Latest news with #affordablecars
Car and Driver
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
Report: Nissan Stops Production of the Manual-Transmission Versa
Nissan has halted production of the manual-transmission Versa, according to a report from Automotive News. The Versa five-speed is the most affordable car on sale in the U.S. for the 2025 model year, starting at just $18,330. Fewer than 5 percent of Versas sold last year had the manual gearbox, and the 25 percent tariff on the Mexico-made sedan seems to have been the final nail in the coffin. UPDATE 5/29/25, 1:27 p.m.: Nissan confirmed that production of the manual-transmission Versa S has ended, and that production continues for the rest of the Versa lineup. In a statement, Nissan said, "We are focusing on the most popular Versa grades that deliver the strongest business performance and are in line with what customers are looking for from this type of sedan." Manual transmissions are increasingly rare in new cars, having mostly found refuge in high-performance sports cars such as the Porsche 911 or Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing. Just a handful of affordable, mainstream models still let you row your own gears, and the five-speed-equipped Nissan Versa also held the special distinction of being the most affordable new car on the market. But now it appears that the manual-transmission Versa's time has come to an end, with Automotive News reporting that production of the Versa five-speed has stopped. The publication stated that a "person with knowledge of the matter" revealed that Nissan's factory in Aguascalientes, Mexico, is no longer assembling the manual-transmission Versa, although the CVT-equipped model continues in production. According to Automotive News, Nissan says the company is focusing on the "most popular" trims that have the "strongest business performance." We've reached out to Nissan for confirmation and will update this story when we've heard back. Nissan The reasons for killing off the Versa five-speed are likely twofold. For starters, very few people were opting for the Versa's DIY gearbox. Automotive News states that fewer than 5 percent of the 42,589 Versas sold last year had the five-speed transmission. That means only around 2000 Versas sold last year had the manual gearbox, already making it hard to justify keeping it around. But this tough business case for such a niche product was compounded by the 25 percent tariff on imported cars implemented by the Trump administration, which affects the Versa given its Mexican provenance. The manual-transmission Versa is the lowest-priced new car on the market for the 2025 model year, starting at $18,330, so a 25 percent tariff adds around $4500 to that price. While automakers might be able to absorb tariff costs on higher-priced vehicles while still returning a profit, the typically thin profit margins on affordable cars make such an increase far more damaging. Nissan previously projected that the tariffs could cost the automaker around $3.1 billion during the fiscal year that concludes next March. Nissan Removing the manual transmission will minimally affect sales while also simplifying the number of variants the Aguascalientes factory needs to produce, making the production process more efficient. While it's a shame to see another manual bite the dust, it's an understandable decision from Nissan, especially given the brand's recent financial troubles. With the manual transmission departing, the Versa will remain the most affordable car on the market, but its base price will likely rise to $20,130. But the Versa itself is not long for this world, expected to be discontinued within the next year as Nissan pares its sedan lineup from three models down to one. A next-generation Sentra is expected to grow in size to serve as a replacement for both the current Sentra and Altima, while the potential Versa customers will instead be directed to the $23,220 Kicks SUV. Caleb Miller Associate News Editor Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
How cheap communist car maker became one of Britain's best-selling budget brands
There are a handful of cars that are celebrated for 'putting the world on wheels'. The Volkswagen Beetle, the Citroen 2CV and the Mini historically gave buyers four wheels for little cash, and in doing so gained huge fame. Today there's another brand that's making waves doing a similar thing for modern drivers: Dacia. The Romanian car maker started life as a national manufacturer with a goal to provide reliable and affordable cars to all Romanians - it has since metamorphosed into an unmitigated global success story. So, how have its cheap cars and back-to-nature branding combined to build up over 8million customers since its 2004 rebrand? Freda Lewis-Stempel drove the new Dacia Duster around Romania in a bid to understand the brand's gutsy outdoors origins and learn the formula that's led these frugal cars to become worldwide bestsellers. A brief history of Dacia: From Romania to UK roads Dacia was founded in Romania in 1996 under the Romanian Communist Party, with Dacia taking its name from a direct reference to the ancient region of Dacia, which is now part of Romania. A bit like the Volkswagens of Germany, the objective was clear: to provide modern, reliable and inexpensive cars for all Romanians. In 1999 Renault took over Dacia, and the mass-market Dacia models recognisable today started to go on sale in Europe. The Logan saloon came first in 2004, followed by the Sandero and Duster models by 2010. Costing just €5,000, the Logan revolutionised the automotive market and achieved huge commercial success. The Sandero and Duster built on this, bringing budget, no frills motoring to city drivers and rural dwellers. Then in 2013 Dacia launched in the UK, offering families its Sandero supermini for £5,995. That was the same price as a Ford Fiesta in 1989. The TV proudly said: 'We don't do frivolity, function's our thing'. Dacia's core branding hasn't changed since then, with the most expensive model on offer today, the Bigster, costing £25,215. Even in the new electric car market Dacia's setting the benchmark of affordability with its Spring EV. This small city car has a price tag of £14,995, making it the cheapest electric car in the UK by some mileage. In fact, the only model in Dacia's six-car line-up that costs over £20,000 is the Bigster, with the entry-point Sandero setting a new car buyer back £14,715. We know Dacia in the UK for cheap prices, low-running costs, reliability and unashamed functionality, but in its home country what else does Dacia symbolise? Dacia in Romania – the cars that move a country It was 7am on day two of the trip and I was walking along an empty mud road (see below picture) to Bran in the Carpathian Mountains when an elderly woman drove round the bend. Whether I was more surprised to see her, or her me, I don't know. But what didn't surprise me was that she had absolutely no concerns about tackling a mudslide mountain track in a saloon car from 2004 when it had been raining all night. Why was she so blasé when British drivers would worry about tackling that very same 'road'? Probably because she was in a Dacia. The 'road' to Bran: This is where I saw a woman in her late seventies driving a 2004 Logan without a worry or thought for the steep climb or the amount of rain that fell the night before Seeing a Dacia at this point was standard. There was no setting, no terrain, no circumstance where there wouldn't be a Dacia. That's because 60 per cent of Romanians drive a Dacia. To put that in context, a French Parc Auto survey in 2020 found that French brands make up 62 per cent of French households' fleets. But that includes Renault, Citroen, Peugeot – Renault itself made up 22 per cent. I had this bonkers three in five stat in my mind before I went to Romania and yet I naively started counting how many Dacias I could spot the first morning I was there. I counted about 20 in a remote rural village at 3,280ft altitude in less than 60 minutes, and unsurprisingly decided this game was rather futile. So by the time I saw the speeding grandma on day two I was almost immune to the ubiquitousness of Dacia. It was only to be expected that wherever you'd go, a Dacia would follow. It's hard to properly convey what seeing 60 per cent of the same kind of car on the road is like; in the UK the closest you can probably get is that you're surprised in London if you order an Uber and it isn't a Toyota Prius. But still not even comparable. Dacia's constant presence in Romania reminds you of the true sense of a car: it's a vehicle to get you from A to B. For so many people in the world, and Romanians in particular, a car is a need and not a want, and it's easy to forget that when you're constantly surrounded by drivers wanting the latest, showiest motors. Reliability, low running costs, and 4x4 capability are all needed. Chat GPT, 100 ADAS features, heated seats, Wifi and 360 cameras aren't needed. Dacia's popularity hammers this point home incredibly clearly. And you can't help but be infected with the sense of national pride that Dacia holds in Romania as you drive around the country's jaw-dropping landscape: Dacia is Romania's most famous export and holds great historical and cultural importance in the country. Providing accessible and reliable vehicles to the Romanian people has made Dacia not just a staple on the roads of Romania but a symbol of Romanian industrial strength and ingenuity. Dacia is a symbol of Romanian industrial strength and ingenuity, and puts the agricultural heart of the country on wheels Rural life in Romania - how Dacia is integral to the heart of agricultural working Romania is the country with the highest number of farmers in the EU, with almost 3.5 million farmers or just over 44 per cent. And 90 per cent of these are small farms of less than 5 hectares. In an age of industrial farming that's a hugely rare statistic, and it only goes to show how integral small scale farming is to Romanian life. A website I looked at to learn more about Romania before I went said: 'In rural areas, you will most likely see either a horse yoke or a Dacia'. Never has information been more accurate. In the mountain Transylvanian areas I saw traditional shepherds and their enormous Mioritic Sheepdogs moving the flocks, cows crossing the roads, horse and carts doing a steady 20mph on the main roads, and Dacias. If a farmer drove a car it was a Dacia. So, the 60 per cent of Romanians drive a Dacia stat actually goes much deeper - at the heart of it is how these communities and traditions are kept alive thanks to the budget transport Dacia offers Romanian farmers. And that's what Dacia stays true to in the way it builds and markets its cars - it's all about the wilderness and rural life. Every farm has a Dacia: This was a typical small farm up in the mountains and of course it had a Dacia, as did the farm next to it Dacia's brand positioning and clever marketing Dacia's sense of fun goes hand in hand with its rugged origins, and this combination has proved to be a winning one when it comes to advertising its cheap as chips cars. Commercial campaigns have played humorously on Dacia's lack of luxury, instead flagging up that Dacia does the basics well. Famous TV adverts include the Sandero ads 'Lawnmower feature?', 'Ping Pong' and 'Mermaid?', all of which amusingly suggest unnecessary features the Sandero could have while reinstating that the Sandero actually has all the features you need – such as high mpg and low costs. The Duster 'Another One Drives a Duster' advert took the original Queen song, redrafted the words to focus on the facelifted Duster, and showed the 'elite' classes coveting a Duster. It was a home run. Then the later 'Go Duster' commercial based on the Ghostbusters theme tune highlighted how the Duster gave you a family off-roader with just the gadgets you needed, all to an upbeat song that you'd come to associate with the model. Through commercials Dacia wanted people to know unequivocally what the brand offered, what buying a Dacia would mean, and how your life would be better with a Dacia. Dacia's commercial team nailed the brief, hugely helping Dacia to achieve its brand positioning and sales strategy that's led to today's success. Dacia sales success - how many Dacia drivers are there worldwide? In 2024 Dacia sold almost 680,000 vehicles worldwide – a 2.3 per cent increase on 2023. Not only was this a strong performance in itself, but it also meant Dacia secured 3.9 per cent of the Passenger Car and Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) sales in Europe, and 4.5 per cent of Passenger Car sales alone. Hitting a major milestone, Dacia surpassed nine million vehicles sold since its 2005 relaunch, with the Sandero being crowned the best-selling car in Europe in 2024 with almost 310,000 units sold. By the end of 2025 Dacia is expected to have sold around 280,000 vehicles in the UK. Currently Dacia cars are on sale across 44 countries in Europe, providing eight million customers with its value for money cars – some feat for a communist car company from the 60s. Dacia has also announced another £15k electric car will be arriving very soon which means that Dacia could soon be the brand of trusted and cheap electric cars too. Electric cars just as dedicated to the function over frivolity promise of course.
Auto Express
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Cheapest hybrid cars on sale 2025
Fully electric cars are the hot topic at the moment but there are plenty of affordable, efficient hybrid cars to choose from on today's market that might actually be cheaper to buy and run for some people. If you're after a bargain, the level of choice on offer means the cheapest hybrid cars come in all shapes and sizes, so there should be a low-cost hybrid model to suit you. Advertisement - Article continues below Generally speaking there are three types of hybrid car on the market: mild hybrid, full hybrid (also referred to as self-charging hybrid), and plug-in hybrid (PHEV). To keep things simple, we've rounded up the cheapest full hybrid cars for this list. We've omitted mild hybrids as the technology is now standard-fit in a large number of modern petrol cars. Plug-in hybrids, meanwhile, fall into their own category as they need to be recharged like an EV. They also tend to be larger and more expensive than full hybrid cars. Our experts have thoroughly tested every hybrid car you can buy, carefully evaluating areas such as quality, driving experience and practicality, and we've included our impressions below to help you decide which of the UK's cheapest hybrid cars is the right one for you. Read this table to see our in-depth ratings for each of the UK's cheapest hybrid cars. You can also find each car's starting price, as well our score for efficiency and the official WLTP combined fuel economy figure. Cheapest hybrid cars ranking Name Prices from Efficiency, CO2 and running costs rating (out of 5) Overall Auto Express star rating (out of 5) Max. WLTP efficiency 1 MG3 £18,995 4.5 5 64.2mpg 2 Renault Clio £21,895 4.5 4.5 67.3mpg 3 MG ZS £22,495 4.4 4 55.4mpg 4 Dacia Jogger £23,305 4 4.5 58.9mpg 5 Toyota Yaris £23,445 4.2 4 70.6mpg 6 GWM Haval Jolion Pro £23,995 N/A N/A 47mpg 7 Mazda 2 Hybrid £24,820 4.3 3.5 74.3mpg 8 Dacia Duster £24,830 4.7 4.5 55.3mpg 9 Renault Captur £25,195 4.1 4 60.1mpg 10 Toyota Yaris Cross £26,495 4.4 4 62.8mpg Scroll down or click the jump links in the table above for more on the cheapest hybrids Prices from £18,995 Max. WLTP efficiency: 64.2mpg Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below The MG3 is currently the cheapest hybrid on the market, yet it's also one of the best-equipped, most efficient and most entertaining cars to drive in its class. Advertisement - Article continues below Unlike its rivals, the MG3 prioritises use of its electric motor over the petrol engine, so the driving experience is much closer to an electric car than a hybrid. When the engine does kick in, it's not intrusive and the transition is smooth. Official figures suggest the MG3 hybrid can return 64.2mpg, but we averaged 55.4mpg during testing. This is in the same region as its closest hybrid supermini rivals; the Renault Clio and Toyota Yaris. The MG3 might be a small car, but it's not too cramped inside, with plenty of head and knee room for adults in the back, as well as plenty of storage space and cubby holes dotted around the cabin. Standard safety kit is very generous, with lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning featuring on all models. Overall fit and finish is decent, too, as is the seven-year/80,000 mile warranty. 'There's a huge amount to like about the MG. Its sharp-handling chassis makes it fun to drive, yet it balances this out with a compliant ride and strong refinement.' - Alex Ingram, chief reviewer, who tested the MG3 on UK roads Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Latest MG3 deals Prices from £21,895 Max. WLTP efficiency: 67.3mpg Advertisement - Article continues below The Renault Clio E-Tech Hybrid does a highly respectable job of blending fashion with frugality. Combining two electric motors with Renault's 1.6-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine results in fuel economy of up to 67.3mpg on paper, but in the real world, we saw 58.5mpg when we tested the Clio hybrid against the Toyota Yaris. Overall, performance is brisk and 143bhp is enough for 0-62mph in under 10 seconds, so merging onto the motorway should be fairly pain-free. The Clio's sharp steering and comfortable ride also make it one of the more capable cars in its class. Despite its low starting price, the Clio comes with almost every bit of kit you'll probably need, including LED headlights, cruise control, a seven-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a seven-inch digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel and plenty of safety tech too. 'The Renault Clio refuses to relinquish its position as one of the best superminis on the market. A high-quality and well-equipped item despite its competitive pricing, the Clio feels as refined as much larger hatchbacks and handles well, too.' - Ellis Hyde, news reporter, who drove the Clio in the UK Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Latest Renault Clio deals Prices from £22,495 Max. WLTP efficiency: 55.4mpg Advertisement - Article continues below The MG ZS is much cheaper than almost all of its small SUV competitors, but it hides its budget roots surprisingly well. Due to it using the same powertrain as the MG3, the ZS primarily uses its petrol engine as a generator to power the electric motors when needed. The result is an official economy figure of up to 55.4mpg, and we managed to get fairly close to this with a real-world average of 48.7mpg during testing on a mixture of roads. It's reasonably potent in terms of power, too, with 193bhp on tap, and the 10.5-metre makes tighter manoeuvres nice and easy. Look hard enough within the ZS's cabin and you'll find that MG hasn't quite managed to hide its cost-cutting measures. There are quite a few flimsy parts, and one of our road testers even managed to hurt themselves while using the gear selector. Mishaps aside, though, things do get a bit better when it comes to on-board tech and safety kit. There's enough room for a family of five, too. 'While the ZS is good enough to drive, spacious and economical, the real selling point is its low list price, which allows it to undercut rivals by several thousand pounds.' - Alex Ingram, chief reviewer, who tested the ZS in the UK Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Latest MG ZS deals Prices from £23,305 Max. WLTP efficiency: 58.9mpg Not only is the Dacia Jogger one of the cheapest hybrid cars currently on sale, it is also one of the cheapest seven-seater cars on the market. The Jogger offers families a huge amount of space, low running costs and a decent amount of in-car kit for very little money. The best thing, though, is that the efficient hybrid power doesn't come at the cost of practicality. You will need to spend a bit more to buy one compared to the petrol model, but the upside of the hybrid-powered Jogger is fuel economy of well over 50mpg as well as more power and torque. The Jogger's van-like appearance may not be as stylish as some of the SUVs on this list, but if you're in the market for a hybrid family car then few models can match the sheer level of versatility on offer here — especially at this price. It's not exactly posh inside, but the materials and trim feel durable, and the essential tech is all included. 'The Jogger is relatively compact for a seven-seater, with a long, narrow body where most other options are wide. That means it's just as easy to manoeuvre as the Dacia Sandero at low speeds, and the light steering also helps you to thread through small gaps.' - Dean Gibson, senior test editor, who tested the Jogger in the UK Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Latest Dacia Jogger deals Prices from £23,445 Max. WLTP efficiency: 70.6mpg The latest Toyota Yaris is only available as a hybrid, as opposed to a number of rivals that offer hybrid power as an option. Fortunately, this technology suits the Yaris perfectly in the city, where the car spends a surprising amount of time in electric-only mode. It may look a bit funkier than previous generations of Yaris, but the latest model still focusses on the sensible stuff. Due to its aversion to using its 1.5-petrol engine, the Yaris can lean heavily on electric power and officially achieve up to 68.9mpg. As is somewhat typical, though, this figure could not be matched when we pitted the Toyota Yaris against a Renault Clio E-Tech Hybrid in a twin test, but we did get a respectable 56.2mpg nonetheless. While the Yaris struggles a bit on the motorway with its 114bhp, the steering is a joy around town, and anyone in the market for a supermini, hybrid or otherwise, should strongly consider it. Build quality is typically Toyota (that's a very good thing) and it's a comfortable car to sit on on longer journeys, although the interior is a bit bland to behold. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below 'The fourth-generation Yaris is a great performer in the urban environment. However, it isn't the cheapest hybrid around, there's limited room for people in the back, and a small boot could limit its appeal for a family.' - Max Adams, online reviews editor, who drove the Yaris on UK roads Latest Toyota Yaris deals Prices from £23,995 Max. WLTP efficiency: 47mpg It's a very recent entry into the UK market, but the GWM Haval Jolion Pro is already making waves with its starting price — even if its name is a bit of a mouthful. The Haval Jolion Pro comes from the same brand that brought us the Ora 03 (formerly known as Funky Cat). Unlike its groovy electric city car sibling, though, this is a hybrid-powered mid-size SUV. In typical Chinese car fashion, it undercuts the price of several competitors, too, at less than £24,000. However, it's worth noting that the GWM is one of the thirstier cars on this list with an official MPG figure of just 47mpg. Inside you'll find a digital driver's display along with a 12.3-inch touchscreen that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It's not the most exciting SUV out there, but there's little denying this car's potential to disrupt this extremely popular market Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Latest GWM Haval Jolion Pro deals Prices from £24,820 Max. WLTP efficiency: 74.3mpg No, we haven't added the same car twice. The Mazda 2 Hybrid is essentially a rebadged Toyota Yaris but this isn't a bad thing. Not only do Mazda and Toyota superminis look identical, but they also share the same 114bhp 1.5-litre full hybrid powertrain. The Mazda does have a slight edge in the WLTP efficiency stakes, though, as it boasts a higher headline figure of 74.3mpg, compared to the Yaris's 70.6mpg. Just like the Yaris, the 2 Hybrid is enjoyable and easy to drive on urban roads, and it will spend a lot of its time in pure-electric mode. If you're considering a Yaris or 2 Hybrid, it'll be worth looking at the best finance and leasing deals on both models before deciding. Do keep in mind that both the Mazda 2 Hybrid and Toyota Yaris aren't the most refined cars at higher speeds, so if you do lots of motorway miles, you might want to consider other options. "There are some harsh plastics dotted around, but overall the Mazda 2 Hybrid feels built to last, and one of the plusher superminis on sale." - Alastair Crooks, senior news reporter, who drove the 2 Hybrid in Germany Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Latest Mazda 2 Hybrid deals Prices from £24,830 Max. WLTP efficiency: 55.3mpg It's chunky, robust and a little bit old-school on the outside, but the Dacia Duster can be specced with an utterly modern hybrid powertrain. While you'll have to forego four-wheel drive to accommodate the Duster's full-hybrid system, the good news is that this model's real-world economy comes very close to the figures it claims on paper. We achieved 52.3mpg during testing, which really isn't far short of the claimed The hybrid variant is also the most powerful Duster, but performance is still rather reflective of this SUV's boxy appearance - only 138bhp and a top speed of 99mph. We doubt many Duster buyers are particularly bothered about speed, though, so if you're more concerned about practicality and quality, we have good news. While there's no hiding from low-rent materials, the cabin feels as sturdy as the car looks, and there's even a reasonable amount of up-to-date features thrown in. A stonking 594-litre boot sits at the back for big shops or long trips away with the family. 'The latest Duster uses the same CMF-B platform as the likes of the latest Renault Clio and Captur, and that means the current model takes a significant step forward from its predecessor, with an improvement in tech and a grown-up feeling on the road.' - Alex Ingram, chief reviewer, who tested the Duster on UK roads Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Latest Dacia Duster deals Prices from £25,195 Max. WLTP efficiency: 60.1mpg The Renault Captur is a two-time Small SUV of the Year winner, and it's still as tempting as ever. The Captur E-Tech is the hybrid version, and this shares its powertrain with the Clio supermini, along with several other components. This system consists of a 1.6-litre engine combined with two electric motors. The first motor can drive the wheels outright, while the second helps to smooth the gaps between gear changes. We lived with a Captur E-Tech for six months as part of our long-term fleet, and during that time it held a steady 53.2mpg average, and this included plenty of motorway trips. The Captur's practicality does suffer a slight sacrifice in order to accommodate this hybrid setup, but the E-Tech should still take a family of four and their luggage with ease. A 10.4-inch touchscreen dominates the dashboard, and Renault's Google-based infotainment software is a firm Auto Express favourite due to its performance and ease-of-use. 'It's not as sharp to drive as some rivals, and the cabin design is starting to look and feel a little dated, but fundamentally this car's focus on what its buyers will appreciate is enough to keep it at the sharp end of the class.' - Alex Ingram, chief reviewer, who road tested the Captur in the UK Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Latest Renault Captur deals Prices from £26,495 Max. WLTP efficiency: 62.8mpg Toyota is no stranger to producing efficient small hybrid cars, but the Yaris Cross represents a new approach from the brand The Cross takes all the best bits of the Yaris supermini and places them into a larger and more practical package. The additional bulk does mean the 1.5-litre powertrain has to work a bit harder, but it's still capable of up to 62.8mpg (provided you avoid the AWD models). It would seem the WLTP testers had their foot down during testing, though, as we managed an average of 64.7mpg when the Yaris Cross spent six months on our test fleet. This is a winning combination that makes the Yaris Cross an ideal choice for a small family. It's also a rather eco-friendly one, emitting less than 100g/km of CO2. On the road, the Yaris Cross is just as easy to drive around town as its supermini sibling, and the reversing camera makes parking the small SUV a doddle. Toyota has identified that Yaris Cross buyers will most probably live in more built-up, urban areas, so it's important that the small SUV is comfortable and easy to pilot around town. Has it succeeded? For the most part, yes.' - Ellis Hyde, news reporter, who drove the Yaris Cross on UK roads. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Latest Toyota Yaris Cross deals There are different types of hybrid car, and working out the difference can feel daunting if you're unaccustomed to this technology. We won't go into great detail about the differences between each type of hybrid here, although there are three main ones you should be aware of. The first are 'mild hybrids'. These typically use an electric motor to give an engine (usually petrol, diesel hybrids are rarer) a boost under acceleration. Crucially, mild hybrids cannot move under the power of an electric motor alone. The second are 'full hybrids'. Unlike mild hybrids, these can use electric motors to drive the wheels, although this is usually only for very short distances; no more than a mile or two. Their limited electric range is caused by their typically small batteries, which collect energy lost while braking or directly from the engine itself. The third are 'plug-in hybrids', often abbreviated to 'PHEVs'. Their batteries are much larger than those of full hybrids, so much so that they need to be charged via a cable when parked. The very latest PHEVs can offer more than 60 miles of electric-only range, so it's realistic to complete short journeys without needing to use the engine (or any fuel in the tank) at all. Looking to cut out combustion entirely? Check out our list of the cheapest electric cars … New Ford Fiesta: latest details on supermini's potential return New Ford Fiesta: latest details on supermini's potential return The Ford Fiesta could be coming back as an electric car, and here's everything we know so far Flawed hybrid car efficiency data to stifle UK EV sales and propagate pollution Flawed hybrid car efficiency data to stifle UK EV sales and propagate pollution Half a million extra PHEVs could reach UK roads by 2030 in place of cleaner EVs due to changes surrounding the ZEV Mandate Labour hints at major luxury car tax U-turn to boost EV sales Labour hints at major luxury car tax U-turn to boost EV sales Is pressure from retailers and car makers finally cutting through with ministers?
Auto Express
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Kia is returning to its 'Keeping It Affordable' roots
Not before time, there's growing evidence that vehicle makers accept they've pushed their luck as far as they dare with the naughty, inflation-shattering price hikes that force some customers out of the new-car market. The latest, logical plan is to start pricing them back in again. Understanding this better than most are manufacturers in Europe's eastern quarter and on mainland China – thus their latest, circa £15k models. The Best Bargain Car of the past few months (the Dacia Spring) has just been succeeded by the marginally more convincing Leapmotor T03, which in turn might be beaten by BYD's Dolphin Surf later this year. But genuine bargains don't have to be the absolute cheapest models, as Dacia's Duster (from £19,380) and Bigster (£24,995) prove. Advertisement - Article continues below France-based firms are the current champs of Western Europe for marketing brilliant, sensibly priced, small to medium state-of-the-art cars. Citroen's electric e-C3 is a steal at £22,095, and also world-class are the Renault 5 (£22,995) and imminent Renault 4 (let's pray for a bog-standard version with rubber mats) from just £24,995. MINI's much-need Spring sale (8-12 May) came and went too quickly, but discounts can and should still be had. Volkswagen's bigger, longer sale runs until 19 May. 'May we have your attention?' the company asks of the new buyers it seeks. Only if you bring your entry-level Polo down below the £20k price point is my reply. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Looking pricey lately are Japanese and Korean cars. Honda is beginning to redeem itself with £5k off its e:Ny1, but the price-cutting 'Toyotathon' event ends on 31 May, and reductions of up to £1,000 are less than generous. As for Kia, many moons ago when it was selling some models at under £10k, I said to senior company reps in South Korea and Britain that they were free to use the Kia = Keeping It Affordable sales line I'd dreamt up. The company liked it, but quietly confided in me that its model range was about to become more expensive, which it did. The result? Several once-loyal buyers were forced to shop elsewhere. But now the firm has seemingly adopted a softer retail pricing strategy. The EV6, for instance, has just dropped below £40,000, which is where it should have been at launch four years ago. Better still, Kia's PV5 range of light vans arrives in the UK this year, with funky motorhomes and futuristic mobile offices probably coming later. All PV5s look good and are strangely desirable – with the added bonus of undercutting direct competitors. Just as many of the firm's cars did a decade or more ago. Thankfully then, Kia is – in part at least – returning to its Keeping It Affordable roots. Which is where Korea's favourite automotive brand does its best work. Do you agree that new cars are too expensive? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section... Find a car with the experts Car Deal of the Day: Sacre bleu! The Renault 5 keeps getting cheaper Car Deal of the Day: Sacre bleu! The Renault 5 keeps getting cheaper The modern-day Super Cinq comes with a super price. It's our Deal of the Day for 14 May Want a new small car? You probably can't afford one and car bosses blame the EU Want a new small car? You probably can't afford one and car bosses blame the EU Renault and Stellantis bosses demand changes to the emissions rules driving up new car prices Best electric cars 2025: the top 10 best EVs you can buy Best electric cars 2025: the top 10 best EVs you can buy Thinking about making the switch to an electric vehicle? Here are the EVs that should be on your shortlist, and why… Best cars & vans 14 May 2025
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
EU regulations are making small cars too expensive, according to bosses at two major manufacturers
Bosses at two major car manufacturers have pointed the finger at the European Union for triggering a huge increase in the cost of new cars in recent years - especially smaller models that are no longer affordable to the masses. EU regulations for all new motors to have an abundance of safety features and be powered by cleaner engine technology has made it 'unprofitable' to produce city cars and superminis in Europe - and is the reason for the demise of the Ford Fiesta two years ago, they said. Stellantis chairman John Elkann and Renault CEO Luca de Meo teamed up this week to call on the EU to relax its regulatory grasp on smaller vehicles. They warn that failure to do so will create more hurdles for Europe to achieve its green targets. This is because motorists are unable to afford the latest small motors and instead are keeping their older - more polluting - cars for longer. De Meo said these regulations have inflated the price of the Renault Clio by around 40 per cent in the last 15 years. In Britain, the French supermini currently start from £18,995 with a petrol engine; one with a hybrid powertrain is £21,895. 'If we have less regulations, we can make sure that we build cars that are less expensive and so they'll be more affordable,' said Elkann, appearing at the FT Future of the Car Summit in London via video link on Thursday. Eklann said the inflationary pressures of meeting EU regulations has also hiked the price of small Citroen, Fiat, Peugeot and Vauxhall models - all of which sit under the Stellantis banner. In the co-presentation, Elkann said a relaxation of rules for small cars would provide an 'incredible opportunity' to slash passenger vehicle emissions. Rather than trying to force every motorist into an expensive electric vehicle - which typically are at a premium over an equivalent petrol model - he says regulators and governments should be looking to how they can make it easier for motorists with older polluting cars to replace them with cleaner solutions as a stepping stone. By encouraging motorists to switch to cheap, small models with economical petrol or hybrid engines would help reduce pollution levels from the 250 million cars currently circulating the European Union. De Meo said EU regulations have inflated the price of the Renault Clio by around 40% in the last 15 years. In Britain, the French supermini currently start from £18,995 with a petrol engine; one with a hybrid powertrain is £21,895 'That is not only good for the overall environment, it's good for people who want to buy cars but [find them] too expensive, fundamentally driven by regulation,' Auto Express quoted during Elkann's address. The Stellantis boss referenced the increasing average age of Europe's cars, which is now above 10-years-old. In countries like Greece, the typical motor is 17 years old. And there is a similar trend in the UK. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders says the average age of a passenger car in Britain in 2024 increased to 9.5 years. In 2019 it was 8, and in 2000 it was just 7. It shows that UK drivers - also grasped by a cost-of-living-squeeze post-pandemic - are holding onto older, more polluting, cars for longer. De Meo and Elkann believe that if drivers of ageing cars with dirtier tailpipe emissions could be persuaded to buy cars with super-efficient petrol or hybrids powertrains, air quality would improve more dramatically than attempting to force motorists to choose EVs at higher prices. But with the existing regulations in place, the pair warned that superminis produced in Europe have become unprofitable - which has led to the loss of some major names in recent years, not least the Ford Fiesta, which ceased production in Germany in summer 2023. After 47 consecutive years of production and 22million global sales - 4.8 million in the UK alone - Ford killed off the Fiesta two years ago to make way for an EV replacement Ford ceased production of the Fiesta - Britain's all-time most popular car - at its Cologne factory (left) in July 2023. Luca de Meo said it's because it is 'unprofitable' to make small cars in Europe. Pictured right: the last Fiesta to come off the assembly line signed by staff Renault's de Meo said that the French automaker already 'doesn't make money' on some small cars, adding that between 2015 and 2030 regulations will raise the cost of a medium-sized Renault-built car by 20 per cent and for small cars by 40 per cent. 'Small cars still have a purpose and they could actually reboost the automotive market in Europe,' de Meo said. This is Money recently reported on manufacturers killing off several much-loved internal combustion engine models in the last 36 months in the pursuit to electrify their ranges for a zero-emissions future. Small and relatively inexpensive cars have typically been first for the chopping block as brands go about reshaping their model line-ups ahead of the ban on new petrols and diesels in the UK from 2030 - and 2035 in the EU. This also includes popular petrol cars of the likes of the Fiat 500 and VW Up. As such, the number of ICE options available to motorists in the smallest 'A-segment' - commonly referred to as 'city cars' - has shrunk to just three choices. While smaller, less expensive petrol models are disappearing from our roads, car makers are pushing to introduce more attainably priced EVs. This week, Renault confirmed its upcoming Twingo - due to be revealed later this year and delivered from 2026 - will be sold in the UK. It has promised a sub-€20,000 price tag, which should mean less than £17,000 in Britain. The least expensive EV currently on sale is the Dacia Spring, which starts from £14,995. The only model that's cheaper across all fuel types is Dacia's petrol Sandero supermini (from £14,715). Only four other combustion engine cars are currently available in the UK for less than £17,000. This includes the Kia Picanto (from £16,065), MG3 (£16,425), Hyundai i10 (from £16,600) and Toyota Aygo X (from £16,845). De Meo and Elkann's joint appearance comes just over a week after the European Parliament voted to fast-track softer EU CO2 emissions targets for cars and vans that will allow automakers more time to comply and reduce potential fines. Sir Keir Starmer last month also eased the UK's Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate rules - which demand an ever-increasing share of EV sales per year until 2035 - on the back of trade pressures triggered by President Donald Trump's Liberation Day tariffs on US vehicle imports.
