Alex on Autos (aka Auto Buyers Guide) has had a few long termers, but not huge.
At least form what I can recall –
The Mk 7.5 Golf (MY 2017 in Europe, 2018 in the US) was still good, improving on the already really good Mk 7. It’s all been tits up from there - be it in their legacy lineup or the ID line.
The Atto 3 is insanely popular in markets where they sell it. It’s a really good value. Delivers 95% of the Model Y experience for like 75% of the cost. For 2023 so far - it’s the 2nd best selling EV in NZ after the Model Y and 7th best selling car period. In Australia - it’s #3 EV (after Y and 3) and #22 overall. Haven’t looked up UK numbers, but would assume the popularity is also pretty good. Clearly - the Telsa is selling better in all these examples, but BYD has gone from 0 to really strong sales in only 2 years. That’s impressive.
I don’t have OPs level of cash, and while I do think Elon is an ass clown, I am leaning towards doing a lightly used Model 3 SR+ myself. It’s just a really good value and a balance of space, tech, safety, performance, and range. If I had more money, I would prefer the Y.
Other things I test drove lately –
Peugeot e2008 - big style points inside and out and was pretty good to drive but is smaller, more expensive, slower, and shorter range.
BYD Atto 3 - Perhaps best all-rounder. Some cheap plastic in the interior that I’m sure will age horribly. Drives reasonably well for what it is. Great infotainment. Best space. Speedometer is horrible. Looks boring on the outside but at least the interior is cool
MG4 - Great fun to drive and is a really good value at the base trim. Is considerably smaller, interior low rent, and tech half-baked (and sparse on the low spec). Higher spec models close the price gap too much to consider.
MG ZS EV - Is a slightly cheaper alternative to the BYD but with shorter range, lower rent interior, worse infotainment - like, it’s cheaper because it is.
Note that ALL BYDs and the 51kwh MG battery pack are LFP - which is a much more stable chemistry. Has more recharge cycles. But also substantially less prone to catching fire in a crash.
Not everyone’s use case is the same, so YMMV, but for most people it works just fine.
charging times
You plug in when you get home and leave it overnight. In the morning you’re full. This takes less effort than ever going to a gas station. Since it charges while you sleep, who cares if it takes 2 hours or 8. For fast charging, most modern EVs can go 20 to 80% full in about 30 minutes - and that will get you another 200-300 km (120-180mi) of driving. By the time you go poop and get a coffee - you’re ready to go for another 3 hours until your next poop/coffee break. It’s not THAT bad for that once a year roadie you do.
and unknown dependability
Theoretically, it’s better. Fewer moving parts to go wrong. A regular Lithium ion battery is good for around 800 cycles, give or take. An LFP battery will do 2000. Assuming 1 full charge will get you through a week of commutes, maybe another charge for your sunday funday, and let’s throw in 4 more for a regional road trip. That’s 110 charges per year – that’s 18 years. Most manufacturers will also give you an 8 year warranty on the battery, just in case. That is quite reasonable. Everything else is exactly the same as your old car.
You put a compelling product on the market and people will flock to it. Having the right product for the right price tends to override any prejudices real quick.
In Australia and NZ - nobody knew who the hell BYD were until about 2 years ago. Now, their compact crossover, the Atto 3, is the 2nd best selling EV behind the Model Y. For 2023 in NZ, the Atto 3 is the 7th best selling new vehicle overall (Model Y is #3). In Australia - the Model Y is also #3, with the Atto 3 at #22.
Not too culturally different from the US. I’m not suggesting they will overshadow the big 3 in their first few years on the US market – but I can see them rising up to Hyundai/Kia sales numbers pretty quick – probably stealing a lot of their sales from the Koreans.
Bit old school - but Motorweek’s Goss’ Garage segment. Just a bite-size, few minutes long, very beginner friendly tip of the day kind of thing. Pat Goss was one of the OG’s. RIP.
For me –
Maybe some late model Peugeots. Recently test drove a e2008. It’s objectively very mid-tier in it’s class. It’s not a bad car, but it’s not the roomiest, it doesn’t have the best range, it’s not the fastest, it’s not the best handling, it’s not the cheapest - it’s none of the above. But it’s certainly good enough. But mostly I just like how it looks and it has a bit of that French joie de vivre that nothing in the US can quite match.
The upcoming Jeep Avenger EV I believe is going to be built on the same platform as the e2008, but it just won’t the same. The Opel Mokka-e is a platform mate, too - and it’s not the same.
For the general public –
I honestly believe that the BYD Atto 3 would be an instant smash hit. It’s a good urban EV crossover with decent space, good tech, and solid range numbers – for the same price as a Rav 4 Hybrid. Everyone who can’t quite swing a Model Y would be buying this thing.
No surprise to nobody. Given how close the two companies are as of late, and the fact that Toyota has the best hybrid tech in the game, and Subaru (on their own) is too small to develop their own solution – was there ever any other option?
Wouldn’t be the first non-Toyota/Lexus-badged vehicle using Toyota’s system. Famously, the Ford Fusion hybrid licensed bits straight out of the Camry Hybrid. In Japan, the Mazda 3 sedan (Axela) was also offered using Gen 3 Prius hybrid system.
Hmm - I am in the market for an EV right now. For comparison - I’m looking to get out of a 2016 Prius which should be one of the cheaper cars to insurance (in terms of risk profile). Ran a whole bunch of quotes and found that non-Tesla EVs would cost basically about the same to insure. A touch more due to higher value (new / almost-new EV vs a 7 year old Prius), but nothing unreasonable. For a Model 3, it’s a bit more than that though, but again, not by much.