Car choice: A car built for seven, please

Sophie Osgerby’s Kia Sedona has expired. She needs a 7-seater replacement ‘people carrier’, which must be economical and cheap to tax. The budget is about £2,000

Opting for a diesel Galaxy model will be cheaper to run... for the time being (Ford)

Car for the head

The most obvious thing for Sophie to do is to go for a Ford Galaxy. This has been the UK’s most popular people carrier since it was introduced back in 1995. Sophie will have to go for a diesel to find a model that will be cheap to run. The 1.9 TDi engine will return 42.8 mpg officially, but realistically around 40mpg in normal use and the annual tax will be £210. I managed to find a 2004 example in Zetec trim with two previous owners and a full service history at £2,150, from a dealer.

The Verso allies reliability to a return of 35-36 miles to the gallon

Car for the heart

I think that Sophie ought to prepare for a future that may not be as kind to diesels through increased taxation and maybe penalties for entering certain city areas. Essentially, petrol is far from dead and will, in fact, be making a comeback. For that reason I would try and find a Toyota Corolla Verso. These compact people carriers are, as I say, Toyotas, which means the reliability is beyond question provided it has been maintained properly. A 1.8 VVT model should return around 35-36mpg in normal use and the road tax is £230. A 2006 Spirit model (with some question marks over history) is £2,190.

If you would like James Ruppert to help with your car choice, email james@freecarmag.com. For more motoring views visit freecarmag.com