Bob!
Coffee Buyer
- Jul 5, 2003
- 12,048
How much bigger is the VW id3?
[Misc] Electric Cars
- Thread starter Giraffe
- Start date
Got something to say or just want fewer pesky ads? Join us... 😊
How much bigger is the VW id3?
Finding the 500e great fun for nipping around town and suchlike so far. Range is pretty crap (which we knew and doesn’t really matter) and wouldn’t want to be a back seat passenger in it for long but otherwise just what we wanted.
Cordwainer
Well-known member
- Jul 30, 2023
- 977
What vehicles would you recommend in the medium full electric SUV type size please? Have seen a lot of good reviews of the Skodas.
I’ve had a Kia EV9 for a few months now and think it’s great. But it’s pretty big!For anyone who's interested, the UK Car of the Year 2025 (organised by yours truly) was announced this morning and it's an EV. Again!
Kia EV3 crowned UK Car of the Year 2025
Kia has done the double by winning the UK Car of the Year Awards two years in a row with the EV3’s victory for 2025. The accolade follows the EV9’s tfleetworld.co.uk
Can't remember if @Nobby Cybergoat is looking new or secondhand. If the latter, then add late-model Renault Zoe's to that list. Great little car.
I have an ID3. It's a family hatchback. Bigger than all of those listed, but they aren't huge and does not feel at all like a "tank" to drive. Actually pretty nimble - I prefer it to the Zoe personally - probably due to being RWD, I just find the cornering is a lot more fun than the Zoe was (despite it being a lovely little car to drive).
Greg Bobkin
Silver Seagull
- May 22, 2012
- 17,595
Not sure of the dimensions – and in reality I think it's similar to a Born – but I was AMAZED by how spacious it is. We went from an ID.7 to an ID.3 in January and there have been no complaints from the Bobkin Jnrs in the back.
Might as well chuck it on the list!
Greg Bobkin
Silver Seagull
- May 22, 2012
- 17,595
As per my post earlier on, I am contractually obliged to say the Kia EV3. These are a good car – best in the UK, actually
No, in all seriousness, it's bloody good and won our 'small SUV' category, even though it's a decent size for that category (MINI Countryman won the medium crossover, so I'd recommend having a look at that too. The Skoda's are great. I drove Elroq a while back and it's essentially a smaller Enyaq, which is, in itself, a fantastic car. If you want more Enyaq size, then Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5 are pretty good (same platform as the Skodas – and also the Audi Q4 e-tron) and Renault has really upped its game with the Megane and Scenic E-Techs.
But there are LOADS of medium SUVs – most of 2024 there seemed to be a new one arriving, often from the new Chinese brands that are heading this way. People are literally spoiled for choice, but I maintain you can't really go wrong with the Skodas. But a lot of it will come down to price and availability. I would say try and draw up a shortlist and try them all out, if you can.
Cordwainer
Well-known member
- Jul 30, 2023
- 977
Thanks..much appreciated..it’s a salary sacrifice lease scheme through work which I think I can test drive three before purchase, so was thinking a Škoda, E Scenic and a VW then maybe try another couple, Kia, Mini? separately.As per my post earlier on, I am contractually obliged to say the Kia EV3. These are a good car – best in the UK, actually
No, in all seriousness, it's bloody good and won our 'small SUV' category, even though it's a decent size for that category (MINI Countryman won the medium crossover, so I'd recommend having a look at that too. The Skoda's are great. I drove Elroq a while back and it's essentially a smaller Enyaq, which is, in itself, a fantastic car. If you want more Enyaq size, then Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5 are pretty good (same platform as the Skodas – and also the Audi Q4 e-tron) and Renault has really upped its game with the Megane and Scenic E-Techs.
But there are LOADS of medium SUVs – most of 2024 there seemed to be a new one arriving, often from the new Chinese brands that are heading this way. People are literally spoiled for choice, but I maintain you can't really go wrong with the Skodas. But a lot of it will come down to price and availability. I would say try and draw up a shortlist and try them all out, if you can.
Greg Bobkin
Silver Seagull
- May 22, 2012
- 17,595
That sounds like a pretty good selection – a lot of it may come down to personal preference over interiors, driving position, etc, but you can't really go wrong with any of those. Good luck!
Cordwainer
Well-known member
- Jul 30, 2023
- 977
Nice one ta.
This is what I now drive, and it feels MASSIVE (wide), even though I'm sure it isn't really any bigger than my previous VW Tiguan.
Randy McNob
> > > > > > Cardiff > > > > >
- Jun 13, 2020
- 4,867
Just thought i'd mention the latest Prius, although not an EV, it's a plug in Hybrid, it really caught my eye, got a lambo feel to it
Nobby Cybergoat
Well-known member
- Jul 19, 2021
- 9,886
Advice needed. On charger types
We're looking at buying a second hand Nissan Leaf for about £8K (My mrs choice not mine, i'm only the one paying for it).
Anyway, we were looking at charger types. I've seen it runs off Chademo, chargers not CCS. Every day's a learning day
So what i'm looking to get clarity on is .....
In buying a Leaf, are we committing ourselves to a connector type which is going to become obselete and might in years to come not be supported in public charging?
Also when we get a charger fitted at home, will we then need to get a totally new charger if in a few years we get a different model of EV?
Basically, i'm just looking for, on a scale of 1 to 10, how much of a ballache this is likely to be.
Thanks so much for your expertise
We're looking at buying a second hand Nissan Leaf for about £8K (My mrs choice not mine, i'm only the one paying for it).
Anyway, we were looking at charger types. I've seen it runs off Chademo, chargers not CCS. Every day's a learning day
So what i'm looking to get clarity on is .....
In buying a Leaf, are we committing ourselves to a connector type which is going to become obselete and might in years to come not be supported in public charging?
Also when we get a charger fitted at home, will we then need to get a totally new charger if in a few years we get a different model of EV?
Basically, i'm just looking for, on a scale of 1 to 10, how much of a ballache this is likely to be.
Thanks so much for your expertise
Potentially a number 10 ballache, though I stand to be corrected. Ditto for early Zoe models.
If you’re on Facebook, I suggest you join https://www.facebook.com/groups/UKEVDrivers for some good advice. Might save you a few quid!
- Oct 12, 2022
- 3,164
If you’re relying on a public charging network, yes. CHAdeMO connectors are already harder to find than CCS2. It’s only going to get worse, nobody else uses them any more.
The use case for a Nissan Leaf is as a local runaround where it’s only used on journeys that bring it back home to be charged at home.
At that price point, I’d go for a 2020 plate Renault Zoe. You should just about be able to get into the R135 52kWh version at that price point.
- Jul 7, 2003
- 48,446
I had the same thought last week when perusing the Ford range (my local dealer was desperate to get me to trade in my existing Ford). It looks lovely. Didn't go for it partly because I decided I couldn't be arsed to spend the next few years listening to people saying "It doesn't LOOK like a Ford Capri, does it?".
Randy McNob
> > > > > > Cardiff > > > > >
- Jun 13, 2020
- 4,867
Yeah but same as the Mustang, there are some similarities in the exterior, but there is no correlation, I don't think the manufacturer is even trying to make them like the originals, it's just a fancy badge.
- Jul 7, 2003
- 48,446
I loved that Mustang Mach-E when it first came out, and I thought about one of those too. But it's been around for, what, 2-3 years now, so I figured they'd probably tweak the design again soon. Also, the battery is one of the older style ones compared to the ones they now put in the Puma EV, Capri and Explorer.