I can only now fully appreciate the sheer space provided by Kia’s new mini MPV, the Venga, after watching it being driven away and me getting into our next test car (it’s a tough life). Lovely though the new one is, it felt rather dark and claustrophobic inside in comparison to the high ceiling of the Kia with its amazing panoramic roof and enough head room for a gorilla – or indeed my husband!

Watching Doctor Who with the kids, I saw the similarities to his faithful Tardis. Rather innocent but intriguing on the outside, and surprisingly spacious on the inside with delightful nooks and crannies, sliding seats, hidden compartments and space, space, space! Has the Tardis got sliding seats? Oh well…

It’s not a luxurious car like its also-recently-launched big brother the Sorento (video review coming soon), but has many redeeming features. One of the models (the diesel, the one on test here) proudly displays the Ecodynamics badge which it has earned through its low fuel consumption (over 62 mpg on a combine cycle) with CO2 emissions of only 117g/km. This model doesn’t come cheap however, but the gains over the course of its life would soon add up. This, together with the seven year warranty offered by Kia do make it a very attractive proposition.

But what I might be inclined to do is to wait a bit until a few second hand ones come on the market, so that I could take advantage of Kia’s used car programme. This tops the depleted warranty back up to seven years if the car is less that 18 months old or with less that 18,000 miles on the clock. Then a Kia Venga would really be excellent value. Or you could take the view that this makes buying a new one less of a risk because you wouldn’t have much trouble selling it after 18,000 miles?

Either way Kia seem hell-bent on taking the worry out of buying a new car, and with products coming along so much better than their predecessors they’re starting to appeal to our hearts as well.

The Look

If like me you remember the Golf the first time round there will be no surprises in the looks department as seemingly very little has changed over the years – this is still recognisably a Golf. However, for those unfamiliar with the look it is one of understated elegance and design with the detailing of the headlamps and tail lights in particular blending in beautifully. Closing the doors gives the reassuring thud of a well-made car. In fact, everything you touch gives the impression of being very solid and well-made…

The Drive

The thing that stood out the most for me was being able to park in a tight parking space in a crowded car park in what seemed like one manouvre. There was no to-ing or fro-ing or straightening up, just straight in. Possibly it’s something to do with the speed-sensitive power-assisted electro-mechanical steering (to quote the blurb)! Either ~way, the whole thing’s very easy. With the engine letting off a healthy growl on acceleration and a heavier steering at speed it felt solid and safe. I found the gearbox a bit sticky and kept going into first instead of reverse. It was a comfortable ride: not too soft and it coped well with all the local speed bumps where some cars flounder. I did like the sensor indicating a visual gear change recommendation for optimum fuel consumption.

Space

There are all the usual useful cubby holes for drink bottles and the door bins in our model were lined with carpet and the glove box lined with velour. A nice touch! And mustn’t forget the all-important dedicated sunglass holder. There is also a foldaway cup holder for the back seat passengers. The moveable central armrest housed an Ipod ~connection, almost essential nowadays but amazing how many cars leave this out. The boot was big enough and there is a useful “ski hatch” between the boot and the rear passenger seats for carrying long items without having to fold down any seats, which in turn gives you easy access to the contents of the boot when sitting in the rear without having to resort to gymnastics trying to retrieve an item from the boot whilst on the move. Or you could always carry lots of skis, as we do in Kilburn.

The Interior

It all feels reassuringly, well, German. Well-made and high-quality with lots of attention to detail, which is probably what sets this car apart. No cheap tricks, no fancy styling, just simple elegance and efficiency. Air vents in the back are good . Height and reach-adjustable steering and the front seats benefit from height and lumbar adjustment. Lovely leather-trimmed steering wheel which feels just perfect, plus a leather gear-knob and handbrake grip.

Safety

Isofix child seat mounts for two outer rear seats, driver and front passenger front airbags with deactivation switch on the passenger’s airbag, head airbag system for front and rear passengers, including front side airbags. Here we go with the acronyms: ABS anti-lock brakes with EBD, ESP including EDL and ASR. Should help keep you on the road…

Green

BlueMotion refers to the most fuel and CO2 efficient model in each of VW’s passenger car ranges. BlueMotion models use existing but modified diesel engines and feature changes to gearing, aerodynamics and tyres to produce low-cost vehicles that match or beat hybrids currently ~available in the UK market. All BlueMotion engines also have as standard an oxidation catalyst and a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) which reduce oxides of nitrogen and carbon particles almost to zero. CO2 emissions are a comparatively healthy 119 g/km and the combined MPG is 62.8. In essence this is an ordinary Golf which has had its mechanics and aerodynamics tweaked to offer ultimate efficiency rather than performance, although we should add that this car’s no slouch.

Cost

On the road this model comes in at £16,775.00 with a lot of creature comforts as standard fittings including automatic coming/leaving home lighting function, dusk sensor, automatic driving lights, rain sensor and automatic dimming interior rear-view mirror, ‘Climatic’ air conditioning, cruise control, eight-speaker stereo with CD player and alloy wheels. Pretty competitive with the hybrid gang.

Who

Anyone who wants a classic, stylish well made car with a great image without going down the hybrid route.

Frankfurt, I’m reliably informed by my jet-setting husband is rather dull (and I’m sure the Frankfurtians Frankfurters? might say the same about you). But that was not the final destination of the trip – instead we went on to Vauxhall/Opel’s HQ in Russelsheim for the static launch of their versatile and innovative monocab, the Meriva…

I have to confess that this was my initiation into the world of static launches and I was rather struggling with the whole idea, being so used to just getting in a car and driving it. What fun could there possibly be in just looking at a car? Well, in fact, so much fun that we missed our flight home! I know I’m easily excited, but this really was great and my curiosity about the all-new rear-opening rear doors was quickly satisfied.

Driving the car was not an issue here. In the past the these doors earned the nickname “suicide doors” but that was then and this is now. There is nothing suicidal about them – in fact they seem so practical to me that they may well help to reduce feeling of frustration and irritation where kids (or older folk) and cars are concerned.

It is very hard not to get carried away when you have the actual designer and engineer talking you about their car – their baby. Their sheer enthusiasm and belief in their product was all-consuming. If there was one word that I would use to describe this car, which was repeated almost ad nauseum throughout the day it was ‘flexible’. I think we all got the idea that this car offers endless flexibility for its passengers all aimed at making their driving/use of car as easy as possible. And while I was slightly concerned that I was being cunningly brainwashed, I had to admit that I found myself nodding in complete agreement as they went through what people want from a car, and how this car delivers FlexSpace, FlexDoor System, FlexFix bicycle carrier, FlexRail, Flex this and Flex that. If I had half as much Flex I’d be happy.

By the end of the day, I didn’t care whether the car drove well or not, I was convinced that all my car problems would be solved by this smart-looking, neat family car.

The doors are so obvious that I am confident that all cars one day will adopt the same style! They’re easy to get in and out of, even if parked very close to another car because of course you are entering and exiting through the highest part of the car. They do look very stylish in a modern way. I was concerned that it could give the car an old-fashioned look after looking at the cars of the thirties with the real suicide doors. But what I loved the most about these garage-style doors (no they don’t go upwards as my middle child thought) was the safety zone they afforded you when both of them are open. They provide a breathing space to get the kids in and out, calmly and safely.

While I have always thought sliding doors were the only way to go with kids a) for ease of access and b) so they can’t do any damage to the car parked next to you, I have had a couple of occasions where I was very nearly squashed by other cars and once a double decker bus as they failed to see me standing alongside the car. I will not forget that particular day, nor I guess will the bus driver!

The doors incorporate vigorous safety measures so they automatically lock over 4 km/hr and remain locked throughout the journey regardless of door handles being fiddled with by exploring hands.

So I am completely sold on the Flexdoors, lock, stock and barrel. They even have a puddle light (yes, called just that) to illuminate that muddy bit where your feet are going to land. This is just one of the examples of attention to detail that abound in this car, from amazing adjustable seats, great storage ideas on rails, integral bike holders and anti-puke rear windows (not my terminology) which dip down 50 mm more than normal to allow car- sick prone children to easily see out of the windows.

Vauxhall/Opal pride themselves on being the inventors of flexibility when it comes to cars and this is their new Flex Champion. No flexing of muscles though when it comes to altering any of the seats.

I look forward to seeing this on our roads later in 2010 and will be intrigued as to how many people get over the negative associations of these door and just get on and enjoy what this car has to offer.

Cars are like relationships. Here’s your choice:

Fast and furious: Thrills that run the risk of breaking down pretty quickly, parts strewn along the road and perhaps a long spell in the garage afterwards. Or dull, dependable partners that don’t provide those heights of excitement but who’ll always get you there in the end. And they’ll keep on doing it year after year. Great.

But then there’s the clever bloke that nobody really appreciates when you first meet him at the party.

Quiet, understated and perhaps not the best-looking guy in the room – all too easy to ignore at first glance. But you get chatting and he turns out to be really quite funny, and that cleverness is very useful. You might leave the party with the handsome tyrant, but when you find out later (thoroughly exhausted) from a friend that your clever, interesting acquaintance has left the country for a job abroad you feel more than a pang of heartache. You wish you’d made more of your time together and make a resolution not to squander missed opportunities…

And so it is with the Honda FR-V. We had the chance to spend some quality Christmas time with an EX 2.2 i-CTDi. To you and me this means the posh diesel version with a manual gearbox. It costs £21,476, so it’s not a bargain but then again it’s just so…clever. So clever, in fact, that not many people got on with at the the party and Honda have decided to send it to a premature retirement.

Which is a great shame. The FR-V seats six with no effort (on leather chairs with the EX). Yes, six. Not five or indeed the ubiquitous seven. And therein probably lies the root of its demise. We’ve all come to expect five or seven. “I need a seven-seater!” is the constant war-cry of yummy-mummy parenthood. Even though it’s a rare moment indeed when all seven seats are occupied and woe-betide you if you want to fill the boot as well. Or indeed park. The FR-V, however, seats six people of normal, human, dimensions, and still has a huge boot to boot. It’s a short car too, easy to park and fun to throw around. Quite wide, but manageable nonetheless.

When you don’t need six seats, the middle-front seat folds forward to reveal an incredibly useful table-like armrest with four cupholders. There are two more cupholders under the dash, so nobody will ever go thirsty in an FR-V. And talking of the dash, it provides a home to the gear-stick, handbrake, heater and stereo controls, leaving the space underneath completely free from intrusions and therefore offering your centre passenger all the legroom they need.

Needless to say, kids love it. During our time with the car the driver was the only adult allowed up front. No car sickness and the “best view ever” from the 11 and 6 year-olds. Result.

Downsides? Well, at speed there’s more noise from the tyres than we’d like and the key doesn’t fold up. And it looks quirky. On the other hand you get beautiful, sophisticated materials inside, bullet-proof build quality, space and…those quirky looks.

So two years on from Women and Wheels’ first encounter with the FR-V (the video and stills used here are from that test) it’s even more desirable than before. Perhaps that’s because we know we can’t have one? Personally we can’t even afford a used one (Honda’s second-hand values are the envy of many other manufacturers but a source of frustration for the casual bargain-hunter). Or perhaps it’s because Honda aren’t going to make any more FR-V’s? They’re still available new from dealers though, so…

The moral of the tale? Don’t let the clever one slip away again. Grab him while you can.

It had spent most of its life in the garage, had very low milage, was always spotlessly clean both inside and out and was serviced with alarming regularity. It came at a great time, just when John’s car, which he used every day, came to a standstill.

Now the poor thing has to cope with all weathers, its mileage has doubled within a year, it’s filthy outside and the inside is a health hazard, but worst of all I have to drive it. The cars of today are just such a joy to drive (with the odd exception), whereas this is just awkward by comparison.

Even my mum commented that it must be a shock having to drive it. I protested with rather too much vigour – she saw right through my white lie. I always feel as if I’m driving with my bum inches from the ground and while I’m fighting with gravity and increasing my sessions at the gym I’m only just winning…

The seats are hard to adjust, the steering is heavy, it looks old-fashioned and I just don’t want to drive it any more, unlike Vauxhall’s latest Corsa which feels light-years away from ours. I had the chance to whizz around in a new Corsa 1.3 CDTI Ecoflex, a car my father would really appreciate for its incredible economy (85.6 mpg on an urban fuel cycle and CO2 emissions a mere 105g/km), let alone its looks. And as for the drive…nippy, powerful, responsive and so easy to manoeuvre – unlike the muscle-building qualities of my father’s pride and joy! How our expectations change!

We live in London in a resident’s parking area, and now we have to buy a parking permit for the old Corsa as John seems to be at home with alarming regularity and is using up all the guest passes (he’s previously worked up north and based the car there). Can’t blame him for wanting to feel that he and the car belong, rather than being a guest who occasionally comes to stay but it’s galling to have to spend money on the thing!

Change is good, but it does depend on what you’re changing…

I did wonder whether the dark rear windows were just asking for trouble, and as soon as I put the GTI into gear and pressed my right foot down on the shiny chrome accelerator pedal I knew that was precisely the case. Fast and furious – just like my heart-rate. I felt I was in a bumper car (thankfully without the bumps), zooming along, changing direction instantly. But I could never live with a car like this – it would end badly, and probably in court. I know my place: I’m just a Polo-type of girl despite aspirations to the contrary.

Now if the GTI is a boy-racer, then the GTI with the six speed DSG double-clutch is definitely for the ‘man-racer’ out there (5-door £24,905). Almost as much fun, but so effortless. Still fast, furious and thrilling and great for those who no longer feel the need to rev the engine for effect, but zoom on by in a blur of class, quality and style. Yet more money, of course.

The thing is, driving a speedy, beautifully made, high kerb-appeal vehicle just makes you feel so good. It’s very seductive. Perhaps that’s why there will always be those prepared to splash out for a Golf GTI.

I suppose the GTI is the ultimate for a driver of a certain age (I imagine late-twenties), but there are other Golfs of course, and the range offers something for everyone – if you have the cash.

In all fairness, I do believe there are hardly any really bad cars on the market these days. However, we can still be discerning and separate the sheep from the goats – something my old biology teacher used to say in every lesson. Too late, I finally think I understand the meaning, especially when it comes to cars; they all look good and drive well, but which one stands out from the crowd? I still don’t know which one it’s best to be. Sheep are cuddly and cute, tow the line and follow the crowd. Now goats seem rather wicked to me with that slightly malevolent look, rebellious nature and agile manner…

What on earth has this got to do with cars? Well, quite a lot when it comes to driving the all-new Spark with its funky style heralding a new era for Chevrolet, gently started with the Cruze earlier this year. While the Cruze is large and more traditional, the Spark is young, dynamic, cheeky and off the rails – or rather it almost was as a load of journalists were let lose on the streets of Athens for their first taster of this city car.

So when I thought of Greece, goats came to mind. The Spark, out next Spring to UK buyers, is agile and sure-footed. It’s quick, responsive, angular, bold, aggressive and looks altogether a little wicked and helped us hapless journalists cope with the hell of driving in a crazy city, where no one seemed to take notice of other cars, whether they had right of way or not. No point in being hesitant like a sheep – best to leap into the fray and get on with it.

It was rather an amazing scene, a convoy of brightly coloured Sparks disappearing into the distance, easily spotted by their distinctive rear lights. This is a smart city car with an edge. It’s spacious, stylish, fun to drive and different. But it is a city car, and while it does have the benefits of five doors and five seats, you wouldn’t want to travel too far with five adults on board, despite space for legs, heads and shoulders. It is what it is, and none the worse for that.

Rather than being slightly apologetic about driving a cheaper car (starting price £6,945), this is a car you can be proud to be seen in and look forward to driving, its green credentials offsetting the guilt of driving a car in a city. And yes, there are other city cars out there who can do all that this car can do, but do they offer such value for money and still look good?

We owned a Peugeot 205 many years ago, courtesy of a dear friend. He kindly donated it to us when he became too old to drive safely, only for it promptly to be written off by my husband who drove it into a wall to avoid hitting a sheep!

So now, years later I found myself in the 205’s upgraded self – a 2009 Peugeot 207 courtesy of a Peugeot Service Department as my 807 was dispatched for some repairs. I should add that this isn’t the car featured in Debby’s video above, which was lent to us by the nice people at Peugeot UK…

Having been used to a diesel automatic, with an engine not quite large enough for the size of the 807, it was rather a joy to slip the 207 into gear and zip away. My mood immediately lightened, distracted from thoughts of impending repair bills.

Unfortunately, this all coincided with a self-catering, boating holiday on the Norfolk Broads. We had a long journey ahead in our new small friend and frankly we approached it with some trepidation.

But instead of the miserable, cramped journey that we had been anticipating (the 207 is, whichever way you cut it, smaller than an 807), we had a lovely trip with luggage and provisions fitting nicely into the impressive boot, husband not too cramped in the passenger seat and toys mercifully limited due to the normal-sized cabin.

The only complaint from said husband was when I refused to overtake numerous lorries on the A-roads. This however, is no reflection on the 207, but rather on my driving, having endured a near-death experience a couple of years ago with the aforementioned under-powered 807 and a huge lorry hurtling towards me.

Apart from the slow journey then, there were no further complaints and we arrived at our destination full of beans (literally, thanks to a Little Chef) with plenty of petrol still in the tank.

I suspect there’d be even more fuel left in the tank had we been in the new Economique (doesn’t “economical” sound better in French?) derivative of this best-selling Peugeot, which not only produces 99g/km of CO2 but is exempt from tax. It’s little wonder that sales of the 207 are very good despite all the other new Peugeots on the market (see our recent 3008 test here for instance).

We suddenly wondered whether our friends and neighbours had been right all along to sneer at our enormous people-carrier, while they smugly drove their nippy city cars.

Who needs big, gas guzzling monsters, which only encourage you to pack for all eventualities when a smaller, greener car will do? If only we could afford to downsize!

The Suzuki Alto is full of delights and surprises. My first surprise being that I had to fight to get a look-in, and couldn’t figure out why it was so popular with the men. I should have known it would have been all about engine noise! Boys and their toys…

However, I’m rather pleased I left my normal cutting comments to myself, as once I got behind the wheel I soon understood what all the fuss was about. I have to confess, I soon got hooked on the noise this zippy city car produced. This I’m reliably informed is down to the three cylinder engine – just don’t ask me to explain why, as I zoned out at that point. However, I did recognise that we had heard a similar off-beat thrum before in the form of the Smart, so felt progress was being made in the pub-quiz stakes.

But at first all I felt was embarrassment as I zipped around North West London, wanting to poke my head out of the window and apologise to all those that were being affected by my throaty engine. Except whenever I did have the window down I couldn’t hear it. I soon realised that this lovely noise was all internal and I could enjoy it without feelings of mortification. Isn’t that clever?

So not only was the internal sound a joy, but so was the interior; there was nothing surplus to requirement, yet nothing was lacking. All the storage shelves and cubby holes are there but done in such a way as to appear frugal, but sufficient. It has that holiday cottage feel about it. Plain, simple and clean looking, which somehow makes it easy to live with, to the point where you want to transfer that simple-living feeling into your everyday life. It took me quite a while to forgive my own car for all its clever gadgets, many of which stopped working just after the warranty expired.

This car gave me thrills with its engine noise, to the point that I kept imagining myself in a little sports car, only to be faintly shocked back to reality when I stepped out. The engine note is only intrusive when accelerating fast, which just means you do it more often. The Alto’s rather funny, easy to park, fun to drive, has low running costs and emissions and is a cheeky looking number to boot. A perfect city car.

Sadly at my stage in life with kids still very much in tow, an MPV is the best car for the job, i.e. transporting the little darlings and their friends about and filling the car up with far too much luggage and essential toys for those painful holidays. Frankly I’d much rather stay at home.

So for now I feel stuck with this mode of transport, never having considered what a burden it would become. I wonder whether those yummy mummies and their lovely 4×4 yummy mummy cars get sick of their chosen vehicle. I doubt it, possibly because they change it every year.

I always feel that I reflect the type of car I’m driving – internally at least – and I feel I become what I drive…

That’s to say, harassed mother, constantly shopping in order to keep the fridge full of food for hungry teenagers (a losing battle) sensible clothes and shoes so that I’m comfortable when I’m driving as well as being able to transport said shopping without breaking a leg.

Always in a rush as I’ve never learnt to time-manage despite husband giving me lessons. I just don’t think he gets what home life and childcare is all about and tries to deal with me as he would an annoying, slightly useless colleague. I told him a little tale the other day I thought quite amusing, but all he did was repeat it back to me in a more succinct way so that next time I wouldn’t drivel on and waste his precious time!

I like to think I’m part of a group of mums in the same boat, but when I look around, I feel somewhat isolated:

From the earth mother who is so patient with her kids, always looks smart and floats along, to my friend down the road who gets out of her very sensible car and then sashays down the road looking gorgeous and unflustered. She was a model in her former life and my does it show.

Another bounces along despite what life has thrown at her and of course then there’s the rock chick who always looks as if she’s just got out of bed, but still manages to exude femininity and style despite shoving her kids in her MPV before whisking them off to some private school in a posh part of London.

The moral of this tale? If you have to drive an MPV, choose one that’s practical but more importantly stylish. The Citroen C3 Picasso fits the bill perfectly I think. Then you can drive your vehicle with your head held high, exuding confidence and calm, knowing you look good on the outside even if on the inside you’re a total mess.