Your questions answered: Which Chinese mid-size PHEV should I buy?

This week in Your Questions answered, we ponder the differences between two of the newest hybrid SUVs on the market, and we ask where all the diesels have gone.

We also ask the question ‘to buy or not to buy’ and explore the history of the insurance cover note.

Got an automotive question but you don’t know where to find the information you need? Never fear, email us here at editor@carsales.com.au

Question: May I ask your opinion on a GWM GT PHEV versus the BYD Sealion 6 PHEV? Which car should I choose to buy, taking into account everything? - Darren

Answer: Hey Darren, I’m going to assume you’re talking about the GWM Haval H6 GT PHEV and the BYD Sealion 6 Ultra here, so you’re in the market for a medium-sized five-seat SUV with a bit of hybrid help. ‘Peas in a pod’ comes to mind at first blush, and I can see your conundrum when it comes to which car to buy.

Both compare well when it comes to basic specs; they are powerful and relatively efficient, with the potential of over 1,000km of range if you really needed it. There’s plenty of safety tech too, which gives both cars a top score of 5/5 in ANCAP testing.

The key difference comes down to the size of their respective batteries and the way they use them, with the GWM using a relatively large 35kWh battery and the BYD a smaller 18kWH version. Think of them as a fuel tank; the GWM has more potential electric range, but it’s only part of the story.

The GWM has a theoretically longer electric-only range, with claims of 140km from the manufacturer. The BYD’s efficiency comes via its electric motor working in harmony with the petrol engine to maximise fuel efficiency, rather than the ability to drive solely on battery power.

Interior-wise, both cars are similar, though the squared-off roofline of the BYD may be a bit more practical than that of the coupe-esque GWM Haval.

The most obvious difference noted by the carsales team is in the drive experience; the GWM Haval scores more highly with our reviewers than the BYD. This is why the test drive element of the new car purchase is so critical. One car may outscore the other on paper, but it’s behind the wheel where the truth is revealed.

I urge you to drive both back-to-back on the same day if possible, and in surrounds that are reasonably similar to your own. It may come down to simple things like screen access, steering feel, visibility and even just the ambience of the car you’re driving.

Question: I wanted to get your advice on how to get on the road as cheaply as possible. Circumstances have dictated that I move away from my job and circle of friends and family, but to get to work I really need to drive. I don't own a car at the moment, and I can't borrow one. It’s just me and the dog, so I don’t need much, and my commute is about 30 minutes each way.

Do I take the plunge and buy one, and should I buy new or used? Or do I look at a life of car sharing? I really don't want to spend very much at all on a car – and there’s always more to spend than you think - but equally, public transport isn't an option. – David

Answer: Hey David, thanks for the great question. You’re right when it comes to the cost of a car; it can seem like a never-ending spiral of bills. And a car is the second-biggest investment that we make, behind a house.

Ride-sharing in Australia is a dwindling industry, with Uber pulling the plug on its ride share business last year citing insurance, theft and repairs as some of the challenges.

Renting for you doesn’t sound like a viable option, either, unless work can cover some of the cost. Even a mid-term rental will cost no less than $900 a month, and that’s before petrol.

It doesn’t sound like you’re particularly leaning towards any car in particular, which can both help and hinder. If your budget is tight, though, it means you could fall prey to less scrupulous types looking to unload a problem vehicle on an unsuspecting patsy.

If you have a budget in mind, I’d suggest you investigate the excellent filtering qualities of the carsales site. It’s possible to narrow down your search to absolute specifics including price, whether it’s auto or manual, how far from you it is, even the colour. Given you’re an open book about what kind of car to buy, it may well be the most logical place to start.

For your use case, I would probably steer away from SUVs and utes, and look for something small, robust and popular. The venerable Mazda 3 springs to mind ahead of something like a Toyota Corolla, simply because there is a perception that used Toyotas cost more than everything else (what some call the Toyota Tax). There’s no rhyme or reason to it, but it’s certainly a consideration.

Always, always, always insist on checking the car you’re looking at comes with a fully stamped service record, and if the budget can stand it, look into a mechanical inspection before you commit.

Questions: I know that diesel engines are the mainstay in utes, but what about in smaller cars? I average 1200km a week to and from my job and a big dual-cab is not really what I'm looking for. Is there still a place in this world for a smaller diesel? - Kaz

Answer: Hi Kaz, thanks for the question. Smaller-sized diesels are heading for extinction, thanks to ever-tightening emissions regulations. It wasn’t that long ago that oil burners were available in everything from Mazda 3s and Ford Focuses to Volkswagen Passats, with driving range numbers nudging 1000km on a single tank.

Now, though, you’d be hard pressed to find a diesel in anything smaller than an Audi A4 Allroad or BMW 5-Series. The Kia Sportage is Australia’s last new medium SUV with a diesel option.

The range riders these days come in the form of petrol/electric hybrids, whether they plug into a wall or not. Contenders from new players like BYD and GWM claim that their vehicles can exceed 1100km total range, but this is something we’re yet to prove in the real world.

We have, however, put the 1000km claim of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV to the test.

If you opt for a plug-in hybrid (also known as a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle, or PHEV), it’s theoretically possible to travel forever without ever filling the petrol tank a second time, providing the vehicle’s onboard battery is kept charged. And if you can charge off a home solar array, you can do that for nothing.

Question: Do insurance companies do cover notes any more? It was a thing when I was younger but it’s been suggested that the rules have changed. – Romain

Answer: Spot on, Romain, this is true. Back in the day, it was possible to call an insurer and arrange for what was known as a cover note to allow people to drive new purchases home without committing to a new policy right away. They typically lasted a fortnight and allowed people to shop around for the right deal before committing.

The cover note no longer exists, but fear not; there is a consumer protection in-place in the form of the cooling-off period.

This typically extends for a month, and although a policy has been offered and accepted, a consumer can cancel from anywhere between 14 and 31 days and still receive a refund (assuming a claim hasn’t been made, of course).

It’s still possible to arrange insurance on the spot when you’re buying a car, and asking the insurer to bill you in 30 days for the first instalment, which is effectively the same thing. Of course, this will depend on the insurer and your relationship with them.

Got an automotive question but you don’t know where to find the information you need? Never fear, email us here at editor@carsales.com.au

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