With the end of the year approaching, it’s an opportunity for us to look in the rearview mirror and give you our favorites from the past year in terms of electric cars.
The tops
Favorites of the year, good surprises, promising discoveries or unexpected, here we take stock of the most positive things we have learned for this year 2023! Small point of detail: we only retain the new products actually presented and that we have been able to see or try, not just the concepts or announcements of future cars. For example, the Citroën ë-C3 could be included in the selection, unlike the R5 E-Tech which has not yet really been revealed.
Citroën ë-C3
Exactly, we’re starting with Citroën’s electric city car! Although it won’t hit the road until next year, we had the chance to approach it, get in it and get our first opinion. And it is positive because if the ë-C3 lowers its costs by adopting unflattering materials, the assemblies are rather correct and above all its powertrain is not at a discount.
Powered by a 113 hp engine which is powered by a 42 kWh LFP battery, it has a range of 320 km. So, of course it’s not much, but it still offers a certain versatility thanks to its direct current charging capacity of 100 kW. It is its price of €23,300 which makes it particularly attractive, especially since it will be able to benefit from the bonus in 2024. To not spoil anything, even the entry-level You version will benefit from Citroën Advanced Comfort suspensions and ‘a list of interesting equipment.
Chinese cars
Be careful! Europe may have launched an investigation into the aid that the Beijing government would have granted to its sector, and the French government may have revised the rules for awarding the ecological bonus to protect European manufacturers: nothing is happening. The Chinese car is here and it will be more and more so.
Is this a good or bad thing? It is up to the consumer to judge in reality and we think that it would be a good idea for the State or Europe to stop, by all means, directing our choices. What have European governments done to stop the invasion of Chinese technologies in smartphones, for example? Has Xiaomi killed this market? There has been some damage, that’s undeniable, but the market still exists, and there are still entry-level and high-end products, which the public continues to buy.
It will be the same for electric cars and Chinese manufacturers have understood that they are not going to be satisfied with low-cost production. Although imperfect, the MG4s, for example, are interesting to drive and the MG range as a whole has evolved and improved its performance to meet the demands of European drivers. BYD is going to establish itself in Hungary and is offering a particularly interesting Seal which will really tickle the unbeatable Tesla Model 3.
Ah! And as a reminder, BYD is the third largest battery supplier behind CATL and LG, as well as the second largest seller of electric cars in the world… It’s time for Europe to wake up.
FIAT 600e
Italian cousin of the Jeep Avenger but also of the Peugeot e-208 and Opel Corsa-e, the FIAT 600e has a face that makes you smile every morning. Surprisingly, this compact is coherent, its ground connections allow you to follow the route both in town at a leisurely pace and on small roads while raising your voice. We won’t talk about sport (we’ll get to that later), but the roll is controlled, and the car appears homogeneous and balanced.
The powertrain is equipped with the new traction chain from the Stellantis group which offers a 156 hp engine powered by a 51 kWh battery for a combined range of just over 400 km. Good surprise, without eco-driving consumption is around 16.5 kWh and its prices start at €35,900 excluding bonus to which it will be entitled with, again, a list of suitable equipment.
Abarth 500e
Admit that you weren’t expecting that one! And yet the new Abarth 500e will have been one of our favorites of this year 2023. Here again, its design will have made our hearts vibrate, but in reality it was behind the wheel that we had a smile. Forget the numbers. This Abarth only displays 155 hp for 235 Nm of torque, it’s not much, but it turns out to be one of the lightest electric vehicles on the market with its 1,335 kg. Better yet, the tuning of its suspensions and running gear gives this city smart a real agility that we thought was buried with the arrival of electric power.
And yet, on winding roads or in a peri-urban environment it proves enjoyable to drive. Its low center of gravity and the good consistency of its steering allow it to be placed on the line and it offers enough punch to have fun. Yes, have fun, because the automobile is not condemned to being nothing more than a silent machine without soul and without flavor. No offense to the ayatollahs in green shirts, the manufacturer even thought of adding a sound simulator reproducing the sound of the Record Monza exhaust.
We readily admit, in slow motion the illusion works but we will quickly forget this gadget. Indeed, during acceleration, even if the sound varies with speed, it remains too monotonous. And ultimately this Abarth doesn’t need that, because its driving pleasure is distilled behind the wheel and that’s the main thing.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
You were left wanting more with the Abarth 500e, no worries, here is a car, like it or not, which will be a future collector’s item: the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. This electric car stands out for its unique driving experience . It offers a power of 609 hp, which can reach 650 hp in boost mode, with an 84 kWh battery. Its character lies in its ability to simulate the sensations of a thermal car thanks to an adjustable artificial sound and an eight-speed virtual double-clutch transmission. It features sporty and engaging driving dynamics, with an optimized chassis and advanced technologies like enhanced regenerative braking.
Sold at 78,000 euros, it targets an exclusive market, but in reality, given the services offered, it is extremely well placed. However, we regret that its design is so imposing, but it offers ergonomics rich in controls, combining tactile and traditional elements. It is extremely well equipped and above all it is simply an excellent car. Truly.
Kia EV9
Flag bearer of the Korean group, the Kia EV9 is a 7-seater electric SUV which will have been a pleasant surprise of the year. If its imposing size (5.01 m long and 1.78 m high) is impressive, it is in reality particularly easy to handle. Supple, docile, almost agile, its 385 hp engine and 700 Nm of torque quickly make you forget its pachyderm weight. Not only does it offer a good WLTP range of 563 km, but above all the interior allows 5, 6 or 7 adults to feel comfortable. Indeed, the spacious interior of the Kia EV9 offers great modularity, with different seat configurations to meet comfort and space needs. Ideal for large families who want to travel electric. Even on the seats of row 3 an adult of 1.80 meters can find comfort there and this fact is rare enough to be underlined.
For the rest, nothing to say about the equipment. The Kia EV9 is very well equipped and even includes, miraculously, a route planner which unfortunately did not convince us and still needs to be refined. But it’s just a matter of updating. Priced at 73,000 euros (yes electric is still really too expensive) it has almost no competition.
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