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Hi Francis,

Towing is certainly one of the strong points of diesel power with their low-down torque, but any hybrid with a big electric motor should be good too thanks to the instant-torque characteristics of the motor. For example, if you like the CX-60, Mazda does a plug-in-hybrid version with the same towing rating. You may find it difficult to find a non-plug-in hybrid to match the same rating though.

Come back to us with your budget and the weight you need to be able to tow, and we'll take a look around for other options for you. And let us know if you're willing to consider a PHEV.

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Hi Jason,

First up, whether a used car coming from Northern Ireland is subject to VAT or not is purely to do with its customs status, not its value. If this BMW was registered new in NI, or was imported there from England, Scotland or Wales and then used by someone there (as opposed to being imported by someone to sell on), then no VAT would be payable on importing south of the border - regardless of its value.

You would need to be able to prove its status. If it was registered new in the North, then that will be easy to do of course.

Now for VRT. There is VRT relief for electric cars , but that only applies if their Open Market Selling Price (OMSP) is below €50,000. For cars worth more than that there is no VRT rebate and you'd have to pay VRT according to Band 1 for cars emitting 0-50g/km. That's currently 7% of the OMSP.

In case you're not familiar with it, the OMSP is the value Revenue believes the car to be worth after it's registered in Ireland. It's not related to the price you've actually paid for the car.

A quick check of the classifieds reveals that 2022 BMW iXs are listed in Ireland for between €44,000 and €60,000. If the model you're looking at is deemed to have an OMSP of less than €50,000, then you will get a bit of VRT relief, but nothing substantial.

For your information, if Revenue places an OMSP of €60,000 on the iX, VRT of €4,200 would be payable.

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Hi John,

We prefer the look of the Citroen outside and in and how it drives, but the Long Range version of the Model Y has a much longer range, faster charging and much more performance as well. And of course you can use the Supercharger network if you're on the road a lot and can't charge at home.

But the thing is, that variant of the Tesla costs a few grand more even than the most expensive version of the electric Citroen, so you need to weigh up what's important to you.

First thing to do though is to go get as long a test drive as you can in both, as the cars drive very differently.

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Hi Martin,

There are a few options for sure, starting with the plug-in-hybrid Audi A6, if that's not larger than you're looking for. There are plenty around within budget. Most are the less-powerful '50 TFSI e' model, though there are a few sportier editions as well, including the '55 TFSI e' variant. None of them will feel as agile as your BMW, but they're not bad cars at all.

If you've not been put off by your BMW's issues, then the 530e M Sport is a logical next step up. Again, not as agile as the 3 Series, but a fabulous car by any other measure. You could just about afford the Touring estate model as well.

From Mercedes you could get into the C 300 e instead. They're not as common as the others here, but the C-Class is a comparable size to your 330e, yet it has a dramatically more modern interior.

Finally, if you're open to estate cars, the Volvo V60 is an excellent option. It's powerful, great to drive, stylish, well-made and has a decent electric range. It would possibly be the one we'd choose from this selection.

If you want us to help narrow down your search, don't hesitate to come back to us again. Here are a few of our relevant reviews:

Audi A6 50 TFSI e review

BMW 530e review

Volvo V60 review

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Hi Santiago,

The electric Nissan Micra is offered with two different battery capacities and chemistries. The entry-level 40kWh battery uses lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) without any nickel or cobalt. This chemistry generally means lower cost, but also better thermal stability and durability.

The 52kWh battery in the Micra uses nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC), lithium-ion chemistry. NMC batteries generally have higher energy density, but are more expensive to make and sometimes less durable.

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Hi Shay,

That's all correct. In fact, the current HS PHEV (launched in 2025) can hit 130km/h on electric power alone.

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Hi Raymond,

Full details of the Irish lineup for the new Fiat Grande Panda have yet to be confirmed, but so far all versions revealed - fully electric and hybrid - are automatic.

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Hi Leslie,

It's much better than hybrid Toyotas used to be for sure, though it still makes a bit of racket when you put the accelerator pedal all the way down for maximum performance. And it'll be noisy for short periods of acceleration as well, for example when joining a motorway.

But it's fine when up to speed and even at motorway speeds. And it drops into fully electric mode in stop-start traffic a lot so there's no issue there either.

Go test drive one for yourself before you commit to buying it though.

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Hi Brendan,

While it should be technically possible, we'd not hurry into doing so without all the facts. It's highly unlikely that a Skoda dealer would want to do the conversion for you, and it would be hugely expensive if they did in any case.

We found specialists online offering “genuine” replacements, but none in Ireland, and in the UK the price is equivalent to not far off €3,000. And you'd have to bring the car to them of course.

There are universal options as well that cost a lot less, but you risk invalidating your warranty if you go down that route, and they won't be integrated with the car's electronics in any way.

Nevertheless, there's no harm going into your local Skoda dealership with your car's VIN to hand and ask them about the feasibility.

Expert answer

Hi Gerard,

Before even looking at pricing, I will say that the Superb is a much nicer car to drive aside from the lack of engine and transmission noise in the Enyaq. The Superb is smoother on the road and more stable in general, also feeling more agile despite its dimensions.

We also prefer the dashboard and interface of the Superb, as the Enyaq is too reliant on the touchscreen for our liking. On top of that, the Superb has a much larger boot.

However, the Enyaq has a flat floor across the rear, making life more comfortable for any passenger in the middle row. And in general, you sit higher up in the Enyaq as well, which some people like.

The Superb Combi (to give it its official name) starts at €50,900 for the 204hp plug-in hybrid. It's from €51,435 with a 150hp petrol engine, or €500 more for the 150hp diesel. All are front-wheel drive.

At the foot of the Enyaq lineup is the '60' model at €43,790 (after all State incentives), which has a 204hp electric motor and an official range of 430km, though the next rung up the ladder, the '80' makes a lot more sense at €45,980 as it has a bigger battery for a 575km range, plus a 285hp motor.

There are several other, more expensive, Enyaqs in the lineup, including the Sportline cars and the top RS model with all-wheel drive, but there's nothing in the existing Superb Combi range to compare, really.

In terms of performance, though the Enyaq is a heavy thing, it's generally faster accelerating than the Superb because of the instant-torque characteristic of electric motors. The Superb in PHEV guise is the only one that just about match even the least powerful of the Enyaqs.

So there's the data to help you decide, depending on your priorities and budget. Feel free to come back to us with your preferences if you want us to help you narrow things down further.