Best electric chargers advices? The BMW i4 demonstrates the brand’s commitment to both an electrified future and its rich heritage for delivering cars that are great to drive. Arguably, the best part about the i4 is the way it handles – despite weighing in at over two tonnes, it feels brilliant through the corners with precise steering feels and impressive agility. In fact, near silent progress aside, you’d struggle to tell the difference between it and a fossil-fuelled 4 Series Gran Coupe. The standard eDrive40 i4 produces 335bhp and 430Nm of torque, which should be plenty for everyday driving. Yet there’s also a 536bhp i4 M50 version, which is the first electric car to be produced by BMW’s performance-focused M Division. The 335bhp model is offered in both Sport and M Sport trim levels, both of which come with a healthy amount of kit. M Sport models get mostly cosmetic upgrades for an extra £1,500. Optional kit is rather expensive, however, and the i4 doesn’t offer quite as much value for money as its rivals. Find extra info at electric motors.
Before going electric, it’s worth considering a few things. Do you have off-street parking, or charging facilities at work or available locally, and are most of your trips less than 80 miles? If the answer is no, you might find a plug in hybrid offers a better compromise. Why are electric cars so expensive? According to the latest 2022 findings from the Auto Trader Retail Price Index, most types of used cars’ average prices are slowing in growth while the average asking prices of electric vehicles (EVs) are jumping the trend, growing at a rate of 27.5% year-on-year in March 2022 for mainstream models. The average asking price for an electric vehicle is £23,361 – by far the highest out of all other types of powertrains.
With more competitive electric models on the market than ever before, now’s a great time to buy. Recent spikes in the price of petrol and diesel have made a better financial case for EVs, which have outsold full hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars so far this year. Being able to charge at home saves money in the long run. It’s easy to see why there’s such a growing interest in electric cars at the moment, with the best EVs delivering excellent comfort, performance and range in a desirable package. Enough range to compete with a petrol or diesel car? We’re not far off now, with some of the best electric cars capable of over 300 miles between charges.
With all-wheel drive, the next step up is undeniably faster, lopping two seconds off its benchmark sprint time. But it also has a slightly shorter range, costs considerably more and doesn’t feel entirely comfortable to drive quickly. Every version features impressive ultra-rapid charging at up to 250kW, so if you can find a fast enough public charger, a top up from 10 to 80% is possible in less than 20 minutes. Its interior is no less desirable, thanks to a dashboard dominated by a pair of curved 12.3-inch screens for the instruments and infotainment setup. The Enyaq is an all-electric family car that is typically Skoda: that is to say it’s practical, well-equipped, comfortable and decent to drive. With top-spec models able to cover over 300 miles from a full charge, it soothes any range anxiety and just gets on with being an excellent family car – that just happens to run on battery power. Skoda has come up with an innovative way of helping you to personalise your new Enyaq; instead of standard trim levels it offers five individual ‘Design Selections’ – Loft, Lodge, Lounge, Suite and ECO Suite. Each provides a distinct design approach, with different materials used to create a certain style. Find additional details at evmotors.live.
Skoda is renowned for producing great-value and well thought-out family cars with petrol and diesel engines, but the Enyaq iV is its first effort to do the same with electric power. And it’s a very good one. Using the VW Group’s dedicated MEB electric-car architecture means there’s an enormous amount of interior space for both passengers and luggage, not to mention great all-round visibility through those big windows. Technology-wise, you can choose from three different powertrain options: the Enyaq iV 60, the Enyaq iV 80 and the all-wheel-drive Enyaq iV 80x. They deliver between 255 and 336 miles of driving range, with all models getting decent rapid-charging capability so you can top up quickly on a longer journey. There are also a variety of interior ‘themes’ to choose from, with sustainable materials employed to give a unique feel to the cabin.