Having now checked standard spec and options on loads of cars that I would consider, I have had to eliminate a number that you can’t get full leather (or faux leather) seats, which has ruled out cars such as the Kia Sportage and Ford Kuga. The lack of other kit that I consider to be important has also ruled out the Audi Q4, Volvo XC40 and Honda CR-V. There are a number of manufacturers that neither my wife or myself (or both) have any desire to splash out the thick end of £20k on, so they are off the list as well (personal choice, which we are all entitled to).
So, prior to the Quarter 2 launch tomorrow, I have managed to narrow my choice down to 4 cars but, in all honesty, I have some reservations about all of them, so I’m hoping that tomorrow brings a nice surprise! Here’s the list with the summary pros and cons as I see them, prior to test drives;
BMW iX1 20e M-Sport with Tech Plus Pack – AP £6,499. Pros – BMWs usually tick all the boxes for me in terms of build quality, refinement, performance, economy, handling and tech. Our current X1 (2.0i petrol 4WD) is near perfect and by far the best car we’ve had on the scheme. Cons – I’d much prefer a petrol X1, or if that’s never going to happen nowadays, a PHEV X1. Neither of us are terribly keen on going 100% electric until battery technology improves so that charge times and range (real, not quoted) are much closer to ICE cars (our current car has a 600 mile range and it takes a 5 minute fuel stop to regain that 600 miles from an empty tank). However, we realise that we have to have an open mind and may have to compromise in this respect if we wish to stay with Motability. We’d also need to add the thick end of £2k options to this car, and would still end up without some features that I’d ideally like. Also, BMWs mad decision to lose the iDrive rotary controller is a negative.
Hyundai Tucson 1.6T 265PS PHEV Ultimate – AP £5,499. Pros – No options possible and contains almost everything I’d want as standard. PHEV, so no range anxiety or having to make otherwise unnecessary stops on long journeys to recharge. Size pretty comparable to the X1. We have a great Hyundai dealership near us where I have bought cars privately for one of my daughters. Cons – No adaptive headlights and not even available as an option. Infotainment is all touch screen. Can all the irritating bings and bongs be disabled whilst still leaving the safety systems on? Hyundai have come on leaps and bounds in recent years, but BMWs are notably better in all the key areas that are important to me and I don’t want to feel that we’ve paid to go backwards from where we are currently with the X1.
Mazda CX-60 PHEV (either Homura or Takumi). AP on both £7,995 with included packs. Pros – Interior quality better than the Hyundai, but still no BMW. If I add the Driver Assistance Pack (£1,100) then it will have 100% of the essential and preferred features that I would like. Biggest car of the 4 and comparable to a BMW X3 sized SUV. PHEV, so no range anxiety or having to make otherwise unnecessary stops on long journeys to recharge. Cons – With the AP, options and sacrificed benefits, that’s an outlay of over £20k! Real world MPG looks like it will cost more to run than our 2.0i petrol X1 and we will be carting around all the weight of a PHEV. Road tests indicate that the suspension is firm and unsettled.
Mazda CX-5 Exclusive Line with Driver Assist Pack. AP £3,999. Pros – Covers all my essential and preferred equipment, except 4WD. Petrol, so zero to full range in 5 minutes and not carting around the weight of an EV or PHEV battery. Similar size to X1. Cons – Quite dated. On paper it looks underpowered.
Fingers crossed that tomorrow sees an exciting new arrival that I haven’t considered, but I suspect that at least one of the above may disappear which, whilst disappointing, will help narrow the search further!