Very true, Tesla here and i've only charged away from home twice this year both seamless experiences at Tesla superchargers but given the cost of home charging anything i spend a couple of times a year out and about is inconsequential
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Very true, Tesla here and i've only charged away from home twice this year both seamless experiences at Tesla superchargers but given the cost of home charging anything i spend a couple of times a year out and about is inconsequential
I only used the Tesla chargers whilst I was waiting to get my home charger installed. I ended up having something like 800 miles of free supercharging as well. My car tells me the last time I used a super charger was back in September for the price of £14.52 and I'm not sure if I actually paid all of that due to having so many free miles.
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When they work they can be absolutely fantastic!
My first Ioniq was literally paying half the finance from the savings I made over diesel for the old Citroen I had before it. Absolutely mental.
It's also why efficiency though is and always WILL be important. An efficient car with a decent battery and range allows you to avoid the public charging network as much as possible, and when you do have to use it, it makes the impact noticeably less per mile. Stack it with a decent home charging rate and you're positively laughing. Add on top typically fewer services and work to be done than your average motor, and you're laughing, even if those services and battery coolant changes etc can be more expensive; overall cost of running one can be dramatically lower.
An inefficient car with a limited battery is virtually forcing even a normal family to have to use public charging semi-regularly, and that'll force cost of ownership through the roof sooner or later.
The first company to build a truly modernised Ioniq-style concept car, in the sense of efficiency first, using sensible pricing (25-35K), mainstream practicality, relaible, great real-world ownership...are basically going to become the Golf/Focus/Corolla of the EV generation; whether its a hatch/liftback or a mini SUV, all it takes is the right balance of execution. The charger network whilst not perfect is rapidly improving now, and beyond teething/execution issues is now there, with lots of chargers now becoming present at motorway service stations, town centres, and dotted all over the place.
Hyundai/Kia could make such a vehicle, but they're off chasing premium clouds, BYD/Geely are on the way to making it, Jaecoo/Omoda maybe (they've got EV experience, but need to prove themselves in the west), Toyota could probably make it (a Prius successor), but who actually gets there first...I really don't know, but I suspect someone will sooner or later because right now there is a fairly big family car style hole in the market.
Sadly MG could have done it with the MG4, but they screwed the execution SO badly...just...no
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Quite different companies really. Geely is privately owned whereas MG is part of SAIC which is state owned.
It's why technically it should be pronounced M-Xi
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No MG are SAIC, Geely have thier hands in a load of other brands including Geely Auto, but also extending to connections with Volvo, Smart, Polestar and quite a few others.
They're one of those companies a lot of us with EV interests will have heard of directly or indirectly, but maybe not know exactly who they are, unlike say BYD who are more up front with thier own central brand (even though they also sell batteries/tech to a load of others).
It's honestly why I'd put either Geely or BYD quite high on my list of the companies who might make that Ioniq-successor mass market family car though, they have the engineering and expertise, and there's a big hole in the market. The reason I suspect BYD MIGHT do it, is they're clearly chasing the mainstream both in Asia and abroad, and looking for holes in markets to target, or areas they think they can excel, and unlike many companies, pretty much have the massive vertical integration of most of the components of a modern EV entirely INHOUSE which means much of thier cars, down to battery, processing and even sensors are being produced in house from the ground up, using inhouse platforms and technology. That allows them to control, and much more tightly increase efficiencies, and also reduces risk of compatibility or software clashes compared to someone like MG/SAIC who buys from a large array of providers, even if they have some internal integration.
If they chose right now to make an efficiency-first family car design, they [BYD/Geely] could absolutely do it (an aerodynamic design priced/sized somewhere in the middle between the current BYD Dolphin and Seal), there's little reason they couldn't achieve what Hyundai did a decade ago, especially with all the advancements since, and on a pure EV platform rather than compromised hybrid platform.
As a Chinese manufacturer trying to break the western market, they're also far more likely to risk targeting that ideal mass market pricing than some of the bigger incumbent European brands to boot, as proven by the relatively aggressive pricing and APR deals they've already been doing, even after the import costs etc. The one downside that does tend to come with, is they need to build up larger logistics and part supply chains, which takes time, but fundamentally getting there, and having the motivation to do it...they're very dangerous brands to the large western manufacturers.
Edit: FWIW BYD and Geely are BOTH privately owned, not state owned, so they also have that added incentive to compete, both in China, and abroad, unlike SAIC which as @lordrobs mentions has government links.
They're one of those companies a lot of us with EV interests will have heard of directly or indirectly, but maybe not know exactly who they are, unlike say BYD who are more up front with thier own central brand (even though they also sell batteries/tech to a load of others).
It's honestly why I'd put either Geely or BYD quite high on my list of the companies who might make that Ioniq-successor mass market family car though, they have the engineering and expertise, and there's a big hole in the market. The reason I suspect BYD MIGHT do it, is they're clearly chasing the mainstream both in Asia and abroad, and looking for holes in markets to target, or areas they think they can excel, and unlike many companies, pretty much have the massive vertical integration of most of the components of a modern EV entirely INHOUSE which means much of thier cars, down to battery, processing and even sensors are being produced in house from the ground up, using inhouse platforms and technology. That allows them to control, and much more tightly increase efficiencies, and also reduces risk of compatibility or software clashes compared to someone like MG/SAIC who buys from a large array of providers, even if they have some internal integration.
If they chose right now to make an efficiency-first family car design, they [BYD/Geely] could absolutely do it (an aerodynamic design priced/sized somewhere in the middle between the current BYD Dolphin and Seal), there's little reason they couldn't achieve what Hyundai did a decade ago, especially with all the advancements since, and on a pure EV platform rather than compromised hybrid platform.
As a Chinese manufacturer trying to break the western market, they're also far more likely to risk targeting that ideal mass market pricing than some of the bigger incumbent European brands to boot, as proven by the relatively aggressive pricing and APR deals they've already been doing, even after the import costs etc. The one downside that does tend to come with, is they need to build up larger logistics and part supply chains, which takes time, but fundamentally getting there, and having the motivation to do it...they're very dangerous brands to the large western manufacturers.
Edit: FWIW BYD and Geely are BOTH privately owned, not state owned, so they also have that added incentive to compete, both in China, and abroad, unlike SAIC which as @lordrobs mentions has government links.
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Arnold Clark Charge is 55p though there's not too many of them around, any cheaper usually requires a subscription.
Ultra EV charging prices (100kW+) | Leccy
Compare ultra EV charging prices (100kW+) across UK networks, ranked by pence per mile.
unclear where saic are going for quality products for european market - if they had updated/re-platformed the mg5 estate
they could have been in V market, that zeekr 007 & byd 06gt bringing to europe.
maybe vag&audi relationship will push them up market.
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Yeah, I mean realistically given the hole in the market for something like that, someone will do it sooner or later, the question is who gets there first with a proper attempt.
Whoever it is will move monstrous volume if they can become the default family EV, and can provide the volume required.
Whoever it is will move monstrous volume if they can become the default family EV, and can provide the volume required.
Well, the PV5 was #1 on my shortlist for our next family car, but based on the last couple of pages, it sounds like actually it's the worst thing I could possibly get.
I must have missed the original post, so could someone please quote me the much better options for something which ticks the following boxes:
Cheers!
I must have missed the original post, so could someone please quote me the much better options for something which ticks the following boxes:
- £30k or under (used)
- EV with ~200 miles range
- 4+ seats.
- Big enough boot space for a large dog, large tent, and camping and beach gear for 2 adults & 2 kids
- V2L
Cheers!
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Soldato
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You're missing the point. I’m not pretending the original Ioniq shape or size is what everyone wants now. I’m saying the concept is what’s missing: efficient, practical, affordable, reliable, with good real world range. If that ends up as a mini-SUV/crossover because that’s where the market is, fine. I said as much previously.
The body style isn’t the point at all. The point is that the efficiency first, mainstream family EV still hasn’t really been nailed yet, by anyone. MG tried, but screwed the MG4 badly. And if you look at the average family car across the UK, and not just in more affluent areas, I think you’ll find it’s generally somewhere between Focus/Golf and Kona/Qashqai sized, basically hatchback, liftback, saloon, estate, through mini-SUV.
Most families buy something in that mainstream practical zone. They generally aren’t all buying £35-40k+ MPVs or similar, and whilst larger cars have got more popular, they're still not the majority. And that’s just observable reality. Walk through a supermarket car park, school drop-off, retail park, hospital car park, workplace car park etc.
The volume family cars are things like:
Focus / Golf / Astra / Octavia type cars
Qashqai / Tucson / Sportage / Kona / T-Roc / Juke type crossovers
Increasingly things like EV3, Dolphin, Atto, MG4, Enyaq, ID.4, Ioniq 5, Model Y etc
If you want to consider the SUV as all anyone wants these days, then you need to actually take a look at the market.
As of a month ago, these were the most sold vehicles in the UK in 2026 to date:
Top registrations:
1. Ford Puma - 24,358
2. Kia Sportage - 21,274
3. Jaecoo 7 - 20,695
4. Nissan Qashqai - 18,558
5. Vauxhall Corsa - 15,863
6. Volkswagen Golf - 14,658
7. Volvo XC40 - 13,478
8. MG HS - 13,475
9. MINI Cooper - 13,291
10. Volkswagen Tiguan - 12,647
https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/buying-and-selling-guides/the-top-10-most-popular-cars-in-the-uk/
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Microlino?
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To be fair, your usecase is exactly where something like the PV5 makes far more sense, providing you can find one at the right price.
I don't think anyone was saying the PV5 is the worst thing anyone could buy, or that it has no valid audience. If you need van/MPV levels of space, V2L, dog/camping gear capacity and an EV drivetrain, then yes, it could be a genuinely strong fit, but it's not an efficiency contender, and that will hurt it somewhat especially if you push the range, and unfortunately real world it seems like the PV5 will struggle to do longer mileage without public charging.
My objection was more to Auto Express framing it as the overall “Family Car of the Year”, because I think for the average family it’s a niche, relatively expensive, relatively inefficient option, and most families are probably shopping somewhere closer to Golf/Focus/Kona/Qashqai/EV3/Dolphin-type territory.
For your specific requirements though, the list gets much shorter, and like the poster earlier who wanted it for his mates and bike trips, it might fit the bill. You’re basically looking at things like:
- Kia PV5
- ID Buzz, if the budget works used
- maybe EV9/EV6/Ioniq 5 if the boot shape works, although dog + camping gear may be tight
- Skoda Enyaq / VW ID.4 / Hyundai Ioniq 5 / Kia EV6 or the Kona for more normal SUV/crossover options, but again they may not match the PV5 for load space
- possibly a used e-Berlingo/e-Rifter type thing, but range/charging/efficiency can be pretty compromised
So yes, for *your* use case, I can absolutely see the PV5 being right near the top. That’s basically my point though, it feels more like a brilliant utility/leisure/large-space EV than the default family car for the average household. The average family isn't regularly moving a large dog, large tent, and camping and beach gear, at least not all at the same time
I must be missing what it is you think is missing for an "average" family EV because the Kona is literally available as an EV, with over 300 mile WLTP and priced similarly to the ICE/hybrid version
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Pricing unfortunately. I actually genuinely like the Kona, there is a lot to like there, but it's more expensive than the vehicle I'm talking about that would be mass market, at 33-40K new again.
An ideal mass market car would be targeting 25-30K approx. The Kona isn't far, but Hyundai/Kia have pushed pricing up over the last 5 years and gone a little more premium.
Hyundai/Kia genuinely make decent ranged, and efficient cars, that's why the Ioniq was so damn good for the money, but they've stepped away from the price point it inhabited and not replaced it with anything else. I've heard numerous rumours of a Gen 3/Ioniq 3 being prototyped/designed, but nothing has reached market.
I think BYD/Geely or maybe even Renault are more likely to essentially try and give you thier own version of thatcar, but at the more competitive price point. Hyundai typical APRs have also gone through the rough in the last 10 years, pushing the actual cost of ownership up, compared to the chinese brands offering extremely competitive APR offers, which massively impacts cost of ownership.
An ideal mass market car would be targeting 25-30K approx. The Kona isn't far, but Hyundai/Kia have pushed pricing up over the last 5 years and gone a little more premium.
Hyundai/Kia genuinely make decent ranged, and efficient cars, that's why the Ioniq was so damn good for the money, but they've stepped away from the price point it inhabited and not replaced it with anything else. I've heard numerous rumours of a Gen 3/Ioniq 3 being prototyped/designed, but nothing has reached market.
I think BYD/Geely or maybe even Renault are more likely to essentially try and give you thier own version of thatcar, but at the more competitive price point. Hyundai typical APRs have also gone through the rough in the last 10 years, pushing the actual cost of ownership up, compared to the chinese brands offering extremely competitive APR offers, which massively impacts cost of ownership.
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OK, I'm genuinely confused now!
Hyundai Kona Electric details | Carwow
Attainable for £30k give or take a few quid. Unfortunately car prices have gone up. £25k doesn't get you much brand new these days.
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Soldato
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OK, I'm genuinely confused now!
Hyundai Kona Electric details | Carwow
quotes.carwow.co.uk
Attainable for £30k give or take a few quid. Unfortunately car prices have gone up. £25k doesn't get you much brand new these days.
That’s fair, and the Kona is probably one of the closest current cars to what I’m talking about.
I genuinely like the Kona. I almost bought one, and I drove one for a while. With discounts it does start getting very close. But I think that also highlights the problem rather than disproves it here, the car is still officially a roughly £35-40k EV depending on trim, and only starts looking like the “mass market” answer once discounts/offers pull it near £30k.
What I’m talking about is something deliberately aimed there from the outset - roughly £25-30k as a target price before discount ideally, maybe low £30s if very well specced, efficient, practical, reliable, with decent real world range, and not dependent on catching the right Carwow/broker deal or finance offer. That Carwow price also doesn’t factor in APR once you come to pay, and Hyundai/Kia APRs are not nice these days compared to what they used to offer, or the 1% deals being offered by the likes of BYD.
The Kona is close, absolutely. It’s probably one of the best current examples, and it’s decently efficient, especially compared to that PV5 haha.
But I still don’t think the market has had its true EV Focus/Golf/Corolla “just get an X” moment yet, where there’s an obvious default recommendation for normal families at normal money.
The Kona is probably the closest example, though, and I did actually mention it in my response to Haggisman above!
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