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fun and frugal cars
5 outstanding small cars that are fun to drive and cheap to run
Cars to put a smile on your face and some change in your pocket.
ARE YOU LOOKING for a car that is cheap to buy and run as well as fun to drive on twisty roads and the motorway? Well, talk about being demanding! But there are cars out there that do tick all those boxes.
We’ve picked five of the best fun but frugal cars that you can buy right now – three new and two second-hand.
1. Mazda2 (from €15,995 new)
The Mazda2 supermini offers a fantastic combination of style, driving fun and low running costs. It has a great suite of petrol and diesel engines with emissions from as low as 89g/km, making it just €180 a year to tax and fuel economy figures ranging from 3.4 litres/100km (83 mpg) for the diesel to 4.8 litres/100km (59 mpg) for the most powerful petrol model.
My choice would be the 90hp petrol unit with the five-speed manual gearbox as it is a really sweet, fun set-up; but that starts at €19,495 – and to be fair to Mazda, the entry-level 75hp unit in SE grade is well worth a look. The Mazda2 is very surefooted and nimble making it great around town as well as on the back roads. It has a fantastic chassis that really makes you want to just keep on driving.
2. MINI One (from €21,069 new)
The MINI hatch is a super fun car with a cracking chassis and very cool interior. And yes, you have all heard about its ‘go-kart feel’ – but the thing is, it really IS about as nimble as a go-kart. There are some wonderful engines to choose from and if you can take your right foot off the floor for a bit whilst driving, it is frugal too.
The entry-level MINI One with the 102hp 1.2-litre petrol engine and six-speed manual gearbox has a CO2 figure of 111g/km making it €200 to tax a year and a combined fuel economy figure of 4.8 litres/100km (59 mpg). The MINI One D is even more frugal but it isn’t as quick as the petrol model.
The pick of the bunch would be the Cooper S, but at €28,635 it is too expensive to be considered for this list – unless of course you buy a used 2006 second-gen Cooper S for around €4,000. Now that really is a fun and frugal model.
3. Opel Adam (from €17,995 new)
The Opel Adam is funky, fresh and youthful… but the main reason this car is on the list is because of its super turbocharged 1.0-litre engine.
It is the same unit you’ll find in the Corsa, but it is much better in the smaller, lighter Adam – its 115hp at 5,200rpm and 170Nm of torque at 1,800 to 4,500rpm make the 1,138kg car feel positively brisk. The engine is nice and flexible too especially around the low and middle rev ranges and it has a delightful three-cylinder soundtrack.
The Adam is super light to drive, a doddle to manoeuvre and loads of fun on the back roads. The engine has a combined economy figure of 4.9 litres/100km (57.6 mpg) and costs €200 a year to tax.
Or if you’re considering some used options…
4. Ford Fiesta, 2013-2017 (from €9,000 second hand)
Find yourself a 1.0-litre 125hp EcoBoost petrol-engined Fiesta mated to a five-speed manual transmission, and you’ll have yourself a cracking little car. This model Fiesta has a great chassis, good body control and absorbs lumps and bumps well.
It has good feedback from the steering and is pretty nimble too with eager low-down performance. It is one of the best small cars to drive in terms of feel and character and it has a lovely three-cylinder soundtrack. This engine and gearbox combo should give you 4.3 litres/100km (65.7 mpg) and will be €180 a year to tax.
5. Skoda Octavia RS, 2013-2016 (from €19,000 second hand)
The Skoda Octavia RS powered by the 184hp 2.0-litre TDI CR with the six-speed manual transmission will yield you loads of driving pleasure and pretty decent fuel economy of around 4.6 litres/100km (61 mpg). CO2 emissions of 119g/km mean it will be €200 a year to tax.
The RS is a subtle and modest looking family hatch / saloon that hides some great performance, like a 0-100km/h time of just 8.1 seconds and great damping and body-control. It also has a cavernous boot making this the perfect family car to cover ground quickly and enjoyably.
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