What Car Q&A - Which cars are small and slender?

Q: My father has been told his 15-year-old Rover Metro won't pass its next MoT, so he wants a replacement. He needs a car that's small and, most importantly, slender (he has a very narrow 1930s driveway). He also needs five doors and a boot big enough for a small dog. Any recommendations?
Sally Williams, via email.

A: The old Rover Metro was 71 inches wide (1803mm in today's money) and its boot capacity was 227 litres.

Because of safety features, such as side impact bars and fatter pillars, modern cars are generally wider than those of 10 or 15 years ago. The Fiat Panda (width 1810mm and boot capacity 206 litres) has a marginally smaller boot, but is probably about as close as you'll get.

Other possible options are the Kia Picanto (width 1846mm and boot capacity 220 litres) and the Honda Jazz (width 1885mm and boot capacity 353 litres). Both are a little wider than the Metro, but if they'll fit in your father's drive, his dog will have a bit more space to stretch its legs.

We did also consider other possibilities, such as the Suzuki Wagon R and Vauxhall Agila, but these are poor cars and are actually slightly wider than the cars mentioned above. A Chevrolet Matiz would fit, too, but its boot could well be too small for your father's dog.