Price range: £8500 – £30,000
It won’t set your Christmas puddings ablaze, but in all other respects the NX is a faithful and well-appointed companion with a decent image. Hybrid petrol motors are your only option, and we would go for the lustier 2.5 in the 300h. The CVT gearbox is sluggish and noisy, but it and the rest of the car are reliable. Check for body and interior damage.
Price range: £9000 – £30,000
Here’s your opportunity to put others first this Christmas with cars they can rely on, starting with the Toyota Corolla. Reliable, efficient, comfortable, nice to drive and good looking, it just gets on with the business of carrying people and things quietly and unobtrusively. Be sure recalls have been actioned.
Price range: £30,000 – £90,000
The definitive A to B car. Unlike its predecessor, the LTI TX4, the LEVC TX is a modern, refined, comfortable and efficient taxi that, with its carriage licence cancelled, will make an excellent Christmas runabout. Wheelchair access means older relatives can be accommodated with ease.
Price range: £6000 – £16,000
Not the most exciting electric car, but that’s the point. Instead, the Leaf is a tried and trusted EV that is widely available at good prices. There’s a supportive community of owners, too, and some excellent specialist garages that know how to fix faults quickly and inexpensively. Get a battery health report.