ᐅ BEV – Battery Electric Vehicle Experiences and Recommendations

Dear forum members,

I know this is a homebuilding forum, but relevant car forums tend to be either very brand-loyal or strongly critical of battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Since I assume there is a significant overlap between homeowners and BEV owners, I’m posting my question here. I chose this subforum because it seemed somewhat related—discussing household technology felt off topic.

I’ll soon be returning my ZOE and am currently exploring options for a replacement. It should again be a small to compact car, with 80-90% urban driving and average daily distances of about 25 km (15.5 miles). Occasionally, I drive 40-50 km (25-31 miles) in the city (about once a month) and very rarely 180 km (112 miles) on highways and country roads.

Absolute exclusions:
Tesla, for ethical reasons
Vehicles with a new price over 50,000 EUR (approx. $53,000), because the financing rate would be too high

Less preferred:
VW Group cars
Obvious SUVs
Another ZOE

Models I am interested in:
Renault 5 (possibly too new and expensive)
Hyundai Kona Electric (this is my upper limit for SUV styling)
MG4
Opel Corsa-e (though it didn’t perform well in ADAC tests)

Mainly looking for personal experience reports.

So, please share your thoughts—thanks in advance!

Tolentino schrieb:

I'm mainly interested in personal experiences.

Since I’m switching to either the ID7 GTX Tourer or the A6 Avant e-tron, those cars probably won’t fit your needs...

But when it comes to the new car price, you shouldn’t set a strict limit. VW’s ID models have really improved and are currently unbeatable in terms of leasing value.
Based on tests, if I had to focus on a mid-size vehicle, I wouldn’t shy away from an “SUV” either. That’s become the standard, regardless of size class.
- Ioniq 5
- EV3
- Kona Electric — friends’ experiences have generally been mediocre
- ID4/5 — positive feedback from a colleague after about 30,000 km (18,600 miles)
- ID3
- new Enyaq (an older model was also driven by a colleague but had constant workshop visits for various reasons)
- Cupra Tavascan
- MG4

Private lease rates without down payment start under €200 (about $215) per month.
Models like Kona, Corsa, ID3/4/5, Tavascan, MG4, Cupra Born, and others fall between roughly €175 and €275 (around $190 to $300) per month (not necessarily directly from the manufacturers).

We have two electric cars, and the leased Ioniq5 will be returned this summer, so I’m starting to look again.
On the common platforms, there are always changing offers, but the lease price doesn’t always match the purchase price. For example, we currently pay €220 (about $240) per month for 15,000 km/year (9,320 miles/year) for the Ioniq with the large battery and additional features. I’m not sure if I’ll find such a good deal again.
At the moment, Toyota, ID 3 and 4, MG4, and sometimes the Ora are interesting options for leasing. You really have to act quickly to grab these special deals.
I had the standard MG for a short time but traded it in for the Marvel because it didn’t have a rearview camera and the charging power at the wall box was weak.
You can also buy the MG4 or MG5 quite cheaply, which makes sense considering the 7-year warranty.
I want to keep the monthly cost around €200 (about $220) again; I think the brand or similar factors should be less important for your requirements.
At first, we had the Kia e-Soul, which was a lot of fun despite its rather weak charging performance.

I have been driving an ID.4 since the end of 2021, and although it is one of the earlier models that experienced the typical initial issues (especially with software), overall I am more than satisfied. If I were in your position, I wouldn’t write off the VW Group models prematurely.

The newer software versions for my model have improved significantly—however, the model year cannot be updated to the very latest releases, which are even better. Overall, in terms of driving experience, features, and even build quality, it is a good to very good vehicle.

Since the car will be returned at the end of 2025, I am gradually looking for a replacement—most likely either an ID.5 or an ID.7 Tourer, although both fully equipped models are well above your budget.

Perhaps the Skoda Elroq? Excellent value for money (in my opinion), a very good platform, and not quite as SUV-like as the larger siblings (ID.4/Enyaq).

Unironically, but without a personal experience report: Dacia Spring? Long-distance travel is rather so-so with it.

Tolentino schrieb:

Yes, then go ahead, thanks in advance!

In February 2024, we bought a 3-year-old BMW i3S with the "larger" battery. Both of us prefer it for all short trips.
The driving experience feels quite "mature," and the performance is very agile and more than sufficient. The very small turning circle is impressive. Minor bumps are audible but do not cause discomfort. We are not particularly economical drivers and consume between 13 and 18 kWh/100 km, depending on weather and mood. This results in a range of about 180 km (110 miles) in winter and easily around 250 km (155 miles) in summer. I assume that the low weight under 1.3 t (2,870 lbs) helps, as the vehicle is technologically somewhat of a "grandfather" among electric cars. The iPhone integration is sufficient for me – of course, the "Professional" system in the i3S now feels a bit outdated.
The maximum charging power is a modest 50 kW, but the charging curve only tapers off after 90% state of charge. I have only tested this briefly since the car is usually charged at the home wall box, and the distances are similarly short as in your case, so charging speed does not matter, and the car is always sufficiently charged. We rarely need to charge away from home. To keep in practice, I still plug the car in occasionally when out, even if it’s convenient for parking. Charging at low power is key for long battery life. Our i3S still retains 100% of the battery capacity specified by BMW after about 75,000 km (47,000 miles).
Design is a matter of taste. I find the interior materials very appealing and made sure to buy a used car with a fully optioned list including leather upholstery. Unfortunately, it was only available in black – vinyl wrap helps. And, of course, as a music enthusiast, I upgraded the sound system with an Audiotec Fischer setup.

Here is a typical picture, showing its usual mountain road dirt.

It goes without saying that this car is not intended for long-distance travel. It certainly fits the described driving profile almost perfectly.