Should I still buy my new electric car?
A reader has waited nearly a year for a new Kia e-Niro. Should he grab it with both hands or hold back in the hope of a discount?...
I have always used What Car? to keep up to date with the car market and for honest reviews of new and used vehicles. Therefore, I would be interested in your views about my current quandary.
I test drove a Kia e-Niro last year after reading your glowing reviews about it. Sure enough, I found it to be a great car, so I put down a deposit and ordered one.
Fast forward 11 months and my local dealer has informed me that the car will finally be delivered to its showroom at the end of this month.
But times have changed and I understand that the government grant for electric cars might be increased in the near future and also the Chancellor might be reducing VAT, both of which would affect the price of my e-Niro.
No discount was available on my car when I ordered it due to limited supply and high demand. So I’m now wondering if I should leave my car at the dealership until things become clearer, or should I just go ahead and buy it at the current price?
Mark Maksymiw
What Car? says…
We understand your concerns about VAT being cut back temporarily and other financial incentives being introduced to help the UK’s economy bounce back from the coronavirus pandemic.
There has been a lot of discussion in the car industry about the introduction of a scrappage scheme, similar to the one introduced in 2009, and if this does happen, you might be able to get £1000-£2000 off the price of your car. A reduction in VAT of 2-3% would result in the cost of the car going down by up to £1000, too.
However, as you’ve already found out from waiting 11 months for your car, the e-Niro is a really popular model. And it is still very much in demand, so you might have to wait a long time for another car to become available. It is worth investigating whether there are any e-Niros in stock with dealers, but bear in mind that if you buy one of these, you will have to settle for the spec and colour chosen by the dealership, and this could mean you don’t get all the equipment you want.
Although there is a possibility you could save some money by waiting to see what happens about VAT and a scrappage scheme, our advice would be to stick with the car you’ve ordered, because this is the quickest and easiest solution.
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Best electric cars
Electric cars are now entering the mainstream, and their rise is only going to accelerate as rules are introduced to limit the kind of vehicles allowed into major cities.
So, which electric cars should you consider? Here, we count down our favourites and tell you the one to avoid.
If you're looking for a small electric car to primarily use in the city, the Mii Electric should definitely be on your shortlist. It may not have the battery capacity – and therefore range – of some alternatives, but that means its price is lower, and the 111 miles that it managed in our Real Range test is still enough for many people's needs.
The EQC is a brilliant choice if you want to maximise the peace and quiet offered by going electric; it really is incredibly hushed on the move. But while it's generally comfortable on motorways, it doesn't ride as well elsewhere as the very best rivals and its range is some way off the Jaguar I-Pace's.
