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 Doteen,

A car's history and how well it has been serviced is important no matter what fuel type it is. The added complication with modern diesels is that their DPFs – and other components - can clog up if they're only used for short trips. I don't believe where you buy the car has any bearing on that. It's all about how the car was used.

Make sure all the warning lights are working and going off when the car is running, insist on a detailed and complete service history and take the car for a decent test drive (again, regardless of the fuel).

A diesel car will be far more economical than a petrol one when it comes to towing and for the most part will be better suited to the job in terms of low-down pulling power (torque).

Nonetheless, if you'd prefer a petrol car, that's entirely doable. Just don't go for a small-engined, lightweight car and expect it to do a good job. Cars such as the Ford Mondeo, Skoda Octavia, VW Passat and others all came with powerful turbocharged petrol engines, though they're much rarer and hence harder to find than the diesel equivalents.

Hopefully that has given you some food for thought but come back to us with more information on the weight of the caravan you're buying and your budget for the car and we can help further if you need it.

Expert answer

Hi Glenn,

If you've not already, I suggest you go and test drive examples of each, as they're very different cars to drive. Then, read our reviews on them to help look at the nitty gritty:

BYD Sealion 7 reviews

Kia EV4 reviews

Xpeng G6 reviews

We'd probably only consider the Xpeng and BYD comparable here as they're SUV-shaped crossovers while the EV4 is a hatchback (or 'Fastback') and, for the entry-level price of the Sealion 7 you can nearly have the top-of-the-range EV4 hatch. 

The Sealion 7 and Xpeng are larger inside and in the boot than the Kia, but the EV4 in its highest spec has the best interior of the three. 

So yeah, we'd not be able to easily pick one without knowing other factors, but if we didn't need the space of the SUVs, we'd certainly prefer to drive a hatchback such as the Kia.

Expert answer

Hi Abdullah,

The Pixo is a decent enough city car for light-duty work, but we'd urge caution putting it to hard use. The engine itself is quite dependable, but the Pixo was always a budget car made for a budget price so you can't expect it to be incredibly durable.

Nonetheless, that's not particularly high mileage for it and, if it comes with a complete service history, the chances are it is capable of the same again without any major costs. 

Take it for a test drive to see if it feels up to scratch before you decide.

Expert answer

Hi Kieran,

That's frustrating on the resale value of your car, but we're in no better position than the dealers you've spoken to and they hold the 'power' in that regard so the cost-to-change will all come down to the deal any one showroom is willing to make. Anecdotally, you'll get a better deal if you go back to a BMW outlet, but it doesn't sound like any BMW is on your radar this time around. 

The three cars you've listed are decent enough, but I'd strongly urge you to test drive them before you make any decisions as they'll all feel a big chunky and heavy next to your BMW i4. 

Have you considered Polestar at all? Both the Polestar 2 and Polestar 4 are within the same price ballpark as you're looking and are both great to drive with a bit of an SUV vibe. The Polestar 2 has been around for a while (I own one as it happens) but it was significantly upgraded last year for more performance, spec and efficiency. It's now either rear-drive or all-wheel drive.

Again, take the time to go and test drive all of these cars before you bother trying to make deals, as the driving experience of the BMW i4 is a hard act to follow.

Expert answer

Hi Niamh,

It is highly likely that there would be running electronic and software updates on the Kodiaq to try to iron out the early issues reported, though of course there's no guarantee.

I would certainly raise it with your Skoda dealer and ask for a confirmation of your car's build date before agreeing to buy it. E.g. if it's an older car that has been sitting around somewhere, you may wonder if it has been built with the latest updates.

We can't give you any more reassurance than that I'm afraid.

Expert answer

Hi Mahmood,

Assuming you mean to avoid having to pay VAT and import duty:

In short, the "reasonable amount of time" has not been defined by Revenue, which says it will take each import on a case-by-case basis. But it's not about the previous owner having the car for that time, it's about the car being in use in Northern Ireland for that time, so if a 2010 car, for example, was registered new in NI, but the latest owner only had it a day before selling it to you, that does not matter.

Any documents you can get relating to the car's registration or importation into NI would be good, though the car's MOT history seems to be a good way to prove where it was in use as well.

Expert answer

Hi Gladys,

We'd recommend the car is repaired before the NCT. Though minor damage should not mean a fail, that is open to interpretation by the tester and if they deem the car a danger to others, they can fail it for damaged bodywork.

Expert answer

Hi Peter,

We may not be comparing apples with apples here, as the Euro NCAP testing and scoring system is constantly evolving, and there were significant changes to it in 2020. I'd urge you to search the Euro NCAP site for information on what those changes were, because it's highly unlikely that BMW made a less-strong/safe car than its predecessor. 

A five-star Euro NCAP car of 2019 would be unlikely to get the same score today, for example, and not just because of changes relating to driver-assistance systems.

Expert answer

Hi Jehrome,

A car shouldn't fail its NCT for cosmetic damage, only for damage deemed to be a danger to someone, though it's a little open to interpretation on the tester's behalf. We always advise drivers to present the car in its best possible light for the NCT to make the whole process go smoother.

Be aware that the car can also be failed if the tester reckons a bad repair job has been done, so our advice is to either get it done properly or not at all.