By Nigel Wigmore
THE new Kia Soul is the first electric car I have driven that does not con- centrate solely on promoting its energy source.
Yes, the new Soul is all electric and not a hybrid concoction. Its 64kWh electric drivetrain produces an impressive range capability of 280 miles.
But this EV beats other electric cars when it comes to that other precious commodity that motorists obsess about — all their lives — interior space. Continue reading
By Nigel Wigmore
THERE is hope yet for those of us that appreciate what was once called a “real motor car”.
That might sound a bit sad to a new generation of drivers that know nothing but nippy hatchbacks and all-electric vehicles.
There’s nothing intrinsically wrong with all-electric vehicles. But EVs have some way to go before they prove to be a totally satisfactory mode of transport.
On the satisfaction level for matching comfort and power the Maserati Levante GranLusso scored highly.
Of course, the magic is already there in the name. Maserati has a kudos that no online accessed new car brand can hope to match. Continue reading
By Nigel Wigmore
If you are going to go electric — and indications are that many more motorists this year will buy an EV (electric vehicle) — then you might as well do it in style.
And probably one of the most luxurious electric cars available to buy today is the new Jaguar I-Pace.
Luxurious it certainly is, and therefore consummately comfortable, as the interior displays the expected hallmarks of any upmarket Jaguar Land Rover model.
The ride is not so much a rumble along with the familiar fuel-powered engine upfront as an electrically driven glide through the byways of Britain. Continue reading
By Nigel Wigmore
THIS week I have been driving a car that eclipsed the range anxiety associated with all-electric cars.
Range — how many miles an electric car can go before the battery runs out — has been improved on all- electric cars now coming on stream.
Carmakers had to do this to entice motorists to buy electric cars. We are told repeatedly that electric cars are the future.
However, for distance driving and what I would term “normal” driving habits, the Toyota C-HR self-charging hybrid at present seems a much better bet.
