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The Qashqai Ti e-Power is now Nissan's cheapest hybrid, but does an EV driving experience justify the circa-$50K asking price?

The Volkswagen Polo name will live on, rather than be sidelined by the incoming production version of the brand’s ID.2all concept car.

MG is preparing its new cut-price EV.

Honda has revealed its latest new offering, a fully electric version of its N-One hatch.The retro-styled N-One has been a regular fixture of Honda’s Japanese domestic line-up since 2012, and the new electric version is designed to be the “Ideal EV for the Japanese market.”The boxy hatch, which is designed to fit into Japan’s strict Kei classification, is equipped with a large enough battery for a 270km driving range to the WLTC procedure, complete with vehicle-to-load and vehicle-to-home features.It maintains the combustion version’s retro exterior design (referencing Honda’s original N360 Kei car from the late 1960s) and has a very minimalistic and space-efficient interior design. Honda said the bonnet and the top of the instrument panel are lined up to improve visibility and accentuate the width of the car, while physical buttons and dials are intentionally maintained in the centre of the dash for ease of use.The N-One e’s bumpers are made from recycled materials discarded from other Hondas. In addition, a bio-resin is used for the dash cladding, and various plastics on the interior are made from recycled PET bottles. As a final touch, the floor carpet and insulation is made from recycled clothes sourced from Honda employees.Like other Kei-class vehicles, the exterior dimensions are small but the rear two seats offer enough room to seat adults, and they can also fold completely flush with the boot floor to maximise storage. The N-One e also scores the brand’s signature magic seats, which can fold up to the seat backs to suit taller objects.Full specifications, including elements like motor power, charging speed, and battery capacity  have yet to be revealed, but it would be unsurprising for them to match the related N-Van e which has already launched to the Japanese market.This would mean a 29.6kWh battery pack able to charge at 50kW on DC for a 30 minute charge time, or a 4.5 hour charge time on a 6kW AC connector. The vehicle-to-load or vehicle-to-home mode has a maximum  output of 1500W.The front-mounted electric motor in the N-Van is expected to be shared with the N-One e and produces just 47kW/162Nm. It features a single-pedal driving mode in both models.Sadly, despite it being built in right-hand drive, the N-One e is likely to remain a Japanese domestic market model. Strict safety standards and the cost to comply the cars for the Australian market generally make these models too expensive or otherwise uncompetitive.Mitsubishi recently evaluated bringing its equivalent EV, the eKX to Australia, but it shelved the idea after admitting that it would be “three star ANCAP or less” and that it was likely to cost more than $30,000 once the work had been completed to comply it for our market.Hyundai recently launched a compact electric city car, the Inster, which starts from $39,000, although it offers significantly more driving range, claimed at up to 327km, and has nearly double the electric motor output.BYD is also considering importing its affordable city-sized electric car, the Seagull, which could have a price-tag in the mid-$20k region.Honda is imminently set to announce new model plans for the Australian market, although its footprint has shrunk in recent years. Currently the Japanese brand offers the HR-V small SUV, ZR-V and CR-V mid-sizers, Civic hatch, and Accord sedan.

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Multimedia is great for 2016. Bluetooth connects quickly and calls are easy to make. Map function I don't use as much, but imagine it's not as useful. Safety tech is pretty standard.It's a small vehicle but feels spacious inside. Boot space is decent for a hatchback and has a removable cover for privacy, which is a plus. Seats can fold down to be more spacious for larger items.Driving experience has always been good. It's not as smooth, but that's fair for an older and smaller car. I've never had any issues with the vehicle, had always been an easy drive and is super reliable. Love how it's economical. Fuel for the week is around $65 for a full tank (sometimes more if it's above $2). Insurance is roughly over a grand a year. Servicing has been straight forward.It's renowned for its exceptional reliability. With a reputation for durability and longevity, it delivers a dependable driving experience. Routine maintenance, such as oil changes and timely repairs, contributes to the Corolla's longevity, making it a reliable choice for many drivers.

The 2011 model doesn't have the latest, fully digital interface. I am happy that it easily connects to my iPhone via Bluetooth and I can get my music without issues. Safety features are fine (well, if you think four airbags is the gold standard).Being quite tall, seating in the front seat can be a problem, particularly when you can't move the seat back (due to having more people in the car or a baby seat). So, I would love a bigger car. Interior space and the trunk are alright.It doesn't have the smooth features recent models and more premium cars have. But it's a decent drive for the price and we've never had any issues with it.  There wasn't any need for extra servicing apart from the usual yearly inspection. Since we don't use it very often, it's six full tanks per year and the fuel usage is average, as expected. Insurance is cheap now (or at least average) so running costs are quite low.While this 2011 Toyota Corolla Ascent Sport is nothing to write home about, it's a great second hand car that has (amazingly) retained its value and strength. It's very reliable and still feels decent; more like an like an eight-year old car than a 12-year old one. 

The updated Audi S3 Sportback delivers serious power, sharp handling, and premium technology but how does it stand up against its rivals?

One of the most common questions I get asked as a motoring journalist is ‘what’s the worst car you’ve driven?’  To be honest, it’s not a hard question to answer because I was one of the unfortunate few to have driven the original Chery J1 hatchback.