So much for mainstream: used car alternatives to Polo, Golf and Co.
It is these patterns that we like to fall into, even when buying a used car. Many were shaped in childhood because we come from a BMW, Ford, Opel or VW family. A BMW 3 Series, a Ford Focus, an Opel Insignia or a VW Polo are usually on our radar. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with choosing these cars. Except maybe its predictability – and it's a bit boring somehow?
A look beyond the European borders shows that the Italians and French are doing the same as we do. They prefer to buy from Alfa Romeo and Fiat in Italy or, of course, from Citroën, Peugeot and Renault in France. Today we put the blinders away.
The most important facts in brief
- Why not buy an Audi, BMW, Mercedes and VW? Because they are on every corner.
- If you want more individuality, you will find what you are looking for in Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Range Rover and other powerful brands.
- The selection of used cars at mobile.de is extensive: There are also many offers apart from the bestsellers.
A little Italian: Lancia Ypsilon
So the next Polo will not be one, but a Lancia Ypsilon, which fits perfectly into the city at only 3.84 meters. We look at the generation that was offered from 2011 to 2016.
What makes him stand out for us? For example, the four-door body, whose rear portals are only noticeable as doors at second glance because the handles are not integrated into the sheet metal, but into the side windows. It also features 16 different paint finishes, including four two-tone ones, in which the bonnet and roof could be chosen in a contrasting colour.
On the Ypsilon, we find some technical extravaganzas, such as the LED taillights. The cockpit with the centrally arranged instruments also makes it something special. And the Ypsilon does not have a fuel cap that you have to remove separately. After opening the fuel filler flap, fuel can be tapped immediately.
Technically, the Ypsilon is closely related to the Fiat 500. The Lancia uses gasoline engines from 0.9 to 1.2 liters of displacement with a power range of 69 to 85 hp. There is also a diesel, the 1.3-liter Multijet, which develops 95 hp. However, it only meets the Euro 5 standard and is therefore affected by driving bans.
So look for a gasoline engine: At mobile.de, you can find it from 2,000 euros if the mileage is less than 100,000 kilometers.
The 0.9-liter engine two-cylinder is a special feature (also as a natural gas variant). The engine is very revving and pleases with its slightly pithy running noise, which is not obtrusive, but stands out from the monotony of the three- and four-cylinder engines – another reason to reach for the Ypsilon.
As a small car alternative to the alternative, the Mini (2006 to 2014) comes into question. It could also be highly individualized visually and strikes completely different strings than the Lancia when it comes to driving pleasure.
Strengths and weaknesses of the Lancia Ypsilon
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Many highly individualized models available
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Interesting engine range
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- No revelation in terms of driving dynamics
- Front axle susceptible to wear at high mileages
Vive la France: DS 4, compact luxury Citroën
What Lexus is to Toyota and Audi to VW, DS is to Citroën – the noble daughter. That's why we look in the DS range for a model that we can buy instead of the Golf or A3 and find what we are looking for in the DS 4. The first generation started in 2011 as the Citroën DS 4. Four years later, DS was separated from Citroën as an independent brand.
What makes the DS 4, which was offered until 2018, special? Apart from the coup̩-like shape Рthe rear doors are only recognizable as such at second glance Рit is the option to order a windshield that has been pulled far into the roof. The view diagonally upwards is simply great in this variant. The equipment of the DS is far above the class standard, with optional extras from the upper to the compact class.
At the same time as DS became independent as a brand in 2015, the range was expanded to include the 30-millimetre higher Crossback model, whose flanks were visually adapted a little towards SUVs with robust plastic wheel arches. However, front-wheel drive remained.
On the engine side, DS-4 buyers could choose from three- and four-cylinder gasoline engines between 120 and 211 hp. For diesels, the range included 92 to 181 hp. Only the BlueHDi diesels reach the Euro 6 standard. The 163 and 165 hp petrol engines fit the dignified character of the DS 4 best, as they were available in combination with an automatic transmission. The entry into the DS-4 world (with a maximum mileage of 100,000 kilometers) is possible at mobile.de from around 10,000 kilometers.
If more sophistication in the powertrain is desired, a Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid would be worth considering. Toyota first had the plug-in hybrid in its range in 2012. Although it polarizes with its unusual looks, its powertrain is economical and technically sophisticated.
Strengths and weaknesses of the DS 4
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Windshield extends into the roof (optional, not on all models)
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Mostly very good equipment
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- Many diesels only with Euro 5 standard
- No all-wheel drive in the Crossback
Italo power for the middle class: Alfa Romeo Giulia
AMG, M Power or Audi Sport make you sit up and take notice, but Ferrari? That's something special again. We all think of potent sports cars, Formula 1 successes and completely unaffordable purchase prices. We could also think of the Alfa Romeo Giulia, in whose sharpest version – Quadrifoglio – a 2.9-liter biturbo V6 from Ferrari passes its up to 520 hp to the rear wheels.
Who is bothered by the not always quite routine workmanship in the interior. The handling is sharp like a stiletto, the steering as responsive as hydrogen and oxygen, a dream for drivers.
In contrast to the predecessor 156 and 159 series, however, this mid-range model – on the market since 2016, facelift at the beginning of 2023 (matrix LED as standard) – is no longer available as a station wagon. With a luggage volume of only 480 liters, the Giulia is certainly not ideal for leisure forwarders, here the "Bella Figura" is in the foreground.
In terms of performance, the Giulia is not a child of sadness, because even the basic petrol version delights with 200 hp, the diesels start at 136 hp and rise to 210 hp. Low flame? No, the diesel engines tear at the powertrain with at least 380 Newton meters (maximum 470 Newton meters). What does the account have to give up to find a Giulia with no more than 100,000 kilometers at mobile.de? It was supposed to be 16,000 euros.
And if you are looking for a successful mid-range station wagon away from the mainstream, you could look around for a Jaguar XE Sportbrake. The Briton also knows how to give his driver joyful moments behind the wheel.
Strengths and weaknesses of the Alfa Romeo Giulia
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Excellent handling
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Above-average performance with Ferrari V6
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- Not available as a station wagon
- Processing partly not to class standard
The unknown in the luxury class: Genesis G70
Genesis? Never heard of it. This is the reaction of many car buyers who are confronted with the brand name of the Hyundai noble offshoot. This may be due to the fact that the brand was only founded in 2015 and was launched on the German market in mid-2021.
The company bosses at Genesis are so convinced of their products that they cover all scheduled costs (service, maintenance, warranty) for the first five years or 75,000 kilometers – no European manufacturer dares to do that.
So let's take a closer look at the Genesis G70, which is poaching in the mid-range and high-end territory. As GV70, Genesis has also designed the model as an SUV and in addition, Genesis is unleashing a station wagon on European customers with the G70 Shooting Brake. In order to be able to survive against the established competition, the Koreans have first-class workmanship of their top model and equipped it with high-quality materials. Genesis accommodates the conservative audience with an operating concept that, in addition to voice and touch control, also has real buttons and switches for important functions – a clever move.
However, the headroom in the rear lags behind that of the established competition. The Korean also does not have the six-cylinder engines that are popular in his class. Only four-cylinder engines with 2.0 to 2.5 liters of displacement are available as drives, the diesels start at 200 hp, the gasoline engines at 245 hp. Used G70s run up to 100,000 kilometers can be found at mobile.de from 26,000 euros.
Alternatively, you could also go for Volvo's 60 series, which is one of the safest cars ever with a large number of assistants. We know the sedan as the S60, the station wagon as the V60 and their dealer network is considerably denser than that of the premium Koreans.
Strengths and weaknesses of the Genesis G70
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Very good workmanship
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Very extensive warranty services
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- Only available with four-cylinder engines
- Very thin dealer network
Space car: The Chrysler Pacifica as a family van
Of course, you could go for the VW bus or the Renault Espace. Space for more than five passengers and luggage, that's where these large vans are talented. But we want something from Chrysler, one of the pioneers in the MPV segment, the inventor of the Voyager, who for decades swayed entire sports teams to the away game. In 2016, the original van was phased out, followed by the Chrysler Pacifica.
2017 was the market launch for the large van with up to eight seats, whose interior allows for great variability. The seats in rows two and three can be distributed in very different ways in the car or easily lifted out. Sliding doors on the left and right make loading easy. In 2020, the Voyager will come into play again. Since then, the Pacifica has been offered in the lower trim levels under the familiar name, as an entry-level model.
On the engine side, the range is manageable. The 3.6-liter V6 is always on board, with its 291 hp it fits well with the large van, a nine-speed automatic portions the power. However, consumption is high at well over eleven liters per 100 kilometers. The hybrid offered in parallel should get by with around 7.5 liters. It also has the V6 on board, but it is supported by an electric motor, which significantly reduces thirst. For mobile.de, it starts with 19,000 euros for cars with less than 100,000 kilometers.
If the Pacifica is out of the question because of its looks, the Hyundai Staria could be taken into account. Above all, the front with its LED lighting concept clearly makes it stand out from the mass of vans and it also has two sliding doors.
Strengths and weaknesses of the Chrysler Pacifica
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Very variable interior
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Powerful V6
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- Workmanship not quite on the level of the European competition
- Not economical
A convertible for four: Range Rover Evoque Convertible
Convertibles are a dying species. The VW T-Roc with fabric top is one of the few exceptions here. But a VW: See above. So we look to Great Britain and there at what Land Rover and Range Rover have brought in terms of open cars. The Defender was built with a rag roof until 2016. The successor is no longer available as a convertible. But at Range Rover, head of design Gerry McGovern had given the Range Rover Evoque Convertible a dashing fabric hat. In 2016, the topless version was launched.
Even without a roof, the Evoque retained its outstanding off-road capabilities. They are not quite on the level of a Mercedes G-Class, but they enable far more than his drivers will ever demand of him. The four-seater also cuts a fine figure on the boulevard. The high seating position also helps its passengers to achieve the best all-round visibility.
The Evoque Convertible is chic and practical. It has a hatch in the rear seat backrest, for example for skis. So even as a convertible, the model is compatible with winter sports. However, children in particular sit comfortably in the back: The space for the legs is not too ample.
Charged four-cylinder engines provide propulsion in the front of the Evoque. They are 150 to 240 hp and coupled to an automatic transmission. After two years of production, it was already over in 2018. At mobile.de, only about 50 open-top Evoques are offered, at prices starting at 29,000 euros (with less than 100,000 kilometers on the clock).
Because such a Range Rover always appears a little glamorous and this is not to everyone's taste, especially among off-road fans, the Jeep Wrangler is recommended as an alternative, especially the short one (because of the off-road capabilities) and of course the one with the soft top. It is as unglamorous as the old Defender was.
Strengths and weaknesses of the Range Rover Evoque
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High-quality equipment and workmanship
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Very suitable for off-road use
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- Limited space in the rear
- Rear bench backrest cannot be folded down
An SUV with style: The Maserati Levante
