Skip advert
Advertisement
Opinion

'Brands will need new tricks to make electric cars affordable'

John McIlroy thinks manufacturers will use the electric car rollout to change the buying process

Toyota opinion

Another week, another new entry into the electric-car market. And this time it’s a biggie: Toyota, the leading light of hybrid electrification over the past 20 years, has finally ditched the combustion engine altogether for the first of its bZ EV line-up.

We’ll leave you to read Sean Carson’s full verdict on a late prototype of the bZ4X – but one interesting aspect to take from the review is that Toyota is trying to use this car to shake up its retail model. Fact is, a four-wheel-drive version of this car is going to have a list price of more than £48,000 – which is quite a lot for a five-seat family SUV.

However, Toyota is aiming to make this figure irrelevant for many private customers by rolling out the bZ4X on a lease deal that makes the more conventional PCP finance scheme look a bit pricey. We wouldn’t say the ‘Kinto’ arrangement is particularly cheap, with a deposit of more than £3,500 and monthly payments of over £600. But then, it does include servicing, installation of a home charger and a period of access to Toyota’s ‘single-card’ public charging network – while costing less every month than the regular PCP.

Advertisement - Article continues below

We’ve seen others experimenting with ‘all-in’ lease arrangements before – some firms are using their all-electric models to play with moving the whole process online – but it seems quite significant that Toyota, one
of the most mainstream of brands, has chosen now to really push the idea (and through its showrooms, some of which will feature ‘bZ hub’ areas devoted to the EVs). 

As the transition to electric motoring continues to accelerate, manufacturers are going to have to use lots of tricks (or let’s call them novel approaches) to bring the buying process and ownership experience closer to as many customers as possible. We’ll see dozens of EVs unveiled in the months ahead; we may also see a varied line-up of ways of getting them onto our driveways.

Check out the latest Toyota news and reviews here...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Editor-at-large

John started journalism reporting on motorsport – specifically rallying, which he had followed avidly since he was a boy. After a stint as editor of weekly motorsport bible Autosport, he moved across to testing road cars. He’s now been reviewing cars and writing news stories about them for almost 20 years.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

The secrets of getting the best part exchange price for your car
man stroking car
Tips & advice

The secrets of getting the best part exchange price for your car

If you’re thinking of buying a new car and using your old one as part exchange, this is the guide for you…
25 Mar 2024
Mis-sold car finance scandal: could you be due compensation?
Missold car finance
News

Mis-sold car finance scandal: could you be due compensation?

Did you buy a car on finance between April 2007 and January 2021? You could be owed thousands!
21 Mar 2024
Best new cars coming in 2024
Best new cars coming in 2024 - header image
Best cars & vans

Best new cars coming in 2024

There are some big new models from the likes of BMW, Citroen, Dacia, Ford, MINI, Skoda and more on the way in 2024
12 Mar 2024
Cheapest cars to insure in the UK 2024
Cheapest cars to insure - header image
Best cars & vans

Cheapest cars to insure in the UK 2024

Looking for a car that’s cheap to insure? We’ve listed the cars with the cheapest insurance group ratings on sale in the UK today
8 Mar 2024

Most Popular

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay
Road tax documentation
News

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay

Drivers with newer cars will now pay £10 more per year, although the biggest gas guzzlers fare even worse
28 Mar 2024
Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power
Dacia Sandero - front
News

Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power

Both the Sandero and Sandero Stepway ranges have been tweaked, gaining more safety features to meet the latest regulations
26 Mar 2024
Car Deal of the Day: updated Skoda Enyaq at 0% APR and a free home wallbox charger thrown in
Skoda Enyaq iV - front cornering
News

Car Deal of the Day: updated Skoda Enyaq at 0% APR and a free home wallbox charger thrown in

Skoda’s family-friendly EV with 348-mile range is our Car Deal of the Day for 26 March
26 Mar 2024