Company Car & Van October 2020

COMPANY

Car and Van The motoring magazine for SME fleets

Mercedes-Benz eVito We drive the electric van from Stuttgart

KIA XCeed

MAXUS edeLIVeR 3

Latest Korean PHeV reduces your BIK

Name change and a new electric van

LeXUS UX300e

VeHICLe ReNTAL

electric powertrain joins the illustrious brand

October 2020

How the sector has coped with Covid-19

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Contents 12

34

The decision is yours as dealers get back to normal As we get stuck into the heart of autumn, the motor trade is starting to get back to normal and with that, fleet and corporate customers will feel confident that they can order their next vehicle, knowing that it will arrive on time.

The question is, therefore, what will you choose? In this issue we take a look at what’s new, with a mixture of full electric, PHEV, self-charging hybrid, petrol and diesel models reviewed.

KIA is the franchise which seems to be capitalising most on the electric revolution and in this issue we drive its latest plug-in, the XCeed PHEV. In 2010, Nissan ‘launched’ the B-SUV sector with the Juke. Ten years on there’s a new model but it faces some serious competition.

Can it cope? Find out what we thought.

DS’s attractive large SUV, the DS7 Crossback, now comes as a plug-in option.

It’s called the E-Tense and we got to spend a day in one just before lockdown.

Volkswagen’s new electric car, the ID.3, officially landed in the UK in September. It is the model that VW hopes will put it at the forefront of EVs, so what’s it like?

Even Lexus, the self-charging hybrid kings, has got in on the electric act as it announces

37 NEWS & FEATURES Trojan Energy

4

Rolec

5

BVRLA and Covid-19

7

a new EV, the UX300e. Story inside. Plus we have features on the Hyundai Ioniq, Mazda’s electric MX 30, the Land Rover Discovery Sport PHEV and latest BMW 5 Series.

On the commercial front we spent a week in our cover star, the Mercedes-Benz e-Vito, and came away pleasantly surprised. We also had a chance to drive the compact Toyota Proace City, and we’ve more news on one of the most exciting new small electric vans to hit the streets, the Maxus eDeliver 3.

Fiat Professional has announced prices for its electric eDucato, which offers two battery options, and there’s more on the electric Vauxhall Vivaro-e and Volkswagen ABT eTransporter.

Finally, If you rent your vehicles, the BVRLA’s Andrea Davies lets us know how the industry has coped with Covid-19 and there’s an interesting piece on the future of on-street vehicle charging from Trojan Energy.

We also have a couple of Q and As with Skoda fleet manager Henry Williams and Nissan’s fleet boss, Peter McDonald.

Europcar 8

Andrew Walker, Editor and Publisher

41

CARS Mazda MX 30

6

Lexus UX300e

12

Volkswagen ID.3

14

Hyundai IONIQ

18

DS7 Crossback E-Tense

20

Q&A with Skoda’s Henry Williams 22 Skoda Octavia

22

BMW 5 Series

25

Land Rover Discovery Sport PHEV 28 Citroen C4

32

KIA XCeed PHEV

34

Q&A with Nissan’s Peter McDonald 36 Nissan Juke

37

COMMERCIALS Volkswagen ABT eTransporter

40

Fiat Professional E-Ducato

41

Vauxhall eVivaro

44

MAXUS eDeliver 3

46

Mercedes-Benz eVito

48

Toyota Proace City

52

52

46

Company Car & Van is wholly owned and published by: Walker Advertising & Marketing Ltd 12 Oakwood Lane, Bowdon, Cheshire WA14 3DL t: 0161 941 4296 / 07734 264735 e: andrewwalker@uwclub.net w: www.companycarandvan.co.uk Follow us at twitter.com/andrewmaxwalker and www.linkedin.com/in/companycarandvan Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of material contained within this magazine, the publisher can accept no responsibility for omissions or inaccuracies in its editorial or advertising content. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. The carriage of adverts in this publication should not necessarily be viewed as an endorsement of the products or services advertised. All articles within this publication are copyright of Walker Advertising & Marketing Ltd. Editorial consent must be obtained before any are reproduced, either in printed form or electronically. www.companycarandvan.co.uk

Company Car & Van | October 2020 | 03

NEWS: ELECTRIC CHARGING

UK takes next STEP in kerbside electric vehicle charging World-first technology that could unlock electric vehicle charging at homes without drives or garages is being trialled in London Start-up company Trojan Energy is installing 200 of its electric vehicle chargers across the London boroughs of Brent and Camden in a bid to solve the problem of how to charge electric vehicles in for those homes which do not have a garage or drive.

Each charge point is slotted into the ground with a flat and flush connection. The technology has no permanent footprint or street clutter as the hardware is only visible when a vehicle is charging.

The Subsurface Technology for Electric Pathways (STEP) project has been awarded £3m in co-funding by Innovate UK. If successful it will enable entire streets to be filled with the charge points so that no matter where a driver parks, they will be able to charge their EV. The technology consists of two parts – a charge point slotted into the ground, and a ‘lance’ which is inserted into the charge point in order to charge. The charger can provide charge rates from 2kW to 22kW, and up to 18 chargers can run in parallel from one electricity network connection. This will in turn create opportunities for electric vehicle owners to use spare capacity in their batteries to provide services to electricity network operators which could make the cost of owning and running

EVs cheaper.

Brent and Camden are at the forefront of the EV transition in the UK. Both boroughs have rapidly growing EV usage, encouraged by council policy determined to drive down air pollution in their neighbourhoods.

Cllr Shama Tatler, Lead Member for Regeneration, Property and Planning at London Borough of Brent, said the council was “thrilled to be among the first to try these innovative new charging points. Electric vehicles will play an important part in improving our local air quality which we know can have a detrimental impact on people’s health.

“I hope these discrete kerbside chargers will make electric vehicles accessible for more people and get us one step closer to our aim of becoming a zero-carbon borough.”

The technology has been developed by Trojan Energy, a team of ex-oil industry engineers determined to use their subsea skills for good, and contribute towards solving the problem of high CO2 emissions.

Trojan Energy Managing Director, Ian Mackenzie said: “We are grateful for the support we have received from our consortium partners and Innovate UK. This backing will allow us to bring our discrete kerbside charging to cities where the need to transition to EVs is greatest. Our technology will allow us to electrify whole streets at a fraction of the cost of traditional charging infrastructure and without the need for kerbside clutter. We are really looking forward to bringing this revolutionary solution to London and beyond”.

Element Energy, a strategic energy consultancy specialising in the analysis of low carbon energy, is leading the project, using its sectoral and project management expertise to achieve the best commercial and environmental return for investment.

Celine Cluzel, Element Energy Director, said “STEP is trialling a solution to what is often the Achilles’ heel of charging infrastructure: scalability. The project is also conducting research on consumer and wider street users’ preference – a typical gap in research so far.

These facts, combined with the excellent team brought together, make us confident that the trial will be a significant step forward for the uptake of electric vehicles.”

Other members of the consortium include UK Power Networks, Birmingham City Council and the University of Leeds. Award-winning renewable electricity supplier Octopus Energy will also be recruiting their customers for the trial and providing expertise in backend billing which will be invaluable to EV owners.

A key aspect of the trial involves collecting consumer feedback on the technology and gathering new information on the charging behaviour of EV drivers who park on-street.

This research will be led by the Institute for Transport Studies at the University of Leeds, which is a world-renowned research establishment, alongside input from Element Energy, which also has previous experience of conducting EV trials. Feedback from this research will crucially inform the development of commercialisation plans.

A CGI mock-up of how the STEP charging system will look

04 | October 2020 | Company Car & Van

o.uk

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Lockdown, the growth of EVs – and what you need for the switch to electrification Charge point manufacturer Rolec discusses the current EV climate and what businesses require for a seamless transition to electrification During the lockdown, the UK experienced significant environmental benefits as a result of silent streets and fewer vehicles on the road; no congestion, no hazardous gases polluting the air. The benefits were noted worldwide, with people taking to Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to document the beauty of nature and cleaner air.

Meanwhile, the lockdown presented concerning figures for the car manufacturing industry, with car sales declining by 97 per cent, a first since 1946. However, pure electric vehicles experienced a modest drop of 10% while accounting for 32% of all car sales during the period. Increasing demand and desire for driving an electric vehicle during the nation’s lockdown phase was inevitable as the benefit-in-kind (BiK) 0% tax rate for pure electric company cars began in April. Such notable changes to the BiK tax rate explains why Google reported considerable growth in

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the searches for the terms ‘electric cars 2020,’ ‘electric cars’ and ‘best electric cars’ during the months of lockdown.

Fast forward five months and businesses have adapted to the new normal and resumed their everyday routines. For fleet and company car drivers, things have perhaps changed slightly – electric vehicles are now becoming their vehicle choices to transport them from A to B. Electrification, of course, requires futureproof charging infrastructure, something that Rolec has experienced a significant demand for…

Businesses are seeking viable solutions that allow them to take complete control of their charge point consumption, allowing them to understand real-time cost and carbon savings.

Some are looking for ways in which the charging infrastructure can generate additional revenue while allowing visitors to charge conveniently. Premises also require charge points that adhere to the overall electrical and power capacities, therefore a need for electrical load management is pivotal to ensure power is used efficiently to recharge EVs on site.

A combination of both durable charge points

and a reliable back office management system is a necessity for workplaces which are witnessing an increase in EV drivers among their employees and/or making the shift to an electric fleet.

Rolec can supply both of these, providing a seamless charging experience for business owners and EV drivers.

• For more on Rolec’s charging solutions, please contact Head of EV Charging, Frankie Mellon: frankie@rolecserv.co.uk

Company Car & Van | October 2020 | 05

CAR NEWS: MAZDA MX 30

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Mazda MX 30 takes things to next level All-electric model engineered to deliver same driving pleasure

The MX-30 is Mazda’s first all-electric production vehicle and part of an electrification strategy that has already seen the Mazda M Hybrid powertrain fitted as standard to the Mazda3 and Mazda CX-30.

With its unique freestyle doors, ecological materials and right-sized battery giving a range of approximately 125miles, exceeding the 30-mile average daily drive of the European customer, the Mazda

MX-30 marks another positive step in Mazda’s multi-solution approach to reducing emissions following the recent arrival of the innovative Skyactiv-X engine.

A stylish and versatile crossover, the Mazda MX-30 features an AC synchronous electric motor and a 35.5kWh lithium-ion battery that delivers a range of approximately 124miles and comes with AC charging up to 6.6Kw and DC

06 | October 2020 | Company Car & Van

rapid charging designed to meet 125A Combo Charging standards.

Reflecting a unique expression of Kodo design, the MX-30’s styling emphasises the cars beauty as a solid mass, while the freestyle doors and framed glasshouse hint at the open spaciousness of the cabin. The front doors open forward to an angle of 82 degrees, while the rear doors open backwards to an angle of 80 degrees to reveal a stylish and driver focused interior. Inside, the sense of space is enhanced with a floating centre console that sits independently from the dashboard, while the use of environmentallyfriendly materials has been carefully matched to meticulous quality and finish.

The cabin has a sense of oneness, flowing from the top of A pillar to the rear end. The colour of the framed top roof makes this feeling even clearer. The freestyle doors give the Mazda MX-30 a distinctive and elegant cabin silhouette, as well as providing customers with easier access to both the front and rear seats. In the interior, the use of eco-friendly materials is prominent, and Mazda has even gone as far as replacing much of the real leather with a vegan alternative.

The lower console incorporates a 7-inch colour touch-screen air conditioning control panel, and in a nod to Mazda’s founding as the Toyo Kogyo Cork Company in 1920, the Mazda MX-30 features cork-lined centre console trays and inner side door handles. Harvested from the bark of trees without felling, the use of cork and door

trim materials that incorporate fibres from recycled plastic bottles, are perfectly suited to Mazda’s first pure electric production car.

Standard interior equipment also includes a windscreen projecting head-up display, 8-way electric adjustable drivers’ seat, a colour 7-inch TFT dial display, a leather wrapped steering wheel and chrome trim accents.

As you’d expect the MX-30 comes with Mazda Connect, navigation, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the technology tally also includes Mazda Radar Cruise control and a driver’s knee airbag.

Mazda MX-30 buyers will receive a free wall box home charger, while the car is equipped with both a Type 2 mode 2 charge cable for 3-pin plug charging and a Type 2 mode 3 charge cable for AC charging via home or public charge points. Additionally, the DC socket allows for rapid charging up to 50Kw. In this charge mode a charging time of 30 to 40 minutes can deliver up to 80 per cent battery charge.

Like every other Mazda, the Mazda MX-30 provides a very natural and responsive driving feel by accelerating, turning and braking exactly as you intend in everyday driving situations. This is achieved through the innovative engineering approaches in the e-Skyactiv package. This includes also the battery being rigidly integrated into the vehicle body structure which enhances the overall body stiffness and provides excellent response to the driver’s input. www.companycarandvan.co.uk

RENTAL SECTOR

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Rental sector helps keep the UK moving Andrea Davies​ Communications Manager, BVRLA With around 15 million vehicle rental transactions every year in the UK, the rental sector has been heavily relied upon during the coronavirus crisis to provide transport to key workers and those delivering essential goods.

The Government acknowledged the valuable contribution of the sector by making it exempt from business closure during lockdown when millions of businesses across the UK closed their doors.

Although business from leisure customers fell off a cliff almost overnight following the outbreak, business customers and key workers needing an alternative to public transport continued to turn to rental for access to safe, suitable and affordable vehicles on flexible terms.

The collection and delivery of vehicles has carried on throughout the health crisis and rental firms have been quick to introduce new

processes and procedures to ensure that they are working within the government guidelines.

The BVRLA also published guidance tailored specifically for the sector to help support businesses as they adapted their ways of working.

Steps were taken early on to help keep customers and staff safe. Rental branches installed screens, introduced electronic signature facilities, stepped up cleaning regimes and started to use coverings on items such as seats and handbrakes – all in addition to ensuring that other hygiene and social distancing requirements are met.

Rental operators who relied heavily on leisure customers, such as those with branches at airports, have been hardest hit during the Covid pandemic. Although the summer saw green shoots from leisure customers as holidaymakers chose to hire vehicles instead of flying, this demand was quickly curbed when quarantine measures

were imposed on those returning from France.

Coronavirus has certainly brought about a change in behaviours when it comes to transportation choices. The Government’s transport usage figures shows that although public transport figures remain low at around a third of pre-pandemic levels, motor vehicle usage is almost back to normal and vehicle rental continues to play a valuable role in transporting people and goods.

Top Tips for Rental When renting a vehicle, use a BVRLA member. This gives you the reassurance of knowing that you are dealing with a professional company, who adheres to an industry Code of Conduct and is subject to a robust inspection regime.

More Top Tips for Rental can be found on the BVRLA website, www.bvrla.co.uk

Flexible rental: the answer for SMEs feeling the pinch As UK businesses report losses on average of over £11,000 as a result of Covid-19, Europcar Flex and Flex+ solutions take the pressure off cash-flow According to a recent study, the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown has been considerable, costing each business on average just over £11,700 in lost work, loan repayments and lost earnings.

And SMEs – accounting for 99.9 per cent of all businesses and around half the turnover in the private sector – have had their agility and ingenuity tested to their limits.

Now, as the economy moves into a ‘new normal’ SMEs face a new challenge – to stay on the road without tying up cash.

In response to these new challenges, Europcar, a brand of Europcar Mobility Group UK, is offering a way to take the pressure off cash-flow with a range of vehicle solutions designed to help companies move forward to a ‘new normal’ and a more efficient way of keeping business on the road.

Sam Sterry, SME sales director commented: “For the majority of SMEs the last few months have been extremely challenging – whether they have been working at full pelt supporting essential services, or stood down during the www.companycarandvan.co.uk

lockdown. Now what is needed is as much flexibility as possible to adapt to an unknown future.

“We have, therefore, focused on developing a range of ‘on demand’ long-term flexible rental products covering both cars and vans which can help companies respond quickly to changing demands in an efficient and ‘cash friendly’ way.

“Our vehicles, which are generally brand new, can be delivered or picked up from our branches or van supersites nationwide. And in

“

Europcar is offering a range of vehicle solutions that will take pressure off cash-flow

the wake of the pandemic we have added extra hygiene measures to keep everyone as safe as possible.”

Instead of being committed to a fixed-term lease or an outright purchase, Europcar’s B2B Flex and Flex+ packages offer companies the opportunity to pick-up vehicles when they need them. And they can be returned after as little as three months – with no upfront deposit or early termination fees beyond the initial three months.

With a wide choice of cars and vans available, a variety of mileage options, 24-hour roadside assistance and competitive rates, fixed for 12 months, flexible vehicle rental allows businesses to stay on top of their finances and adapt quickly to new situations – be that another wave of Covid-19 or an unexpected job that requires additional man and vehicle power.

“SMEs are clearly the backbone of the UK economy and helping them to adapt and thrive benefits us all”, concluded Sam Sterry.

For more information on how Europcar can support SMEs with its range of flexible vehicle solutions visit www.europcar.co.uk/ business, call 0371 384 0140 or email businesssolutions@europcar.coms Company Car & Van | October 2020 | 07

RENTAL SECTOR; EUROPCAR

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Van rental ensures you have a fleet that’s fit-for-purpose, post-Covid How many fleet managers have spent the last few months looking at their van fleet standing idle in the car park, worrying about the cost to the business?

The events of the past few months have called into question how organisations fund and manage their vehicle fleets. Many organisations have traditionally been committed to fixed term leases, sometimes for up to three-four years; or they have purchased vehicles outright, tying up cash in assets, which haven’t gone anywhere for months.

In addition, if businesses have tried to cancel their leases or contract hire arrangements, they will have found early termination fees that may have made curtailing their plans financially negligible.

And if you’re feeling lumbered with depreciating assets when running a purchased fleet, perhaps going forwards working with a rental partner like Europcar will ensure you take all the residual risk out of running your fleet.

As lockdown restrictions start to ease and we’re faced with a recessionary environment, whether you need to ‘fleet up’ or ‘down fleet’, does your acquisition method allow you to adjust quickly?

The issues facing every business are clear: • Preserve cash for the day to day running of the business • Keep your staff safe, while being mindful of the risk of a second wave and further enforced lockdowns • The impact of the recession on individual businesses and access to credit • The need for instant access to additional vans

08 | October 2020 | Company Car & Van

• A tightening of the credit policy by lenders with a closer focus on debt levels / gearing • The speed at which new vehicle technology is now moving and the likely acceleration of EV adoption as organisations become increasingly environmentally focussed following the positive impact of the lockdown So what’s the answer?

In short – the flexibility that vehicle rental provides.

In uncertain times, vehicle rental allows your business fleet to expand and contract with no financial penalties, as the business environment changes. Just rent what you need, and when you don’t need it anymore, simply hand the vehicles back.

How can Europcar help?

Over the last few years Europcar has embarked upon a new strategy to develop a broader product proposition and become less reliant on traditional short term vehicle rental.

Our focus has been on developing a range of “on demand” long term flexible rental products covering both cars and vans for B2B and B2C markets.

We believe that these products add real value to your business by providing the following significant benefits: • A minimum commitment period of 3 months beyond which vehicles can be returned at no cost • Zero deposit and no up front payments to preserve your cash flow

• The ability to increase or decrease fleet numbers based on demand - to help you avoid long term commitments and improve the utilisation of your vehicle assets • Access to a wide range of vehicles (generally brand new) from our nationwide network and van supersites • Access to the latest technology vehicles at a greater frequency to support the sustainability agenda of your business • Rental obligations that are off balance sheet - to help reduce gearing levels.

And our products include: • Service and Maintenance • 24/7 Breakdown Cover • Relief vehicle for non fault accident and warranty issues • Replacement for worn tyres As we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, we believe there is a continued risk that businesses may find themselves once again with under-utilised assets. This may be due to further lockdown measures or surplus vehicles as businesses ‘right-size’ themselves. In addition, you may find your leasing agreements are coming to an end, or your vehicles simply need replacing.

Call us for a policy review and discuss a different mix of vehicle solutions to add flexibility but not cost.

T: 0371 384 0140 W: https://www.europcar.co.uk/business/ van-and-truck-rental

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NEW CARS: LEXUS UX300e

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The Lexus UX300e (left) with its 250h sibling

All-electric first as Lexus the standard – again First production all-electric model from Lexus Pricing starts from £43,900 Only premium market SUV currently meeting the eligibility criteria for the £3,000 Plug-in Vehicle Grant Single UX grade with optional Premium Plus and Takumi equipment packs Lexus has begun a new era in electrified motoring with the new UX 300e, an exciting all-electric version of its best-selling compact urban SUV. It is the first battery electric model from Lexus, the brand which has been the established premium market leader in self-charging hybrid electric vehicles for more than 15 years.

Indicative pricing starts at £43,900 for the UX grade model. Customers can also specify either of two option packs: Premium Plus, taking the anticipated price to £47,400, and Takumi, at £53,500.

Confirmed prices will be announced in October, from when customers will be able to place orders for the new model.

The new model qualifies for a zero per cent benefit-in-kind rate for 2020/2021 and just one per cent in 2021/2022. With no CO2 emissions, there is also no Vehicle Excise Duty to pay.

Notably, the UX 300e is currently the only premium SUV which meets the eligibility criteria 12 | October 2020 | Company Car & Van

for the £3,000 plug-in vehicle grant from OLEV, the Government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles. Any grant would be subject to an application for funding and funding being available at the time the customer places their order.

Ewan Shepherd, Director of Lexus in the UK, said: “Anticipation has been high for the arrival of the UX 300e, the first production model in our Lexus Electrified global vision for creating high-quality cars that deliver the low emissions benefits of electric power together with strong performance and a genuinely rewarding driving experience.

“Lexus has unparalleled experience in electrified vehicle technology, having been a pioneer in the global premium market since the launch of the RX 400h SUV in 2004, the world’s first luxury hybrid. We will continue to develop the performance of our self-charging hybrid technology, offering our extensive range of models alongside new, all-electric vehicles, led by the new UX 300e.”

Equipment specifications The UX 300e is offered in a single equipment grade, UX, but with option packs customers can select to raise the specification of their vehicle.

Key standard features include Lexus Safety System+, Bi-LED headlights with Automatic High Beam, heated, power-adjustable front seats, front and rear parking sensors, reversing camera, illuminated entry, smartphone integration (Apple CarPlay® and Android

Auto®), power steering wheel adjustment, automatic wipers, 17-inch alloy wheels and aluminium roof rails.

The Premium Plus Pack allows owners to add smooth leather seat upholstery, heated steering wheel, heated outer rear seats, smart keyless entry, wireless smartphone charger, card key and illuminated door handles with puddle lights, while the Takumi Pack adds a 13-speaker Mark Levinson Surround Sound audio system, Lexus Navigation with 10.3-inch display, power-operated back door with hands-free function, Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert with auto brake.

Aluminium scuff plates, a sunroof and 18-inch alloy wheels are also included.

The standard colour for the UX 300e is Fuji Red or Velvet Black, with five metallic options and two special finishes, Sonic Titanium and Sonic White, to choose from.

Technical specifications The UX 300e is powered by a 150kW electric motor and is equipped with a 54.3kW/h lithium-ion battery. The system produces a maximum 300 Nm of torque and enables acceleration from rest to 62mph in 7.5 seconds.

The driving range on a full charge is expected to be up to 196 miles. Using a 50kW DC charger, an 80 per cent charge should take 52 minutes to complete.

Connection using a dedicated domestic AC charger should allow a full recharge in eight hours. www.companycarandvan.co.uk

CAR NEWS: VOLKSWAGEN ID

I-spy ID.3 as first models roll into the UK A major milestone in Volkswagen’s latest chapter has been marked with the arrival of the ground-breaking Volkswagen ID.3 1st Edition in the UK, heralding the start of the company’s electric future.

As well as its cutting-edge electric powertrain, the ID.3 is generously equipped, featuring heated front seats, Natural Voice Control, Adaptive Cruise Control, Keyless entry and start, LED matrix headlights with Welcome Light, a bi-colour exterior, and 19-inch wheels.

The ID.3 uses a 58 kWh (net capacity) battery and a 204 PS electric motor driving the rear wheels. It has a range of 261 miles (WLTP) and can rapid-charge at 100 kW, which can add 180 miles of range in as little as 30 minutes.

The ID.3 introduces a number of new features to the Volkswagen range, including a central airbag, which helps prevent collision between occupants in the event of a side impact.

Built on the MEB (Modular Electric Drive Matrix) platform, the ID.3 has a modular battery pack design, meaning different battery capacities can be ordered, with customers able to opt for different ranges based on their requirements. The flexible MEB platform can accommodate numerous body styles – indeed, an entire family of ID. models will launch over 14 | October 2020 | Company Car & Van

the next few years, the first of which will be the ID.4 SUV. It is anticipated that by 2025 1.5 million electric Volkswagens will be sold annually around the world.

First announced in May 2019, the ID.3 1ST Edition is the flag-bearer of the ID.3 line-up.

Priced at £38,880 before any Government grant is applied it features exclusive badging and a two-tone honeycomb decal, alongside an extensive equipment list.

Standard equipment includes LED headlights with Matrix Beam and Welcome Light, 19-inch Andoya alloy wheels and tinted rear windows, along with a black-coloured roof, side skirts, boot and rear spoiler. Several driver assistance systems are also included, with Adaptive Cruise Control, Front Assist and Lane Assist included in the package, as well as parking sensors and a rear-view camera.

Inside, a 10-inch infotainment system with natural voice control function complements a fully digital dashboard, while ambient lighting with 30 colour options allows the driver to change the mood of the interior to their preference. ‘Play’ and ‘Pause’ symbols on the pedals add a further sense of fun to the forward-thinking electric vehicle.

The ID.3 1ST Edition also launches with the industry-first ID.Light – a dynamic LED band the width of the interior windscreen, which

changes its pattern and colour to supplement and support Navigation signals, charging status, driver assist technologies or the natural voice control.

Personalisation options available include four paint colours – Moonstone Grey (standard), Manganese Grey, Glacier White and Makena Turquoise (all £620) – and three interior colour schemes: white and black, white and orange, and black.

The ID.3 1ST Edition has an ample range of 260 miles (WLTP) from its 58 kWh (net) battery capacity. It also features the added bonus of rapid charging compatibility of up to 100 kW, with the ability to add around 180 miles of range in just 30 minutes from a 100 kW CCS charger.

The 260-mile range is sufficient to travel from London to Manchester, with 50 miles to spare.

With 204 PS of power and 310 Nm of torque instantly available, the ID.3 1ST is fast enough to match a Golf GTI from rest up to 37mph, while the 0 to 62 mph sprint is dispatched in a brisk 7.3 seconds before maximum speed is reached at 99 mph. The ID.3 1ST also benefits from the Volkswagen brand high-voltage battery warranty of eight years or 100,000 miles.

By virtue of Volkswagen’s clever Modular Electrification Toolkit (MEB) platform, the ID.3 www.companycarandvan.co.uk

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ID.31 smashes record for electric range shares a similar footprint with the Golf, but provides as much interior space as a Passat, while maintaining the same tight turning circle as the up! city car.

The flexibility of the MEB platform allows multiple different models to be built with it at their core; this economy of scale brings down the consumer cost of the final models – an attribute which traditionally has been obstructive to mainstream electric vehicle adoption by the public.

The ID.3 is already an award-winner for Volkswagen, having secured its first major UK accolade in October 2019, when carwow gave it the title of ‘Most Wanted’. This award recognises the car that stirred up the most interest on its website across the course of 2019, thereby confirming the ID.3 as one of the most highly anticipated cars of this year.

More recently GQ named the ID.3 ‘Best Family Car’ at its 2020 GQ Car Awards, hailing the model as the “future of sustainable motoring”.

Carbon neutrality in production is contributory to the ID.3’s early success with

Felix Egolf in his ID.31

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critics, with renewable energy used in its production – including production of its batteries. This is a key step in Volkswagen’s progress towards net carbon neutrality by 2050, and helps the brand’s commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement.

Andrew Savvas, Volkswagen UK Managing Director, said: “The ID.3 is one of the most important cars Volkswagen has ever launched – and the British public seems to be as excited about it as I am.

“Here, an overwhelming number of customer signed up as pre-bookers last year, even before they saw the final ID.3 unveiled. It has created a huge stir.

“The ID.3 symbolises Volkswagen’s new electric future, and that future is here – now.

“At the point at which it leaves the factory in Zwickau, Germany, the ID.3 can lay claim to being the world’s first mass-produced CO2-neutral car. Producing the ID.3 in this way shows that we are very serious about sustainability as we help to safeguard our world for future generations.

“This is only the beginning of the ID. story.”

The new Volkswagen ID.3 range is already a record-breaker, after a .31 version covered the 531 kilometres (330 miles) from its manufacturing home in Zwickau to Schaffhausen (Switzerland) on a single charge.

Officially, the model has a range of up to 420 kilometres (261 miles) according to the WLTP analysis. But this mark was topped by more than 100 kilometres – an increase of 26 per cent. The vehicle was an ID.3 1st Pro Performance with a 58 kWh battery built at the Zwickau electric car factory.

The route to Switzerland consisted entirely of public roads and highways, passing cities such as Bayreuth and Ulm. The record-breaking vehicle was driven by ‘hypermiler’ Felix Egolf, a Swiss national who specialises in driving production vehicles with techniques that maximise efficiency and minimise consumption.

Egolf – a name that meant he just had to be used by VW, really – was clearly impressed. “This car has everything, it is compact but spacious, has a cool, almost futuristic design and a low drag co-efficient”.

Although the record-breaking journey is not entirely comparable with day-to-day trips, it nevertheless underpins the everyday practicality of the ID.3. “With its high-volt battery, efficient drivetrain and fast charging capability, even long journeys are not a problem”, said Reinhard de Vries from Volkswagen.

Apart from the technology, the race to break records depends on an economical driving style. Felix Egolf constantly lifted off the accelerator and let the ID.3 coast. On the highway sections of the journey, he sometimes used the slipstream of trucks travelling in front of him. To save power auxiliary consumers such as navigation, daytime running lights, radio and ventilation were either temporarily or permanently in operation. Nevertheless, power consumption was a mere 10.9 kWh/100 km.

The standardised consumption rating of the ID.3 is 15.4-14.5 kWh/100 km.

Company Car & Van | October 2020 | 15

NEW CAR REVIEW: HYUNDAI IONIQ

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What Car? backs IONIQ in its first electric car awards The Hyundai IONIQ Electric has been named the best Electric Family Car on sale in the first What Car? Electric Car Awards.

The judges praised IONIQ Electric for offering a better package ‘than any other rival’ – whether that’s its electric range, its value for money, its equipment or its technology.

IONIQ Electric launched in 2016 as part of the IONIQ range, the world’s first car planned from the start to offer three electrified powertrains – hybrid, plug-in hybrid and full electric. In 2019, the IONIQ range was upgraded with added technological features and a refreshed look, as well as 36 per cent added battery capacity in the Electric.

Since its launch, IONIQ has picked up a number of awards, including being named the UK’s most highly-rated car in the Honest John Customer Satisfaction Index. For this latest accolade, the What Car? experts praised IONIQ Electric for its compelling overall

package, offering better value for money, technology, range and drivability than its rivals.

The juding panel had huge praise for the IONIQ’S performance in real-world situations: “Promising up to 193 miles between charges, the IONIQ will get you farther than regular, 40kWh versions of the [Nissan] Leaf, as well as the BMW i3 and Volkswagen e-Golf…”

Even better, there was no compromise on comfort or specification, either, meaning the IONIQ, for all its cutting-edge electric drive features, was the family car people could rely on. “The IONIQ is simply bursting with equipment, too, including heated front seats in our recommended Premium trim… ” It was reliable too, with the class-leading Hyundai warranty scheme a welcome addition to the IONIQ to keep doubts at bay: “If anything should go wrong, you’ve got a five-year, unlimited-mileage new car warranty to fall back on – more than is offered by either

Nissan or BMW. All in all, the IONIQ Electric makes the transition to zero-emissions power as easy as possible.”

The IONIQ Electric is one part of Hyundai’s electrified line-up; one of the broadest and most affordable in the UK. Alongside IONIQ Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid and Electric sit the Kona Electric, Kona Hybrid and mild hybrid Tucson models. By the end of the year, three-quarters of the entire Hyundai range will be electrified, new 48V mild hybrid i20 and i30 and Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid Santa Fe and there is more to come. With increased supply and no waiting times, owning a low or zero emission vehicle from Hyundai is now more accessible than ever.

The IONIQ Electric is available to order now from £30,950 either through visiting Hyundai UK’s COVID-safe dealership environments or through Hyundai’s digital Click to Buy platform.

Unique IONIQ brand looks set for further growth Hyundai Motor Company has launched its new IONIQ brand dedicated to battery electric vehicles, opening a new chapter as a leader in the era of electrified mobility.

Under the IONIQ brand, Hyundai will offer customer-centric EV experiences centred on connected lifestyle solutions in line with Hyundai’s vision of ‘Progress for Humanity’.

Under the IONIQ brand, Hyundai Motor will leverage its industry-leading manufacturing know-how in EVs to introduce three new dedicated models over the next four years with more innovative models to follow.

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The creation of IONIQ brand is in response to fast-growing market demand and accelerates Hyundai’s plan to lead the global EV market.

To fulfill IONIQ’s brand mission, Hyundai will combine its current EV capabilities – such as ultra-fast charging, spacious interior, and battery-supplied power – with future innovations that combine design, technologies and services to integrate in-car and out-of-car experiences for a seamless journey.

“The IONIQ brand will change the

paradigm of EV customer experience,” said Wonhong Cho, Hyundai Motor Company.

“With a new emphasis on connected living, we will offer electrified experiences integral to an eco-friendly lifestyle.”

Hyundai first introduced the term IONIQ, which fuses “ion” and “unique”, in 2016. The IONIQ was the world’s first model to offer a choice of three electrified powertrain options – hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid and battery electric – within a single body type. Today, the model represents Hyundai’s growing commitment to sustainability and innovation. www.companycarandvan.co.uk

ON TEST: DS7 CROSSBACK E-TENSE

Unique touches help DS7 stand out from the crowd Andrew Walker The DS7 Crossback was launched in 2019 and we had the opportunity to drive the petrol and diesel versions on launch, and both impressed.

But the motoring world stands still for no man, which is why the brand is already contemplating major changes – not least to its powertrains. As a result every new model released by the French brand from 2025 onwards will either be fully electric or a plug-in hybrid with at least a 30-mile EV range.

The first models launched to meet this goal were the smaller DS3 Crossback, the brand’s first EV, and the larger DS7 Crossback, the brand’s first PHEV. This shares its hybrid petrol set up with the Vauxhall Grandland X PHEV. Like the Vauxhall, the DS7 E-Tense combines a 1598cc petrol engine with an electric drive system of two electric motors. They have a combined output 109hp, AWD and a 13.2kWh lithium-ion battery.

The front electric motor is coupled to an electrified eight-speed automatic transmission, while the second motor and differential are integrated into the electrically-powered rear axle, providing all-wheel traction on demand.

It’s quick too, going from 0-60 mph in just 5.9 seconds, thanks to the 200hp on offer. The petrol engine, plus two electric motors, offer a whopping 296bhp and 450Nm of torque.

The E-Tense range is offered in three trim levels. First up is the Performance Line, which features 19” alloys, a 12.3” HD touchscreen, Mirror Screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, LED Front fogs with cornering function, Manual ‘Follow me home’ lighting, LED Daytime Running Lights, DS Active LED Vision and DS 3D LED rear lights.

Above this is the Prestige, with full leather seats, electric rear seat backrests, keyless entry, a reversing camera, wireless charging and front parking sensors.

Topping the range is Ultra Prestige, which adds 20” alloys, a panoramic sunroof, a Focal sound system, a remote tailgate and DS CONNECTED PILOT with Semi-autonomous driving.

From the outside, the E-Tense features some subtle differences to the petrol and diesel versions There’s a ‘Pearl Crystal’ paint finish that’s optional and exclusive E-Tense badging, plus a charging port flap located on the opposite side to the usual fuel cap.

The DS7 PHEV offers four driving modes; Electric, Hybrid, AWD and Sport. In pure electric mode, the car has a range of 35 miles WLTP. Electric Mode can be selected up to speeds of 83mph, although is best for city traffic. In Hybrid mode, the car automatically 20 | October 2020 | Company Car & Van

selects the most efficient method of propulsion.

AWD is for that wet grass you’ve parked on and Sport gives everything extra fizz.

To aid battery range, DS 7 CROSSBACK E-TENSE 4×4 is regenerated whenever the driver decelerates or uses the brakes (‘BRAKE’ function) to extend the range, while ‘E-SAVE’ allows the driver to save enough energy to drive in all-electric mode for the last six or 12 miles of a journey.

All DS E-TENSE vehicles are supplied with two electric cables for 7kW AC and 3-pin 13amp DC. On a typical home 7kWh charger it

will take 90 minutes to fully charge the battery.

Furthermore, all DS customers buying a new BEV or PHEV can benefit from six months free subscription to Polar Plus – the UK’s largest public charging network.

CC&V were given the opportunity to spend some time in a Prestige model and mighty nice it is. Triangular air vents at each end of the dashboard are noticeably different, as is the location of the starter button, smack bang in the top centre of the dash, flanked by the two central air vents. The landscape touchscreen is also a highlight and the angular electric window www.companycarandvan.co.uk

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switches set in the centre binnacle also add to ‘le difference’. Even the graphics on the PSA Group’s 12.3” digital instrument cluster can be configured with rhombus-shaped graphics.

Elsewhere, switches, door fittings, seats and steering wheel are all satisfyingly top notch, with only the lightweight plastic used on the glove box letting things down a touch.

There’s some useful storage in the cabin, including a flip cover space in front of the gear stick, good for keys and your mobile phone, with a USB socket also accessible here. The centre binnacle features a pop-up open and close arm rest with storage space within. There are two cupholders in front of this, plus decent-sized door pockets as well. Front passenger head and legroom is excellent and in the rear there’s a flat floor, which coupled to the generous space means that you could fit five adults in the DS7 if required.

A clever battery design means you get the same amount of storage as in the combustion DS7s; that’s 555 litres of boot space with the seats up, increasing to a quite considerable 1,752 litres when you fold the rear seats down.

The on-board tech is straightforward and I connected my mobile phone to the car’s Bluetooth hands-free telephone and linked it to Apple Car Play quickly. Our only negative is that like many other models, the DS7 features climate controls located in the touchscreen,

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“A clever battery design means you get the same amount of storage as in the combustion DS7s; that’s 555 litres of boot space with the seats up, increasing to 1,752 litres when you fold the rear seats down...”

which can be a little frustrating.

In Electric Mode, the E-Tense is much quieter than the diesel DS7. The steering is light and precise and as a motorway cruiser it’s very impressive. The DS’s suspension makes for a comfortable ride and there is little or no body roll, even around sharp bends. We mainly utilised the Hybrid driving mode, which selects the driving mode for you. In pure Electric Mode we managed to travel 27 miles before the car switched to Hybrid. Drivers may notice the extra battery weight, but it’s not that intrusive to the handling of the car.

For fleet customers the CO2 emissions on the DS7 E-Tense are under 50g/km, which means attractive BIK. More good news is that DS claims a maximum fuel consumption of 128

mpg. As we’ve said before, the only way you’ll see any kind of fuel economy return close to 100mpg is if you drive in Electric Mode as much as possible, plug-in after every short journey and utilise the clever on-board charge saving that’s offered. We’d guess that if you don’t do these things regularly – and let’s face it, many PHEV customers don’t – then 32-36 mpg is a more likely scenario.

While the plug-in competition hots up, especially from Germany, the DS7 E-Tenses is refreshingly different. It feels more upmarket than its sibling the Vauxhall Grandland X, though with prices starting at £47,725, so it should! In a sector stuffed with contenders, the DS7 does a really good job of being just different enough to warrant your consideration.

Verdict It’s more spacious, looks far nicer and is more interesting to look at than its rivals.

There are some unique design details, too, and it all adds up to the DS7 being a serious player.

CC&V RATING: N N N N

Company Car & Van | October 2020 | 21

Q&A WITH SKODA UK

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Škoda remains a perfect fit for all your fleet needs CC&V catches up with Henry Williams, Head of Fleet at Škoda UK, to hear more about the company’s plans for the rest of 2020 and 2021 CC&V: How has the global pandemic affected ŠKODA here in the UK, and how well do you think the brand has coped with it?

HW: It’s been a challenge – that’s for sure.

We had to rip up our existing way of working and develop new systems and procedures that would keep everyone safe while still delivering a service to our customers.

We’ve always had a dynamic, forwardthinking team at ŠKODA, and I’m immensely proud with how we were able to devise and implement completely new systems in a matter of weeks.

Take our Virtual Showroom for example. Our specialist team relocated to their homes but were still presenting prospective customers, including fleet managers, with the full ŠKODA range. Team members discussed the best models and options with fleet managers to

enable them to achieve their fleet objectives.

Our Digital Assistant also proved to be a fantastic tool during lockdown. It meant that retail staff were able to connect with fleet customers via Zoom video calls, check stock and confirm product information all from one device. I feel we’ve coped well with the challenges presented to us, but it’s a constant learning process and we’re always analysing how we can do things better as restrictions and regulations evolve.

CC&V: The UK Government has been pushing future mobility, as plug-in, or fully electric cars and vans. With BIK tax incentives on these types of vehicles, the fleet sector is an

obvious target for car brands.

You’ve recently launched the Superb and Octavia iV PHEVs. Will ŠKODA be adding any more Plug-in models in the near future?

HW: As a brand, we’re committed to electric mobility and we’re already starting to see that commitment in our product range. Our Superb iV plug-in hybrid has already proved very popular with our fleet customers and we’ve already seen an increase in demand following the BiK tax changes that came into effect earlier this year. So in that respect, the arrival of our new Octavia iV models later this year is perfectly timed.

We also have the Enyaq iV – our all-new full electric SUV – arriving early next year. This will give us an even broader product offering and will allow us to unlock new opportunities as we expand our activities.

It’s a fantastic product and we really can’t wait to add it to the range.

CC&V: In the UK, Octavia has been your best-selling fleet car for some time now,

‘The new Octavia with its latest generation EVO diesel engines highlights our commitment to modern, more efficient diesels’

New Octavia still gives customers what they want Andrew Walker takes a spin in the new Octavia SE L First Edition 2.0 diesel 7-Speed DSG The Skoda Octavia is the Czech automaker’s best-selling model. In the 24 years since its reintroduction in 1996, one in three Skoda customers have opted for an Octavia. No pressure on the brand, then, when it brought out its latest version! Perhaps that’s why Skoda has made some major changes inside and out 22 | October 2020 | Company Car & Van

to make sure it got the new model right.

Skoda’s Fleet Manager, Henry Williams, says (above) that despite the anti-diesel rhetoric flying around, many of Skoda’s existing fleet customers still opt for a diesel.

Having said that, it’s refreshing to know that Skoda also offers a range of low emission Octavia petrol models, with pretty impressive fuel economy. These include a 1.0 TSI e-TEC mild hybrid, with a 110pS unit and a 48-volt Li-on battery, costing from £23,025 OTR. Even

better, there is also a plug-in hybrid, the iV, which will further enhance the appeal of the range, especially within the corporate sector.

From launch, the cheapest Octavia is the SE First Edition with a 148bhp 1.5 TSI turbo petrol engine. It costs £22,390. Depending on engine and trim the Estate has a premium of £950£1,400 per model, with ours retailing at £29,525 and with extras this topped out at £32,960, so it’s not so cheap an Octavia any more.

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powered mainly by diesel engines. Do you think that diesel still has a part to play in the SME fleet sector?

HW: Yes. Electric and plug-in hybrid may be the headline grabbers at the moment – for good reason – but for a big percentage of our fleet customers, diesel remains the most cost effective and practical proposition. The new Octavia with its latest-generation EVO diesel engines highlights our commitment to offering a modern, more efficient diesels.

Electrified models offer more choice and give our fleet customers a greater range of options to consider as they work to reduce the environmental impact of their total fleet.

CC&V: Your SE Technology models are aimed fairly and squarely at our readership.

What percentage of future ŠKODA corporate sales will be petrol model SE Tech and will there be a plug-in version joining the range any time soon?

HW: We’ve worked hard to get the ingredients right for our SE Technology models and I’m pleased that they are proving so popular with our customers.

The Superb SE Technology is already available as a petrol plug-in iV model and we’ll soon be announcing the arrival of an Octavia SE Technology with the same technology. Like the Superb, it will have a 13kWh battery that can deliver 37 miles of electric-only range.

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Lower fuel costs and the significant Benefit in Kind savings will make this a really attractive package for many of our fleet customers and we’re really excited about adding to the line-up.

We’ll also be offering the Octavia with a petrol mild hybrid option. The Octavia e-TEC has a number of new technologies and adds yet more choice for our customers.

CC&V: In a recent survey, we asked some of our readers about electric cars and whether they would consider using one. Their biggest concerns were range anxiety and access to charging points, not the actual cost of electric vehicles. Will ŠKODA be launching any electric models that would appeal to the fleet sector?

HW: We know that a lot of employers are looking to add charging facilities at work locations and these will be key to further adoption of EVs. I know you’d expect me to say this, but the new Enyaq iV is a fantastic package with huge fleet appeal. It has the practicality that we know fleets demand, plus it delivers exceptional value and significantly reduced running costs for drivers. We’ll be offering a range of models and battery sizes with ranges of up to 316 miles on a single charge.

CC&V: Last but by no means least, do you see many changes coming to the fleet sector after the pandemic and if so, how will ŠKODA

address these?

HW: It’s always hard to predict the future, but we’ve seen that the pandemic and lockdown have accelerated a number of trends that our team have been aware of in recent years.

Flexible working and working from home was already a growing trend, and we’ve seen a significant shift in where people are doing their work. Although this doesn’t affect all fleet drivers – many still consider the road to be their workplace – we need to be aware that many fleets will be covering fewer miles and may find that different products are more suitable.

We know that economic conditions may force many fleet managers to evaluate their fleets and analyse costs. ŠKODA’s fleet business is built on value for money, and we’re confident that fleet managers looking to maximise value while maintain high quality will find our range to be a perfect fit.

Finally, we believe that companies will accelerate their plans to reduce the environmental impact of their fleets. Again, we’ve planned for this and we’re well on the way to introducing some real game-changing products for our customers.

Our range is the most diverse it has ever been and as we move towards greater electrification, fleet buyers looking to reduce emissions will be able to rely on ŠKODA to help achieve this.

Company Car & Van | October 2020 | 23

ON TEST: SKODA OCTAVIA

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New Octavia is still giving customers what they want Continued from page 22 We were testing the SE L First Edition 2.0 diesel 7-speed DSG. Outside, it looks sharper than before, while inside, everything has a premium look and feel to it. The two spoke leather trimmed steering wheel is very nice, so too is the microsuede upholstery and dash panel. The Virtual Cockpit looks great and the new landscape infotainment screen, which fits snugly in the centre dash, is top notch.

A typically generous Skoda specification includes 17” Rotare AERO alloys, 5 USB C ports, 8 speakers, Adaptive Cruise Control, Columbus SatNav with 10” touchscreen, a Virtual 10.25” Cockpit, Smartlink for Android Auto and wireless Smartlink for Apple CarPlay.

As with all Octavias, both front and rear seat occupants have lots of head and legroom.

Cabin storage, though, is only adequate.

There’s better news in the boot, however.

The new model isn’t actually any larger than the previous model, with just a few millimetres added to the length and width, but it retains generous boot space. As before, you get a 640-litre boot rising to 1,700 litres with the rear seats folded.

On the road, the the 7-speed DSG gearbox is reliably good and delivers exactly what you want, when you want it. There’s a choice of four driving modes: Eco, Normal, Sport and Individual. Sport is fun, while we utilised. Eco on the motorway. For every day driving we would stick with Normal, which offers a happy compromise.

The ride quality is quite soft, but this makes for especially relaxing motorway driving. We were grateful for that because we spent a lot of time on the motorway in our week. It helped 24 | October 2020 | Company Car & Van

push up the mpg and we averaged 58.6 mpg, close to the claimed WLTP figures of of 60.1-52.3 mpg.

The 10.25” touchscreen display is completely new and comes with a crisp display and rapid response. However, Skoda has included the climate control within this, to unclutter the dashboard, and getting the right menu up to alter this was a little frustrating.

While we seamlessly connected to Apple Car Play for Google Maps, it’s worth mentioning that the Columbus system SatNav on the Octavia is one of the best we’ve encountered.

The latest Octavia range still offers most of what customers want from this Skoda, namely, a reliable, bullet proof, value for money and

extremely useful family estate. It’s further enhanced by being really good to drive, while carrying five adults and their luggage in comfort. The new interior is tasty and it will also return almost 60mpg, which for fleet customers is great news.

And finally, and perhaps most importantly, the Octavia doesn’t like to shout about any of this, which is so refreshing in this Instagram age.

Verdict Overall, a crowd-pleasing addition to the Skoda line-up. Will continue to appeal to fleet customers CC&V RATING: N N N N

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NEW CAR: BMW 5 Series

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BMW’s Five star – as always The new BMW 5 Series reaffirms its leading position in the premium executive class thanks to a new look, an interior brimming with refinements, cutting-edge innovations and even greater efficiencies, as most models now feature mild-hybrid technology.

Like the new BMW 5 Series Saloon, the new BMW 5 Series Touring will also be available with a plug-in hybrid drive system from November. The use of mild hybrid technology with a 48V starter-generator will be rolled out to all models with a four- or six-cylinder engine, except PHEV and M550i xDrive models.

Inside, new interior features include a larger 12.3” Central Information Display powered by the latest Operating System 7.0, including BMW’s Intelligent Personal Assistant and Smartphone Integration. The new 5 Series also benefits from the latest camera- and radarbased driving assistant systems, including features like steering and lane-control assistant and active cruise control to name just a few.

The exterior design of the BMW 5 Series features precise modifications to heighten the car’s distinctive presence and sporting style.

The BMW kidney grille has extra width and height, dropping down further into the front apron and framed by a single-piece surround.

The slimmer contouring of the headlights brings a modern twist to the focused look so familiar from BMWs past and present.

The standard full LED headlights include two U-shaped daytime driving lights to create a

precise and modern light graphic. With the Visibility pack, customers can upgrade to either Adaptive LED headlights with matrix technology or BMW Laserlights including High-beam Assistant – these headlight upgrades are characterised by two L-shaped daytime driving lights.

The latest generation of BMW’s Laserlight technology increases the lighting range up to 600 metres and includes a blue laser effect within the eye-brow. On both Adaptive LED and Laserlight upgrades, customers can select the optional ‘BMW Individual Lights Shadow Line’ for an even sportier front profile aesthetic.

The front apron of both SE and M Sport trim levels have also been redesigned with larger and more pronounced air inlets.

The LED taillights are now presented with an additional top overhang that transforms the L-motif into a C-shape. Blackened lenses frame the taillights for a more slender, high-tech look, with bold, stepped contours providing a modernised appearance. The rear apron has also been redesigned with trapezoidal tailpipe finishers and a sportier mounted diffuser on Saloon models.

M Sport package features new 19” and 20” Wheels while the new limited M Sport Edition comes with exclusive Individual metallic paint and unique 20” Air Performance wheels.

The M Sport package delivers a sportier look from both the front and rear profiles of the car.

Typical of our most popular trim level, these

models include the M aerodynamics package, M Sport steering wheel and all new 19” and 20” M Sport alloy wheels.

The dash is dominated by a Central Information Display which has increased in size from 10.25” to 12.3” and is powered by BMW’s latest Operating System 7.0.

The new BMW 5 Series comes in a choice of three trim levels: SE, M Sport and M Sport Edition. For the very first time in the UK, we’ll also be introducing a range-topping M Performance M550i xDrive on Saloon models.

Standard features of the SE include a choice of 17”, 18” and 19” alloy wheels and Steptronic or Steptronic Sport transmission depending on the engine variant. The interior benefits from Dakota leather upholstery, Oxide Silver dark matt trim, Sport leather steering wheel and heated front seats.

The SE Touring specification includes split folding rear seats and matt silver roof rails, with all body styles also having an electronic tailgate.

A choice of plug-in hybrid models with the latest fourth-generation battery technology including an all new six-cylinder 545e xDrive Saloon and four-cylinder 530e sDrive/xDrive Touring from November 2020.

The latest-generation BMW eDrive technology will be combined with a fourcylinder petrol engine on the new BMW 530e Saloon and - for the very first time – the BMW 530e Touring.

Low CO2 with plug-in hybrid option The new BMW 5 Series offers the largest range of PHEVs within one BMW Group model series – and all with sector leading CO2 emissions.

The latest generation of BMW eDrive

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technology in conjunction with a four-cylinder petrol engine powers the BMW 530e plug-in hybrid models. The BMW 530e Saloon offers combined CO2 emissions

ranging from 39-42g/km while on the BMW 530e xDrive Saloon they range from 46-49 g/km. The 530e lowers this again, to 43-47g/km, while BMW 530e xDrive Touring offers 49-52g/km.

Company Car & Van | October 2020 | 25

NEW CARS: LAND ROVER DISCOVERY SPORT

Disco Sport’s dancing the phev fantastic DISCOVERY SPORT PHEV · Capability with composure · Clever storage solutions · CO2 from 36 g/km · BIK Tax Rate from 10% · EV only range up to 38 miles The New Discovery Sport, Land Rover’s family-friendly 5+2 seat premium compact SUV, has been enhanced with the arrival of an efficient plug-in hybrid option, the P300e PHEV. The latest iteration continues Discovery Sport’s position as the premium versatile compact SUV, delivering capability combined with composure, whether off-road or cruising on the motorways.

There’s power and sheer driving pleasure a’plenty as you relish the fuel economy and environmental advantages the PHEV delivers.

The key statistics are that the PHEV offers CO2 from 36g/km, with a BIK tax rate of just 10 per cent. By driving on the electric-only power train you can expect a range of up to 38 miles – perfect for the majority of commutes or urban adventures as it delivers all-electric driving with zero tailpipe emissions, and all backed with the peace of mind that you have the traditional combustion power units to revert back to on longer runs.

The electric motor sits on the rear axle with the batteries underneath the cabin, allowing for luggage space to be uncompromised.

When the battery charge is low, the traditional ICE engine automatically kicks in to drive the front wheels.

The Discovery Sport PHEV range can fully charge from either a domestic socket or an IEC connector. It is ideally suited to charge

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overnight, fully recharging in as little as 7.5 hours. Installing and using a wall box can reduce charging times closer to 2.75 hours.

To back up the P300e PHEV option, Land Rover has introduced a number of new next generation efficient four-cylinder diesel engines. Available in two power outputs, the D165 (163PS) and D200 (204PS) diesels deliver enhanced efficiency, smoother power and superior refinement, with CO2 from 163g/ km.

The result is a smoother stop-start operation and optimised fuel economy – giving customers a taste of the benefits of an electrified vehicle with the comfort of the four-cylinder diesel engines.

The digital experience has been transformed inside the range with the introduction of Land Rover’s state-of-the-art Pivi infotainment. The system is ready to go as soon as it’s switched on – a separate data plan and battery mean there’s no delay.

Software updates are available over-the-air via the vehicle’s embedded data connection at no cost, and can even be scheduled at a time to suit, ensuring customers always have the latest maps, apps and vehicle features without having to visit a retailer. The system is enabled by a new Electrical Vehicle Architecture and is available as either standard Pivi, or the more advanced Pivi Profrom S-specification.

Finbar McFall, Global Product Marketing Director, Land Rover, said: “Next-generation PHEV and diesel engines bring enhanced efficiency to the Discovery Sport, while the addition of the advanced new Pivi Pro infotainment system with immediate start-up and self-learning capabilities mean the new Discovery Sport is now even more capable and versatile, and ready for family adventures.”

Streaming music and media has never been simpler, with Spotify integrated directly within the infotainment menu for the first time – data included – and Bluetooth connectivity for two phones at once. There’s also wireless device charging with signal-boosting option.

The new second-generation Activity Key is also available, allowing customers to unlock any door, lock or even start the vehicle just by being nearby – with no need for a traditional key fob.

Other technology updates include a comprehensive suite of new Advanced Driver Assistance features, such as Rear Traffic Monitor with automatic braking. The new Rear Collision Monitor uses radars to constantly monitor the vehicle’s rear, meaning the Discovery Sport is primed to reduce the severity of an impact for the occupants, while the introduction of a 3D Surround Camera

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lets the driver see what’s happening around the vehicle at speeds of up to 19mph, making manoeuvring and even navigating difficult terrain simpler than ever.

These new systems complement the ClearSight Ground View and ClearSight Rear View Mirror technologies introduced in 2019; smart camera technology stitches together images below the bonnet, while the latter provides an interchangeable rear-view mirror and video screen, for enhanced visibility.

Discovery Sport features a practical 5+2 design, with 40:20:40 split-folding second row seats that provides 24 possible seat configurations, ensuring flexibility for family adventures. *All emissions, fuel economy and EV-only range figures are EU – WLTP (TEL) Combined.

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Company Car & Van | October 2020 | 29

NEW CAR REVIEW: CITROEN C4

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C4 brings a touch of the SUV to compact hatch sector Citroen looks to redefine quality and technology available in the sector Citroen is looking to make headlines this autumn with the launch of the new ë-C4 and C4s, with the pair representing the company’s drive to create a sector-defining compact hatchback. Inspired by customers and their ways of driving, the new C4 comes in 100% electric, petrol or diesel models, and surpasses expectations for the segment, while offering a modern concept that is full of character.

From launch it’s clear the new ë-C4 and C4 have all the qualities needed to shake up standards in their segment.

With its elevated and assertive posture, the new body shape combines the elegance and dynamism of a hatchback, while subtly adopting certain SUV design forms for added strength and character. Aerodynamic and fluid, the design features new LED V-shaped front and rear lighting signatures, and a new expression of style that is more assertive, muscular and dynamic. The warm and high-tech interiors instantly express well-being, comfort and modernity. Each customer will be able to configure their car to suit their preferences, with 31 exterior colour combinations and six ambiences inside the cabin.

New ë-C4 is the fifth vehicle in the brand’s electric offensive. In effect, the C4 offers customers the comfort of choosing between three types of efficient and high-performance powertrain: 100% electric 100 kW (136 hp) with a WLTP range of 217 miles (350 km), Euro 6d petrol engines from 100 hp to 155 hp and Diesel power from 110 hp to 130 hp.

Typically Citroën, the design of the ë-C4 and C4 sets itself apart by combining the elegance, fluidity and dynamism of a compact hatchback with strength, character and robustness of an SUV. This is underpinned by large wheels, the 32 | October 2020 | Company Car & Van

generous and muscular shapes, and the 360° protection around the body.

The short front and rear overhangs, combined with large-diameter wheels and 156 mm of ground clearance (more than the competition), give the vehicle a unique, assertive and confident elevated posture – and a “ready to pounce” attitude. With a long wheelbase (2,670 mm) the C4 is at the heart of the compact hatchback segment in terms of dimensions: 4,360 mm long, 1,800 mm wide, 1,525 mm high. Thanks to its elevated stature, it offers a higher “eye-point” than the competition (1.22 m), providing increased visibility while driving.

The interior inspires confidence at first glance through its perceived quality and modernity. An expression of the Citroën Advanced Comfort® programme, it suggests comfort with its clean, modern dashboard, softly shaped door panels, multiple storage compartments, soft materials and seats inviting passengers to relax on-board. The wide, horizontal dashboard gives a feeling of space and volume, while offering numerous storage compartments built into the design. The intelligence applied to the layout is evidenced by the Dashboard tray, Smart Pad Support Citroën™ and mobile phone storage. Extending naturally into the door panels, the dashboard creates a wrap-around effect that amplifies the impression of protection and serenity on-board, while the high and wide centre console enhances the status of this compact hatchback.

Occupants are immersed in a comfortable and cosy atmosphere: there is a new chevron grain pattern on the dashboard, new patterns on the Advanced Comfort seats and the interior colour schemes coordinate the seats with the new door panels. The materials add value and are soft to the touch in contact areas: notably the moulded dashboard top, wrapped front door panel strips and soft armrest trim.

As you would expect, the technology in the cabin has moved up a notch. The frameless HD

digital instrument panel and large colour head-up display are easy to use and keep the driver focused on the road ahead by displaying essential driving information in a legible and intuitive way. In the centre, at the top of the dashboard, the ultra-thin borderless 10-inch touchscreen is the nerve centre of the vehicle’s controls. It has a gloss black finish and a physical chrome dial with a chevron motif. The controls of the dual-zone automatic climate control – also physical for immediate access to change the settings – have been treated with the same care: chrome dials decorated with the same motif and gloss black push buttons.

Petrol, electric and diesel powertrains – the choice is yours. The ë-C4 has an efficient electric powertrain with zero CO2 emissions and a WLTP range of 217 miles (350 km). The 100% electric motor is powerful and energetic, with 136 hp, 260 Nm of torque instantly available, a 0-62 mph time of 9.7 seconds when in Sport mode and a top speed of 93 mph (150 km/h). The 50 kWh battery pack is rated as high-voltage 400 V Li-ion.

Several driving modes are available, activated by the mode selector on the centre console: Eco, Normal or Sport. The system allows the driver to choose between performance and eco-driving. For peace-ofmind, the battery warranty is eight years or 100,000 miles for 70% of charge capacity.

In mode 4, at a public charging station using a 100 kW charger, 80 per cent of charge is completed in 30 minutes. At home using a 32 A Wallbox, recharging takes 7.5 hours with single-phase supply. In mode 2, at home and for occasional needs, the battery can be recharged using a standard domestic socket.

Away from electric, there are four Euro 6d petrol engines in the UK – PureTech 100 S&S 6-speed manual, PureTech 130 S&S 6-speed manual, PureTech 130 S&S EAT8 Auto, PureTech 155 S&S EAT8 Auto – and two Euro 6d Diesel engines: BlueHDi 110 S&S 6-speed manual and BlueHDi 130 S&S EAT8 Auto. www.companycarandvan.co.uk

ON TEST: KIA XCEED PHEV

XCeed PHEV offers a perfect compromise for fleets KIA keeps on delivering great new cars – and the XCeed PHEV is no exception, says Andrew Walker Company Car & Van had the opportunity to drive the KIA XCeed in diesel form last year and came away impressed. With Government tax incentives on plug-in and electric cars it was only a matter of time before KIA added to the XCeed model range, and the XCeed PHEV is the result.

With a 1.6-litre petrol engine coupled to a small electric motor for a combined 139bhp, the XCeed PHEV, even at £30,000+, is good value compared with plug-in rivals. For company car drivers and SME fleet managers, the 32g/km of CO2 emissions make it a doubly attractive option.

KIA cabins are getter nicer and nicer and the XCeed could well be the best yet. It’s all finished in good quality soft touch plastics, with

34 | October 2020 | Company Car & Van

some nice matt silver and black plastic trim.

The seat covering, roof lining and door finishes are also tasteful in black and the sloping roofline gives the cabin a sporty stance.

The infotainment 10.25” touchscreen sits proudly in the centre of the dash. This features excellent graphics and provided sharp responses to your requests. Functions include DAB radio, SatNav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. We connected our iPhone simply and easily via the USB input in the front to access Apple CarPlay, and it worked seamlessly.

We were testing the XCeed finished in Grade 3 spec, and equipment is generous: 16” alloys, privacy glass, power lumbar supported front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, an electric parking brake, a reversing camera, parking sensors, 4.2” supervision colour cluster display and a USB fast charger in the front centre console. There’s also a heated steering wheel and heated front seats.

The rear load space is nicely finished, with good quality fabric lining all three sides.

However, the batteries are located under this and eat into the litres offered, which explains

why the standard XCeed’s 426-litre boot shrinks to just 291 litres in the PHEV model.

The whole point of choosing the XCeed PHEV over its petrol or diesel brethren is its electric range. KIA claims a 30-mile journey in full electric is possible and after we plugged in and topped up the battery, we gave it a try.

The automatic gearbox makes life easy in town and this is where the electric power is at its most useful. Once up to speed the electric range drops faster and we found it’s better to let the petrol engine step in. After a 25-mile trip including a junction on the motorway, the electric power ran out. At this point, the combined MPG was an impressive 92.4mpg.

KIA claims 201.8mpg is possible, but this would depend on how often you plug in and how far and how fast you are travelling.

As a comparison, over the next few days, we drove the car in ECO mode (SPORT is also offered), primarily on the motorway for 200 miles and the combined MPG dropped into the low sixties. This also emptied half the petrol tank, which for our driving style offered around a 400-mile range.

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‘The auto gearbox makes life easy in town and this is where the electric power is at its most useful...’

An overnight top-up at home on our 7kW Rolec home charger – the charging cap is on the left hand side of the car above the front wheel – took us back up to a full electric charge and we managed to drive the last two days locally, around 18 miles, all at low speeds on electric only.

On our travels we found the PHEV quiet and comfortable and up front there’s plenty of head and legroom available. In the rear the sloping roof eats into the head height and it’s a bit of a squeeze for three adults. The extra weight from the batteries feels better spread out in the XCeed PHEV than in the Niro PHEV, for example, and helps make the Kia a bit more fun to the drive when you’re out on the open road.

Even in SPORT mode acceleration is distinctly average though, with the XCeed taking 10.6 seconds to reach 60mph.

While the Proceed is still our favourite looking KIA, the XCeed pushes it pretty close on appearance. It also features the best interior in a KIA thus far and in 3 Spec offers the excellent 10.25” touchscreen, again the nicest KIA has to offer. With that low BIK a company car driver in tax year 2020/21 would be looking

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at an annual payment of £613 at 20% or £1,226 at 40%, not quite a good as an EV, but then you get a guaranteed 400-mile range.

Although the PHEV XCeed is £4,000 more to buy than the diesel in 3 spec, the PHEV version’s BIK starts at just 12%, compared to the diesel’s 31% and petrol’s 28%, making it highly attractive to the end user.

Throw in Kia’s seven-year/100,000-mile warranty, which smashes most others out of the ball park, and the likelihood of 65-70mpg, and KIA is on to a company car winner!

Verdict Great looking with a very attractive interior. Well built, with good economy and the tantalising hint that you can push the mpg through the 100mpg if driving carefully in electric mode. Boot space compromised by battery but a great drive nevertheless.

CC&V RATING: N N N N

Company Car & Van | October 2020 | 35

IN CONVERSATION WITH... NISSAN GB

Nissan has the dealer support and range that’s right for fleets Peter McDonald, Fleet Director, Nissan GB, wants to see the company maintain its lead in electric vehicles – and continue its excellent relations with its dealer network Company Car & Van: You’ve been with Nissan for a few months now. Where do you think they can improve your fleet offering for SMEs? Peter McDonald: There are two prime routes to market for SMEs. Many will transact through their local dealership where they will also benefit from a direct relationship to support any servicing and maintenance requirements. We also know that there are a number of intermediaries who sell contract hire products into the SME market and offer terms across a suite of manufacturers and products.

We would like to support the customer whichever way they wish to transact. We have excellent dealers and a very effective Small Business programme, driving standards and dealer investment into the SME space.

In parallel we have excellent working relationships with a number of the largest brokers, we want to support them and ensure they can offer a good level of service to customers wishing to purchase a Nissan.”

CC&V: Nissan is still the ‘Daddy’ of EVs, with the LEAF still selling well. With pressure mounting to build more electric vehicles, are there any new electric car models coming from the Nissan brand?

PM: Nissan is a leader in EV and offers one of the strongest EV propositions. Across passenger cars (LEAF), commercial vehicles (e-NV200) and their unique ability to utilise vehicle-to-grid technology, we have access to the best EV technology in the market today.

We recently launched the LEAF e+ 62KW which adds additional range over the 40KW LEAF and since the start of this year we’ve experienced a massive increase in both LEAF and e-NV200 orders.

In July, we broke cover on our new halo product – the Nissan Ariya – an electric crossover that we’re really excited about.

Arriving next year with an estimated 310-mile range, the Ariya will also feature autonomous driving features, voice personal assistant and seamless connectivity.”

NV250. Why should SMEs take a look at this, as well as the larger NV300 and NV400?

PM: Nissan has a broad range of LCV product. The Navara and e-NV200 generate the most volume and have the greatest awareness but NV250, NV300 and NV400 are effective and highly regarded. In addition, our brand differentiator is a five-year warranty as standard across the LCV range.

CC&V: You have a number of Business & Fleet dealerships in the Nissan dealer network. If an SME is interested in a Nissan product, how are these retailers set up to help?

PM: We have over 180 dealers across the country who are capable of supplying fleet vehicles, and 45 of these dealers are fleet and LCV specialists. They all have dedicated expert fleet staff and are set up to give tailored support to businesses about their vehicle needs, whatever the fleet size, together with flexible service support and a dedicated fleet helpline.

CC&V: After such a testing few months in our industry, where do you hope to see Nissan in the UK fleet sector, by the end of 2021?

PM: We’re looking to stabilise and then seek long-term, sustainable growth in our UK fleet sales performance.

We wish to build excellent partnerships directly with large institutional customers and intermediaries, and together with our dealer network offer an excellent service to SMEs. With our unique experience with electric vehicles, we have a real opportunity to help fleets adjust to a zero emissions future.

We’ve been selling LEAF for over 10 years, we’ve been working with partners on electric LCV for over five years. Together with our dealer network, we know EV and are able to offer great insight and support to customers looking to make the transition.

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New Juke ticks all right boxes Andrew Walker If five years is a long time in a car’s life cycle, then the 10 years it has taken Nissan to replace the Juke seems like an eternity.

The original arrived back in 2010 and on arrival swept all before it, fast becoming a massive success as Nissan nailed the B-SUV sector. It was far from perfect, mind. It was a bit pokey inside, and had a small boot. But despite the criticism it was so very different it swept all before it and it was only when Toyota brought out its C-HR that it was challenged.

Now, however, there are rivals all over the place and Nissan has finally responded with a new model. Rather than start from scratch, Nissan has built a car that is still unmistakeably a Juke, but now tips its hat to the Toyota CH-R, rather than the other way around.

Our test car was an N-Connecta auto in two-tone Pearl Black with a Fuji Sunset Red roof. Its bold styling is complemented by a high driving position to give that large SUV feel. The front shows off a large U-shaped black and chrome-edged grille, the circular headlights sit almost where they did before, with the indicator and LED side lights, slimmer and wrapped around the edge of the bonnet. At the rear, gone are the boomerang light clusters, replaced by a thinner, corner cluster.

Park next to an old Juke and the evolution is clear. Juke Mk2 is wider by 35mm and longer, by 75mm, while the wheelbase has grown by 105mm, which delivers more interior space.

This isn’t surprising because the Juke shares much of its underpinnings with the Renault Captur, both utilising the same CMF-B platform and engines. It’s also British-built at Sunderland.

Trim levels will be familiar to existing Nissan customers. Entry is Visia, (£17,860), moving up through Acenta, N-Connecta, Tekna, Tekna+

CC&V: Your commercial offering is strong, but perhaps, apart form the Navara and e-NV200, falls under many SMEs radar.

You’ve recently launched a new small van, the

36 | October 2020 | Company Car & Van

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ON TEST: NISSAN JUKE

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and finally a ‘Premiere Edition’ at £24,460.

The Visia has LED lights, a DAB radio, cruise control and traffic sign recognition. Acenta adds Apple Car Play and Android Auto accessed via Nissan’s excellent 8” touch screen, 17” alloy wheels and a rear-view camera. Our test model, the N-Connecta, added keyless go and climate control, with Tekna and Tekna+ featuring a Bose stereo, a Heat Pack, 19” alloys and a heated windscreen. Our test car also included Nissan’s Pro Pilot, a £1,300 extra, which offers extra safety features, including Lane Keep Assist, Autonomous Driving and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert.

The cabin is well constructed, with a mixture of soft touch plastics and harder, but good quality plastic and chrome fascia. The driver position is quite high, with the 7” Colour TFT Combimeter screen in front, which offers up the speedo and rev counter, clock, temperature, miles driven and general car info.

The 8” Touch Screen Display works well, is intuitive and clean to the eye. We connected our iPhone via USB, to Apple CarPlay, to access our Music, Spotify, Podcasts and Google Maps and all worked smoothly.

Our auto box model offered three driving modes: Eco, Standard and Sport, all selected using a toggle in front of the gear stick.

Room is much better than the old model.

Front passengers have good head and legroom, and legroom is much improved in the rear, too. Taller rear passengers will suffer from

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the sloping roof, however, and that, combined with the dark roof lining and narrow side windows, contribute to a slightly gloomy feel in the back.

The boot is a definite improvement over the outgoing model, with 422 litres available, increasing to 1,305 litres with the rear seats folded. It also featured a removeable shelf to create a flatter load bed.

We made use of the increased luggage and passenger space on a weekend trip to the North East, as the Juke took on 400 miles, four adults, a Cockerpoo plus luggage, and won.

Yes, it’s still a little tight in the back for five, but for four adults and associated belongings it was impressive. The passenger comfort was miles ahead of the original Juke.

On the motorway the 17” wheels coped admirably and the cabin wasn’t invaded by too much road or wind noise. I love an auto, but the seven-speed automatic gearbox had a tendency to jerk at low speeds when pulling away and reversing. In Eco mode it’s a bit slow at

regaining momentum when you slow down but in its favour, the Adaptive Cruise Control in the Pro Pilot package is simple to use and takes the hassle out of a long distance drive.

The handling is predictable, with any winding roads causing the Juke no issues. We drove the motorway leg in Eco mode to improve fuel economy, while flitting between Normal and Sport when suitable. It’s a pretty bland experience in Eco mode and much more fun in Sport – though acceleration is distinctly average, at 60mph in 10.7 seconds. Claimed combined fuel economy is 46.3 mpg. We actually achieved a 43.2mpg return and having driven 300 miles at motorway speeds with a fully laden car, I was pretty impressed with that.

The 1.0-litre, three-cylinder engine comes with 115bhp, with up to 200Nm of torque, but on the motorway in Eco mode, the gearbox has to change down a gear or two on longer inclines, or when traffic is slow, just to get back up to speed. In Standard mode it’s a little better. Otherwise, I found the auto box and the power offered surprisingly good.

The auto comes with a CO2 figure of 110g/ km, equating to a Year 1 BIK of 29%.

Verdict Competition is fierce in this sector but the new model is now much closer to its rivals. Has same quirky charm as the original but more practical and comfortable.

CC&V RATING: N N N N

Company Car & Van | October 2020 | 37

CV news: Volkswagen ABT eTransporter

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Model offers up to 82 miles range with no compromise on cargo area ABT eTransporter 6.1 offers zero-emissions Prices for Volkswagen ABT eTransporter 6.1 start from £42,060 (exc. VAT) The zero-emission ABT eTransporter 6.1 is Volkswagen’s first all-electric van and one that heralds the transformation of its CV offer to business fleets.

Developed in collaboration with Premium Partner ABT e-Line, the ABT eTransporter 6.1 starts fromfrom £42,060 (exc. VAT) and combines quiet and smooth driving, instant torque, fast charging and high load capacity for the ultimate zero-emissions urban logistics van. The model offers an all-electric range of up to 82 miles with a cargo space of 6.7m3.

Flexible charging options allow for 80 per cent charge in just 45 minutes.

Performance and efficiency The ABT eTransporter 6.1 delivers a maximum power output of 110PS (83kW), with a 0-62mph time of just 17.4 seconds. The technically-advanced and lightweight electric motor provides smooth and quiet driving, low maintenance requirements and instant maximum torque. This is connected to the battery via the power electronics that supply energy to both the on-board electronics and the electric motor.

The compact battery is fitted underneath the load area to avoid compromising the cargo area of 6.7m3 and payload of up to 1,001kg.

Total range is up to 82 miles.

The ABT eTransporter 6.1 is also fitted with regenerative braking, switching the drive motor to generator operation to recover energy lost when braking. The resulting current is fed back into the battery and stored for later use.

The driver is able to see the battery status from the instrument cluster, where the usual rev counter dial has been replaced with a power meter. When the needle is in the green, the battery is being charged by recuperating energy that would otherwise be lost during braking. The blue area denotes the optimum speeds and acceleration for the most economical driving, while the charge level indicator states the current charge in the battery.

The ABT eTransporter 6.1 features a modified dual clutch transmission DSG, combining the conventional system with the requirements of an electric drive to develop sufficient power in any driving situation. When Drive (‘D’) is selected, the motor will deliver 75% power to maximise range, with the kickdown function on the gear shift providing 100% power and torque, maximising performance.

40 | October 2020 | Company Car & Van

Smooth drive, great torque as VW’s first all-electric Transporter heralds a new CV era Charging The Combined Charging System (CCS) socket on the new ABT eTransporter 6.1 provides a flexible charging solution, combining the ability to charge via both AC and DC. This means you can use any device that has either a CCS (DC charging) or Type 2 (AC charging) plug type. A Type 2 charging cable is included with the vehicle as standard.

Rapid charging using a DC charger is the fastest way to charge your electric van. The new ABT eTransporter 6.1 supports up to 50kW DC charging using a CCS connector, which means the vehicle’s lithium-ion battery can achieve a charging state of 80 per cent within approximately 45 minutes. This is ideal for vans working a busy shift pattern which need to be on the road and working.

The new eTransporter can support AC charging up to 7.2kW via a wallbox, which will charge the lithium-ion battery in approximately five and a half hours.

Technology The ABT eTransporter 6.1 is equipped as standard with a DAB+ radio system with 6.5-inch touchscreen and four loudspeakers, SD card slot, Bluetooth® handsfree and two USB interfaces (type-C) in the dashboard.

Volkswagen AppConnect, which allows you to bring smartphone apps onto your infotainment system’s touchscreen, is also a standard feature alongside a comprehensive suite of driver assistance systems, including Front Assist with City Emergency Braking System, rear parking sensors and Crosswind Assist.

Pricing and running costs Pricing for the ABT eTransporter 6.1 Panel van starts from £42,060 (exc. VAT) with the Advance trim from £45,360 (exc. VAT). The kombi crew van and kombi crew van Advance are priced from £46,375 (exc. VAT) and £49,985 (exc. VAT), respectively.

Advance trim adds design, comfort and safety options, including 17” alloy wheels, electrically foldable door mirrors, automatic LED headlights, rain sensing windscreen wipers, heated windshield, auto-dimming rear-view mirror and front and rear parking sensors.

With its zero-emission status, all variants of the ABT eTransporter 6.1 are exempt from road tax (VED) and can access London ULEZ and Clean Air Zones. www.companycarandvan.co.uk

CV NEWS: fiat e-ducato

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Electric Ducato!

• New E-Ducato priced from £47,675 exc VAT (after Plug-in Van Grant) • Zero tailpipe emissions • Range of battery options to provide driving range of between 99-192 miles • Fully charge with fast charger in little over 2 hours Kickstarting the Fiat brand’s foray into 100% electric vehicles is the E-Ducato large LCV, which offers a battery range from 99-192 miles (WLTP City*), depending on the variant. It is Congestion Charge and ULEZ-exempt, making it the perfect tool for businesses in both urban and suburban environments.

There are two battery sizes available – 47kWh or 79kWh. The 47kWh battery, alongside a 90kW motor, provides a range of up to 120 miles (WLTP City*), a maximum power of 90kW (equivalent to 122hp) and maximum torque of 280Nm at 12,000rpm. E-Ducato receives a top speed of 62mph and takes under six seconds to go from 0-30mph. Its impressive charging time of zero to fully charged, takes just 2 hours and 25 minutes,

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enabling businesses to recharge and get back on the road in the quickest time possible. The 47kWh battery is available with AC or DC charging capability.

The 79kWh battery is fused to the same 90kW motor and receives the same power and torque outputs as the 47kWh battery, however provides a longer range of up to 192 miles.

E-Ducato with the 79kWh battery takes just four hours to charge from 0-100% and is also available with AC or DC charging capability.

These figures still do not impede on the versatility of E-Ducato: it receives a best-inclass payload of up to 1,950kg and maintains the same best-in-class volumes as ICE Ducato of between 10m3 and 17m3.

Range is maximised in E-Ducato through its regenerative braking system, with the van storing energy as it is driven downhill. This ensures range isn’t wasted and is stored for when needed most.

The E-Ducato also provides the driver with three driving mode options: • Normal which gives optimal balance between performance and economy; • Eco for an increase in the available range by managing acceleration response in order to reduce energy consumption and deactivation of air conditioning; and • Power mode for facing full-load missions.

A fourth, ‘Turtle mode’, is activated when battery power reaches near-to 0% level. The vehicle alerts the user and activates a specific driving mode with strongly reduced performance to extend the remaining range E-Ducato is available in two trim levels – standard and eTecnico – and three main configurations – goods van, chassis cab and passenger van.

Key to any van is its versatile loading arrangements, and here the E-Ducato offers a host of options in keeping with the range’s reputation for being a van for all reasons.

Continued on page 42

Company Car & Van | October 2020 | 41

CV NEWS: Fiat E-DUCATO

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Electric Ducato!

Continued from page 41 There are two heights (2569mm, 2814mm), three lengths (5413mm, 5998mm, 6363mm) and three wheelbase sizes (3450mm, 4035mm, 4035XLmm).

The chassis cab is also offered with a choice of three lengths (5358mm, 5708mm, 5943mm) and four wheelbase sizes (3450mm, 3800mm, 4035mm, 4035XLmm), while the passenger can be ordered in one size specification seating between five and nine passengers. Every configuration is available with the choice of either the 47kWh or 79kWh battery.

Trim levels are excellent for an LCV. Standard trim provides a 5-inch touchscreen with DAB Radio and Bluetooth®, automatic climate control, tablet holder, USB charging port, fixed full width steel bulkhead, electric heated mirrors and convertors plug.

Therre is also LED lighting in the load area, twin leaf rear suspension, lane departure warning system, advanced emergency braking, Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR), High Beam Recognition (HBR), Rain & Dusk Sensors (RDS), Electronic stability control (ESC) and driver’s air bag.

Exclusively for E-Ducato, there is also both 7kW (with 47kWh) and 11kW (with 79kWh) on-board chargers as well as a mode 3

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charging cable. E-Ducato has been engineered to be capable of charging at both 22kW and 50kW DC. Over and above this specification, eTecnico receives 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and SatNav, rear parking camera with reverse parking sensors, blind spot and rear cross path detection, embroidered headrests, front fog lights, heated electrically folding door mirrors, LED daytime running lights, leather steering wheel and chrome air vent surrounds.

Every E-Ducato receives a 12 month subscription to Mopar Connect. This smartphone application provides help 24 hours a day via its crash assistance service.

Mopar Connect Theft Assistance is able to

“Its impressive charging time of zero to fully charged takes just 2 hours and 25 minutes, enabling businesses to recharge and get back on the road in the quickest time possible...”

detect unauthorised towing or tampering of the device and can receive assistance from a my:Assistant operator.

After having reported the theft, the operators will provide the GPS coordinates and will immobilise the engine when the vehicle stops to facilitate recovery. Roadside Assistance is also available via Mopar Connect.

Richard Chamberlain, Head of Fiat Professional in the UK, said: “Ducato will be 40 years old next year but its success shows no signs of slowing down.

“Everyone at Fiat Professional is so proud of Ducato and what it continues to achieve, particularly at this challenging time when it’s playing such an active role with our emergency services, local authorities and logistics companies operating on the frontline.”

He added: “We are all incredibly excited about the arrival of the new E-Ducato in showrooms later this year, because we know what a brilliant vehicle it is.

“It’s no exaggeration to say E-Ducato is going to be a game changer for many thousands of our customers looking for an electric van that’s more than a match for real-world jobs whilst also making a positive step towards reducing their impact on the environment.”

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Contact your local HTC dealer today HTC Belvedere 020 8319 7812 078 7949 5347 vansales@htc-uk.com Crabtree Manorway, Belvedere, Kent, DA17 6BT

HTC Croydon 020 8683 6205 075 8499 3063 vansales@htc-uk.com 93 Beddington Lane, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 4TD

HTC Hemel Hempstead 0144 283 5682 0776 871 1028 vansales@htc-uk.com Boundary Way, Maylands Industrial Estate, Hertfordshire, HP2 7Y

HTC Reading Van Sales Specialist 0118 930 0932 0776 786 5263 vansales@htc-uk.com Station Road, Theale, Reading, Berkshire, RG7 4AG

Trafford Van Centre Mark Redmond 0161 8773 445 0786 7201 847 vansales@htc-uk.com Unit 5 Circle South, Wharfside Way, Trafford Park, Manchester, M17 1NF

Trafford Van Centre Andy Thomas 0161 8773 445 0777 0922 6699 vansales@htc-uk.com Unit 5 Circle South, Wharfside Way, Trafford Park, Manchester, M17 1NF

HTC Oxford 0186 584 4115 0776 786 5263 vansales@htc-uk.com 16 Chancerygate Business Centre, Langford Lane, Kidlington, OX5 1FQ

Fuel economy and CO2 results for the Fiat Professional E-Ducato. Mpg (l/100km): Not applicable. CO2 emissions: 0g/km. Electric range* 137 to 224 miles. These figures were obtained after the battery had been fully charged. The E-Ducato is a battery electric vehicle requiring mains electricity for charging. There is a new test for fuel consumption, CO2 and electric range figures. The electric range shown was achieved using the new test procedure. Figures shown are for comparability purposes. Only compare fuel consumption, CO2 and electric range figures with other cars tested to the same technical procedures. *The values indicated for vehicle range are measured by the manufacturer on pre-approval tests, and may be subject to modification depending upon the definitive homologation. Values may not reflect real-life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including the starting charge of the battery, accessories fitted (post-registration), variations in weather, driving styles and vehicle load.

CV NEWS: VAUXHALL VIVARO-e

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Vivaro-e offers a package tailor-made for urban life • Priced from £27,723 exc VAT and after Plugged-in Van Grant • All-electric, zero-emission with a choice of 50kWh or 75kWh • Up to 205-mile electric range • 48 minutes to 80% with rapid charging Vauxhall’s Vivaro-e, its first factory-built, fully-electric van, has arrived in the UK – well, it was built here! – at a perfect time for fleets, as more cities look to put in place emissions-free vehicle zones.

One of the first companies to see the benefits of the Vivaro-e is British Gas, which has ordered 1,000 vans – the largest commercial BEV (battery electric vehicle) order in the UK to date.

The all-electric Vauxhall Vivaro-e comes in two trim levels, Dynamic and Elite, two lengths, L1H1 and L2H1, two bodies, Van and Double Cab, and two battery sizes, 50kWh and 75kWh. It is based on the EMP2 multi-energy platform with exactly the same load volume ability as the internal combustion engine Vivaro.

Payload is best in class, up to 1226kg, and, uniquely in the market for all-electric LCVs, Vivaro-e is capable of towing up to one tonne.

The electric motor produces 136hp (100kW)

44 | October 2020 | Company Car & Van

with a powerful 260Nm of torque, and two battery sizes are available. The 50kW offers 144 miles of all-electric range in WLTP conditions (this includes half payload), while the larger 75kW battery offers 205 miles of range.

With an average annual fleet mileage of 20,000 miles, both battery sizes can easily cope with the daily weekday mileage of 76 miles.

Drivers can select one of three driving modes, Power, Normal and Eco depending on their requirement respectively: increased performance for heavier loads, optimised for daily use or lowest energy consumption.

100kW charging capability is available as standard enabling rapid charging of the 50kW battery from zero to 80 per cent in 32 minutes and the larger battery in just 48 minutes. The on board charger is 7.4kW with three-phase 11kW available as an option.

Connected services are available via MyVauxhall App including remote charging, with the ability to defer charging, and cabin temperature pre-conditioning.

With the emphasis on the powertrain it would be easy to overlook the specification – but you shouldn’t. Even on the entry Dynamic model you will find a comprehensive list of kit: Automatic transmission with e-toggle shift; electric parking brake; electronic stability programme with traction control; ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution; hill start assist; driver and front passengers’ airbag; and

remote control central deadlocking.

In addition there is a multi-function trip computer with 3.5-inch digital instrument cluster, and a multimedia infotainment unit with 7-inch colour touchscreen, Digital radio/AM/ FM stereo radio, Bluetooth® connectivity and steering wheel mounted audio and phone controls.

Access to the load area is via either a nearside and offside sliding side-access doors with twin solid rear doors. Elite versions add FlexCargo load-through bulkhead, a driver drowsiness alert and panoramic rear-view camera, among other items.

The payload ranges from 1,000kg on the L1H1 Elite Panel Van 3100 with 75kWh battery, rising to 1,226kg on the L1H1 Dynamic Panel Van 3100 with 50kWh Recharging with a rapid charger is as quick as just over half an hour to 80 per cent for the 50kWh, 48 minutes on the bigger battery.

This is a huge adantage over a conventional domestic socket, which can be as high as 42 hours! Even with a standard wallbox, recharging is over seven hours – which underlines the need for a rapid charge to be installed in your workplace.

Vauxhall’s Vivaro-e continues the brand’s electrification offensive. With the next allelectric LCV, the Combo-e, arriving next year, Vauxhall will offer an electrified version of every passenger car and LCV model by 2024.

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NEW CV REVIEW: MAXUS edeliver 3

MAXUS ushers in the future as eDeliver 3 arrives Maximum range of up to 150 miles makes van perfect for all delivery needs Three options available, plus two battery choices Prices from £22,800 exc VAT After a long wait... the first deliveries of the Maxus eDeliver 3 all-electric panel van are finally being made. It’s a huge moment for the CV world as this is the world’s first ground-up electric van and is the precursor for the eventual shift from combustion engines to full-electric for the entire sector.

Prices start from £22,800 excluding VAT, but including the Government’s £3,000 plug-in vehicle grant.

Buyers have three body configurations to choose from: there’s either a short or long wheelbase panel van and a long wheelbase

46 | October 2020 | Company Car & Van

platform chassis. The standard van has a volume of 4.8m3 and a maximum payload capacity of 905kg, while the long wheelbase model offers respective figures of 6.3m3 and 1,020kg.

All three options are powered by an electric motor with a maximum output of 121bhp and 255Nm of torque in front-wheeldrive format.

The acceleration is swift rather than rapid for an electric, at 11 seconds from 0-62mph, but then again, when did you ever need a van to really shift? Top speed is 75mph.

The most important decision you’ll make is probably around which of the two battery packs you choose. The entry-level 35kWh unit gives the standard van a maximum range of 98 miles – although this figure drops to 93 miles for the long wheelbase model. That may be enough if your daily route is short and fully urban, though cause some trepidation if you take to the motorway a great deal.

If that’s the case and you need a longer range, choose the 52.5kWh battery which increases these figures to 150 miles for the short wheelbase variant and 142 miles for the

extended model. That’s more than enough for most journeys.

When you need to recharge to top up that range, the 35kWh battery pack can be fully recharged in six hours using a standard AC charging station, with the 52.5kWh unit taking eight hours using the same technology.

However, use a DC fast-charger – found increasingly out on the road and a popular addition to many company’s car parks – and both units will recover an 80 per cent charge in just 45 minutes.

So what’s it like to look at and drive? To some, the eDeliver 3 is a bit strange to look at: all shiny curves, plastic and silver panel cut outs and design cues. Its use of aluminium, high-strength steel and composite materials gives it a soft-looking feel but don’t worry, they are strong enough when it matters. Best of all, such lightweight materials help keep the weight down.

Inside, there is plenty to admire. Standard equipment includes air conditioning, electric windows, electrically adjustable door mirrors, a multi-function steering wheel and an eight-inch

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touchscreen infotainment system with support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The cabin looks at first glance a little plasticky but despite that it doesn’t feel cheap and does feel durable. Best of all, it wipes clean quickly, so keeping the cabin spic and span should be easy.

The seats are excellent: firm, sports-style, with arm rests. You’ll also find air conditioning, sat nav, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, USB and Bluetooth connectivity, as well as plenty of storage options. Interestingly, the trim is a one-size-fits-all arrangement, which probably

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helps keep production costs down. The choice is the wheelbase and battery size; everything else is standard.

There’s little point running a great looking van if it won’t deliver as a load shifter, and here the maxus options cut the mustard. The SWB version’s 5m3 is a decent load volume which will be fine for most operators; it’s nice that the LWB goes as high as 6.3m3. Access at the back is achieved through 60:40 split doors – 1.25m high, 1.25m wide – and the side door is equally accessible and is 70cm wide, 1.2m high. The loading bay length is 2.1m and has a

maximum height of nearly 1.35m. At its widest, the bay is 1.6m wide.

At the back you’ll find two barn-style doors which make loading/unloading easy. Other items that will impress drivers include a reversing camera with rear parking sensors, cruise control, six floor-mounted strapping rings for the cargo bay and a solid partition between the cargo bay and cabin.

All-in-all, it’s a striking, competitive and comfortable van that will have the likes of Renault and Nissan scratching their heads as to how MAXUS has done it so cheaply.

Company Car & Van | October 2020 | 47

ON TEST: MERCEDES-BENZ eVITO

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Quality counts – and the eVito has it where it matters most

Andrew Walker The latest electric van to enter the commercial sector fray is the Mercedes-Benz eVito, which made its way to Company Car & Van’s HQ recently.

The entire Vito range was facelifted in 2019 and the new eVito includes all of those updates with the vital addition of that electric powertrain.

The electric eVito, offers customers 85 (70) kW of power, 300 Nm of torque, a 91-mile average range, combined with a six hour charging time. This is based on three-phase charging, which is lucky because CC&V uses a 7kW Rolec home charger, so we could really find out if this charging time was true.

To keep things simple the front-wheel drive eVito has been aligned with the current Vito range and offers a standard specification that mirrors the PURE model. Specification includes a height and rake adjustable steering wheel, Hill Start Assist, electrically adjustable heated exterior mirrors, sliding doors on both sides of the vehicle, wood flooring and an adaptive brake light.

In addition to the PURE specification, the eVito exclusively offers Mercedes PRO connect, which adds a heated driver’s seat, TEMPMATIC air conditioning, a four-metre charging cable, with a CanTrack vehicle tracker.

The eVito is offered in two lengths, L2 or L3.

Prices start from £39,895 ex VAT for the eVito Van PURE L2, increasing to £40,415 ex VAT for the eVito Van PURE L3. However, to knock the edge off these numbers a little the eVito is eligible for the Office For Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) Grant. This means that customers can benefit from a 20% reduction on the vehicle purchase price, up to a maximum of £8,000.

As far as storage goes, the L2 model offers 6.0 m3 cargo volume, 2,277 kg kerb weight, 3,200 kg GVW, with a payload of 923 kg. The L3 offers 6.6 m3 cargo volume, 2,302 kg kerb weight, 3,200 kg GVW and a payload of 898 kg.

48 | October 2020 | Company Car & Van

If you want a bit more on your van, then you can always opt for the eVito PROGRESSIVE. This adds colour coded bumpers, full wheel covers, front fog lights, Headlight Assist, a 75mph speed limiter, Audio 15, lumbar support and electrically foldable mirrors. The eVito PROGRESSIVE van L2 costs from £41,600 ex VAT and £42,120 ex VAT for the L3 variant.

For both specification levels, Mercedes PRO connect, which we first experienced in the new Sprinter, comes as standard and is free for the first three years. Benefits for driver and fleet manager include Remote Access, Digital Drivers’ Log, Drive Style monitoring, real-time variable servicing monitoring, parking time monitor and geo-fence options.

As an electric van, the eVito also benefits from pre-conditioning of the heaters and highlights the vehicle charging options nearby.

So far so good, but what’s the eVito like to drive and what’s it’s real range? Well, from the outside it looks just like a standard Vito. We were testing the entry level PURE L2 and you’d be hard-pressed to know it’s an electric van unless you get up close and read the discreet eVito and eLECTRIC badging. Even the ‘fuel’

“From the outside it looks just like a standard Vito.

We were testing the entry level PURE L2 and you’d be hard-pressed to know it’s an electric van ... even the ‘fuel’ cap is in the same place on the left hand side of the van...”

cap is in the same place on the left hand side of the van.

Inside, this continues and all seems familiar.

You get the 2019 updated Vito interior, which includes two USBs and a heated front driver seat, but not proper air conditioning, which is a known battery drainer. It was 30 deg C the week I drive the eVito and I was forced to drive with the windows open just to keep vaguely cool.

There’s a three-seat configuration up front, as well as some top-of-the-dash storage, a decent glove box and two handy deep door pockets, but nowhere to fit a large bottle or drinks container, which is a bit strange nowadays. The ignition is on the left.

Power steering is standard and the wheel is both rake and reach adjustable. The driver’s seat also offers a myriad of adjustments, so getting comfortable was not a problem. The handbrake is located on the floor, as it is in Mercedes cars. You push a ‘fourth’ pedal with your left foot to engage the brake and then pull a dash-mounted lever to release. I found it straightforward to use, although some may not like it as it doesn’t help you with hill starts.

In the centre of the dash and higher up than in some vans are the Audio 15 infotainment system and heating controls. The infotainment screen is slightly awkward to reach for the driver, as is the USB inputs which are on the left of the dash. For a left-hand driven Vito, this location would make perfect sense.

Elsewhere, the front windows are electric and keeping the cabin quiet is a full width bulkhead. Overall, as perhaps you’d expect from a Mercedes-Benz, the quality is top-notch, althought I’d reckon it not to be quite as practical a cab as some of its competitors.

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ON TEST: MERCEDES-BENZ eVITO

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“Unlike many of its rivals, the range is a genuine 90 miles... most electrics deliver no better than 70-80% of their claimed range, so the eVito, at 88% or better, scores a significant victory here...’

Continued from page 48 The rear load space is easily accessed as the L2 Vito we drove comes with left and right hand slide-opening side doors and twin rear doors that open 180 degrees. To be fair we used it only once, to transport a mountain bike into the Peak District, and it was a simple enough task to fix the bike to the hooks located in the rear floorspace, to stop it moving around.

Of more interest, I’m sure, is how the eVito drives and how far one can travel in it. For starters it’s easy to drive and very relaxing on the motorway. The gear lever offers Neutral, Reverse or Drive options and even with the battery weight underneath the floor, the eVito handles pretty well for its weight.

As with most electric cars, the eVito offers several levels of regenerative braking which can be adjusted using the paddles on either side of the steering wheel. In traffic or town this allows you to utilise D-, the strongest regenerative level, which is also the most noticeable. You can then decrease the strength of regeneration by pulling on the right hand paddle, moving through the options of D, then D+ and as we found for motorway driving the very useful D++.

When driving the eVito you can choose from three drive modes: E+, E or C. There is a dash-mounted button in the centre console to select these. E+ offers the most efficient driving style, while E is the middle option and the one we preferred. Finally, you can select C, which is the least efficient – or the most fun!

The eVito was delivered with a full charge, which offered a 91-mile range. We took the eVito to Chester in drive mode E along the M56 at around 70mph, a total distance of 30 miles.

On arrival at Tesco, we took advantage of a Podpoint charger while we shopped in the store, which allowed us up to two hours of free charging. You can access these via the Podpoint App. Our journey had decreased the range from 91 miles to 55 and after an hour charging was back up to 71 miles for the return 50 | October 2020 | Company Car & Van

leg. Thirty miles later and back home, the range now showed 36 miles.

We then repeated the identical journey the following day and we concluded that if driven unladen with just a driver, at mostly motorway speeds, then the eVito offers an 80-mile range.

For the remainder of our week we drove locally and once up into the Peaks and back, at lower speeds of up to 50mph. At these speeds the range is a genuine 90 miles, as you can really take advantage of the regenerative braking to keep that battery topped up.

This may sound like damning with faint praise but when we have driven other electric cars or vans, they regularly deliver no better than 70-80% of their claimed electric range, so for the eVito to be at around 88% or better on our test, was a major victory for Mercedes-Benz.

The comparison with other similar-sized electric vans is interesting. If you take the PSA Group’s Vivaro-e, e-Dispatch and e-Expert, for example, the eVito’s 91-mile range doesn’t come near its rivals claimed WLTP battery range of 143 miles. However, we’d be surprised if the PSA vehicles’ range in real-world driving is more than 110 miles, so suddenly the difference isn’t quite as stark.

Should your business get one? If you have a van that only travels locally, covering fewer than 75 miles a day, then it’s well worth a look. It’s not as cheap as the diesel Vito, where the entry level model costs £23,900 + vat. Our test eVito was higher specced but the difference is still large, retailing at £39,895. But if you subtract the £8,000 OLEV grant the price reduces to £31,895, so again, what starts out as a large difference comes down pretty quickly to one that isn’t quite as striking.

In conclusion, the eVito was much better

than we expected. It performed well above average on our EV mileage range tests, it’s comfortable, quiet to drive and now offers Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, something we really can’t live without.

On the negative side, we really would have liked proper air conditiong in lieu of the heated driver’s seat, and cruise control would have been handy too, as we found the accelerator pedal quite heavy going on the motorway.

You may be reading this and thinking that the 80-91-mile eVito range is nowhere near enough, but we reckon that plenty of businesses don’t need a complete fleet of long-distance diesel vans. Factor in that charging is about 75 per cent cheaper than the equivalent cost of diesel, and again we have a gap that is narrowing.

Ultimately, we think it will come down to the buyer’s confidence in the eVito range, the daily mileage you need from your van, plus local access to the charging network.

If your business has charging stations, or you have one at home, there really is nothing to fear from an electric Vito.

Verdict It’s a great van, no question. At first glance it sounds expensive and the range offer looks weak, but when you compare like with like in the real world the eVito stacks up nicely. It’s still the eVito Corleone of the (electric) van world – though there’s nothing to be afraid of.

CC&V RATING: N N N N

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CV TEST: TOYOTA PROACE CITY

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Its siblings may have beaten it to the market but the Toyota Proace City still has a few aces up its sleeve to compete with psa, says Andrew Walker

A CV that’s fun in the city!

Toyota was a little late to the party with the launch of its latest small van, the Proace City, earlier this year. Like its larger sibling the Proace, the Proace City is virtually identical to the Citroen Berlingo Van, Peugeot Partner and Vauxhall Combo Cargo, being built on the same PSA Group platform, and all the above beat it to market. But Toyota was keeping something up its sleeve: slightly different specs and equipment, with the Proace City entry model better equipped than its siblings in a bold targeting of small businesses and SMEs. First and foremost, the Proace City is offered in two body lengths – L1 and L2 – and comes with cargo volumes of 3.3 and 3.9 cubic metres, with a single roof height. And, there are two trims as well, Active and Icon.

Two engines are offered, both PSA 1.5 diesels, with either 75bhp or 100bhp and a 5-speed manual gearbox. There’s no auto 52 | October 2020 | Company Car & Van

version, and nor is Toyota offering the largest 130bhp PSA engine either. And there’s another caveat, in that the L2 van is only available in top-spec Icon trim.

While choice is therefore a little limited, to be different, Toyota is offering twin-sliding side doors on both L1 and L2, while only the L2 versions of the Citroen, Peugeot and Vauxhall offer this, so that’s good news. Also standard on the range is a full steel bulkhead and if you order the entry level Active, you can add the twin passenger seat option, which includes the through load fold down back; that’s perfect for longer items, while the full steel bulkhead is a real safety must-have.

Standard kit is impressive too, with air-con, a USB socket and Bluetooth on Active. We were testing the L1 Icon and this adds an excellent 8” touchscreen, with connected Apps for Apple Car Lay and Android Auto, front and rear

parking sensors, a red view camera, cruise control, a second USB, DAB and daytime running lights.

Both models feature excellent safety kit.

Active comes with driver and passenger airbags, an option on its PSA siblings, curtain airbags, hill start, downhill assist, stability control and brakeforce distribution. Icons adds a speed limiter, tyre pressure monitors and a supplemental restraint system (SRS) on the two airbags.

Only Icon models can be fitted with an alarm with motion and tamper sensors, while the Toyota Safety Sense system, which adds road sign assist, lane departure warning and tiredness alert, is also only offered on Icon variants too.

Service intervals are 25,000 miles or two years. Both models feature a 50-litre fuel tank and a 17-litre AdBlue tank. Proace City benefits from Toyota’s five-year/100,000-mile warranty, while the PSA Group versions only get three years of cover, albeit with the same 100,000mile limit.

We were testing the Icon SWB powered by the larger 100 bhp engine. Top speed is 107 mph, with 0-62 mph reached in 11.5 seconds.

CO2 emissions are 151g/km with combined fuel economy on the WLTP cycle between 46.31 and 50.44 MPG. Continued on page 54 www.companycarandvan.co.uk

CV TEST: TOYOTA PROACE CITY

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“For load access, the twin rear doors open 180 degrees if required and both side sliding doors open and close with a reassuring clunk.

A visit to Selco to buy some wood to make shed shelving allowed me to load four pieces of MDF and two 2.4 m lengths via the opening seat hatch...”

A CV that’s fun in the city!

Continued from page 52 As we have stated before, van cabs are now very car-like and this is definitely the case with the Proace City.

The fixtures and fittings will be familiar to Vauxhall, Citroen and Peugeot customers. The instrumentation is clear and concise and the large centre dash mounted touchscreen is a real highlight.

Importantly for a van, it’s all easy to reach from the driver’s seat.

The seating position is high, while the compact, flat-bottomed steering wheel allows for easier access to the cabin. There’s good storage space too, with two glove boxes and two large door pockets, plus an above the head body wide shelf on our Icon model.

Three occupants can also sit abreast in the front of the Combo Cargo although the centre front passenger – as ever, it seems – will find leg room tight.

The build quality is excellent, with plenty of

soft-touch plastics on the front and top of the dashboard. Even the glove box lid and door pockets are solid and built to last. The seat fabric feels hard wearing, with the floor covering designed to take some punishment from booted feet. There’s also a handy electric handbrake and the gear stick sits at a good height for gear changes.

For load access, the twin rear doors open 180 degrees if required and both side sliding doors open and close with a reassuring clunk.

I’m not a tradesperson, but always try to use a van for purpose when I test one and the Proace City was no different. A visit to Selco to buy some wood to make shed shelving allowed me to load in four pieces of MDF and two 2.4 m lengths via the opening seat hatch.

We travelled over 200 miles in our week in the Proace City, driving on a mix of motorway, dual-carriageway and urban roads and never found it anything less than comfortable. Thanks to the steel bulkhead, the cabin is quiet.

The infotainment system works extremely well. We connected an iPhone via the USB, to utilise AppleCar Play and made a couple of handsfree calls without needing to shout. This also allowed us into Google Maps.

On the motorway the addition of cruise control allows the driver to sit back and relax and in town, the five-speed gearbox is well set for slow traffic driving. Driving 212 miles, we averaged a shade over 49mpg.

The 100bhp model worked just fine with small loads and a single occupant, offering plenty of torque in low revs and decent motorway progress. The 75bhp version though, might feel a little underpowered especially with two passengers on board.

Although the entry level Proace City is slightly more expensive than the equivalent Berlingo Van, Partner and Combo Cargo, the City is better specced. It also comes with twin sliding side doors and you do get a better five year/10,000 mile warranty, so these factors need to be taken into account.

Like its PSA counterparts, the Proace City hasn’t got many faults. The only one we could find was the less than accurate air-con, which is too cold at 19 degrees and too warm at 20 degrees. But this really is a minor quibble. The Proace City comes highly recommended.

Verdict Difficult to fault. The additional equipment puts it on a level above its peers, and while more expensive, allows it to have equal bragging rights at the next family event when the PSA guys turn up.

CC&V RATING: N N N N 54 | October 2020 | Company Car & Van

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