Your questions answered: Should I buy a Tesla Model Y or something else?

With so much going on in the electric car market it’s a hot topic.

Plus we’ve got one reader thinking more traditional, with small hatches high on the agenda, plus we also touch on drift modes (yep, there’s definitely variety!) and vehicle-to-grid charging options.

We’ve even got questions covering popular market segments such as small SUVs and utes to truly cover off all bases.

I guess what I’m saying is I’m open to alternatives if there’s anything worth looking at. I’m wondering what you’d recommend. - Janelle

Answer: The Model Y still stands up strongly on the new car market, whether you’re specifically looking for an EV or just want a good mid-sized SUV.

There’s a Model Y update coming, which is expected to borrow some of the good bits of the latest Tesla Model 3. Things such as suspension revisions, a more upmarket interior and a rear infotainment screen are all on the hit list, although we’re not expecting it to arrive until sometime in 2025.

There are also rumours Tesla may finally offer the seven-seat version of the Model Y here over the next few months as well.?

Either way, expect some new things to happen to the Model Y electric SUV soon.

As for alternatives, there’s a whole lot happening in that market, although most of it is more expensive. The Skoda Enyaq is decent but pricey and the Cupra Tavascan looks even better but is also likely to be towards the pricier side.

One of the more interesting ones is the upcoming Kia EV5. It’s been delayed but is expected in November and should undercut the Model Y (by a whisker).

There’s also the Xpeng G6 and upcoming Zeekr X as two of the many newcomer brands, although each also has many unknowns, including what the after-sales experience looks like.

So, in short… don’t ignore the Tesla Model Y – it should be towards the top of your list – but also check out the Kia EV5 when it arrives.

But I’m wondering if there are any major updates or anything coming I should be aware of?

Or is there anything else I should consider or anything coming soon that’s worth a look? - John

Answer: The Ford Ranger is still the benchmark in the ute segment. It leads on tech, driving manners and safety. The V6 engine is a great option, too.

Make sure you check out the Volkswagen Amarok as well. It’s the same basic car underneath, sharing the chassis, engines and other major mechanical components with the Ford.

The biggest differentiator between the two is the design and pricing – plus the Amarok has front seats that hug you a bit better.

As for the Ranger, Ford has been regularly adding new variants and options to the Ranger line-up and we’d expect that to continue as it tries to maintain interest in what is comfortably the brand’s biggest selling car.

The next new arrival is the plug-in hybrid EV. While we don’t know pricing yet, the idea of a hearty turbocharged petrol engine teamed with electric propulsion seems good on paper.

Plus, it can run purely on electricity for short trips – and be charged externally.

If that EV mode is interesting to you then check out the upcoming BYD Shark 6. It’s looking like it’ll offer decent value.

And there’s loads more happening in the ute market, including the upcoming Kia Tasman, due mid-2025. We know very little about it, other than the first ones will have turbo diesel power. An EV version of the Korean ute is due later.

My default is to go to the latest Mazda3. I haven’t read much about it, but what I have seems to suggest it’s okay. What are your thoughts??

Is there anything else I should be looking at? I’m potentially open to something electric but am not sure if there’s anything worth looking at? - Kelly

Answer: The Mazda3 is still solid buying, if somewhat unexciting and lacking in innovation in a fast-moving market. It’s one of the better small hatches, especially when it comes to the interior presentation and driving dynamics.

Don’t ignore the Toyota Corolla either, which has a great hybrid drivetrain. The rest of the car isn’t overly exciting but gets the job done.

And a newcomer that looks good on paper is the Kia K4, the replacement for the Cerato small car.

If you want to go electric check out the MG4. The company has just dropped the price again and it’s currently selling for $30,990 drive-away, which makes it cheaper than a Corolla or Mazda3. It’s a great little hatch that is well worth considering if you’ve got home charging.

Answer: The short answer is because they can. And it only involves software rather than the fitment of additional hardware. Drift mode uses the stability control sensors and some software to allow the car to slide to a certain angle before the car then dials the fun back to a manageable level.

It’s usually applied to high performance cars that may sometimes be used on a track, at which point it can come in handy.?

It obviously allows people to have a bit of fun and slide their car around without worrying about facing the wrong direction or heading off the track backwards in spectacular fashion.

They work amazingly well, although in some instances you have to have a bit of commitment to get them to slide in the first place!

Question: I am considering buying an MG ZST. I am 71 years old so think the 10-year warranty might see me out and I only drive about 8000km per year.

Some reviews are scathing. What is your opinion please? Thanks - Kathy

Answer: As you may know the ZS and ZST use the same body. The ZS is basic motoring although as a ZST it steps up a bit, in part because it gets more safety gear as well as access to the zippier 1.3-litre turbo engine.

In either guise the ZS is nothing special to drive. It’s been around a while now and never had the dynamic nous of some small SUV rivals.

The 1.5-litre engine also needs to be worked hard.

In short, there are better small SUVs out there but you’ll pay more or them. The ZST certainly packs plenty in for the money.

In terms of seeing you out, hopefully you’ve got plenty left in the tank for more than another 10 laps of the sun. But also keep in mind that any car bought today and driven 8000km a year should easily go 10 years trouble free, provided you get to serviced appropriately and look after it.

So I wouldn’t be basing my buying decision predominantly on the warranty back-up.

Sure, it’s great to have that additional peace of mind, but a Toyota Yaris Cross or Kia Stonic is also a good option.

And have you considered the MG4 electric hatch? At $30,990 drive-away it’s a great buy, provided you can easily charge it at home.

A local electrical and solar company offers off-grid customers a set-up with solar panels, a Power Plus home battery and a Selectronic inverter. They have recommended I look at starting at 7.9kWh of solar with 12kWh of battery cells with the option to add more solar or battery cells if the need arises.

However, reading about an EV with V2G capacity and bi-drectional charger as a possible alternative to a home battery, I would like to find out more.

My home build is many months away so if you can provide info about future developments in the next year or two this would also be very helpful.

Such as what EVs available on the Australian market have the V2G capacity? I would be looking at getting an EV when my current 2017 Toyota Corolla Hybrid has its day, but only require a small vehicle (though one with trailer towing capacity might be useful).

And what bidirectional chargers are available and what are the approximate costs? Are there particular features/advantages/disadvantages with regards to different models that one should be aware of?

Lastly, is there any company/individual you could recommend if I wanted information particularly about the market in Tasmania where I live? - Jane

Answer: Vehicle to grid is running years late in Australia.

The tech is available on the car side (albeit in very limited numbers) but the regulatory side is struggling to keep up.

The only battery electric vehicle currently supporting V2G is the Nissan Leaf. The plug-in hybrid Mitsubishi Outlander also offers it, but being a hybrid it has a much smaller battery pack than the Nissan.

There will be more coming; Kia and Hyundai have engineered their EVs to have V2G capability, although it’s unclear whether cars sold today can be upgraded via over-the-air software functionality or whether it requires a hardware update on future models.

Other manufacturers are also working on V2G capability.

The next challenge is getting it to talk to your house and the electricity grid, something that requires a wallbox-style charger and inverter on your house.

There was only one supplier, which has just stopped selling them in Australia (presumably because it doesn’t make sense selling something that no one is buying because they can’t yet use it). It was expensive, around $10,000.

But more will come when the tech is finally (and belatedly) enabled, in turn prompting car makers to offer cars that can support it.

Right now we’re in a bit of a holding pattern with more questions than answers, something that will hopefully sort itself out in the next six months or so.

Also, keep in mind that whenever the car is hooked up to the grid it obviously can’t be driven. That’s fine if you don’t drive the car often or have flexibility on when you can use it. But, equally, it could cause issues with owners.

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