Model Year 24/25 PHEV VZ versions and will I like it??

[mrtoomanytoys]

So..
I haven't got a Formentor, yet.. bare with me and be gentle..

Looking for a company car on lease and really can't go EV yet.. so out of all the PHEV the Formentor floats my boat from a looks and BIK point of view.
I currently drive a Subaru Outback 3.6R.. (private). Which I love to bits, for it's capability... (You would be very surprised at how good it really is, but nobody knows about them, only 184 sold in the uk)
Yes I am "mature" in age ha ha ha.. (but still think I am 30)...

Obviously I am looking at the 272 VZ models as the replacement...(Lease through the company)
From what I gather the 3 has bigger brakes, different seats and a few other tweaks etc?

Is it really better from a driver's point of view??

I will have to live with my choice for 2 years minimum..
My driving style is "spirited" over long distances generally (140 mile commute each Monday/Friday across country and in the Welsh hillsides).. I am used to the pace of my Outback...
Likely have to get a 20k mile lease deal as I do a fair few miles (90k put on the OB in 5 years)

Any particular options should be made or things to not bother with??
Looking forward to some insights..

Yes. I am going to go find a dealer with one to try.. hopefully I can take it out for a hour .
Cheers
Si

 

[DaveSmith]

Most reviews tend to agree that the lower power version is under powered for a the weight of the car.

 

[CupForm]

the lower power version is under powered

Under powered for what purpose?
A day at the race track? Yes, sure...
For normal daily use? not at all! The fact that the electric boost is always available when needed, makes the car surprisingly responsive even at high (e.g. highway) speeds. Occasionally I push it a bit harder on winding mountain roads and you'd be surprised how easy it is to reach the grip limits of the tires. Again - it really depends on what you plan to do with the car.
The weight of the PHEV is about 150 kg above the one of an AWD Formentor (which is already about 1.500 kg), and most of that extra weight is on the back-half of the car; so I'd say it's a bit more balanced.

 

[SRGTD]

Under powered for what purpose?
A day at the race track? Yes, sure...
For normal daily use? not at all! The fact that the electric boost is always available when needed, makes the car surprisingly responsive even at high (e.g. highway) speeds. Occasionally I push it a bit harder on winding mountain roads and you'd be surprised how easy it is to reach the grip limits of the tires. Again - it really depends on what you plan to do with the car.
The weight of the PHEV is about 150 kg above the one of an AWD Formentor (which is already about 1.500 kg), and most of that extra weight is on the back-half of the car; so I'd say it's a bit more balanced.

In my personal experience, based on the heavily congested single carriageway roads in my part of the world, I’d (controversially) say that many modern cars are over powered as there seems to be little to no opportunity to use that performance potential…………

My last car was a 197 bhp VW Polo GTI+. Even a relatively modest 197 bhp was wasted when - on a typical journey for me - I’m stuck in a stream of traffic that’s moving at a speed of circa 50-55 mph (or less) and there’s no option to do anything other than just ‘go with the flow‘ of the traffic. It was one of the reasons I sold the GTI+ (there were other reasons too) and bought a self charging full hybrid with a more modest 145 bhp power output. My hybrid does everything I want and need it to; performance is more than adequate for a typical journey type for me, and the 60-65 mpg is an added bonus (the GTI+‘s long term mpg was circa 43 mpg), plus it’s better equipped than the GTI+ was, has a very good balance between ride quality and handling and build quality is better too.

 

[DaveSmith]

Under powered for what purpose?
A day at the race track? Yes, sure...
For normal daily use? not at all! The fact that the electric boost is always available when needed, makes the car surprisingly responsive even at high (e.g. highway) speeds. Occasionally I push it a bit harder on winding mountain roads and you'd be surprised how easy it is to reach the grip limits of the tires. Again - it really depends on what you plan to do with the car.
The weight of the PHEV is about 150 kg above the one of an AWD Formentor (which is already about 1.500 kg), and most of that extra weight is on the back-half of the car; so I'd say it's a bit more balanced.

I was only parroting what a lot of test / reviews have said. I haven't driven any PHEV, so I cannot really comment.

 

[mrtoomanytoys]

I shall see who has a VZ for demo...
Seems finding a car in with the spec I want in stock, might be a challenge..
Either not the colour I want or without the pan roof.. there is a VZ2 in ideal spec..but I would like the bigger brakes.

 

[trew]

I shall see who has a VZ for demo...
Seems finding a car in with the spec I want in stock, might be a challenge..
Either not the colour I want or without the pan roof.. there is a VZ2 in ideal spec..but I would like the bigger brakes.

If you get a PHEV I'd imagine you'll hardly ever use the brakes. I've just had one for 18 months and my driving style changed totally, using regen mode to slow me down and only braking at the last moment, to stop completely. Once the novelty had worn off I found it sooooo boring that I had to buy a proper car again.

But that's just me. I'm sure many people just want to get from A to B in comfort - for them a PHEV is fine. For me, I want engagement with the car.

 

[mrtoomanytoys]

If you get a PHEV I'd imagine you'll hardly ever use the brakes. I've just had one for 18 months and my driving style changed totally, using regen mode to slow me down and only braking at the last moment, to stop completely. Once the novelty had worn off I found it sooooo boring that I had to buy a proper car again.

But that's just me. I'm sure many people just want to get from A to B in comfort - for them a PHEV is fine. For me, I want engagement with the car.

But that was some Renault thingy not a Formentor.. most likely bananas/oranges....

Going to find a couple to test drive.. see what's what...

 

[trew]

But that was some Renault thingy not a Formentor.. most likely bananas/oranges....

Going to find a couple to test drive.. see what's what...

Yup. You could be right.