In Sudbury there is few vehicles that are EV in stock at dealerships here. In April I did test drive the Mustang Mach-E Premium larger battery model and it had good acceleration, good handling/steering feel for SUV type of vehicle. Because of base pricing being over $44999 Canadian, no EV rebates at all. For me $53000 + tax out of my budget unless have $10,000 deposit. On my day off work, drove the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime as it has 25 mile EV range. Steering was awful ( too much power assist ) even on highway. I used to firm feeling for steering wheel. Very smooth but acceleration felt like the older Saturn cars, Ford Escort etc. Has anyone driven the VW ID4 that also drive Mach-E and Prius Prime ? To give me idea how ID4 compares? Maybe BMW 330e would be good compromise as it has RWD, sports car type handling? With EV rebate it is $2000 over budget but larger deposit could make it possible. Can not think of other options, prefer cars over suv/cuv. Worst case scenario back to Mazda MX-5 Miata…. Dan Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs
I thought the ID.4 RWD stacked up well in driving feel with the Mustang Mach-E. Maybe not quite as much punch and the ride isn't as good, but the feel is maybe better and a better turning radius. If you prefer a car, I'd go with Tesla Model 3 Standard Plus.
I have a Toyota Prius and have test driven the VW ID.4 and Tesla Model 3 LR AWD (not the Ford Mach-e, yet). The electrics have more power than the Prius and a bit firmer touch on the wheel. The Tesla Model 3 has a much sportier feel than the ID.4 in every way, and more "oomph". The ID.4 seems to go out of it's way to drive like a regular VW (in the comfort mode). There are 3 performance modes modes (Eco, Comfort, and Sport) in the ID.4, and 2 drive modes (D and D2, the former drives like a non-EV, and the latter engages heavy regenerative breaking for 1-pedal style driving). The 1-pedal mode is not as aggressive as Tesla's. There's a notable difference between the performance modes. Eco is a little sluggish (better than the Prius), Comfort drives like a typical VW, and Sport is more torquey and responsive. I don't have a feel for the actually impact on the battery is. Canadian ID.4's come with a heat pump unit (as do current Model 3s), which should be much more efficient for heating. The Mach-e does not, so you'll use a lot more power to heat it.
Come to Huntsville AL and we’ll have some fun with my 2019 Std Rng Plus Model 3 … you will drive it. Bob Wilson
my instincts have me feeling the Tesla Model 3 would be the right car for me because it is RWD, good performance. But do not know what steering feel is like, need firm like it was in Mazda MX5. It is difficult step to order Model 3 without driving it, so many reports of poor build quality and paint. And general Tesla hate in forums here does not help... Dan
No wonder I found the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime was slow.... Alex on Autos states 0-60sec time in EV mode is 12.8 ((( Starting to miss driving after selling 2019 VW Jetta in April. No ID4 to order until this December but feeling since it is RWD and larger tires, I may like the handling. In my 2019 Jetta Execline it would remember my settings ( settings steering Sport, engine Sport, etc ) hopefully that is same in ID4? Dan
Well I just checked and it appears to be 1,092 miles, 16 hr 54 minutes, to drive one-way there. With charging and test stops, a little longer. But the border with Canada is closed until July 21. I could possibly be there Saturday, July 24, but I don't know if I can get a passport and visa by then. Still, I would like to see the Sudbury, moonscape destruction: After all, the Sunday Mail reported how nickel production for Prius batteries had turn Sudbury into a desolated, moon-scape. Sudbury was only usable only for training NASA astronauts who had gone to the moon years before. Bob Wilson
I test drove both the Mach E and ID.4. I found just the opposite from the two. The Mach E IMO was not nearly as comfortable a ride and didn’t take bumps nearly as well as the ID.4. Comfort was my number one objective when choosing between the two. Guess which one I decided on
Really surprised you being willing to drive to Sudbury. So far as I know borders between Canada and the USA still closed due to Covid. To give you more background, I am 60 so my driving experience has been 98% RWD and for me a car is not A to B transportation but fun to drove and go out for a drive if stressed. If I do order a Tesla Model 3 , will use your referral code. I read in Toyota section you did have a Toyota Prius Prime, what is your thoughts on this vehicle now we are in 2021? Dan
I just got back from cruising around town. Half moon and modest temperature, I supervised Autopilot doing the mundane work. No, I wasn't looking for street challengers. I bought my Prius Prime in 2017 about 1,000 miles away and drove it home. It had an early version of TSSP and I grew to hate it ... 'nanny-ware' It would warn but the steering correction left alone would soon go divergent out of the lane and headed for the ditch. It was an electronic version of a nagging, back-seat, driver. But I got $18,300 trade-in towards the Tesla Model 3 and never looked back. We have a 2014 BMW i3-REx with 72 mi EV range. The Prius Prime had a 25 mi EV range and below 55 F, it would trigger the ICE to run in a heartbeat. The Prime became driveway, sheet metal art. Although the Prime had better cross country efficiency, 56 MPG, than the BMW i3-REx, 39 MPG, cross country is closer to 15% of our miles versus urban driving. Bob Wilson
Decided that the Prius Prime is no longer an option, down to VW ID4, Tesla Model 3 and Mazda MX30. 2 of these not available until late fall at the earliest. Thanks for the advice Dan Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs
I loved my two test rides of the Model 3 and it was by far the most engaging car out of all the EV’s I tried. My test mule was an older RWD variant which I don’t believe is available on the LR model anymore. I did choose a Kona over the M3 only due to other more practical reasons for me but the M3 was way fore fun to drive. I do not hate Tesla at all but am very disappointed in a car manufacturer who likes to compare there vehicles with luxury brands can have such sloppy builds.
