Your questions answered: Should I buy a Holden Commodore or Kia Optima?
Plus: Are EVs really eco-friendly? What accessories should I add to my new 4x4 ute? Should I buy a Cupra? These questions and more you’ve asked us this week…It’s been a while since we’ve talked about Holden, but the former top seller is back on the mind of at least one carsales reader this week.
There’s also another reader questioning the viability of EVs from an environmental perspective.
And someone wants to know what modifications to make to their new ute before taking off on the Big Trip.
Other questions cover the affordability (or otherwise) of the upcoming MG4, what the new Cupra brand is all about, whether the new Nissan X-TRAIL tops the Mazda CX-5 and what’s the point of putting premium unleaded into your car…?
Should I buy a Holden ZB Commodore or Kia Optima?
Answer: Reliability is always a tough one to comment on because even brands known for reliability can have issues. The best way to really understand reliability is to have thousands of cars on the road and get real-world data on how they’re going, how much they’re costing, etc.
But anecdotally Kia’s reputation for durability is ahead of Holden’s, keeping in mind that the ZB Commodore is a rebadged Opel out of Germany.
Another thing to consider is aftersales. The Commodore came with a five-year warranty and getting it serviced or finding parts through the official GM channels means finding a Holden-approved service centre. Social media suggests the experience is not as welcoming as it was when Holden was a sales powerhouse and had a sprawling dealer network.
Kia, on the other hand, has a sizeable dealer network and a reason to keep you happy within the Kia family. Plus, the Optima had a seven-year warranty, so you should still have at least a couple of years in play.
As for the cars themselves, we’d give the Commodore an edge on its driving manners.
The good news is that neither has an enormous fan base, so used car values have been subdued. That means you could pick one up at a sharp price.
Is it worth paying extra for premium unleaded?
Answer: Premium unleaded usually allows even basic engines to improve their efficiency, albeit by only a fraction. So you would probably notice fuel use increase marginally if you switched to regular unleaded. But we’re talking tiny amounts. The question is whether the premium unleaded is saving you money. The answer is almost certainly no – and only because the most expensive 98-octane fuel is usually 10-15 per cent more expensive.
As for other benefits, we’ve spoken to mechanics who say they can tell when a high-mileage car has been running premium unleaded once they take the head off and look inside the engine. Granted, it’s far from a scientific evaluation, but it’s an indication that claims of cleaning additives may hold some weight.
Are EVs really environmentally friendly?
Electric motor production I assume would not create as much environmental damage compared to combustion engines. For an accurate assessment of the environmental benefits of EVs the whole supply chain and associated lifecycle costs including environmental harm by plastics etc and the final disposal costs should also be included in the assessments that are being publicised.
It appears to me that to provide data based solely on the fuels themselves could be very misleading regarding the real or fabricated benefits to the environment touted for EVs. The one benefit I do see is in cities where the reduction of pollutants is providing health benefits. However is this simply relocating the polluting source out of the cities and shifting the pollution to the manufacturing locations and supply chains involved?
Company marketing budgets can convince the general population that a certain approach is the best one regardless of whether it is or is not but does this stack up scientifically? Who is really checking the holistic and individual lifecycle costs of raw material extraction, raw material conversion processes into useful components and parts and the final production and operation of EVs? Just some thoughts. – Mike S
Answer: You’re right in that the energy required to produce an EV generally exceeds that required to make a similar petrol or diesel vehicle. There have been various studies looking at the lifecycle emissions of EVs. One of the better ones is from EV manufacturer Polestar (effectively a spin-off of Volvo). It shows that there is more CO2 produced in manufacturing an EV, depending on where the energy used to produce them is sourced from.
Bloomberg NEF also published a thorough report late last year that went into detail about the manufacturing of EVs. Interestingly, it also looked into the differences of manufacturing in different parts of the world where the penetration of renewables is different.
Keep in mind that the production of everything to do with EVs – from the extraction of raw materials to the production of electronic components and stamping of panels – is increasingly making a lower carbon footprint.
In any case, EVs still have an overall advantage over the life.
What modifications should I make to my ute before going Outback?
Answer: Your Ford Ranger will come from the factory very capable of all those tracks and excursions. The latest breed of 4x4 utes are impressively capable.
The weakest link will arguably be its tyres. The stock tyres are very on-road focused and susceptible to punctures. So consider a set of all-terrains before you take off. And make sure you change the spare as well.
You could also consider a light bar or spot lights, but only if you’re planning to do lots of night driving. A bull bar can also make sense for frontal protection, plus it makes it easier to mount other accessories.
We wouldn’t be getting too excited with suspension lifts or more locking diffs (it should come with a rear diff lock). The car as it is will be remarkably capable.
Should I buy a Cupra?
Answer: Let’s start with Cupra. It’s a Spanish brand born from the Seat brand (which sold in Australia briefly in the 1990s). More importantly, it’s part of the Volkswagen Group, which also owns Audi, Skoda and others.
Unsurprisingly, the Cupra models share drivetrains and tech with other Volkswagen Group models. So it’s familiar stuff, albeit with a very distinctive look and some unique design touches.
As for the Formentor PHEV, it’s solid by plug-in hybrid standards. But every PHEV we’ve driven is compromised. You’re dragging around a petrol engine that most owners will hope to rarely use. It impacts the performance when it’s behaving as an EV.
Then when you’re running it as a hybrid a PHEV is typically not very efficient compared with garden-variety hybrids. Short story is, don’t believe the hype about the low fuel use: you’re unlikely to experience that. And you’ll spend a lot of time charging it to make use of the EV side of the PHEV tech.
Why isn’t the new MG4 more affordable?
Answer: What’s going on is that MG has followed the lead set by many other brands selling EVs in Australia: load them with features and charge big bucks. In the case of the MG4 it is starting only with the larger capacity battery (64kWh) and a highly specified Essence trim level.
MG is not talking about the smaller 51kWh battery for now, something that would make the MG4 a lot more affordable. All of which is very frustrating for people wanting an affordable EV.
Rest assured there’s plenty happening on that front, including the BYD Dolphin and Volkswagen ID.2 (the latter a few years away). Tesla is also hinting at a more affordable EV, although given the brand’s reputation for running late with everything it’s anyone’s guess as to when something will appear in dealerships.
Should I buy a Mazda CX-5 or Nissan X-TRAIL?
Answer: The latest Nissan X-TRAIL is a huge step up over the thoroughly underwhelming model it replaced. Its least impressive element is its 2.5-litre engine, but it does the job for family duties. Elsewhere the X-TRAIL impresses: space, tech, presentation and cabin thoughtfulness.
So, yes, you should be sticking it on your list. At the very least take one for a test drive.
That said, the Mazda CX-5 still presents well, even if the current model is ageing. It still has a classy cabin and great driving manners.
Another one to stick on your shortlist is the Kia Sportage. It’s also a terrific SUV and topped the field in carsales’ Best Mid-Size SUV for 2022.
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