r/CarsEU

I’m buying my first car (I just got my license) and have narrowed it down to a few options.

Requirements:
Automatic transmission only
Budget upto 17-18k euros, I don’t know what’s the right budget either
Mostly city driving + weekend trips
Reliability is very important
Would like to keep it 2–5 years
Good resale value matters
Parking in Málaga can be tight
New driver, so insurance costs are a consideration

Option 1 – Toyota Corolla 1.8 Hybrid Active Tech eCVT (2021)
€16,999
80,540 km
Hybrid
122 hp
Automatic

Option 2 – Toyota Corolla 1.8 Hybrid Active Tech eCVT (2022)
€17,790
85,000 km
Hybrid
122 hp
Automatic

Option 3 – Volkswagen Polo Life 1.0 TSI DSG (2022)
€17,800
25,000 km
Petrol
95 hp
Automatic DSG

Option 4 – Hyundai IONIQ 1.6 GDI HEV (2021)
€14,890
105,848 km
Hybrid
141 hp
Automatic DCT

Option 5 – Mazda2 Hybrid CVT (2024)
€16,300
73,221 km
Hybrid
116 hp
Automatic

Option 6 – Skoda Fabia 1.0 TSI DSG (2021)
€12,627
119,933 km
Petrol
110 hp
Automatic DSG

I am open to suggestions as I don’t know much about cars and any advice would be great.

Questions
Which would you choose and why?
Which is likely to have the lowest total cost of ownership over the next 3–5 years?
Would you pay ~€3–5k more for a Corolla over the Fabia?
Is the Polo’s very low mileage enough to make it a better buy than the Corolla?
Any known reliability concerns with the IONIQ hybrid or DSG-equipped VW/Skoda models?

I strongly advise people to avoid renting from Flexways in Romania.
My experience was extremely misleading and financially abusive.
During the rental process, I was told there would be a “deposit” of around $3000. A deposit normally means money temporarily held and later returned if there is no damage or violation.
However, after signing the contract, I discovered the document described this amount differently. It was written in a way that made the charge effectively non-refundable, not a normal security deposit as I had been led to believe.
This distinction is critical. Calling something a “deposit” while the contract treats it as a non-returnable fee is deeply misleading to customers, especially foreign travelers who may not fully understand the legal wording under pressure at the rental desk.
I felt trapped into accepting terms that were not clearly explained beforehand.
The communication was unclear, the practices felt deceptive, and the financial risk was enormous.
Before renting from Flexways, read every line carefully and ask them in writing:
Is the amount refundable?
Under exactly what conditions?
Is it legally classified as a deposit or a fee?
What are the cancellation and refund rules?
I would never rent from this company again, and I recommend others use extreme strongly advise people to avoid renting from Flexways in Romania.
My experience was extremely misleading and financially abusive.
During the rental process, I was told there would be a “deposit” of around $3000. A deposit normally means money temporarily held and later returned if there is no damage or violation.
However, after signing the contract, I discovered the document described this amount differently. It was written in a way that made the charge effectively non-refundable, not a normal security deposit as I had been led to believe.
This distinction is critical. Calling something a “deposit” while the contract treats it as a non-returnable fee is deeply misleading to customers, especially foreign travelers who may not fully understand the legal wording under pressure at the rental desk.
I felt trapped into accepting terms that were not clearly explained beforehand.
The communication was unclear, the practices felt deceptive, and the financial risk was enormous.
Before renting from Flexways, read every line carefully and ask them in writing:
Is the amount refundable?
Under exactly what conditions?
Is it legally classified as a deposit or a fee?
What are the cancellation and refund rules?
I would never rent from this company again, and I recommend others use extreme caution before giving them access to thousands of dollars. before giving them access to thousands of dollars.