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.

Expert answer

Hi William,

There are plenty of good new EVs on the market within budget to consider, though most are crossover or SUV-style vehicles. That's a good thing in terms of ease of access, as their door openings are usually large and the roofs are not too low. It also usually means a relatively high-set seating position, to the benefit of comfort and visibility.

We prefer to drive regular car-shaped vehicles, but there just aren't enough all-electric options, unfortunately. While there's some negativity towards SUVs in general, we reckon a compact electric SUV ticks a lot of boxes for a lot of buyers, while not being completely inefficient.

Before giving you a few potential EVs to book test drives for, I'd urge you not to focus on the range too much. Assuming you can get a home charger installed, then going by your usage as described, you'll do the vast majority of your charging at home.

Prioritising a longer-range car means getting one with a bigger - i.e. heavier - battery, which will cost more up front and result in worse efficiency day to day. Relying on the public network a few times a year is no reason to compromise your car for the rest of the time.

The first car to come to mind is the excellent Renault Scenic E-Tech electric. It's probably bigger than you need, but the long wheelbase helps with comfort, and it sits somewhere between a hatchback and an SUV in terms of design and shape. With your budget, you could probably get the larger (87kWh) battery pack or choose the smaller one and a higher specification.

Sticking with Renault for a moment, another cool option is the new Renault 4 E-Tech, launching in Ireland imminently, though it doesn't have as long a range as the Scenic.

If you can wait a little, then it's also worth considering the new Nissan Leaf. This is a really excellent car that will certainly be in budget. It's quiet and comfortable to drive and efficient, too. The Nissan Ariya is already available, but I suspect it's larger than what you were looking for. It is comfortable, though, so no harm test-driving it for yourself.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is another great option, with a fantastically comfortable interior, good efficiency and a decent range for the money.

I could go on and on, so let us know what you think of these by submitting another question and we'll try to narrow things down for you.

Expert answer

Hi Ciara,

Out of those options, we'd likely choose the Renault Clio or the MG, as both are comfortable even at higher speeds on larger roads, while also being quite economical - more so than the other cars mentioned.

You really should try to get a proper test drive on such roads as you'll be spending all your time on them.