Your Questions Answered: Will second-hand EVs have fewer problems than ICE cars?

Practicality is a big part of our reader letters this week, with many in the market for a new or used car clearly focused on value.

Even in the EV space, there’s an emphasis on keeping the dollars on the sensible side of the ledger, including one reader wanting to know how used EVs will fare in terms of long-term reliability.

Plus, we’ve got people looking at the Subaru Crosstrek and second-hand Land Rovers, while another is planning some big adventures across the country in a new SUV.

Answer: As you may know, the Crosstrek is the replacement for the XV. The new name arrived with an all-new model that launched in 2023.

With a typical six-year model life, there’s lots of life left in the current generation Crosstrek. However, car makers often introduce updates and tweaks throughout a vehicle’s model life. These can be minor or major, depending on what the brand is trying to achieve.

While it’s available as a hybrid, it’s fairly underwhelming and doesn’t save much fuel compared to rival hybrids. Subaru has said it’s in the process of introducing a new hybrid system, which is expected to leverage Toyota’s far better hybrid technology (Toyota has part ownership of Subaru). We’d expect it to use the Subaru boxer engine paired with Toyota’s latest generation electrical architecture.

So, in short, it would make a lot more sense to wait for that new hybrid system rather than dive into the thoroughly forgettable one available now. We’re expecting some action within the Subaru camp on that front in 2025, although we’re not sure when the rollout will be for the Crosstrek.

If you need something soon, check out the Honda ZR-V Hybrid or Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, each of which are far more convincing—and more frugal—than the Crosstrek hybrid. Neither has the off-road capability of the Subaru, but in other areas, they’re a step ahead.

Question: I’m after your opinion on second-hand EVs, specifically European brands. Your previous response on second-hand ICE cars suggested sticking with Japanese or Korean brands (which I agree with, as I drive a 2008 Lexus and a 2019 Toyota) and avoiding the European brands due to maintenance costs. With EVs being simpler, does your advice change? Looking at the second-hand market, the European brands have depreciated and are now more affordable. - Grant

Answer: My advice around second-hand cars has often gravitated toward the Asian brands due to their reliability and the relative affordability of maintenance compared to European brands. Obviously, there are exceptions to the rule.

When it comes to EVs, while the market is too immature currently to make any hard and fast determinations on long-term reliability, in theory, there should be a lot less to worry about with electric motors and batteries. All batteries degrade, but early data suggests EV degradation is a lot less than originally predicted. Electric motors don’t require any maintenance, and we haven’t heard of any major issues from any brands.

So, yes, based on what we’re seeing in the early days of EVs, I think buying second-hand European EVs would be just as ‘safe’ as buying one of the big Asian brands. However, keep in mind that other parts of the car—suspension systems, brakes, electronics—are the same as in ICE models and can experience similar issues or failures with age and usage.

Question: I would like your opinion on the 2015–2019 Land Rover Discovery Sport (maybe Range Rover Evoque). I've spoken to a few random mechanics, and their language suggests the Land Rover is best left alone. I know there are various models of this vehicle, but that's mainly to describe the level of features. I mainly like the look of this model; that's what has drawn me to it. The opinion I'm seeking includes:

- Engine: petrol vs. diesel? There seem to be a few options. I don't like the lag in power after pushing the accelerator of the diesel, and diesel has a DPF requirement, but it's not a deal breaker.

- Overall reliability? Cost of repairs?

- What major things should I check to ensure they’ve been maintained, replaced, or are unreliable in the car? What should I look out for when inspecting?

- Their value seems to drop quite significantly from new. Will that be the same if I spend $20-25K today? Do some models hold their value better than others?

And what's your thought on buying (any model car) at auction? I understand there’s no warranty, likely no rego, likely transport costs, and no Pink Slip—but I've seen dealers buy at auction, then do some minor refurb, and put it on the lot for $5–8K higher. Thank you, cheers - Mick

Answer: There’s a lot to unpack there, but let’s kick off with the big one: reliability. If reliability and low running costs are a high priority, there are arguably better places to park your money. Land Rover often performs poorly in independent quality studies, and our anecdotal experience is that issues can be more frequent than with other brands—and costly.

At the same time, we’ve spoken to owners who’ve loved their Land Rovers and experienced little more than a requirement for regular servicing. On that front, we’d suggest getting an oil change at least every year. Some Land Rovers suggest a two-year service interval, but mechanics we’ve spoken to recommend annual check-ups—and at the very least, some fresh oil and a filter.

It’s also worth checking the service history of any car you’re considering to see if it’s been serviced more frequently than what’s suggested in the logbook. As for issues, there can be all sorts with Land Rovers. Engine and electrical issues are the most common we hear of.

The short story is, you need to be careful and do a thorough inspection prior to purchase. We also reckon the potential for issues is one reason Land Rovers don’t hold their value as well as more mainstream brands.

As for which will hold its value best, it’s difficult to say. It all comes down to supply and demand, and it’s unlikely to change radically over the life of the vehicle.

As for buying at auction, you need to know what you’re looking at because in some instances, you can’t perform an inspection, and you typically can’t perform a test drive. So there’s certainly a risk there. Check the service history, ask for additional information, and check the car in person if possible. But beware that you could be buying someone else’s issues.

Question: My husband and I are retired, late 60s to early 70-year-olds. We have a Honda Civic, but my husband is finding it hard getting in and out as it is low, and the seats are not very comfortable on long trips. We are planning a trip next year, late February or early March, driving to and from Airlie Beach to Perth (family over there), and we are unsure as to what car to purchase. We are hoping to buy an SUV but need the car to be reliable, comfortable, and roomy. Your experience and advice would be much appreciated to help us make our purchase. We are thinking second-hand. We bought our Honda brand new; it’s four years old. Our price range would be about $25-30K. - Robyn

Answer: Wow, that’s certainly a big road trip! Good on you for hitting the road rather than taking to the skies. Hopefully, you manage some interesting stops along the way.

As for your choice of wheels, SUVs make a lot of sense for people as they get older due to the higher seat height that makes getting in and out a little easier.

We’re assuming you’re sticking to the bitumen, hence our options below. If that’s not the case, let us know, and we’ll look at alternatives designed to go off-road.

There are a lot of terrific options, and given the driving you’ll be doing, a turbo diesel could be a good alternative.

As a start, check out the Mazda CX-5. It’s an excellent mid-sized SUV and has a terrific diesel engine option that should work beautifully on a drive like that.

Also, look at the Hyundai Tucson diesel. The model that came out in 2021 was a great choice and comes with a decent level of gear. Most just creep over your price limit, but some should come in under it. Another advantage of the Tucson is it should have a full-sized spare wheel (many rivals make do with a space saver), which adds peace of mind for your big adventure.

Also, check out the Ford Escape. The diesel engine finished in 2020, but the 2.0-litre turbo that appeared with the latest iteration (a car no longer available) from 2020 was a terrific option. And it was never as loved as some rivals on the used car market, so there are decent buys out there.

And it’s impossible to overlook Toyota. A RAV4 would be a great choice, although the incredible residual values mean you’ll have to go back a few years to get something in your price point. We’d recommend sticking with the current generation car that came out in 2019. If you can find a Corolla Cross for the money it could be a better bet. There are no diesel options, but the petrol engines - including a hybrid - are great choices.

Answer: There is certainly plenty shared between the two, including the core chassis, engines, and transmissions. However, the two obviously look different.

The Volkswagen has more of an upmarket vibe, especially in the cabin, but the Ford fights back with some muscle-flexing design touches. The front seats in the Amarok also offer better support.

However, the prices of the Amarok tend to be slightly higher, albeit with extra equipment to help justify the cost. Additionally, they are produced in different factories. The Ranger is built in Thailand, whereas the Amarok comes out of a Ford factory in South Africa.

We recommend visiting the dealerships for both and seeing which one offers the better deal for the features you prefer. Both are terrific utes that currently stand above rivals.

Question: I am a 73-year-old woman and am thinking about changing my 2016 Suzuki S-Cross (128,000km) for an EV under $50,000. I have liked the S-Cross because it is easy to get in and out of and has a roomy boot. I drive approximately 20,000km per year, mostly from regional Victoria to Melbourne. I would really appreciate your advice on what I should consider. - Grace

Answer: Most of the EV action is occurring above $50,000, but there are still some good options below that.

Check out the BYD Atto 3, which hovers around that price. Like your Suzuki, it’s an SUV, so it has a higher seating position. There’s no shortage of tech—perhaps too much, depending on your willingness to engage with it all - but it drives well.

The MG4 is also a great sub-$50K electric car, although it’s a hatch, so you’ll be sitting lower in it. Given your regional driving, you’d also want to opt for one with a bigger battery.

Then there’s the issue of whether you’ll be able to complete the trip with the current charging infrastructure. Whichever EV you’re considering, deduct about 20 percent from the claimed range to get a realistic idea of how far the battery will take you on a country road. EVs use more electricity at speed than they do when trundling around town.

Also, check out websites/apps such as PlugShare to get an idea of the charging options on the route you’re looking at. There’s a fair bit available, and with some planning, we reckon you should be fine, but you need to do some research before settling on an EV.

One option that will make EV driving easier from a charging perspective is Tesla, due to its extensive charging network (Teslas can also use all other chargers for non-Tesla EVs).

You’d have to look at second-hand Teslas, of which there are plenty. A Model 3 or Model Y would work fine, and we’d recommend getting one of the Chinese-made ones (look for entry-level Rear-Wheel Drive models). To check where it’s made, look for “LRW” as the first three letters of the vehicle identification number (VIN).

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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