My wife currently drives a Mini Cooper SE (EV) and has generally been happy with it. However, we’re now looking to potentially replace it with a slightly bigger vehicle that can fit a rear-facing car seat occasionally, without resorting to driving a large SUV.
Here are her main requirements:
Relatively compact dimensions, so easy to parallel park on the street and finding spot.
Can fit a rear facing car seat when needed.
Ideally an EV and a hatchback.
So far, I’m considering the Mini Countryman EV as a potential option. Just wanted to see if I’m missing any other alternatives. Any suggestions?
Also open to buying used if it make more financial sense to do so.
Budget wise we are pretty flexible, I’m okay with <1000/month. But obviously being a member at this forum, I don’t want to overpay anything that I don’t have to.
What do you consider slightly bigger? And what do you consider a large SUV? Re: “easy to parallel park.” Are you really just looking for something that will fit into small spaces? Otherwise most newer vehicles come with options for 360 cameras. Also, once you practice and find a method for parallel parking, it’s not hard.
There are plenty of hackable EVs, e.g. Hyundai Ioniq 5/6, Acura ZDX, Cadillac Lyriq, Chevy EVs, etc. Ioniq 6 SEL, for example, could be had in Feb for sub $300 all in with just 1st down if you qualify for conquest rebate.
I’m not familiar with hack ability of the Countryman EV. Have you looked up RV, MF, rebates, etc and put together a rough calculator with a feasible deal?
Re: “easy to parallel park”
yes, it’s mostly around the size of the vehicle, she park on the street at her work, so smaller vehicle making finding the spot easier.
Last time I check they lease decently. I will definitely do more research once I narrow down options. Right now just want to see if I missed any viable options.
We test drove a Countryman EV- yuck. As a previous owner of 3 Coopers, the Countryman was super disappointing. We’re also looking for a small-ish EV to replace our Leaf.
Leaf-sized choices include XC40, Kia Niro, Hyundai Kona, and that’s about it. This is not a country for folks that prefer smaller vehicles.
We were recently looking for something similar for my wife. Wanted a hatchback/ sub compact SUV EV.
I looked at every EV available under $40k to buy or lease <$500/mth and there were two that looked good in this size segment.
Chevy Bolt EUV
Volvo XC40 Recharge.
The Bolt EUV was far less expensive but still very impressive. We got her a 2023 with <300 miles on it. Premier trim with heated and ventilated front seats, real leather and lots of rear legroom for a rear facing car seat. She loves it and the outward visibility is great, something lacking in a number of modern vehicles.
Most people don’t realize how big vehicles are, hence them recommending vehicles that are in a larger size class like the Equinox EV, Blazer, ZDX, Ioniq 5, etc. They are all MUCH bigger than a Bolt EUV or XC40 recharge. I use edmunds compare tool and check out the dimensions.
ID4? 180 inches long, so about ten inches longer than a bolt but 10 inches shorter than an equinox/zdx/etc. Crazy good turning radius. No idea what lease programs look like for it now though.
good point, I probably should go test drive the countryman EV. Curious which part you don’t like about it?
The mini cooper se was fun to drive and I assumed the countryman will feel similar
A lot of it was down to the weight. The MINI Cooper SE (EV) weights 3100 lbs, and the Countryman is 4600! It just felt ponderous instead of fun like the Coopers. And we really didn’t care for the interior layout either. The little HUD thing was dumb, the center storage was just strange, and while I like the concept of how they digitized the center display it was too complicated.
Here’s a screenshot of my spreadsheet with size and weight of various options:
As someone who has had car seats installed for seven years, I think a big question is what does “occasional mean.” Even with EVs better space layout, I dont think you are getting an American rear facing car seat properly into most cars* under about 178 inches with a passenger in the front seat. If it’s only a few times a month around town then you can squeeze but otherwise I would sacrifice for the few years your kid is rearward facing and get a car like the Ioniq.
As an aside, there is a reason in the US many states require kids to be rearward facing till 24 months but in there EU it only 15 months. Just cant fit an 23 month old rearward facing in a subcompact VW Polo.
*The Bolt EUV has an amazing amount of legroom for its overall size.
