Based on the specs I’m seeing, full electric adds about 500kg over the ICE powered version: Peugeot 3008 for example about 1600kg ICE, 2100KG EV with 73kwh battery. And that’s pretty typical for a car of this size with a few exceptions where it’s still a huge difference, but not quite so large.
That’s not a problem on a car designed ground-up to weigh that much, but many EVs seem to be adapted petrol cars still. Another concern I have is that even when designing an EV car, the designer will spec it like an ordinary family estate rather than like a much bigger car as it should be. Sure the suspension is stiffer, but the bushes and bearings are undersized for the mass.
As for the hybrid, I hate the complexity of 2 systems, but it’s still lighter than the full EV and would have enough range to drive to work or town and back, but with an engine for distance.
The best thing for me would be a new Karoq diesel, but they’re out of production, so we look for alternatives. I have a test drive booked for the new mini countryman on Saturday, and I’m hoping the nearest Citroen dealer might get a C5 aircross in by then too.
Not many of the latest EV’s are add ons from ICE versions they have kind of diverged now. The Kia e niro being one that’s still in production. Maybe more from the lazy Stelantis group. The eC5 aircross looks a very good car for the budget, certainly one I would look at. I personally wouldn’t look at a hybrid now, things have improved considerably since that was an option for longer trips. The Elroq is only slightly less capacious than the Enyaq. The Kia E4 or 5 are also on my list.
My first car was a Datsun Cherry and that was tiny, although you could get four people in it. As waas the original Mini which I had next.
On the topic of wear, my last and current cars (VW Passat Estate and Honda Accord Estate) have both been buggers for needing new suspension bits - but that’s probably as much to do with UK roads as with vehicle build quality.
In the ‘60s one of my mates had a bubble car. We got 4 of us in it but he was pulled by the police. As we unpeeled ourselves from it one of the PCs commented “hell, how many more of you are there in there? “ They don’t get much smaller than that!
Long before the advent of the SUV manufactures had a strategy of growing their models in each segment. Buyers were being stealthily upgraded. The Ford Cortina is a good example.
Mini Countryman (petrol) booked and confirmed for Saturday - this is the new version with a single large screen/clock in the centre of the dashboard. I hated the single screen of the Tesla, but will reserve judgement because BMW/Mini can do things very well.
Also looking at the latest Citroen C5 Aircross hybrid, though I have concerns about the softness of the suspension and relatively small engine.
The Dacia Bigster also has a lot of appeal as a practical and reasonably economical car in hybrid form, although the new price for the upper end with space saver is actually slightly higher than the Countryman.
There’s also a fully loaded Seat Ateca that’s been preregistered at a relative bargain price, but it has daft 19" wheels with skinny tyres that I don’t think will make normal driving a joy, though I’m probably going to try for a test drive still.
Nothing is quite perfect, but maybe something will be good enough.
Don’t confuse Mini with BMW. The dashes are completely different designs. The Mini dash is just (IMO) silly marketing harking back to the original Mini. The BMW dashes are functional. The Mini (and Tesla) I’d give 0 out of 10. Bit like the VW IDs.
The countryman is based on the BMW X1. I’d go for the standard 2WD version rather than 4WD - in previous decades 4WD would have been really helpful, but since owning one we’ve never needed it.
Probably again going to exhibit ignorance, but our Tiguan has 19" wheels (the tyres are Pneu CONTINENTAL ALLSEASONCONTACT 2 235/50 R19–I don’t know if those count as skinny) and it’s the most comfortable car we’ve owned. So I’d definitely try for a test drive.
The 235 is the width and the 50 is the height of the tyre (presumably from the bead) as a proportion of the width %. Those are reasonable tyres, and should offer a useful amount of shock absorption. If they were 205/35 then they would tend to be less able to cope with serious pot holes etc.
