300h Executive

Always a pleasure to drive

I've had this for just over 2 years of mainly cross-country and motorway use, and it continues to impress me afresh. It's naturally relaxed, refined, smooth and comfortable, but also powerful, sharp & nimble when you need it to be. Quality is very high, reliability so far total, and economy impressive at an overall 50mpg (driven normally and never yet in Economy mode). After some initial reservations about kickdown noise (I now paddle-flap to avoid it), I've also come to love the CVT for its subtlety and silkiness. Dealer service is excellent, and maintenance costs (for such a complex piece of kit) notably reasonable. I have yet to discover any conditions in which it is not a pleasure to drive (the Snow mode has proved highly effective, too).
Nothing's ever perfect - the foot-operated parking brake is sub-optimal, ground clearance low, ride a touch on the firm side, lumbar support sparing, lack of a spare wheel faintly disconcerting - but I can recommend this highly as a 'different' but deeply satisfying alternative to more obvious German kit.

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