WHAT IS THE BEST ELECTRIC CAR FOR SHORTER LOCAL JOURNEYS?

Q I have a Volvo XC60 for longer journeys, but would now like to buy a pure electric vehicle (EV) for shorter local journeys, totalling around 6,000 miles per year. I am 6ft4in tall and my wife and I are 70 with no mobility problems. I’d like a car with a higher kW battery, that has an actual spare wheel instead of the repair kit; I like the look of the Nissan Leaf. Can you suggest any alternatives? JB

A Like so many of our readers, you’re understandably wary of the tyre repair kits some manufacturers fit instead of “proper” spare wheels these days. These are fine for getting you home if you have a small puncture, but won’t work in every situation and can result in damage to the tyre itself, which can sometimes turn a puncture repair into a tyre replacement.

Full-size spare wheels are harder to find these days – replacing them with a tyrerepair kit is an easy way for a manufacturer to save weight. And in EVs in particular they’re almost non-existent, partly for the same reason, but also because many EV manufacturers don’t recommend you jack up their cars unless they’re on a proper four-point lift at a garage.

They say the reason for this is the extra weight of the batteries putting more strain on the chassis when it’s jacked at just one point, and the potential for the twist in the chassis that this causes to damage the battery packs. Either way, the fact remains that most EVs simply aren’t available with spare wheels or jacks.

Nevertheless, there are a couple of EVs I’m aware of that do give the option of a spare tyre: the Leaf, which you’ve already identified, can be had with a 62kWh battery, giving 239 miles of range on the WLTP regime; and the MG 5 EV, a relatively new model with a 53kWh battery and 214 miles’ range.

The MG is an estate car, which gives it more luggage space and a slightly roomier interior. It also comes with a seven-year warranty, which adds peace of mind. I’ve not driven it yet, but motoring correspondent Andrew English says it’s smooth-riding and quick, though with fairly flimsy plastics and uncomfortable front seats.

The Leaf doesn’t have such a long warranty and has a smaller boot, but it’ll feel a bit higher quality inside and should handle a little more sweetly. It will, of course, travel further on a single charge, too. I’d probably take the Leaf if it were my choice, but I still think you’d be wise to give the MG a try.

The electric Nissan Leaf doesn’t have a seven-year warranty like the MG 5 EV but should handle more sweetly