Vauxhall Ampera Hatchback (12 on) - Review

Here’s an interesting statistic: you could potentially average 235.4mpg with the Vauxhall Ampera hatchback. That’s a big number that you may consider more at home in Cloud Cuckoo Land, but the fact is, it is possible. The Ampera can achieve this because it has two power sources: an electric drive unit and a conventional internal combustion engine. The electric propulsion system can allow you to cover up to 50 miles on one charge. Imagine that, if your commute to and from work is less than 50 miles it should cost you no more than £1 per day. However, unlike electric-only vehicles that are currently populating the market you don’t have to worry about so-called ‘range anxiety’ (running out of charge) because the additional 1.4-litre petrol generator can supply enough power to give you a theoretical range of around 350 miles. At last, a viable proposition. So, what’s not to like? Well, the Ampera is rather dull to look at and although the design isn’t particularly inspiring you may consider that a small price to pay. We believe that the Ampera is one of the best hybrid cars to date, so read on to see if it will suit your lifestyle...