BMW's H2 breakthrough, fun for £3k...

... and good cars that leave you disappointed

By Cam Tait / Wednesday, 22 April 2026 / Loading comments

You’d be forgiven for thinking hydrogen-powered cars had died a quiet death. What was once seen as the best hope for a cleaner future has been left far behind by battery power, and now sustainable fuel has joined the mix, requiring zero adaptation for the majority of cars. But that hasn’t stopped BMW from pressing on with the development of its iX5 Hydrogen, which has led to a recent breakthrough in range and cylinder packaging, and this is where this week’s episode of The Gassing Station podcast kicks off.

In short, BMW has found a way to better package seven carbon-fibre reinforced polymer canisters below the iX5’s floor, which are managed by a new, single-valve system that helps deliver a claimed range of 385 miles. And BMW isn’t the only company putting some of its eggs into the hydrogen basket, either, with Alpine and Toyota both running development programmes for road and racing applications. Whether we’ll see hydrogen power emerge as a true alternative to electric and sustainable fuels has yet to be seen, but it’s not for a lack of trying.

As for this week’s buying challenge, PHer ian-hd9p4 is keen on chopping their Seat Ibiza TDI in for “something more fun”, with a budget of £3,000 to play with. With their short list featuring a Mk3 Toyota MR2 and MG F, Sam’s gone big on analogue thrills with this BMW 325ti. Straight-six power, rear-wheel drive and a manual gearbox are the big draws here, as is a price tag that’s a fiver shy of the budget limit. Admittedly, my choice doesn’t look quite as appealing by comparison, but I’d argue it fits the bill better. It’s a Ford StreetKa, which was widely lauded for its handling and, with the passage of time, may even be considered cool. Maybe. It’s a whole £4 more expensive than the BMW at £2,999, but you can drop your recommendations in the topic here if you think you can do better.

Lastly, you’ll no doubt have been desperate to drive a car only to be left disappointed by it. Well, there’s a whole topic on it thanks to white_goodman, who ranks the Range Rover Evoque and Fiat 500 as cars that have over-promised and under-delivered. You’ll also find mentions of the Subaru Impreza Turbo 2000, Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera and an R35 Nissan GT-R. You can chip your own in here, though you may want to listen to the pod first for inspiration.

Listen here