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Hi – We are due to change our car in this quarter’s pricing. After having the most horrendous experience with Vauxhall we have been and looked at the KIA Sportage 1.6T GDI 241 PHEV GT Line S plug-in hybrid.
Will Motability provide a free home charger for this car or will we have to use a normal plug socket (Granny Charging)?
Due to spinal issues, I need a fully electric driver’s seat and also be able to fit through the door opening which is extremely difficult with our current Vauxhall Grandland even with electric seat adaptation done via Motability.
The deposit is very expensive currently £2799.00 but I need to be able to get in and out plus the ability to move the seat electrically.
Thanks in advance – Andrew
Current car Vauxhall Grandland 1.2 Petrol Ultimate.
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Motability will not provide a charger unfortunately and yes the vehicle should come with a granny, thats adequate.
Hi – Kezo thank you for your quick response. That’s a real shame about the charger as we have a drive but no outside power socket.
I’ve been on the scheme for over 30 years and I am finding it extremely difficult to get a car that I can fit in as I am over 6ft 2 in tall with a fused spine so an electric driver’s seat isn’t a want it’s a need to be able to keep my mobility.
I’m thinking of going down the grant route as the advance Purchase deposits are just unaffordable and I’m unfortunately medically retired.
Hopefully, Motability can help.
Regards Andrew
Another option would be to go to a dealership/marque that offers a free charger with the purchase.
Ford does it currently (or did it, you’d need to check) called “Ford Power Promise”, that’d include a free charger through Ford.
But, yeah. Only full EVs get a free charger on the scheme, or the worthless charging card.
edit: on a PHEV, it’s not that big a deal though, objectively. It’s certainly something that could be rectified by fitting an outdoor socket yourself (or calling an electchicken) – granny charger are good enough for PHEVs, imo.
Prior: SEAT Ateca Xcellence Lux 1.5 TSI DSG MY19, VW Golf GTE PHEV DSG MY23
Current: Hyundai Ioniq 6 Ultimate
Next: we'll see what's available in 2028.Is there a scocket inside the house near the drive, that you could get a local electrician spur off and fit a socket outside?
Thanks for the feedback.
We do have a socket on the inside so hopefully we could get an electrician to put a socket outside.
A face lifted Sportage came out on 1st July, and is different to the one on the motability web site you won’t be able to get a factory ordered one of the previous version and I suspect the motability offerings are there to get rid of any stock cars. For example the trim levels ‘2’ and ‘3’ are no longer available just Pure, GT Line and GT Line S. There is also currently no longer a PHEV though I understand there will be one latter in the year, it may be best if you speake to you Kia dealer.
Daughters motability car Vauxhall Grandland 1.5 diesel automatic Ultimate.
My car SEAT Ibiza SE Tec 1.2 petrol TSI 2017.https://www.kia.com/uk/utility/build-your-kia.carcode.sportage_2018/#/trim
This is the on line configurator for the new Kia Sportage, only the three trims and no PHEV, the front of the facelift car is also different, so I’m guessing the dealer can get you a stock one of the previous version.
Daughters motability car Vauxhall Grandland 1.5 diesel automatic Ultimate.
My car SEAT Ibiza SE Tec 1.2 petrol TSI 2017.A face lifted Sportage came out on 1st July, and is different to the one on the motability web site you won’t be able to get a factory ordered one of the previous version and I suspect the motability offerings are there to get rid of any stock cars. For example the trim levels ‘2’ and ‘3’ are no longer available just Pure, GT Line and GT Line S. There is also currently no longer a PHEV though I understand there will be one latter in the year, it may be best if you speake to you Kia dealer.
Apart from refreshed look, mainly cosmetic, with minor changes to engine, like its sister car saw last year, there’s not alot of difference, as both cars aren’t due to be facelifted. One thing, it introduces is ccNC navigation unit, which opens the door for a hell of a lot more “Bing Bongs”. That said the Spoerage is currently at a crackng AP, especially the PHEV, which will no doubt cost alot more when the new model makes its way to the scheme!
Thanks for the replies.
The dealer said that the have a lot of stock of the pre-facelift models that they have put on the scheme.
i can’t order until September so I will have to see what the situation is then as the new facelift models doesn’t have they fully electric drivers seat.
Im also looking at the Ford Explorer but I haven’t sat in one yet. Has anyone sat in one or driven one as I’m very tall and worry I’ts not going to be big enough?
Im also looking at the Ford Explorer but I haven’t sat in one yet. Has anyone sat in one or driven one as I’m very tall and worry I’ts not going to be big enough?
How tall?
I’m 6ft, and it’s lofty even with the sunroof, and the driver seat raised (electrically).
Unless you’re 7ft tall, i can’t see an issue.
Any questions, just ask – i tend to test drive… vigorously, lol.
edit: goes without saying, if the price stays the same next quarter, we order one – really enjoyed it.
Prior: SEAT Ateca Xcellence Lux 1.5 TSI DSG MY19, VW Golf GTE PHEV DSG MY23
Current: Hyundai Ioniq 6 Ultimate
Next: we'll see what's available in 2028.Hi Rene – Thank you for the information. I’m 6ft 2 in but have a totally fused spine and bilateral hip replacement’s so getting in and out of a car is my biggest challenge.
We have never had an electric car but looks like the scheme is heading that way so I guess it a good time to move over from ICE cars.
is the drivers seat fully electric and which spec level is the one to go for?
Regards Andrew
Hi Rene – Thank you for the information. I’m 6ft 2 in but have a totally fused spine and bilateral hip replacement’s so getting in and out of a car is my biggest challenge. We have never had an electric car but looks like the scheme is heading that way so I guess it a good time to move over from ICE cars. is the drivers seat fully electric and which spec level is the one to go for? Regards Andrew
The drivers seat is fully electric (including lumbar massage function) in Premium trim. 6ft2 is zero problem, you’ll have plenty of space.
Entry is easy, the seat in the Explorer is roughly bum-height. Another thing that might be of help to you, is the fact that the seat has an “easy entry” function. When you get out, the seat moves slightly backwards to allow for easier exit – and when you get into the seat, it’ll slide back forwards to the pre-set position.
As for trims, we’re looking at the Premium trim (£2249 i think), without the driver assistance pack. You can get it with pack for closer to £3k (don’t know the exact price), but all the features it adds are of no use to us. Namely, illuminated door handles when approaching (have it currently, doesn’t do anything) – HUD, which we also currently have but don’t use because it is just muscle memory to look down to the speedo, 360 camera (arguable, i don’t need it, the car isn’t too large and has a small turning radius, less than a Golf), and some auto-lane change feature as well as auto-parking, neither of which i’ve ever used (and i’ve driven cars with both features for almost 10 years now).
Of course, your mileage in that regard may vary, to us the only thing even remotely useful would be the 360 cam, and £800 for that alone is pointless.
Premium trim adds the electric massage seat as well as a panoramic roof, Matrix LEDs, electric tailgate, ambient lighting as well as a bose soundsystem and leather – all welcome additions for us. The roof may be a bit whatever, but the sound system is decent, we need the electric tailgate and most importantly, Matrix LEDs are just a no-brainer. Having used them now for 3 years, i don’t want anything else anymore.
If i were you, i very much would go for a test drive.
edit: it helps that it is, to me, also standing out a bit. It’s pretty bull-ish in its shape, not a mobility blob. Yeah there’s a bit of hard plastic here and there in the interior, but i mean.. it’s okay. The design of the interior itself we very much did like, just lower down where the cubby (floating centre console, storage underneath) is, there’s a bit of meh materials.
Drives great though, very comfortable yet planted, and pulls like an absolute freight train (considerably stronger than our GTE even). Even on the 20 inch wheels the Premium comes on.
Prior: SEAT Ateca Xcellence Lux 1.5 TSI DSG MY19, VW Golf GTE PHEV DSG MY23
Current: Hyundai Ioniq 6 Ultimate
Next: we'll see what's available in 2028.The phev sportage doesn’t come with a granny charger. A family member just got one and had to buy one on Amazon
The phev sportage doesn’t come with a granny charger. A family member just got one and had to buy one on Amazon
It’s outrageous that any manufacturer would not provide a granny charger, given that it’s the only charger that you really need for a PHEV (given that’s charging away from home is pointless and it’s not really worth incurring the cost of a home charger).
Apparently Hyundai stopped supplying them as well for a time, but reinstated them following customer feedback. When I asked our Hyundai dealer if we’d get one he said that if one wasn’t provided with the car he would sort one out for us. When we picked the car up, not only was the battery fully charged, but the fuel tank was full as well, so hopefully a reputable Kia dealer will supply one?
The phev sportage doesn’t come with a granny charger. A family member just got one and had to buy one on Amazon
Awful.
Just checked for the current GTE, they still come with both Mode 2 and 3 cables, so from my very tiny dataset, it seems that it’s mostly a korean problem.
What utter nonsense though. You could omit the mode 3 cable (not great, but would make SOME sense), but not giving you the most universal cable (incidentally also the more expensive one) is just dumb.
Prior: SEAT Ateca Xcellence Lux 1.5 TSI DSG MY19, VW Golf GTE PHEV DSG MY23
Current: Hyundai Ioniq 6 Ultimate
Next: we'll see what's available in 2028.Hyundai come with both Level 1 & Level 2 charging cables. I would ask the dealer if one is included, if not there are many reputable granny’s on Ebay from £50.
They are all the the same regardles of whether they are branded MG, Ford etc etc.
To date the granny charger supplied with the Suzuki has not been used, in 2020 under the £350 grant scheme we had a tethered 7kW Podpoint charger.
Unfortunately I have suffered a brain injury and occasionally say the wrong thing.
Hi – Which battery version is best to go for? 52KWH or the 77KWH.
Sorry to ask but new to the electric cars.
Going to look at the Ford garage later in the week.
Thanks in advance – Andrew
Hi – Which battery version is best to go for? 52KWH or the 77KWH. Sorry to ask but new to the electric cars. Going to look at the Ford garage later in the week. Thanks in advance – Andrew
Woops, forgot that part.
The 77kwh pack, as Kezo pointed out.
Prior: SEAT Ateca Xcellence Lux 1.5 TSI DSG MY19, VW Golf GTE PHEV DSG MY23
Current: Hyundai Ioniq 6 Ultimate
Next: we'll see what's available in 2028.I can confirm that when I ordered the Sportage PHEV, a few weeks ago, I was told no granny charging cable.
The dealership also informed me that I have to pay for £25 of fuel.
I can confirm that when I ordered the Sportage PHEV, a few weeks ago, I was told no granny charging cable. The dealership also informed me that I have to pay for £25 of fuel.
I wonder if they treat retail customers as badly? If they did, I’d only use them once!
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