Everything used to be very different. Choose a model, haggle for the discount, order or take it with you. But earlier was before Covid, before the chip crisis, before the Ukraine war. Today, car buyers have a much worse hand. Increasingly, they have to pay the full list price, wait up to 24 months for new cars and accept compromises when it comes to optional equipment due to the lack of semiconductors. But they still exist, the insider tips that are easy to get. Here is a selection:
VW Taigo
The VW Taigo runs under the radar of many buyers.
(Photo: ULI_SONNTAG; VW/ULI_SONNTAG)
The coupé variant of the VW T-Cross is called Taigo and is even 910 euros cheaper than the more fussy hatchback. For less than 20,000 euros you get a car with 95 hp, a sufficiently motorized, very well made and properly equipped car with low maintenance costs. The digital cockpit, LED headlights, air conditioning and all the essential assistance systems are standard. The pleasingly spacious five-seater is comfortably tuned, active to drive and, thanks to the very comfortable seats, absolutely suitable for long journeys. At 440 liters, it offers twice as much storage space as the Polo, which is almost identical in design and price. A real people’s car, which can be upgraded to a luxury runabout with extras such as matrix light, glass sunroof and automatic transmission for relatively little money.
Kia EV6
The Kia EV6 comes in both a sporty and a more sensible variant.
(Photo: www.weigl.biz; Kia/www.weigl.biz)
In the promotional video, the Kia EV6 GT drives away from the entire sports car elite. We haven’t been able to see the high-flyer on the road yet, sales won’t start until autumn. But if you want to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds and drive up to 260 km/h for half the price of a 911 Turbo, you have to grab it while stocks last, especially since the 77.4 kWh battery in the WLTP cycle should enable an acceptable range of 424 kilometers. The more reasonably motorized versions with 169 hp, 229 hp and 325 hp are likely to be more mass compatible. But they only cost half as much and have a range of up to 528 kilometers.
Alpine A110
The Alpine is one of the last “real” sports cars.
(Photo: Alpine / Renault)
In terms of the market, two-doors, coupés and cabriolets have been mega-out for some time. From an emotional point of view, no other vehicle category controls the adrenaline flow and the glow in the users’ eyes as accurately and sustainably as sports cars. Anyone who shells out almost 60,000 euros for the Alpine (read the test here) knows in advance exactly which world of experience will be served from now on. In addition to the mid-engine layout and the 252 hp, 1.8 liter high-speed circular saw, this is mainly due to the aluminum body and the chassis, which is quite challenging at the limit. The unusually spacious cockpit with bucket seats, shift paddles and classic round instruments is the perfect workplace for notorious late brakers and cross drivers. More incognito fun with a surprise effect from the factory is hardly possible.
Mercedes EQB 300 4Matic
If you search the Mercedes online store, you will find many models such as the Mercedes EQB in stock.
(Photo: Mercedes – Benz – Global Communi; Mercedes/Daimler AG)
Don’t wait a year or even longer. Interested parties who are looking for a new EQB or EQS can find more than 100 immediately available existing vehicles from 57,000 euros before funding in the Mercedes online store with just two mouse clicks. One or the other EQA is also looking for a home. Since only contractual partners advertise on the official site, trade-ins, financing or leasing are probably not a problem. Fixed delivery commitments are only given in exceptional cases for cars configured by the customer. The EQB 300 scores with standard all-wheel drive, generous interior and trunk and a practical range of 423 kilometers.
VW T-Roc convertible
Affordable convertibles are dying out. The VW T-Roc is also the only SUC with a folding roof.
(Photo: ULI_SONNTAG; VW/ULI_SONNTAG)
The Range Rover Evoque Cabrio was canceled without replacement after the first model cycle due to lack of success. Audi has just as little dared an open Q3 or Q5 as BMW an X3 or Mercedes a fabric roof GLC. Ironically, VW has been trying for two years with the T-Roc Cabrio in a segment that was previously considered a closed society for premium providers. But the already facelifted T-Roc does its job surprisingly well: first-class soft top that opens or closes in nine seconds, extremely rigid body, successful design, fair prices from 31,850 euros. The disadvantages include the cramped rear, the small trunk and poor visibility to the rear.
Lynk 01 PHEV
You don’t have to buy the Lynk 01 PHEV – you can also subscribe to it.
(Photo: Lynk)
500 euros a month and it belongs to someone, the fully equipped Lynk 01, in blue or black. The monthly leasing rate includes almost 1000 free kilometers, tax, insurance, maintenance and winter tires. The contract can be terminated at will. Even better: Before the car just stands around, you can even rent it out within the community. The price for this is a matter of negotiation, but in any case reduces the fixed costs. The sharing business model is initially focusing on large cities such as Berlin, Hamburg and Frankfurt. The 261 hp plug-in hybrid costs around 42,000 euros new. The high residual value risk and the lack of a dealer network speak against this. How does it drive, the Lynk 01? Like the almost identical, but 6900 euros more expensive Volvo XC40.
Tesla Model 3 Maximum Range
The Tesla Model 3 is still ahead of the competition.
(Photo: AP/AP)
The Tesla Model 3 (from 50,000 euros) is now more than three years old and still more promising than most new releases. Above all, this underlines the impressive software competence. Any examples? With 60 watts, the USB port of the Tesla is fully compatible with laptops, a Porsche Taycan with 17 watts already struggles with the largest iPhone. The Tesla autopilot – if installed – runs permanently in the background, compares the driver’s inputs with the stored algorithms and collects a vast amount of data in a swarm, which awaits evaluation in its own cloud. All-round cameras record the last 30 seconds of driving, a surveillance mode protects against vandalism, additional power or extra range are activated wirelessly. The car constantly recalculates its insurance premium based on the stored risk profile.
Mercedes C 300 e
Most plug-in hybrids only offer a manageable electric range. With the Mercedes C 300 e it is over 100 kilometers.
(Photo: Mercedes – Benz – Global Communi; Mercedes/Daimler AG)
A diesel PHEV would also be more economical than the petrol engine in the C-Class, but because diesel is now a taboo word, the market launch of the C 300 e is dragging on. It doesn’t matter – the C 300 e (from 56,000 euros) as a sedan with its 130 hp electric motor also has a range of 109 emission-free kilometers. Most commuters would have to make ends meet without regularly refueling. Whoever uses the system output (333 hp) to the full will consume significantly more than the 0.6 liters per 100 kilometers specified by the factory. It can be driven purely electrically up to 140 km/h. On the DC charger, the battery should be full after half an hour. Because the 200-kilogram battery pack is enthroned on the rear axle, the lack of all-wheel drive is not a real shortcoming.