EV general discussion

MrRockliffe said:
Really don’t know what to do about next car.

There just aren’t any EVs on the market which really appeal to me.

- Minimum 300 mile range, but ideally 350+
- 250 BHP
- Speed limiter function (I use this religiously with all the driving I do, as it saves me from worrying about speed limits)
- Comfy (the ID4/7 is quite firm and very jiggly on A/B roads)
- Electric memory seats (shared car with other half and regularly swap)
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The 300 mile requirement is the issue really

Maybe Kia EV6?
 
VincentHanna said:
If you can't get one dog in a model Y, then I would argue you can't get them in most cars...

Not my picture, but shows that 2 big dogs fit in the boot:

ibb.co

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Image FB IMG 1604845187526 hosted on ImgBB
ibb.co ibb.co
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Is that a polestar or tesla?

Like I said I am convinced I ought to take a proper look but I stand by my point: those dogs are OK sitting in there with the boot open but anything over a short journey down to the shops they really need to be able to stand up and turn around in there and unless there's deceptively more room than there seems judging by the line of the C pillar, I'd say they'll be uncomfortable. Like another poster said, just another couple inches deeper and they'd be totally fine but it doesn't seem ideal especially if you put a crate in
 
shroomz said:
Is that a polestar or tesla?

Like I said I am convinced I ought to take a proper look but I stand by my point: those dogs are OK sitting in there with the boot open but anything over a short journey down to the shops they really need to be able to stand up and turn around in there and unless there's deceptively more room than there seems judging by the line of the C pillar, I'd say they'll be uncomfortable. Like another poster said, just another couple inches deeper and they'd be totally fine but it doesn't seem ideal especially if you put a crate in
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That’s the problem with coupe style hatchbacks. The sloping rear properly compromises boot space and make them largely unsuitable for larger dogs.

Skoda Enyaq is a decent shaped boot and much better for larger dogs dogs.
 
ICDP said:
Funny how people have different must haves. I never use ACC even on longer drives and also never use speed limiters. Ironically because they tend to get it wrong more than I do. Like when they think a slip road sign is the motorway speed limit and drastically slow from 70 to 50, or 60 to 30.

I think my thought process is the more you automate the less you stimulate. Basically the less a driver has to do raises the chance they become zoned out rather than remaining engaged.
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Not at all, using cruise keeps you on your toes as you have to deal with all the speed yo-yo's who refuse to use it and end up sitting parallel to you, mid overtake, because your presence has made them realise that while they've been day dreaming they have dropped 10 mph. All the while some stereotype is sat right on your chuff because you are now the ******** dawdling in the overtaking lane... when all you are doing is sat there with the cruise set at the speed limit (maybe plus a little). DAMN I love driving in 2026 :p
 
ICDP said:
A Model Y is much better of course but still compromised with the sloped roof line for larger dogs. OP is just going to have to test for themselves but I suspect a Model Y will be more than adequate.
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Thanks, on a different note and seeing your location, why are cars in NI so much cheaper and lots of choice? Like 2-3k difference, you could just hop on a Ryanair flight and drive it back, no? Up here it's the other way, everything seems a couple of grand more expensive than in England it seems because there's fewer cars all round.
 
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Shadowness said:
Any suggestions for a family friendly (ie a dog and a baby seat, neither of which we have yet, but future proofing!) EV?

I would really love a Renault 5, but I cannot see the former fitting in the back of one of those (especially as my other half wants a greyhound!)

Renault Scenic?
As much as I hate saying it, Tesla Y?
What Korean ones fit that bill?
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shroomz said:
Is that a polestar or tesla?

Like I said I am convinced I ought to take a proper look but I stand by my point: those dogs are OK sitting in there with the boot open but anything over a short journey down to the shops they really need to be able to stand up and turn around in there and unless there's deceptively more room than there seems judging by the line of the C pillar, I'd say they'll be uncomfortable. Like another poster said, just another couple inches deeper and they'd be totally fine but it doesn't seem ideal especially if you put a crate in
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Plenty of space in our e-Niro (2020, so old model) for a greyhound. I did drop the boot floor which involved a bit of DIY, but I believe in the new model you can do this without any modifications. She does fit fine without doing this, but it gives her a bit more space. I do put the original floor back in if we need a bit of space in the boot (taking all the polystyrene inserts out actually gives a pretty substantial space under there!). As with most EVs, the boot is quite high however, and I end up lifting her in and out.

Depends what else you need to carry though - with the dog in the boot it doesn't really leave much space for anything else other than under the floor, so we're looking to replace it with something bigger. We did look at the Model Y (not in person) and it is quite a bit bigger in terms of capacity, although the sloping roof does possibly limit standing room.
 
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Journey said:
I get the auto lights issue being annoying, but the steering wheel controls aren't too far removed from most others, and at least the voice assist works well.
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On the VW they’re okay, but the Mercedes was infuriating for me on the 2 mercs I’ve driven.

The controls did everything except what you wanted them to do :(
 
Haggisman said:
Plenty of space in our e-Niro (2020, so old model) for a greyhound. I did drop the boot floor which involved a bit of DIY, but I believe in the new model you can do this without any modifications. She does fit fine without doing this, but it gives her a bit more space. I do put the original floor back in if we need a bit of space in the boot (taking all the polystyrene inserts out actually gives a pretty substantial space under there!). As with most EVs, the boot is quite high however, and I end up lifting her in and out.

Depends what else you need to carry though - with the dog in the boot it doesn't really leave much space for anything else other than under the floor, so we're looking to replace it with something bigger. We did look at the Model Y (not in person) and it is quite a bit bigger in terms of capacity, although the sloping roof does possibly limit standing room.
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The FWD set up of the Nero helps a lot with boot depth.

The floor level in the Y is a lot higher to accommodate the rear motor.

The Y has a false floor and the well by the opening is massive, you can’t fit carry on suitcase down there but it’s only a part of the boot.

The rear half of the boot also has a false floor but there is only about 5-6cm beneath it and that area isn’t flat so you can’t really remove it.

It’s big enough the the granny charger, a golf umbrella, my tire plug kit and the first aid kit. That’s about your lot.
 
MrRockliffe said:
Really don’t know what to do about next car.

There just aren’t any EVs on the market which really appeal to me.

- Minimum 300 mile range, but ideally 350+
- 250 BHP
- Speed limiter function (I use this religiously with all the driving I do, as it saves me from worrying about speed limits)
- Comfy (the ID4/7 is quite firm and very jiggly on A/B roads)
- Electric memory seats (shared car with other half and regularly swap)


i4 is basically impossible to find with the right spec. It’s also so ugly it annoys me.

BYDs don’t have a speed limiter function - this is a non negotiable for me.


Closest car is the last gen IX3 but the range is quite poor in the winter, and wouldn’t cope with the travel I do - absolutely cannot be bothered with public charging. It’s such a PITA/expensive and don’t really have the time for it.



Capri is even firmer than the VW products.


Can’t find an Enyaq with DCC


Polestar might be a contender but do see lots of issues with infotainment. Don’t really want to take this risk.



Perfect car would be a 5 series touring but EV. The newer one isn’t in budget by quite a way.
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Audi A6 Etron Avant, meets all your requirements. Love mine which is the Performance variant Launch Edition with just about every option and unlike my other attempts at buying an EV in the last 4 months is still going :D
 
Before the world of EVs, in my situation I'd just look at any of the sensible estates (A4, Volvo, etc etc)

Do they not make these in EV form? It seems you have to pick between a hatchback type thing, or a full SUV (or smaller one but still that same style)
 
There's more estates on the market now but a lot of the more premium brands are quite recent and so still relatively expensive:

BMW i5 Touring
Audi A6 Avant
VW ID.7 Touring
Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake
Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer
MG5
Peugeot E-308 SW
Porsche Taycan Turismo variants (might be debateable as an 'estate' for some people?)
 
I did have a look at the ID7, but presumably you'd wait for the Neo version of that one too? (where they fix all the rubbish bits from the first one, such as no buttons)
 
shroomz said:
Thanks, on a different note and seeing your location, why are cars in NI so much cheaper and lots of choice? Like 2-3k difference, you could just hop on a Ryanair flight and drive it back, no? Up here it's the other way, everything seems a couple of grand more expensive than in England it seems because there's fewer cars all round.
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Odd, it has always been possible to look on the “mainland” for identical cars about £1k - 2k cheaper than here. My Born 2023 v3 77kWh was £25k this time last year. Similar age models were about £1.5k cheaper in England.

I used that fact to get the dealer to do a free 2 year service and pay for 6 months road tax.
 
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