Your questions answered: Why does AEB on our MG4 kick in unexpectedly?

This week there’s no shortage of tech talk firing across the carsales desks. One of those revolves around autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems, which cause us many hours of water cooler discussions.

We’ve also got readers looking to ready their properties for EV charging, something that sometimes creates challenges.

Plus, there are new-car buyers trying to work out whether to buy a hybrid or jump straight into an EV.

Question:

Answer: We’re aware of issues with many advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) across a broad range of models.

It’s relatively common for some AEB systems to warn or trigger braking when they shouldn’t do it. Lane departure systems are generally very average and other systems such as rear cross traffic alert and blind spot warning can also surprise you with the times they decide to spring to life.

We’re not sure of what else you can do other than log it with the dealer. Also make a formal complaint to MG’s customer assistance centre.

For what it’s worth, I’ve found the best driver assistance systems are from German luxury brands and the worst from Chinese brands. While MG is a British brand it’s essentially a Chinese car-maker.

It doesn’t help that ANCAP has been encouraging car-makers to add all these driver assist systems but not checking how well they actually work in real-world conditions. Just because it ticks a box doesn’t mean it’s doing what it’s supposed to. But there is change on the way, as carsales has reported recently.

Question:

Answer: The most comprehensive app for charging is PlugShare. It’s a generic app that looks at all charging locations, including ones on private property.

The likes of Chargefox, Evie, Jolt, AmpCharge, Everty and BP Pulse are all specific to the individual charging networks, so will only show those options.

Even then, PlugShare is by no means perfect. It can take a while for new chargers to come online and we’ve recently caught it out not listing some of the newer Evie-branded chargers. But it’s the broadest and most reliable of the lot.

Question: We’re considering a move to hybrid or electric medium SUV, mainly for ease of entry/egress as we are in our mid-70s. We have driven five all-electric vehicles at the NRMA EV test day recently (Kia EV6 and Niro, Volvo C40, BYD Atto 3 and Hyundai IONIQ 6). Preferred Niro.

Also driven Mazda CX-60, Honda CR-V and Lexus NX 350h luxury variant and preferred the Lexus.

Wondered if you have a view on above Lexus (despite long delays) priced at around $78K in ACT. Also wondered about price of new electric Kona. Any suggestions about other medium SUVs we should consider would be welcome. We are keen to replace existing vehicle as soon as possible. – Al and Amy M

Answer: You’ve sampled plenty of great options. We’d recommend going for an EV if you can make it work (most people can). There are great benefits with running costs and EVs can be fun to drive.

The five EVs you’ve looked at all have their redeeming features. The Kia EV6 was carsales’ Car of the Year in 2022 and remains a terrific vehicle, but is more expensive and futuristic than the Niro. It’s easy to understand why you like the relative normality of the Niro, which is a great car.

Also look at the new Hyundai Kona Electric, which shares its drivetrain and underpinnings with the Kona. And don’t rule out the Tesla Model 3, which has just been updated.

Another one to stick on your shortlist is the MG4, which recently took out the 2023 carsales Car of the Year award. It’s a terrific little electric hatch and being designed from the outset as an EV (rather than something adapted from an internal combustion engine vehicle) means it has surprisingly good interior space.

As for the hybrids, the Mazda CX-60 would be the first one off our list; it’s expensive and the drivetrain lacks polish. The Lexus NX 350h is a great option, although we’re also fans of the new Honda CR-V. Another one to check out is the Nissan X-TRAIL e-POWER – it has EV-like driving characteristics but runs on petrol to charge the battery pack.

But, again, we’d be steering you towards the EVs – especially as the ACT offers you two years of free registration.

Question: I live in a ground floor unit. I want to use my solar panels to charge a potential EV. But a cord from my outdoor power point would cross my neighbour’s back yard and parking space. Any solutions known to you at all? – Sue

Answer: EVs typically don’t recommend using an extension cord for charging given the relatively high charging current and the potential for water to infiltrate the connections.

The only real solution is trying to get a power point somewhere near where the car is parked. An electrician is obviously the best place to start. Keep in mind there could be issues with strata, too, so it pays to ensure the committee for your building is aware of what you’re trying to achieve.

Short of that you could check PlugShare for local public charging solutions in your area. That obviously won’t allow you to tap into your solar, but it will at least keep the car running.

Question:

Answer: Hi Jill, and sorry for your loss. The Honda Jazz Hybrid was only offered very briefly in Australia about a decade ago. It was nothing special and you’d struggle to find one in good condition these days.

Toyota has long dominated the hybrid market, so if you want a used hybrid then that’s the main option. A Toyota Corolla Hybrid or newer Corolla Cross would be a good place to start. You could also look at the Yaris Cross Hybrid, although it’s smaller and not as convincing in terms of refinement and performance.

Regarding cars designed from the ground-up for electricity… That’s for pure battery-electric vehicles (EVs) rather than hybrids. And the reason it makes a difference is because once you take the engine, gearbox, driveshafts and exhaust system – all of them fairly chunky components – you have more space. It also allows designers to put the batteries and electric motors in the optimum location rather than adapt them to a hole that was left from removing those internal combustion engine components.

So those ground-up EV designs tend to have better space utilisation – translating to more occupant space – and are more efficient, which means they use less electricity.

So if you’re looking at an EV at the more affordable end of the market check out the MG4, which recently won carsales’ 2023 Car of the Year award. Also look at the BYD Dolphin.

If the budget stretches then a Tesla Model 3 is good buying, too. Or if you want something with more personality then the Cupra Born is worth a look.

Question:

This is a pilot home and I’m looking to grow a collective of green accommodation providers, with chargers installed, that will allow our tourist industry to continue to thrive in the face of our EV transition. – Vanessa L

Answer: Good on you for planning ahead for EVs. When you say fast charger, keep in mind that the higher the power output the charger you install the more it will cost you. We’ve heard of some 350kW chargers costing about $1 million. And something like that would be overkill for an accommodation provider. Even the slower (but still fast) DC chargers will cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Ultimately all you need is something that can charge an EV overnight, given your guests will be staying overnight. For that, a single-phase 7.4kW wallbox charger would be all you need. It’ll charge any EV in about eight to 12 hours. And keep in mind that’s a full charge; many people will likely only need a top-up.

You could upgrade to a three-phase wallbox charger, which will provide up to 22kW of power. But most EVs will only accept 11kW of AC charging as a maximum (DC charge rates are higher). So in some ways that’s also more than you need.

The big thing you need is to ensure that it has billing functionality as part of the charger. The Tesla Gen 3 wall connector is a popular option (it sells from about $700) and can have that billing functionality activated. While it’s Tesla-branded, it has a Type 2 AC connector that will charge every EV currently on the market. It’s a simple and popular solution with good reason.

Also contact EVSE and Jetcharge to discuss their options with pay-per-charge billing capability. The BYD importer, EV Direct, is planning to sell a branded option for about $500 (like the Tesla, that doesn’t include installation costs, which will vary depending on your electrician and the location of the charger), although we have no experience with that charger.

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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