A top motoring personality has taken to YouTube to recommend three used hatchbacks that offer a trendy appearance and reliable engine for less than £6,000. Grant runs the YouTube channel Scottish Car Clan and regularly creates videos in which he shares the best models to buy secondhand and warns viewers to avoid others with troubling faults.
In a recent video, Grant discusses a number of models that can be bought on a budget of under £6,000, recommending the Renault Clio 1.5 diesel for its impressive fuel economy. He explained: "We've got a very lovely little Renault Clio, let's take a look at that. The bumper is a little bit off, and there's some kerbing on the wheel, but that might be just that the preparation was lacking a little bit. I'm sure there are better examples out there to be had, but these are decent little cars. The 1.5 diesel has all the common modern-day diesel engine issues like the DPF [diesel particulate filter] getting choked up, but there's no fundamental reliability problems with the Clio. They're very economical as well. I ran one as a courtesy car whilst my car was being repaired and I'd routinely crack 65 to 70mpg without trying."
Built between 2012 and 2020, the fourth-generation Renault Clio was notably larger than its predecessors but offered the same amount of style that drivers expect from the French supermini.
Whilst a number of different engines were fitted under the bonnet, Grant particularly recommended the 1.5 dCi diesel engine, which averages over 55mpg and can get more than 70mpg if driven carefully on motorways.
With early examples being non-compliant in low-emission zone areas, drivers can get behind the wheel of a fourth-generation Renault Clio 1.5 dCi from around £3,000.
Later in the video, Grant also urged used car buyers to consider the third-generation Mazda 2, but recommended that buyers stick with the petrol engines to avoid issues.
He added: "Next we have a little Mazda 2, it's the 1.5 Skyactiv. Let's take a closer look because this could be a very good bet. The key here is that it's the 1.5 petrol and it's a 2015 car. Mazda also did a diesel 1.5 from 2015 to 2018, which was horrible, but this little petrol engine is alright.
"That seems to be the case with Mazda. They seem to make some diesel engines that aren't very good, but the petrols are great. This will be a little underpowered, but there aren't any glaringly obvious problems."
Finally, the motoring expert noted that one of the most reliable used cars a driver can buy is the Toyota Yaris, but urged drivers to check the bodywork for any signs of rust.
He continued: "Would you look at that: the pinnacle of reliability. Let's take a look at this little Toyota Yaris. Oh, I can see the way this is going to go - it's sold and I'm not surprised. These are great little cars, super reliable.
"They don't really have problems, but the big thing you want to be careful of is rust. It's a lot like the Honda Jazz; mechanically, they're very strong, but you need to be on the lookout for rust. Have a scan through the MOT history and look for anything relating to rust or corrosion. That way, when you go to look at the car, you'll know where to check."
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