“Electricity bill. Interest. Inflation. There is a lot to worry about, even in safe little Norway,” Finansavisen wrote when it was named electric car of the year last year. Back then the big news was the VW ID.Buzz, but it’s interesting to note that this year’s winner didn’t leave a mark on the registration statistics.
However, concerns have increased, especially in the automotive sector, where almost all operators can look back on a difficult year. However, Tesla has distinguished itself by consolidating its position at the top, although there are other brands and models that have won awards from expert juries, editors and the public.
In this sense, it might have been logical to have the company’s only new car this year, the facelifted Tesla Model 3, but since it is only an improvement of the car that many Norwegians already know well, it was not included among the six cars that Finansavisen has selected this year.
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No two electric cars are exactly identical and when you line them up next to each other you realize how big the differences in size are. Photo: Håkon Sæbø / Finansavisen
Falling out
Incidentally, there are many other cars that could have been mentioned, including the Chinese car Xpeng G9, but the frenetic driver assistance systems with distracting noises and other small annoyances mean that this particular car has to prove itself to a slightly greater. Probably the same can also be said for other Chinese brands that are trying to gain market share, such as BYD, Maxus and the numerous Nio models, as well as for the somewhat unknown Fisker Ocean, Lotus Eletre and Lucid Air from other countries.
However, the Rolls-Royce Specter received top marks in our test this summer, but the car is so special and expensive that it is out of competition, along with the Pininfarina Battista, the Rimac Nevera and probably many others.
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The six selected cars, however, represent this year’s automotive innovations in a broad and varied way, even if price, dimensions and, last but not least, range are very different. The criteria for choosing the winner are therefore subjective, based on sales expectations, reader requests and an overall evaluation. The cars are then presented in random order with highlights and flaws.
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The Kia EV9 has an adaptive chassis that ensures solid comfort, both in the city and on country roads. Air suspension is not available. Photo: Håkon Sæbø / Finansavisen
Precious Korean
Finally a great seven-seater car for Norwegian families who don’t have to spend too much on a Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV. The Kia EV9 has a gigantic trunk and for an extra NOK 20,000 you can choose the six-seater version. So you will have electric rear seats in the 2nd row, but if you survive the manual seat adjustment, the two seats in the 2nd row can be turned in the direction of travel. It will likely make cabin travel more fun and perhaps more comfortable.
The Kia EV9 isn’t a violent car, either in terms of handling or acceleration, but it’s nimble and precise enough to please. Air suspension isn’t available, but ground clearance is decent and the adaptive chassis is comfortable enough for most people. The fact that the Kia EV9 also has a rugged look may be appealing in itself, but perhaps equally important is that the car charges quickly, as you remember to preheat the battery.
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However, almost a million crowns for a Korean SUV is a bit much, even if the car has a lot to offer and there are not many good alternatives.
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The BMW i5 M60 can be ordered with adaptive anti-roll stabilizers. It’s a long and difficult word, but it basically means that the car doesn’t lean when cornering. Combined with rear-axle steering, the systems make the i5 a very pleasant car to drive. Photo: Håkon Sæbø / Finansavisen
German Award
When the BMW i5 was tested for the first time in Portugal last autumn, it became clear that this time the Germans had not chosen to push the limits or revolutionize to any significant extent. As is known, the BMW i5 is an electric car based on the platform used by the company for regular diesel and petrol cars, but it has also become clear that BMW has gotten this right too.
In many ways, the i5 is a conservative car that you don’t immediately think of as electric, but that’s also the car’s strong point. It’s quiet, comfortable and has an operation that you quickly learn to appreciate. The top-of-the-line 600-horsepower M60 model comes with four-wheel drive, as a car in this price range must have. Incidentally, this is where one of the car’s biggest problems emerges, because unfortunately the range isn’t great, considering the price.
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During summer driving a maximum of 515 kilometers can be achieved, but if you choose slightly bolder rims, the range drops below 500, which means that the challenging winter conditions in Norway with snow, cold and steep hills on the way to the cabin may not be sufficient. be quite reassuring.
The BMW i5 makes up for it by driving absolutely brilliantly, aided by chassis technology that almost no other electric car has, but then the price gets cool: the M60 xDrive starts at almost NOK 1.1 million and quickly approaches 1, NOK 3 million with equipment. However, the entry-level eDrive40 model has a longer range, a simpler chassis, and a lower price.
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Although the EX30 is produced in China alongside the Zeekr X and smart#1, the design is unmistakably Swedish. Photo: Håkon Sæbø / Finansavisen
Probably a bestseller
Volvo has long been a popular vehicle in Norway, with large station wagons and SUVs being the biggest sellers, but now it’s the EX30 small car that many are waiting for, on both sides of car salesmen’s desks. The car, however, is more Chinese than Swedish, being one of the triplet together with Zeekr
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The entry-level model starts at NOK 321,900, but many Norwegians want a big battery that costs from NOK 366,900 with rear-wheel drive. All-wheel drive therefore costs from NOK 421,900 in the so-called Plus version, while the Ultra is priced at NOK 451,900.
We didn’t test the car in winter driving, but with rear-wheel drive the EX30 was a pleasure to drive, both calmly in the city, fast on the motorway and active on the country road. The interior is minimalist and modern with the use of everything from recycled plastic bottles, to wool trousers and wool. Savings in the form of number of buttons, cables and screens work well, even if all operations have to take place on a touch screen that is less intuitive for the driver.
The performance is, as in most electric cars, more than sufficient and the range of up to 480 kilometers in the WLTP cycle is good for a small, well-equipped and relatively economical car. With all-wheel drive you only lose 20 kilometers of range, while snow and freezing temperatures consume much more. The 340 kilometers of the basic model should be suitable for even the least demanding Norwegians.
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With a length of almost six meters, a height and a width of two, the F-150 Lightning is among the largest cars on the market, something underlined by the front with a lot of light. Photo: Håkon Sæbø / Finansavisen
Withdrew after the commotion
The Ford F-150 Lightning electric pick-up truck was only supposed to be sold in the USA, but European and not least Norwegian dealers and customers insisted so much that Ford gave in. 500 dedicated cars and over 1,000 applications in Norway alone make Ford Motor Co. give up even further, so many will get their car for NOK 1.2 million in 2024.
Then you get a gigantic five-seater with a “frunk” of a good 400 liters plus a load floor where the sky is the limit, literally. Apart from the fact that the payload has been reduced to 563 kilograms so that the car can be driven with a normal driving license. The trailer weight of 3.5 tonnes means that those with a BE license can fully enjoy the towbar, whether towing a boat, horse or compressor, while those with a B license must limit themselves to 750 kilos.
452 horsepower spread between two electric motors makes the car more than fast enough, and with four driving programs, Pro Trailer Assist, and most of the driving and safety systems you should be able to get up and move forward almost anywhere. 1,015 Nm of torque is at least as important for those who will use the car for heavy work. This is also the first F-150 with independent rear suspension instead of a rigid rear axle, which means better comfort and handling.
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The car is fully specified in the so-called “Lariat Launch Edition” in the color “Antimatter Blue Metallic” with electric leather seats with heating and cooling, Bang & Olufsen stereo system and 230 volt power socket. The 98 kWh net Standard Range battery offers a range of 429 kilometers, but that’s with tailwinds in Texas. In a Norwegian blizzard you can almost halve this value, but the consolation is that you’ll get your way when everyone else gets stuck.
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The feeling when you see the car, get in, get in and, last but not least, drive is majestic. You can frown at Range Rover and Geländewagen drivers as they sit in their small cars and are embarrassed by their size.
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With only two-wheel drive and a Stellantis Group transmission, the Avenger isn’t a true Jeep, but it feels sturdy and has many good features. Photo: Håkon Sæbø / Finansavisen
Discount
Jeep is known for big, rugged off-road vehicles, but the Avenger is the Stellantis group’s alibi for hitting the Norwegian market with a Jeep. They did so with what became “Europe’s Car of the Year”, although registration figures are currently modest at 132 cars (OFV as of 10 December).
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The price starts at NOK 349,900, the range is 395 kilometers and it works only on the front wheels. We traveled 335 kilometres, with a good part of it on the motorway, so the WLTP values are literally within reach. At least in the summer.
But it is the design that captures the most attention, in a world characterized by electric and aerodynamic soaps. The seven-slot grille, large wheel arches, chunky wheels, black skirts, two-tone paint and stylish rear end make it a true Jeep, aside from all-wheel drive, accessibility and the like. The interior design is also particularly successful with a dashboard painted in the color of the car, comfortable seats and an easy-to-use infotainment system. You have to live with a short seat cushion and some plastic, but you have to live without a heated steering wheel.
156 horsepower does not make the Avenger a sports car, neither in terms of acceleration nor top speed, while the charging power of 100 kW is low. The consolation is that the battery is only 54 kWh, so charging shouldn’t take too long.
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The VW ID.7 currently comes as a combined coupe with a large tailgate, but a station wagon, all-wheel drive and an even larger battery will come later. Photo: Håkon Sæbø / Finansavisen
The car of real people
The VW Passat was owned throughout its life by everyone in Norway, where the station wagon and four-wheel drive version became popular. The ID.7 is currently only available as a coupe combination with rear-wheel drive, but both station wagon and all-wheel drive will be promised in due course. After much criticism for the flimsy, plastic-infested interior of their first dedicated electric car, the ID.3, it has been updated and the ID.7 has an interior where the hard plastic is significantly reduced. The shape and design details are a bit boring, as unfortunately many electric cars are.
The car is long and wide with plenty of space for both passengers and luggage, the seats are very comfortable and the level of equipment is relatively high. The Ida voice assistant is more than active, as is the driver monitoring, speed warning and lane assistant, but these can be deactivated in the large touch screen. The ease of use here isn’t among the best, but it’s not among the worst either. You also get a small instrument panel and windshield display, but no frills.
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The range of the ID.7 Pro is 611 kilometers according to WLTP measurement, but there will be a version with a larger battery and a full range of 700 kilometers. On motorways and not least on Norwegian winter roads you can forget about it, but the car will probably go further than most others, which also suffer from speed and cold. The charging speed of 175 kW isn’t class-leading, but charging from 10 to 80 percent of battery capacity should be possible in less than half an hour.
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The ID.7 has 286 horsepower or 210 kW as it’s called in the world of electric cars, accelerating from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in 6.5 seconds up to a top speed of 180. It seems fast enough in most contexts, except from the top of the hill in winter. Even prices starting from NOK 549,000 should not discourage customers, as the overall package looks good, even without all-wheel drive.
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The BMW i5 M6 looks conservative but sturdy. Photo: Håkon Sæbø / Finansavisen
Nobody’s perfect
Picking a winner isn’t easy, as some prioritize price and others prioritize size. Design and comfort also take priority, while range and driving characteristics are important when Finansavisen Motor needs to recover its status. No car is perfect and where the ID.7 is the best in terms of range, the EV9 the largest on the inside and the Ford F-150 Lightning on the outside, the Jeep Avenger is the most affordable, the Volvo EX30 probably the best-selling and the BMW i5 the best to drive, we are happy with the latter, even if the range could have been better. The driving characteristics, design, comfort and equipment are top-notch, while the price is a little high for those with a thin wallet.
The joy is that BMW will bring the station wagon version of the i5 next year, and then an all-wheel drive version will appear which will hopefully be much more affordable.
It’s just to be happy.
This article was first published on Finansavisen Motor.
2024-01-02 18:56:58
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