Vauxhall Ampera

Making a truly mass-market electric car was always going to be challenge, but if the reports are anything to go by, GM seems to have at least partially succeeded with the bold-looking Vauxhall Ampera.

But this is no normal electric car. The Ampera is an extended-range electric vehicle (E-REV). This means it boasts a conventional petrol engine - not to drive the wheels, but to re-charge the batteries on the move.

The critics all say it’s an impressively well sorted car, and the on-board generator removes the ‘range anxiety’ fear from the equation. However, the cutting edge technology on offer does mean it’s quite expensive when compared with similarly sized and more ‘conventional’ cars.

Interior

Given the Ampera’s all about pushing the boundaries of automotive technology, it’s fitting that the car’s interior has a attractively futuristic look to it. Not one, but two digital displays dominate the dash (one where the instrument cluster would’ve been on a normal car, the other mounted on the centre console) and many of the buttons are touch sensitive.

Overall fit and finish is also pretty good, although some critics question weather it’s good enough for a £30k-plus car.

Although the T-bar layout of the batteries means the Ampera’s a strict four-seater, broadly speaking, the interior is reasonably spacious. The boot is an acceptable 300 litres.

Driving

The Ampera’s 1.4-litre petrol engine is only called into action when the batteries are running low on charge. Unlike in a Prius or Honda CR-Z - two cars that can be legitimately described as petrol-powered cars with electronic aids - the Ampera’s engine does not drive the wheels, it serves only to charge the batteries.

As such, the driving experience is far removed from what Prius drivers are used to. Electric car drivers will feel right at home though - all the torque is available from a complete standstill, and the throttle response is second to none - as is the norm with electric cars.

The eery silence of the electrified powertrain and silky smoothness of the power delivery make the Ampera feel impressively refined. That said, even with the generator running it’s not half bad.

Testers have been broadly happy with the Ampera’s handling, although some found its controls too unresponsive. Additional recurrent complaints include a fidgety ride and poor rearward visibility.

Engines

The Ampera’s official fuel consumption figures make for excellent reading. As the engine’s rarely needed on a daily basis (it’ll do up to 50 miles on battery-power alone, and you can plug it in for a six-hour charge when you get home), the Ampera can allegedly manage the equivalent of 235mpg, all the while emitting just 27g/km of CO2.

Its maximum range, with a helping hand from the 1.4-litre, is 310 miles. With frequent long journeys, and no recharging available, you’ll easily see 45mpg.

It is exempt from road tax and London’s congestion charge. However, it’s worth pointing out that these figures should be taken with a pinch of salt – once the petrol engine does its job, you’ll be lucky to achieve any more than 45mpg.

Value for money

From some perspectives, the Ampera does look like a good value car. After all, depending on how far you drive it, the running costs can be incredibly low, and the low emissions figures means it costs nothing to tax. Vauxhall is also throwing in an eight year/100,000 mile warranty for the batteries, on top of a 100,000 mile warranty for the rest of the car, which not only gives owners peace in mind if anything goes wrong, but should bode well for bumping up residual values.

However, it’s worth pointing out that even with the £5,000 grant, the Vauxhall is still a very pricey car. As well as being half the price, in some cases, rivals such as the Ford Focus offer more interior space for people and luggage.

Worth noting

Under the skin, the Vauxhall Ampera is virtually identical to the Chevrolet Volt, so it’s no surprise that they both have nearly all the same positive and negative attributes. However, it’s worth pointing out that the Chevrolet Volt is, by the smallest of margins, the cheaper of the two to buy, so the Chevy is the one to go for if you’re not bothered about the way your range-extender hybrid looks on the outside.

Conclusion

Vauxhall may want you to believe that the Ampera is a car that makes everything else redundant, but the simple fact of the matter is it doesn’t. Sure, it’s a very advanced car, but the steep asking price and compromised practicality do count against it, especially when more conventional cars are just as affordable to run for some people, yet cost less money to buy and offer more space for people and their things.

But it’d also be inappropriate and incorrect to say the Ampera is useless. On the contrary, the Vauxhall is a very well sorted piece of kit, and alongside its Chevrolet step-sister - proves that people who find electric cars appealing don’t need to worry about a limited range if they plump for one of the two.

There are still a few rough edges here and there, and an efficient diesel car will be more suitable for the folk who regularly drive for long distances, but if your lifestyle has an Ampera sized hole in it, we wouldn’t blame you for taking the risk and opting for the Vauxhall.