The camping concept Teardrop Trailers are said to have originated in the 1930s in the United States – with sleeping space for two in the front and an open kitchen in the back. Now they have returned as Lifestyle CampersI've seen them many times along the road, but at eCarExpo I got to take a closer look at one of these vehicles for the first time.
The cart in the picture is hand-built by Lifestyle Camper in Ukraine. The model is called X-Line Premium and has, among other things, a roof rack with awning and Webasto diesel heater. In addition, you can mount a roof tent on the trailer. Then 4 people can go on a trip together.
What kind of camping life do you prefer?
Caravans like this are marketed to a target group that you could probably call “young, active and sporty”. I imagine people who spend their days doing activities – such as hiking, off-road cycling, pole hunting, kayaking, hunting, fishing, mountain climbing, to name a few. Put on the tip, the caravan becomes a gathering place for the evening before a warm, dry and comfortable overnight stay with breakfast the next day – before moving on to new adventures.
At the other end of the camping spectrum, we find those who keep their caravan standing all year round with a pitched tent and a fenced-in deck – like a cabin.
Lifestyle Camper – the kitchen department
Wilderness camping?
Light weight, high ground clearance and tires with a thick tread bring to mind forest roads and off-road driving. In that case, you should know a kind landowner. Camping in nature is not prohibited, but few landowners welcome wilderness campers. Quite the opposite. Small exits and forest roads are often closed with boulders or barriers. I know motorhome owners who have spent a lot of time looking for idyllic campsites, you know the kind you find in brochures. It's not easy. With a little luck, you can find a driveway parking without a "Camping prohibited" sign.
Be prepared that it can be difficult to find a good place to camp in the wilderness. In practice, this means that you have to seek out campsites. In Sweden and Denmark there are large rest areas with toilets and screened areas where private cars can also stay overnight. But not in Norway. According to the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, Norwegian rest areas are not intended for camping. If you stay overnight in a location clearly visible to everyone traveling along a main road, you may also risk getting unwanted visitors during the night.
Lifestyle CamperThe bed is ready! Lifestyle Camper
Camping is not a bad choice
Even with an outdoor shower and Portapotti, it can be good to have access to electricity, hot showers and toilets. You can still live a nice camping life and enjoy the benefits of a Lifestyle Camper. The trailer in the picture has a curb weight of 723 kg (not the lightest on the market) and a total weight of 1000 kg. The total width at the wheels is 1,98 meters, but the body is only 1,45 meters wide, so that the rear view through the side mirrors is maintained. The chassis is from German KNOTT with torsion suspension, shock absorbers and overrun brake. The frame is galvanized and V-shaped. The trailer in the pictures meets the authorities' requirements for Tempo 100.
Radio, USB, bar - everything you need.Solid roof rack where it is possible to mount a roof tent.
Suitable for electric cars
The small teardrop-shaped caravans are well suited to electric cars – both in terms of weight requirements and low air resistance that does not steal too much range. The photos were taken at KIA's stand at eCarExpo 2025. The towing vehicle is a KIA EV9 with 4-wheel drive that can tow a trailer of 2500 kg. I have taken the liberty of photo-editing two of the photos. The main photo has a "new" background and in the photo below the caravan is clipped together with a KIA EV3 which is a smaller model. It can only be delivered with front-wheel drive but is approved to tow a trailer.
Lifestyle camping (Photomontage)
Kia EV3
Kia EV3Kia EV3
A real "boxy" design! The EV3 is 4,3 meters long, takes 430 liters of luggage and offers a class-leading range of 601 km with a battery pack of 81,4 kWh.
If you are going to buy an older electric car, it is of great importance to know how much the batteries have lost. If you are unlucky, you can end up with the "cat in the bag" without being successful in some instances. No one is required to disclose the health of the batteries. You have to find out for yourself.
Much to gain from checking battery health
When the first electric cars arrived, many were skeptical about the lifespan of the batteries. Therefore, an extended warranty was given. Everyone knows that batteries lose weight over time, but no one can predict exactly how much. By comparing 8-10 year old cars of the same model and year, you see clear variations. As the batteries gradually wear down over several years, it can be easy to forget to check the batteries before the warranty expires. And for those of you who are looking for a good electric car from an older vintage: Of course you should check the battery's health before signing a contract!
Let's go back to 2015
Then ordinary people could buy full-fledged electric cars - cars that could be used on longer journeys and that looked like real cars. The Nissan Leaf was already well established when it was joined by the Volkswagen e-Golf, BMW i3 and KIA Soul. Today, 8 years later, we can state that the cars have withstood the test of time well, both technically and visually. They are good options for first-time buyers and as the family's number 2 or 3 car.
KIA Soul EV
KIA SoulOn the road with the KIA Soul
Watch out for bullshit!
It was a breath of fresh air on the electric car market with its tough, youthful design and – for its time – "large" battery pack with more capacity than the competition. Net 27 kwh and 30,5 kwh gross. From 2018, the net capacity increased to 30 kwh. KIA gave a 7-year guarantee of at least 70% battery capacity. Several owners have reported large capacity losses, so if you own a KIA Soul, you should check the batteries before the warranty expires. The remaining capacity can be read via the car's OBD2 connector, or have it checked at any workshop.
Prices
The 2015 KIA Soul is offered today for between NOK 80-120. Stated range is 000 km (NEDC).
Find battery health
The remaining battery capacity can be easily read via the OBD2 connector which you will find under the cover on the lower left of the dashboard. An OBD2 dongle costs only a few hundred Swedish kroner and can be purchased online. Make sure it supports the CAN protocol and fits your phone (Android or Iphone). With the dongle in the socket, you can connect via Bluetooth with apps such as "SoulSpy" or "Torque". Go to "Vehicle" data. The field is called SOH (State of Health) and shows the remaining battery capacity in percentage.
If the seller is a car dealer with a workshop, ask them to check the SOH, regardless of whether the seller tries to convince you that it is not right or necessary. It only takes 5 minutes. If you are going to buy from a private person, it is not as easy to fumble with an OBD2 dongle and app, if you cannot do it together with the seller. If you cannot read the status, you must try to calculate the range based on remaining km and remaining charge. It is the only basis for documenting that the batteries are relatively intact. You have to trust the numbers - not what the salesperson tells you.
Sales picture. 49km over 13/18 dashes reveals either an uneconomical driving style or a bad battery. As a buyer, you must assume that it is the latter.
Nissan Leaf
Battery capacity and condition (dotted line at outer edge)2015 Nissan Leaf
Ordinary people's turn!
In contrast to today's government, Nissan understood early on what this term meant, when they were the first car manufacturer to make full-fledged electric cars for most people. The Nissan Leaf has proven to last for many years and is a very safe used car purchase. On cars between 2013 and 2015, the battery pack is 22 kwh net - 24 kwh gross. with a stated range of 199 km (NEDC). From 2016, the Leaf could be delivered with batteries of 28 kwh net - 30 kwh gross. Nissan only gave a 5 year/100 km warranty on the first battery packs. Extended warranty of 000 years 8% was introduced for battery packs from 70 kwh and above.
Prices
The 2014 Nissan Leaf is offered for between NOK 70-90 (source: Finn.no), and 000 models for between NOK 2015-60. I would strongly recommend ditching these early models and going for a 120 or 000 model year with 2016 kwh batteries. There are cars at the same price as the ones mentioned above (from NOK 2017-30) - perhaps with higher mileage and not as pretty - but still a better buy due to better range and battery warranty.
Find battery health
Nissan has an exemplary system for showing the remaining battery capacity on the instruments. On the scale above the charge, the remaining battery capacity is shown in the outermost arc. 12 lines mean that the battery's capacity is between 100% and 85%. At 9 bars, the battery is below 70%. Nissan's warranty is triggered if the number of dashes falls below 10 during the warranty period.
BMW i3
The BNW i3 is also usable with a short range
The design and choice of materials place the BMW i3 in a class above the KIA Soul and Nissan Leaf. In terms of size, it is smaller than the other two with 4 seats and 3 side doors. Original battery capacity was 18,8 kwh net - 21,6 kwh gross. From model year 2017, the BMW i3 had its battery capacity increased to 27,2 kwh net - 33,0 kwh gross. BMW's battery warranty is 8 years for at least 70% remaining capacity.
Prices
BMW is also in a different class in terms of price. Both model year 2014 and 2015 are in a price range just below NOK 100 to 000 (source: Finn.no). Be aware that the BMWs are also more expensive to maintain. According to the manufacturer, the batteries in the i140 should not be damaged by being constantly fully charged with the charger connected. The remaining battery capacity can be checked from the dashboard.
Find battery health
There is a service function via the dashboard where you can read the remaining battery capacity. The video clip below shows this in an excellent way. The trick is that you must first retrieve the car's ID number, add up the last 5 digits and use this sum as an access code to unlock the service function. Information about the remaining battery capacity in kWh can be found under "Tank/Battery". It must be net capacity that is displayed.
If you are in a position to buy, it might be nice to have done the test on another i3 before you approach the seller. Is the seller private, maybe you can do it together? If you buy from a brand dealer, they will know the function - and maybe talk you out of checking. Anyway, since the function exists and can be performed without doing any physical intervention, you should verify the number.
Markus Klemm – How to Find Your BMW i3 Battery Capacity
Volkswagen e Up!
Volkswagen e-Up! is a nice car for daily errands (brochure image).Sales picture showing good range in summer conditions.
The little brother of e-Golf
10 years ago, several car manufacturers planned to offer electric cars as variants of regular production models. The Volkswagen e-Golf and e-Up were electric variants of fossil car models. The E-Golf appears to be a class above the Nissan Leaf and KIA Soul. The net battery capacity was 20,5 kwh - 24.2 kwh gross - until 2017 when the e-Golf had its battery capacity increased to 32,0 kwh net - 35,8 kwh gross. Instead of the very earliest year models of the e-Golf, I recommend the Volkswagen e-Up, which is a 4-seater with roughly the same size and range as the BMW i3. The cars are produced in Bratislava and maintain good quality. Early editions of the e-Up had a battery capacity of 16,8 kwh net (18,7 kwh gross). Being a smaller and simpler car, it could be cheaper to maintain than the e-Golf and in a format better suited to short ranges. Volkswagen's battery warranty is 8 years for at least 70% capacity. Normal range is just over 100 km in winter and 130-140 km in summer.
For model year 2015, prices are NOK 60-90.
Find battery health
The Volkswagen e-Up has an OBD2 connector, but I don't know what measurements and calculations need to be done to arrive at the remaining battery capacity - if it is even possible? The Austrian company Aviloo offers a solution where you plug a device into the OBD2 connector, charge to 100%, drive down to 10%, charge fully again and return the box for analysis. This is not something that can be done in one fell swoop.
If you are in a buying position, you are dependent on trusting what the instruments tell you about the remaining charge and km estimated on the basis of previous driving. E-up does well 100 km on winter roads. Many sellers fail to show this in the pictures or can show an acceptable range when viewing. If the instruments show a poor range, it may be due to uneconomical driving or a bad battery. As a buyer, you must assume the latter.
Bad battery gives "Cat-in-the-bag"
When buying, you can never trust the seller's information about real range. These figures depend on so many different conditions that they cannot be verified. Before you buy an older electric car with a – by today's standard – small battery pack, you should make sure that it can supply usable electricity for a few more years. To put it a little more bluntly, so can you risk ending up with a car with a real range of 50 km without the possibility of canceling the purchase - without a safety net. The car works - the batteries have died - that's normal. Did the seller promise you something else? Enjoy leather seats and a premium music system!
"The last idiot has not yet been born"
If the seller cannot provide figures showing remaining battery capacity, he or she must at least be able to show a decent estimated range based on previous driving. Unfortunately, many retailers seem to hold their cards close to their chests. Of course, they know the condition of the battery, but try to focus on other, superficial subtleties. I have browsed hundreds of ads, and am amazed to see dealer ads that neither tell about the real range nor the condition of the batteries.
A sales image that makes it possible to calculate the real range when the temperature is 2,5 degrees. 80km at 80% gives approx. 100 km range.
Battery capacity based on charge
One test you can do yourself to test the battery's capacity is to compare what the charging station have supplied electricity against what knowing says it has received. For example, if you charge from 10% to 60% on a battery of 30 kwh net, the charging station should have given you 15 kwh plus what is lost in charge loss. If you charge from a wall box with a T2 cable, as much as 5-10% can be lost on the road in the form of heat. Since we do not know the exact loss of charge, this method can never be very accurate, but carried out over a longer period of time - on the same car and wall charger - it can reveal a pattern.
Battery health – the most important characteristic of used electric cars
Battery health is undoubtedly a 2015 model year's most important characteristic, both because of the cars' market value and the fact that lost range can make the car almost useless. Car buyers without technical insight into electric cars can easily end up with the "cat in the bag" without the opportunity to advertise. It is a fact that all batteries deteriorate over time, but not everyone realizes how much. Based on a search among 7 and 8 year old Nissan Leafs, I find that normal annual battery loss is between 1,7 - 2,5%. When I look at cars that are 9-10 years old, the variations are greater. One in three cars has had a greater average loss than 3% per year. Do batteries lose more weight as they age? Was the quality of 2012-2013 model year cars worse than 2014-2015?
Factors affecting battery health
High number of charges due to high mileage.
The batteries have been fully charged for a long time.
Extensive use of fast charging.
The batteries have been exposed to heat, for example during highway driving and fast charging in hot weather. The cars in the review have primitive systems for regulating the temperature of the batteries.
The car has been parked outdoors in cold areas.
The batteries have run out of power.
Manufacturing defects or damage to battery cells.
Shouldn't battery health be as mandatory as mileage when selling used electric cars?
See
KIA SoulNissan Leaf as a used carBMW i3Buying a used car without technical knowledgeDo electric cars lose more in value?
- Every time I see a Tesla on the road, I point at it and say "there's a man driving there who has spent NOK 600.000 on a car that won't be worth NOK 30.000 even in 5 years" (ElBilTøys).
Do electric cars fall more in price than other cars?
I have looked at 2015 models and compared the loss in value of electric cars against similarly equipped petrol and diesel cars. I can reveal that our reader was wrong. Five-year-old Teslas actually hold up very well in price. Even smaller electric cars hold their value well. Astonishing - almost bordering on incomprehensible - considering that some of them belong to the "stone age of electric cars". Electric cars with a short range - without fast charging - would be unsellable as new cars today.
2015 Tesla Model S
I the calendar year In 2015, Tesla sold 4039 cars – of which 3712 were equipped with four-wheel drive. I have selected the Model S 85D with two engines and four-wheel drive (though not Performance and not 7-seater). Range and performance are still top class. Continuous upgrades of software and technology ensure that the cars on sale today have kept pace with developments. The only thing that reveals the car's age is the front, which carries the contours of the grill the model had before the facelift the following year.
In retrospect, you can probably say that it was one of the smartest car purchases. But before we draw any conclusions, we need to have something to compare it with - something that runs on petrol or diesel and costs about the same. As you know, Tesla has never made gasoline-powered cars.
What would Tesla customers have bought if they couldn't buy an electric car?
Probably something far cheaper. Omission of one-off tax and VAT meant that the beautiful Teslas cost about half of similarly equipped petrol and diesel cars. It made many people stretch their budgets. I choose to point out the Lexus 300 NX Luxury (non-chargeable hybrid) and the BMW 520d xDrive Touring (diesel) as alternative cars. Both are typical family cars with four-wheel drive, and which cost the same as the Tesla Model S in 2015.
Model
Km
Sale price new
Sale price now
Loss of value - per year
- % per year
Number of cars
Tesla S 85D 4WD
0-49 ′ 50′-99 ′ 0-99 ′
670 000 670 000 670 000
490 000 439 000 447 000
40 000 51 300 49 600
6,0 % 7,7 % 7,4 %
4 25 29
Lexus 300 NX Luxury
0-49 ′ 50′-99 ′ 0-99 ′
679 000 679 000 679 000
436 000 375 000 412 000
54 000 67 500 59 300>
8,0 % 10,0 % 8,7 %
3 2 5
Lexus 300 NX Business
0-49 ′ 50′-99 ′ 0-99 ′
560 000 560 000 560 000
355 000 316 000 334 000
45 500 54 200 50 200
8,1 % 9,7 % 9,0 %
2 2 5
BMW 520 xDrive 190HK Touring
50′-99 ′
596 000
363 000
51 700
8,7 %
9
The loss in value on the Tesla is less than for the models we use as a reference. But remember that even if the percentage loss in value is low, it is about a respectable NOK 50 per year - or perhaps NOK 000 per month.
2015 Volkswagen e-Golf
2015 Volkswagen Polo
In 2015, it was the first version of the e-Golf that applied. It has a battery pack of 21,5 KWH and a practical range of 10-12 miles. If you drive economically under favorable conditions, the range can be increased to a maximum of 16 miles. Compared to today's electric cars, the e-Golf number 1 is best suited as car number 2. With quick charging (CCS) it is a no-brainer to charge during a long drive.
No price drop yet – but it's coming.
Volkswagen is currently selling off its remaining stock of e-Golf. The 2019 models received a sharp price reduction overnight. Prices on the second-hand market have not yet adjusted to the new price level. Today, used e-Golfs are for sale in car dealerships at prices far above what new, well-equipped cars cost. Several will probably have to be sold at a loss. Of all Golf's 2015 models, the e-Golf appears to be the most favorable choice in terms of depreciation – closely followed by the plug-in hybrid Golf GTE.
Model
Km
Sale price new
Sale price now
Loss of value - per year
- % per year
Number of cars
Volkswagen e-Golf
0-49 ′ 50′-99 ′ 0-99 ′
254 000 254 000 254 000
154 000 149 000 150 000
22 200 23 300 22 900
8,7 % 9,2 % 9,0 %
17 45 62
Volkswagen Golf GTE
0-49 ′ 50′-99 ′ 0-99 ′
332 000 332 000 332 000
193 000 176 000 181 000
28 600 32 600 31 300
8,6 % 9,8 % 9,4 %
11 22 33
Volkswagen Golf 1,2 TSI 85HK Trend
50′-99 ′
250 000
131 000
26 400
10,6 %
3
Volkswagen Golf 1,2 TSI 110HP Highline
0-49 ′ 50′-99 ′ 0-99 ′
290 000 290 000 290 000
165 000 148 000 154 000
27 700 31 500 30 200
9,5 % 10,9 % 10,4 %
3 6 9
Volkswagen Golf 1,6 TDI 110HK Highline
0-49 ′ 50′-99 ′ 0-99 ′
300 000 300 000 300 000
154 000 152 000 153 000
32 400 32 900 32 700
10,8 % 11,0 % 10,9 %
3 2 5
So you have to put NOK 150 on the table for a 000 model with yesterday's range. If you add another 2015, you can get it upgraded The e-Golf with a longer range. Remember, the time has come to haggle.
2015 KIA Soul Electric
The KIA Soul costs the same as the e-Golf. The KIA's advantage is that it has a longer range than the e-Golf. For the 2015 models, the difference is approximately 4-5 mil. This means a lot in daily use, especially if you depend on external charging. The KIA can also be fast-charged (CHAdeMO).
It is difficult to find any KIA Soul that runs on petrol or diesel. I only found one petrol car and one diesel car for sale with the same level of equipment. It seems that the sellers of the mentioned cars have chosen the same prices as the Soul Electric. Thus, we cannot draw any conclusion. But the KIA Soul Electric undoubtedly has a very low loss in value regardless of which brand we compare it to.
Model
Km
Sale price new
Sale price now
Loss of value - per year
- % per year
Number of cars
Kia Soul EV Exclusive
50′-99 ′
236 000
145 000
20 200
8,6 %
20
Kia Soul 1,6 GDI Comfort
50′-99 ′
300 000
158 000
23 700
8,9 %
1
Kia Soul 1,6 CRDI Comfort
50′-99 ′
300 000
158 000
23 700
8,9 %
1
2015 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric
The battery-powered B-Class model was supplied with a 28 KWH battery pack as standard, but could also be supplied with the Range Plus – an extended 32 KWH battery pack. The latter increased the range by approximately 3 miles. In the price comparison, 15 out of 24 cars were equipped with the extended battery pack, without this having any noticeable effect on used car prices. I have therefore assessed both battery packs together. The standard range is like the KIA Soul, - i.e. 4-5 miles more than the e-Golf. The biggest objection to Mercedes-Benz's electric car is that it cannot be fast-charged.
Model
Km
Sale price new
Sale price now
Loss of value - per year
- % per year
Number of cars
Mercedes-Benz B Electric
0-49 ′ 50′-99 ′ 0-99 ′
300 000 300 000 300 000
168 000 149 000 159 000
29 300 33 500 31 300
9,4 % 11,2 % 10,4 %
12 12 24
Mercedes Benz B180
0-49 ′ 50′-99 ′ 0-99 ′
323 000 323 000 323 000
227 000 186 000 202 000
21 300 30 400 26 900
6,6 % 9,4 % 8,3 %
2 3 5
Mercedes-Benz B180 CDI
50′-99 ′
321 000
239 000
20 800
6,5 %
2
The B-class Electric is the only example in our comparison where the electric cars fall more than petrol and diesel-powered cars. That the percentage loss in value is greater than other electric cars may be due to the fact that the price of the B-class Electric fell from 323 to 000 the following year.
Mercedes-Benz's electric car accounted for 4 percent of electric car sales in 2015. The model offers good performance and range for its time, - and more interior space and luggage compartment than its competitors e-Golf, KIA Soul and Nissan Leaf. Nevertheless, the 2015 model does not appear to be as successful as the aforementioned competitors. One of the reasons is that Daimler AG chose to drop fast charging. Another reason could be that many owners had operational problems with their cars. A third reason could also be that importers/dealers were poorly prepared for the technology.
2015 Ford Focus Electric
I am not sure if a sample of only two electric cars can be called representative. In that case, the loss in value on the Focus Electric is surprisingly low. The American-built electric car was not a great success and appears to be the most outdated of all the models in this overview. Real range is a thought lower than the first generation of e-Golf. Worse, fast charging is not possible. Short range without fast charging is an unfortunate combination. But the Focus's with the new grill actually look far more modern than the other Focus models of the time.
Model
Km
Sale price new
Sale price now
Loss of value - per year
- % per year
Number of cars
Ford Focus Electric
0-49 ′
199 000
120 000
17 600
8,8 %
2
Ford Focus 1,0 Ecoboost 125HK
0-49 ′
269 000
173 000
21 300
7,9 %
11
Ford Focus 1,6/1,5 TDCi
0-49 ′
284 000
160 000
27 500
9,7 %
6
My favorite 2015 Ford Focus is the 1,5 TDCi 120 HP which replaced the 1,6 TDCi 115 HP towards the end of the model year.
2015 Volkswagen e-Up!
Finally, a model that is smaller than the other models, but has the highest percentage loss in value. The loss in value in kroner is almost the same as electric cars in the Golf class. But the loss in value for e-Up! is still lower than corresponding petrol cars.
Model
Km
Sale price new
Sale price now
Loss of value - per year
- % per year
Number of cars
Volkswagen e Up!
0-49 ′ 50′-99 ′ 0-99 ′
191 000 191 000 191 000
108 000 94 000 101 000
18 400 21 600 20 000
9,6 % 11,3 % 10,5%>
4 4 8
Volkswagen Up! 1,0 60HP High
0-99 ′
159 000
90 000
20 000
12,6 %
8
Conclusion
If your trade-in car is a 2015 model electric car, you do not need to worry about the trade-in price. Electric cars do not lose more in value than equivalent petrol and diesel cars. Teslas from 2015 have range and performance fully on par with the best you can get today. What surprises me a little is that cars with outdated technology can also holds value well. If you are looking for an aging e-Golf or KIA Soul, I recommend installing a wall charger at home, taking out insurance that covers damage to the battery pack and enrolling in Electric car association. Then you can drive problem-free for another five years.
Predictions that electric cars will plummet in value have so far not come true.
About the test
The stated sales prices are on-route prices in advertisements on Finn.no minus 5% for haggling. Trade-in price at a dealer can be significantly lower. New car prices are calculated as of November 2015, i.e. after the model year has ended. Source: skatteetaten.no
The loss in value is based on the car's chosen level of equipment - not additional equipment beyond this. Cars with a lot of extra equipment will therefore experience a greater loss in value than the figures here show. My purpose in calculating loss of value is to document how the loss of value on electric car models occurs in relation to other models - not to arrive at the real loss of value for specific cars.
See
Who decides the lifespan of the car?A rechargeable future?Can the electric car benefits finance the electric car?
It's the Kia Picanto I'm talking about. When I got behind the wheel for the first time, I had a headache not the feeling of sitting in one of the smallest cars on the market. I am 1,88. I like to sit low, but not with straight arms. The seat provides OK support for the body. I have a good overview and good space around me.
Outside the car, however, - after parking next to a Golf - I got a completely different impression. When I saw the Picanto next to the Golf, I thought: "Oh, how small it is!". When I was driving around in a Fiat 500 earlier this year, I never thought about this. The Fiat 500 looks like a minicar both when standing alone and together with other cars. The Kia Picanto, on the other hand, gives the impression of being a grown-up car when it stands alone. It has a more bulging look than the Fiat 500. More square, sort of. It is only when I compare with other cars that I see the real size ratio.
Kia has managed to get a lot of space out of a three and a half meter car, but it can never be more than it is on paper. This means, for example, that two long-legged people cannot sit behind each other without having to give up legroom. It also means that you have to fold down one of the back seats when you have to carry luggage. It had to jeg when I had bought mineral water and beer for the Christmas weekend.
200 liter luggage compartment in the 2016 model.
40 large Coke bottles in the luggage
When I had bought beer and mineral water for Christmas, I had space for 10 4-packs of 1,5-litre Pepsi Max. To make room for all the other bottles of Farris, Fanta, Coca-Cola and beer of various kinds, I had to fold down one of the back seats. As in other small cars, you have to lower the headrest or push the passenger seat forward for the seatback to drop completely down. I didn't get a completely flat floor, but still room for large things, such as a suitcase.
Behind the wheel, I noticed how easy the steering was when I maneuvered at parking speed. The steering servo is obviously speed-sensitive. It suited me well on a shopping trip. The brakes came with a light press on the pedal. The Picanto is easy to drive, and it took me efficiently through the hectic pre-Christmas traffic. The sound image is like that of the competitors. When you accelerate slightly from a standstill, you hear the harsh uncultivated engine sound that is so typical of 3-cylinder engines. At speed, the soundscape is mostly characterized by road hiss.
The Kia Picanto has recently come in a new edition. The most important upgrades are a completely new dashboard with a better infotainment department, a larger luggage compartment as well as exterior changes in line with Kia's new design line. However, it has the same powertrain and the same external dimensions as "my" Picanto, the outgoing model with the internal designation SR7. In 2015, it received a facelift. Only small changes in the lower part of the front part and the back part, and a couple of small things on the dashboard.
The instrument panel.
Safety
Both Kia Picanto and VW Up! was tested by NCAP in 2011. Both got roughly equally good results. In the report Kia gets credit for the fact that the rear side door on the crash test opened in the lightest of the side crash tests, but remained closed in the other tests. It also appears that rear seat passengers have only marginal protection against whiplash damage, especially in the back seat.
The weakest point in this car class.
The rear seat backs in the Picanto are low, but the headrests can be adjusted to the correct height. Safety in the back seat is a general weak point for this class of car. There is a limit to how much security you can build within the framework you have at your disposal.
Safety in minicars is also about showing extra care behind the wheel and allowing for greater margins. Small cars, for example, can easily hide in the blind spot of modern SUVs and crossovers. The rule is that the smaller the vehicle you have, the greater the risk of being hit by other road users.
Conclusion
Mini cars of around three and a half meters are an exciting car class. New or almost new Kia Picanto is a sensible choice, especially in terms of economy. This is a car that will undoubtedly take you from A to B for many years. It is both light and quite fun to drive. The only objection I have is that the car can look bigger than it really is er. If you are considering buying a Picanto, take it out for a test drive and park it next to a car you already know well, such as a Volkswagen Golf. Next, take a walk around both cars and study the size ratio.
It is not as big as you think...
May appear larger than it is.
Facts about the Kia Picanto
The KIA PICANTO SR7 was produced from the facelift in 2015 and replaced by a new model for the 2018 model year. The model shares a platform and technology with the Hyundai i10.
Outer dimensions
Length: 3,595 m
Width: 1,595 m
Height: 1,490 m
Wheelbase: 2,385 m
Luggage compartment with seats folded up: 200 litres.
Engine 1,0 liter produces 68 HP and has a torque of 95 Nm at 3500 revolutions.
Everything was "on time and arranged" for the Sunday trip with an electric car. But then I drove away...
My plan was to pick up the KIA in Drammen and drive the old Sørlandske down to the Horten and Omegn Veteranvogn Klubb's car exhibition in Borre. I had calculated a mileage that should be higher than what the first generation e-Golf and Nissan Leaf 24 kwh could manage. That's how we with range anxiety do it when we have to drive an unfamiliar car to an unknown place. We plan down to the last detail. The infotainment system on board shows range check on the map, as well as an overview of available charging stations - but I prefer to check myself. Just in case. Half an hour on the ChaDeMo fast charger gives 0-80% capacity.
But on the way out of Drammen I managed to take the wrong road. I read Kristiansand, but in a thoughtless moment I instead made my way to Kongsberg. If you end up inside the tunnel to Kongsberg, you have to drive 12,5 km all the way to Mjøndalen before you can turn around and drive back – the same way you came. I watched my reach account crumble.
The KIA Soul has a theoretical range of 212 km. I think it said about 200 km when I started. After the involuntary detour, - well into the old Sørland south of Kobbervikdalen, - the dashboard showed a range of just 151 km. That didn't bode well for my range tally. In the irritation of having driven wrong, I had been anything but light on the accelerator.
Modern instruments. Unobtrusive and clear display of consumption and range.
Gamle Sørlandske Hovedvei, - formerly E18, - has retained the speed regulation from when it was the main thoroughfare. That means 70 km/h almost all the way. Ideal for electric cars. I turned off the air conditioning, put the gear lever in "B" for braking energy regeneration and set myself up for economical driving. Keep your attention far ahead on the road, and avoid rapid braking and acceleration. The reward came quite quickly in the form of the range meter dropping less than the actual kilometers covered.
It was Ascension Day and the long weekend. Many had followed the calls on the radio to take the old way. There was still good flow on the road all the way to Holmestrand. There it stopped, just as it did in the old days when "the whole of Norway" passed the small town under the mountain. Without aircon, I didn't lose any electricity. I enjoyed the air of summer and sea through an open window.
Completely intuitive PRND gear lever with separate "B" gear for artificial engine braking.
The Kia Soul also has an artificial engine brake that converts braking energy into electricity. It is not possible to adjust the braking force, but it is not necessary either. It suits my taste perfectly. I ease off the gas a little when the traffic pattern allows. Not so much that the brake lights come on, but enough that I can see that the batteries are being charged. Once you get used to this feature, you can noticeably increase your mileage.
You cruise just fine at 100-110 km/h on the motorway. The KIA Soul is not a sports car. It rolls quite a lot. I like that tall cars are not too stiff. You sit comfortably high, like in a Volkswagen Touran. Sound comfort is good. There is some rumbling from the tyres, a little more than in the Audi A3 e-tron I drove earlier in the day, but not annoying. No high-frequency road noises, only soft rubber against the asphalt. The tires are 205/60R16. The electric motor sound is absent. It makes so little noise that the engineers have added artificial noise when reversing and driving at walking speed. Smart.
Gamle Sørlandske is an alright alternative to the motorway down in Vestfold, especially if you are on a trip. Before Nykirke you have to pay attention, because almost all the signs try to trick you onto the motorway. I continued instead on Hellandveien and later Nykirkeveien. These are very idyllic country roads where you drive well at 60-70 km/h.
Well designed interior for a car like this.
The first impression of the interior is like Leaf and Auris. But KIA has lifted it by giving it youthful design. "My" car has a leather interior. I found a perfectly good sitting position. However, the levers for the seat adjustment are soft and tingly. I tried to lower the seat with a lever I thought was made for that, but didn't dare use it for fear it would break. It's a shame that plastic gadgets for a couple of tens spoil the overall impression.
Speaking of the car's negative aspects, I would also like to point out that the daytime running lights do not turn on the rear lights. I realized it when the car behind flashed as we entered the tunnel on the E134. I also include frustration that the navigation system does not include small streets in Drammen.
Borre Familiecamping is located with the Oslofjord as its nearest neighbour.
The first destination on the trip was Borre, which lies just south of Horten and is known for its burial mounds. I turned off at the church and followed the small road down to Borre Familiecamping and the boat harbour. It's almost how you imagined the Viking ships on the beach. Instead, I glimpsed ships in formation south towards Slagen. Beautiful that too.
Horten & Omegn Veteranvogn Klubb had collected many beautiful cars around Gamle Borre Station.
As usual, the car exhibition was held at Gamle Borre Station, which today is only an old building without a railway. A perfect backdrop for old cars of all ages. There was a good atmosphere and many visitors. Not just old men like myself, but families with children. In a time with a lot of negative talk about cars, I think it's important to show cars from a different angle - as something beautiful and a bit nostalgic.
I think the Kia Soul is one of the toughest electric cars today. That is perhaps because it is based on a normal cool everyday car, - not a specially designed car for low air resistance and fancy electric car effects. I like the functional, square look. Even if you sit high, and the compartment seems airy, there are no major space advantages in the car. Rear seat passengers have good legroom and are suitable for children due to good visibility. The trunk is 281 liters - like the VW Polo. It is completely flat, and a compartment underneath hides the charging cables.
According to the local newspaper NCAP safety in the KIA Soul is not among the best European competitors. Total score does not reach the Nissan Leaf. Among other things, the report points to an increased risk of damage to the upper torso in the event of a side impact against a post.
Feelgood along nice Vestfold roads.
"My" car has the highest level of equipment at NOK 259, which includes ventilated leather seats, heated rear seats and front and rear parking sensors. Prices for the KIA Soul start at 900. Even the cheapest model has LED lights, navigation, keyless access, heated steering wheel etc. The list of extras is not very long. There is not much you need to spend on winter wheels and paint additives. The nice combination of black/red costs NOK 224.
Considering the entry-level model, you get a lot of car for the money. I like the design of the car, both inside and out. It is not a distinctly "keen driver's car", nor premium class, - but still provides a high feel-good factor in daily use, as well as pleasure trips. You sit comfortably high. In terms of space, it belongs to the B class, which corresponds to the Volkswagen Polo. It is very easy to drive and requires no getting used to. The steering wheel, gears and switches are where you'd expect them to be.
And the range?
The practical range is completely on par with the new Nissan Leaf 30 kwh. Unfortunately, the first miles disappeared all too quickly. But after I joined old Sørlandske it went much better. I didn't charge on the way, and still had a few miles left when I got home. With mostly calm driving, half without air conditioning, I got 185 km mileage in 17-18 degree summer temperatures and a slight headwind on the way home.
281 liters under the hat shelf. Vertical rear door provides extra space. Charging cables etc. can be placed in a separate room under the floor.Good legroom in the back seat. Here the driver's seat is adjusted according to the previous driver (not me).Feelgood along the fine country roads in Vestfold.The design on the door side enhances the impression.Easy to spot a car with a red roof in the parking lot.
See
e-Golf.Nissan Leaf.Hyundai Ioniq EVLooks small, but you sit high and airy in it.
Maserati Levante during its introduction at Aker Brygge in Oslo.
"Car on the pier"
Several of the autumn's novelties were to be seen at Aker Brygge at the weekend. At such an exhibition you get to see the cars in real life, open the doors, sit for a test drive, order a test drive, kick the tires and take photographs - as I did. I have concentrated on new models. Some I got to see for the very first time. These were:
Maserati Levante
Alfa Romeo Giulia
DS Divine
Fiat 500 (facelift)
Ford Kuga (facelift)
Hyundai Ioniq
Kia Niro
Peugeot 2008 (facelift)
Tesla Model X
Maserati Levante
I don't think the rear part harmonizes with the Levante's aggressive front.
The Maserati Levante is a car you don't see every day. I found it at the end of the display row - a Levante S. The price tag was 1,7 million, or thereabouts. You get a great drive unit 3 liter petrol biturbo that produces 430 HP, 8-speed automatic, air suspension, adaptive chassis, to name a few. In terms of price, we are in Porsche Cayenne country, and there is no doubt that it is the Cayenne that is the main competitor. I think the Cayenne wears its age shamelessly well after the changes made for the 2015 model year. I'm a bit ambivalent about the appearance of the Levant. I think the rear part seems a bit shapeless. Maserati could have made a diffuser that highlighted the 4 exhausts better and made the car look as aggressive from the rear as it is from the front.
There is class over the side profile with the elevation above the rear wheels.
Alfa Romeo Giulia
2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia in Rossa Monza metallic.
I don't know how many new Giulias FCA Norway has been able to procure for the country. Maybe it's just this one. Anyway, I thought it was an odd introductory color. Rosso Monza can be said to be a kind of racing red. It's hardly a color I would choose myself, but when I study the pictures, I think that the color might not be so stupid. It just takes a little getting used to.
Prices start at NOK 388 for the standard version with a 800 liter 2,2 HP diesel. With equipment level Super and 150 liter diesel with 2,2 HP, you have to put NOK 180 on the table, but you should also consider adding a couple of equipment packages. The car on display, a Guilia Super with 418 HP, fully equipped, cost NOK 800. From what I could pick up from the conversations around the car, it should be fantastic to drive and give a very direct response.
When I sat down, I noticed that the interior was stylish and free of 'glam'. I found a great driving position - and I have no doubt that this is a fun car to drive. If only I could drive en only one of the cars at this exhibition, I think I would choose the Alfa.
The car at Aker Brygge was a 2,2 JTD diesel. Why diesel? What about Alfa's great petrol V6? I'm afraid we won't be seeing - and hearing - that many of them. A drive unit like that sends the price well over a million, unfortunately.
Giulia (pronounced "djolia").Stylish interior. I found a nice driving position behind the wheel.
DS Divine
DS Divine is an attempt to create a different design.
Citroën exhibited the concept car DS Divine, which will show what we can expect from DS in the future. My perception of DS is that they make beautifully designed cars based on proven technology from the PSA group. I like the front of the Divine, but am not particularly excited about the unfinished interior with square steering wheel and new seats. Nor the mosaic feature that covers the rear window and roof, and which is supposed to open at speed. My advice to French DS is to take it easy on the bends. The world isn't ready for a square steering wheel...not yet.
Fiat 500 for sale
Fortunately, Fiat hasn't made too many changes to its great 500.
You'll have to look closely to spot the changes on the new Fiat 500. Fortunately, Fiat has chosen to keep the original concept and not succumb to the temptation to upscale, as MINI has done. After seeing the great attention the Fiat 500 received at Aker Brygge, I am sure that the little 500 will continue to be on the road for many years to come.
Still unmistakably 500 with a bit of an upgrade in the infotainment sector.
Ford Kuga
The Ford Kuga has received a tougher front section and changes to the tailgate.
The new Kuga was perhaps not the biggest attraction at Aker Brygge this Saturday. The most noticeable change is that the Kuga now has the same front end as the larger Edge. I never liked the old front with a narrow grill at the top and a larger grill at the bottom. The new Kuga also has a new tailgate with slightly more profiles. Inside the car, it is difficult to see any changes for someone who does not drive a Kuga on a daily basis. There is a new steering wheel, and some control panels have been changed, as well as an upgrade of the infotainment system. Speaking of the steering wheel, I think the steering wheel in the new Kuga was strikingly similar to the steering wheel on the new Discovery. Maybe a collaboration between Ford and Land Rover still exists?
The facelifted interior has received a new steering wheel and an upgrade in the infotainment sector.
Hyundai Ioniq
The new Hyundai Ioniq makes me think of the Honda Insight.
The Ioniq can optionally be delivered with either pure electric operation, a regular hybrid or a rechargeable hybrid. As a rechargeable hybrid, it costs NOK 264, or just over NOK 950 with equipment package. The Ioniq is a car that will primarily compete against the Toyota Auris hybrid, - but also the Volkswagen Golf GTE and e-Golf. The electric car version of the Ioniq will cost NOK 300.
I like the looks of the Ioniq, but don't understand why it was necessary to develop an entirely new car model instead of using the existing i30 to host the new powertrains. I think the i30 hybrid and i30 electric car would have better opportunities on the market than the Ioniq. It reminds me of Honda Insight, which with its extremely aerodynamic shape was not the success everyone had thought. Now, Toyota has certainly had great success with the Prius, although I think the Prius will eventually lose market share to the Auris hybrid. In any case, I think the Ioniq looks better than both the Prius and the Insight, - but it wouldn't surprise me if an i30 hybrid appears in the near future.
Kia Niro
The Kia Niro is built on the same platform as the Hyundai Ioniq, but offers a crossover concept in the Golf class.
The KIA Niro is based on the same platform as the Hyundai Ioniq, but in a more attractive shape than the Ioniq - at least for families with small children. A crossover design with a higher seating position and extended trunk could prove to be an easier sell than Hyundai's Ioniq. The KIA Soul has done well as an electric car, and I predict the Niro will be popular, even if it lacks the Soul's youthful style.
Tall compact car with extended luggage compartment (427 litres).
Peugeot 2008
Facelifted Peugeot 2008.
The Peugeot 2008 has been a hit as a family car in its home country of France, and now it's here with a facelift. They call it an SUV, but it's just a tall 208 with off-road effects. 2008 is only delivered with front-wheel drive. I think the biggest advantage is the price. In the Active equipment level, it costs from NOK 217 with the smallest 000-cylinder PureTech engine of 3 HP, and NOK 82 with the 227 HP version of the same engine. Of course you have to add some equipment, but in any case this is a lot of car for the money.
Tesla Model X
Circus Tesla. This was the goal for many this Saturday morning.
I have no problem naming the Tesla Model X as the clear crowd favorite - the one that made "everyone" flock to Aker Brygge. As soon en family had gotten out of the car, threw one other family in. Big and small almost sat on each other's laps. It was clear that many had one goal in mind - namely to see and test drive the new, large Tesla. I can't say that I think the car was particularly elegant, where it stood with all the doors and hatches open. But it's just a matter of getting used to the big gull-wing doors, judging by the audience's interest.
The interior snapped in the one second it took for one family to be out and the next to rush in.A very simple front party, but far from anonymous. Everyone can tell it's a Tesla.Everyone wanted to test drive the Tesla Model X.
Do you remember Atos? The short, narrow, tall and quirky city car that trudges through all Asian cities between mopeds and bikes with the whole family on board?
Atos has got a well-dressed successor – called the i10. Both the i10 and the slightly larger i20 are produced at Hyundai's factory in Chenney, India. In 2010, the i10 received a facelift to highlight the new, modern, sharp design lines that characterize new Hyundais.
By building tall, Hyundai has managed to provide legroom for adults in the back seat as well as smart storage solutions. European car testers report a fun and easy-to-drive car with relatively soft suspension.
The car is delivered with two different engines, one of 1,1 liters and a stronger engine of 1,2 liters. The latter engine is also supplied to the i20. Both engines have an impressively low CO2 emission, which results in low one-off taxes. The smallest engine does not exactly give great performance on paper, but it delivers the power in a rev range that is adapted to Norwegian traffic.
For NOK 20, the largest engine can also be supplied with automatic transmission. The vast majority of the additional price is taxes to the state because the automatic transmission solution is of the traditional type (hydraulics with torque converter) which produces higher CO000 emissions.
More and more small cars are now being offered with new automatic transmission solutions that do not steal engine power and that do not incur any additional tax. If you want an automatic transmission on a small car, you should therefore choose such a solution.
KIA Picanto Exclusive
2013 Kia Picanto
Hyundai's biggest competitor is its own brother, the KIA Picanto. The KIA factory is part of the Hyundai Motor Company. Although the Picanto has its own, particularly successful design, many common components are used in these cars, especially in terms of technology and drivetrain. The measurements and performance are equally good, as you can see in the configuration window below the article.
My choice
Car prices in Norway are largely determined by the engine. The smallest engines make these cars very affordable. If you choose a larger engine, you can almost as easily choose a slightly larger model for almost the same price! My argument for buying one of these cars is price, and then I would choose the cheapest model which actually also has all the relevant safety equipment and air conditioning included.
The KIA Soul costs the same as the e-Golf. The KIA's advantage is that it has a longer range than the e-Golf. For the 2015 models, the difference is approximately 4-5 mil. This means a lot in daily use, especially if you depend on external charging. The KIA can also be fast-charged (CHAdeMO).
The battery-powered B-Class model was supplied with a 28 KWH battery pack as standard, but could also be supplied with the Range Plus – an extended 32 KWH battery pack. The latter increased the range by approximately 3 miles. In the price comparison, 15 out of 24 cars were equipped with the extended battery pack, without this having any noticeable effect on used car prices. I have therefore assessed both battery packs together. The standard range is like the KIA Soul, - i.e. 4-5 miles more than the e-Golf. The biggest objection to Mercedes-Benz's electric car is that it cannot be fast-charged.
I am not sure if a sample of only two electric cars can be called representative. In that case, the loss in value on the Focus Electric is surprisingly low. The American-built electric car was not a great success and appears to be the most outdated of all the models in this overview. Real range is a thought lower than the first generation of e-Golf. Worse, fast charging is not possible. Short range without fast charging is an unfortunate combination. But the Focus's with the new grill actually look far more modern than the other Focus models of the time.
