But even with that target price, the choice is enormous: from an almost new and compact Fiat Grande Panda to a hefty, older BMW X5. We’ll sit in between and take a look at the sober Kia XCeed, the sporty Cupra Formentor, and the premium BMW X2.
Kia XCeed 1.6 GDi PHEV ExecutiveLine – 2021 – 49,931 kilometers – €23,490
When it comes to hybrids and EVs, the South Korean Kia has been well-positioned for years. For example, the Niro is a mainstay in our sales lists, and the EV family is steadily expanding. The XCeed operates a bit in the shadows, which is why we’re putting this model in the spotlight. For our budget, we find this Kia XCeed, for example. Four years old (so still under factory warranty) and with less than half a ton on the clock, this brand-new ex-German is waiting in Bergschenhoek for its first Dutch owner. A set of winter tires is available at an additional cost, but those who don’t like that don’t have to starve in this ExecutiveLine: from autonomous cruise control to electric seat adjustment with memory, from a glass sliding/tilting roof to an electric tailgate, and from leather upholstery to seat heating and ventilation.
You wonder where they left everything, because for the occupants, the JGP-75-P is the most generous of this trio – except for the headroom in the back. The child of the bill is the small trunk space. Under the other hood is the familiar 1.6 GDI in combination with a small electric motor. The Atkinson principle should ensure lasting fuel efficiency with an (almost) empty battery. That’s possible, but with an empty weight of almost 1.5 tons, the XCeed is not a nimble one, with the dual-clutch automatic transmission working more against than with you at higher speeds. It’s a shame, because the interplay of the various technical elements is otherwise smooth. Smooth is also the word we use for the handling characteristics. Not explicitly sporty or buttery soft, but the golden mean. The same applies to the build quality of the interior, with a compliment for the pleasantly working infotainment system. The screen responds directly, is logically arranged, and is also somewhat customizable with a configurable main screen and a shortcut that can be programmed as desired.
Cupra Formentor 1.4 e-Hybrid Essential – 2021 – 60,256 kilometers – €23,895
There’s little wrong with such a crowd-pleaser as the Kia XCeed, but for some, it’s a bit too middle-of-the-road. Those who want sportiness and the touch of exclusivity of a new car brand have the Formentor from the Spanish Cupra – split off from Seat (the Cupra is the first ‘own’ model) and belonging to the Volkswagen Group. The Formentor has been around for over four years now, so the first examples are populating the used car market, such as this CUPRA Formentor: similar age to the XCeed, but driven a bit more and a bit more expensive. That price can still go up a bit, because where the South Korean still enjoys factory warranty, you are dependent on Bovag warranty (995 euros) with the X-817-BJ (imported from a German-speaking country in 2023, since then one owner). The model shown is the Essential entry-level, but there’s little to notice.
In the field of safety features, it leaves both opponents behind and with things like sports seats and a heated steering wheel, we even find items that the XCeed has to do without. The luxury of leather upholstery and, for example, the sliding/tilting roof has made way for sportiness: adjustable driving modes, electronic limited-slip differential, copper-colored accents, beautiful wheels… that kind of thing. The hybrid 1.4 is therefore a lot more powerful, which translates into better performance and still improbable fuel consumption figures – provided it is plugged in sufficiently. Not bad at all, also because the Formentor is almost 100 kilos heavier than the Niro. In terms of interior space, it offers a little less, luggage space a little more. And more driving pleasure. The seating position is excellent and thanks to the direct steering and the excellent grip, the car involves the driver in driving. In addition, the chassis is not rock hard, but leaning over in (fast) corners is strange to the Spaniard. And corners, it loves them. The Spaniard manages to conquer them in a wonderfully light-footed way. All in all, quite a counterpart to the XCeed.
BMW X2 xDrive25e – 2022 – 139,682 kilometers – €23,450
After a no-nonsense and a sporty high hybrid, we conclude with a four-wheeler from a premium stable. We do that in Beesd, where this BMW X2 (internal: F39) is waiting for what seems to be a first Dutch owner (we don’t find a license plate, but we do find a French-language instruction booklet). With its hybrid-equipped, blown 1.5-three-cylinder – good for a system output of 220 hp – this four-wheel-drive Bavarian was priced lower than an sDrive20i whose 178 hp were only released on the front wheels!
This occasion is even a year younger than the other two. However, there is no more factory warranty, so you are dependent on a surcharge of € 795 for which you get, among other things, three months of warranty. That contrasts rather meagerly with the XCeed, whereby the almost three times higher mileage of the X2 should not go unmentioned. That’s the price of premium, just like the fact that the German offers the least interior space and was rather restrained with luxury amenities as standard. Fortunately, the first owner was happily ticking off the option list, so pleasant things such as leather upholstery, heated front seats, electric tailgate, navigation system, and LED lighting are all on board. As a result, the car ultimately does little to differ from the other two. Regarding the user-friendliness, we repeat the pleasant operation of the so-called iDrive controller. And when it comes to traditional BMW values such as build quality, seating position, steering behavior, and driving qualities, this X2 also has its affairs in order. Seat, driver, steering wheel, and drive seem to be sculpted from one whole – when it comes to this kind of driving pleasure, the South German manufacturer is hard to beat. It captivates you with its excellent dynamics without asking for too great comfort sacrifices. If an X2 does not appeal to you for some reason, but you do want that appealing handling control, know that the Mini Countryman Cooper SE All4 rests on the same UKL platform.
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