Nov 15, 2021 | Buying advice |
Buying an economical petrol car is not only about the purchase price! But also all additional costs such as maintenance, fuel and insurance. Take a look at our Top 10 most fuel-efficient cars! With the current high petrol prices, these are definitely worth considering.
1. Suzuki Celerio
The Suzuki Celerio is an urban five-door car that is 3.60 metres long. Introduced in February 2014, it is considered Suzuki's smallest car and is an alternative to small city cars such as the Toyota Aygo, the Opel Karl or the Hyundai i10. The car distinguishes itself by its excellent use of the space on board: the boot holds 254 litres. This is worthy of a car from the B-segment and is also higher than that of its city rivals. The Suzuki Celerio is only available with a single three-cylinder 1.0 aspirated petrol engine. This engine develops 68 hp and a maximum torque of 90 Nm, which goes to the front through a five-speed manual transmission. The Suzuki Celerio has a consumption of 4.7 litres/100 km.
2. Hyundai Ioniq
The Hyundai Ioniq is a hybrid model that combines sporty feel, driving smoothness and consumption of 3.4 litres. It was presented at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show and is the direct competitor of the Toyota Prius. The Hyundai Ioniq is 4.5 metres long, just over 1.6 metres wide and weighs just 1,254 kilograms. The first thing that surprises from the first few miles is the discreetness of the new hybrid vehicle. You can hear almost nothing in the Ioniq, even when the automatic gearbox is spinning the combustion engine around. On the one hand, the car is equipped with a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine 'GDI' that delivers 103CV and 146 Nm of torque, while for support it has an electric motor of 43CV and 170 Nm of torque. The total power output is 141CV and petrol consumption is 4.1 litres/100 km. Thanks to the combination of both engines, this car achieves as low a fuel consumption as the Prius and that makes it a real threat to the Toyota hybrid.
3. Toyota Yaris Hybrid
A jury of 59 specialist journalists from all over Europe awarded the Toyota Yaris Hybrid named Car of the Year 2021. This electric hybrid is equipped with the fourth generation of Toyota's electric hybrid technology. This means driving with low emissions and remarkable fuel consumption: 4.8 litres/100km. The electric motor and combustion engine work together with the aim of efficient travel. On short city trips, you can drive most of the time in EV mode, i.e. 100% electric. The vehicle is equipped with a self-rechargeable battery that draws energy from braking or from the energy released by the combustion engine. So you don't need plugs for recharging. Low emissions, fuel saving, space optimisation, design, technology and safety are just some of the strongest points of this small economical car!
4. Nissan Pixo
The Nissan Pixo is a five-door, four-seater car, 3.6 metres long, launched in June 2009. It is a city car with an affordable price and an economical engine: a 1.0 three-cylinder with 65 hp at 6,000 rpm, which consumes 4.6 litres per 100 km and emits only 103 g/km of CO2. The consumption in the city is 5.3 litres. It has a five-speed manual transmission and optionally a four-speed automatic. This small economical car is basically the same as the Suzuki Alto. Both in design and finish it is a simple car but with a quality that is more than good for its segment. Striking options are air conditioning, ESP, metallic paint and curtain airbags.
5. Kia Niro
The Kia Niro combines qualities: it has a size (4.36 m) close to the Nissan Qashqai (4.38 m) and Peugeot 3008 (4.45 m) and is comfortable everywhere, even with the family. This small fuel-efficient car combines a 1.6-litre petrol engine with an electric one with a total of 141 hp. The hybrid model has a classic look, but is well thought out and well made. And the space reserved for passengers in the rear is very generous for a vehicle of this size. Apart from the economic aspect associated with lower consumption, buying a hybrid car remains an economically responsible act for many. The petrol consumption is estimated at 5.6 litres/100km. The other advantage remains the ability to drive quietly and without fuel from time to time. However, even when driving economically, it is difficult to exceed the 2 kilometres of autonomy in 100% electrically.
6. Toyota Prius
More than two decades ago, this vehicle was born as an alternative and now it has become a necessity to help the environment. Today, the Toyota Prius Hybrid thanks to an impressive fuel consumption of only 4.2 litres per 100 km is known as the most economical petrol car of this moment from Toyota. The 2020 Prius offers plenty of luggage space for sudden adventures or planned trips. If 65.5 cubic feet of space with 50 folding seats isn't enough to carry all your stuff, the luggage cross bars are available to help. And with its available AWD- e, the Prius helps you go as far as your imagination allows. With the available 11.6-inch HD multimedia screen and ideal musical accompaniment with Premium JBL® 51 Audio, you'll turn all your journeys into a true sensory adventure. And to take your driving experience to the next level, the available colour HUD projects important information onto the windscreen.
7. Daihatsu Cuore
The latest Daihatsu Core was launched in 2006. It has a length of barely 3.46 metres. This car is equipped with a front-wheel drive transverse engine. Similarly, the model is marketed in a hatchback body style with three and five doors. In Japan, the vehicle is marketed with a displacement limited to 660 cc, although in the case of the first two generations of the Daihatsu Cuore, the displacement drops to 550 cc. However, in European and Western countries, this small fuel-efficient car is still sold with engines up to 1,000 cc. Petrol consumption is estimated at 4.6 litres/100 km. The Daihatsu Cuore is a dream car: it is tough, reliable and gives you years of driving pleasure. Smart, elegant and remarkable are three characteristics that are mentioned in the description of the Daihatsu Cuore and that are confirmed by many satisfied drivers. The Cuore is the ideal family car, both spacious and comfortable. This means a great sense of safety and confidence for you as a driver.
8. Citroen C1
The Citroen C1 is a model with an urban character that was first launched in 2005. Developed thanks to the collaboration between the PSA Group and Toyota, the commercialisation of the second generation began in 2014. As an urban vehicle, the Citroën C1 is an excellent option thanks to its length of less than 3.5 metres and an interior sufficient for four passengers. The available equipment is enriched by new elements, such as the 7-inch touchscreen, keyless entry and start, a huge electric canvas roof on Airscape versions, the automatic city braking system and Lane Departure Warning. The engine range of this small fuel-efficient car includes an interesting 1.0 VTI with 68bhp of power that can be ordered with a manual gearbox or a robotic ETG with somewhat rough handling. The most performance-oriented option uses the 1.2 VTI with 82 CV and exclusively manual gearbox. The C1's light body moves with great ease and also consumes very little: 3.7 litres/100 km.
9. Toyota Corolla Hybrid
The Toyota Corolla Hybrid is certainly not the most exciting. And certainly not the sportiest. But if you're looking for a trouble-free, fuel-efficient compact car that will last as long as you want it to, then the Toyota Corolla Hybrid is worth considering. The reality is that you don't buy a car like this for its dynamic performance, but for its ability to drive reliably and economically. With a single full tank, you can cover almost 1,000 kilometres. The car has an average consumption of 4.5 litres per 100 kilometres. Like all hybrid vehicles, the Corolla is more economical in the city than on the highway. Equipped with a 1.8-litre 4-cylinder engine and an electric motor, the vehicle has a total output of 121 PS. Add to that a tiny 1.3 kWh battery that allows for a very short electric drive, but mainly supports the petrol engine, and you can understand why consumption is so low. Since this is a traditional hybrid, note that most of the charging is done by recovering the braking energy, there is no need to plug in.
10. Škoda Citigo
Skoda chose a mini city car, the Citigo, to become the first 100% electric model in its history. With its 36.8 kWh battery, the Skoda Citigo-e iV can travel 265 km (WLTP) on one charge. Above all, it is one of the cheapest electric city cars on the market. The Citigo iV shares its technical underbelly with the Volkswagen e-Up and Seat e-Mii, which also have a 36.8 kWh battery, implying a range of 265 km in the WLTP cycle. With such capacity, this small fuel-efficient car with a fuel consumption of 4.4 litres/100 km can broaden its horizons beyond the city, especially since its relatively small batteries can be recharged to 80% in 1 hour on a high-speed terminal (40 kW) via the CCS (Combined Charging System) charger. On a wallbox, a comparable recharge takes 4 hours, and on an enhanced household socket (2.3 kW) in 12 hours and 37 minutes. Apart from some upholstery and specific instruments, the interior is similar to that of a Citigo Thermal. Aesthetically, the Citigo-e iV does not differ from its thermal sister. The luggage space has been retained: 250 litres are available. This can be increased to 923 litres when the bench is folded down.
Oct 15, 2021 | Electronics |
The battery of your car is something you should maintain well. Especially when it comes to the battery of an old-timer. This is because it stands still for the cold period of the year, which means that the battery becomes increasingly weaker due to self-discharge. When the battery is discharged too deeply, this causes damage to the battery. This is of course something you want to avoid, since a new battery can be quite expensive. A car battery charger or trickle charger can be very useful here.
What is the difference between a battery charger and a trickle charger?
A battery charger or trickle charger charges your battery until it is full. They often do this fully automatically. A battery charger is often used to charge the battery in one go. A trickle charger, on the other hand, is used to keep the battery up to date. The trickle charger notices when the battery reaches 95% and switches itself on. The trickle charger then charges the battery again to 100% and switches itself off again. Some battery chargers also have this function. This is called maintenance charging. These battery chargers often have several charging phases and work fully automatically.
Reconditioning function battery charger
Some battery chargers have even more functions. There are also battery chargers with a reconditioning function. This function ensures that batteries which are too deeply discharged are restored as well as possible. In addition, battery chargers can sometimes also charge several types of batteries. Most battery chargers can charge lead acid, AGM and gel batteries, but some can also charge lithium batteries. This is ideal if you want to charge your lithium battery as well as your car battery.
Which battery charger should you use?
Using a battery charger or trickle charger is simple, but there are a few points you should pay attention to. First of all, make sure you have the right voltage. Most car batteries are 12V, but old-timer batteries are often 6V. Secondly, you need the right charging current. It is important to have a battery charger with a charging power between 15 and 25% of the usable capacity of the battery. A too high charging current can damage the battery and a too low charging current can take too long.
Connecting the charger
First connect the black negative cable of the battery charger to the negative pole of the car battery. Then do the same with the red plus lead. Then switch on the battery charger. Set the battery charger to the correct position and the battery charger will automatically start the charging program. After you see that the battery is full, you can remove the battery charger. You can also leave the battery charger or trickle charger on to maintain the battery, so you can be sure that your battery stays in top condition!
Sep 27, 2021 | Electronics |
Xenon lighting can be easily recognised by its bright blue light. For oncoming traffic it can be experienced as annoying. This is particularly the case with SUVs that are slightly higher up on the wheels so that the light automatically shines from a higher position. Apart from the oncoming traffic, xenon lights have many advantages. On this page we explain how these xenon lights work and what the advantages are.
How does xenon lighting work compared to halogen?
Xenon lights work very differently to halogen lights and can be recognised on the road thanks to the blue tint they give off and because they emit more concentrated light. They use an electric arc. This arc is ignited by high voltage. The ignition is carried out by an electronic ballast with 20,000 volts between two electrodes instead of a filament to produce light, and are often called High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps. When the lamp is ignited, a so-called gas tube is created between the two electrodes of the lamps. When current flows through the electrodes, the gas, or xenon, begins to glow. Xenon gas is used because at lower temperatures it helps to form an arc between the electrodes (and thus create light), but becomes less important when the lamp is at temperature.
The history of xenon lamps
In the 1990s, most cars were equipped with halogen lamps. However, in the higher segment it was also possible to choose xenon lamps. At that time, it was an expensive option. The well-known names from Germany, BMW, Mercedes and Audi often asked more than 2000 guilders for this option. Fortunately, the price decreases as the production numbers increase. This also applies to xenon lights. Nowadays, it comes as standard on some mid-range cars or is included in certain option packages. So it is no longer only available for the highest segment.
Advantages of Xenon lighting
- Service life. Xenon lamps can last up to 10 years
- Xenon lights also consume less power and still provide more light
- Cars with xenon headlights give the car a tighter appearance in the dark
Disadvantages xenon lighting
- If you buy a used car that has xenon lights and is approaching the age of 10 years, good replacement bulbs are quite expensive.
- Nowadays, LED lamps are almost as good and cheaper.
- LED lamps use even less energy.
Difference between xenon and Bi xenon
The difference between Xenon and Bi-Xenon HID headlights is that Xenon lights have one light bulb that can only cover one beam at a time (low, high or fog), whereas Bi-Xenon lights have two beams that cover both low, city and high beam in one light. Naturally, these bulbs are slightly more expensive to buy.
Read more general info on car lights and read more here LED lights.
Jun 30, 2021 | Buying advice |
In 2021, where would we be without a car? Many people depend on them for commuting, visiting friends and family and going on holiday. Not having a car means a considerable restriction of your freedom of movement. But what should you do if you don't have the savings to buy a car, but need one? We discuss a number of options.
Personal loan
If you cannot afford the purchase price yourself, a lender may be able to do it for you. A personal loan is an option for car financing where you can pay the seller in one lump sum and thus become the owner of the car immediately. The repayment arrangement can be tailored to your wishes and possibilities. Of course you will pay interest and a longer term means that you will eventually pay more interest. Because of this interest you will also end up paying more than the original purchase price. On the other hand, you can use the vehicle immediately.
On credit with the seller
At several official dealers it is possible to buy a car in instalments. This means that you don't have to pay the purchase price in one go, but that you pay off the car. That's handy, but pay attention to the conditions before you start. Because a car in instalments is in fact also a loan, you also have to pay interest. How high is the interest? Will there be a large balance left at the end of the term that you have to pay at once? Will you become the owner of the car immediately? These are questions to which you should have answers in advance. These last two issues are not an issue with a personal loan. Also, the interest rate is often a bit lower.
Private lease
An alternative to the above options is private leasing. You pay a fixed monthly fee to use the car for an agreed period. You do not become the owner of the car, but you can drive a new car. The monthly fee is often quite high, but it does include insurance, road tax and maintenance. In case of damage, you can get a replacement car. But beware: terminating a lease contract prematurely is often difficult and very expensive. Another disadvantage is that the number of kilometres you can drive per year has to be agreed in advance. If you drive more, you have to pay extra.
So no savings need not mean that you cannot get a car. But be aware that borrowing money costs money and both loans and instalment plans are registered with the Credit Registration Bureau (BKR). This can have consequences for future loans.
May 28, 2021 | Mounting |
The windscreen of a truck is made of laminated glass. This is glass that consists of several glass layers with a PVB film in between. The purpose of this film is to keep the glass together in the event of glass breakage. This is achieved by means of an adhesive effect on both sides of the film. In spite of this particularly high-quality and solid car glass, damage to a truck windscreen is particularly common. Are you also affected by this and would you like to replace this damaged windscreen at the best possible price? In that case we have a very interesting solution for you!
How is a truck window damaged?
The first question many people will ask is how exactly a truck window can be damaged. This can have many different causes. A stone or a bird may hit the windscreen, but have you ever thought about vandalism? It goes without saying that an accident can also significantly damage a truck's windscreen, making it necessary to replace it. Whatever the damage to your windscreen, you will want to do everything possible to have it repaired as soon as possible.
Is it possible to repair a broken truck windscreen?
When you have a harmless crack in the windscreen of your truck, it can in principle be repaired quite easily. Replacing the windscreen is therefore not a requirement. It is a completely different story if there is a large crack, or if the truck windscreen is smashed. It goes without saying that these cannot be repaired as easily as a small star. If your truck has a badly damaged windscreen and you want to solve this problem as soon as possible? Then there is no other option than to replace it with a new windscreen.
Cheaply order a new truck windscreen
Ordering a new truck windscreen to replace the damaged one is something that many people like to put off. Yet this is necessary to get the vehicle glass in perfect condition. Fortunately, the cost of a new windscreen for your truck can be less than you might initially think. There are roughly two different options on the market, namely:
- An original car window with brand logo
- An aftermarket car window without a brand logo
At first glance, the presence or absence of a brand logo seems more like a detail. To be honest, it is. But it is one that can significantly influence the price of a car glass. Car glass experts are regularly contacted by customers asking what is the best solution for their broken windscreen. Replacing a truck windscreen is cheaper when you choose an aftermarket car glass. You will find that in many cases this is the best and most economical solution.
Replacing a truck window with aftermarket auto glass
The fact that a new truck window is made for the after market makes it quite a bit cheaper than an original one. According to some, this indicates a lower quality. However, we can immediately dispel this rumour. It is absolutely not the case that an aftermarket windscreen is of reduced quality. How can we be so sure? Very simple, because both the factory where both car windows are produced and the production line are exactly the same. Aftermarket car windows are always produced according to the strictest European quality standards. So by choosing an aftermarket truck window, you can be absolutely sure to get the best possible value for money.
Replacing damaged truck windscreen on site
Damage to your truck windscreen can happen at the most inconvenient moments. When you are faced with a serious crack right in the driver's field of vision, it is obviously no longer responsible to continue driving the truck. It goes without saying that this also applies to the situation where you are confronted with a completely shattered truck windscreen. But what exactly should you do in this situation? Don't worry, did you know that a broken windscreen can be used to repair a truck? truck window can be replaced at your location? An experienced auto glass specialist will be happy to come to your location and immediately replace the damaged truck window. This way, you have a very efficient solution at your disposal. In addition, this service is offered without receiving a sky-high bill.
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