EVs have character too

COMMENT

Ask the average person what gives a car character and odds are the engine will be one of their first answers – and rightly so since engines are the major determiner of the way a vehicle sounds, feels and performs.

And there is so much diversity within all three of those key metrics that it’s almost impossible to list them all; whether it be a classic Saab’s turbo lag, the immediate response of a Ferrari V12, the lazy grunt of Toyota LandCruiser 200, the wail of a Porsche 911 GT3 RS or the thrum of an old Subaru, combustion engines are endearing and often the defining feature of a vehicle.

There are of course exceptions for which the engine isn’t the star of the show or at least the most endearing factor – the original Toyota GT86 and Subaru BRZ were all about the handling, the Suzuki Jimny is about old-school capability, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class prides itself on technology and luxury, and the Bugatti Veyron was all in on outright performance… just to name a few.

True car fans and appreciators understand there’s more to a motor vehicle than just what makes it go and that it’s the combination of these things – ride quality, power delivery, sound, handling, space, design, technology – that determine a vehicle’s overall character or personality.

The same also applies to electric vehicles, many of which have far more unique characters and personalities than household appliance like a fridge or washing machine, despite what you may have read.

Look past the lack of internal combustion engine hardware and you might actually be surprised.

It’s worth pointing out that character and/or personality doesn’t always make for an objectively good vehicle – the iconic mid-engined Renault Clio V6 being one such example.

That’s not to say all EVs have personality; there are some truly bland examples out there, just as there are plenty of mind-numbingly boring combustion vehicles, and nor am I saying EVs have true soul like many memorable petrol-powered models of the past.

While there’s less variety in the powertrain configurations of EVs compared to ICE-powered vehicles, electric models don’t need to be polar opposites or even positioned in different segments to have noticeably different characters.

For example, the new Hyundai IONIQ 5 N, Kia EV6 GT and Genesis GV60 Performance are all underpinned by the same e-GMP architecture and all boast huge power outputs, can top 100km/h in less than four seconds, cost a lot of money and are all great cars in their own right. Yet they all have distinctly different characters.

In my opinion at least, the EV6 GT is the most sedate of the trio in that although it’s an incredibly competent, capable and impressive machine, it doesn’t offer much in terms of day-to-day charisma. Think of it as the pleasant and effective but strictly by-the-book colleague we’ve all known at some point.

The GV60 Performance, meantime, is the cool, rich aunt. It comes with all the toys you could imagine, but more importantly, is up for a laugh and bends the rules when mum or dad isn’t looking.

Its chassis feels livelier and more engaging at normal road speeds than the admittedly faster Kia, and that impression compounds as speeds build.

The IONIQ 5 N, on the other hand, is the popular guy at school; the funny one who tries to be liked by everyone, gets good marks across the board and aces the athletics carnival.

It’s faster than its cousins, has the most party tricks and, while it may not have the classy luxuries of the Genesis, it’s significantly cheaper and that adds to its appeal.

Of course, $111,000 is hardly a small amount of money, but the same logic can be applied to more mainstream offerings as well, like the reigning carsales Car of the Year, the MG4.

This is a classic example of the little car that could.

Many people dismiss the MG4 for being an affordable Chinese EV, a breed which has fast become the anti-Christ of modern motoring, and yet if you give the little hatch a chance, it’s quite likely you’ll come away pleasantly surprised and perhaps even an EV convert.

The comfortable ride and spacious cabin tick the useability boxes nicely, but dig a little deeper and the unexpected performance and entertaining rear-wheel drive dynamics come to the fore.

Sticking with the school analogy, this is the nerd who turns out to be a scream at parties and on the holidays, given it doesn’t take too much to loosen up the MG4’s rear-end and drive it on the ‘throttle’, especially in the wet.

The Polestar 2 is another example. The original was a well-rounded, if slightly bland, mid-size electric fastback more akin to a Honda Accord than something like a BMW 3 Series: perfectly competent, practical, safe and well-mannered.

And yet the updated version, with its myriad refinements and headline-grabbing switch from front- to rear-drive, is a genuine driver’s car that’s happy to seek out and demolish a technical stretch of road.

Think of it like being babysat by Super Nanny versus the fun uncle – neither of them will let anything bad happen, but the latter will push the boundaries with you instead of setting them, something that makes the new Polestar 2 all the more likeable and enjoyable to drive.

And while it delivers its formidable performance almost clinically, the new Porsche Taycan Turbo GT has plenty of personality apart from being Porsche’s quickest and most powerful production model ever. And there will be plenty of other characterful high-performance EVs in the future.

I’m not saying you’ll drive any electric vehicle and immediately be besotted with its endearing and unique character in the same way a classic V8 or exotic motorcycle entices you into a lifetime of financial despair.

But not all EVs are totally artificial, generic or vanilla, like many believe.

For everything you auto know about EVs, listen to carsales' Watts Under the Bonnet: the electric car podcast

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