Changing from Focus 1.6 and looking for roomy 1,4 HB, either 2007 or up

FMG

Have had good use from a Focus est 1.6 and its still going OK, just that this might be the one time I can source a replacement before failures occur in the older car needed a lot of dosh to fix up.I do small millage and very occasionally will need a small lightweighy trialer to tow ( looking to get a 4'x4')
I am looking for a 1.4l hatchback that the back seats will fold flat for my little dogs but I also might need to carry garden waste etc to the dump.
My 3 main choices of hatchbck at the min are the Mazda 3 1.4l Petrol, seems ms nice and roomy with a good fold down boot area.
The Corolla came close and even though excellent on reliability maybe not enough room in hatch .
Last choice seems to Hyundai I30 1.4l.
Im looking for some input please ,suggestions are welcome
PS would a skoda Octavia 1.4 hatchback be rated a good overall.motor.Is the body to heavy for the engine size of1.4l ?
Trying to move upto 2009 for small road tax but this might not be factor if I buy a top notch 2007 model at a lesser price .
Sorry its a bit of a messy post any advice is appreciated....T I A.

bazz26

Skoda Octavia 1.4 on the newer tax system will actually be more expensive to tax as it's an old engine with high emissions. Corolla hatchback was replaced in mid 2007 by the Auris and the 1.4 had expensive motor tax too until 2009 when the 1.33 engine took over. Mazda 3 1.4 would be similar and that model was sold upto 2010.

Kia Ceed or Hyundai i30 are probably your best bet in that range.

colm_mcm

Civic has a more practical boot with the seats down. the rear seats also fold up which is ideal for small dogs. It's also great for carrying plants standing up.

FMG

bazz26 wrote: »

Skoda Octavia 1.4 on the newer tax system will actually be more expensive to tax as it's an old engine with high emissions. Corolla hatchback was replaced in mid 2007 by the Auris and the 1.4 had expensive motor tax too until 2009 when the 1.33 engine took over. Mazda 3 1.4 would be similar and that model was sold upto 2010.

Kia Ceed or Hyundai i30 are probably your best bet in that range.

Thanks for a great reply Baz, asyou can prob gather I'm not tha clued in on motors.I tend to try and buy to keep for 6/7 years then try do it all again. So it loks like pre mid 2008 upwards ceed or i30 might be how I should be thinking. Actually not a lot of either around 2008 _ 2010.Ill keep an eye open .....thank you

FMG

colm_mcm wrote: »

Civic has a more practical boot with the seats down. the rear seats also fold up which is ideal for small dogs. It's also great for carrying plants standing up.

Might also try see a civic dow flat, A honda would be very efficient if the room is right.food for thought .thanks Colm

colm_mcm

The seats fold quite flat as the bottom bit sinks into the floor. The i30 seats don't go flat.

I got a washin machine and dryer into the back of mine.

Very hard to find a pic online of that generation civic with the seats folded down for some reason.

FMG

colm_mcm wrote: »

The seats fold quite flat as the bottom bit sinks into the floor. The i30 seats don't go flat.

I got a washin machine and dryer into the back of mine.

Very hard to find a pic online of that generation civic with the seats folded down for some reason.

That would be ideal for what I need, do you mind my asking what year the car is so I can have a look at the Civic in a dealers.

colm_mcm

They ran from very late 2005 up till 2012, when they were replaced with a reskinned version that used the same seating system (the one in the pic above) which only went out of production recently.