Real People, Real Reactions - Five Cars for 2018

We've asked five real people to give us real reactions on the new Skoda Octavia, Peugeot 3008, Mazda2, Kia Stonic and Renault Koleos.
Every week we review numerous cars on the Car Buyers Guide website. It’s a job we love doing, but a few weeks ago we decided to find out what non-motor journalists think about the cars in our market. In this month’s feature we film and find real reactions from real people regarding some choice cars on the market in Ireland.
Car Buyers Guide brought five potential buyers to Mondello Park to drive five different cars to get their impressions. The Skoda Octavia took the title of being the medium saloon car that we would recommend for 2018. The Skoda Octavia is an obvious choice if you don’t want a Volkswagen Golf. We reckon it has an edge on the Volkswagen Golf too being more roomy and cheaper. The 2.0TDI 150hp variant we had felt every bit as good to drive as the Golf but just with the added practicality. The Octavia has an impressive 590l boot and enough leg and headroom room in the back for someone tall.
The price of the car driven by our five drivers was €29,570 but the starting price for the Octavia range is €19,965 for the 1.2TSI 86hp model in Active trim line. Although the facelift is questionable in our eyes, there is no doubt that the Octavia is a good car to drive as well as being practical and affordable.
Kia recently launched its new B-segment crossover to the Irish market, the Kia Stonic. The Stonic has serious competition from the likes of the Nissan Juke, Toyota C-HR, Peugeot 2008 and Mazda CX-3. The Stonic we had was specced with the 1.4MPI naturally aspirated petrol engine producing 100hp.
The Stonic’s styling is one that is funky therefore aiming it at younger buyers. Prices start from €18,599 for the K1 1.2MPI petrol. The model that our driver’s drove was the K3 with the 1.4MPI engine. Each driver liked the look of the Kia and the way it drove. We reckon Kia are onto a winner with this one.
The Peugeot 3008 took the title of the mid-range SUV. Not only did our drivers commend the 3008 for it’s funky looks, so did the Irish press. It won Irish Car of the Year for 2018, and rightly so. It has 520l of boot space on tap, generous leg and head room to the rear, clever technology up front and with a starting price of €26,595. The model we had at Mondello was the 1.2 130hp petrol.
Representing the city car segment, we had the Mazda2. This Mazda2 is powered by a 1.5 petrol engine with 90hp. Prices start at €16,095 with this one, with options, coming in at €21,505. Each driver had great things to say about the little Mazda. Each person agreed that it felt sporty to drive and had a unique interior for it’s class. We would agree. Some of the Mazda’s rivals are the Nissan Micra and the Skoda Fabia. The Nissan starts at €16,650 and the Skoda starting at €14,500. The Mazda sits in the middle at €16,095 for the SE trim with a 5-speed manual and 75hp engine.
We had the Renault Koleos speaking up for the SUV segment. The Koleos has been rebranded since its initial appearance back 2008. Now with more appealing styling and an attractive starting price of €34,490, the Koleos hopes to win over some new buyers. Our five drivers felt the Koleos was onto a winner with it’s classier looking exterior and clever infotainment system. The specced up Koleos we had was priced at €49,615. The four wheel drive variant we had was specced with a CVT automatic gearbox.
For our other real reactions reviews, follow the cards in the video.
Read our Skoda Octavia Scout review here: www.cbg.ie/new-car-review-det...
Read our Skoda Octavia vRS review here: www.cbg.ie/new-car-review-det...
Read our Peugeot 3008 review here: www.cbg.ie/new-car-review-det...
Read our Mazda2 review here: www.cbg.ie/new-car-review-det...
Read our Renault Koleos review here: www.cbg.ie/new-car-review-det...
Read our Kia Stonic review here: www.cbg.ie/new-car-review-det...
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