[Misc] Electric Cars

[Greg Bobkin]

@Greg Bobkin - I currently have a Seat Ateca ICE but looking at electric options. I like an SUV as I have had back issues so prefer the higher, more upright seating position.

The EV3 looks a bit on low side - any recommendations for a mid-sized SUV that would met my needs? Thanks

The good news is, there is plenty of choice. But that comes with its own issues in terms of budgets, range requirements and all sorts of stuff.

The EV3 is typically classed as an SUV – and doesn't feel low down – so I wouldn't dismiss it straight away. Other options in that areas, if it was me, would be: Renault Megane E-Tech (or Scenic); Skoda Elroq; Peugeot E-3008; MG 5S; BMW iX1. But a lot of it comes down to personal preference. I, for example, CANNOT get on with the Volvo EX30, but a lot of people love it.

If you go for something a bit bigger there's even more choice: Kia EV6; Hyundai Ioniq 5; Skoda Enyaq; Polestar 4; Vauxhall Grandland. And don't discount the Chinese brands – their products are pretty much on a par with the European ones – and often cheaper.

 

[CheeseRolls]

Treated myself to a Hyundai Ioniq 5. Enjoying the driving experience and can't imagine I am going to be suffering from petrol withdrawal symptoms any time soon.

 

[peterward]

Treated myself to a Hyundai Ioniq 5. Enjoying the driving experience and can't imagine I am going to be suffering from petrol withdrawal symptoms any time soon.

I really love the way it looks on the outside, but conversely don't like the way it looks on inside.

 

[CheeseRolls]

It is a bloody good car. Kia is on a real roll with its EV lineup – and more are coming to fill the gaps. EV3 isn't as revolutionary as the EV6 or EV9 before it, but it essentially takes the best bits of those cars and puts it into smaller model, which is what a lot of people will be looking at. Having lived with a smaller EV for a while – and driven a few other new ones in the past few months – in lots of ways I prefer them to big SUVs or saloons. Like you say, one of the advantages is the amount of space inside – in the ID.3 I'm running at the moment, it really is quite deceiving.

I'm really not joking when I say about there being WAY better options than Teslas. I've never really been impressed with much about them – probably the charging capabilities – compared with other EVs. It's always baffled me while some people adore them so much – part of it is, I think, it came along at a time when EVs were on the rise and was seen as some fancy new brand with 'space age' cars. And I guess it was, to a point, but a) I think it took it to the extreme and b) everyone else (actual legacy car manufacturers) caught up and brought out much better products.

I'm genuinely fascinated to see what happens with Tesla. I guess a lot of it will be down to if Musk is anything to do with the company, but even without him, I think it is going to struggle (even more than it is now) against the Chinese.

There are certain areas where Tesla have really driven the industry forward and they have rightly received plaudits. Other things are baffling. Build quality seems poor to me and why they get called out for an excellent user interface, featuring a 14 inch tablet glued to the dashboard just makes no sense to me.

The best thing right now is that there is genuine choice emerging. The best thing to come is more affordable new options along with a larger second hand market, all of which will give a lot more people the opportunity to get on board.

 

[CheeseRolls]

I really love the way it looks on the outside, but conversely don't like the way it looks on inside.

It is a marmite car for sure. I am very happy.

 

[Badger]

I went to the Everything Electric Show at ExCel in London last week. They had a good selection of EVs on display, most of which could be taken on a test drive (unfortunately I couldn't use my Canadian driving licence). I sat in the Renault 5 and it's just a well designed, fun little car to be in. Also, the Ioniq 5N was a lot of fun with bonkers performance stats!

Of course the majority of EVs were big SUVs, which I just can't get excited about. Lots of Chinese brands, including the likes of BYD. Then there were some old cars, modified with electric motors - a classic Mini and Fiat 500 to name two.

The only part of the Tesla stand which was remotely busy was the CyberTruck. I guess it's the only place you're likely to see just how dumb it is outside North America.

I'd definitely recommend going, the next time the show is in the UK. It's not just EVs, they also have home energy stands - heat pumps, solar etc. Plus live talks with Robert Llewellyn (Kryten) as the main host.

 

[A mex eyecan]

All about opinions I know but I think that there isn’t a single Tesla that even remotely looks good. Butt ugly from just about every angle IMO. Many

 

[Greg Bobkin]

There are certain areas where Tesla have really driven the industry forward and they have rightly received plaudits. Other things are baffling. Build quality seems poor to me and why they get called out for an excellent user interface, featuring a 14 inch tablet glued to the dashboard just makes no sense to me.

The best thing right now is that there is genuine choice emerging. The best thing to come is more affordable new options along with a larger second hand market, all of which will give a lot more people the opportunity to get on board.

Totally agree. In some ways, it was easier for a startup to come along and create a successful EV car range. What Tesla DIDN'T do – IMO – was concentrate on making sure the actual car itself was as good as it could be. In pretty much every one I have driven, it's been overcomplicated. I don't mind a bit of innovation, but when you're having to swipe a keycard up against the car to get it and then position it in a certain place in order to get moving, I'm out.

I'm convinced Volvo's Chinese parent company (or the CEO) was pushing to go down the Tesla route of only screens and no buttons – whether it was due to cost reduction, appearing to be clever or something else. But it seems to have completely backfired because it hasn't gone down well with customers and the CEO has buggered off!

 

[El Presidente]

The good news is, there is plenty of choice. But that comes with its own issues in terms of budgets, range requirements and all sorts of stuff.

The EV3 is typically classed as an SUV – and doesn't feel low down – so I wouldn't dismiss it straight away. Other options in that areas, if it was me, would be: Renault Megane E-Tech (or Scenic); Skoda Elroq; Peugeot E-3008; MG 5S; BMW iX1. But a lot of it comes down to personal preference. I, for example, CANNOT get on with the Volvo EX30, but a lot of people love it.

If you go for something a bit bigger there's even more choice: Kia EV6; Hyundai Ioniq 5; Skoda Enyaq; Polestar 4; Vauxhall Grandland. And don't discount the Chinese brands – their products are pretty much on a par with the European ones – and often cheaper.

You clearly have an encyclopediac knowledge of all things four wheels. We were initially going to buy the EX30, it was a bit cheaper and came with a free charger, but after test driving the Kia it was a no brainer.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

You clearly have an encyclopediac knowledge of all things four wheels. We were initially going to buy the EX30, it was a bit cheaper and came with a free charger, but after test driving the Kia it was a no brainer.

Not sure about that, El Pres – certainly not when I hear and see a lot of other people who are in the same industry. But it's a world I work in a lot of the time, so I get to experience a lot of cars – the good, the bad and everything inbetween.

For me, the EX30 was one step too far in terms of trying to be clever and minimalistic on the inside. To the point of it being a bit of a safety issue because you spend so much of your time looking at one central screen to do anything. The Kia is a much better all-rounder.

 

[chickens]

Treated myself to a Hyundai Ioniq 5. Enjoying the driving experience and can't imagine I am going to be suffering from petrol withdrawal symptoms any time soon.

The Ioniq 5 was our favourite of all the cars we test-drove prior to the purchase of our MG ZS EV. Sadly in Cardiff Hyundai were let down by hopeless showroom staff, whereas the MG people at Nathaniel’s were brilliant.

I think it’s an absolutely fantastic car.

 

[AK74]

I’ve owned an EV for 8 hours and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!

Never going back to the internal combustion engine. #converted