a lot of power, and the styling is conservative, inside and out.

Volkswagen Golf

Skoda Octavia
Price: L13,280-L22,720
Target Price: L11,222-L19,097
MPG: 37.7-74.3
CO2: 99-175g/km
For: The Octavia is comfortable and easy to drive, has a huge cabin and most versions are cheap to buy and run.
Against: It’s not the most exciting car in its class to drive, and entry-level models miss out on some key equipment. The diesel engines are noisy.

Skoda Octavia

Toyota Prius
Price: L21,005-L24,285
Target Price: L19,911-L22,959
MPG: 72.4
CO2: 59-89g/km
For: The smooth drivetrain, slick rive and roomy cabin mean the Prius is very comfortable. Emissions and economy better those of most hybrids.
Against: The interior plastics are disappointing. Rear visibility isn’t very good and there’s barely any feel in the steering.