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some people look a stocks and shares every day, some footie / horses etc i look at these fab pages every day (big shout out and thanks to admin) and other simlar, not as good / or as up to date pages too. My mastermind subject would be motability cars / AP levels (meant in a humerous tone)
Anyways i personally think the best value for mid size suv, general & spec and AP current price and manufacturer offer (£500 off ap from them this month) is the petrol Omoda 5 (the one and only downside is the mpg on the petrol only model) – looks brilliant in the metal too. My basic view is on AP for mid size suv segment – with no brand/badge snobbery anti other country manufacture/ownership. But readin all mtoring press. social media across the boaard….
What do you think is the best value SUV currently on the scheme?
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IMO, the best value car is the one where the AP added to the sacrificed benefits (£12k in the case of PIP) represents the lowest % of the cars retail price.
Taking two made up examples;
A £24k car with a nil AP, would require an outlay of 50% of the cars value .
A £50k car with a £6k AP requires an outlay of 36% of the cars value.
Therefore, even though the latter car has a very high AP, it is significantly better value than the car with nil AP.
I have no idea which current mid size SUV is the best value (using this formula) but suspect that it’s an EV given their extremely high retail prices.
The AP on our car (Hyundai Tucson Ultimate PHEV) has dropped to £2,999 this quarter. The retail price (with pearlescent paint) is £46,575, so that means that you pay 32% of the cars price.
As it’s your Mastermind specialist subject see how many mid size SUVs beat that 😉
As with all things, it depends how you classify value. If you read any of the motoring magazine/website reviews of the Omoda 5, they all basically say the same thing. You get a lot for your money, but the car is rubbish.
£1499 for the Volvo XC40 B4 Plus. With the £750 Motability contribution that £40k car is costing you £749 up front. The classiest vehicle on the scheme for anything like that AP.
£1499 for the Volvo XC40 B4 Plus. With the £750 Motability contribution that £40k car is costing you £749 up front. The classiest vehicle on the scheme for anything like that AP.
I really like Volvos but the fuel efficiency of the XC40 is really poor so yes, you get a very good car for the AP, but have to consider running costs.
£1499 for the Volvo XC40 B4 Plus. With the £750 Motability contribution that £40k car is costing you £749 up front. The classiest vehicle on the scheme for anything like that AP.
I really like Volvos but the fuel efficiency of the XC40 is really poor so yes, you get a very good car for the AP, but have to consider running costs.
This is true. I don’t drive very far though and value comfort & prestige over saving w few quid at the pumps. I also live in a flat so any cost savings of an EV or ever PHEV would be largely lost on me.
£1499 for the Volvo XC40 B4 Plus. With the £750 Motability contribution that £40k car is costing you £749 up front. The classiest vehicle on the scheme for anything like that AP.
I really like Volvos but the fuel efficiency of the XC40 is really poor so yes, you get a very good car for the AP, but have to consider running costs.
Very true. The real world fuel economy of Volvo petrol engines is shocking and well off the pace of many other manufacturers. Using the value formula, the car costs 34% of the retail price, which is good but not the best value car on the scheme. I still reckon that award will go to an EV.
I probably spend £600 per year on fuel at current prices so the real world average of 36mpg for the XC40 is fine for my use.
Agreed an EV will win this vote providing the owner does a reasonably high mileage. A high AP for someone who potters about in an EV is a bit daft IMO.
I probably spend £600 per year on fuel at current prices so the real world average of 36mpg for the XC40 is fine for my use..
In which case it sounds perfect for you. I do about 9,000 miles a year but would still place running costs well down the list of priorities when looking for a car. Not that it ever would, but if a car like the Porsche Macan came on to the scheme there would be a stampede, regardless of the AP, even though around 23 mpg would be the norm 😂
£1499 for the Volvo XC40 B4 Plus. With the £750 Motability contribution that £40k car is costing you £749 up front. The classiest vehicle on the scheme for anything like that AP.
agreed on this. Went to test drive one last weekend and it was fabulous. It’s currently top of my list.
Tomorrow I’m test driving the Qashqai. Am looking at the 1.5 e-power n-connecta (glass roof) Q4: £2,599. Higher AP but much better on fuel.
The Omoda I wouldn’t touch with a barge pole. It’s had dreadful reviews.
the
agreed on this. Went to test drive one last weekend and it was fabulous. It’s currently top of my list. Tomorrow I’m test driving the Qashqai. Am looking at the 1.5 e-power n-connecta (glass roof) Q4: £2,599. Higher AP but much better on fuel. The Omoda I wouldn’t touch with a barge pole. It’s had dreadful reviews.
The Qashqai may may have an higher AP but will cost less over 3yrs with average mileage.
There’s also £500 being offered off the Tucson PHEV at some dealers, making it slightly cheaper than the Qashqai for the top two trims. If you can charge at home, that would be cheaper still!
AP only tells half a story 🙂
Since when is it always about MPG? What about looks, prestige and desirability? What if the price of electricity shoots up due to war etc? Do disabled people really do a ton of mileage?
I would consider a HEV or PHEV but full-on EV isn’t for me until or unless I’m forced into it…
Since when is it always about MPG? What about looks, prestige and desirability? What if the price of electricity shoots up due to war etc? Do disabled people really do a ton of mileage? I would consider a HEV or PHEV but full-on EV isn’t for me until or unless I’m forced into it…
…not to mention safety. My sister in law recently had a crash in an Audi Q3. 6 airbags went off and she had no broken bones. This is one of the other reasons why the Volvo appeals. You are right it’s a classy vehicle. Hard to believe the original car came out 5 years ago as it still looks fresh.
All these non-premium brands with EVs and PHEVs selling for £40k+ is bonkers.
A few years ago £40k got you something quite tasty but now it gets you a Hyundai, Peugeot, Nissan, Kia or Skoda. Even a bottom of the range Dacia Duster costs £14k and an entry level Ford Fiesta is £20k. It’s absolutely mental.
All these non-premium brands with EVs and PHEVs selling for £40k+ is bonkers. A few years ago £40k got you something quite tasty but now it gets you a Hyundai, Peugeot, Nissan, Kia or Skoda. Even a bottom of the range Dacia Duster costs £14k and an entry level Ford Fiesta is £20k. It’s absolutely mental.
You have only got to ask yourself how much a equal size premium brand would cost you kitted out with the equipment Hyundai/Kia and other non premium brands come with.
Then whats is premium today other than brand snobery. Europes premium manufacturers have stood still whils’t the likes of Korean brands have basically caught up and the million miles between them, is no longer there. BMW for example haven’t even got a EV platform yet, untill the Klause Klass comes out. Non premium brands like Hyundai/Kia have making them much more airy and desirable for EV wannabe’s,
Mercedes ICE vehicles on the scheme use Renault engines, BMW/Mercedes use Chinese battery cells in their EV and Mercedes also use Farasis battery crap, whats premium about that.
My Tucson, gets more attention of the neighbours than the BMW 220d that sits right next to it or does it look out of place next to the X1, as Gloss-Guy will tell you.
IMO there is nothing truely premium on the scheme anymore, only what they can’t sell or need to make their mandate numbers up. Off the scheme is a different kettle of fish.
Agree @kezo Volvo aspires to be a premium brand but isn’t there yet. We looked at the XC40 on the last 2 vehicle changes, including recently. Aside from the fact that the interior feels quite dated against latest generation cars, and I really don’t like their infotainment setup (odd shape, too small and too much controlled via touchscreen), we felt that the interior of the Tucson Ultimate that we went with was more upmarket than the XC40 and was on a par with our BMW. I’d never have said that a few years ago. I’m still not a massive fan of the Tucson’s exterior looks (although family and friends all do) but I’ve never liked the look of the XC40. I tend to agree that there’s nothing truly premium left on the scheme now, sadly.
I would say that Volvo are kinda at the level of Audi and BMW now. They’re certainly closer than Hyundai and Kia. This reviewer seemed to think so….
Admittedly that was 5 years ago and the XC40 has dated a little, certainly when it comes to the infotainment screen. However at 9″ it is still big enough and it has the advantage of running Google Maps when a lot of car manufacturers use inferior maps with their sat nav systems.
I wouldn’t say that the interior has dated as such and to me it’s still the nicest looking SUV by far but that is of course entirely subjective.
Best Value?
Always an EV.
I used to spend £120/month or £1440/year.on petrol for my last car.
The EV, cost £120 after 6 months on electricity charging at home.
Is is costing me £240 in electricity for a year, compared to £1440 for petrol.
If you are able to have a home charger fitted and an Enyaq at a Grand as Dumfries suggests, its a no-brainer on value.
Admittedly that was 5 years ago and the XC40 has dated a little, certainly when it comes to the infotainment screen. However at 9″ it is still big enough and it has the advantage of running Google Maps when a lot of car manufacturers use inferior maps with their sat nav systems. I wouldn’t say that the interior has dated as such and to me it’s still the nicest looking SUV by far but that is of course entirely subjective.
Apart from the introduction of a digital instrument cluster, the XC40 has changed since launch in 2017. In the Asian world, those 7 years since 2017 is a very long time, which has seen multiple changes and imporovements. So in that respect, the Volvo is starting to look its age. But, indeed Volvo were the first to offer Android Automotive on the XC40 Recharge, inclusive for 4yrs.
Although the Volvo is looking dated, its interior is better than that in the latest Q3 (which has alot of hard plastic) but not as good as the X1 back then or now.
Europe has put itself in a mess with the dawn of EV’s and quality is suffering amonst many premium or upper midrange brands (VW). Hyundai have just put the Tuscon through a midlife facelift, which as GG said doesn’t feel like a step down. Just imagine where that positions the facelift in 2-3yrs time. Thats hell of an acheivement from a brand that was unheard of less than 20yrs ago.
One reason, I chose another Tucson, apart from it looking like a completely new car from the last but, for the 8th airbag in the features a centre to prevent front passengers from colliding with one another laterally and stops a middle seat passnger moving forward too much in a head on. Oh, it also comes with acoustic glass and perhaps most importantly, you quickly can turn off the unnecessary safety systems.
Admittedly that was 5 years ago and the XC40 has dated a little, certainly when it comes to the infotainment screen. However at 9″ it is still big enough and it has the advantage of running Google Maps when a lot of car manufacturers use inferior maps with their sat nav systems. I wouldn’t say that the interior has dated as such and to me it’s still the nicest looking SUV by far but that is of course entirely subjective.
Apart from the introduction of a digital instrument cluster, the XC40 has changed since launch in 2017. In the Asian world, those 7 years since 2017 is a very long time, which has seen multiple changes and imporovements. So in that respect, the Volvo is starting to look its age. But, indeed Volvo were the first to offer Android Automotive on the XC40 Recharge, inclusive for 4yrs. Although the Volvo is looking dated, its interior is better than that in the latest Q3 (which has alot of hard plastic) but not as good as the X1 back then or now. Europe has put itself in a mess with the dawn of EV’s and quality is suffering amonst many premium or upper midrange brands (VW). Hyundai have just put the Tuscon through a midlife facelift, which as GG said doesn’t feel like a step down. Just imagine where that positions the facelift in 2-3yrs time. Thats hell of an acheivement from a brand that was unheard of less than 20yrs ago. One reason, I chose another Tucson, apart from it looking like a completely new car from the last but, for the 8th airbag in the features a centre to prevent front passengers from colliding with one another laterally and stops a middle seat passnger moving forward too much in a head on.
I ordered a Sportage PHEV but cancelled rightly or wrongly. I agree that the Tucson/Sportage are very well equipped modern cars. It will be interesting to see how the company moves forward in the medium term. They have certainly made up a lot of ground in a very short time.
I ordered a Sportage PHEV but cancelled rightly or wrongly. I agree that the Tucson/Sportage are very well equipped modern cars. It will be interesting to see how the company moves forward in the medium term. They have certainly made up a lot of ground in a very short time.
From memory the Sportage PHEV went down to £2.5k, as it too is due a midlife facelift soon, as it came out later than the Tucson. The Sportage is smaller inside than the Tucson, hence me opting for another.
£1499 for the Volvo XC40 B4 Plus. With the £750 Motability contribution that £40k car is costing you £749 up front. The classiest vehicle on the scheme for anything like that AP.
I really like Volvos but the fuel efficiency of the XC40 is really poor so yes, you get a very good car for the AP, but have to consider running costs.
This is true. I don’t drive very far though and value comfort & prestige over saving w few quid at the pumps. I also live in a flat so any cost savings of an EV or ever PHEV would be largely lost on me.
I don’t travel too far at the moment either so can understand your point.
I’m also unable (at present) to charge at home, so am in a strange position of trying to take advantage of the £750 discount and simply getting a car, whilst weighing up the chance to save money for travel costs.
Currently stuck between choosing the XC40 or a Tucson.
Another consideration is the possibility Volvo will release a new model soon. Could explain why they’ve dropped the AP so heavily (clearing space).Another consideration is the possibility Volvo will release a new model soon. Could explain why they’ve dropped the AP so heavily (clearing space).
The XC40 has been out for 7 years now, which is about the maximum lifecycle for most cars before an all new model is launched. The mid life facelift was about as minimal as it’s possible to be. However, as far as I’m aware, there are no reports of a new model coming (most new models are seen testing 12-18 months before launch), which makes me wonder if it is not going to be replaced. Are Volvo putting all their focus on EVs?
I don’t think there’s any rhyme or reason to AP fluctuations. The Tucson has recently had a major mid life facelift (the interior changes are frankly as extensive as an all new model) and is selling extremely well (to private as well as Motability customers), yet the AP has just plummeted by £1,550 on top of the £600 reduction a few months earlier. Hyundai seem to be really going for market share and seem to be succeeding in pulling customers from other brands, especially when it comes to EVs.
Another consideration is the possibility Volvo will release a new model soon. Could explain why they’ve dropped the AP so heavily (clearing space).
The XC40 has been out for 7 years now, which is about the maximum lifecycle for most cars before an all new model is launched. The mid life facelift was about as minimal as it’s possible to be. However, as far as I’m aware, there are no reports of a new model coming (most new models are seen testing 12-18 months before launch), which makes me wonder if it is not going to be replaced. Are Volvo putting all their focus on EVs? I don’t think there’s any rhyme or reason to AP fluctuations. The Tucson has recently had a major mid life facelift (the interior changes are frankly as extensive as an all new model) and is selling extremely well (to private as well as Motability customers), yet the AP has just plummeted by £1,550 on top of the £600 reduction a few months earlier. Hyundai seem to be really going for market share and seem to be succeeding in pulling customers from other brands, especially when it comes to EVs.
The XC40 had a facelift in 2023 and was quietly unveiled on Volvo’s configurator, with prices starting from £34k
I expect the lack of fanfare was down to the fact you couldn’t easily spot the difference 😂
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