Latest urban van has landed BMW iX1
Amarok The return of VW’s pick-up First
Lexus RZ Sparkling electric SUV from Japan Volkswagen
It’s summer time and allegedly, the living is easy… certainly what is getting easier is the supply of new cars and vans to fleets, which has seen a marked improvement in recent weeks and most manufacturers are now able to get customers a new vehicle in six months or less.
If you’re an SME fleet manager or end user, then that has to be good news, as is the increasing choice of EV and PHEVs for your business, as we find out in this issue.
First up is our cover star, the Toyota bZ4X, the Japanese brand’s first electric car. It’s impressively different, as we found out.
We finally got our hands on BMW’s entry level electric car the iX1 recently, and it proved very capable indeed. Lexus has added a second electric car to its range in the form of the premium SUV RZ, and with Lexus Stockport’s help, we gave it the once over.
Also on test we have one of our favourites, the recently updated Volkswagen T-Roc, the Audi Q5 TFSI e PHEV, news of Renault’s all-new Austral and an update on the MY24 Land Rover Defender plug-in.
On the commercial front, local Nissan dealer Westway in Manchester
was kind enough to let us spend some time in the new small Nissan van, the Townstar, and it’s a welcome addition to the compact van sector. We have also driven the electric eDoblo and the new Renault Kangoo. Read our thoughts inside.
After that it’s pick-ups all the away. Volkswagen’s Amarok has made a welcome return, we had a drive in Ford’s Ranger Wildtrak, Isuzu’s D-Max has been updated and we revisit the electric Maxus T90 with a drive across Ireland.
Away from the tests we met up with smart CEO David Browne at Fully Charged North, where we got our first taste of the new smart #1, and we’ve a feature on one of the new smart dealers too, Western of Edinburgh.
There’s a Q & A with Audi’s Warren Richards, Head of Direct Sales Audi UK, as the brand strengthens its electric portfolio, dealer features from Lookers Ford and Trenton of Hull as well as contributions from regulars Rolec, Sevadis, Europcar, Corparison, CPL and Vanaways, whose expertise is sure to help you navigate the company vehicle sector.
Andrew Walker Editor & Publisher
There are many challenges to switching to electric, but one that keeps hitting the headlines is the lack of charging points.
It was reported1 that in the final quarter of last year, just one public charge point was installed per 62 plug-in cars purchased, a fall from 1:42 compared to the same quarter in 2021.
To meet the Government’s target of having 300,000 devices nationwide by 2030 – the date when the UK is set to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles – this figure needs to almost quadruple to 3,130 installations a month.
The good news is that the Transport Minister, Jesse Norman, announced in February that UK drivers will benefit from an additional £56 million in public and industry funding to increase electric vehicle (EV) charge points across the country.
This investment, together with the ongoing drive of some very committed and progressive charging organizations, will help deliver up to a further 2,400 charge points set to be installed in the short term, while working to support local councils to deliver tens of
thousands more in the long term.
Whilst investing in public charging points is a positive step forward, a snapshot poll2 commissioned by Europcar Mobility Group UK at the start of 2023 found that 59% of motorists currently prefer to charge at home; 23% at an office and 18% ‘on the go’.
This not only underlines the convenience issues that currently exist, but also the costs. Indeed, recent RAC research suggested that the cost of rapid-charging an electric car using a public charging network had increased by about 50% in the past eight months. It found that those who charged at home were still getting “great value” despite rising energy costs.
For motorists – and employers – to have confidence in switching to zero emissions vehicles, it is essential that more chargers overall are made available, especially rapid chargers, and that reliability is dramatically improved.
But in the short-term, for those fortunate enough to have off-road parking and a range long enough for their regular journeys, charging at
home is a good solution and successfully supports the transition to sustainable mobility.
Of course, the lack of charging infrastructure is just one barrier for fleets to transition to electric. Supply chain, driver nervousness, high vehicle prices are a few others, making it understandable why so many business fleets are not fully ready to make a wholesale shift to zero emissions.
But there is a real willingness for change.
If the funding is there to help local authorities work in tandem with private business and charge point operators to drive the sustainable growth of local networks, it will ensure their collective knowledge and expertise will help deliver the most ambitious charge point plans for local areas and on a national level.
Hopefully, with this ambitious investment together with the continual progress of those within the charging industry some of the more recent sensationalist “charging headlines” will be a thing of the past and more motorists will make the switch.
1 https://www.zap-map.com/statistics/ 2 https://www.europcar.co.uk/editorial/en/ business/the-positives-and-negatives-of-makingthe-switch-1587/
For motorists – and employers – to have confidence in switching to zero emissions vehicles, it is essential that more chargers overall are made available, especially rapid chargers, and that reliability is dramatically improved...
Mark Parkin, Fleet Relations Manager at Rolec EV, discusses how businesses can smoothly transition to a fully electric fleet in the lead up to the 2030 ICE ban.
The UK’s ‘Road to Net Zero’ may seem far on the horizon, but for fleet operators the transition to zero emission vehicles is only a few replacement cycles away.
As with all instances of change, it is inevitable that there will be a period where businesses will need to adjust to no longer relying on fossil fuels. Creating an accurate and realistic roadmap to electrification is the best way to manage this transition as a business.
Moving to a fleet of fully Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) shouldn’t feel like a chore. There is an array of advantages to transitioning to electric vehicles, such as less maintenance, cheaper running costs and low Benefit in Kind (BiK) tax, that can benefit you as a fleet operator. Taking advantage of these opportunities as they present themselves, before 2030, will leave you in a better position as the transition plays out.
The benefits of BEVs:
n Cheaper to run over time.
n Lower fuel costs.
n Improving the sustainability of the fleet.
n VED exempt.
n Low BiK tax for employees.
n Lower maintenance.
n Exempt from clean-air-zone (CAZ) or Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) charges.
n Supported by Government grants and initiatives.
So, how do you begin to transition to BEVs?
The first step to a fully electric fleet is to evaluate your fleet in its current position. How many vehicles does it include? What types of vehicles do you
have? What are the operational needs of your business? These are all things that you need to consider before you start placing orders for BEVs.
Once you have collected information on your current fleet, you can then start the process of relating this to EVs available on the market. Match up vehicle size, the typical length of journeys each vehicle makes daily and all other relevant data and find a comparable EV to fit your needs. Do this for every model of vehicle you have in your fleet.
Now that you have a list of vehicles, it’s important to hold fire. Don’t start transitioning your entire fleet overnight. Start by lining up your replacement schedule to facilitate a gradual transition. Start with a handful of vehicles, give your employees time to get used to the different driving experience, and then begin to phase in other models.
Remember there isn’t a one-size-fitsall template for fleet electrification and part of the process is learning what works for you and investing in it. Which includes training drivers on how to operate EVs and getting them familiar with EV charging infrastructure.
This will also give you time to begin introducing your own charging network. Which comes with its own set of considerations. You will need to decide, among other things, where vehicles will be charging and when, what budget is available to you for units (and installation), as well as what operating system you will use to manage your chargepoint network.
Again, this process will be unique to you and your fleet/business. You may require vehicles to charge on-site overnight, in which case you would be well suited to slower but more costeffective 7.4kW chargepoints.
Or, you may have a fleet that is covering a large area daily that would require rapid top-ups throughout the day. Something that is perfectly suited to DC charging. You may even need a combination of the two.
Once you have decided on vehicles and a supporting charging network, all that there is left for you to do is phase out ICE vehicles for new BEV models.
As we suggested earlier, lining this up with your replacement schedule and transitioning your fleet gradually allows you time to manage the changeover on a timescale that suits you and your fleet – helping you enter in to 2030 fully prepared and fully Battery Electric.
Fast-growing independent vehicle supply specialist Vanaways is stepping out, by appointing a new Business Development Manager to take its trade direct to customers’ doors.
Hannah Pearson has joined the Bristolbased company as its first sales specialist to be permanently ‘out of office’.
Reporting to Business Development Director Liam Nicholas, Hannah’s role will be to visit prospective new clients across the UK – with the aim of winning them over to Vanaways’ combination of a simplified ordering process, quick turnaround and minimal hassle.
Hannah brings a strong track record to her new position. She spent four years in a similar role for one of Britain’s biggest commercial vehicle rental providers, and three years with a leading car and van hire operator before that.
“Moving to Vanaways is already such a refreshing change,” she said. “We’re a much smaller organisation, which means decisions are taken and put into action far quicker.
“But at the same time, the way the company works, with direct access to vehicles from a wide range of manufacturers, means I have virtually unlimited availability and can give my
customers the vans they want to very tight timescales.”
Hannah’s brief is to focus mainly on companies with fleets of 10 vehicles or more – and although she covers the whole country, initially she will target operators in the North of England.
“I’m originally from Durham, and now live in Liverpool, so it makes sense for me to spend more time visiting prospective customers closer to home,” she explained. “If you take Merseyside, Manchester, Leeds and all the towns and cities between, that’s a lot of potential new business!”
Liam Nicholas added: “We’re delighted to have added Hannah to our close-knit team – she brings a great deal of expertise and experience, as well as huge dose of enthusiasm, to Vanaways.
“We’re sure she’ll be a great success and our plan, as this side of the business takes off, is to add more new fieldbased Business Development Managers to our line-up.
“We’ll continue to stand by our pledge to provide the best possible customer service because – especially in the fleet market, where operators are replacing vehicles on a regular basis –that’s how we’ll prove to people that we’re worthy of winning and retaining their business.”
Established in 2017, Vanaways spent its first years concentrating mainly on retail sales, but last year’s recruitment of Liam Nicholas and creation of a Business Development Team marked a switch to also target the fleet market.
Since then Vanaways has also signed partnership agreements with DIY trade retailer Toolstation and temperaturecontrolled body conversion specialist CoolKit.
Meanwhile, Hannah is aiming to reach new heights outside work, as well as in her new job. A keen hill-walker, she’s aiming to complete the ‘Wainwrights’ the 214 fells featured in author Alfred Wainwright’s celebrated hiking guidebooks to the Lake District.
When it comes to cutting business emissions, transport will be a priority as it accounts for such a significant proportion of most companies’ carbon footprint.
An enterprise that owns or leases a fleet can plan how to switch to greener vehicles. However, the challenge is greater for organisations that rely on grey fleet – vehicles owned by employees that are used for business travel.
A recent Europcar study found that employees of nearly 85% of small businesses use their own vehicles for work journeys. And there appears to be a real will among small businesses to manage the carbon footprint of these vehicles.
Nearly half (46%) said that they impose limits on vehicle emissions to reduce the environmental impact of their grey fleet. Over half (53%) offer incentives for the use of hybrid or electric vehicles. Tackling mileage is also seen as an important tactic by 35% of respondents.
But the reality is there’s still a large population of grey fleet that just might not be green, which is why many companies are offering vehicle rental
for business journeys. And Europcar is stepping up its EV fleet to ensure it offers the choice businesses need, from the compact ORA Funky Cat and MG4 models to the larger Tesla 3 and Mercedes-Benz EQ EVs.
Grey vehicles also present another challenge. Although convenient and having less of an impact on the balance sheet, reliance on grey fleet comes with Duty of Care risks. Yet the Europcar study found that many employers are not fully aware of their responsibilities when employees travel for work using their own vehicle.
Detailed in a new report, ‘Switching sustainability from buzzword to business benefit’, the Europcar research shows that a lack of mandatory vehicle checks and checking driving licences is exposing businesses when it comes to Duty of Care. Fewer than 40% said they undertake mandatory vehicle checks and only 35% check driving licences. A similar percentage check insurance cover.
An alternative solution
It’s not an easy task to implement
rigorous checks to ensure an employee’s own vehicle is properly maintained, safe and roadworthy; and is ‘fit for the purpose’ when used ‘at work’. It’s an even harder job to mandate vehicle age and emissions. However, there is another option that can help.
Working with Europcar Mobility Group UK provides access to a fleet of young vehicles, available daily, weekly, monthly or longer. This also brings the essential compliance for Ultra Low and Clean Air Zones, as well as cutting emissions compared to a typically older grey fleet. And, when vehicles can be delivered to and collected from an employee’s office or home address, business efficiency is improved too.
Plus, Europcar is helping employers manage mileage, further contributing to a reduction in carbon footprint. And Duty of Care responsibilities are covered because the vehicles are serviced and maintained to industry standards.
To find out more about how Europcar can help your organisation switch from grey to green visit www.europcar.co.uk/business or call 0371 384 0140.
Employee engagement can make or break any business, and the ramifications have the potential to be disastrous if it’s routinely overlooked.
A recent study by Gallup, claimed employee engagement can affect some of the most important aspects of an organisation, including revenue and profitability, as well as customer experience and employee turnover.
A disengaged employee is one of the biggest threats to an organisation’s progression, it added.
Employee engagement is something that can be measured in many forms, including the value they believe their work contributes to, the relationship they have with senior members of staff or their salary and rewards. An engaged workforce is far more productive in their work, with reduced risk of workplace burnout and improved staff retention.
For any organisation looking to take advantage of the many benefits that come with an engaged workforce, a salary sacrifice scheme is a rewarding incentive that can be implemented at no additional cost to your organisation, and can remove the hassle of sourcing, maintaining and driving a new electric vehicle (EV).
Employees have access to a wide range of a new EV with substantially
lower monthly rentals that come with a maintenance package covering all scheduled servicing. Insurance can also be rolled into the monthly rentals, creating greater convenience for staff. With reduced running costs and all their costs wrapped into one price, driving away in a new EV has never been easier.
When they lease a salary sacrifice car, employees stand to make substantial monthly savings on their Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions as a result of their lower salary. By sacrificing a portion of their salary, the savings they make allow for a hugely competitive net cost of a new EV.
All the while, the employer pays less in Class 1A NI Contributions and can take advantage of additional extras such as Early Termination Insurance for further peace of mind.
Discussing the benefits of salary sacrifice, Corparison Business Centre Manager, Steve Hill, commented, “Our salary sacrifice scheme is a fantastic incentive that a business can implement at no additional cost.
“It’s a scheme that offers a worthwhile perk at a time where we’re all looking to save that little bit extra. It also demonstrates an employer’s commitment to employee well-being, leading to improved retention rates and a more motivated workforce.”
Experts in fleet management, electrification and salary sacrifice, the Corparison team can help your company effectively enter a new era of eco-friendly and cost-effective motoring. Trusted by a leading panel of funders Corparison can access every make and model of car the most cost-effective price for your employees.
For more information, contact Steve Hill on steve@corparison.co.uk, call 0330 818 2668 or visit www.corparison.co.uk.
Sevadis discusses how aftercare and maintenance in EV charge point installations for fleets is just as important as the installation itself
You’ve decided on your EV charge point provider, as well as your installer, but have you considered an aftercare provider? Or, whether aftercare forms part of the EV charge point installation package?
While most EV charge points on the market are reliable, like with any electrical equipment, they can be subject to faults, or issues that prevent them from working efficiently and effectively. For this reason, aftercare and maintenance should not be considered as an afterthought or a ‘bolt-on,’ but regarded as an integral element to your EV charge point deployment plan.
When looking for aftercare providers, you should consider whether the provider offers a complete hardware and software aftercare package and what this package may entail. For example, does your provider offer cosmetic analysis? Does your provider ensure that the EV charge point is running on up-to-date software for maximum efficiency? Does the service include consultation on how to maximise EV charge point usage? What are the cost implications and how will you be billed?
After experiencing demand for aftercare and maintenance of EV charge point installations, particularly for workplaces that have deployed EV chargers for their fleets, Sevadis has partnered with Devitech, specialists in EV charge point installation and maintenance. The partnership sees two expert companies working together to ensure fleet operators are charging their electric vehicles safely and efficiently.
Providing a maintenance package as part of the EV charge point installation provides businesses with an extra layer of security and confidence when making the investment into EV charging infrastructure.
By partnering with Devitech, Sevadis’ workplace and fleet clients benefit. From the commissioning of EV chargers to troubleshooting, from swift repairs to full replacements, this partnership will play a crucial role in generating confidence in charging among both fleet operators and fleet drivers.
Making sure your fleet is charged efficiently is integral to doing business so, while the decision-making process of choosing your preferred EV charging hardware and software is critical, your approach to aftercare and maintenance needs to be critical too. Investing in aftercare and maintenance ensures effective use of your charging network, while saving costs on repairs and replacements in the future.
For more on Sevadis and its EV charging solutions, see: https://sevadis.com/
Cumberland Platforms Ltd has established itself as a leading provider of LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations) inspections, nationwide maintenance and an extensive spare part department.
Its commitment to customer satisfaction has seen it gain type approval for Toyota, Renault, Isuzu, and Ford vehicles, meaning CPL customers no longer have to wait for IVA (Individual Vehicle Approval) dates, streamlining the process and enhancing their overall experience.
CPL understands the importance of adhering to LOLER regulations to ensure the safe and reliable operation of access platforms. Its team of highly skilled and certified engineers conducts thorough inspections, providing peace of mind and full compliance with legal requirements. These inspections encompass a comprehensive evaluation of the equipment’s lifting mechanisms, structural integrity, safety features, and overall functionality.
Moreover, CPL’s commitment to
customer support extends beyond inspections. With a nationwide maintenance service, CPL ensures that access platforms are always in top working condition. Whether customers require routine maintenance, emergency repairs, or scheduled servicing, CPL’s expert technicians are available to address any issues promptly. By promptly addressing maintenance needs, CPL minimises downtime and optimises the efficiency of access platform operations for their customers.
An extensive spare part department ensures access platforms are kept functioning at their best. with an inventory including parts for CPL, Dino, Isoli, Palfinger, and Almac.
CPL’s recent acquisition of type approval for Toyota, Renault, Isuzu, and Ford vehicles marks a significant milestone for the company and its customers. Access platform owners no longer have to wait for IVA dates to gain approval for their modified vehicles.
By obtaining type approval from renowned vehicle manufacturers, CPL has demonstrated its commitment to providing efficient solutions to customers, providing a hassle-free experience and the, knowledge that your modified vehicles comply with all necessary regulations and are ready for immediate use.
Cumberland Platforms Ltd (CPL) is at the forefront of providing outstanding customer support services in the access platform industry. With its expertise in LOLER inspections, nationwide maintenance, and an extensive spare part department, CPL has solidified its reputation as a reliable partner for access platform owners across the country.
CPL continues to be the go-to choice for access platform owners nationwide.
The all-new Austral E-Tech full hybrid will play a key role in helping Renault to re-conquer the C-segment. It’s a highly connected and innovative SUV for the modern, electrified world and is a key part of the ‘Renaulution’ strategy.
This is the ‘nouvelle vague’ that aims to turn the brand into an industry benchmark for technology, electrification, and connected services.
The Austral E-Tech full hybrid is the first Renault vehicle to be designed on the third generation CMF-CD platform and is coupled with the latest, more powerful, and more efficient version of the
The Austral E-Tech marries its new, efficient drivetrain with an innovative, user-focused cockpit and a range of advanced technologies – from cuttingedge Google connectivity to an array of driver, safety and parking systems as standard – all packaged in a new, sporty SUV design that follows Gilles Vidal’s (Renault Director of Design) new vision.
Available in three trims (techno, techno esprit Alpine and iconic esprit Alpine) the Austral E-Tech full hybrid wears the esprit Alpine branding for the first time on a Renault.
All models are powered by a new 200hp petrol hybrid powertrain with a 400V 1.7kWh lithium-ion battery.
An electric-only mode offers quiet and zero emissions city driving, while
the battery recharges when decelerating and braking to offer a truly electric experience with no need to plug in.
On the combined WLTP cycle, the Austral E-Tech full hybrid achieves up to 60.1mpg, making it one of the most fuel-efficient hybrid cars in the Renault line-up, keeping emissions as low as 105g/km of CO2. The impressive figures highlight its status as an exceptionally efficient hybrid electric vehicle.
Regarded as the pinnacle of modernity, the Austral E-Tech full hybrid comes with up to 30 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and MULTI-SENSE settings, which provide four different driving styles suitable for a range of journeys and terrains. These are complemented by Renault’s third-generation four-wheel steering system, 4CONTROL Advanced, giving all new Austral E-Tech full hybrid a city car-like 10.1m turning circle, which makes parking a breeze when used in conjunction with the car’s front, rear and side parking sensors and 360° Around View 3D camera.
Each useful, proactive, and intelligent technological feature is there to improve passenger comfort, pleasure, and act as part of Renault’s leading Human First safety initiative.
In fact, the all new Austral E-Tech full hybrid has also achieved the highest
NCAP score, receiving five stars.
Designed for living, its generous interior features a wireless smartphone charging station, while 35 litres of modular storage throughout the cabin ensure optimum use of the available space. The rear seats can be slid back by 16cm for a stretched-out and relaxed experience, while the boot space offers a capacity of up to 555 litres, conveniently accessed via an electric tailgate.
A highly customisable digital experience awaits, accessed through the twin 12-inch OpenR screens and 9.3-inch head-up display, all powered by Google services, which includes Google Play, Google Maps and Google Assistant.
With quality as a core pillar of the Renaulution strategy, all new Austral E-Tech full hybrid travelled nearly 2 million miles [or 75 times around the world] on all road types, as part of a stringent pre-launch quality testing programme. A global team of 100 experts put the all new Austral E-Tech full hybrid to the test, resulting in more than 350 improvements made before launch.
This programme was bolstered with a specific UK testing period, where a team of 20 product experts tested the product in specific UK-based scenarios. It’s available now.
With many company car drivers still seeing the step to full EVs a little daunting, the PHEV option remains appealing. Most manufacturers think so and our latest test car, the Audi Q5, is a case in point. A large family SUV with plug-in technology is always going to appeal to the company car sector, so here’s how we got on...
The Q5 comes as a Q5 50 or Q5 55 TFSI e, as hatchback or sportback. Both feature the same 17.9kWh battery/ 141bhp electric motor combo, with an electric range of 37 miles, and a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. We were testing the 50 TFSI e which produces 295bhp and 450Nm of torque, while the more expensive 55 TFSI e offers drivers 362bhp and 500Nm of torque.
The 50 comes in Sport, S Line or Black Edition specs, with all well appointed. You get 18″ alloys, LED headlights and tail lights, part-Alcantara upholstery, the 10.1″ infotainment touchscreen and the Audi Virtual Cockpit. Further up the range the goodies improve, as you’d expect.
Inside it isn’t the most striking interior but it is incredibly well made. With an improved and larger 10.1” touchscreen and Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, it’s much classier than before.
Factor in a high driving position, a myriad of seat adjustments, good visibility, a logical dashboard and comfortable ride, and there’s not much to complain about.
The plug-in hybrid Audi Q5’s 36-39mile official electric range is about par for the sector. However, the F-Pace, Range Rover Sport and Volvo XC60 are now hitting the 50-mile barrier, with 70 miles in the Range Rover’s case.
Claimed economy is 166.2 mpg, which in electric mode is achievable. Drive in hybrid mode, though, as we did for 250 miles, and you’re more likely to be around 40mpg. CO2 emissions are 38g/ km which accounts for its low BIK of just 8%.
You can travel on electric power up to motorway speeds, but it doesn’t make sense, so you can ‘Hold’ the EV range for urban driving. Fitting larger alloy wheels can also reduce the car’s maximum range, so bear that in mind.
Plug-in at home on a standard 7.4kWh and your Q5 battery will be fully charged in 2 and a bit hours.
There are two driving modes – EV or Hybrid. We tended to drive in EV in town, switching to Hybrid for motorway and holding the battery charge for later. Selecting which mode to use is all enabled via the touchscreen, but this does take four taps to achieve which is a mite annoying. You can also use Audi drive select to tailor the drive to your preferred option. Offroad, efficiency –our go to – comfort, auto or dynamic are the options.
The regenerative braking system has an automatic setting that uses sensors to increase the brake forces autonomously in order to keep a safe distance from the car in front, as well as maximise efficiency. This further increases your battery range and allows you to coast towards a junction or roundabout but it’s not one pedal driving so you do need to use the brake, eventually.
In EV mode progress is serene with only outside tyre noise disturbing the peace. Hybrid mode shuffles between the petrol engine and electric motor. Cleverly, if you’ve got a SatNav destination set up, the Q5 will factor in the route to make sure you get the best efficiency by prioritising the petrol engine on the motorway while saving the battery charge for slower parts of the journey. Clever indeed.
We began with a 100-mile motorway
trip and the TFSI e was superb, offering power, comfort and excellent motorway cruising. Our only complaint is that while the cruise control is very easy to use and adjust, it’s not ‘adaptive’ unless you spend more money or get a top-specced car, which seems a bit mean.
The steering is well weighted and for a heavy car it handles tight corners and undulating roads with aplomb. Put your foot down and the acceleration is there as required, so easy motorway overtaking is a given. All in all, we were impressed, especially as it’s achieved so quietly and smoothly, with no amount of fuss.
Pros
Beautifully built, excellent road manners and decent electric range, all combine with Audi’s latest touchscreen and infotainment system to put a smile on your face. Low BIK is an added bonus.
Cons
If you want any extras they’re costly. The lack of cable storage reduces your boot space.
Premium family SUV with low BIK. Drives like a normal car. If you’re not ready to go ful EV, then the Q5 TFSI e is a fantastic option. Highly enjoyable drive and for us it’s the Q5 option we’d choose, which for a plug-in, is high praise indeed.
CC&V RATING:
electric. At the same time we are in the middle of developing a new generation of petrol TFSI and TDI diesel engines, which remain popular choices with a broad spectrum of our customers. Plug-in hybrid vehicles will also remain a key part of our product offering.
Company Car & Van: The supply delays that have hampered Audi are now easing and our readers can expect a six-month order window for their new car. Slowly but surely, new Audi electric products are emerging. What can you tell us about your latest electric models, and when can we expect to see them in the UK?
Warren Richards: We are on the verge of the biggest product initiative in our history – 20 new models by the end of 2025, more than 10 of which will be all-electric.
The first to arrive in the UK in 2024 will be the Q6 e-tron and this is the first model to be based on the VW Group’s new Premium Platform Electric (PPE) technology, featuring an 800-volt electrical system, powerful yet efficient motors combined with an innovative battery and charging management system. It heralds the next leap in electrification and digitalisation of the Audi model range.
CC&V: For many SMEs, plug-in hybrid is a more attractive way to achieve a greener fleet and lower BIK than full-electric. You have a number of PHEVs in the form of your TFSI range. How important are these plug-in models for Audi as we await a raft of new electric models?
WR: Our plug-in hybrids continue to provide the stepping stone to full electric and enable our customers to get used to ‘charging’ without worrying about range, and we’ll definitely see these drivers more seamlessly transition to full electric in their next change cycle.
CC&V: With the EU back-tracking on the sell-by date of combustion engine cars, does Audi have any new plug-in and petrol models in the pipe line that will attract corporate customers?
WR: By the end of 2025 we will launch no fewer than 20 all-new models, over half of which will be fully
CC&V: With new Chinese electric car competition, especially at the entry level in the sector, will Audi be looking to add a sub-35k electric model to the range anytime soon?
WR: By 2027 we aim to have an electric model offering in every major product segment. This includes a new battery electric vehicle that will sit below today’s Q4 e-tron.
Q5. To what extent can Audi’s fleet specialists in your corporate dealer network help SMEs when it comes to choosing the right car for their business?
WR: Audi launched Fleet Agency in 2018 and this means price transparency for our fleet customers but also ensures a level playing field for our dealer network. All of our Market Area Partners have a team of Audiaccredited Local Business Development Managers who can provide expert advice to fleet customers.
Q6. SMEs are still suffering from range anxiety and access to charging points. While full-electric has to be the way forward, what can we do in the short term to make electric motoring easier for fleets?
WR: Audi has a suite of ‘on boarding’ communications that we send to customers who are transitioning to a fully electric vehicle. These are designed to provide essential information on topics such as home and public charging, factors that impact vehicle range and braking recuperation technology.
Below, Warren Richards: “By 2027 we aim to have an electric model in every major product segment.”
Company Car & Van caught up with Warren Richards, Head of Direct Sales Audi UK, to see how the company’s plans for exciting new models were progressing
Toyota joined the electric bandwagon with the launch of the bZ4X. On paper it’s not the catchiest of car names, but bZ stands for Beyond Zero, 4 for mid-size and X means crossover. Simples. We got our hands on one earlier this year to find out if it is an electric company car crossover challenger. Andrew Walker reports...
Size-wise, the bZ4X is slightly longer and lower than a RAV4. On the road it competes with the Skoda Enyaq, VW ID4, Nissan Ariya, Ford Mustang Mach E and Hyundai IONIQ 5, all of which are a similar size. In addition, it’s been co-developed with Subaru taking advantage of Subaru’s 4×4 expertise, making it, claims Toyota, “more of an off-roader” than its rivals.
Toyota doesn’t do boring and the bZ4X features plenty of angular edges . We particularly liked the front end profile, the aggressive high wheel arches and the slim LED lights front and rear. The back end also highlights the car’s aerodynamics, with a rear roof spoiler that’s split with a small wing on each side. There’s no rear wiper though.
As with the exterior, the interior contains some of Toyota’s quirky signatures. For starters, there isn’t a glove box and the dash front features a sofa-like cloth finish. More interestingly, the TFT panel and information display are set back, so as with Peugeot’s i-Cockpit, you have to look over the steering wheel to see the screen. It’s also surrounded by what looks like a
running machine set-up, with two grab handles, one on each side. It’s certainly different!
Our test car featured a 12.3″ touchscreen that uses the latest Toyota Smart Connect infotainment system, allowing access to connected Apps, the air-con and DAB. With four USBs, two up front, two in the rear, all passengers can connect their smart phones.
Toyota’s graphics and touch reaction speed is excellent and frankly, is light years ahead of where the company was just 12 months ago.
Below the touchscreen is the centre console. Here you will find the gear selector. Push down and twist right or left to engage. You’ll also find the electric handbrake, a covered phone charger as well as the main car function buttons, including those for Eco mode, the Camera and Brake Regeneration.
Overall, the quality of the materials used in the cabin are high.
Practicality
bZ4X comes with a roomy, light and airy cabin. Up front, there’s good leg and head room, and rear passengers won’t complain either. The two front door pockets are generous, although the small ones in the rear aren’t that useful. Up front you get two ‘C’ USBs; one located on the lower dash and one
within the covered phone charger, with two more in the rear. There are centre twin cup holders, a lift-up arm rest with space beneath and a hidden storage cubby under the gear selector in lieu of a glove box. It all means that the BZ4X offers plenty of storage solutions.
There’s also a generous 452-litre boot, 60/40 split rear seats and a lightweight luggage cover. The boot floor lifts up with room below to store two charging cables and it’s flat so for easy loading or unloading.
Model range
Three specs are available: Pure, Motion and Vision, with a choice of a 2WD or an AWD model. The two-wheel drive model is powered by a single 204PS motor, while the AWD versions have a motor on each axle to producing up to 218PS.
Battery and charging
The charging port is on the front left-hand side of the car. The range features a 71kWh battery on the 2WD version, with a WLTP range of up to 317 miles. This falls to 286 miles for AWD models. Both versions come with a 150kW DC on-board charger, which means fast charging to 80% in 30 minutes at a suitable charge point.
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All new 2023 models also have an onboard 11kWh on-board AC charger. Roadside charging is very expensive, so get yourself on a specialist EV electricity tariff, plug-in at home between 00.30 and 04.30 am for rates as low as 7.5p a kWh. We were adding 30kWh per night at a cost of £2.10 a pop.
The model on test was the AWD model, which features hill-descent control, low-speed crawl control and a 500mm wade depth. Despite a wet January week, however, we didn’t face anything more challenging other than a few flooded roads, which is most likely to be all your bZ4X has to tackle.
Start up and the bZ4X is quiet and smooth from the get-go. This is aided by thicker glass in the side windows and a wider gap between the external door mirrors and front three-quarter panel, which reduces wind noise.
The steering is well weighted and you don’t notice the car’s heavy battery, which is always a good thing.
Acceleration is very good, with a 0-62mph time of 6.9 seconds. It feels quicker with 337Nm’s of torque on offer. The bZ’s low centre of gravity, coupled with its excellent suspension set up,
make for very enjoyable driving.
On the motorway the usual suite of ADAS aids, including autonomous driving and cruise control, encourage stress-free progress. We found that when travelling at 70mph in the wet the 18″ wheels and tyres did let some road noise in, otherwise it’s business as usual, with the large, heavy, bZ4X handling broken road surfaces with aplomb.
As most readers will know, real world electric range and claimed can often be
as far apart as John O’ Groats and Land’s End. On a cold January, that difference is usually amplified – and here the bZ4X is no different from its rivals.
When fully charged our test car, the 160kW Motion AWD, offered a range of 182 miles. We found that by turning the heating off, the car recalibrates this up to, in our case, 238 miles – a big difference. The problem is, of course, that turning off the climate is fine in April, but not so great in January – or at the height of summer.
A couple of 80-mile motorway round
trips saw the battery range reduce by 100 miles each time, so from 182 to 82, about a 20% loss.
Charging up at night on our Rolec Smart Charger was cheap enough –30kWh per night cost just £2.10 – but, with only a 182-mile range unless the heating is off, any journeys of more than 150 miles would make me decidedly nervous.
Overall we achieved 2.8 miles a kWh, some way shy of the 4-4.4 miles claimed by Toyota. As ever, if you want to get decent range in any electric car, drive under 70mph in Eco mode, utilise
the regeneration where offered and be selective with the climate control.
Very different inside and out from its competitors. It’s electric so only 2% BIK. Comfortable and practical. Quick and great fun to drive.
Our AWD model would set you back £52,110, so far better to lease. Real world range in winter is likely to be up to 20% lower than claimed. In torrential rain we missed having a rear wiper.
Forget about the bZ4X being electric, first and foremost it’s the best Toyota car yet! Toyota has always lagged behind for infotainment but the system on board the bZ4X is up there with the best. The ride is excellent with handling that makes you smile and four adults get loads of room to relax within the spacious cabin.
On the downside, as with all BEVs, real world range takes a hit in winter, and the AWD versions are expensive. Better to look at an entry level 2WD which loses the large infotainment screen and AWD capabilities, but at £44,929 for the Pure model, is the cheapest way into the range.
Is it a challenger? We think so, especially when you add in Toyota’s famed reliability.
This is a great first electric car from Toyota. On drive, ride and handling alone it gets our vote – though the range makes it imperative you think about the type of journeys you make
Company Car & Van attended Fully Charged North back in May, ostensibly to get a look at a number of new electric cars coming to market in 2023.
One of the new models we were most keen to get to know was the smart #1, a new electric car being sold at selected Mercedes-Benz car dealerships.
While at the car show we met up with UK smart CEO David Browne to find out more...
David began by telling us that the new car is the first of several models due in the next few years from smart, all of which will be full electrics. The new venture is a 50:50 split between Mercedes-Benz and Geely, with the #1 built in China, where battery technology and manufacture is currently ahed of Europe.
The model itself is a spacious fivedoor hatchback, with the footprint of an A-Class but coming with the internal space of an E-Class.
All models are well equipped and there’s a strong focus on safety features, which is good news for customers. As standard you’ll find advanced driver assistance systems such as blind spot detection, adaptive cruise control and evasive manoeuvring.
In addition, the #1 brings a sophisticated design with a spacious and fresh interior, unique colour options and exterior design; with frameless doors, concealed electric door handles, and a floating halo roof.
It’s sleek new design and familyfriendly feel will help the #1 stand out on the road.
Battery capacity on the #1 is 66 kWh, with a real world range of 205 miles and an impressive 0-62mph time of just 6.7 seconds. Top speed is 112mph.
Ostensibly, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class is on run-out and the new smart models will be aimed at offering existing Mercedes-Benz customers a smaller, cheaper way into an electric vehicle than is currently offered by the current EQA, EQB and EQC models.
Prices will start at just over £35,000, making it much more affordable than an EQA.
For fleet and corporate customers the 2% BIK, cute looks, high spec and top-quality interior, coupled to that 205-mile range will make it extremely competitive.
Currently there are 23 smart locations in key areas across the UK and fleet customers will benefit from MercedesBenz’s existing corporate specialists’ help when leasing a new smart model.
We’re sure it will be a real winner and we can’t wait to get a chance to test its capabilities fully for Company Car & Van..
The fleet team at smart of Edinburgh are delighted to introduce the new smart #1 within the fleet programme.
The smart #1 is a radical new direction for smart, taking the brand from the well-known small city car, to an all new fully electric SUV.
The joint venture between Geely and Mercedes-Benz has delivered a futuristic and intuitive design and enhanced driving performance, with a spacious and fresh interior, unique colour options and exterior design.
It’s a family-friendly car that stands out on the road, but also provides the highest level of technology and safety features.
The model range includes the Pro+ for a comfortable and connected experience; the Premium model for those who want to embrace the future with enhanced technology including the Beats sound system, ambient lighting, and a leather steering wheel; and for a sportier life, the Brabus, which offers an enhanced driving experience with all-wheel drive and capable of 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds. There’s also a Limited Edition #1 to celebrate the
launch, with just 1,000 manufactured. It boasts a unique colour combination with the exclusive gold roof, as well as 19-inch Prism alloys and white duo leather seats.
At smart of Edinburgh, we offer the highest level of customer experience with a multitude of services including the following:
• Team of dedicated Business
Development Managers with over 50 years of experience
• Demonstrator Programme
• UK Mainland delivery
• Fleet Funding Package
• Access to Salary Sacrifice Scheme provision
Our business development managers can help you manage your fleet in the most efficient way and offer expert advice and an outstanding service. Our demonstrator programme means you are able to book extended test drives with our vehicles to fully immerse yourself in the smart #1, to discover if it is a good fit for you. Extended test drives are especially beneficial if you are switching to an EV, this gives you the opportunity to see just how well this option will fit your specific needs.
Smart of Edinburgh also deliver a full fleet management package, creating a slick and straightforward process for our customers.
To speak to our fleet team directly for any enquiries, contact our Corporate Sales Manager, Marie Edgar at medgar@easternholdings.co.uk.
Andrew Walker
For plenty of reasons, not everyone can live with an EV, and if you’re a company car driver, a plug-in hybrid offers a good solution; petrol on fast roads, electric on slow ones.
For many, the status of owning a large off-road SUV, or the necessity of having one, often outweighs the cost to fill one up and its environmental impact, so a Land Rover Defender PHEV is really good news.
The Defender P400e is powered by a plug-in hybrid powertrain, a combination of a petrol engine with an electric motor and a battery.
Don’t panic though, because it’s as capable off-road as all other Land Rovers. The Defender we tested featured Terrain Response 2, which enables you to select drive modes for Ruts, Grass, Gravel, Snow, Mud, Sand and Rocks and you even get Wading Mode up to 900mm.
We were driving the Land Rover Defender 110 P400e X-Dynamic S. Other model choices are SE, HSE, X-Dynamic, X-Dynamic SE, X-Dynamic HSE, XS Edition and the range-topping X .
Standard spec on all models includes
a body-coloured roof, LED headlights, 18″ Style Gloss White steel wheels, all-season tyres, full-size spare wheel, fabric eight-way heated semi-powered front seats, All Wheel Drive, twin-speed transfer box, Terrain Response, 10″ touchscreen with Pivi Pro, Smartphone Pack, 180W Sound System with six speakers, 3D Surround Camera, 360° parking aid, Wade Sensing, cruise control with speed limiter, Lane Keep Assist, Emergency Braking and Traffic Sign Recognition.
There’s just one, but it’s very good. So factor in Land Rover’s four-cylinder, 2.0 litre Ingenium petrol engine with an 105kW electric motor and a 19.2kWh battery, producing 404 hp and 640 Nm of torque. This is good for a 0-60mph time of just 5.4 seconds and a top speed of 119 mph.
For persons of a certain age, the Defender definitely has a ‘Tonka Toy’ look about it. Our test car featured a black contrast roof and bonnet, sliding panoramic roof, orange brake callipers, black exposed rear recovery eyes, 20″ five split-spoke alloys, darkened tail lights, a cross car beam in dark grey with a full size spare wheel hanging off
the rear door. It looks fantastic!
The quality of the cabin is excellent. So you get the latest version of Land Rovers Pivi Pro infotainment system, incredible build quality and all the latest safety features you’d expect from a luxury SUV. It’s also hewn from rock and feels bullet-proof while also featuring some lovely finishes, even lower down and on the doors, where many other premium brands cut corners.
The automatic gear selector sticks out of the dashboard and is easy to reach as are all of the switch gear and controls.
The Defender features All Wheel Drive, a twin-speed transfer box, coil suspension and Terrain Response. It will also wade up to 900mm. The inclusion of electronic air suspension means that you can raise the height of the suspension to give 291mm of ground clearance.
All versions of Defender offer a maximum towing capacity of 3,500kg. However, thanks to the inclusion of the battery, the PHEV will only tow 3,000kg. There’s also 499 litres of boot space, or 1,946 litres with the seats down, which is 119 litres down on the petrol or diesel Defender, and you can’t have the seven-seat option with the P400e model either.
Cabin storage is generous, so you get a large glove box, under armrest storage, large door pockets, central twin cup holders, twin USBs and a 12v socket. Rear passenger space is good, with plenty of head and legroom. Rear door pockets are small with room for just a bottle in each. The front seat backs feature tidy pull-down storage. As a bonus, rear passengers also benefit from their own climate controls and twin USBs.
The reason most drivers will choose any new PHEV over a petrol or diesel
equivalent will be down to the company car tax benefits. Even though the PHEV is more expensive than the petrol and diesel only models, with its low emissions of 59g/km, the P400e attracts a rate of 16% benefit-in-kind, compared to 37% for the petrol and diesel models. The saving for a 40% tax payer is close to £3,500 a year on the cheapest plug-in Defender versus the equivalent Defender diesel. And, as fuel prices show no sign of lowering, plugging in at home overnight on a lower rate of 7.5p-9.5p a kWh, will allow you to charge your P400e up for under £2.50 each time for 30 miles of urban driving. Driving the ICE equivalent would set you back more like a £6 for the same mileage.
The Defender drives impeccably. This is unquestionably aided by its electronic air suspension, which makes this large, heavy vehicle, glide over the road ahead. It’s quick when required, quiet and easy to handle in town and a brilliant motorway cruiser. You can select the required drive mode either by rotating the left-hand cabin temperature dial or by pressing the touchscreen.
Select the EV button located on the dash to change from Hybrid to Electric, or choose Save, which will keep your electric charge until you need it or will top it up as you drive along. This is great for local driving. For example, we took delivery of the Defender on a Tuesday
and didn’t come out of Electric mode until Friday night, when we drove to North Wales. You can theoretically drive up to 31 miles on electric power and to be fair to Land Rover, we managed 25 miles of pure electric driving, which was most impressive.
If you want the car to do the thinking for you, then select Smart mode and it will choose the best combination of plug-in and petrol power. When it changes between these it does so seamlessly. Furthermore, the on-board regeneration is very subtle so you’ll not even know when it’s working, but it is –and it works. On a 120-mile motorway jaunt our electric range recharged from zero to 75% in just 2 hours. Most excellent!
The overall feel of the plug-in Defender is that it is actually a great fun, even sporty, car to drive, not something you can say about many large 4X4 SUVs.
Pros
The Land Rover image and looks make it stand out in any crowd. Brilliant to drive, practical and built like granite. Off road it’s unbeatable. Company car drivers can smile too, with big savings over the Defender diesel or petrol versions and a pure electric range of 31 miles. The on-board battery regeneration was also the best of any car we’ve driven.
Expensive, load space and towing capacity are compromised compared to other Defenders. The claimed fuel economy of 80mpg is most likely to be half that.
While the P400e isn’t cheap and doesn’t match the diesel Defender’s load space or towing ability, its company car tax saving credentials are the real winner here. Drive it carefully and 40mpg is infinitely achievable and lower BIK means money in your pocket. As a bonus, it’s beautifully built, very well equipped, offers impeccable road manners and will do the off-road stuff, too.
All the Land Rover you need with the added bonus of beating the tax man if it’s a company car. Beautifully built... just a shame we’ve lost a little of the loadspace
BMW has a new entry level EV, the iX1, a compact SUV. It enters a highly competitive sector and Andrew Walker was delighted to get a chance to drive
The iX1 is an electric version of the latest X1 SUV, built on the same platform as a number of other BMWs as well as the MINI Countryman. Unlike the i3, which was definitely quirky, the iX1 is a more conventional small SUV. It’s hard to tell that it’s not a petrol X1, save for the lack of an exhaust. It uses a 64.7kWh battery.
There are two options: xLine or M Sport. Price start at £53,000, so it’s not cheap. Standard equipment includes a 10.7″ touchscreen, 10.25″ drivers digital display, adaptive cruise control, LED headlights, 18″ alloys, two-zone climate control, a reversing camera and an automatic tailgate.
Interior and cabin practicality
BMW builds top-notch quality and the inside of the iX1 is no different. It is perhaps a little safe compared to other electric cars, but customers will love the excellent finishes across the dash, doors, switchgear and upholstery.
The dashboard feature a slightly curved panel that incorporates the two displays – a bit like the one found in a Mercedes-Benz. The climate controls are built into the touchscreen, but work separately which is a plus and you also get some short cut buttons below these for options such as the park assist and the all-around camera.
The gear stick is a chrome lever which you pull back to engage. This sits in front of the Start/Stop button with the electric hand brake behind, plus a volume control. These sit on top of a floating centre console, meaning that you get some storage space below. In front of this sit two cup holders and a clever vertical wireless phone charging
pad with a built in clip to stop your phone from moving.
You can top up the iX1 at a rate up to 130kW and on-board software ensures the usual charging speed tail off associated with a nearly full battery is less abrupt than in most EVs. At its fastest you can top up the 64.7kWh battery from 10-80% in 30 minutes. Using a 7.4kWh wall box at home, a full charge will take 10.5 hours. As ever, plug-in at night to keep the charging cost down
BMW claims a 270-mile range. We charged it up to full a couple of times and the range showed 241 miles when we climbed aboard. Utilising the Efficient Driving mode and the strongest regeneration level, 5, we were able to get a few miles back when out in the car, so 270 miles is achievable. In our week and 300 miles we were getting 3.3 miles per kW hour, helped no doubt by daytime temperatures of 25 degrees Celsius.
We were testing the iX1 with the ‘xDrive30’ powertrain. It uses two electric motors so you get AWD. Together, they produce 313bhp and 494Nm of torque so it doesn’t hang around. Even if it does weigh in at over 2 tonnes, the power on tap makes this
wholly irrelevant.
The first thing to say here is that the iX1 offers a surprisingly compliant ride. EVs can be fidgety and poor road surfaces can make riding in one a little uncomfortable. Not so in the BMW. Urban driving is very pleasant, with the quiet, airy, well insulated cabin a plus. On local country roads, with four adults on board, the iX1 handled really well. It stays flat into and out of corners, and there’s not much body roll. The brakes are a tad too sensitive, so we utilised the brake regeneration to slow the car down where we could.
Overall it’s an engaging car to drive, despite its weight.
Pros
A comfortable and practical family SUV. Build quality is first rate. BIK is only 2%. Handles really well and offers decent acceleration when required. BMW’s infotainment is classy.
Cons
Expensive to buy, so better to lease. A little bland to look at. Range is middling. Surely Adaptive Cruise Control should be standard on a 50k car?
BMW has played it a bit safe, but then again, UK customers are not famed for their love of quirkiness, so the looks should not sway anyone either way. Surprisingly quick and handles well. Range is slightly disappointing, and BMW should stop making people pay for extras that are standard elsewhere. CC&V
Andrew Walker
Volkswagen tweaked the T-Roc in late 2022, and the new version was something I was keen to try out. As a family we ran a 1.0 T-Roc for three-anda-half years, and found it to be a comfortable, reliable motor.
Truth be known we would have had another had not Covid interrupted supply of the updated version, so a look at the new one was most welcome.
The T-Roc has long been one of VW’s best sellers, and shares its wheelbase with both the Audi Q2 and VW Polo. It wins hands down for interior quality, is better looking and has more standard equipment for a lower price point. It’s also roomier than the Polo, so a real win-win.
Engines
Customers can choose either a 1.0 litre with 105 bhp, a 1.5 litre with 148bhp and a 2.0 litre with 188bhp. Thre are also two diesels with a 1.6 litre offering 114bhp and a 2.0 litre offering 148bhp.
Trims
There are four trim levels: Life, Style, R-Line and R . All models feature an 8″ touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, DAB radio and USB connectivity. Safety wise, the Life comes with Front Assist, featuring Pedestrian Protection and City Emergency Braking plus Lane Assist, whilst Style the model we were testing adds Adaptive Cruise Control and parking sensors.
Inside
Here is where things have changed the most on the updated T-Roc. The cabin and dashboard are logically laid out, with the 8” touchscreen sitting high on the dash rather than integrated as before. The touchscreen system is clear to the eye and simple to use. It is flanked by touch sensitive buttons that are quick to react. The climate controls have been updated and while the new sliding touch-sensitive system looks better it’s a bit fiddly to use, as we know from our own Tiguan.
We were driving 1.5 TSI petrol engine, which was fun to drive, with light steering and responsive while on the
move. The chassis is quite forgiving and offers up a comfortable ride, even in the rear, where some cars are let down by their concrete firmness.
Around town the T-Roc is nippy and easy to park, with good visibility. The 148bhp petrol engine is refined too, especially on the motorway. Set Adaptive Cruise Control and you can relax into your motorway journey as the T-Roc moves along quietly, with only some noticeable wind noise when you’re at 70 mph.
The 1.5 TSI with 148bhp feels brisk, with a top speed of 127mph and a 0-62mph time of 8.3 seconds. Emissions are 120g/km, and combined fuel economy is 53.3 mpg. The only negative is that it does take a little time to get up to speed mid-range in fourth to sixth gear for example on the motorway and you will ned to change down to get the revs up.
From a real world point of view, the 1.5 TSI claimed combined full economy is 53.5 mpg. Out and about on a mixture of roads in urban, rural and motorway, I averaged a respectable 46.2mpg over 300 miles, which is better
than I ever averaged in the 1.0 litre T-Roc we owned. Food for thought.
Pros
Decent kit and safety as standard. Improved interior quality over Mk1. New infotainment and digital cockpit are better too. The 1.0 and 1.5 litre petrol manuals are the ones to have, with lower BIK offered. Still one of the better ‘B’ SUV’s out there.
Cons
Rear passenger space is a little cramped. Auto and diesels decrease fuel economy or increase your BIK. Some cheapish finishes lower down.
With a new touchscreen and digital cockpit, plus more safety features, the updated T-Roc is definitely an improvement over the original. While not physically looking that much larger than Golf, it offers more cabin space, easier access, a larger boot and cleaner looks than the Golf. It’s also more stylish, comes with a higher, more comfortable driving position, all in a compact cityfriendly package with a selection of on-trend colour combos to brighten up your day.
Lexus has joined the ranks of the luxury electric SUV brands with the launch of the highly anticipated RZ 450e. It shares the e-TNGA platform with the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra, and having driven both we knew what to expect. However, what Lexus does so well is to make its cars ‘premium’ – and the electric RZ does this in spades. Andrew Walker checks it out.
The RZ EV spec is pretty straightforward. You add more goodies as you climb up through the ‘Packs’: Premium Pack, Premium Pack with 20” Wheels, Premium Plus Pack, Premium Plus Pack with Bi-Tone Finish and finally, the model we were driving, the range topping Takumi. Prices range from £64,500 to £74,000.
The RZ adopts an AWD drivetrain with a total power output of 230kW; 150Kw from the front motor and 80kW from the rear motor. With 309bhp and 435Nm of torque, performance is available with a 0-62mph time of just 5.3-seconds. The 71.4kW battery, 64kWh is usable, is located beneath the cabin and comes with a range of 245 miles.
RZ 450e can be DC charged using a CCS charger at 150kW and comes with an 11kW AC On Board Charger allowing faster AC charging where available. This means that the RZ will charge from 0-80% in 25 minutes, giving you about a 195 miles range. Charge at home on a 7.5kW home charger and you’re looking at 11 hours to 100%. We also strongly suggest that you fit a home charger and plug in overnight for cheap electricity. We recommend Rolec ; http://www.rolecserv.com/homecharging
It goes without saying that all Lexus come very well equipped and you may not need to look past entry Premium Pack to get what you want. It comes with a 14″ touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated electric leather seats, wireless phone charging, keyless go, a panoramic sun roof, all around parking sensors, a powered tailgate, dual-zone climate control and a 10-speaker sound system.
The RZ includes the third generation Lexus Safety System +, so features
include an advanced pre-collision system including intersection assistance and Emergency Steering Assist, Front Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Change Assist, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control with four distance settings, curve speed assistance function and enhanced co-operation with the Road Sign Assist functionality, Lane Trace Assist and a Driver Monitor to check driver behaviours for signs of fatigue or distraction.
You can see the bare bones of Toyota’s BZ4X in the shape of the RZ e but that’s all. Lexus has rounded off each side and corner and have finished the electric car with the shape of a normal RX, with slim LED headlights and the familiar Lexus spindle grille. At the rear, there’s now a full-width tail-light and overall the cars shape and lines are pleasing to the eye.
Like all Lexus models, the inside has been put together brilliantly. Top quality finishes adorn every surface and arguably Lexus builds the best quality interiors of any premium brand. The dash and cabin feel less cluttered than some rivals and the overall ambience is of calm and relaxation.
Lexus’s newish operating system will be familiar to some, the highlight being the 14″ touchscreen. While getting to know the minute intricacies of car menus always takes time, the simple things such as connecting an iPhone wirelessly were simple and easy to perform. Plus there’s 3x C USBs at the front.
Front and rear seat passengers have decent head and leg room. You also get a large glovebox, five USBs, large door front bins, twin cup holders, a massive cubby under the armrest and space for your phone with wireless charging. Rear passengers also have a quality fold down armrest with storage space within and two cup holders.
There is seat back storage and on Takumi, rear passengers also get their own climate and heated seat controls. Three adults will sit side by side in the back in plenty of comfort as well,
thanks to the flat rear floor.
Boot space comes in at 522 litres, with the flat floor making loading or unloading nice and easy. The floor also lifts at the front to allow storage of up to two charging cables.
We popped along to our local dealer Lexus Stockport to borrow the RZ for a couple of hours.
First off, an urban drive showed us just how quiet the RZ is and also how you can utilise the on-board brake regeneration via the steering wheel paddles. There are four settings, with each adding just a little more force it the cars regen-system. It’s really very good and in the highest setting allows for almost one-pedal driving.
Trundling around town the RZ takes everything in its stride. Despite the heavy 71kWh battery it handles road imperfections and speed bumps with aplomb. It’s also nice to drive, with light steering, especially useful when reversing or doing a three-point turn. Add in the excellent dashboard reversing camera and for a large car it’s very easy to manoeuvre and to park.
We wirelessly connected our iPhone to Apple CarPlay before we departed and were able to use Apple Maps and listen to a podcast via the phone. Lexus’s own SatNav is one of the better ones out there but familiarity with the Apple system means we prefer to switch where we can.
Takumi features Mark Levinson Audio
which was splendid. And when we stopped to take pics, we opened the boot by using the kick sensor. The suede/leather upholstery was lovely and stayed cool in the heat.
Take the RX onto the motorway and you’ll find little to complain about. The built in radar controlled cruise control is simple to work and the plethora of third-generation Lexus Safety Systems make it one of the safest cars you can own. Push your foot down and the RZ will take off as required and comfortably get up to motorway speed and overtake slower moving vehicles. Even at high speed, cabin noise is almost non existent and it’s an incredibly calming car to be a passenger in.
Pros
All Lexus models are incredibly well built and the RZ is no exception. It’s hard to think of anything else that’s as well made in its sector. With just 2% BIK, those company car drivers lucky enough to be able to afford one will do so with a massive smile.
The official consumption figure of 3.4-3.7 miles per kWh is competitive so another plus. The spec and safety features are so good even on entry level Premium, that you won’t want for anything.
Cons
Simply put, it’s battery range. While 245 miles may seem generous, some of its many competitors are claiming up to 350 miles before the need to plug-in.
And the car’s rapid-charging rates of 150kW is also beaten by others.
Conclusion
The RZ is beautifully built and as well equipped as we’ve come to expect of a Lexus. Passengers will want for nothing and the car itself looks good from every angle.
The cabin is amazingly quiet and it’s practical too.
For drivers you get plenty of power and its all delivered in a smooth electric manner. Compared to many electric cars it also does a very good job of hiding its weight taking on poorly maintained roads and coming up a winner.
For company car drives 2% BIK is a big tick as well.
Only the battery range may put some off, which is a real shame as it’s one of the most impressive all-around EV packages we’ve tried yet.
As premium as you can get, and luxury all the way. Comfortable and a great ride. Only that range goes against it – and for all that, it’s still 245 miles.
CC&V RATING: N N N N
Andrew Walker
The Kangoo is the model Renault hopes will allow it to challenge Ford in the urban delivery sector. It looks the part, with more tech and safety, an improved interior, better storage solutions and improved engines it will offer more appeal.
The old Kangoo was looking its age so it’s great to see the new one has been completely redesigned. Up front you get C-shaped LED headlights, a snub nose, chrome edging to the black grille and deep set fog lights.
Our test van came with twin side doors and 60:40 rear opening doors, which were impressively heavy. Midheight rear lights complete the new look.
There’s a 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol unit, offered with 100hp or 130hp, a 1.5-litre turbodiesel available in 75hp, 95hp or 115hp, and an all-electric E-TECH as well. All manual transmissions are six-speed, with a dual-clutch automatic available for the 130hp petrol and 95hp and 115hp diesels.
The entry level Kangoo and is available in MWB or LWB formats, and there is the Advance in MWB and LWB versions, too. Prices start at £17,650 + vat for the petrol TCE 100 Start.
The Kangoo Advance we drove featured a full bulkhead, a small glove box, a dash top lidded box with two
USBs and a 12v socket inside. The two door pockets are large enough for two drinks each. A full width shelf across the inside of the cabin offers excellent storage. Our van had a three-seat configuration which covered one of the centre floor drinks holders and didn’t leave much, if any, leg space for the third passenger.
The cab borrows a lot from Renault’s passenger car range and as such is a vastly improved place to be than its predecessor. Renault claims it has the greatest shoulder and elbow room in the class, but as we’ve alluded too, not much leg room with three in the cabin.
The Kangoo boasts a load volume of up to 4.2m3, a 1,500kg towing capacity and payloads of up to 1,000kg. It’s also offered with a choice of Easy Inside Rack retractable interior gallery and can
be ordered with a range of door and glazing options to suit trades and businesses of all types. You can also specify an interior roof rack which folds into the ceiling when not in use. It’s designed primarily to carry ladders inside rather than outside your van.
The load space on our Advance featured 10 anchorage points, LED lighting and a wooden protected floor, an additional £210. The payload is 796kg.
The new Kangoo handles the road well and keeps bad road surfaces at bay, even when unladen. It’s also pretty smooth around corners and feels well connected to the road beneath
Motorway cruising is especially relaxing and there’s decent acceleration on offer too, with 0-62mph taking 12.6 seconds. Top speed is 108mph.
Claimed fuel economy is 50.4 mpg and I’d say that’s achievable as we averaged 47.8mpg while driving without too much care and attention, over 250 miles of mixed roads, in poor November weather.
Excellent choice of engines. Some very clever practical solutions in the load area. The car-like driving position and standard tech and safety make driving one highly enjoyable. Good fuel economy and reasonably priced.
Diesel engines is a little noisy. If you choose the bench seat there’s little room for the centre passenger’s legs.
Renault has produced a vastly improved small van with the latest Kangoo, with clever storage solutions in the load area and cabin. The highest praise we can give is that it’s just like driving a small car; comfortable, well equipped, safe and frugal. In such a competitive sector, only the Volkswagen Caddy feels plusher and better built. But it’s also more expensive… and there’s no EV version.
CC&V RATING:
The electric urban delivery market is getting crowded but there’s room for the latest from FIAT Professional, the e-Doblo, says Andrew Walker
The Fiat e-Doblo comes with a choice of 20 panel vans or four five-seater crew vans, and L1 and L2 versions. The shorter wheelbase models are 4.4m, the longer ones 4.75m. L1 comes with an 800kg payload, while L2 models have a 750kg payload, but come with a larger loading area. All versions feature the same 50kWh battery, which offers a WLTP range of 171 miles. Interestingly, the e-Doblo will tow 1 tonne.
Specs and equipment
Electric Doblo comes with two specs – Standard or Primo – and both are well equipped. Standard features include air con, cruise control, SatNav, DAB radio, an 8” infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a near-side sliding door. The Primo adds the load-through bulkhead, rear parking sensors, a rear camera in the mirror, a Visibility Pack, an Icon Pack and a useful passenger bench seat with armrest, storage and a writing table.
Performance and charging
The 50kWh battery uses a 100kW electric motor, putting out the equivalent of 136bhp. This is good enough for a top speed of 80 mph, but it’s the instant torque that’s most impressive, making forward progress smooth and silent.
Fast charging is included as standard. This means that the e-Doblo can top up its battery from 0-80% via a 100kW rapid charger in just 30 minutes. This is quite expensive though, so if you are looking to recharge at home, a 7/2kW Rolec Smart Charger will charge the 50kWh battery from 0-100% in 7.5 hours.
A more powerful 11kW charger brings the time down to five hours.
We were testing the e-Doblo 50kWh in basic Standard spec and the good news from the off is that the electric Doblo looks just like the ICE model, with just a slight nod to its electric roots, namely a blue ‘E’ on the rear door in front of DOBLO.
The interior has a car-like feel to it, with the dashboard dominated by the
8” colour touchscreen. It’s also finished in nicely textured plastics, with the grey seat fabric looking and feeling hard wearing. The load area has six tie-down hooks and the wheel arches are hidden to make loading or unloading easier.
A sojourn through Warwickshire gave me plenty of scope to test the e-Doblo on a mixture of dual carriageway and urban roads as we headed to the centre of Warwick. At no point was the e-Doblo driven laden, with just myself and a passenger, so how the van performed is based on this.
It drives like a small electric family car. Steering is light and the auto gear box located just to the left of the driver is easy to operate. Here you can select from Park, Reverse, Neutral or Drive with another setting ‘B’ that adds two levels of regenerative braking to the equation. There also three drive modes: Eco, which slows everything down and turns off the heating; Normal, for everyday driving and heating; and Power, useful if your van is heavily laden or you hit a steep incline.
On the Warwick by-pass I selected cruise control, adjusted this to 60mph and off I went. It’s quiet in the cab, the
seats are comfortable, the full steel bulkhead keeps the heat in and the load space noise at bay.
The cabin itself is well designed and it’s easy to reach all of the switches and buttons while driving, an important consideration for most van users. The view from the front is also excellent. The location of the battery, spread evenly underneath the load space floor, means that the suspension doesn’t showcase the battery weight like some other electric vehicles.
Range
The e-Doblo’s claimed maximum range is 171 miles. Keep under 62mph on the motorway and select Eco drive to increase range.
Pros
Excellent payload, great to drive, top-notch cabin, on trend tech and if driven carefully expect a range of 130 miles. Plenty of model choices in panel van and crew cab.
Cons
Expensive to buy outright, better to lease. Very cold weather hits range. Charging from empty at home is slow.
If your van use is local, even regional, then the e-Doblo really could be a solution. It’s a comfortable, practical companion and currently one of the better electric vans on the market.
CC&V RATING: N N N N
New pick-ups don’t come around very often, so Andrew Walker was delighted to get to grips with the all-new Ford Ranger at a test event at The Belfry. Here’s how he got on.
Model range
Ford is covering all bases with the latest Ranger. The entry level XL is available as a single or double cab, and next up is the XLT, a double cab, with both aimed predominantly at the agricultural, utility and building construction sectors.
Then we have the new Tremor, followed by the perennial favourite and the model we drove, the Wildtrak, which has been joined by some new premium models; Platinum and Wildtrak X.
The mad-as-hell Raptor tops the range off.
Exterior
C-shaped daytime running lights are the Ranger’s new signature at the front. At the sides you get wheel arch cladding and an all-new step built into the bodywork behind the rear wheel. At the rear there’s a new tailgate with RANGER stamped in it and a choice of halogen or LED taillights.
The tailgate edge features measurements along it and holes for clamps have been added to make it into a work bench. You also get a built-in mobile device holder, cupholder and a pencil holder. The load space is larger and the truck is also wider than before, so you can easily fit in a loaded pallet.
We were testing the Wildtrak, which is now a mid-range model. The highlight inside is the 12″ portrait touchscreen display. Centrally located it runs Ford’s latest SYNC 4 connected infotainment and dominates the dashboard. In front of the driver sits a configurable 8″ digital instrument cluster.
Underneath the touchscreen you get stand alone climate controls, with steering wheel controls for the media and cruise control.
Between the front seats you’ll find the gear lever, electric handbrake, off-road settings and twin cup holders. And a wireless phone charger large enough for a large smartphone. The leather upholstery is very nice, as are the finishes to the dash front and top, door panels, centre binnacle and switchgear. The quality shines through.
A choice of fuel-efficient 202 bhp 2.0-litre twin turbo diesels with a choice of six-speed manual or auto, or tenspeed automatic transmission. Ford is also offering a 237bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel. The Wildtrak comes with Ford’s 10-speed auto and features a four-wheel drive transmission that can automatically shift from 2WD to 4WD on the fly.
You also get a rotary controller on the centre console that allows you to select 4WD and low-range gears.
Wildtrak includes leather upholstery, an electrically adjustable driver’s seat, dual zone climate control, keyless entry and start, heated front seats and steering wheel, LED lights, privacy glass and you can even add zone lighting which allows you to control the vehicles exterior lights through Sync 4 or via the FordPass app on your smartphone. Over-the-air updates will help ensure your truck stays at the forefront of technology, get preventative maintenance, or improve performance.
It’s a case of what’s not included with
the latest Wildtrak, ‘cos it has it all. ABS with Stability Control, ABS, ETC, ESC, Electronic Brake Booster, Integrated Electric Trailer Brake Controller, Roll Stability Control (RSC) and Traction Control System (TCS) are all included.
On top you get front driver and passenger air bags, seat-mounted air bags and one interaction airbag between the front passengers. Then there’s a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), Selectable Drive Modes 2 that includes Normal, Eco, Tow/Haul, Slippery, Mud/Ruts and Sand options.
Ford also offers its suite of Driver Assist Technologies 2 with Active Park Assist, Blind Spot Assist, Blind Spot Information System with Trailer Coverage, Collision Mitigation System, front and rear parking sensors, Hill Descent Control, Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Lane Centring, Intelligent Speed Limiter, Lane-Keeping System with Road Edge Detection, LED headlamps, Post-Impact Braking, Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking, Reverse Brake Assist, Terrain Management System and a 360-degree camera. Told you it had got the lot!
An onboard inverter offers power to
the box, with 400W of available power and an AC outlet in the tray. New clamp pockets are built into the tailgate of every Ranger so you can hold materials down for clean cuts and precision work. Spring-loaded caps cover the pockets when not in use.
Durable plastic caps protect the load box edges and tailgate upper edge from damage from gear and cargo.
Need to fit a canopy or crossbars? Simply remove the access caps to reveal Ranger’s structural attachment points.
The bed liner features moulded slots which allow you to fit dividers to customise the load box, allowing you to store gear and stop it from sliding around.
The rear seats fold-flat to give you more functional space, plus there’s under-seat storage and storage space behind the rear seats.
Dimensions and payload
For practical purposes, the Wildtrak Double Cab offers a 1,575mm load length, a load width of 1,560mm and a 541mm load depth. Payload is 1,041kg and you can tow a braked trailer of up to 3,500kg.
Fuel economy and performance
We were testing the 3.0 litre diesel.
This offers 240PS, emits 265g/km of CO2 with economy of 28mpg.
To compare, the smaller 2.0 litre diesel offers 32.1mpg. Top speed is 111 mph with a 0-62mph time of just 7.9 seconds.
Accessories
Rather as with the safety kit, the options list is enormous. Suffice to say from roll tops – manual or powered – to sports bars to tonneau covers to hard tops. It’s all available for your Ranger.
Driving
Our test was on-road only and the latest Wildtrak did not disappoint. First and foremost this is a big vehicle. At 5,370mm long and 2,208mm with mirrors wide, you know you’ve arrived. It’s high too, measuring 1,884mm. The 3,270 wheelbase plants you firmly on the road and it handles our current malaise of poor UK road surfaces with aplomb. At 30mph it’s quiet and calm inside.
If you do venture off road, ground clearance is 219mm and if required, you can wade at 800mm moving at 5mph. With an approach angle of 30 degrees and departure of 21, the Wildtrak will also get you pretty much anywhere you want to go.
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Driving on small A and B roads the latest Wildtrak offers steady progress, with the 10-speed auto box hanging onto gears as the revs rise before things settle down. Accelerate hard as we did on to the motorway and the diesel engine roars into life and is audible in the cabin, that’s for sure.
The changes between gear ratios is done smoothly and once up to motorway speed the noise dies down and you’re piloting a very quiet vehicle with little or no wind noise entering the cab. The large tyres account for a bit of vibration through the pick-up floor, and there’s some road noise, especially in the wet. But with my podcast turned up this was barely noticeable.
All pick-ups come with compromised ride. If you offer a one-tonne payload and you’re driving with an empty load bed, then some bouncing will occur. I have to say that our unladen drive was very impressive, with only the largest road bumps noticeable.
Despite its size, the steering is light and you get a good feel for the vehicle in and out of corners. It’s actually very easy to drive and you can clearly see that the latest Ranger is an evolution up from the previous model.
While the seats are deep and comfortable, the switches and buttons
easy to reach and all-round visibility is excellent, but we did have a couple of gripes. The tablet touchscreen features impressive graphics and fast responses to your inputs and in effect is lifted from the Mustang Mach E. Because you sit higher in a Ranger than a Mustang and it’s not angled towards the driver, it’s not quite as user-friendly; we’re guessing because it has to work for right and left hand drive markets. And second, the auto gear leaver features some ergonomic buttons which have to be pressed by your left hand fingers in order to engage the vehicle and change gear. We found it a bit fiddly to use. A simple one finger push in would have sufficed.
Great to drive on-road and massively capable off. The level of quality inside
With Lookers Ford Commercial Vehicle centres strategically located throughout the country, in Gateshead, Middlesbrough, Leeds, Sheffield, Colchester and Chelmsford, you are never too far away from the comprehensive range of services we offer.
We understand that time is of the essence in the business world, which is why we go the extra mile to accommodate your busy schedule. Our extended service opening hours, Mon-Fri 7am-6pm & Sat 8am - 1pm, backed by our fleet of mobile service vans, allow us to offer appointments that perfectly align with your business timetable.
No-one knows the Ford range better than us. Whether you require a small van for agile manoeuvring or a larger option, such as our award-winning Ranger pick-up or the innovative new All-Electric E-Transit, we are confident that we have the perfect vehicle to complement and enhance your business operations.
When it comes to financing your purchase, our trained and experienced sales teams are here to guide you every step of the way. We understand that the decision between buying and leasing can be daunting, but with our expertise, we can help you make an informed choice that aligns with the specific needs and goals of your business.
the cab is highly impressive. And the thinking outside the box, for example the inclusion of a rear wheel side step, shows how thorough Ford have been with the design.
The gear lever takes a bit of getting used to and the touchscreen could be better positioned, but we are being very picky.
The Ranger Wildtrak is a triumph. It’s a bit pricey at £42,701, but with monthly BIK from £66 – £132, you’ll lease one and get a remarkably capable vehicle for your money. Furthermore, factor in the massive amount of active safety and spec you get on your Wildtrak and it’s very hard to fault.
A triumph. Pricey at £42,701, but with monthly BIK from £66 – £132, you’ll lease one and get a remarkably capable vehicle for your money. Safety and spec are impressive. Made our heart sing!
Our trained sales and service teams are on hand to help you every step of the way
In addition to our convenient scheduling options, we also offer service plans and maintenance contracts to help you effectively budget for your service costs and ensure that unexpected expenses don’t disrupt the smooth operation of your business.
Contact our dedicated team today on 0333 207 4144 and discuss the perfect solutions tailored to meet your current business requirements.
The successor to Nissan’s NV200, the Townstar, has arrived and Andrew Walker was invited down to Westway Nissan in Manchester to take a closer look. There the Nissan Business Centre Manager Rod Taylor explained that demand had been high for both the all-new petrol model and new Townstar EV as business operators begin to accelerate the transition towards electrification. For our test we were driving the petrol version, with the Townstar EV booked in for our next visit. Here’s how we got on...
Townstar offers two powertrain solutions: one petrol and one fully electric. Townstar EV starts at £29,945 for a SWB version, while the entry level petrol Townstar costs from £19,475 –both plus VAT
Petrol engine
Nissan has kept it simple with just one 1.3-litre TCe engine and no diesel offered. It’s fully compliant with the latest Euro 6d-Full emissions regulations, delivering 130HP of power with 240Nm of torque.
Model range and payloads
Existing Nissan customers will be familiar with the trims on offer. First up is Visia, followed by Acenta, Tekna and Tekna+. There are also two Townstar wheelbases to choose from, L1 SWB and L2 LWB. Payloads are up to 600kg (SWB) or 800kg (LWB), with the maximum braked towing capacity being 1,500kg. Load volume is 3.3 or 4.3 cubic metres and load lengths are 1,806mm for the L1 or 2,230mm for the L2.
The L1 can take a pair of Europallets and comes with a single sliding side door as standard. On the L2 models, the twin sliding side doors are wider, increasing from 615mm to 831mm, wide enough load a Europallet through them.
Interestingly, whether you choose petrol or electric power for your Nissan Townstar, there’s no difference in the size of the load area.
All models get a full-width bulkhead, 60:40 split rear doors and a nearside
sliding door to access the load area. L2 variants get an off-side sliding door as well. All versions feature a plastic bulkhead separating the cabin from the load area, but there’s no load-through option.
Standard kit on Visia models includes air-con, remote central locking with deadlocks, electric heated mirrors, automatic headlights and automatic wipers. After that you have Acenta, Tekna and Tekna+ as options, adding things such as 8″ colour touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Park Assist, Blind Spot Intervention, traffic sign recognition and driver attention alert.
Townstar brings a suite of 20+ technologies to the compact van segment and feature’s a broad range of safety technologies and advanced driver assistance features such as Intelligent Emergency Braking, HandsFree Parking, Intelligent Cruise Control and Around View Monitor (AVM), which is exclusive to Nissan.
We’ve driven the Renault Kangoo which is ostensibly the same van, including the interior, so we knew what to expect from the Townstar – and we also know that we wouldn’t be disappointed. Quality is impressive, very car-like with good quality plastics and finishes throughout.
Storage-wise you get a small glove box, a dash top lidded box with two
USBs and a 12v socket inside. The two door pockets are large enough for two drinks each.
There are twin drinks holders in the centre binnacle and an armrest with storage space underneath.
The manual gear lever is nicely positioned in the centre of the dash with another 12v socket beneath.The dashboard and steering wheel controls, left for cruise control, right for infotainment, are easy to use with separate metallic-ringed climate dials sitting underneath the touchscreen. Helping you keep your eyes on the road ahead, Nissan has also included piano key buttons under the central screen as short cuts to features such as central locking, ECO and, in our range topper, the all-around camera and parking functions.
A quick mention of the the latter. We tried both functions and they’re excellent, simple parking in a tight space to parallel park was achieved and the all-around camera made sure we didn’t scratch the van either.
Technology includes wireless smartphone charging, an 8″ touchscreen, EASY-LINK display plus smartphone integration via Android Auto and Apple CarPlay with three USB connections. It works well but some of the icons feel a little dated.
It connected easily to Apple Car Play to utilise Google maps which we prefer to any vehicle manufacturers own SatNav. It all worked seamlessly. Continued on page 44
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The 1.3-litre petrol L1 can return between 38 and 44mpg on the WLTP combined cycle with emissions of 154 to 171g/km. The L2 is marginally less efficient.
Heading away from Westway Nissan we took in some slow-moving traffic before jumping on the M60 around Manchester. The Tekna+ test van was very comfortable – and very quiet. There is no diesel option, which as we head towards zero emissions, is beginning to make sense, although Renault does offer a diesel Kangoo.
The six-speed manual gearbox is a doddle to use with a lovely, light clutch. Utilising the electric handbrake when you stop, which in town centre you do a lot, it’s really simple to get going again and while an auto may make life a little easier, modern manual boxes are so light that urban journeys in a small, modern van like the Townstar are a doddle.
We kept an eye on our fuel economy as it was a constant stop-start and we were getting around 35mpg using the Eco button. Once we hit the motorway, we were able to select Adaptive Cruise Control and let the Townstar go as the Tekna+ also featured autonomous driving. Sitting on the inside lane at
70mph, the van was still remarkably quiet – that’s petrol for you – and after we drove half the length of the M60 the economy had jumped up to a very useful 41mpg. We drove back into town via Trafford Park where mercifully, traffic was light. This meant that our end fuel economy for 52 miles was 38mpg.
What impressed us most about the Townstar is that it’s incredibly car-like, with a very quiet, comfortable cabin. It’s also fitted with a host of safety features to keep you safe, the kind of features once only associated with luxury cars.
We were driving alone and unladen, so perhaps the 130bhp engine could be a little underpowered. Factor in two passengers and a rear load and the lack of power could be an issue.
In common with many smaller vans,
Kangoo and Citan included, taller drivers might find the bulkhead restricts how far the driver’s seat can be pushed back. I’m only 5.8″ and was fine, but it’s worth considering if you’re tall.
The car-like interior and quiet cabin make driving one really enjoyable. Good fuel economy for a petrol engine and it’s reasonably priced across all versions. Being able to get a Euro pallet in the side doors is very useful on the L2. Excellent standard tech and safety on all models.
No diesel version. Perhaps a more powerful petrol engine could have been added. The driving position may be a little upright for some.
Compared to the NV200, Townstar is a massive improvement. The smooth changing six-speed manual gearbox is really nice and in petrol guise it is quiet and comfortable. It’s taken the small van to a new level of comfort and is a real contender in a very competitive sector.
CC&V RATING: N N N N N
Trenton Motors is pleased to announce the opening of its new Business Centre in Hull, which will complement the already established business centre over in Grimsby. Trenton Business Centres are specialists in fleet vehicles and new and used commercial vehicles.
With its industry-leading manufacturers, including Nissan, Peugeot & SsangYong, Trenton can offer you a range of vehicles for all your business needs. Whether that’s an LCV, a pick-up truck or even going fully electric, Trenton has you covered. Plus, with its new Business Centre open on Priory Way in Hull, it is now covering East Riding & North Lincolnshire.
The business centres cover everything from small to large fleet options as well as quality used commercial vehicles starting from £13,499. They also offer excellent lease and finance options tailored to your individual business needs.
Each of the Nissan and SsangYong vehicles come with a five-year warranty, and with fully equipped service centres based at each location, Trenton is there to look after your vehicle through its life cycle.
Trenton also offer the very best accessories for commercial vehicles, which include ply-lining, security systems and storage solutions.
Rob Mail, the newly appointed Business Manager in Hull, says: “We are delighted to expand the business centre over in Hull, from which we aim to provide a variety of stock and vehicle options for all business sizes in East Riding and North Lincolnshire”.
Find out more about how Trenton can help you with your business needs by contact your local Trenton Business Specialist or visit www.trenton.co.uk
New-look Isuzu D-Max maintains award-winning 4x4 expertise with significant cosmetic enhancements
Range has a refreshed front grille, new wheels, new colours and new interior designs
The new-look Isuzu D-Max range maintains the award-winning 4x4 expertise that has earned the Isuzu D-Max significant critical praise, with the alterations for the 2023 model being primarily cosmetic.
Although there have been no technical modifications to the revamped range, each trim level has received significant visual enhancements, most notably a freshly styled front grille and new wheel designs for the vehicles. While every pick-up in the range has implemented the refreshed grille, only
the All-Purpose and Adventure models have received the new wheels, with the Business range keeping the practical and durable steel wheels which have become a staple of the Isuzu D-Max Utility model.
In addition to the revised front grille and wheel designs, the introduction of
two new colours is also a key feature of the New-Look Isuzu D-Max models, with the new Dolomite White replacing Pearl White, and Biarritz Blue replacing Sapphire Blue. The Biarritz Blue metallic paint finish will be available for both Isuzu D-Max DL40 and V-Cross models, while the Dolomite White
pearlescent will be exclusive to the range-topping V-Cross.
On the interior of the vehicles, there have also been some modifications. Although the hard-wearing cloth interior of the Business range models has remained unchanged, the Isuzu D-Max DL20 seats are covered in a more premium woven fabric with a refreshed design.
Moving up the range, both the DL40 and V-Cross have been upgraded thanks to the newly designed leather upholstery, utilising horizontal layering for a more spacious feel.
A rear-differential lock option is also now available on all manual 4x4 Utility models in the range. This feature was made available for the 2022 Isuzu D-Max pick-ups and is continuing with the New-Look Isuzu D-Max.
Alan Able, Isuzu UK’s Managing Director, said: “As a brand, we are always striving for improvement and the New-Look Isuzu D-Max is a testament to that. While maintaining our awardwinning 4x4 expertise, we have added some significant visual enhancements and new features to elevate the driving experience for our customers.
“We are taking a step further into the lifestyle sector thanks to this new look, without suffering any compromise. to the D-Max’s workhorse heritage and capability.
“It’s the same substance, with a different style.”
Isuzu UK has seen exceptional growth in registrations for 2023, solidifying its position as a number 1 choice for pick-up enthusiasts.
The brand has witnessed an astounding 200% increase in registrations of single cab 4x4 manual pick-ups in 2023 compared with the previous year. This demonstrates the growing popularity of Isuzu D-Max single cab models, particularly for UK fleet, construction and agriculture customers.
The superior performance, reliability, and versatility of the vehicles, as well as their workhorse pedigree, have cemented them as a staple in various working industries.
Isuzu UK has also experienced a significant 58.93% increase in registrations of double cab automatic pick-ups in 2023 compared to the previous year. This surge highlights the increasing demand for AllPurpose and Adventure Isuzu D-Max double cab models, demonstrating the brand’s movement towards the lifestyle market.
The combination of advanced features, exceptional comfort, and rugged capability continues to attract a growing number of customers
seeking a versatile and convenient pick-up which can also double as a family 4x4.
When considering all segments and factors, Isuzu UK has experienced an impressive 30.49% year-to-date increase in overall registrations for 2023 compared to the previous year. This growth showcases the continuous trust and confidence that customers place in Isuzu D-Max pick-ups, strengthening Isuzu UK’s position as a leading provider in the UK market.
Although UK pick-up registrations have risen in 2023, Isuzu has managed to significantly outperform the market with its increase.
Pricing for the new Volkswagen Amarok starts at £33,000 + VAT
First deliveries from late summer 2023
Available in four trims: Life, Style, PanAmericana and Aventura
All new Amaroks come with five years of servicing and MOTs, warranty and roadside assistance
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has announced the UK vehicle specifications and pricing for the new Amarok. The premium pick-up is available in a choice of four trims – Life, Style, PanAmericana and Aventura – with prices starting from £33,000.
The new Amarok’s front end is characterised by bold horizontal upper radiator grille crossbars, while the rear end is distinguished by new C-shaped rear lights. The length and longer wheelbase of the new Amarok creates
more room in the cab, while shorter overhangs improve the off-road ability.
Add in new technology – including 30 driver assistance features - and the second-generation Amarok redefines the premium pick-up sector, offering a reliable companion for customers seeking comfort without sacrificing load-lugging or off-road capabilities.
The entry-level trim, Amarok Life, focuses on Comfort, featuring 17-inch Combra silver alloy wheels, LED headlamps, a 10-inch infotainment screen and a key safety feature of a rear-view camera system.
The Amarok Style builds on the features of the Amarok Life, while adding greater design to the aesthetic, including 18-inch Amadora silver alloy wheels, a Chrome styling bar and black side steps with a chrome insert for a more premium feel.
It also includes an upgraded 12-inch central infotainment screen with navigation, as well as additional safety
features, such as Area View 360° camera. The Amarok PanAmericana focuses on off-road ability. The driveline features a rear locking differential, underride guard, as well as the comfort suspension system. Upgraded 18-inch black Amadora alloy wheels, and the premium bumper with black ‘X’ insert add to the design enhancements.
The range-topping Amarok Aventura stands out for its design, with 21-inch Varberg silver alloy wheels, chromeplated exterior mirror and door handles, and premium bumper with silver ‘X’ insert.
All new Amaroks will also come as standard with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ ‘the 5+ Promise’ which gives customers five years’ peace of mind with five services (three Oil Change, two Oil Change and Inspection plus three MOTs), a five year warranty (extended from the standard three year warranty) and five years’ roadside assistance (extended from standard three).
Andrew Walker was lucky enough to be invited to Ireland in March to take part in a Maxus electric driving challenge. It gave him a chance to fully evaluate the electric options on this increasingly well-received range....
First up was the Maxus T90 electric pick-up, which didn’t disappoint. First seen at the 2022 CV Show, it’s the first electric pick-up for the UK market.
It may be an electric pick-up, meaning there is a heavy battery fitted underneath the cab and load floor, but this doesn’t prevent it from offering a one-tonne payload and towing up to 1,500 kg.
Looking at its length, width, height and load bed dimensions, they mirror a standard diesel pick-up, so it’s competitive (see panel).
Maxus T90 Dimensions
Length: 5365mm
Width: 1900mm
Height: 1809mm
Wheelbase: 3155mm
Cargo bed area: 1510mm long x 1485mm wide x 530mm high
Electric range and battery
Maxus’s figures gives the T90 a 220-mile range, courtesy of its 88.5kWh battery. It produces 201bhp and powers a rear-wheel drive set up, which does means off-road capabilities could be affected.
Exterior
The front features a massive chrome grille with the Maxus logo at the top. The side LED daytime running light intakes bear a passing resemblance to a Mitsubishi L200, while the rear load
bed area is very similar to that on an Isuzu D-Max.
The tailgate is heavy and closes with a nice clunk. There’s a large Maxus logo right across the rear, a high mounted stop light, with a step in the bumper to allow for easier access.
The sides feature black steps and a chrome low door protector.
Front and rear bumpers are body coloured.
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Inside
Quality-wise, it’s pretty good, with the fixtures and fittings in keeping with those found on the Isuzu D-Max, Toyota Hilux and Mitsubishi L200. If you’re expecting the more upmarket interiors found on a Ford Ranger Wildtrak or Volkswagen Amarok, however, you’ll be disappointed. It’s built to do a job, not to make a statement about your lifestyle.
There’s no gear lever. Instead, you’re presented with a cylindrical dial with a simple Reverse, Neutral or Drive option. Alongside this sit Power, Eco, Downhill and ASR buttons.
The four-door pockets are sizeable with twin drinks holders located between the front seats, a centre armrest with storage underneath, although the glove box is small.
You also get a neat 10.5” infotainment touch screen, an AM/FM radio and you can connect your Smartphone via Apple CarPlay, using one of the two front USBs that sit underneath.
Separate climate controls are located underneath this with manual air-con fitted.
You get a 12v socket up front, plus one in the rear as well as a 220v power outlet. The front seats are electrically adjustable, while the seat finishes are artificial leather.
Space in the rear is really good, so
three adults should find it comfortable.
Plenty of safety in the form of ESP and EBA, driver and front passenger airbags and side airbags, with front to rear curtain airbags standard as well. You also get a reversing camera, rear parking sensors and rain sensing wipers.
Extras
T90 can be spruced up with, among other items, the addition of a stainless steel sports bar, a roll lock cover, all
terrain tyres, a mountain top/roller top, a tow bar with electrics, a front bumper winch pack or a hard top box with rear tailgate wash wipe.
T90 has a large battery giving it an excellent range. The caveat, though, is that it will take longer to charge, approximately 12 hours from 0-100% on a 7kWh home charger.
Better news is that if you utilise its DC capabilities, a 20-80% charge will only take 45 minutes.
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“The tailgate is heavy and closes with a nice clunk. There’s a large Maxus logo right across the rear, a high mounted stop light, with a step in the bumper to allow for easier access..”.
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For recharging, the Maxus T90 is supplied with a five-metre Type 2 charging cable. The external charging cap is located on the rear left of the cab.
As usual, our advice is to get a home charger, plug-in overnight when electricity is cheaper and get some chargers at your workplace too. It’s a sound investment.
We drove from Dublin to Mayo, a course that took the T90 on a variety of urban roads, the motorway and then some country lanes.
Apart from the electric whine when you first accelerate, the T90 is quiet, eerily so when compared to a standard diesel pick-up.
Up front the ride is quite firm but comfortable for all that. In the rear it’s a better ride than you’d expect, particularly if being driven unladen. With a diesel pick-up all the weight of the vehicle, if unladen, is located at the front, which always makes for a bouncy ride if you are sat at the back.
However, with the electric T90 the battery is stored underneath the cabin floor, evening out the weight and ensuring a more comfortable for those travelling in the rear.
Indeed, it’s very difficult to complain about anything that the T90 does on road. The cabin is quiet and
comfortable, the dashboard and switches are easy to use and to understand. Having a left-hand wiper stalk took some getting used to though!
On the down side, our test T90 didn’t feature cruise control and we found the headlights weren’t very bright.
Charging on a fast charger added 60 miles in just 20 minutes and in a cold March with snow, the claimed range of 220 miles was most likely 150 miles with two adults on board. It will be interesting to see how it performs off-road in terms of both handliong and its electric range performance.
All the dials and switches are easy to reach and to understand. The touchscreen is quite basic but the functions work well and Apple CarPlay connected seamlessly. AM and FM radio are standard, but if you want DAB you’ll need to connect to your favourite station via your Smartphone Apps. SatNav too.
Pros
First electric pick-up you can buy in the UK. Decent payload and load bed area. Electric range is impressive. Well equipped, quiet and surprisingly comfortable.
Cons
Weak headlights, range in cold weather drops considerably. We’ve yet to take it off-road and perhaps the low
hanging motor-battery combo may affect ground clearance.
In the UK, Maxus has won the race to get an electric pick-up to market. Utilising parent company SAIC’s battery know-how, Maxus has gone from selling 100 vans in 2017 to over 12,000 in 2021, with its electric eDeliver 3 and eDeliver 9 leading the charge.
There are still no signs of an electric pick-up from Ford, Toyota, Isuzu or Volkswagen for that matter, giving Maxus a massive opportunity to make hay. Our only reservations are over off-road performance, as we haven’t tested it.
But it’s definitely worth a look, particularly as Maxus has just announced a special offer, available until September 30, in which customers who purchase a T90 will receive £6,000 Ice Age support, a free home charger and free metallic paint.
Chinese-backed Maxus has the first UK electric pick-up and although we’re not sure how it drives off-road, for on-road driving, it’s really rather good.
CC&V RATING:
