WHY WE'RE RUNNING IT
Can you believe we're already into April? Well, the intermittent showers confirm as much, and I started my spring cleaning with the inside of my ë-C4 X, as a man from Citroën was coming to swap it with a petrol-engined version of the same model.
I mentioned before how the general vibe of our electric saloon/ hatchback/crossover was genuinely relaxing, and I still think that today. From charging its battery to taking long-haul trips to the coast, it was a pretty easy thing to live with.
Outputs of 134bhp and 192lb ft of torque were always enough for me. The ë-C4 X took a relatively pedestrian 10sec to get to 60mph, but I didn't feel like it needed to be quicker. Most of the time I would just stick it into Eco mode, sit back and cruise.
That said, range was hit or miss even in that most frugal setting. Shorter city drives would match with ease the advertised efficiency (which leads to the 221mile official range), but stride out onto a motorway and that figure would soon plummet.
One time I dwindled the battery down to 10%, which, according to the digital driver's display, equated to just 14 miles left in the bank. I know it's all dependent on driving style, speed and weather, but if 10% equates to 14 miles, that's just 140 miles in all, which is somewhat below the claimed average. It's also an average of around 2.8mpkWh, which is poor compared with some other, heavier EVs I've driven before, including the BMW iX1 and even the Ssangyong (now KGM) Korando E-Motion.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MG 4
An EV changes your driving style - but not to the detriment of pleasure
PEUGEOT E-208
Time with our French hatch is up. Is it good riddance or au revoir?
In the hot seat
Is the best automotive job in the world actually in miniature scale? Hot Wheels' design boss assures STEPHEN DOBIE it is
Correcting the record
Autocar invented the road test back in 1928 - or did we? KEITH JONES trawls the past to find the true starting point
Road test rebooted
As the Autocar road test forges into its second century, its brief is expanding and it's returning to a familiar place. MATT SAUNDERS explains
Cyber attack
MG is back on the international stage and now trying to return to its sports car roots. MATT SAUNDERS sees if the Cyberster EV can match up to a rival from the present and a relation from the past
KIA PICANTO
As rivals fall by the wayside, Kia's popular city car gets a makeover
MASERATI GRANTURISMO
Latest coupé in a long line of Maserati GT cars hits the UK with V6 power
PORSCHE CAYENNE GTS COUPE
New V8 model gets all the goodies
TOYOTA PRIUS
Back by popular demand with a cool new look and greater driver appeal