Desirable, affordable, practical, long distance cars that are allowed in EU Cities?
 

That was a mouthful!

Seriously though, given many European cities are banning old ICE cars I've found myself in a quandary in finding a replacement car for our ageing BMW F07 535d GT euro cruiser.

As of 2023, it's going to be banned from Spanish cities and French cities as well are an issue, of which I like to stop over in and of course there's Germany, Belgium etc. have all closed the net.

So I'd like buy something that conforms, fine. But what? Has to seat 3/4 adults in comfort, including two small dogs and luggage with a 500+ mile range and 10 minute "charge". A 550+litre boot with folding seats, real world 42+mpg (6.7+l/100km) at constant 130km/h cruise , comfy, powerful and allowed into cities adopting any new legislation that the lobbyists and bureaucrats throw at me on all on a £35-40k budget (probably could push £50k for the perfect car) oh and ideally has a spare tyre (or space for one).

Really am struggling here. In France it needs to be crit-aire 1, In Spain it's needs to be ZBE "Eco" or "Zero".

Will EU7 bring out some more compliant cars? as what's about now is just...meh!

I'm guessing some sort of PHEV, but all I've seen so far is either too poor in real world long-distance (journeys over 100mies) mpg with a depleated battery or in conservation mode (official figures are bullshyte), boot too small (due to battery), doesn't conform government criteria or just plain boring and/or expensive.

Are you not supposed to Park n Ride these days ?

Try doing that with dogs and suitcases ;)

Non-existent in many cities anyway.

Well Elan would presumably want you to buy a type Y

Ah you want a Unicorn to ride

Pretty much, Yeah! I'm not really wanting to spend that kind of money on something I can't drive where I'd like to go or hurt me at the pumps when doing so (I have an old Jag reserved for that).

I was settling on a Volvo XC60 B4 D (Eco rated in Spain which isn't restricted) until I noted France have labelled new diesels into the same group as 15year old bangers :cuckoo: And the T8 Recharge which does comply gets 36ish mpg in battery hold/depleted mode, so still bit off on the consumption - not the worst by any means, however the hit is the petrol/derv price differences in Spain and France, where diesel was cheaper than petrol.

Plus the Spanish courts have thrown out the implementation of the new ZBE zones in Madrid, so other cities have held back on any plans despite the 2023 legal deadline to implement it.

Thinking of binning the idea for a bit until the motor industry/ governments get their act together and just run around in something cheaper that I might enjoy for a few years.

Thinking of a used Alfa Stelvio to tie me over. Need to blag a test drive first.