Your questions answered: What do I need to know about Tesla?

Electric, electric and more electric. That’s one of the themes with this week’s carsales e-mailbox.

We’ve got someone wondering if they really should make the leap to Tesla (it’s a big leap) and another looking to convert their classic Toyota LandCruiser to EV.

We’ve also got one reader wondering why modern vehicles are so complex and another wanting to know how long he’ll have to wait for a new hybrid SUV.

Question:

Answer: Tesla is a brand that polarises because it doesn’t really play by the rules (or, at least, it’s created a new set of rules). It doesn’t do traditional advertising, runs fashionably late with every new model and has minimal direct access with the media.

Tesla also focuses more on software than any other brand, something that has given it a head start against rivals, most of which are still well behind.

The cars are also an acquired taste. They’re arguably an easier sell to someone stepping up from a mainstream car rather than someone coming out of a traditional luxury brand. That’s because a lot of the ‘premium’ in a Tesla is in 1s and 0s rather than the stuff that covers the seats and the finishes flashed around the cabin.

Even buying a Tesla is different to any other brand. You’ll buy it online, for example, and pick it up from a warehouse.

But having owned a Tesla for a decent chunk of this year I’ve been impressed with the initial aftersales support (it’s easy to get someone on the phone who knows what they’re talking about). The smartphone app is also way ahead of rivals.

That at least partially makes up for the just-acceptable fit and finish (the finer details are well behind Japanese brands) and the minimalist interior.

To summarise, buying a Tesla is more like buying a smartphone than a car. And as with the technophiles who gravitate to one over the other, there’s some fanaticism attached.

But there are also plenty of regular buyers slotting behind the wheel of a Tesla – and with good reason.

Question:

Answer: EV conversions sound like a great idea on paper and there’s no shortage of workshops performing the work in Australia. We’re also starting to see kits being offered to allow conversions of classic cars to EV. Ford, General Motors and Jeep in the US have also talked about EV conversion kits as an alternative to their ‘crate’ motors, although we haven’t seen much yet.

But none of them are cheap. A basic EV conversion might cost $40,000 but is these days creeping closer to $50,000 (blame inflation!). And you can easily head way north of that, depending on what sort of effort you want to go to and how far you want the car to drive between recharges (a longer driving range means a bigger battery, which is the expensive part of an EV).

So we’d be budgeting $50K for an EV conversion. It should eventually pay itself back in lower maintenance and running costs, but the bigger benefit should be in everyday driveability and enjoyment. Not that an old school petrol engine won’t have more character, but the EV transition should bring some added pep to the acceleration. Enjoy!

Question:

Answer: Having spoken to Nissan recently we know that there should be relatively good X-TRAIL e-POWER availability. Decent numbers are due to roll off the boat early next year, so if you pop and order it soon you should hopefully be taking delivery a few weeks after the champagne corks have been popped to usher in 2023.

And while Toyota has had some crazy wait times for some models (RAV4 and LandCruiser in particular), the Corolla Cross isn’t nearly as bad. Toyota is saying there is currently plenty of availability, though that can obviously change if demand ramps up quickly. If you’re lucky you could get one before Chrissy, but if not then soon after that.

Keep in mind that individual dealers have certain allocations of new cars. So it can pay to get estimated delivery times from multiple dealers, because some may have more stock available than others.

Question: I’m looking for a small SUV and have shortlisted the Subaru XV and Toyota Corolla Cross. A hybrid would be my preference, although I’m open to suggestions. The main thing I want to know is which is best? – Andrea F

Answer: You’ll have to be quick to get into a Subaru XV because its name is about to change to Subaru Crosstrek as part of a mild model update. The core of the car remains, though, down to its relatively spacious (by small SUV standards) body and simple but effective all-wheel drive system.

If you’re planning on heading beyond the blacktop then the XV/Crosstrek is the pick; it’s not a proper off-roader, but it can clamber over some semi-challenging terrain. On the negative, the XV’s hybrid system is not great. It doesn’t save a whole lot of fuel and is relatively expensive, making it tough to recommend over the regular 2.0-litre (non-hybrid) drivetrain.

That’s one area the Toyota Corolla Cross really picks up. It has the fifth generation of Toyota’s basic-but-effective hybrid system. In the Corolla Cross it makes decent power and is vaguely fun to drive. Plus, the Corolla Cross is a fresher vehicle and also delivers with respectable cabin space.

All of which leads to the Corolla Cross, with the caveat that we haven’t driven the Crosstrek that will soon replace the XV.

Question: I’m currently driving a Toyota RAV4 but really like the idea of switching to a ute. I go bike riding with my kids a bit and having to attach bike racks before we head off is getting a bit draining. So which should I get? I love Toyota, so my first thought is the HiLux. But I’m also open to looking around. – Terri L

Answer: Switching to a ute is a big change, especially if you’ve been driving a city-focused mid-size SUV. You’ll be getting a lot more than a bigger (outdoor) boot. The two will drive very differently, mainly because of their make-up beneath the skin.

Your RAV4 is essentially a regular passenger car but with a tougher-looking, higher-riding body on top. So it drives very much like a car, something that suits most people wanting to trundle around the ’burbs or head off for a weekend away.

Utes ride on a ladder-frame chassis that has more to do with trucks than cars. It’s tough and flexible and is designed to lift heavy things and go off-road. The downside is that it’s cumbersome and heavy and not as precise as a passenger car or city SUV. So be aware that you’ll be going backwards on driving dynamics and everyday comfort.

But you do get a very handy load area.

As for which is the best ute, there’s certainly lots to like about the HiLux, including its seriously impressive toughness and off-road ability.

But we recently did a thorough test of the big players in carsales’ Best Dual-Cab 4x4 Ute 2022 – and it was the Ford Ranger that comfortably came out on top. The Ranger sets a new ute benchmark for driving, comfort and tech. At the very least you need to drive one before signing on the dotted line.

Question: We’ve got three kids so we really need a seven-seater. I’m currently driving a BMW X5 and am looking at EVs. But I can’t find any that have seven seats. Will car-makers eventually start building seven-seat EVs? If so, when will we see them? – Arjun Y

Answer: There has been a seven-seat EV available in Australia for years: the Tesla Model X. Or, at least, it was available. You can still technically order one on the Tesla website but there’s no estimation of when it might actually arrive and none have been delivered to Australia for a couple of years.

Another option that’s available now is the recently launched Mercedes-Benz EQB. It’s effectively a GLB but with the petrol parts replaced with electric components. You can only get the seven-seat model with the front-drive set-up, so for those wanting all-wheel drive it won’t suit. Plus, with all seven seats in play it can get fairly snug.

Mercedes-Benz will soon have something much bigger, but it sits at the other end of the price scale. It’s called the EQS SUV and is likely to cost close to $300,000 once you get it on the road and throw in an option or two. The EQS is also a big beast and feels it. Plus, it’s seriously opulent, to the point where you may get a tad grumpy with the little ones plastering their dirty feet over the leather.

There are more seven-seat electric SUVs on the way, including the promised Hyundai IONIQ 7 and Kia EV9. Plus, VW is expected to eventually do a three-row version of the Volkswagen ID. Buzz.

They could take time. The focus with most EV manufacturers is plugging EVs into the segments that can bring them big sales. That inevitably means mid-size SUVs and more affordable models.

Question: I’ve been looking at my first new car in eight years and have been shocked at how poorly designed some of them are. Some of the models I’ve looked at make it almost impossible to do things I can achieve with one press of a button in my trusty Corolla. What happened to K.I.S.S.??? – Andrew H

Answer: Leaping to the defence of the car manufacturers, there is a heck of a lot to pack into a modern vehicle. From infotainment and comfort features to safety settings and driver information, there can be lots to channel through the display/s in the car.

That said, you’re right – some of them do make it too complex to perform often simple tasks. Many designers, for example, have decided that the volume dial can be replaced by buttons, which makes adjusting the audio that little bit longer.

And Volkswagen’s latest slider bars add another layer of complexity that is crazy. In the Haval H6 it’s only the driver who can adjust the volume of the sound system; there are no buttons other than the ones on the steering wheel. Again, it’s a backward step from the knobs that worked beautifully half a century ago.

Then there are cars that make recirculating the air-conditioning far more of an effort than it should be (Citroen and Peugeot, we’re looking at you…).

And anyone who’s driven a Tesla will know you need a fairly serious human reprogramming to tackle basic tasks, like opening the glove box or activating the windscreen wipers.

Some car-makers appear to be listening and we’re seeing a return to keep-it-simple. But there’s a long way to go. Make sure you give any feedback to the dealer, because if they hear the complaints enough it will eventually make it back to head office.

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

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