Fun to drive plug-in
The range of the car exceeds the 29 mile EPA range, it is more like 35. The safety features work well. The lane keeping technology does not annoy you with unnecessary beeping or correction, it quietly lights an indicator if you drift slightly, and only corrects the wheel and beeps if you get close to the line. When in cruise control it will steer itself on the highway as long as you keep you hand on the wheel and adjusts following distance. The cross traffic alert when backing also works well. It also alerts you when the car in front pulls away at a light or stop. There is also an alert if you get to very close to the car in front as you brake at a light.
The dual clutch transmission gives a peppier feel than my previous CVT. Gas to electric transition is smooth, and regenerate braking is also smooth, both are better than my previous 2010 Honda Insight. The paddle shifters allow you to adjust how aggressive the regenerative braking is as you let off the gas which is a nice feature. Sport mode changes the display color and shows a tach, and gear number if you shift with the paddle shifters, it also increases the power response of the gas pedal.
Infotainment display integrates with Apple phone well, displays of driving and charge information are good. Also shows distance and brand of nearest charging station,
The storage room is excellent, and the hatchback design make loading large items (like a mountain bike) easy. Back seat head room is good. Door handle push button open and lock is a good feature, although door can become jammed when it opens like a 1/2 inch and then becomes stuck requiring you to push it closed again and reopen.
The negatives are the cloths seats, they are short pile and not soft. There is no electric heat, if you run the heater it must run the engine. Charger door is a pain and does not stay closed unless you push it just right. There is no setting to limit charge percentage. The small storage compartment in the hatch does not close properly. The 110 charging cable is rugged but only 16 ft, easier for storage but I would have preferred 25.
Recommended
Verified Owner
