The jury is back on Consumer NZ's best and worst car of the year. The Honda Jazz gained top marks in the small-car category, with the safety features and spaciousness impressing the judges. The 2012 model also rated well on the New Zealand Transport Agency's online database, with five stars for safety and four-and-a-half stars for fuel efficiency. The NZTA estimates fuel costs of $1950 a year, based on driving 14,000km.
Urgent Couriers driver Chris Michaels, 48, has been zipping around Auckland in a Honda Jazz for 18 months and describes it as an "overall great car". Parking in tight spaces was a breeze, but it was roomy enough for luggage and passengers. "I'm racing around the city all day and it's smooth and good to handle."
Mazda 2, Suzuki Swift and Daihatsu Sirion were also recommended, as were - in the mid-size category - the Mazda 3, Ford Focus and Honda Civic Euro. For SUVs it was Mazda CX5 and Hyundai Sante Fe at the top.
Red flags were put over the Mini Cooper, VW Golf and Polo, Peugeot 308 and Holden Cruze. Poor reliability was a common issue.
splinter67,
Oct 28, 11:47am
I wonder how many people take notice of what consumer say about cars when buying a new car
msigg,
Oct 28, 12:05pm
Thats interesting, I like the sante fe.
moosie_21,
Oct 28, 12:09pm
Can feel Jazz typing up a retort as we speak. Will it be the usual "biased towards Jappa's" stuff or something along the lines of "everyone else has no clue but me" response!
wasser61,
Oct 28, 8:50pm
Glad to see at least one Euro in the list.
franc123,
Oct 28, 9:46pm
I wonder what they define as a European car these days, with technology sharing occuring between for example Nissan and Renault, Mitsubishi and Peugeot, are they saying that only the French bits are unreliable. Given a Holden Cruze is built in Korea using GM global tech and now assembled in Australia it can hardly be pigeonholed as being European. Likewise the Maz3 and Focus are global technology twins with varying degrees of Jap and German/Belgian input with componentry from all over the world. Likewise many Nissans like the Juke and Navara come from the UK and Spain with some local parts, are they still Jap cars! And on it goes.
socram,
Oct 29, 6:33am
Just coming up to the ten year mark on my Mini Cooper S.Just a steering rack fault (dealt with) and apart from that, all is well on all counts.Stil on the original battery too. I take no notice whatever of consumer surveys, message boards or even friends, when it comes to car buying for everyday use and I have not been let down by a car yet, secondhand or new.
Buying a classic isn't quite the same however!
rsr72,
Oct 29, 7:32am
#7- Interesting that originally-fitted imported OE batteries always last much, much, longer than any NZ aftermarket batteries.
chris_051,
Oct 29, 10:41am
My guess Jap buyers are obviously braindead for choosing to drive around in such boring shit they dont know what day it is let alone what is wrong with their car.
austingtir,
Oct 29, 4:02pm
You sound pretty bitter mate.You should buy a jazz it might cheer you up.
morrisman1,
Oct 29, 4:06pm
At least euro owners know what is wrong with their car often sounds like 'bang' then it wont go forwards. Easy to know when the tranny is coozed. Jappa owners dont know what is wrong with their car because its usually a blown park light.
pebbles61,
Oct 29, 6:52pm
lol all this Jappa vs Euro bollocks.
Each to their own aye.
And safety features and stars.people actually give a toss about that!
You can keep your modern nonsense, I'll stay in a nice old car :D
bmc460,
Oct 29, 7:02pm
Done 300.000 kay on my euro trans and no bang yet,but ive always known when jappa's stuffed,it's the steam flying out from under bonnet.Must think it's cup of tea time.
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