Why we’re running it: To see if app-based subscription services can replace ownership as the future of motoring
Month 1 - Specs
Life with a monthly car subscription: Month 2
If range anxiety gives you the chills, may we suggest a hot-water bottle? - 5 May 2021
After little over a month of use, I’ve really gelled with Onto’s smartphone app.
Having your remaining permitted mileage on screen every time you go to unlock the car pretty much ensures you will never accidentally go over your monthly 1000-mile allowance. Need to head out on a longer trip that will nudge you over? It’s simple enough to extend your limit through the website. An extra 250 miles costs £30 and can be automatically rolled into your next monthly contract if you want.
I haven’t yet needed to use the car location function, as most of my supermarket runs are done late at night, but it really is pinpoint accurate. Once car parks start filling up again and long-term airport parking becomes more than a fantasy, I’m sure it will come in handy.
The car itself has thrown up a few irritations, though. When my other half sat in the back recently (present restrictions mean our loved ones are currently supplying all the over-the- shoulder photographs you see on these pages), she was surprised by how dark and enclosed it felt. There’s certainly a lot of padding on the door sills and the beltline, plus that kink in the window, so passengers are quite cocooned. I haven’t a clue why the doors need two grab handles, either: only one actually opens the door, and the other is too high up to reach without some major contortion.
Also, while head room was good enough for me when I clambered back there, this is very much a compact crossover. I don’t have my seat pushed too far back while driving, but rear leg room is still compromised. Kids will be fine, but adults might struggle on long trips.
Another bugbear is the lack of heated seats. Considering the E-Tense is easily the priciest take on PSA’s small electric platform and Ultra Prestige is the top trim level, it’s baffling that there’s not even an option to add heated seats when configuring a car on the DS website.
It’s much more efficient to just heat your bum than it is to warm up the entire cabin using the climate control; and given the somewhat mediocre range I’m getting, it’s something that our car would very much benefit from.
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No heated seats, even as an option? What is up with that? I went and had a look on DS website and it really can't be optioned. Just seems odd
If they are non cloth seats without heatings then as far as I and my back are concerned it is a crime against humanity.
The thing with leases is to look for what kind of car you want, maybe not the exact car, if you want a deal. Can get a Hyundai Ioniq for half of what this costs.
Flexibility is nice but not at that kind of premium
There's possibly a fair chunk of depreciation to factor in to the monthly fee?
Some things to factor in here. I found on Whatcar, that this car on a 48 month lease would be £380.38 a month, with a £2282.26 deposit. Over the 48 months (8000 miles p/a), it is a total of £20540.50, or the equivalent of £427.93 a month.
I have done an insurance quote on this car, for me, a 40 year old man, 2 years no claims, clean licence, no accidents, insured at my home in edinburgh and legal protection cover (I have had to use this in the past), that comes in at £401.50, or £33.46 a month.
I looked up break down cover and DS give electric cars 8 years or 100000 miles, so won't need that.
So far, I am up to £461.39 a month on a car, which is less than what this company are providing by £67.61 a month, but that doesn't factor in the amount to charge it.
All for a car that you can give back after 30 days notice rather being tied in to it for 4 years.
Other leasing websites list this car (not quite this spec) for £269.99 per month with £1818.84 down over 48m and 8k miles a year. Just over £14.5k for 4 years in that car. Actually a decent deal if you like the car