Your questions answered: Is the Ford Ranger PHEV a good electric ute option?

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) have never been big sellers in Australia – or globally, for that matter – but there’s more interest bubbling away ahead of an influx of plug-in hybrid utes.

This week we’ve got someone interested in choosing an electric load-lugger and the upcoming Ford Ranger PHEV is on the shortlist.

It’s one of a number of questions about electrified cars from our readers this week, some of which involve installing home charging infrastructure.

We’ve also got one reader keen to turn off the annoying auto braking system when reversing their car out of their driveway.

Is the Ford Ranger PHEV a good electric ute option?

Question:

Answer: We’ve never been big fans of plug-in hybrid electric cars generally. We’ve found they tend to be comprised as EVs (when running in electric mode) and compromised as hybrids.

But utes are a very different proposition because of how they’re used for often driving long distances and carrying heavy loads, including trailers.

So PHEV tech seems like a reasonable fit, at least in the shorter term and for some applications. Perhaps that’s why so many brands seem to be working on plug-in utes.

As for the Ford Ranger specifically, all we know is what Ford has revealed in terms of target specifications.

The Ranger PHEV is planned to run about 45km on electricity, so to get the full benefit you’ll want to be charging it regularly and ideally not travelling very long distances regularly.

It’ll run on petrol rather than diesel, but with any luck it’ll use very little of it. Again, until we get behind the wheel we don’t really know. Obviously, we’ll do lots of testing with it – including towing – once we get our hands on it.

One thing we do know for sure is it won’t be cheap. Ford is already suggesting the Ranger PHEV will cost more than a Raptor. So don’t expect any change from $100K.

Is the Skoda Enyaq a good electric SUV?

Question: We are in our mid-70s, probably our last car and 10 years of driving ahead of us. Live in Melbourne near city and we drive about 500km weekly city and freeway driving to our business.

Our questions: should we go electric? Our priorities are comfort, quality, economical, range – we occasionally drive interstate (no off-road) to see friends and family.

Are two motors better than one? We need to get under the $90K price tag to avoid FBT – currently own Hyundai i30 N and Mercedes SLK 200. Looking for advice on the best options.

Answer: From what you’ve described you could easily go electric, especially if you can easily charge the car at home.

I haven’t driven the Skoda Enyaq but it shares plenty beneath the skin with the Volkswagen ID.4, which arrives about the same time. My brief experience in the ID.4 suggests it’s an OK electric car but nothing ground-breaking. If it’s priced sharply (around $60K) then it could make sense.

Also stick the Kia EV5 on your shortlist. It’s another one I haven’t driven but on paper it looks sharp and the pricing should also be sharp.

And don’t ignore the Tesla Model Y. Yes, it’s cliched, but it’s popular for good reason. While you’re there, you could also check out the Tesla Model 3, which is smoother and more comfortable as a result of a recent update.

As for one motor versus two, the second motor adds all-wheel drive, which for some will be an advantage. It also brings more performance, although even in single-motor guise most EVs have more than enough grunt.

For the interstate trips you need to knock about 10-20 per cent off the claimed driving range of any EV because of higher electricity usage at 100-110km/h. So, if it has a 500km claimed range assume something like 400-450km in the real world.

Keep in mind that to get the FBT exemption you need to take out a novated lease through your work (it sounds like you’re the boss, so that should be easy to work out!).

How much should it cost to install an EV charger at home?

Question: Have you done any research on the different EV home charging units on the market? I got a quote of $2500 from RACV Solar to install the Zappi 2 and am trying to determine whether the extra cost of the Zappi is worth it. – Fred

Answer: Most people will only ever need single-phase EV charging for home, which the Zappi 2 provides (putting out about 7kW). But there are other great options, including the Tesla home charger, which costs about $700.

Any electrician is able to install a wallbox charger at your home, so if you have someone local you use regularly it’d be worth getting a quote from them.

It’s impossible for us to say how much installation will cost because there are so many factors, including where you want it mounted, how far it is from your meter box and your home’s existing wiring.

Should we buy a hybrid or an EV to drive in regional Victoria?

Question: We live in central Victoria with three kids. Currently own a 2018 Toyota HiLux and a 2016 Land Rover Discovery. My wife and I work full-time and between us drive 25,000km a year.

We’ve found the size of the Land Rover excellent for the family. Though at 100,000km it needs about $7000 spent on it. We’re considering doing that and trading the HiLux for something a little smaller but more economical. One of us is driving at least 120km a day, five days a week.

This second car needs to fit five of us sometimes but is mostly a work commuter. My question is – electric or hybrid and any model suggestions? Budget is up to $75K. – Mark

Answer: The country kilometres suggest to me that hybrid isn’t the ideal solution. Conventional hybrids deliver their best economy bonus in stop-start urban conditions where the electric part of the drivetrain can minimise inefficient engine running.

On the open road you’re dragging around that infrastructure for no significant economy benefit.

Electric will certainly deliver the day-to-day range you need but only on the basis that you have economical recharging at home or work. Do you have solar? Is cheap recharging an option… That will factor into your decision.

If the above is workable, I’d suggest you take our 2023 Car of the Year, the MG4, for a test drive. There’s a number of model grades available, but the mid-grade Essence 64 is probably the pick.

If a badge and a bit more design or panache is on your agenda, check out the Polestar 2 and look at the Polestar 4 coming later in 2024.

And don’t ignore the Tesla Model 3 or Model Y, each of which has access to the broader Tesla charging network if you do want to travel further afield.

And keep in mind there are plenty of new EVs arriving this year. One of the ones that’s shaping up to be really interesting is the Kia EV5.

When does the Chery Omoda 5 EV go on sale in Australia?

Question: Can you give an update on when the Chery Omoda EV will be released in Australia and possible price? Also an opinion if you have driven one. I like the BYD Atto 3 but we live in a regional area and BYD don’t have any dealerships outside Sydney and Newcastle. – Mick

Answer: The all-electric Chery Omoda 5 is due around the middle of this year, 2024.

We haven’t driven one yet and don’t know for sure what it will sell for. But looking at its competitors – the most obvious of which is the MG ZS EV – we’d expect something around $45,000.

If access to a dealership is important, don’t rule out the new Hyundai Kona Electric. Hyundai has a bigger dealer network than Chery and the Kona Electric is a decent compact SUV.

If you can wait, the Kia EV5 also looks worthy of consideration. It’s due around July and should sell for about $65K. Keep in mind it’s larger than the Chery and Hyundai though.

Should I buy a Peugeot Partner or Isuzu D-MAX?

Question: I’m thinking about buying a Peugeot Partner city minivan. I live in a rural area. Do you think this van is well built? Reliable, capable, reasonably durable? Or perhaps an Isuzu 1.9L diesel cab-chassis, 2024 model for rural driving? – Carl

Answer: Sounds like you want to carry things and that you don’t necessarily need a ute. Broadly speaking, the vans tend to be nicer to drive on bitumen than many utes because they typically have coil springs on the rear suspension rather than leafs.

Plus, the vans tend to do without the four-wheel drive hardware that adds weight that it sounds like you won’t use.

In terms of the Partner specifically, it’s a decent van and is good to drive. But if reliability is important to you then a Toyota HiAce could be a better bet. Also check out the Hyundai Staria Load.

If you decide it has to be a ute then the Ford Ranger is leading the pack at the moment.

The 1.9-litre engine in the Isuzu D-MAX is great around town but is less convincing on the open road. Sure, it’ll get the job done, but it’s not as hearty as the 3.0-litre.

How do I turn off the rear auto braking on my new Hyundai?

Question:

Answer: We can feel your pain. So many of the latest driver assistance systems work well a lot of the time but can give false warnings or braking when you don’t want or need it. There’s definitely some finetuning that needs to happen!

Go to Settings, then Vehicle, then the Driver Assistance menu and select Parking Safety. Then scroll down to Rear Safety and Rear Cross-Traffic Safety and toggle them off, which should stop the warning and braking.

Once you’re out of your driveway it’d be worth switching it back on given it could help you when backing out of busy parking spots or in unfamiliar streets.

And remember you’ll have to turn it off every time you get in the car because those settings default to on with each new trip.

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