Xpower as a hot hatch

Just been watching some YouTube reviews of the Volvo EX30 with the reporters describing the top of the range version with 4 wheel drive and 0-60 time of 3.6s with phrases like "supercar territory" and "faster than a Ferrari" or a "Porsche 911 Turbo".

So why is an EX30 not just a hot hatch if an Xpower is, alternatively why isn't an XPower a supercar?
 
JustAnotherMidlifeCrisis said:
Autocar just gave it 2.5 stars. Unusually low score for them.
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I wasnt impressed with a pre production static demo, cancelled my order and ordered the XPOWER

Jus read the Autocar report and it the interior that put me off. Although the driving side had a positive review. Other mags more positive in their reports.
 
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I see the top of the range fast AWD one is getting on for £44,500 with no options, so makes the XPower look a real bargain. I do like the EX30 Ultra though but it’s just too pricey for me !
 
The EX30 is attracting interest because it has a Volvo badge - but the trouble is that it isn't premium, it is a built-to-a-cost Chinese EV just like the MG4. Also, it is significantly more expensive, lacks a driver's screen and is cramped in the rear with a small boot. Yes, it goes faster than the MG4 and the pano roof is nice, but otherwise it leaves me thinking that people just want the comfort of a badge they "know", irrespective of the reality of where it is built.

I don't particularly like the look of the Volvo, it is a bit awkward from some angles and that vertical rear is going to get plastered with dirt in no time.

Looks like a nice enough car, but I'd certainly go for an XPower over the performance version of the Volvo and save 20%, which is a big big difference.
 
I keep seeing reviewers call the XPower a one-trick pony. But presumably there are only two tricks in play here: straight line performance and cornering prowess. Since the XPower destroys so-called traditional hot hatches on the first count, doesn't that leave them with only the second, making them one-trick ponies as well? One out of two would appear to be the standard for being taken seriously and by definition not half bad.
 
JustAnotherMidlifeCrisis said:
I keep seeing reviewers call the XPower a one-trick pony. But presumably there are only two tricks in play here: straight line performance and cornering prowess. Since the XPower destroys so-called traditional hot hatches on the first count, doesn't that leave them with only the second, making them one-trick ponies as well? One out of two would appear to be the standard for being taken seriously and by definition not half bad.
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The problem is that none of the reviewers, to my knowledge, have had the opportunity to swap out the standard tyres for some decently grippy rubber.
But to be honest I think it’s also down to the fact that most test drivers are not used to the instant torque despite the torque vectoring.
I’m pretty certain in terms of ‘hot hatch’ the xpower qualifies fully.
If necessary to make it a track oriented car just put some Toyo R888 and if really that inclined, get some lowered suspension in there and that alone will smoke many of the competitors.
 
I'd add that too little is made of the driving experience day to day. The instant (and effectively limitless) power available while pootling around town and country is something you just don't get with an ICE car but it means every trip is more entertaining. In that sense the car's superiority is evident not just on those special occasions when you find open road or visit a track. Two-trick pony to the Golf R's 1.5, anyone?
 
JustAnotherMidlifeCrisis said:
I keep seeing reviewers call the XPower a one-trick pony. But presumably there are only two tricks in play here: straight line performance and cornering prowess. Since the XPower destroys so-called traditional hot hatches on the first count, doesn't that leave them with only the second, making them one-trick ponies as well? One out of two would appear to be the standard for being taken seriously and by definition not half bad.
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I'd say there's a bit more to it than that. When it comes to 'drivers cars' (something which hot hatches are ideally supposed to be), then there are multiple things which in isolation seem small, but in overall combination can have a big effect on the driving experience for people who are enthusiasts.

Power and power delivery is obviously one of them. But then you have cornering grip, body roll, handling balance, steering response, steering feel/feedback, braking performance, braking feel, and even things like the supportiveness of the seats and ergonomics of the steering wheel.

Whilst power is good, it isn't necessarily at the top of the list of priorities for those types of car. For example, the Renault Clio 182 and Mazda MX5 are both considered to be excellent examples of 'drivers' FWD and RWD cars respectively, but their power output is actually quite low compared to a lot of their competition.

Having said that, many many people don't drive cars anywhere near close to their limit, nor would they necessarily notice many of the things I've listed above. For those people, the additional power is far more noticeable than say reduced braking feel (as an example). I'm sure there are some Golf R owners who could barely tell the handling differences between their car and a base model, but they will still use the straight line performance.

When it comes to road testers though, their job is to pay minute attention to all of the sorts of things I've listed above and for that reason I can understand their conclusions.
 
JustAnotherMidlifeCrisis said:
It also makes them largely irrelevant surely.
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For SOME people, possibly. For people who do care about driving dynamics, or who are genuinely shopping for a hot hatch then those reviews are very useful and those reviewers opinions are important.

That’s why you need to look at different reviews depending on what you’re looking for in a car. The reviews that are just looking at the car as good value, nice to drive, very fast car are quite positive.

The ones that are testing it to see how it stacks up as a hot hatch against established competition are maybe not quite as good.

Both reviews can have different outcomes whilst still being correct. For someone doing research, both types of reviews help paint a good picture of the cars strengths and weaknesses.

I personally didn’t care about the ‘hot hatch comparison’ less positive reviews as that wasn’t what I was in the market for. (I’ve got a weekend car for that) I wanted a nice daily driver with great performance / overtaking ability. The cornering and braking obviously needed to be half decent but it didn’t have to be class leading and I didn’t want overly firm suspension.

All those reviews together painted the picture that the Xpower was a great choice so that’s why I’ve ordered one.
 
I have kept my powder dry until now. To be honest I dont care whether the XPOWER is considered a hot hatch or not, its a cracking car. Over the years I have owned 3 MX5’s, Golf R, Golf GTI and numerous BMW Mini Cooper S among other performance cars. So I feel Im qualified to comment, but its down to the individuals choice and opinion in the end.
 
CooperS said:
I have kept my powder dry until now. To be honest I dont care whether the XPOWER is considered a hot hatch or not, its a cracking car. Over the years I have owned 3 MX5’s, Golf R, Golf GTI and numerous BMW Mini Cooper S among other performance cars. So I feel Im qualified to comment, but its down to the individuals choice and opinion in the end.
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At the end of the day they are all made up terms without definition. Warm hatch, Hot hatch, sports car, super car, hyper car. People will argue over those definitions on the internet all day long, but it doesn’t matter.

With your car history though I’d be very interested to hear your personal opinion on whether you consider the Xpower to be comparable to them in terms of things that traditionally define a hot hatch. (Without needing to categorise it)
 
I think to average person, Hot Hatch means is it fast, usually in a straight line, compared to your bigger sports cars. I know friends & family who have owned the usual, Golf R, S3, GTI, A35, M135/140i and so on, and their friends who have them too. Almost always, it’s about what’s fast in a straight line & none of them have ever tracked them. Now that’s not saying no one ever will, but I guess it’s like the Range Rover situation where a lot of these cars, won’t really go off-road.

Almost always, the one stat anyone can understand is the 0-60 time, and we’ve been seeing that number across a lot of performance cars drop, even hot hatches, the Golf R/S3s/RS3/A34/45/M135/M2 have come a long way, are extremely quick and also readily available to Mod and make them even faster.

Is the XPOWER one? I would say yes & no. Yes because it has the straight line speed, it has AWD, and it’s not bad in corners. Interior wise, it’s comfortable yet sophisticated/minimalist. Price wise it’s of course cheaper than pretty much all of them & definitely cheaper than the top end.

But where I’d say a soft no, is that, surprisingly it’s a very sensible car. I’ve had Performance Tesla’s in the past, the 3 & the Y, always I’m itching to put my foot down and hit 30 in 1s ?. Or on a 50-60-70 road/motorway, overtaking is ridiculously easy.

So far over the weekend I’ve been driving my new XPOWER, it’s so much more relaxing to stick it into Eco/Normal, and just drive it like that. I enjoyed seeing my battery go from 78 to 79 when I got home, no doubt by the favourable route for regen.

Yet, this thing does shift when you put your foot down. The drama isn’t there however, pops, no bangs and no revving the engine high. That could be a good or bad thing depending on the person.

If it wasn’t electric but had the same performance with reduction in weight at this price or less, a lot more press coverage would be given I think as perhaps a “final hot hatch” in the market. As an electric, I think it also easy fits the bill but maybe the overall spirit or image of a hot hatch isn’t fully there.

One things for sure, I do love the car so far, it’s not perfect and there’s a list of things I would want improving for the next car, however for the money being paid it’s fantastic.
 
CooperS said:
I will let you know after it arrives next month.
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I look forward to your comments and if they are similar to mine (as an ex Golf R owner too).

MG4 XPower. How did you get there?

Note to mods, not sure if I'm allowed to resurrect a post, but this is buried on page 46 of a 48 page thread and not sure many new to the forum readers would start on page 1 and continue to page 48 (Although I did!!?) So wanted to re post (with updates at the bottom)? Warning! Very Loooong...
www.mgevs.com www.mgevs.com

I've now clocked up over 1000 miles in the Xpower and still loving it ?. Very quiet and relaxed cruiser with a great ride / comfort compromise and superb performance. Handling / Grip is good but it's a heavy car and so far from "chuckable" around the twisties. I find a slow in /fast out approach is best, similar to an old "nose heavy" Audi RS3 I owned in 2012/14. It's a very practical day to day hatch and the only slight downside since purchase is the reduced range I've noticed in the current colder weather on motorway drives at 70-75. It was wet though and I had Sport mode, headlights and AC on. Averaged 2.5mi/kWh over 105 miles if you believe the car !

I think you will find it most similar to the Golf R when driving out of your list of previous cars.
 
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JonnyG said:
I think you will find it most similar to the Golf R when driving out of your list of previous cars.
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I hope so, the R was a good car. A MK7 new in January 2016, 4 door in white with DSG, DCC on 19” Pretoria's. It did need a pedal box fitting though, due to poor throttle response, which was widely reported on at the time. Only issue I had was idiots following you to see were you lived, living and working in rural Rutland at the time, I soon led them a merry dance and in my wake ?
Thats why I want to remove orange covers to at least hopefully go under the radar. That is until I press the loud pedal!

As for the range 70 to 75 is a killer for EVs plus all the other drains on the battery at this time of year. Glad to hear your enjoying the car ?
 

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