EV recommendation for my BIL

[seiben]

Quick background - my BIL is returning to the UK in about six weeks, having been in NZ since 2019. As the family 'car guy' they've asked my advice on a suitable car, the idea being that they'll ideally buy it remotely and have it delivered to me so that it's more-or-less ready to go when they arrive.

Criteria:

• Full EV
• Decent range - they will be travelling around the south of the UK visiting family etc. This will be their only car.
• Family-friendly and practical. They have one kid, but will likely have one or two more, and this will be a long-term car for them.
• Must be 'in stock' due to timescales, so probably looking at second-hand.
• £30k budget. They're not interested in leasing/PCP, prefer to buy outright.
• They're not 'car people' so happy to drive around in something boring as long as it fulfills the above brief.

Buying nearly-new EVs isn't really where my car experience lies, particularly doing so remotely. For now I've pointed then towards Cinch as a good start to seeing what's available. Pick of the bunch seems to be a 2020/21 MG5 estate EV so far, but there are loads of Nissan Leafs (Leaves?) around too.

Any other recommendations on a) suitable car or b) suitable purchasing routes to essentially have it purchased and delivered remotely?

[dmsims]

MG4 is a much better car (if they don't need the estate)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208078...

[anonymous-user]

dmsims said:

MG4 is a much better car (if they don't need the estate)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208078...

Is this how cars are going now, the dash is literally a shelf with two iPads mounted to it. Are those haptic buttons on the steering wheel?

Not being a gadget obsessed techy, I really don't ever want a car like that.

[georgeyboy12345]

What about a leggy Tesla Model S 85 with free supercharging?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210070...

[seiben]

MG4 looks a good bet, thanks - I see Jonny Smith rates it, which is good enough for me!

In good conscience I couldn't recommend a leggy Tesla over something with a decent chunk of 7 year warranty remaining. It's a nice left-field oddity, though

[ZX10R NIN]

seiben said:

MG4 looks a good bet, thanks - I see Jonny Smith rates it, which is good enough for me!

In good conscience I couldn't recommend a leggy Tesla over something with a decent chunk of 7 year warranty remaining. It's a nice left-field oddity, though

Some other options.

Kia Niro 4:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210050...

First Edition:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210200...

Hyundai Ioniq Premium:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210030...

Premuim SE:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209159...

Leaf e+ Tekna:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209280...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210190...

Mokka e SRI Nav Premium:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210050...

Elite Nav Premium:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210150...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206116...

[seiben]

Thank you, ZX10 - some good food for thought there. I shall pass them along.

[samoht]

seiben said:

• Decent range - they will be travelling around the south of the UK visiting family etc. This will be their only car.

I think this is a key criterion.

The official quoted range of an EV is how far it goes from 100% charge until it grinds to a halt, under fairly moderate weather and road conditions.
In actual use you have to leave a margin for error and power usage is affected by temperature, hills, cruising speed etc etc.
Also not every destination you may want to visit necessarily has a charger, so sometimes you need range for there and back.

The context is it'll be their only car, anticipating wanting to travel across the country and a level of uncertainty about desired usage as it's a significant change of lifestyle.

Given all that, personally I'd be on AT, searching for fuel type Electric, Range 250 miles upwards, max price £30k.

Which gives a choice of Tesla Model S, Hyundai Kona, Kia Niro or Soul, and the aforementioned MG4 Long Range, all apart from the Tesla with a 64 kWh battery.