Cupra Born V3 58kWh
With the recent prolonged cold spell – confirmed by already high energy bills nearly going off the charts – the Born has now accepted that cabin heat is a most necessary evil, and beating the official range is the preserve of April-November. On the plus side, like gas usage, this is seasonal and Born company car drivers will more than make up for this in the warmer months. Here's hoping the slight but persistent squeak i'm getting from the head-up display screen is only evident when the mercury drops below zero too.
I'm also starting to realise that I may have become something of an EV bore. Not because i'll tell anyone within hearing distance how good the Cupra is, but because I genuinely get asked the question a lot... and almost always by semi-initiated strangers, both male and female, looking at leasing an electric vehicle.
Spending a fair amount of time within London's congestion charge zone, coupled with the recent proposed expansion of the ULEZ zone (likely coming soon to a city near you if it hasn't already), there has never been more focus on vehicle emissions-awareness.
Granted, these issues will only affect pre-Euro 4 petrol models and some newer diesel models, so fleets in the main will be clear of such concerns, but it has definitely caused a perceptible shift towards EV acceptance.
And while cars like BMW's impressive iX, despite all their camera wizardry, remain difficult to fit in narrow street parallel parking spaces, normal-sized hatchbacks have no such issues and are far more suited to a partly urban existence.
There is still something very satisfying about not contributing to city centre pollution and more than six months into Born stewardship, that novelty still hasn't really worn off. The energy crisis has obviously had a knock-on effect on charging prices, but EVs still compare favourably.
As Fleet World colleagues have found, going back to a traditional ICE vehicle as company transport will take a little readjustment, much like the decisions facing many company car drivers who are questioning whether an EV is right for them. If my experience of over 7,000 miles is anything to go by, the vast majority will conclude that it is.
Luke Wikner
THE NUMBERS
P11D? £38,355
BiK?* 2% I £13 (20%) / £26 (40%)
RANGE? 264 miles
ON FLEET RANGE? 248 miles
EFFICIENCY? 4.5mpkWh
Škoda Karoq SE Drive 1.0 95hp
The Karoq continued to perform well over a rather frenetic festive season, when its onboard space, frugality and comfort proved most helpful; both for transporting family and presents pre-Christmas and for tip trips and general clear-outs after.
We’ve been regularly making use of its extensive 1,630 litres of boot space and it was handy to discover the flippers in the boot for individually plopping down either side of the 60/40 split seats. The flip-down section, 12V socket, sliding bag hooks, dividers and storage net also add up to a family-friendly and hands-on approach.
The Karoq is also proving comfortable and more than up to the rigours of everyday life behind the wheel. Its light steering at low speeds, manoeuvrability and easy visibility have made it very at home in the suburban environments it’s largely been tested in. Despite being the entry-level engine, the 110hp 1.0-litre TSI in our test model has also proved up to the task, with plenty of low-down momentum, enabling it to pull away quickly. It doesn’t feel underpowered on motorways either.
Ride is also decent too and does well at soaking up today’s pothole-encrusted roads. It’s also extremely comfortable on motorways. Fuel economy is currently around 37mpg long term; not bad at all given its average 27mph speed in said suburban conditions. The over-riding impression is that the Karoq is nothing but helpful. Up to the minutiae of everyday life and ready to assist.
Natalie Middleton
IN NUMBERS
PRICE £27,090
BiK* 31% I £140 (20%) / £280 (40%)
ECONOMY 48.7mpg
CO2 EMISSIONS 133g/km
ON FLEET 37.3mpg
FIRST REPORT
Volkswagen Taigo 1.0 TSI 110 R-Line DSG
It’s a mark of how much we in this country love SUVs that Volkswagen now offers eight in its line-up, ranging from the city-sized T-Cross up to the full-fat four-wheel drive Touareg (plus a pair of EV variants too).
Our new long termer, the Taigo, joins the line-up in second-from-bottom form, being slightly bigger than the T-Cross and slightly smaller than the T-Roc. Where the Taigo differs from its stablemates is in its style – a bit more coupe-like with a sloping rear hatchback – and some quirky personalisation options such as bright colours, various interior trim options and differing roof colours.
Our test model, however, hasn’t been too near the personalisation button on the configurator – it’s finished in a restrained grey metallic (a £630 option) and inside is grey upholstery and grey alloy wheels. It’s fairly subdued and I’m sure younger drivers – the key market here – will be far more flamboyant with their choices.
Other than the metallic paint, we’ve ticked the heated front seats box (£310), a rear-view camera at £265, keyless access and start at £350, plus a ‘beats audio’ package at £635, which improves the stereo system and adds a space-saver spare wheel (presumably to make room for the uprated amplifier and sub-woofer).
All-in, this Taigo costs more than £31,000 in top-spec R-line trim fitted with the DSG automatic gearbox, which seems somewhat hefty for a 1.0-litre model. However, versions start at £23,000 which is where I think this model makes more sense.
Despite the price, initial impressions are positive – the lively three-cylinder 1.0-litre TSI engine is a cracker, delivering nippy acceleration, while interior space is ample for a family of four (plus there’s a decent sized boot, too).
Julian Kirk
THE NUMBERS
PRICE £28,870
BiK* 31% I £149 (20%) / £298 (40%)
ECONOMY 47.8mpg
CO2 EMISSIONS 134g/km
ON FLEET N/A
Volvo V90 Cross Country B5 AWD Plus
I’m getting used to running an internal combustion engined vehicle again now, but certain aspects of shifting back from an EV have been an eye-opener. I should add that the change into diesel power has ben made easier with the V90 Cross Country, which is a very capable and willing companion on the road.
Cabin noise has increased (compared with the previous BMW iX3), not that the Volvo’s diesel engine is overly intrusive, but you can hear it! Another thing on the increase is trips to the fuel station. I appreciate that charging at home is not a luxury everyone that drives an EV has, but the convenience of not actually having to travel to ‘refuel’ is something I’ve really missed over the past couple of months.
Economy-wise, those fuel station visits have been more regular than I’d anticipated. My typical regular vehicle use also shows up how much an EV – or a PHEV – better suits me. With three Challen Jnrs that require ferrying in various directions, the V90 has been subjected to plenty of short journeys, which don’t bring out the best in the trip economy meter. However, some longer runs using dual carriageways and motorways at relatively sedate speeds has changed that.
Actually, I found it relatively easy to beat the stated combined MPG maximum figure of 44.8mpg, which is often no mean feat. Above 50mpg has been witnessed on the odd occasion, but it’s mainly very high 40s, which I’m comfortable with. Especially when I think of all the much lower figures recorded on the school run or dropping the eldest to work a couple of miles away.
John Challen
THE NUMBERS
PRICE £54,620
BiK* 37% I £337 (20%) / £674 (40%)
ECONOMY 41.5 - 44.8mpg
CO2 EMISSIONS 165 - 179g/km
ON FLEET 38.9mpg
?????????????????????
If you think there is something familiar about the new Fiat Doblò and E-Doblò, you would be right. The previous Fiat-designed model has been replaced with the PSA K9 series van, which is now the standard compact van across all Stellantis LCV brands. This means that the new Doblò shares its architecture and major components with the Citroën Berlingo, Peugeot Partner, Vauxhall Combo and –through the Stellantis/Toyota joint venture – the Toyota Proace City.
Being last to the party brings advantages too. Fiat has had time to pick features such as the “Magic Plug”, which enables the e-Doblò’s battery pack to be used to power electric tools and other items.
Like its Stellantis siblings, the Doblò features a unique front panel, bearing the new Fiat badging. Similarly, like its Stellantis stablemates, Doblò is available in two lengths: L1 and L2 and also as a L2 crew van. Each of these are available in either Standard or Primo trim for E-Doblò. Standard E-Doblò models get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, air conditioning, cruise control, electric parking brake, rain sensing wipers and light sensing headlamps, fog lights, a near-side sliding door, alarm, tyre pressure monitoring system, hill holder, emergency brake assist, driver airbag and electronic stability control.
IN NUMBERS
WHAT IS IT? Compact van
HOW MUCH? From £30,335 (ex-VAT and OTR and including PiVG)
RANGE? up to 170 miles (WLTP combined)
DRIVE? 100kW drive motor. Front-wheel-drive
BATTERY/CHARGING? 50kWh net, AC and 100kW DC rapid charging
Toyota Corolla Commercial 1.8 Hybrid
The Corolla Commercial continues to impress. At the working end, it has helped me collect a load of logs and also remove a load of rotten timber to the recycling centre. While the load area is not accessible from a forklift, small loads are not particularly problematic. That’s partly because it retains the rear side doors, which makes it easy to access the load area from front or back. The non-slip rubber flooring is also a bonus too. Most things stay where they are put, while the load securing eyes in the floor and also the front bulkhead frame provide useful load securing points.
We have undertaken some long trips in the Corolla and the standard spec is impressive, making lengthy journeys comfortable and the driving experience almost as simple as driving an electric vehicle. The heated seats are very welcome in the winter weather and the auto-dipping LED headlamps light the road up well and avoid dazzling oncoming drivers. Fuel consumption remains impressive, still hovering close to an indicated 60mpg. The hybrid system grabs every opportunity to run on electric power and although Corolla Commercial is relatively new to the market, development is not finished yet. Do we like it? Yes we do.
John Kendall
IN NUMBERS
PRICE £24,003
PAYLOAD 425kg
ECONOMY 55.6 - 61.4mpg
CO2 EMISSIONS 105g/km
ON FLEET 59.8mpg
*2022/23 Tax year – Benefit-in-Kind tax cost per month for 20% taxpayer / 40% taxpayer
