Young son is looking to possibly purchase one of these vehicles.
Trax LS has 5 year and MG ZS 7 year warranties.
Fairly similar in dimensions.
Both about the $22,990 price atm.
Any advice or suggestions?
No finance - Son has saved more than half and I will lend him the rest so will be cash.
https://resource.digitaldealer.com.au/pdf/10975581475d81b4b8…
Good things to consider! Thank you.
Test drove both and hard to distinguish much difference between them engine wise / handling.
The MG trim wise seemed much nicer, wheels look really nice too,
Would be mostly a suburban vehicle.
Actuallly I have a 3 year Cruze sport wagon (one of last built in 2016) and not had any issues - yet!
Still drives like a new car and have taken it on several long (and comfortable) interstate trips.
Hopefully your Cruze will serve you well.
I watch a few automotive diagnosis channels to try and improve some rusty mech skills. The Cruze has been popping up a bit lately.
The turbo housing cracks (not expensive from overseas) and the 3 stage cooling fans fail on the low speeds so they only run high (and noisy) and the engine runs hot but not hot enough to boil (often). A few other issues that escape my mind.
Have a look at a Skoda Octavia 110 wagon. It's not for everyone but they are screwed together quite well. In your price range.
Thank you; will check out the Skoda.
Yes, have read many negative things about the Cruze. Appears to be mostly the earlier models, more around the 2012 that were the worst. Maybe it is early days for Cruze sport wagon and it will present a few problems later on. I paid under $20,000 for it with all the extra bits as end of model sell out November- December ‘16, so I thought it a good price at the time. So far so good. I tend to hang on to my vehicles for an awful long time; had a 90 ToyotaCamry wagon for 21 years and motor was still running well! Never financed any but dont buy until I save enough. Had son started in saving for his next when I gave him the Vectra.
The right question to ask is whether Holden would be here in 7 years.
The first generation of Chinese cars that landed in developed overeseas markets including Australia had a lot of issues related to quality and reliability and even Asbestos was discovered in Greatwall UTEs. But the Chinese with billion dollar investments and establised brand aqusitions and technology transfers have corrected their mistakes with lightening speed and very soon are poised to overtake the more established Koreans.
Amongst Chinese brands being sold in Australia MG is going gangbusters (https://www.caradvice.com.au/798115/vfacts-chinas-mg-triplin…)
The MG ZS is a great car and exceptional value for money. If your son is not buying it sell it in 2 years then do not worry much about resale value and resale value of Chinese brands would improve dramatically over the next 5-10 years as they become more commonplace and as more electric cars are sold (Chinese are the leaders in mass produced electric cars).
I would buy the MG in a heartbeat instead of the Trax which is nothing but cheap and uninspiring Daevoo cr*p
There would be an electric version of the ZS in Australia soon.
Thank you for that link. I am reading as many reports as I can find and a few YouTube car comparisons also (quite possibly manufacturer inspired though). Son seems taken with the MG now after first really wanting the Trax. It does look a lot classier. We don’t buy / sell cars often (I had a Camry station sedan for 21 years not out lol) so resale value not of great concern. Electric was something I was thinking about too but nothing available as yet, and I’d rather he had his own car soon … than drive mine lol! I was surprised the MGs had a diesel version on offer also; not for us. Son is in no hurry though and could be content to save harder for a few more months. Demonstrator models also an option but prefer not ex fleet or buy backs.
The Trax is not just a Cruze on stilts it is Barina-based. The Captiva is a Cruze on stilts.
Wrong. Captiva has nothing in common with Cruze. Trax is Barina based though. Barina is also a piece of crap.
Sorry you are correct the version that we were going to build here in Australia was going to share the same platform and mechanical components.As for the Cruze being crap i have had something like 35 new cars over the last 20 years and would consider the Korean built Cruze Diesel Manuals I had to be amongst the best of them.
As already said, NEITHER of those 2 options is a good option.
Neither of those are a good option TBH.
In addition is there any reason why your young son needs a brand new car?
Only 6 months to full licence. Looking at new because I really don’t trust the few used vehicles I have seen. Spending that kind of money on used on an unknown car is of concern. They are usually overpriced and have high kms. He was driving my old 02 CD Vectra 4 cyl before, which was low kms and it had a good history, well maintained etc., but bingled and because of age a possible insurance write off. Newer cars have higher safety ratings also.
A good used car still under warranty is a wise purchase - use a reputable independent mechanic to do a pre-purchase inspection.
Second hand opens you up to purchasing actual good and reliable cars - something I can't see being possible with the two you have listed.
In the $20-25000K range, less than 2 years old you could be looking at
Nissan X-Trail
Kia Sportage
Mazda CX-3
Hyundai Tucson
All less than 2 years old and less than 20,000km under factory warranty
Proven track record, reliable, fully factory supported and trained mechanics available
Thank you. Early days; will still keep looking.
@JediJan: Is there any reason he wants an SUV style vehicle? Does he want to start a family?
have a look at HubNuts MG reviews on YouTube. He's a bit more like a normal person rather than a motoring journalist that only needs the car to work during the test period.
Spend half that much on a used model with good reputation eg RAV4 if he must have an SUV. You’ll then have 10k left if there are any mechanical issues.
You're wrong about used cars. $20k can buy you a very good, higher-end used Asian car that will last forever. Think Honda Accord, Kia Sportage, Lancer, Nissan Maxima, or even the Toyota Corolla if you want something cheaper and more basic. All will likely give you much longer use than buying a brand new one of your 2 options.
Get a 2-3 year old car instead from a Japanese manufacturer.
You will get more car for your money and you will get a reliable vehicle instead of a Chinese or General Motors lemon. WOuldn't touch a modern holden or a MG with a ten foot pole, personally.
I test drove the MG and it was a very good drive. I must say I was impressed.
They're Chinese however, so you will never find someone telling you they are a good buy. But these are opinions from people who haven't owned the car so take them with a grain of salt.
It is a good question about the brand being here in 7 years to honour the warranty. You also have to ask yourself if there is a dealer located near you at all for servicing.
However the MG ZS has been out in the UK for a little while longer so look at some owners reviews from over there - generally they get a pretty good wrap from the first owners who have had them since 2017 in some cases.
Yes, I enjoyed driving it too; I have a back problem so seat comfort is important. It provided good lumbar support. Servicing is something we will have to look into. Good leg room in rear also. I have been reading lots of reviews and most of the MG ones seem favourable. I was not sure about country of origin but was not concerned about China. Most other vehicles seem to be manufactured in Korea anyway.
Most other vehicles seem to be manufactured in Korea anyway.
Or Thailand(both of our top selling UTEs come from there), South Africa, India amongst other places.
Well historically cars like Great Wall and Haval which were the first Chinese owned and manufactured vehicles imports sold the Australian market were rolling buckets of crap.
They had a lot of issues and serious saftey concerns about the integrity of the design and materials. Quite a few stories of bolts missing and serious quality control issues.
Also in the ANCAP tests the motor used to burst through the firewall into the drivers seat in the Great Wall utes.
The MG appears to be of better quality.
I have seen you mentioned saftey ratings in another comment and you should know the MG only has a 4 star ANCAP whereas most in this category have 5 star.
Yes noticed MG had a 4 and was told the Trax was a 5. Thought 4 would be better than most used vehicles. We even saw a Volvo but son just did not like it; will be his decision. I am more into advice seeking than him. I thought the Haval looked rather nice but I saw a bingled one that looked like a can opener had split it. The metal looked rather flimsy hmm.
but was not concerned about China
Alarm bells - you should beMost other vehicles seem to be manufactured in Korea anyway
And Korean manufactured cars now have a long track record, multiple car of the year awards, full ongoing factory support.
Anyway, when you delve deeper you will find that imported cars to Australia are made all over the world, regardless of where the main factory is located. Even big brands like BMW and Volkswagen are having cars built in South America, Africa, India …..
I suggest watching some youtube videos of Auto Expert (John Cadogan) - he can be difficult to watch, but really knows his S*&t when it comes to the car industry. Search his videos for makes you are interested in and see what he has to say.
Will watch some more videos.
John Cadogan - take out all the swearing and attempts at entertaining the lowest common denominator and he does have a lot of valid points.
I found him annoying until I started mentally censoring his script
@brad1-8tsi: Or just don’t feed him. There are plenty of others that will give informed opinion without the attitude and the hard sell for a business
John Cadogan is a sensationalist idiot, who's only job is to get paid to shill.
Stay away from both! Your son would be far better off with something like this: https://www.pickles.com.au/cars/item/-/details/C2018--Built-…
I feel it is a bit overpriced still but they are good quality cars, reliable and solid.
Looks nice but that is a stock photo and it is located interstate to us. We are in Vic. I always wonder why people sell these cars so soon.
Pickles is one of the biggest auction houses in the country and they also do fixed price cars. Majority of these are ex-fleet with complete service history, they also come with 3 month warranty and 7 day buy back guaranteee. It is not abnormal for business to flip their cars within 2-4 years. You can check the available stock in VIC and visit their premises, its a much better way to buy a car than car dealers IMO. It's not a stock photo either, each car has detailed photos and condition reports done. Worth a visit, I am sure you will find something suitable there.
Will give it some consideration. We did go to an interesting vehicle auction years ago for the Camry station wagon but found same vehicle, ex semi-govt where I used to work, 1 year old turnover, at a car dealers with better price and warranty etc. Service history and book indicated it’s origins,
It does look like stock photo. Many sellers use these.
My brother bought a late model Ford ranger from an auction. Ex endeavor energy I believe. Ended up saving a few thousand going auction rather than private/dealer. Keep In mind they have additional fees.
@nuzby thanks for your suggestion, but allow me my 2cents …. MG worth a think, Holden Trax I wouldn't …. I also wouldn't recommend the current range of Peugeot small car/SUV's but for different reasons … allow me some background blah first …
Being a motoring enthusiast who spends every spare minute reading and breathing cars (including motorbikes but not as much these days thanks to 2 toddlers), I'm the goto person for a lot of my family friends when looking for a car. At least a handful of enquiries every year come to me, and I assist with the sourcing then finalising of their purchase - which included an excellent Kia Carnival buy at Pickles auction earlier this year - totally agree that's a GREAT place to buy a car, so long as you do your research well and have the emotional discipline to stick to your highest bid price during the 90secs of madness during the auction itself.
Over the years I've come to this conclusion - the cars I'd recommend, need to be different to what I want for myself - almost all my family friends would do well with an A-to-B reliable comfortable affordable car (in simple terms, "hassle free"), which almost inevitably lead to me recommending stuff that John Cadogan would recommend in this instance - Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Mitsubishi, but I'd add Toyota to the mix (great low servicing costs and nobody argues with their resale) and perhaps Honda and Suzuki, depending on the model.
So what about the Peugeot then? Well, I've been looking at a 308 myself in the past year, as well as a Renault (shriek!) because while I enjoy my Suzuki and Hyundai in our driveway, I do want a bit more involvement in my car - and not wanting to go German/Czech I've been quite partial to the French. But the thing that has turned me away from the Peugeot is the all-in-one multimedia AND aircon (HVAC) control panel - the video below at 1:52 helpfully explains why:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Vo6dv3geqA
An all-in-one control panel for audio and aircon sounds great, but when that panel plays up for any reason, you're left not just without audio and aircon - the first scenario one can arguably live with, the second, well on a hot summer's day, not so much. And these all-in-ones ARE glitchy, not to mention slow to react - a downright safety issue in my view during driving operations. My audio unit in my Suzuki played up earlier this year, but I managed to have it removed for a week and repaired in that time without the aircon being affected. I'm well aware French reliability has come leaps and bounds in the past 5-10 years and I would have no qualms there, but coupled with their ridiculously small glove compartment (thanks to the fuse box in there because the French presumably can't justify spending the money to properly relocate their fusebox for right hand drive cars), these can be deal breakers for someone just looking for an A-to-B car. Yes there's never a fixed formula on what intangible quality of a car actually ends up winning a potential owner over emotionally, but I would always get my family friends to think whether the "boring" path of the non-Euro options (the Jap and Koreans I've mentioned above) will actually still largely fulfill that emotional component of that purchase, while providing that biggest often unconscious priority of hassle free ownership.
So @JediJan my suggestion is assuming your ultimate purchase intention is one of hassle free ownership, to stay on the path of the proven brands a number of forum members here have suggested. Also, do you really need an SUV? An equivalent small car often has just as much or sometimes more space inside, but thou$ands less. I personally think MG is on the up and will be OK in 5 years time, but with proven entities like a Kia Cerato with a 7 year warranty for early $20k's (demo models especially so), I think that proven path will be more secure long term if you have to sell the car later for any reason (life never goes to plan!). Anyway my 2cents …
Thank you for your advice. Son will ultimately be making the decision not I. He would not want a too small or large vehicle; these seem the happy compromise for size. He was taken with the Trax but it is my pestering in saying he must consider others. Seeing if he can wait for the end of year sales too. We drove both one after the other which is best to compare.
I don’t know much about cars but have had extensive driving experience (local and several states, suburban and remote). Tend to keep my vehicles far longer than most because I resist the temptation to finance; buy one and start saving for the next. I have been fond of the Toyotas but think they are out of our price range for now.
Preferred the MG trim and details. Even the reversing camera (I have never had one) is clearer and has guide lines in the MG. There are 2 options for the MG motor; a 1.5L 4 speed auto, 4 cylinder, and the 1.0 6 speed 3 cylinder auto. Although it should be used mostly for suburban driving the latter seems superior for freeway or long trips.
It is interesting to read most of the suggestions put forward. Pity we don’t have anyone one in the family so car minded as yourself! But I have done well with being the proverbial pain with car dealers so far.
Both are absolute trash. Out of all the cars available you seem to have picked two of the worst somehow.
Get a hyundai, Kia, Toyota, Mazda etc.
Lmao. What is with all the small "SUV" posts this month.
99% of them are trash.
Is there any reason your son needs an SUV when he's just started driving? Unless he's planning to start a family or go off-road, you're overpaying for features he'll never ever use.
My educated guess is that you're under the impression SUVs are safer, because if you get into an accident there's more height and weight on your side. In reality, this is a dangerous mindset to have. Ignore safety ratings. The best safety feature is a good driver who has experience and training, not one who is shielded from the work by sitting in a cushy car that protects him. There's a reason SUVs are the default option for lazy soccer mums who are almost always terrible drivers. Inexperienced young driver + oversized heavy vehicle = I'd be more worried about your son killing someone else, not himself.
Get your son a regular sedan. He'll learn to be a better driver.
SUV aren’t for off-roading. A proper 4x4/4wd is needed for that.
There’s nothing wrong with getting a 2 tonne SUV or a Ute for safety. It may be safer for OP’s son in a head to head collision with another vehicle of a different class.
Safer for who - OP's son, or the unfortunate family of four in the other car?
Only thing I hear when someone wants a bigger car for safety is "it'll kill the other driver quicker so I don't get hurt". That's nothing to celebrate.
OP is looking for a vehicle that may keep their son safe. A larger vehicle may have more crumple zones than a smaller one which may save OP's son life in a collision.
Here is a crash course on crumple zones for those that don't know what it is.
https://auto.howstuffworks.com/car-driving-safety/safety-reg…
@whooah1979: I know what crumple zones are. What I'm saying is that OP's son's improved safety sounds like it's coming at the expense of increased chance of death for the driver he collides with.
If someone is buying a car heavily based on safety rating, I'm concerned. Not a good sign of self confidence. All the features in the world combined are nothing compared to a competent driver. Heaven forbid he needs to drive a regular car in an emergency one day, without the luxury of ultra visibility and heightened suspension he's going to struggle.
SUVs are the easiest and laziest cars to drive. A young new driver needs a car that's constantly challenging and engaging him, not something that let's him switch off.
@SlavOz: There is always risks associated with driving on public roads. It is understandable that one would want to reduce that risk by something so simple as choosing a vehicle that may fare better in a collision than one that doesn't.
Heaven forbid he needs to drive a regular car in an emergency one day, without the luxury of ultra visibility and suspension he's going to struggle.
I spend my first couple of years driving a large and heavy commercial vehicle that had shocking brakes, suspensions, view, etc. It barely passed the annual safety checks. Did make me a more competent driver, perhaps. Would I trade it for sedan or a hatchback, no.
OP's son holds a P licence and should be allowed to choice a vehicle that they want.
SUVs are the easiest and laziest cars to drive. A young new driver needs a car that's constantly challenging and engaging him, not something that let's him switch off.
That is you opinion for which you're entitled to. OP's is about the safety of their son.
@SlavOz: He was driving a Vectra for 3 years, my old car I knew had been maintained and had no issues, so not like it is his first car. He is a very good driver actually and the only way for him to get more experience is to keep driving. Doesn’t drink etc. and values his licence. I am not going to tell him what to buy; just being grateful he is not looking for a V8 or 4WD etc. I don’t see how either of these 2 cars is more dangerous on the road than the Vectra.
@JediJan: Every driver values their license and most of them also don't have a problem with drinking. Road safety goes beyond that. If he's openly saying he wants to buy an SUV because it's safer, it sounds to me like he's confident he's going to get into a crash. It's like someone buying a gun based on safety features - surely you'd be concerned that they're relying on a machine or switch to stop a disaster from happening. Safety starts and ends with the operator.
@SlavOz: No it is not that he is expecting to get Into a crash at all; just being practical. Young drivers are obviously more at risk because of their experience level… why they wear Ps to alert others. They are not so expert on picking up on other driver’s intentions or behaviours … those that don’t indicate, those that indicate wrongly or those that are wandering all over the road and don’t appear to see you as they drive into you. More experienced drivers are not always better drivers; seen plenty of those that defy that assumption.
@JediJan: So you admit that as a young driver, your son is at more of a risk of having an accident, yet you're still fine with the idea of him driving a 2-tonne wrecking ball on wheels?
If you look at most young driver accidents or deaths, there are almost no cases of safety features in a car making a difference. Road experts are begging young drivers not to speed, drink, or act recklessly. If your son follows that advice he'll be relatively very safe on the road. If he doesn't, his life is in danger whether he's driving an SUV or not. The only difference is that without the SUV, the damage to other people's cars and houses will be minimised.
I get that you're trying to be safe but you need to realize that the risk of your son being in a not-at-fault accident is a lot lower than the risk of him being in an at-fault accident. In other words, the potential destruction an SUV can cause doesn't really justify the slight increase in safety for him.
@SlavOz: Of course young drivers are more at risk of vehicle accidents. Some of the literature (as parent of a young driver) I was given encouraged parents to buy later model cars for them, for the higher safety ratings. I gave my son my old Vectra, sound and maintained three years ago because I was wary of buying a used vehicle, so I then had to buy myself another! He just happens to be a very good driver, more mature than many I have known, but of course nothing can replace years of experience. No one is arguing with that. Several senior family members have commented on his good driving too. He likes the appearance and style of those cars, will be his money spent on buying whatever, so not my decision to make. Not like I am encouraging him to buy a V8 or a jolly truck! I have driven both these vehicles and don’t see how I could cause more damage in one of those than in my own little vehicle. We don’t happen to have a mechanic in the family to sus out used vehicles, so it seems the next best thing is for him to buy a new vehicle with a warranty.
Ps. MG ZS: Curb weight 1,400–1,655 kg (3,086–3,649 lb) … not exactly a 2 tonne wrecking ball.
All in all these are small vehicles in comparison to most others on the road. He is quite tall and would not be comfortable in a smaller vehicle either. The Trax is 42.7cm and the MG 36.1 shorter (widths fairly comparable) to what I drive now; a jolly Cruze wagon. The two vehicles he has expressed an interest in so far are nothing spectacular as far as I can see, just smart little vehicles that happen to be within his budget. I also took them for a test drive and thought they would be suitable for him if they are reliable.
@JediJan: Fair enough - it's his money and car as you say so if he's really set on one of these two options then whatever. Going by other comments in this thread, neither are really good choices when it comes to reliability or value. It seems like he's severely limiting his choice of cars by only searching for an SUV, which he doesn't even specifically need. His money would be much better spent on a popular Sedan, many of which have just as many safety features (except the height difference).
You don't need a mechanic in the family. NRMA or other mechanics can do a pre-purchase inspection on second hand vehicles to make sure they're legitimate and in good working order before you buy them. For $20k you can get plenty of luxury sedans which will drive forever without skipping a beat. Keep in mind the real cost of a car needs to include maintenance costs.
Sounds like you'll have a lot more of those with the 2 SUVs your son is set on.
@SlavOz: Sounds like he's confident he knows there are lots of other morons on the road who may crash into him, through no fault of his own, and he would like to live rather than die, or be severely mangled.
@brendanm: Alas, the data paints a different picture. According to the stats, OP's son is significantly more likely to cause an accident than be caught up a not-at-fault one.
@SlavOz: For age and gender? Possibly, possible he is a sensible driver. Even if he's at fault, nice to not die.
2 of my cars have 5 star safety and a million airbags, the other has 2 airbags, but has stability control and weighs 2.5 tonne. I also don't like to die.
@brendanm: Of course it's not nice to die, that's why I said there's no need for a young, inexperienced, high-probability crash driver to be driving an SUV. Those things can turn minor accidents into very deadly ones. Maybe OP's son will be safe, what about the family with kids in the other car that he collides with? Do they deserve to die just so someone else can feel a bit safer?
@SlavOz: A Trax and a tiny mg SUV weigh as much as a normal hatchback, they aren't a Nissan patrol or LandCruiser. Should everyone drive fiat 500s so you feel safe?
I haven't had an at fault, or not at fault accident, and was a young, inexperienced driver at one point. Just because he handy had his licence for long doesn't mean he is a bad driver. Lots of people who've had their licences for a long time who are terrible drivers.
@brendanm: Stats don't lie. There are bad drivers at every age group or level of driving but young, inexperienced drivers are involved in a disproportionately larger number of accidents. The odds that OP's son will be saved by being in an SUV because of someone else plowing into him is lower than the odds that OP's son will be the one who plows into someone else. There's a simple logic here. Drivers who are highly likely to get into accidents shouldn't be driving cars that cause maximum damage in accidents. It's the same reasoning why they're not allowed to drive turbocharged or V8 cars in certain states. More power = more momentum in a crash. More weight and height also = more momentum in a crash.
@SlavOz: It's not a "SUV" it's a hatchback with slightly raised suspension. You are getting far too worked up about it.
@brendanm: Too worked up? Yeah, not like road safety and fatalities is a big issue or anything. Let's just keep doing what we're doing and pretending everything is fine.
@SlavOz: It's the size of a hatchback. You are acting like it's a 3 tonne full size 4wd. It has no greater killing potential than a corolla. The best thing that could be done it teaching people to drive properly, but the government doesn't want to do that, so you should take it up with them.
a 3 tonne full size 4wd
A 2.5 tonne LC200 is a safer choice for OP’s son than a smaller SUV.
https://www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/1045508/U…
@brendanm: No, a hatchback is the size of a hatchback. The MG Zs is the size of an SUV, where the heaviest and deadliest part of the car is at the same height as the head of a driver in a regular sized car. If OP's son changes lanes without checking his blind spot (probably the most common error for young drivers), he'll instantly crush someone in a sports car or on a bike. They'll be dead before they even knew what happened.
And I agree with the government not wanting to teach people how to drive properly. Part of the reason for that is people are unwilling to learn and instead want their brand new SUVs to do everything for them. Ultra height, maximum visibility, lane assist, rear view camera, sensors, autopilot, automatic transmission…we even cars that open and close the doors for you now, heaven forbid we do anything ourselves while driving! These are all welcome features but we shouldn't be encouraging our youngest and inexperienced drivers to rely on them from the start.
their brand new SUVs
People that buy brand new SUVs are also buying their lunch instead of eating homemade.
SUV and utes has been the flavour of the last decade. There’s no going back to hatchback and sedans now.
@SlavOz: Have you actually seen an mg zs? It's barely higher than a normal sedan, and is standard hatchback size. It is nowhere near the head of a sedan driver.
Noone is saying they should rely on them, they are saying there is nothing wrong with getting a 5 star rated car, and given the option, you are an absolute moron not to. There are no modern SUVs with "ultra height", they are barely higher than a standard sedan, they are simply styled to look higher.
@SlavOz: SUV and ute sales accounts for more than 65% of the market. Op's son may be if all other things being equal safer in an SUV than a Suzuki Cappuccino.
Are we being trolled?
Better to haggle a Suzuki Vitara down, 25k for auto, Vitara and swifts atleast have good resale as females love them.
I bought a Holden Trax when they first were released in 2013. Had it now for 6 years and no problems (so far). I liked that the Trax was a global platform car (e.g. in the US it's a Chevrolet Trax, in Europe it's an Opel Mokka) so the market for them is huge. It also makes getting accessories much easier as the Chevy or Opel ones will fit too (Holden didn't sell the wind deflctors in Oz so I bought them from Korea for the Chevy Trax).
My 2014 Trax was fine, no issues. Replaced it with a new 2018 Trax, no issues. Its not a Cruise. Same engine, not car.
Vitara is good too as mentioned. Its going to be more driver preference - so best to get out and drive ALL the cars. And haggle.
The MG would give your more advanced specs
There's the Hyundai Venue compact SUV around $20K. Advertising tag-line is "fits in anywhere".
Ugly as sin but a better bet for reliability + 7 year warranty.
Get him to test drive a Kia Seltos
It's a Kia - better warranty and resale.
It is aimed at the young with a great tech/infotainment package for the class.
Has all the active/passive safety features and creature comforts.
It is a new model and it is a looker.
Entry spec could have had ~25K D/A with a bit of haggling
Thank you. Actually never heard of these, look a Little pricey, but apparently the 2020 model released 3 days ago, so perhaps there is scope to find a 2019 one cheaper. A bit of a distance from the dealership but I see they are open Saturdays.
Afraid it has just been released, new model. Worth a look, same with the Venue.
1 year old or demo Suzuki Vitara.
Suzuki is one of the most reliable brands out there and these cars are going to be WAY more quality than a Holden or MG. Plus much better looking.
Son finally decided on a demo (890 kms) Toyota Corolla Ascent Sport 5 door CVT 10 sp 2.0 Hatchback. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the discussion; much appreciated. 🖖
10 speed CVT? That's a new one. LOL.
Quoted what the description of the vehicle said "(Dec) 2018 Toyota Corolla Ascent Sport Hatchback 5 dr CVT 10sp 2.0i … has 7 airbags fitted … with an ANCAP safety rating of 5."
Doesn't make it any less bullshit.
Both will be regretable purchases.
Trax is just a Cruze on stilts and Cruze have many problems (cooling system, turbo, etc).
MG - are they here in 7 years? Do they invest in training for their technicians? Is the dealership network extensive or any good ?