The automobile in question | The Press

Our collaborator answers questions from readers

Eric LeFrancois
special cooperation

Bad idea

Since there are almost no electric vehicles available, would it be possible to buy one in the United States and bring it back here to Canada?

Lisa C.

You should know that the shortage of vehicles also affects American consumers… You will not have more luck there than here. And in the event that you have access to such a vehicle, you must ensure with the manufacturer (the latter risks not honoring its guarantee) and with the authorities that this vehicle will be able to cross the border and, if necessary, the Comply with Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS). To give you an idea of ​​the complexity of this process, we invite you to consult the website of the Registrar of Imported Vehicles. Note that the process of importing a used vehicle over 15 years old is much simpler.

One step ahead

I currently rent a 2019 Nissan Leaf with a 42 kW battery, whose contract will expire in August 2024. I love it, except for one thing: its autonomy. I would like to be able to make the Laval-Quebec trip without having to recharge the car, even in winter. What vehicles do you suggest and when should I start shopping for them, given the current demand?

Sophia M.

Great idea to think about it today. The trouble is knowing which model to suggest given the rapid advances in technology. Since you like your current Nissan, maybe you’ll like the manufacturer’s future product: the Ariya. This model, which will begin to be marketed in the fall, promises, in its most efficient configuration, a range of some 480 km. This, as is the case with all electric vehicles, will potentially be improved over the months and years. You should also consider (it costs nothing to check them out) a vehicle like the Mustang Mach-E, Volkswagen ID.4, Ioniq 5 or its equivalent, Kia’s EV6.

Wired or wireless?

I own a 2013 Camry XLE Hybrid with 95,000 km, in excellent condition. I am very satisfied with it. I’m thinking of changing it to a plug-in hybrid sedan, with all-wheel drive if possible. I’m retired, mostly do short trips, and for occasional long trips, I like a gas engine so I don’t have to deal with recharging a battery. Since all-wheel drive is not offered for the Camry, is there a comparable vehicle?

Peter C.

You could be thinking of a hybrid Corolla with all-wheel drive! This will be offered starting in the fall. It takes up roughly the same space on the street as your current Camry. You mention a plug-in hybrid, but then you say you don’t like “managing battery charges”. You’ll have to do it with a plug-in hybrid, you know, or you won’t get any benefit from this technology. Note that the Corolla hybrid does not plug in like your current Camry.

2 for 1

My wife and I have two cars: a 2017 Nissan Qashqai (90,000 km) and a BMW X3 xDrive30i (43,000 km). We would like to sell one to buy a new fully electric car that we would like to have as soon as possible. Are there still electric cars, with around 400 km of range, eligible for government rebates and available on the market? If so why ? And which of our two vehicles should we sell or trade?

Michael V.

” As quickly as possible. That’s the whole problem with your request. The wait promises to be long in some cases and we suggest that you inquire with your dealer. Several vehicles with an alleged range of more than 400 km (BMW i4, Chevrolet Bolt, Ioniq 5, Volkswagen ID.4, etc.) are eligible for government rebates. We invite you to consult the websites of the Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec. You don’t specify the year of your BMW, but we assume it’s still under warranty. In such a case, we suggest that you sell this vehicle (ideally yourself).