1.8 Advance Plus E-Cvt 5dr Hatchback

So far so good!

It’s early days in the ownership of my car. I’ve been considering buying one for a while and when the right one came along, I decided it was time to trade up.

I have the pearlescent white Advance Plus with Sport Pack. Absolutely beautiful pearlescent paint with a black roof, tinted windows and lightly darkened alloys. Spec inside is high with electric sunroof, sat nav, heated seats, DAB radio, cruise control, electric heated and foldable mirrors and spoiler with air ducts. Higher spec models have exactly the same engine with a few more trinkets.

My commute is 26 miles of bumpy and twisty B roads, village roads and well surfaced A roads, all based in the countryside with light traffic. I’ve averaged over 55mpg every day in the last two weeks.

HJ says that the car has a “Poor ride and handling. Slow performance. Lack of any driving pleasure”. For kicks I ride motorbikes and if it was slow and cumbersome, I would soon discover this. The performance of the car is quite torquey and if I’m in the mood, it can attack corners with some gusto. For my commute it is perfect, reassuringly sure-footed and I question the lack of any driving pleasure as it always puts a smile on my face. From other reviews, it’s said that if your commute was mostly fast empty motorways it may not suit you; however, throughout my 100 mile motorway drive after I bought it at 70 plus mph it did not feel lacking. As most motorways are regularly heavily congested and policed by speed cameras, it still makes sense, dropping onto the electric engine when you’re stuck in traffic and thereby not burning any petrol.

Add in zero road tax, a warm welcome at the Lexus dealership, the cheaper cost of petrol compared to diesel, and the current negative attitudes toward diesel ownership, I wish I’d made the change earlier.

If you’re considering making the change, do it - I’m sure you’ll be as pleased as I am.

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