Your questions answered: Should I buy a BYD Atto 3 or MG ZS EV?

There’s plenty of questions on EVs in this week’s carsales mailbox as some readers look to step away from petrol and diesel.

The challenge, as always, is the current lack diversity in the EV market.

We’ve also got people considering hybrid alternatives if there isn’t something suitable in EV land.

Plus, it’s a week for stepping out of much-loved cars that have done their duty – one owner has been driving the same Toyota Camry for more than three decades…!

Question:

Answer: Go for the BYD Atto 3. Better in almost every way, except warranty coverage, where the MG smashes it.

The Atto 3 is not without its faults – we’re not sold on some elements of the cabin presentation – but it packs plenty in. And it’s a better electric vehicle than the MG, in part because it was designed from the start to be an electric car, rather than adapted from an internal combustion engine (ICE) platform.

A better option from MG could be the all-new MG4. It’s still a few months away but looks a lot more convincing as an electric vehicle.

Question: We are a 76-year-old couple looking for a bit of luxury in a new car, wanting to spend around $60,000. Is there anything available in Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi range? We have had Subaru vehicles in the past and been very happy. - Glenda C

Answer: There are options available from BMW and Audi but we fear you’ll be somewhat underwhelmed. Sure, you’ll get the German badge in an Audi A3 or BMW 1 Series, but you probably won’t have as much space as your Subaru. And we find the performance of those entry-level Euros somewhat unexciting; they’ve got the polish in terms of presentation but none have exciting drivetrains in their entry-level models.

It’s a different story once you step through the ranges of the German luxury brands, but by that stage you’re paying proper luxury money.

Have a look at a Cupra Formentor for something different with some Euro flair. It received a Highly Commended award in the 2022 carsales Car of the Year.

Otherwise wander into a Volvo dealership and check out the XC40. It’s terrific value and surprisingly spacious. Or you could check out a Tesla Model 3. Loads of value and performance for the money. Plus, you should get a government kickback to sweeten the price.

Question: I would be very pleased if you could give us some suggestions on likely suitable vehicles to replace my wife’s V6 Honda Accord. She loves the car, it has plenty of power for open road touring, about 200kW, etc. We take it Adelaide to Melbourne now and then. We are almost 80 years old.

Although this car has only done about 85,000km, an SUV-type vehicle will be much easier for her to access in and out. Not fussed hybrid or petrol. Would prefer car with spare tyre but all the ‘good’ Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, etc don’t have spares so we would probably buy a spare tyre anyway as long as it will fit in the boot. Don’t want to be stuck halfway between Adelaide and Melbourne waiting for a tyre. Say up to about $100K is okay.

We would be very pleased to receive some feedback from you and suggestions on vehicles to look at. – Derrick A

Answer: You’ve got plenty of options, although most you’re looking at won’t have a spare tyre – it’s the way the luxury market is moving. As you point out, you could pop one in the boot, something that shouldn’t be an issue if it’s only the two of you travelling.

Don’t ignore some of the terrific EVs such as the Kia EV6 (the 2022 carsales Car of the Year) and Hyundai IONIQ 5 (2019 COTY) at the end of the market you’re looking at either. None have a spare tyre, but again there are ways around that. Some planning around where to charge can get you between the two cities relatively easily, although the charging infrastructure is still not particularly reliable.

So, back to good ol’ petrol… Check out the Volvo XC60. It’s a great mid-size SUV that doesn’t get much love against its German rivals. Beautifully put together, decent value and drives nicely. The Lexus NX is also a terrific mid-size SUV that has some hybrid options for some around-town fuel saving.

If the badge isn’t important to you, check out the top end of the Korean brands, such as the Kia Sportage GT-Line or Hyundai Tucson Highlander, as found in our most recent Best Mid-Size SUV mega-test. Each presents really well and is terrific to drive.

The upcoming Mazda CX-60 could also be worth a look. We haven’t driven it properly on Australian soil (check out our international review here) but it’s a step forward for Mazda in terms of presentation and driving promise – as well as a premium price tag!

Question:

Answer: There’s nothing electric that’ll perfectly match your Subaru for all-round ability, especially its light-duty off-road capability.

The closest would be something like the BYD Atto 3 or Kia Niro Electric. Neither has a spare tyre, though, and neither is all-wheel drive. They’re also north of $50K.

So we’d suggest holding onto your Subaru for at least another year, at which point there should be many more options.

Question:

Answer: Sounds like you may enjoy some camembert and vin rouge in your downtime, Pierre!

The upgraded C5 Aircross Sport is expected to arrive in Australia soon. It looks smart and would only need to inherit some of the comfiness and effortless cruisiness of the related Citroen C5 X to be convincing in some areas. But the 1.6-litre engine we’ve tried in the C5 X is nothing to get excited about.

On paper, the Hyundai Tucson fights back with a solid bang-for-your-buck argument, even if it does lack some of the design flair of the Citroen. It’s also very well equipped and great to drive.

As for choosing between the two, while the heart says Citroen we reckon the head would tilt us towards the Hyundai. Also look at the Kia Sportage (which shares engines and other components with the Hyundai).

The Subaru Forester is also worth a look for interstate travel; very comfy and set up for some light-duty adventuring if you head off the beaten track.

Question: Looking at a new car. Not electric (need some sort of spare tyre). Really like the Alfa Romeo Tonale but it’s an Alfa. Like the Cupra Leon too. Just wondering what you thought of both? – Loretta

Answer: I’m yet to drive the Tonale, but the carsales team have driven it overseas and rate it pretty highly. The Cupra Leon is also a great fun hatch that delivers on driving thrills and stands out a bit from the mainstream, too.

If you’re after some hot hatch excitement – albeit without the Euro flair that it sounds like you may be chasing – then the Hyundai i30 N is a terrific way to have some fun.

A Volvo XC40 is also worth considering if you’re happy to sit a bit higher in an SUV. And as a left-fielder have a look at the Kia Niro GT-Line Hybrid.

Question: Thank you for the opportunity to ask your advice on possible replacements for my automatic 1991 Camry CSI – purchased 23/08/1993 ex Education Dept with 55,475km on the clock, it’s been such a reliable car, but now showing its age!

Please would you advise as to what you consider is necessary as to all the “bells & whistles” on offer in today’s modern vehicles – especially for use by a senior citizen! I would be sticking with automatic transmission, and in an effort to cope with our rural dirt roads, an SUV with a higher clearance has been suggested.

I do not need a big vehicle so possibly smaller than the Camry would be ideal, preferably with excellent headlights for night-time driving. Our motor mechanic has suggested a Mitsubishi ASX or Hyundai i30 – as cars that he seldom sees in the workshop.

Your thoughts please on these along with your recommendations would be greatly appreciated. – Marion

Answer: Great work on getting 30 years out of your last car! Not many people would have hit that milestone.

In terms of the sorts of features you should be looking for, pretty much everything comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity for making it easier to interact with your phone on the move.

Also look out for autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and blind spot warning. Rear cross traffic alert is also handy when parking. You’ll also likely get lane departure warning (and/or lane keep assistance), although very few of them do a decent job, so often we end up turning them off.

As for vehicles to look at, the Hyundai i30 is only a hatch, so may not have the height you’re chasing. And the Mitsubishi ASX is really starting to show its age.

Maybe consider a Hyundai Kona instead. The Kona has been rated as carsales’ Best Small SUV for the past couple of years. Also look the Kia Seltos and the Toyota Corolla Cross, the latter available with a terrific hybrid system.

While all will have better headlights than your 1991 Camry, none have what we’d call great headlights. Maybe look at putting a light bar on so that when you hit the high beams you get added brightness.

Question: I currently drive a 2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i-S auto (purchased new). I would like a similar size car, looking at hybrid or EV. I mainly drive in the city and do about 10,000km per annum. I need the SUV height as I have hip flexor issues.

I’ve researched these (although unsure which model per brand) and I am sure you know of more and reviewed choices etc, looking at a budget of approx $50K-60K including on-road costs: Alfa Romeo Tonale, Kia Niro, Kia Sorento Hybrid, Subaru Solterra, Toyota bZ4X EV, Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-60. – Nadine C

Answer: May as well scratch the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra off the list. While pricing hasn’t been announced, all the indications are that they’ll be well north of $60K.

Also scrap the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. Wait lists are crazy (we recently heard of one dealer quoting someone three years) and there’s every chance you’ll be paying more once you do finally take delivery.

One you’ve missed off your shortlist is the Nissan X-TRAIL e-POWER. It’s not quite as efficient as the RAV4 Hybrid, but still beats other rivals – and it makes up for it with a classier cabin and better driving manners.

For an EV it could be worth waiting a few months for the second-generation Hyundai Kona EV. It looks more convincing that the original, which still had its good points.

Or the Kia Niro EV is also OK at the budget end (relatively speaking, of course!).

Don’t ignore the BYD Atto 3 either. It’s a surprising mid-size SUV from a brand that is a global EV powerhouse. Or there’s the Tesla Model 3, which is just above your $60K limit but will slide under it if you’re eligible for a rebate.

Question: We are approaching the stage where my wife’s trusty Volkswagen Golf will be handed over to our granddaughter (not yet a learner) as a first car, and therefore we’re a year or two away from moving to something new. The family HiLux, a trusty number two, will continue to be the off-road/camping workhorse.

For a replacement vehicle for the Golf I’m keen on a small to mid-sized hybrid SUV all-wheel drive, and I note your regular advice for both quality and fuel economy is the Toyota RAV4 – though with an enormously long waiting list, which our local dealers confirm. I also (sadly) note your less than enthusiastic commentary on the Subaru hybrids (we’ve had eight Subarus over the years, and all performed faultlessly).

Is there anything else on the market or on the horizon which is worth considering? Or should I just order soon and be prepared to wait for the RAV4, or compromise on space and order a Corolla Cross (same mechanicals I assume)?

Our son and his wife have an older Honda CR-V and a new hybrid HR-V (the latter too small for us I think). Is there a hybrid CR-V on the horizon? Or any other options in the similar size and price range?

The vehicle will be used the majority of the time within Tasmania on supermarket runs and the occasional longer trips to the other end of the state. And then maybe once or twice a year on mainland holidays with longer runs up to Queensland or over to the SA wineries. – Adrian W

Answer: The Toyota Corolla Cross actually uses a newer-generation hybrid system than the RAV4. So while it gets a smaller engine – 2.0-litre versus 2.5-litre – it’s not miles off it in outright power. And while I haven’t back-to-backed the two, I’d reckon the lighter body of the Corolla Cross would make it comparable on performance, albeit using less fuel along the way. It’s a decent size, too. But there are waits for the Corolla Cross as well.

Another option is the Nissan X-TRAIL e-POWER. In some ways it’s ahead of the RAV4 Hybrid (how it drives, interior presentation, etc), although it’s only available as an all-wheel drive, so entry-level models aren’t as affordable.

You could also consider an EV, especially if you are still earning a wage and can take advantage of the government’s FBT exemption. Either way, living in Tasmania you’ll be running it purely on renewables and given you’ve got a long-distance car in the driveway then you wouldn’t need to worry about range anxiety. A Tesla Model 3 sedan or Model Y SUV would be great options that are fairly easy to get hold of.

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