Hi Aisling,

At 25k a year, you’re definitely on the cusp of being better off with a diesel. The obvious advice is to go for a Golf — they tend to be reliable and are good to drive, but it’s well worth looking at a Skoda Octavia too — same engine and chassis as the Golf, but even bigger inside. A 1.6 TDI diesel would probably be about right for you, but it’s worth looking at the 1.2 TSI petrol as it’s just about economical enough. Another good option is a Toyota Auris Hybrid, which gets you away from diesel but which can still be economical depending on how you drive, and they’re incredibly reliable.