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Hi there, been looking for a fuel efficient runabout. Budget is around 9k. Mostly used around town, with a very occasional longer trip. We really like the interior of the Jazz/Fit, but are aware of reliability issues with the CVT models. Any known issues with the manual gearbox on these models? What other suitable cars would you recommend.

A manual Honda Jazz or Fit should be fine. Unlike the CVT, we're not aware of any issues with the manual transmission.
Othere possibilities to consider could be the Toyota Yaris/Vitz, Suzuki Swift, Mazda2/Demio. Most of the mainstream Japanese cars in this sector have fairly good reputations for reliability, but it comes down to your personal preference.