Hi Harry,

Tricky one – your annual mileage means you’re on the right track in replacing the Golf like-for-like, certainly in terms of fuel type, but the reality is that not many 1.6-litre (or thereabouts) turbodiesel hatchbacks are what you’d call exciting. The most obvious ‘interesting’ choice would be a MINI Cooper D of some description, such as a Hatch or Countryman, while we’ve also seen a few JTD Alfa Romeo Giuliettas that might suit – however, while the Alfa might well be interesting and pretty, it is not a great car.

The best-looking hatchbacks from 2016/2017 with diesel engines are, in our opinion, the Peugeot 308 or the SEAT Leon, although the latter would mean you’re (sort of) driving a Golf again. As dull as its image is, the current Opel Astra is a fine and handsome car, with a decent chassis. Beyond that, you’re into the usual: Focuses, Octavias, Golfs, etc.

Two final throws of the dice from us – try a BMW 1 Series (118d or similar) or a pre-facelift Citroen C4 Cactus.