Expert answer

Hi Jerry,

We'd not have put the EV3 up against the bZ as a rival, as they're different sizes. The Toyota is a much larger car inside, though the Kia's boot is bigger, oddly. 

Both are smooth, comfortable and refined on the road and have a similar range and energy consumption. The Toyota is a little faster and a little better to drive, but we prefer the dashboard layout of the Kia.

In short, we can't pick a clear winner. If passenger space is a priority, then the Toyota would win, but other than that it's pretty much down to personal taste.

Go test-drive them both and let us know what you think.

Expert answer

Hi Sinead,

The ID.4 isn't a bad shout, but like many cars in the same class, its suitability to your family depends on how many kids you have in car seats. It won't easily fit three across the back. The Skoda Enyaq is very similar.

Other used options in the same ballpark include the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5, but come back to us with your budget so we can try to narrow things down properly.

The challenge might be finding a used EV with enough space for your needs, within budget.

Expert answer

Hi Nuran,

This is a challenge that affects a lot of modern cars, not just the Yaris hybrid and the issue here is not the battery itself, but the entire system that takes energy from it.

The Aygo X's electrical system is very very similar to that of the Yaris so, unless Toyota has made changes to reduce the chances of the 12-volt battery draining while the car is left idle for long periods, we'd have to assume that the Aygo X also needs to be regularly started up to avoid issues.

Expert answer

Hi Chris,

You'll need to go through the usual change-of-ownership process for the UK to transfer ownership to your colleague in Northern Ireland. The UK government has streamlined this with the Tell DVLA you've sold, transferred or bought a vehicle website.

A few months down the line (Revenue has not said how many months it considers "a reasonable amount of time" to be), once you're ready to bring the car into the Republic of Ireland, you'll need to gather paperwork to prove that the car was indeed owned and used by your colleague in the North.

MOTs seem to be the most reliable source of this proof.

Just beware that Revenue has stated it will treat each case on its own merit, and if it gets wind of how you've gone about this, it may not look favourably on it.

Expert answer

Hi Mark,

Morgan is distributed by Edgewood Automotive in Co. Cork, though obviously it's a niche brand.

Lotus cars are no longer on sale in the Republic for some reason, so you'd have to go to Belfast to get one.

GWM Ora still has a few dealers, but only one model to sell and no change on that for quite some time now.

Subaru dealers are awaiting news on a raft of new models that should be more competitive.

Expert answer

Hi Sean,

There's no definitive answer to that as it will depend on how badly the dealer wants to sell their car and how badly they do or do not want your car on their forecourt. 

It's a wide ballpark, I know, but I'd estimate a cost to change in the region of €35,000-€45,000.

Expert answer

Thanks for the kind words, Parick.

Actually, Skoda already offers an optional USB port in the rear-view mirrors of some of its models.

A few brands have a camera system integrated as well, with footage that can be used afterwards. Tesla is particularly strong on this, but Mercedes, BMW and MINI also have the functionality available, while the previous-generation Citroen C3 also came with something similar. 

Expert answer

Hi Feilim,

You can certainly estimate the VRT payable, but that's all it will be. And you'll need proof of the car's CO₂ emissions as well.

With the CO₂ rating, go to our How Much VRT is Paid in Ireland feature and find the corresponding VRT band. I'd assume it'll be in Band 7 or 8. Let's say 8 for the calculations.

Then you'll need to estimate the OMSP (Open Market Selling Price) of the car in Ireland. This is the value Revenue believes it to be worth after registration in Ireland.

You've not told us the year so we can't do that for you. I suggest going to Carzone.ie to find similar spec cars to yours and taking the average price as a rough estimate.

From those two things you can then estimate your VRT. Beware it will only be that, though, an estimate.

Expert answer

Hi Martin,

As I'm sure you know, the 330e was updated late in 2024, so if you can find one of those within budget, you'll appreciate the upgrades. Read our review of the revised BMW 330e here.

We're big fans of the 330e as well. It's difficult to beat its blend of performance, driving dynamics, style and efficiency. Here are a few alternatives to consider, nonetheless:

Mercedes-Benz C 300 e: I love the look of these, and it feels like a proper luxury car inside, more so than the BMW. Its chassis is more comfort-focused though, so you need to choose which you prefer. There's not much to choose between this and the updated 330e when it comes to performance, electric range and space, but the Mercedes is very expensive.

Volkswagen Passat GTE: I suspect this is not what you're looking for in terms of badge appeal, but the GTE is a very decent car. It's much bigger inside than your BMW and exceedingly comfortable, with perky performance when you need it (ok, not as perky as the 330e's). Its electric range isn't great, but fine for short commutes. And this car is more affordable than most on this list.

Skoda Superb iV: Much the same can be said about the Superb as for the Passat above, though the Superb is larger again and it doesn't always come with a sporting badge, which some will like. It's not massively common in the classifieds though.

Volvo V60: Now this is a hidden gem and would be my choice of the lot here, even as a serious fan of rear-drive cars such as the 330e. And yes, it is an estate body style, which you might not have been looking for, but it is such a fantastic, polished car that is great to drive, looks sensational and packs a bigger punch than many will expect.

Give our review of the V60 T6 Recharge a read and go test drive one for yourself to make up your own mind. Same advice really for all of the above cars, but this one stands out.

Expert answer

Hi Colm,

Glad you're enjoying our reviews and that's a good selection of cars to be choosing from.

The Born is, as you probably know, a five-door hatchback, with a relatively low-set driving position, sporty detailing inside and out and a boot volume of under 400 litres. It has a flat rear floor so three can sit across there, but it's better for two. It drives in a much sportier and more dynamic way than either the MGS5 or the Tavascan, no matter which version you go for, yet it's also really efficient in terms of energy consumption. The cheapest model officially does up to 426km on a charge, while the longest-range version manages up to 593km.

The Cupra Tavascan very much sits above the Born in the lineup, with a larger boot (540 litres) and interior space. Unsurprising given how much bigger the Tavascan is on the outside. It also gets a higher driving position, befitting the 'coupe-SUV' genre. It's not as efficient as the Born as it's bigger and heavier, but the entry-level model comes with a range of 568km, nonetheless. It's a quick car by any measure and drives well, if not with the vim of the Born.

In terms of interior space, there's not much to choose between the MGS5 and Tavascan, though the MG's boot is smaller (453 litres). The Cupra's cabin is more distinctive looking and, given the price gap between them, it should be of no surprise that the Tavascan's feels a grade above. The MG has the lowest performance of the three, but that's not important to many people. Its range of up to 465km is of use, but again most people don't need all that.

In summary, we'd never have put these three up against each other as natural rivals. One is a sporty hatch, one a sporty crossover and another a sensible SUV and they're only vaguely similar in terms of price. The MG is undoubtedly the best value of the three, though you can't expect it to be better than the Tavascan in all ways, either.

As ever with these things, we highly recommend you go and test drive all three for yourself to form your own opinions and then balance that with the maths of the deals you can get.

If there's anything specific you'd like us to cover that I've not mentioned above, please come back to us.

And please do let us know what you end up with.