Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica
List Price
BiK
4.3mpkWh
Efficiency
miles (Range)
miles (On fleet)
Ah, the enjoyment of a Devon holiday with children and those long car journeys stuck in traffic jams. The tears, the crying, the tantrums – and sometimes my son can get pretty bad too…
Truth be told, as much as I was looking forward to a holiday, I wasn’t looking forward to the lack of EV charging at my rented cottage. The only saving grace was that it was a place I’d been to before and a journey I knew well, so I was reasonably familiar with the charger locations, both on the route down and once there.
First stop: McDonalds. Not for its haute cuisine, but for its tie-up with InstaVolt. I’ve said it before, but whoever at McDonalds thought of the brand partnership with the charging firm is frankly a genius. Recognising that people will be parked for a while as they charge and combining that with an opportunity to buy lunch or even just a cup of coffee is such a smart move. Put simply, it means that you’re more likely to seek McDonalds locations out on your journey. Just as we did.
Unfortunately though, we weren’t alone in that thought and on this occasion, all of the charging bays were taken. Ironically though, a 300kW BP Pulse charger right next door was completely free, so we jumped on that instead. At 87p/kWh, it was a pricey 27kWh that we topped up with, but it was worth it. And at this point, I hadn’t really properly noticed anything unusual about the Junior’s charging that I would do later in the holiday…
Charging-wise, the rest of the week was spent visiting another BP Pulse device close by our holiday cottage to top up at convenient times as and when we needed it, and also at the end of the week before our return journey. And it was only then that I really noticed something unusual about the Alfa and, more specifically, its charging speed.
The Alfa’s maximum charging speed is 100kW, which is rarely seen, even when the charger is capable. However, as so often with EVs, it’s when charging above 80% where things can get painful when using public devices. In short, if you have to maximise your range and charge above 80%, the charging rate can slow to the pace of an asthmatic snail with a sprained ankle.
But that isn’t the case with the Junior – another major factor in the pro column of this car. Unlike every other EV I’ve charged publicly, the Alfa’s charging rate sailed past 80% without showing any signs of letting up and only really slowed once it reached 90%. Now, admittedly, the screen showed that it would take a further hour to get from 91% to fully charged, but I already had 231 miles of range and that was plenty for me. I have never known any EV’s battery be this efficient at a public charger and it made a real difference to squeezing every mile out of a charge.
The reality is that most owners will spend the vast majority of their time charging from home, but this speed of rapid charging was a real boon. Again, no other EV I’ve ever tested or publicly charged has performed as well as this Alfa Junior – it’s been a real eye-opener. It’s enough to make you almost look forward to long journeys with your children. Well, almost.
Nat Barnes
Ah, the enjoyment of a Devon holiday with children and those long car journeys stuck in traffic jams. The tears, the crying, the tantrums – and sometimes my son can get pretty bad too…
Truth be told, as much as I was looking forward to a holiday, I wasn’t looking forward to the lack of EV charging at my rented holiday cottage. The only saving grace was that it was a place I’d been to before and a journey I knew well, so I was reasonably familiar with the charger locations, both on the route down and once there.
First stop: McDonalds. Not for its haute cuisine, but for its tie-up with InstaVolt. I’ve said it before, but whoever at McDonalds thought of the brand partnership with the charging firm is frankly a genius. Recognising that people will be parked for a while as they charge and combining that with an opportunity to buy lunch or even just a cup of coffee is such a smart move. Put simply, it means that you’re more likely to seek McDonalds locations out on your journey. Just as we did.
Unfortunately though, we weren’t alone in that thought and on this occasion, all of the charging bays were taken. Ironically though, a 300kW BP Pulse charger right next door was completely free, so we jumped on that instead. At 87p/kWh, it was a pricey 27kWh that we topped up with, but it was worth it. And at this point, I hadn’t really properly noticed anything unusual about the Junior’s charging that I would do later in the holiday…
Charging-wise, the rest of the week was spent visiting another BP Pulse device close by our holiday cottage to top up at convenient times as and when we needed it, and also at the end of the week before our return journey. And it was only then that I really noticed something unusual about the Alfa and, more specifically, its charging speed.
The Alfa’s maximum charging speed is 100kW, which is rarely seen, even when the charger is capable. However, as so often with EVs, it’s when charging above 80% where things can get painful when using public devices. In short, if you have to maximise your range and charge above 80%, the charging rate can slow to the pace of an asthmatic snail with a sprained ankle.
But that isn’t the case with the Junior – another major factor in the pro column of this car (see previous report below). Unlike every other EV I’ve charged publicly, the Alfa’s charging rate sailed past 80% without showing any signs of letting up and only really slowed once it reached 90%. Now, admittedly, the screen showed that it would take a further hour to get from 91% to fully charged, but I already had 231 miles of range and that was plenty for me. I have never known any EV’s battery be this efficient at a public charger and it made a real difference to squeezing every mile out of a charge.
The reality is that most owners will spend the vast majority of their time charging from home, but this speed of rapid charging was a real boon. Again, no other EV I’ve ever tested or publicly charged has performed as well as this Alfa Junior – it’s been a real eye-opener. It’s enough to make you almost look forward to long journeys with your children. Well, almost.
Nat Barnes
Mini John Cooper Works Electric
List Price
BiK
3.6mpkWh
Efficiency
226-251
miles (Range)
miles (On fleet)
A few longer motorway trips have demonstrated that the JCW’s ride quality can be acceptable, given the right surface. I was envisaging being bumping around the M25 when, in reality, it was relatively smooth – even over the bare concrete sections that for some reason remain (cost, I’m guessing) untouched by Tarmac. Sure, it’s firmer than the standard model – let alone some other products in this segment, but I actually found it relatively easy to get used to.
Away from the dynamic attributes, I’m a big fan of the visuals and sounds that the Mini possesses. From the striking puddle lights upon entry, to the little startup sound, to the faux engine note – it all adds to that element of fun that I described in my first report.
It’s classy, too. The large central display has been a popular addition to the Mini – I’m not sure why more manufacturers don’t veer from more rigid or rectangular shapes (again, maybe it’s cost) – and it works really well. The different elements on the display are easy to read and the multiple ‘Experiences’ – from Timeless to Vivid to Go-Kart and everything in-between – demonstrate the ultimate in personalisation of the cabin environment. There are some great apps in the menu, too, which again demonstrates that this is a car that doesn’t take itself too seriously and definitely knows its customer base.
Another plus was the relatively non-intrusive nature of the warnings in the car. Instead of random bongs ringing out, there’s a yellow hue that appears on the central screen to remind you to put both hands on the wheel or to indicate when there’s a navigation instruction. There are more pronounced audible warning for exceeding the speed limit, but it’s a much calmer environment than some cabins I’ve been in.
The JCW is a car that has grown on me, just in time for it to be swapped with the Škoda Elroq that has been in the care of Mr Kendall for a few weeks. One thing the Mini doesn't have is three decent rear seats, which is a major requirement for the Challen family.
John Challen
Volkswagen Golf Style 1.5 TSI eHybrid 204
FIRST REPORT
List Price
BiK
CO₂ emissions
Economy
N/A
miles (On fleet)
Plug-in hybrids are enjoying their time in the sun, with sales rocketing in the UK among company buyers and cars such as the Golf here exemplify why this type of vehicle is so popular.
Combining an electric motor with a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine, this Golf eHybrid offers a 400-mile plus range and negligible company car tax thanks to its (for now) low BIK rates. Of course, there is a dark cloud looming on the horizon with a seismic shift in BIK rates from the 2028/29 tax year but, for now, the Golf eHybrid makes a great case for itself as a company car.
For a start, it’s a Golf – that means a familiar, reliable and stylish family hatchback with a decent level of kit, strong residuals and high driver appeal. There’s also plenty of room inside for two adults and two children alongside a decent boot.
The cabin is also a pleasant place to spend time thanks to a large glass area and huge centre screen which gives access to myriad controls. This touchscreen unit is a big improvement over previous Volkswagen infotainment systems, and there are also handy physical buttons to give instant access to features such as volume control, heated windows and lights.
Our test model sits right in the middle of the range, benefitting from lots of interior niceties such as more luxurious seat fabrics and interior trim work, while the chunky 17-inch alloy wheels really improve the look outside compared to the more basic versions with their smaller wheels. In technology terms it has all the essentials – big infotainment screen, wireless charging pad, navigation, app connections and an e-sim for online connectivity.
As a package the Style trim is hard to fault, although our test car does have a few choice options, including tinted rear windows, upgraded parking camera and a Winter Pack which offers heated front seats and steering wheel – nice to have as the weather turns…
Julian Kirk
Volvo EX30 Single Motor Extended Range RWD Ultra
List Price
BiK
3.1mpkWh
Efficiency
miles (Range)
miles (On fleet)
Electric life with Volvo’s smallest EV is going swimmingly but there’s been some snags on the technology front – mainly through user error!
First up, back early September, was the loss of internet and connected services in the EX30, likely my fault. I’d tried twice to connect to the EX30 app since testing the car but failed. With a bit more time, I’d managed to marry up car and app. But then I repeatedly had a problem with a blank screen when I tried to activate my internet subscription in the app, along with a car that wasn’t connected. This led to a couple of weeks of a sat-nav without live Google feeds – making me realise just how reliant I am on dynamic traffic updates. And no ability to pick the Google Assistant’s brains on salient topics. Worse still, it left my youngest son unable to connect to his Spotify account for the school run. Realising the seriousness of the Spotify situation, I had a brain wave, went into app alerts and activated the Vodafone Internet in the Car, via a free package, and all was well again. Even if it’s meant a return to the melancholic tones of XXXTENTACION every morning.
One of the first things I’d done with the app in situ was to check that the car was fully updated, which luckily it was. But then, when parking at an evening appointment to pick up the dog following surgery to remove a potentially malignant mass, the Volvo flashed up with an alert of an over-the-air update that would take 30 minutes. New to all of this and keen just to get the dog and find out if the lump was cancerous, I quickly clicked yes to the alert to get rid of it. But then some 28 minutes later, back with a dog wearing the cone of shame, I couldn’t get into the car and couldn’t work out why. Luckily, the app reminded me that the update was still going and two minutes later we were in the car. Since then, I’ve activated another update – and realised both car and app display make it quite clear that nothing will be useable until it’s finished!
I’m now also getting alerts about activating the digital key – which lets you lock, unlock and start your car with your smartphone. This would be great to try but, as it’s only for use with iPhones at the moment, it’s ruled out for me.
It would have been handy though as the key fob battery died recently, three days after warning me the battery was running out, and I was left reliant on the key card as CR2450 coin types weren’t in the battery battalion at home. I’m now fully stocked up in case of need for future test cars!
Natalie Middleton
Cupra Leon
List Price
BiK
4.5mpkWh
Efficiency
miles (Range)
miles (On fleet)
Our Cupra Leon e-Hybrid now has over 2,000 miles underneath its handsome copper-coated alloy wheels and it has been the plainest of plain sailing so far. Admittedly, the extra charging sessions that a c.20kWh battery requires compared to the c.80kWh battery of our previous Cupra Tavascan, take a bit of getting used to but soon become part of the routine. I’m still getting around 80 miles to a full charge so compared to the previous pre-facelift Leon e-Hybrid, there’s a lot less topping up of the battery required, so it’s all relative.
Having a home charger helps in this respect – as does the ability for fleet drivers to charge at the office – but for those who don’t have such luxuries, it may transpire that they won’t be incentivised to charge plug-in hybrids like the Leon quite so often, and in so doing, won’t maximise its advantages.
One of those main advantages is the 6% BiK tax rate for company car drivers, which means that the Leon will be costing a typical 20% taxpaying employee around £40 per month. Not as cheap as BEVs, for sure, but still an absolute bargain given the car’s all-round appeal.
And part of that appeal has to be the styling of the latest 2025 Leon. A neighbour who recently upgraded their 2021 Cupra Formentor – specified on the strength of a ride in our previous long-term vehicle back in the day – to a 2025 model, is still in love with the styling and the brand. The Formentor really put Cupra on the user-chooser radar four years ago, and the latest Leon, exhibiting very much the same front-end DNA and illuminated Cupra badge at the rear, is equally as appealing.
It seems other road users agree as well. Whilst sat behind the wheel, I was recently accosted by someone clearly keen on getting me to lower my window and chat with him. Given he was quite animated, I was half expecting him to tell me I had a flat tyre or to chastise me for inadvertently causing some degree of road rage. But it turned out he just wanted to say he loved my car, loved the colour, and wishes he'd looked at one before he had ordered his MY25 Volkswagen Golf. And he didn’t believe me that it was a plug-in hybrid.
I reflected on this afterwards that, despite models like the Leon being front and centre in our consciousness due to the FW team being heavily entwined in the motor industry, joe/joanne public might still see more ubiquitous models like the Golf as the default choice, and not even really try to look elsewhere. Which is a shame really given how good the Leon is, and arguably more surprising in this receptive day and age, when newcomers from China seem to be gaining more awareness and traction month by month. I guess scenarios like this are where advice from enlightened fleet managers can make all the difference.
Luke Wikner
BYD Seal Excellence Twin Motor Excellence AWD 3.8S
List Price
BiK
3.4mpkWh
Efficiency
miles (Range)
miles (On fleet)
As it reaches the end of its time with us, the Seal continues to impress and come into its own. The Chinese brand has come a long way in the UK since the launch of the Atto 3 – and the Seal EV represents one of its major success stories. While many other models have followed since, the battery powered saloon threw down the gauntlet to the competition (new and legacy brands) with a car that went big on quality, performance and overall driving experiences.
A few longer journeys recently have demonstrated what a comfortable car the Seal is, from the plush quilted seats to the soft central armrest to the space around the driver’s seat. It’s also a car that the rest of the Challen family will be sad to see depart, which I wasn’t sure would be the case when it turned up and they were all asking me “What does BYD stand for, then?”
Since then, the company – and I like to think I’ve played my part – has done a great job of demonstrating and explaining who and who the company is. The registration figures certainly seem to paint a positive picture, which is probably a good sign.
One slight oddity was an overactive dimming function of the main screen. Even going under an A road gantry seemed to trigger the darkness, sometimes only kicking in after I had emerged the other side. I get that it is useful to moderate the lighting at night, but in the Seal, it just seemed a bit too sensitive and unnecessary.
That’s a very minor gripe, though. On balance, the Seal is a fantastic car, with plenty of miles from the battery – and decent performance and comfort. BYD is well placed to continue its progress with the current model lineup and, in the case of the Seal, it has a car that is a more than capable match for the established players. It might do some things differently – such as the rotating screen – but it does pretty much everything to a very high standard. In every scenario – whether you want or need to access all the power, or just want to cruise through a town – the Seal gets the job done with limited fuss, which is essentially all people want from a car.
John Challen
Škoda Elroq SE L 60
List Price
BiK
3.7mpkWh
Efficiency
miles (Range)
miles (On fleet)
My first experience of the Škoda Elroq was on the international launch of the car back in December last year in sunny Majorca. I was impressed with it then and, on first impressions, it lives up to all expectations on UK roads too. The Czech manufacturer has successfully managed to take all of the best elements of the Enyaq and transplant them into a smaller model, which opens up a whole new customer base.
The days of ‘range anxiety’ are still with us, to a degree, so some drivers might be a bit concerned about having ‘only’ 265 miles. In fairness, I’m struggling to get near that after a full charge – maybe it’s something to do with the more inclement weather as autumn kicks in. But it’s more than enough for the vast majority of journeys and, while the larger 82kWh battery and all the extra miles that come with it might be nice, I’m cool with what I’ve got.
Inside the Elroq, there are all the elements that drivers have come to expect from Škoda cars – practicality, space, comfortable seats and an umbrella. One feature that is a new one on me in the lineup is a handle to close the boot that is integrated into the locking mechanism. In the absence of a moulded handle or an electrically operated tailgate (that feature is only available on the SportLine models) it prevents any hands getting dirty and is a simple and non-intrusive solution that really works. Dare I say it’s ‘simply clever’…
Other items that have caught my eye – quite literally – are the puddle lights and also the car’s two-spoke steering wheel. Maybe it’s coincidence, but these seem to be getting more and more popular and personally I find them quite comfortable to hold and great to look at. One omission that, again, I think I might have experienced a bit too much recently, is a head-up display – an option that isn’t included on our car. Again, it’s no big issue, but it’s amazing how you get used to something to the point where you miss it when it’s not there!
John Challen
