Expert answer

Hi Conor,

I spoke with a representative of Opel Ireland today and they asked me to apologise to you for the confusion.

The electric version of the Sports Tourer is indeed available, but it's what's called a "special order" model, so it has been removed from the public-facing price list etc. If you contact your local Opel dealer, they should be able to talk you through the process of ordering one. 

Don't forget to read our review of the Opel Astra Electric (though we've not tested the estate model).

Update on 2 Sep 2025: Opel Ireland got in touch to say the online documentation has been updated. You can get the new Opel Astra price list here.

Expert answer

Hi Donal,

For the benefit of our other readers, ERAD stands for Electric Rear Axle Drive, which is effectively the electric motor used on the rear axle of the plug-in-hybrid XC90 T8 (and other Volvo PHEVs) to give it all-wheel drive and fully electric operation. And yes, they are a known weak point of the car.

There is some evidence that Volvo will help with repair or replacement for cars with a full service history, but it seems to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis as there has been no official recall or statement on it from Volvo. Do not rely on this.

We'd strongly recommend you avoid early cars unless the ERAD unit has been replaced relatively recently, but Volvo did make improvements as early as 2018, and the facelifted cars from 2020 on (badged “Recharge”) are a relatively safe bet.

Look not only for a regular service history, but also for maintenance details relating specifically to the rear axle.

The D5/B5 cars are certainly a better bet in terms of dependability, but obviously come with higher running costs and motor tax.

Expert answer

Hi Alan,

As far as we are aware, there are no plans to sell this car as a plug-in hybrid. Only fully electric and petrol models have been confirmed.

If you'd like help choosing another SUV, please do come back to us with your budget and other preferences.

Expert answer

Hi Mary,

Rather bizarrely, there is no published rule on this situation as yet so electric vans are subject to the same annual motor tax as electric cars - i.e. €120 per annum.

Expert answer

Hi Teresa,

I'm afraid there's no definitive answer to that as every engine is so different. There's generally less to go wrong on a non-turbocharged engine, but they're usually less efficient and less powerful as well. 

Feel free to come back to us with your detailed requirements and we can try to help you narrow down your search. Tell us your budget, your annual mileage and how many people you have to carry regularly. Also any preferences you may have.

Expert answer

Hi Sharon,

The Elroq is nicer to drive, though the Atto 3 is noticeably faster and more responsive than the entry-level '50' model as it has a more powerful electric motor. The BYD also gets a bigger battery and longer range, but I suspect that isn't such an issue given your short commute.

I prefer the interior, style and quality of the Elroq, and it has a larger boot.

For my money, it would be the Skoda, though as ever we'd urge you to go test drive both to see which you prefer.

Expert answer

Hi Thomas,

The Tiguan eHybrid officially manages up to 121 kilometres on a charge of its 19.7kWh battery. That's up among the longest-range PHEVs on the market right now. Cupra's Terramar is built on the same underpinnings and has more or less the same electric range as well.

In comparison, the Tucson PHEV and Sportage PHEV manage 70km at most as they have a smaller battery. Same story for the Toyota C-HR. The Toyota RAV4 PHEV goes slightly further on a charge than those, but we suspect that situation will improve further in the new generation that is about to be unveiled.

Expert answer

Hi Jane,

If the Open Market Selling Price of the car (the OMSP is the value Revenue in Ireland believes it is worth after importation) is less than €40,000 then you'll have no VRT (Vehicle Registration Tax) to pay. If the OMSP is between €40,000 and €50,000 then there's tapered VRT relief, and no relief at all for cars deemed to be worth more than €50,000.

The above applies no matter what the 'customs state' of the car.

What you need to look out for is whether you'll be liable for customs duty - at 10 per cent of the customs value (purchase price, plus transportation costs, plus insurance) - and VAT. The latter is 23 per cent of the customs value plus the customs duty.

Now, if the car has been in use in Northern Ireland for, as Revenue calls it, “a reasonable amount of time”, then VAT and customs duty are unlikely to be payable. You will need proof of that, however. If the car is being bought from a dealer that imported it from England for sale, then ask them for proof of importing according to the Windsor Framework.

Expert answer

Hi Patrick,

First up, if you're not going to be able to charge a car up at home, we'd recommend you do not buy the MX-30. Yes, it's much improved with the 'range-extender' engine on board, but it's still a car designed to be plugged in and charged up. Without that, it would be a very frustrating petrol car with a tiny fuel tank. Read our review of the MX-30 R-EV here if you're still interested.

We're big fans of the Qashqai e-Power. It feels very like an EV at times to drive, giving you a flavour for that, yet you don't plug it in to charge it up. Go take a test drive for yourself to see if you agree with us. And read our detailed reviews of the Qashqai e-Power here. https://www.completecar.ie/car/search/car-reviews/Nissan/Qashqai

There are 2021 examples of the plug-in hybrid Velar in the classifieds varying from about €49,000 to as high as €75,000, though none are as low-mileage as your car, so that will help get a strong price for sure. That €75,000 example is an anomaly though so bank on somewhere slightly north of €50,000.

Expert answer

Hi Brona,

That's a pretty open-ended brief to be honest. If you're looking a the MGS5 EV then we can assume your budget is in and around €30,000-€35,000. Even the entry-level model – Excite Standard Range – officially manages up to 340km on a charge.

Given your low daily mileage, that should be more than sufficient for your needs, even if the real-world figure drops a little in winter. That is of course if you are planning on getting a home charger. We'd recommend buyers only consider an EV if they can charge up at home or work.

Another good option for your needs is the Volkswagen ID.3 if you're not set on an SUV and, if space isn't a priority, maybe even the fantastic new Renault 5.

Come back to us with your opinion on the above and we'll try to help you narrow things down further.