Your questions answered: Should I buy an MG4 or a Mazda3?

Brand loyalty is tugging at the heartstrings of one carsales reader who wants a new small hatchback but is finding themselves tempted by an EV from a relative newcomer. It’s indicative of the buying decisions of some new car buyers as they navigate the increasingly complex maze of models available.

Tradition is still alive, though, with one reader keen to spend big on a Honda hybrid. Plus, there’s someone keen to learn their consumer rights around a deposit they’ve put down on a new car.

Still on the hybrid theme, we’re going flat-out looking at supercars that are increasingly turning to electricity. We also tackle the long-running myths about EV battery replacement.

Got a question but don’t know where to find the information you need? Email us at editor@carsales.com.au

Question: I’m a long-time Mazda driver and I love my Mazda3, but it’s time to upgrade. I’d usually go back into another Mazda because I’ve been so happy with everything from how it drives to the ownership experience.

Plus, I love the look! But now I’m considering a switch because I’m keen to get a hybrid or an EV and Mazda doesn’t seem to have much to offer.

I’m wondering what you think of the MG4. From what I’ve read it’s a good EV and it also comes with a 10-year warranty, which seems amazing.

Should I buy one? – Yolanda

Answer: There’s a heap of activity at the entry level of the new car market, much of it from a multitude of new brands.

While MG as a brand is a senior citizen, in its current Chinese-owned guise it’s still in its infancy and competing to be a dominant player.

After a string of underwhelming cars the MG4 was a revelation and continues to mount a solid case against petrol-powered small hatches.

As for Mazda, like most Japanese brands it’s been slow to the EV party. Over the next few years we’d expect Japan to fight back, but they’ll be doing it against a raft of increasingly impressive competition that is set to change the new car market.

Question: I am considering trading my 2014 Volkswagen Golf Mk7 on a new Honda Civic Hybrid. I am looking at the e-HEV LX.

My Golf has only 70,000km under its belt and has provided excellent service over the last 10 years.

It has what I understand is a known electrical issue with cars from the VW family, with an error message “Only leave vehicle in position P. Please visit workshop.” showing on the dashboard occasionally. This error message disappears after say five seconds, and the car drives as normal.

This error message has been appearing occasionally for a number of years and I am thinking it may be time to move the car on and buy the Honda Civic. The new Civic reads up very well in what I have read recently.

Have you seen or, better still, have you driven the new Honda Civic Hybrid and, if so, can you give me your thoughts on it? The car is priced above obvious challengers but from what I have read it is worthy of consideration. – John

Answer: There’s loads to like about the Civic Hybrid, which is in some ways a return to form for Honda.

Its hybrid system is terrific and one of the most frugal on the market. As well as delivering on performance, especially in suburban situations – it also sips a tiny amount of fuel. On the open road, too, it’s an easy tourer.

The Civic is also surefooted on the road, something that inspires confidence while also adding to comfort levels.

And the cabin is well presented with quality materials throughout and everything well put together. By small car standards, too, it’s not particularly small.

But, as you note, it’s not particularly cheap, which can be challenging to accept in a market where prices have been sharpening in recent times. Don’t bother trying to crunch a deal, either, because with Honda’s agency model – you’re buying the car from head office, not a dealer – there’s no wriggle room on what’s advertised.

As for alternatives, it’s absolutely worth looking at the Toyota Camry. While the entry-level model looks a tad taxi-like inside, more expensive variants are more sumptuously presented.

It’s also spacious and surprisingly good to drive.

And if you’re open to an EV, the Tesla Model 3 is a great place to start. Sure, it means you have to think about charging, but the Tesla charging network makes that a bit easier.

Question: I’ve put a deposit down on a new car but have since changed my mind. Under what circumstances can I get my money back?

My dealer says I’m not entitled to a refund. They say that’s what the deposit was for.

Surely I should get my money back? Should I call the car maker to lodge a complaint? – Jane

Answer: With the exception of a few brands – including Mercedes-Benz, Honda and Tesla – in most instances when you buy a car you’re buying it from a dealer. So the deal and any contract you have is with them, rather than the manufacturer.

In the same way that if you have an issue with a grocery item you’d take it back to the supermarket where you bought it, if you have an issue with a car your first port of call is typically the dealer.

Sure, with warranty claims and repairs usually it’s the manufacturer paying for the repair, but it’s the retailer that has the obligation to the purchaser.

In regard to a deposit, then, the manufacturer doesn’t have anything to do with it.

So while they may be able to suggest to the dealer it would be a good idea, ultimately it’s up to the dealer and your rights under Australian Consumer Law. All of which will depend on the contract you signed.

If the contract stipulated the deposit was non-refundable then I don’t think there’s a whole lot you can do. So go back over the contract to see what you agreed to.

And, of course, you can try negotiating. If you want to purchase another car from that dealer they may be prepared to return your deposit on the proviso it is spent on another vehicle on their lot.

If you’re a long-term customer, too, it’d also be worth pointing out that you would appreciate some leniency this time around. You’d be relying on goodwill from the dealer, but if they think you’re someone who could be a good customer moving forward it could be in their interests.

Question: I notice the new Porsche 911 GTS is a hybrid but it uses more fuel than the model it replaces. Am I missing something or is that counterintuitive? I thought the point of hybrid systems was to reduce fuel use?

Why would a brand like Porsche go to all that effort to introduce a hybrid that doesn’t reduce fuel use? – Kane

Answer: Hybrid systems are typically about improving efficiency. So essentially getting more bang from every litre of fuel.

That has traditionally been used to lower fuel bills and driver further, something that is an easy sell to consumers.

But it can also be used to boost performance, as many manufacturers are discovering.

In the case of the 911 GTS, Porsche made a massive leap in terms of performance, shaving 0.4 seconds off the zero to 100km/h time, which is now down to 3.0 seconds. That’s seriously fast.

To do that solely with petrol propulsion likely would have involved a bigger investment than what was required for a hybrid set-up.

In short, Porsche used the latest tech – and some of its engineering ingenuity – to develop a system that worked for that particular application, with the emphasis being on performance.

Also, there’s every chance that to get a similar performance boost – including the vastly improved drivability that comes with it – you’d likely be using more fuel again if you were relying solely on premium unleaded.

Porsche is by no means alone in turning to electricity for a performance boost. The supercar world is fast realising that electric motors are a great way to give a big power boost.

The Ferrari 296, McLaren Artura and Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray are three supercars that have utilised hybrid systems predominantly for a significant step up in grunt.

The GWM Tank 300 and 500 and Toyota Tundra also use hybrid tech to boost performance rather than save fuel.

Question: We’re in the market for a new car and have an EV on our radar. But I’ve been reading up on batteries and how expensive they are, which has me worried.

My question is, will I really have to replace the battery on an EV after eight years? There are a lot of reports suggesting EV batteries only have an eight-year warranty.

What happens then and how much does a battery replacement cost? – Jennifer

Answer: Data and anecdotal evidence suggest you’re as likely to have to replace your EV battery after eight years as you are needing to replace the engine on a petrol-powered vehicle after eight years.

In both instances, the cost of replacement on an eight-year-old car is likely to be prohibitive and could result in the car effectively being written off.

But in both instances the likelihood of having to replace an engine or battery are slim, at best.

Yes, most EVs have at least an eight-year warranty on the high-voltage battery pack (some are as high as 10 years). But just because the warranty runs out doesn’t mean you’re up for a new battery.

Most petrol engines only have a five-year warranty. But the engines themselves will often last upwards of 20 years (provided they’ve been properly maintained).

So don’t go stressing about an EV battery replacement because you should never need to do it.

That said, batteries in anything – from phones and computers to watches and cars – degrade over time. Part of that degradation results in the battery being able to store less electricity.

But early EV data suggests most will lose maybe 1-1.5 per cent of their original capacity each year.

We reckon that’s pretty good going – and it’s likely to get better (as in less degradation) as battery technology improves.

Related: Your questions answered: Which small SUVs should I consider?

Related: Your questions answered: Which fuel-efficient hybrid SUV should I buy?