Your Total Guide To motoring

Best Cars 2023

I am often asked, what is a good, practical, great all-round car for the day to day family life. A car that is perfect for the everyday but also has the flexibility and space to tackle any weekend activities.

I’ve compiled a list of 6 crossover, SUV, MPV type vehicles and given an initial overview along with a few things I like and a few I’m not a fan of.

I’d also like to point out, another requirement for me was that they each had to be either Fully Electric or Hybrid vehicles.

Dorset

Suzuki Vitara

Starting Price: £21,499

Available From: Breeze Suzuki

About: I am starting this list with the Suzuki Vitara because quite frankly it is a fantastic compact SUV.

The Vitara offers a more “off-road” durable feel than others in its class. The higher ground clearance and boxier dimensions are a definite advantage to its overall usable space and practicality.

It is available in 4 different trim levels SZ-T mild hybrid, SZ-T full hybrid, SZ5 mild hybrid, and SZ5 Full Hybrid. The SZ-T mild hybrid starts at £21,499 which includes Apple Carplay / Android Auto, 17” Alloy Wheels, and Adaptive Cruise Control as standard. If you are looking for Panoramic Roof and Keyless Entry & Start you would need to bump up to the SZ5 which starts from £23,499

I’m Not A Fan Of: There is a bit of noise within the cabin, generally around town and in normal driving conditions it’s perfect, but driving with pace and in heavy motorway use it can be a bit noisy.

Things I Love:

It is very light and easy to drive for its size.
There is a lot of customisation in the way of exterior colours, and interior and exterior trim to give it an individual style.
It is extremely well equipt as standard. There are a lot of safety features and driver aids included in the trim that generally would be optional with other brands.

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Volvo C40

Starting Price: £48,355

Available From: Volvo Cars Poole

About: The Volvo C40 is a fully electric, vegan-friendly SUV. The C40 is indisputably Volvo in its design features and has many classic Volvo styling traits.

The interior is well presented with a minimalist quality, and most features and controls are operated through either the large central screen, steering wheel controls, or digital driver display.

There’s plenty of room in the interior, storage bins, and boot area, and with this being a fully electric vehicle you also get additional storage space under the hood.

I’m Not A Fan Of: The rear visibility. The rear window is tiny, there’s no rear wiper and the reversing camera isn’t in the best position.

Things I Like:

Isofix points on the front passenger seat – for me this is fantastic and an absolute parenting must-have!
Keyless Entry & Go – you don’t even need to press the start button.
1800kg Towing Capacity – one of the largest in its class.

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Volkswagen ID BUZZ

Starting Price: £58,915

Available From: Breeze Volkswagen

About: The VW I.D BUZZ is Volkswagen's newest addition to the I.D range.

The I.D BUZZ has been a highly anticipated release as it promises a throwback to the iconic camper styling with a fully electric drive train, modern comforts, driving aids, and features.

Currently, the I.D BUZZ is available as a “Cargo” van and 5 Seat MPV with a 7 Seat Long Wheel Base to be available in time.

The I.D BUZZ has a massive boot and spacious interior throughout that is easily adaptable to face whatever life and luggage throws at it.

I’m Not A Fan Of: My expectations were that it would have been more adaptable such as a multi-van.

Things I Like:

Style, it really is beautiful, and the more time you spend with it the more you appreciate the classical influence and modern style.
Interior Quality, looking at the I.D Buzz’s closest rivals, the interior quality just leaves them standing.

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Audi Q4 e-tron

Starting Price: £50,625

Available From: Poole Audi

About: The Audi Q4 e-tron is a great-looking well built fully electric SUV.

The exterior is flawless, and the interior is well-built, and high quality, though a little bit out there on some of the angles and design features.

Compare to other compact SUV’s the Q4 e-tron has a large amount of rear passenger room along with 520 litres of rear luggage space.

The Q4 e-tron is also available as a Sportback, which does give a sportier look but does reduce the rear headroom, boots space, and overall practicality and is also available in a 35, 40, and 50 trim levels.

I’m Not A Fan Of:

Drum Brakes, I appreciate they work, they’re fine, and they obviously provide enough stopping power but it just seems cheap.
Reversing Camera & Front Parking Sensors are an optional extra.
Touch Sensitive Buttons. To be fair I’m not a fan of them in any car, I find them to show fingerprints, give little feedback, and are too easy to accidentally press.

Things I like:

The ISOFIX point covers slide up, no lost plastic covers here. I really, really love this!
The overall quality is fantastic, it's so well built.

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Cupra Formentor

Starting Price: £38,095

Available From: Cupra Poole

About: The Cupra Formentor is probably the most aggressively styled vehicle on this list. So if you’re making the change from a hot hatch or sports car to something a touch more practical perhaps this is the one for you.

The Formentor comes in 4 different trim levels, the V1, V2, VZ1, and VZ2 all models are hybrid engines and offer either 204 or 245hp.

The interior too has a sportier vibe as it includes bucket seats, accent details, and ambient lighting throughout. A sportier interior isn’t to say it lacks quality, it is actually very well built and has a mixture of quality materials and cool features.

I’m Not A Fan Of: The control buttons beneath the centre screen aren’t backlit, making them tricky to use at night.

Things I Love:

The styling, I like things with a little more edge.
The Driving Modes, continuing that cheeky, race vibe the Formentor has various customisable driving modes for whatever mood you’re in.

Ford Mustang Mach-E

Starting Price: £50,830

Available From: Foray Ford

About: The Ford Mustang isn’t exactly known for practicality or efficiency, but this isn’t a normal mustang, this is the Mustang Mach-E a fully electric compact SUV from Ford.

It is practical in size, has a spacious interior, quality finish, 5 seats, good ole boot space and a variety of motor and power options giving up to 372 miles range per charge.

The Mach-E has 4 trim levels, the Mustang Mach-E Select, Premium RWD, Premium AWD and GT varying in price from £50,830 - £74,540

Other than a blatant play on heritage, I’m not overly sure why they felt it needed to carry the name or what relevance it has to the well known muscle car other than a bit of styling and rear tail lights, but that said, in its own right the Ford Mustang Mach-E is an excellent EV.

I’m not a fan of:

Small Wheels, at entry level the Mach-E comes with 18” alloy wheels, that just seem lost on a vehicle this size.
750kg Towing Capacity, it’s a bit pants. I know it’s an EV, but typically a 2 birth caravan weighs between 800-1300kg, an average speed boat 1200kg

Things I Love:

Push button doors, you press the button, and the doors pop ajar so that you can open them, no handles.
Two Tone Roof, it’s a little nerdy. But I really love the way they have cleverly disguised the roof line with contrasting colour giving the sporty looks outside but plenty of headroom inside.