What car should you buy?
In the third part of our complete buying guide we pick the right car for you.
Buying a car part 1: New or used?
Buying a car part 2: Where to buy?
Buying a car part 3: What car?
Buying a car part 4: Getting a great deal
Buying a car part 5: Payment, paperwork and delivery
Difficulty: Hard
Time: 1 hour
What it's worth: years of pain-free motoring
What you need:
Access to a computer
Money
An understanding of what you want from a car
Directions:
View our step-by-step guide with the image below:
1. Consider your:
Finances how much are you willing to spend?
Family or friends how many passengers will you have?
Location do you live in the city or countryside?
Eco-friendliness how much CO2 will your car emit?
Lifestyle - what will you use the car for?
2. Ask yourself what you want from a car:
Looks - bright and curvy, sleek or dark? Sporty or functional?
Performance - how quick to 60mph? What's the top speed?
Size - how many seats does it have? Will it fit into tight parking spaces? What's the boot size?
Safety - how many airbags does it have? What's its EuroNCAP rating?
Fuel efficiency - what does it run on? How long will it run for?
Different types of car
Search for a used car on Auto Trader
3. Choose from one of the following:
Superminis are affordable, fun to drive and easy to park. They have small engines - usually around 1.2-litres in size and are generally easy to drive.
Fuel economy is usually good and tax costs are low but so is performance and size. This makes them ideal for new drivers, small families or those on a tight budget.
Our top five: Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Polo, Mini Cooper, Mazda 2, Fiat 500
Hatchbacks are among the best-selling cars in Britain. They're designed to meet the needs of the vast majority of motorists, and competition is fierce.
They have two rows of seats with an integrated boot in the back passenger cabin, and seats can usually be folded down to provide more luggage space. Hatchbacks are reliable, all-around vehicles which make good family cars.
Our top five: Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus, Renault Megane, Vauxhall Astra, Audi A3
MPV
An MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) is also more commonly known as a people carrier. They're perfect for motorists with large families or someone who is constantly ferrying other passengers, such as a large taxi.
People carriers have plenty of luggage space and usually sport seven or eight seats. Equipment is good but MPVs also take up more room on the road.
Our top five: Ford Galaxy, Citröen Grand C4 Picasso, Chrysler Voyager, Vauxhall Zafira, Volkswagen Touran
If speed, style and panache are your thing, then a sports car may be what youre after. Most are rear-wheel drive with two seats, two doors and a powerful engine.
They dont always come cheap and may be expensive to tax and insure. Fuel economy tends to be low, but they can be very fun to drive. Track-day veterans, petrolheads and posers alike are not ones to shun a sexy high-performance motor.
Our top five: Nissan GT-R, Lotus Evora, Porsche Cayman, Maxda MX-5, Audi TT
Offering space, comfort, practicality and performance saloons are an ideal choice for families, or just those seeking extra space.
They usually have an assortment of extra features on offer such as leather seats, electric sunroofs, climate control and are usually smooth to drive.
Our top five: Vauxhall Insignia, Ford Mondeo, BMW 3 Series, Skoda Superb, Seat Exeo
SUVs, or sports utility vehicles are off-roaders with strong engines, good towing capabilities and passenger space similar to an estate.
Most include four-wheel drive for increased traction, but the larger size may take some getting used to especially in built-up areas. Fuel consumption is generally inefficient, but this is improving. SUVs are also usually very reliable.
Our top five: Range Rover Sport, Audi Q5, BMW X6, Ford Kuga, Volkswagen Tiguan
Other types
There are more types of car which crossover elements of the above:
Convertibles or cabriolets - these are usually two-seater sports cars with a foldable roof (Mazda MX-5)
Soft-roaders - Small SUVs which blend hatchback and SUV characteristics (Skoda Yeti)
Luxury cars - executive saloons with a larger price tag (Rolls Royce Phantom)
Supercars - over-the-top sports cars designed for speed and style (Ferrari F430)
Road legal track cars - small sports cars often with no roof (Caterham Seven)
Hybrids - fuel-efficient cars which have an electric and petrol engine, and come in all shapes in sizes (Toyota Prius)
Find the best new car deals on Auto Trader
More advice
Buying a car part 1: New or used?
Buying a car part 2: Where to buy?
Buying a car part 3: What car?
Buying a car part 4: Getting a great deal
Buying a car part 5: Payment, paperwork and delivery
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