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Dynamic yet practical, the V60 is a true Volvo interpretation of a family estate car. The V60 promises practicality as well as extended boot space for those who need extra storage space. Volvo’s ‘V Series’ is a collection of hatchbacks and estate vehicles, which offers an array of mainstream and premium cars. The V60 competes against the BMW 3-Series Touring, Audi A6 Avant and the Mercedes C-Class estate. The standard model is on the market at a starting price of €41,200. However, for this review, we got our hands on the Inscription. This top of the line spec retails from €46,440 and with all the added features it is definitely worth the investment. View Volvo V60’s for sale on DoneDeal now. A slick and convenient addition to the V60 is the automatic boot door that opens by swiping your foot in front of the sensor at the bottom of the car, perfect for when your hands are full. What makes this estate a family car is just how truly spacious it is. With an impressive boot capacity of 529 litres, the V60 has the best space compared to its rivals. If that’s not enough, the rear seats can fold forward, increasing the capacity to 1300 litres. From tethering points and a spare wheel to dividers for shopping bags, this vehicle has it all. The convenience pack upgrade includes a 12-volt socket and electric folding rear seats. This luxurious Swedish vehicle also has a ski hatch embedded in the centre back seat for those who have plans of driving to the slopes. The rear doors open to a full range to improve access and make it is effortless for families who will be using children’s car seats. It is also worth noting the Isofix points are easily accessible too. Overall the car is quite spacious at the back and can fit three passengers quite comfortably. However, the optional sunroof for the V60 does compromise headroom for the back seat passengers. Features inside the car include an armrest with cup holders, seat storage and even a three-pin socket with selected models. Both driver and front passenger are treated to a bright and luxurious experience. Unlike its rivals, the V60 comes with fully electric seats as standard. From the digital dashboard to the large front and centre infotainment system screen, this car comes with all the gadgets a car enthusiast would want when searching for their next vehicle. It’s worth mentioning that the V60’s infotainment system can be tricky to operate at times and does not come with Apple Car Play or Android Auto for the standard models. Volvo follows suit by providing the latest technology to support lane assist, accident avoidance and a rearview camera to help manoeuvre reversing in those tight spots. What separates the V60 from its competitors is its driving and handling. Designed to make urban driving a breeze, one of the first things you notice behind the wheel is how smooth it is to drive as it glides over the road, and how exceptionally light the steering is. A selection of engines are available for this vehicle; however, Volvo recommends the T5 petrol (230 bhp) accompanied by the 8-speed automatic gearbox. Although a great pairing, we couldn’t help but notice there was a slight lag between them, which was unfortunate. What makes the V60 desirable is its appeal to families by being practical for those everyday needs. From the stylish interior to its incredibly safe design, this great estate is an excellent option in today’s market.

The all-new SEAT Arona has become one of the more recent additions to the SUV market. This compact crossover’s design originates from the SEAT Ibiza but manufactured to meet the rising demand for SUV vehicles. The Arona contends against the likes of the Hyundai Kona, Kia Stonic and Renault Captur. What makes the Arona an attractive option for most buyers is its price, which starts at around €19,000. For this review, we managed to get our hands on the FR model which includes some extras like a sportier trim, larger alloys and a 150 bhp petrol engine and this upgrade retails for around €25,000. View SEAT Arona’s for sale on DoneDeal now. The fully foldable rear allows for an impressive 400 litre capacity of storage space in the boot (approximately equaling three to four suitcases). It makes the Arona a leader in its class when it comes to space. A unique feature is an adjustable floor in the boot that can create even more space if needed. Luckily, a real spare tyre is provided with the car in the unfortunate event of a puncture. It is evident that SEAT is a member of the Volkswagen group when you first glance at the interior of the Arona. With several USB points and plenty of side storage, passengers are also given a generous amount of head and legroom. Unfortunately, lumbar support is not provided, which is disappointing as the Arona ticks so many boxes in regards to features. With access to Volkswagen technology, it’s no surprise that the infotainment system is second to none. Incorporated with the latest technology, it provides the user with a seamless and effortless experience. The Arona is also compatible with both Apple CarPlay, Andriod Auto and has a built in Sat Nav to make sure you get to your desired destinations efficiently and on time. The 5″ display screen comes as standard for the basic model. Our recommendation is upgrading to the 8″ to get the best experience and comes as standard for both the Xcellence and FR versions. Other technologies worth highlighting include the parking aid camera, park assist, and the wireless phone charger. Responsive, powerful and fun to drive, the 1.5 litre gives a tremendous and punchy feeling as its performance mirrors one of a ‘hot-hatchback’. If you’re looking for a long-lasting, reliable car, we recommend the Arona FR.

Ford leave nothing to the imagination and have exceeded expectations with the all-new Ford Focus. Current rivals to this sporty hatchback include the Peugeot 308, Hyundai i30, Kia Ceed and on the more premium end, the Volkswagen Golf. With a competitive starting price of €22,000, the Focus positioned itself exceptionally well to succeed in the Irish market. We got behind the wheel to take it on a test drive and for this particular review, we managed to get our hands on the top line Vignale model, which retails for around €33,000. View Ford Focus’s for sale on DoneDeal now. Unlike previous models, the Focus was manufactured with the intent to create a more spacious and stylish vehicle. Ford increased the boot size to 375 litres (which should comfortably fit approximately two to three suitcases) and in addition also improved the backseat head and legroom, giving passengers a more comfortable driving experience. Several storage spots exist throughout the car, including cupholders, door cards and a large glove box for everyday items. The car boot is also fitted with convenient hooks and tethering points to help hold loose objects in place. Each model also comes with a standard spare wheel situated under the flooring in the boot of the car. Front passengers are treated to lumbar support seating which comes as standard. The Focus is the only car in its class to offer this which can be a make or break feature for many car buyers in today’s market. This Vignale edition, however, also comes with electric seating for both driver and their front seat passenger. Fitted with the latest technology, the Focus has several USB points, a high-class touch screen that provides a smooth experience as users swipe across the different applications. The infotainment system includes Apple Car Play and Android Auto. A very slick addition to the Focus was the removal of the standard gear stick which was replaced with a console-mounted rotary gear shift dial, giving the car a more premium feel. Surprisingly, the visibility is quite good considering the car has a more sporty design, the low dashboard gives the driver an elevated experience. The vehicle comes with park assist technology for automatic parking, and the presence of a rear camera provides excellent assistance for those who still prefer the old-fashioned manual way. To conclude, Ford has impressed us with the upgrades they made to the Focus. This vehicle is a standout in a somewhat crowded hatchback market. Having set a new standard, we are excited to see how Ford further improves this impressive machine.

30% of all new cars on Irish roads are now automatics. That’s according to new research from DoneDeal on trends in the new car sales market for Q1 2019. In the year to the end of March, over 19,000 automatics rolled off the nation’s forecourts – an all-time high for the transmission type. That’s a 216% increase compared with the same time period 5 years ago when just 6,000 new automatics were sold in the state. The best-selling automatic car makes in the opening three months of 2019 were Toyota, Audi and BMW with the Toyota Corolla, the best selling model of Q1. Martin Clancy from DoneDeal said: “New automatic transmissions are extremely intelligent. It’s now common to see seven and even eight gear transmissions which enable smooth and efficient driving, even at low revs. Therefore burning far less fuel and reducing emissions.” “It’s also worth pointing out that alternative-fuel vehicles, including virtually all hybrids and fully electric cars, tend to use automatic gearboxes. With the increase in alternative fuel vehicles, the number of automatics on the roads is sure to rise also”. Diesel was the most popular automatic engine type, accounting for 47% of the automatic market with Petrol Electric (26%) and Petrol (16%) rounding out the top three. Best selling automatics on Irish roads Q1 2019: 1. Toyota Corolla – 1,516 units 2. Toyota C-HR – 1,363 units 3. Toyota Rav 4 – 898 units 4. Skoda Kodiaq – 821 units 5. Toyota Yaris – 771 units Source: stats.beep.beep.ie

Nearly four years after its original announcement, Aston Martin have unveiled their first all-electric car, the “Rapide E”, but only 155 will ever be produced. No price has been announced yet – but Aston Martin say the Rapide E will travel over 350 kilometres on a single charge and can go from 0 to 100km in under four seconds. The Rapide E will be built in South Wales, the same location where Aston Martin plans to build the all-electric vehicles for their Lagonda brand. The car was unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show earlier this week. View Aston Martin’s on DoneDeal.

Seat Ireland has announced a 7% year-on-year increase in sales, resulting in a record 3.34% Irish market share for the Spanish manufacturer. Key to this success was the performance of their SUV range, with the Seat Arona accounting for 29% of overall Seat new car sales in Q1, a 69% increase on the same period in 2018. Niall Phillips, Brand Director at SEAT Ireland commented, “We have really hit the ground running in 2019 and as we reflect on very strong sales for Q1, we can confidently point to the significant impact the brand is having in the Irish market as we become more and more relevant for Irish consumers. The development of our product range over the past three years, particularly our SUV range, has been a gamechanger for the brand in Ireland and with the youngest and most dynamic range in the market, we are offering motorists more quality, value and choice than ever before.”

110,000 used cars sold in January and February, compared with 113,150 for the same time period last year. 109,507 used cars sold in Ireland during January and February Volkswagen the most popular new and used car brand in 2019 The Ford Focus is the best-selling used car model of 2019 Diesel’s market share is down 8% year-on-year The number of used cars being sold in the country is down 3.3% year-on-year, according to new research from DoneDeal. A total of 109,507 used cars traded hands over the first two months of 2019, compared with 113,167 a year earlier. Volkswagen is the most popular new and used car make of 2019, with a total of 14,599 Volkswagen’s changing hands in the used car market.  Toyota was next best with 13,447 used car sales. Meanwhile, in the new car market, Volkswagen also leads the way with 5,299 sales so far this year, Hyundai is second with 5,242 191 units rolling off the nation’s forecourts. The Ford Focus is the most popular used car of 2019, closely followed by the Volkswagen Golf and Volkswagen Passat. The Hyundai Tucson remains for the second month running as the most popular new car of 2019, with 1,897 sales to date. DoneDeal have also released “Manufacturer Approved” car ads on site this month. The new feature allows users to easily identify a car that has undergone extensive testing in line with the Manufacturer’s guidelines. Users can also benefit from extended warranties, roadside assist and much more. Martin Clancy from DoneDeal said: “Volkswagen leads the way with a combined total of nearly 20,000 new and used units sold in the opening two months of 2019. One of the most interesting pieces of data to emerge is the clear move away from Diesel. While Diesel continues to be the most popular fuel type the market share for Diesel has decreased by 8% year-on-year while Petrol has grown its market share by over 3.5% with the Hybrid and Electric also recording strong gains.”

On March 8th 2019 people in Ireland and around the world celebrate women’s achievements. It’s a time for celebration as well as being a call for gender parity in law, education and work. At Distilled SCH this is more than a day-long initiative. All year long there is a commitment to provide resources so that women can learn from each other, share experiences and amplify their voices. Proudly sponsoring a coffee break at Women in Tech in Dublin in November 2018 We at Distilled SCH work on three iconic brands; Daft, Adverts.ie and DoneDeal. We have been proud to connect countless numbers of buyers and sellers, as well as helping people buy anything from cars, guitars to even their own homes. Distilled SCH at Women in Technology in Waterford on 7th March 2019 It is our mission to empower our users in their daily lives, and we have been doing that for the last twenty years. That is why Distilled SCH is so committed to building a company that can support future generations of engineers and innovators. A company where you can be yourself and where difference is celebrated. Distilled also has a Change Makers programmes. Its a peer led initiative that promotes diversity from the inside. It’s not a traditional diversity and inclusion initiative. It’s a small community of colleagues who work to make sure everyone on the team feels empowered to realise their full potential and to create a workplace where differences are embraced. We’re also working on extending our experience beyond our office and into our local communities, because we know that together, we’re stronger. We’re delighted to celebrate this special day and look forward to a bright future for women.

DistilledSCH is honoured to announce that we have been named one of the best places to work in Ireland for 2019. What makes this recognition so special is that we have shot up nine places to sixth in the latest Great Place To Work Survey for medium-sized businesses. GPTW (Great Place To Work) is based on anonymous voluntary feedback from employees based in participating organisations and results are segmented according to the company size (Large, Medium, Small). Our staff ranked us highly in the following areas: Management Diversity Culture Wellbeing Innovation As a fast growing and dynamic company, Distilled SCH CEO and founder of Daft.ie Eamonn Fallon said he was very proud of the companies position and growth over the last twelve months: “It’s fantastic to see Distilled SCH climb nine places to sixth in the latest Great Place to Work survey. As our company continues to grow, we are very proud that we continue to evolve and improve our workplace and I’m delighted to see us recognised for all the hard work put in by all our staff. We are committed to making Distilled SCH a great place to work for all our staff.” At Distilled SCH, we believe our greatest assets are our employees. Here is what a few of them are saying about working at Distilled SCH: “I love working for Distilled SCH, the culture is second to none! I’m part of a group called the Distillers and we organise all company events. These events bring everyone together and it makes it such an enjoyable place to work” – Paula Tierney “There is something really special about being able to work across 3 of Ireland’s most iconic and loved home-grown brands. You get a firsthand experience of the positive impact we make in people’s lives all across Ireland every single day. It is such a great place to work, the company culture is really important and that is reflected in the employee benefits and amazing people that work here. You can expect to feel welcome, supported and truly valued in Distilled SCH” – Wiliam Tector “It’s great to work for a company that cares so much. Distilled SCH really cares about its customers. They truly care about their employees, which is clear from the culture, benefits and the emphasis on a healthy work/life balance. It’s a pleasure to work in a place where you can learn, be challenged and grow while working on products that really matter to a lot of people” – Raychel O’Connell Distilled SCH which has a combined workforce of 153 employees across three offices (Dublin, Wexford and Waterford) has been operating as a joint venture between Irish owned Distilled Media and Oslo based international media giant Schibsted Media Group since July 2015. Eamonn Fallon said: “Distilled SCH brings together three iconic Irish brands. DoneDeal – the number one destination to buy and sell cars in Ireland, Daft.ie – Ireland’s leading real estate website and app and Adverts.ie – a mobile-first platform for buying and selling goods and services.”

A Manufacturer Approved Used Car is a certified used car that’s very different from the average used car. A car can be “Approved” either by a dealer using a Manufacturer’s specifications and ensuring it has passed the Manufacturers quality checks.There are a number of advantages that come along with Approved Used Cars. View Manufacturer Approved Cars now. A multipoint quality check and inspection: A dealer will check on hundreds of parts and systems to ensure they meet the minimum requirements set out by the Manufacturer. The quality checks are both mechanical and visual. An extended warranty: Typically, a Manufacturer Approved used car will get an extended warranty, giving you the peace of mind that the vehicle comes with a guarantee its roadworthiness. Other incentives: Approved used cars often come with a service history report, roadside assistance and flexible finance options. We’ve added a new Approved label to relevant ads on our ad details pages. You’ll now be able to tell which cars are approved and which manufacturer has approved them. When a car is approved, you’ll be able to see the top four programme benefits for that manufacturer in our new Approved Programme section on the car ad. The Approved Programme details are located below “Key Info”, and you can view the complete list by clicking see more. Discover Manufacturer Approved used cars now.

DoneDeal is the new sponsor of Traffic & Travel on Today FM. With a weekly audience of almost 900,000, Today FM Traffic Travel updates can be heard daily during key commuter times on The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show (7-9am) and The Last Word with Matt Cooper (4.30-7pm). The 12-month partnership which was brokered directly between Communicorp Media Sales and Distilled SCH includes 200 sponsor credits per month which focus on DoneDeal’s key offerings as Ireland’s leading motor platform. From onsite financing options to vehicle history checks and manufacturer approved used car programmes, DoneDeal’s mission is to support and empower people throughout their entire car buying journey. The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show is Ireland’s biggest breakfast show on commercial radio, commanding a daily listenership of 180,000, while Matt Cooper’s The Last Word entertains a drive time audience of over 140,000. Commenting on the sponsorship, Martin Clancy, PR & Communications manager, DoneDeal said: “We wanted to speak to the largest in-car motoring audience possible and the high-frequency Traffic and Travel sponsorship on Today FM was a very appealing strategic fit for us. With over 1 million car ads now viewed every day on DoneDeal and more than 1,200 car dealers from across Ireland advertising their cars onsite, Today FM is the perfect fit for us to let motorists know that their next car is only a click away” He continued: “At DoneDeal, we’re committed to providing users with the best car buying experience possible and with that in mind, shoppers can now avail of “Manufacturer Approved” – a new feature in association with some of Ireland’s leading car manufacturers that allows users to easily identify which cars on site have undergone stringent manufacturer quality checks, which in turn delivers complete peace of mind to the car buyer along with our established “GreenLight” car history check service.” Tim Hassett, Communicorp Media Direct Sales commented: “We’re delighted to welcome a fantastic brand like DoneDeal on board as sponsor of Today FM Traffic and Travel bulletins. It’s always great when you can match on-air sponsorship with the long-term goals of a sponsor and in that regard Traffic and Travel fits perfect with DoneDeal positioning as the go to destination for car sales in Ireland”

Women and younger car owners are the most likely to give a nickname and associate a gender to their cars, according to new research from DoneDeal. The survey on car-naming behaviour investigates the depth of the emotional connection between consumers and their cars as represented by the degree to which they personify and ascribe a gender to their vehicles. The survey was conducted among 1,000 Irish motorists in February and also revealed that one in five car owners nickname their vehicles. “These findings are pure fun but they also offer an insight into the emotional relationship the younger generation develops with their cars” said Martin Clancy from DoneDeal. “Men are more likely to attribute a female gender to their cars while Women are the most likely to give the car a nickname. The research also uncovered that 60% of Men under 25 attribute a female gender to their car.” Key Findings 1 in 5 name their vehicles Betsy the most popular car nickname in Ireland 1 in 3 vehicle nicknames begins with B Top 3 Car Nicknames in Ireland Betsy Bessie Mary Mostly She-Cars Six times as many female cars on the road as male 50% of owners identify their cars as either male or female Majority of males (51%) view their vehicle as female 25-35 Age Group most likely to identify their car as female (55%) Women 11% more likely than men to give their vehicle a nickname Young much More Likely to Name Cars than Older People Car owners aged 18-34 are nearly twice as likely (23%) to name their car than those 35+ (12%).