Vauxhall Ampera 1.4 16v VVT V6 Positiv ECOTEC E-REV Auto
Car review by Paul Myles
What is it?
THIS is a new twist on the electric powered vehicle and one which provides a decent range of around 350 miles. While not quite the ‘great leap forward’ suggested by some commentators, the Vauxhall Ampera cleverly side-steps the limited range of modern lithium-ion batteries by augmenting its 40-50 mile capable battery pack with a ‘range extender’ in the shape of a simple 1.4-litre petrol engine.
However, the Ampera’s motor will not, beyond extreme loads, put any power to the wheels, restricting itself to the role as a simple generator to supply power to the electric motor. It only comes in high specification with a starting price of a cool £37,250 on the road price – although it does qualify for the government’s £5,000 EV grant!
What’s hot?
- Smart performance time: 0-62mph time of 9 seconds and top speed limited to 100mph to preserve the electric motors
- The battery pack is smaller than other EVs and so full charges in six-hours and costs only about £3,500 to replace after 8-year 100,000 mile warranty
- A real-world electric only range of 40-50 miles will mean most owners with charge points at home and work will almost never use petrol
- Superb build quality and interior fit is up to the best in class and befits the price tag
- Handling is good and predictable and not overly affected by weight from the slimmed down battery pack
- Although based on the Astra chassis the body is larger and provides nearly mid-market executive cruiser dimensions with plenty of legroom and storage space with a boot of 300-litres swelling to just over 1,000-litres with rear seats folded
- Enough electronic gadgetry to please the keenest geek plus an uber-useful pre-flight mode where you can time the car to warm itself to full operating temp
- Huge benefit in kind (BIK) tax discounts which, with estimated cheaper running costs, saves company car drivers around £6,000 over three years compared to a similarly specified Insignia
What’s not?
- About £10,000 more expensive than equivalent Insignia…
- Fairly unexciting drive once the novelty of all the electronica wears off
- Central tunnel placed battery pack reduces interior space and thus only two seats are offer in the back
- Drive or garage charging a must as high-rise living city dwellers with just on-street parking will unlikely see much of an advantage with limited battery use
- The steep price tag also means a steep monthly lease of around £450 to £500 – right there in Mercedes C-Class country
- Big question marks hang over whether the government’s EV grant will last beyond 2015 and the price without it will hit sales
Vauxhall Ampera 1.4 Positiv Auto – the low-down
P11D Value: | £ 37,195 |
Monthly Rental: | From £491 (3yrs/30,000 miles) |
Tax Bands 2011/12 to 2013/14: | 5%, 5%, 5% |
Benefit in kind 2011/12 to 2013/14: | £1,860, £1,860, £1,860 |
Engine: | 1.4 16v petrol |
CO2 Emissions: | 27g/km |
Power/torque: | 150PS/370Nm |
0-62mph/top speed: | 8.7 secs/100mph |
Economy (official): | 235.4mpg |
Economy (flat battery): | 56.5 mpg |