Category Archives: Electric/hybrid

AWD, Crossover, Electric/hybrid, Subaru, SUV

E-xtra V-alue from rugged SUV

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Subaru XV Hybrid

By Bill McCarthy

There’s something about Subaru that attracts a loyal following. A left-field alternative to the mainstream it offers something a little different with its legendary all-wheel drive capability making it a more than competent off-road performer.

Recently facelifted, the exterior sports a hexagonal front grille, sloping profile with integrated roof bars and new fog lamp bezels which surround the LED fog lights.

The rear spoiler is finished in gloss black and an e-Boxer badge has been added to the wings and tailgate. It sits on smart 18-inch alloys, standard across the range. It also features advanced safety technology like EyeSight.

The two-litre horizontally-opposed Boxer petrol engine has been mated with an electric motor and powerful lithium-ion battery which is mounted within the boot floor and allows for pure-electric driving at speeds of up to 25mph. The power plants are mated with the familiar Lineartronic transmission.

The savings in fuel are not huge however and the electric-only running only really kicks in in slow moving traffic. 

However, I was surprised to get better economy than the official figure of around 35mpg. Overall, I was clocking just under 40mpg in all driving conditions.

The interior is smart and roomy, if not class-leading, but still well-equipped and offers sporty styling.

Centrally placed is an eight-inch multifunction colour touchscreen controlling major functions like infotainment, connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB radio and Bluetooth. Above this sits a screen displaying information on economy and driving data. A TFT information screen sits behind the steering wheel.

The SE is pretty well packed with standard kit, but this model includes dual zone air-conditioning, reversing camera and heated seats are also standard on this model as are eight-way power adjustable driver seat, satellite navigation and sunroof.

Performance is quite lively if you floor the accelerator, but the transmission becomes raucous under heavy acceleration. The vehicle can hit 60mph in around 10.7 seconds.

It handles very well despite its high ground clearance and is a comfortable motorway cruiser. 

In addition, the permanent Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (SAWD), allows you to deal with just about any road or weather conditions. Engage X-MODE with Hill Descent Control at the touch of a button and more challenging off road conditions and negotiating steep inclines and descents are handled with ease.

In practical terms, the boot is quite small in its class as a result of accommodating the battery, but fold the seats and 1,290 litres of space is available.

Safety features are comprehensive and include a full complement of airbags, EyeSight EyeSight, which delivers Adaptive Cruise Control, Pre-Collision Braking, Pre-Collision Throttle Management, Lane Sway and Departure Warning and Lane Keep Assist. It uses a dual-camera setup behind the rear view mirror to monitor the road ahead and anticiapte danger.

In addition, Subaru Rear Vehicle Detection (SRVD) includes: Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross Traffic Alert

There are two trim levels, SE and this SE Premium model priced from £30,995 OTR.

There’s also the five year, 100k miles warranty for peace of mind.

FACTFILE

Subaru XV 2.0i SE Premium e-Boxer Lineartronic Hybrid

Price: £35,195

Mechanical: 150PS, 1,995cc, four-cylinder petrol engine driving and electric motor, driving four wheels via automatic gearbox

Max speed: 120mph

0-62mph: 10.7 seconds

Combined mpg: 35.7

Insurance group: 16E

CO2 emissions: 180g/km

Warranty: 5yrs/100,000 miles

City cars, Electric/hybrid, Fiat

Living La Dolce Vita

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Fiat 500 Hybrid

By Bill McCarthy

The Italian phrase Dolce Vita can be translated as ‘the sweet life’ or ‘the good life’ and the mission of the tiny Fiat seems to be to deliver that. Even if it seems at times, the slick retro Italian puts style above substance.

But the remarkable success story of the Fiat 500 goes on with the latest chapter embracing the electric age.

Fiat says it will remove all non-electrified vehicles from sale in the UK in 2022, after 2021 saw the biggest annual increase in electric vehicle registrations in the UK

It has the same retro look of its diminutive predecessor of which was sol popular from 1957 through to 1975. But the latest version is very much a city car of the 21st century – cheapish to buy and cheap to tax and insure. There are four trim levels, Pop, Connect, of course the Dolcevita version and this range topping Sport. 

Its range now features a petrol version, a mild hybrid and the all-electric 500.

Mild is the operative word really when compared to full hybrids or plug-in versions. 

The set-up increases economy by allowing an auxiliary battery and electric motor to recuperate braking energy provide a boost to the engine when required, by assisting stop/start function, improving mpg and reducing CO2 emissions.

The attraction of the 500 for many is that it can be enhanced and customised without breaking the bank and even if not, still has that funky look much favoured by young drivers.

Styling cues include body-coloured bumpers, smart alloy wheels, a fixed panoramic glass roof, hybrid badging, tinted rear windows, rear spoiler and satin graphite door mirrors 

The interior is certainly not filled with soft touch plastic finish, more painted dash and cheaper trim, but that does not detract from the car’s character.

The dashboard is dominated by the seven-inch touchscreen which controls smartphone connectivity and infotainment. Bluetooth, DAB, satnav with TomTom’s Live connected traffic services and smartphone integration. The binnacle is dominated by a single large dial.

This version also features sports seats and steering wheel.

Electric windows are standard as is air con, central locking and power steering.

Boot space is, well, limited, to say the least. with just 185 litres available. Fold the seats for more space. But don’t expect to get the golf clubs in there.

But that’s not what this car is about and you can still get your overnight bag or a couple of bags of shopping in the space..

On the road, the one-litre, three-cylinder engine is lively enough from a standing start, but then has been worked pretty hard for any kind of decent acceleration. It takes around 13 seconds to hit the 60mph mark.

Mated to a five-speed gearbox, plenty of shifting up and down is needed, particularly around town to maximise performance. It is very economical however with a claimed 60.1mpg and emissions of 107g/km.

Safety kit is comprehensive with seven airbags, driver and passenger airbags, side airbags, window airbags and driver’s knee airbags, stability control and ABS and parking sensors.

Fun, funky, economical and safe. The tried and tested recipe is still a success.

Factfile

Fiat 500 Hybrid Sport 

Price: £16,935

Mechanical: 70bhp, 999cc three cylinder engine driving front wheels via five speed manual gearbox

Max Speed: 114mph

0-62mph: 13.8sec

Combined MPG: 60.1

Insurance Group: 13

C02 emissions: 107g/km

Bik rating:  26%

Warranty:  3yrs/60,000 miles