At Fleet EV News, we live and breathe electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles – which is why we review any and every new model we can get our hands on! It’s been a big year for test drives, from the pre-production GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV to a right-hand drive Ford F-150 lightning.
Here are the most-read EV reviews of 2024, in no particular order!
ON THE ROAD: We drove the Ford F-150 Lightning
The Ford F-150 Lightning is out and about on Australian roads, courtesy of distributor AUSEV, and we were recently given the keys to one to see if the hype is real…
Of course, Ford doesn’t produce a right-hand drive version of the F-150 Lightning but that hasn’t stopped AUSEV from bringing them into Australia for fleet customers that require a fully-electric 4×4 ute.
The Lightning vehicles are imported, converted to right-hand drive and sold through the BossCap Group of companies (under which AUSEV sits), with a remanufacturing operation out of Brendale in Brisbane’s northern suburbs.
We were given the keys for a day, to test the F-150 Lightning out in the real world. We weren’t able to tow or test it fully loaded, but we spent enough time with the electric ute to establish whether it could be a winner for your fleet.
Read the full review here.
Driven: Fleet focus for new Kia EV5 electric SUV
Kia Australia has launched a new electric SUV – the EV5 – and it could be a sweet spot option for fleet customers.
In fact, the brand’s local boss, Damien Meredith, has stated that he expects 60 percent of EV5 sales to be taken by fleet operators large and small.
“The fleet department have spoken to fleet companies, and big ASX companies. We’ve been doing that for over 12 months,” he said.
“Corporate and government are still strong in EV purchase, but where it has probably frozen is in that private sector. But there is still activity for big corporates.”
Even so, the EV5 is priced to appeal to a mix of customers, with a low entry point particularly targeting business buyers.
Read the full review here.
Review: MG4 XPower
The MG4 XPower is the ultimate hot hatch for electric vehicle (EV) enthusiasts, combining thrilling performance with practical EV features.
It builds on the strong foundation of the standard MG4, enhancing it with power, speed, and a bold design that screams hot hatch from every angle.
After a week in the driver’s seat we share the specs, likes, and dislikes of this exciting EV.
Read the full review here.
Best of both worlds: We drove a pre-production GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV
GWM showed its plug-in hybrid Cannon Alpha Hi4T model recently, alongside a Tank 500 Hi4T and Ora Sport, at a private test track in Queensland. We spent time on- and off-road in the left-hook version of its flagship PHEV ute, which we think has huge fleet appeal.
While PHEV ute options are non-existent in Australia, despite their fleet suitability compared with all-electric options, 2025 will see the popular Ford Ranger and incoming BYD Shark PHEVs introduced. Now, GWM has entered the race, confirming its Cannon Alpha PHEV will arrive locally in the first half of 2025.
Fleet EV News was one of a handful of media titles given early access to a left-hand drive version, brought in from China for the brief test drive, to assess its suitability for the Australian market.
Read the full review here.
A PHEV for grown ups
Peugeot Australia recently attracted some media attention when they dropped the price on the e2008 by $25,000.
Yes, $25k! It was the biggest discount for a model runout the new car market has ever seen. Hopefully it generated some foot traffic through dealerships to see the other models in the Peugeot range because they are worth a peek.
We recently drove the Peugeot 508 wagon PHEV and our experience spawned this headline. After driving many, many, many Chinese, Japanese and Korean hybrid vehicles, the Peugeot 508 felt like a sophisticated warm embrace.
Read the full review here.
Peugeot 408 GT PHEV: A perfect bridge to the electric future
As the world shifts towards electric vehicles (EVs), many drivers and fleet managers find themselves at a crossroads. The desire to embrace cleaner, more efficient technology is strong, but the practicalities of fully committing to an EV can be daunting.
Enter the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), a compelling middle ground that blends the benefits of electric driving with the reassurance of a traditional internal combustion engine.
The Peugeot 408 GT PHEV is a prime example of how PHEVs are perfectly positioned to facilitate the transition to an all-electric future, especially for fleets and novated lease buyers who aren’t quite ready to go fully electric.
Read the full review here.
Hyundai Tucson Hybrid: A balanced blend of performance and practicality
The Hyundai Tucson Hybrid represents a significant step forward in Hyundai’s mid-size SUV lineup.
As a hybrid, it promises to deliver the efficiency of electric driving without the range anxiety that typically accompanies fully electric vehicles.
After spending a week with the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, we developed a comprehensive understanding of its strengths and weaknesses.
This review will explore what we liked and didn’t like about the vehicle, while also delving into its specifications, pricing, and overall performance.
Read the full review here.
