A German, a French and a Japanese
After launching six portraits of SUVs in the past two weeks, we are back this week down to earth by presenting three compact hatchbacks. We wrote it before: a B-segment car is very mature these days. Large enough for a small family plus its luggage and equipped with sufficient comfort and safety features, such a compact can best serve as holiday transport. And thanks to its relatively modest dimensions and ditto turning circle, such a little rascal still feels at home in busy city traffic. We portray two sales stars and an outsider.
Volkswagen Polo 1.2 TSI 90 hp BMT Edition – 2014 – 103,106 kilometers – €9,650
Our criteria this week: price between 9 and 10 grand, manual transmission, five-door and the petrol power source must be at least 75 hp. We start with the popular Volkswagen Polo. With our wish list the rinse is not thin and that is nice. From the extensive range we highlight this Volkswagen Polo: not a black R-line, but a brown metallic Polo without much decoration. Age, mileage and price match those of the other two, but there is no mention of warranty. The compact German has already been serviced. Of our trio, the Polo has the most serious character. Here is a blown four-cylinder, which actually provides a push in the back when accelerating sharply. It makes little difference to performance (the Polo is the least economical), but it does matter for the greatest pulling power at the most modest speed.
No frills in the interior: everything is where you expect it, we have nothing to complain about the build quality, but don’t expect games. The 1-TKG-96 from the first owner offers the most space in the back, even for adults. The furniture is sturdy, so we prefer the 208 seats. Technically, the Polo is also well constructed. It always gives you enough confidence, but lacks the sparkle of the 208 or the sporty of the 2. The model shown is the Edition, a run-out model to announce the new Polo (or the facelift version, with Volkswagen this is not always clear) . These types of decoys are often extra richly decorated, but compared to this week’s opponents, he lacks navigation, leather and air conditioning, among other things… On the other hand: what isn’t there, can’t be broken. Great, because the Polo also requires careful and timely maintenance. However, at the time of the birth of this occasion, the worst TSI problems were over.
Signaling
Brand Volkswagen
Type Polo 1.2 TSI 90 hp BMT Edition
Construction year April 2014
Mileage 103,106
Asking price €9,650
Where to buy? Akron Auto’s, Nieuwerbrug aan den Rijn
Technical data
Engine 4 cyl. in-line, 1,197 cc, turbo
Max. assets 66 kW/90 hp at 4,500 rpm
Max. couple 160 Nm at 1,500 rpm
Luggage compartment 280/952 l
Max. trailer braked 1,000 kilos
Avg. consumption 1 in 20.4
0-100 km/h 10.9 sec
Top speed 182 km/h
All data according to factory specifications
Peugeot 208 Oxygo 1.2 PureTech 82 – 2014 – 102,061 kilometers – €9,950
Another sales stunner is the Peugeot 208, but just because you are one of the crowd favorites does not mean that you will go through life flawlessly. The engines in particular are sensitive to timely and correct maintenance. If you do not provide this, problems may arise, resulting in some people talking about PurePech instead of PureTech. This Peugeot 208 demonstrates that you don’t have to bite the bullet in such a compact Frenchman, including leather upholstery. That must be your wish, because for our budget we find several younger and less experienced 208s, and less luxurious than the 3-TFD-18 (already four ex-owners…). The appetizing appearance (but tastes differ) translates into the handling. The light, mercury that characterized the 206 has made way for more solid handling, but the little lion is by no means boring to drive. And because of the non-distracting three-cylinder roar of the naturally aspirated 1.2 (82 hp), it all seems to go a bit faster than in reality.
Typically French: excellent furniture, especially for this class, but there is not enough space in the back. The Polo proves itself lord and master in this regard. The dashboard with the high-placed clock shop is also something to get used to. It was reportedly once invented to save on a head-up display, but we still suspect a little l’art for l’art. In any case: some people think it’s a hit, others just can’t get used to such an arrangement. Test sitting and driving is definitely recommended! As mentioned, the equipment is very complete: DAB audio, navigation system, cruise control, rear parking sensors, rain sensor, tow bar (braked towing capacity 1,150 kilos), automatically folding exterior mirrors, front seat heating, climate control and alloy wheels, it’s all there. or on. Also included: a major service, a fresh MOT and a one-year Bosch mobility warranty. However, the Bovag guarantee costs extra. Always do this to soften the consequences of any bad luck!
Signaling
Brand Peugeot
Type 208 Oxygo 1.2 PureTech 82
Construction year January 2014
Mileage 102,061
Asking price €9,950
Where to buy? Car company Flik, Lemelerveld
Technical data
Engine 3 cyl. in-line, 1,199 cc
Max. assets 60 kW/82 hp at 5,750 rpm
Max. couple 118 Nm at 2,750 rpm
Luggage compartment 285 l/1,076 l
Max. trailer braked 1,150 kilos
Avg. consumption 1 in 22.2
0-100 km/h 12.2 sec
Top speed 175 km/h
All data according to factory specifications
Mazda 2 1.5 SkyActiv-G 90 Skylease+ – 2015 – 153,395 kilometers – €9,950
After a German and a French sales top, the Japanese delegation cannot lag behind. The first thoughts naturally go to a Yaris, but because we have already portrayed it before, we will skip the compact Toyota. If we are looking for a used Japanese car that is more sparkling than the Polo and more solid than the 208, the Mazda 2 comes to the top. This nice driver’s car is much less on the radar than the other two, resulting in only a handful of hits, including this Mazda 2: two owners have driven more than one and a half tons with it since September 2015 and the blue used car is now at the Mitsubishi dealer waiting in Hellevoetsluis for the third.
Just like the larger 3, the 2 seems to be built around the driver: you sit low and encapsulated, the dashboard – with iDrive-like control knob – can be operated intuitively and your right hand automatically falls on the gear knob. When we start driving, we notice the direct steering and agile driving characteristics à la Ford Fiesta. There is no push in the back – there is no turbo machine under the hood – but the 1.5 does its job smoothly. The 2 particularly pleases the driver, because you get worse in the back, especially compared to the Polo. The available space is disappointing for adults, while the rising beltline and the dark interior give a confined feeling. This Skylease+ is well equipped. Seat heating front and rear, lane and hill assist, navigation system, start-stop system, rear parking sensors, rain sensor, blind spot assistant, alarm, rear privacy glass, LED headlights and alloy wheels are some of the features available. It’s a pity that only the driver’s seat is height-adjustable. Considering the version, age and mileage, we suspect that this is an ex-lease car that has driven many highway kilometers. That’s great, because it wears out the car the least. In any case, the build quality of the smallest Mazda is excellent.
Signaling
Brand Mazda2
Type 1.5 SkyActiv-G 90 Skylease+
Construction year September 2015
Mileage 153,395
Asking price €9,950
Where to buy? Auto Romar BV, Hellevoetsluis
Technical data
Engine 4 cyl. in-line, 1,496 cc
Max. assets 66 kW/90 hp at 6,000 rpm
Max. couple 148 Nm at 4,000 rpm
Luggage compartment 280 l/950 l
Max. trailer braked 900 kilos
Avg. consumption 1 in 22.2
0-100 km/h 9.4 sec
Top speed 183 km/h
All data according to factory specifications
Which compact hatchback appeals to you most?
Almost every brand offers or offered a hatchback in the B-segment. If we look at the used car market, the choice ranges from the Abarth Punto (newly no longer available) to the Volkswagen Polo, with all kinds of brands and models in between. One is a bit more spacious, the other has a more playful appearance and/or handling, while a third is more generously equipped. We portrayed two top sellers and an interesting outsider. Which four-wheeler would be your choice? Or do you prefer another compact hatchback? We’d love to hear it!
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl