EV For elderly parents

HBC08 · 30-01-2026 11:49AM

Thanks for all the constructive advice here,it's really great and introduced some cars I wouldn't even have thought about.

We're going to test drive an MGs5 this afternoon. This will be their first time in a full BEV.

If its too complicated or they don't like it then we'll move into some of the hybrids suggested in this thread.

Thanks again

Flinty997 · 30-01-2026 03:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124191939#Comment_124191939

Had the same issue with VW's that didn't get much driving.

...Ghost... · 30-01-2026 04:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124192076#Comment_124192076

Try the 4 aswell

billyhead · 30-01-2026 10:58PM

I'd echo what others have said here about not over complicating things i.e. less is best or in this case don't buy a car with a load of modern features such as an onboard touchscreen etc.

cobham · 31-01-2026 09:40PM

Take a look at Hyundai Inster, small car but deceptive as has spacious interior with high roof and lot of glass. Plenty of old style knobs.

CramCycle · 31-01-2026 09:58PM

Go to a dealer and get test drives in different brands.. My mother in law had a definitive idea.of what she wanted then went on a few test drives and turns out she preferred the new version of what she already had.

Gael23 · 16-02-2026 02:00AM

Any update on this?

MightyMunster · 16-02-2026 08:15AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124190811#Comment_124190811

My EV (Model,Y) has a programmable easy entry setting that does this for you. Not sure if many have this.

Another big advantage is preheating/cooling from your phone. Saves scraping ice, freezing cars, roasting cars especially if you're doing short trips where a Diesel wouldn't have heated up enough.

...Ghost... · 16-02-2026 11:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124239626#Comment_124239626

OP said parents wouldn't go for a Tesla. I love the easy entry seat automation too...and preheat from APP or timer.

MightyMunster · 19-02-2026 04:22PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124241728#Comment_124241728

I assumed some other EVs have this function as well?

...Ghost... · 19-02-2026 05:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124249043#Comment_124249043

Yeah, but few and far between. The Tesla one just works, especially in the newer cars. In the older ones, you have to select a profile on screen.

Cyrus · 19-02-2026 05:28PM

Jesus some of the responses here, if they are driving a q2 and have iphones they will manage an EV, and any modern hybrid will have just as much tech. 100km a week means charging once a month for most modern evs, id wager stepping outside to do that is preferable than driving to a petrol station.

They will be grand, no gears, get in and go, plenty of safety aids and cameras, ideal really.

freshpopcorn · 19-02-2026 07:55PM

I'm really invested in this thread for some reason.

HBC08 · 20-02-2026 08:52PM

OP here,

We have test driven a lot of cars at this stage.

Lots of learnings but main take away is full EV is not going to work.Too much to type out on a phone but a combo of too much tech and range anxiety (even with their tiny milage it was disconcerting to see the battery % steadily going down over a few days use)

As a side note I was an EV sceptic myself before all this an even more so now.I realise this is the EV forum but I hope people can respect that they are not for everyone (I'd say most people) at this point in time.I personally will never buy one with the current technology.

Will be going with mild hybrid.Taking out Juke and Yaris Cross next week.

Thanks for the helpful info on here,I actually based a lot of tes5 drives off it.

Ps,nicest we had (from my point of view,not parents) was the Renault Megane.

The cost to change with a mint,low milage Audi Q2 trade in was 28k (another reason EVs are not going to take off)

MightyMunster · 20-02-2026 09:28PM

Was the trade in offer low. Not a very popular model and Audi market share has been in steady decline.

28000 to go up 9 years doesn't seem too bad.

EV annual sales have gone from 600 in 2017 to 23600 in 2025 so safe to say they're already taking off 😁

In-laws just got a Yaris cross and are happy with it, very small, plasticy, 1990s tech and incredibly slow. Might be what you're looking for.

HBC08 · 20-02-2026 11:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124252364#Comment_124252364

14k for the Q2.

I take your point on the Q2 not being the most popular model.

However,going from Audi to Megane (and I've owned 2 of them) at that money is silly.

Also,as mentioned it was myself rather than parents that liked the Megane (possibly nostalgia) It's a very limited car for the 42k the dealership wanted.

It's madness and most people in the country won't play along.I realise this isn't a popular opinion in the EV forum.

gussieg · 20-02-2026 11:28PM

I had an oul hyundai getz fierce uncomfortable to sit n for any length of time so I "upgraded" with memory foam seat cushions. If it were I, I'd go for the inster , sure you only live once, my mother in her 80s could handle one of those, and she's been talking about electric for a while too. and maybe there's someway to improve on the boot opening too.

Cyrus · 20-02-2026 11:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124252282#Comment_124252282

Cars are very expensive now generally, why are they changing seems keeping what they have probably makes more sense than anything else.

HBC08 · 20-02-2026 11:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124252675#Comment_124252675

Thanks,looked at the Inster,good suggestion but a few things won't work for them.

I think im going to start another thread on the aftermarket tailgate (was quoted €1700)

HBC08 · 20-02-2026 11:33PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124252683#Comment_124252683

As mentioned up the thread,

Diesel doesn't suit their milage,main driver can't use the manual boot.

Cyrus · 20-02-2026 11:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124252685#Comment_124252685

Ah ok, on the boot, re the mileage i don't get you ?

HBC08 · 20-02-2026 11:37PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124252688#Comment_124252688

Doing less than 100km around town a week.Not good for a modern diesel engine.

Small petrol or hybrid would suit much better.

We considered EV and drove loads of them,hence the thread.

EV not suitable

MarkN · 21-02-2026 12:14AM

surely an Inster is too low down for them to get in and out of anyway? Not sure how electric doesn’t work here but that’s for another day.

New VW T-Roc might work for them, don’t think it’s been mentioned. Petrol mild hybrid.

HBC08 · 21-02-2026 12:17AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124252782#Comment_124252782

Cheers Mark,I know you know your stuff so appreciate the reply.

I actually didn't know there was a T Roc hybrid.

I imagine its pricey but will definitely take one for an afternoon.The auld fella likes VWs and had loads of them down the years

MarkN · 21-02-2026 12:50AM

mild hybrid for the moment but there’s a HEV coming. Škoda Karoq or Kamiq too. Might get a more favourable trade in price for the Audi also.

Cyrus · 21-02-2026 03:17AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124252699#Comment_124252699

But they have been driving it for 9 years , what's the concern now ? Plenty of people of driving diesels around doing small mileage as previous government policy encouraged people to buy diesels.

Id love to know the actual reasons as to why someone doing 100km a week finds an EV unsuitable if they are insistent on changing the car. It's not making any sense. The tech argument doesn't stack up because a new petrol hybrid is likely to be just as techy inside.

HBC08 · 21-02-2026 09:43AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124252944#Comment_124252944

9 years ago a diesel suited their needs, it doesn't now.

100 or so km a week on a diesel is asking for DPF problems to the point where I need to bring it for a motorway blast a couple of times a month.

The auld fella is 85,has parkinsons now and can't drive anymore,the mam is 81 and whilst she is very good with technology she found the many EVs we drove over the past few weeks a bit challenging.A few suggested on here that might happen and it did.

Through a process of trying out cars and learning we're now leaning towards a year or two old mild hybrid.

User1998 · 21-02-2026 10:03AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124253063#Comment_124253063

Yes of course they were going to find it challenging. Most 81 year olds would find any new car challenging never mind an EV.

You do realise a mild hybrid is not a hybrid tho? They are the exact same as a standard petrol car. Actively trying to purchase one would be foolish

...Ghost... · 21-02-2026 10:07AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124252282#Comment_124252282

This isn't the EV part of the forum. EV was just recommended because it made the most sense from a purely logical point of view based on the information provided. The decision to not go EV is an emotional one and that's perfectly OK if that's where people want to put their money. Cars are largely emotional purchases and being in the non EV section of motors, you were naturally going to get plenty of anti-EV opinions.

At the end of the day, it's your/your folks decision and yeah, of course your decision is respected. With the decision made, I'd still be curious about the reasoning behind going mild hybrid over EV…especially your own declaration that you wouldn't go EV with current tech. I understand why diesel was ruled out. Not enough driving and that comes with problems. What tech in EVs is problematic? The cabin tech is pretty much the same in all cars now. Large UI screen. Smaller drive info screen behind wheel. A few buttons on the steering wheel. The only tech differences of note are the drive trains used, be it pure ICE, mild hybrid, PHEV or BEV. I'm genuinely interested in your thoughts and opinions on this.

Interestingly, my old man who is just shy of 70 was visiting lastnight. He has a 212 Tucson PHEV he bought new and was adamant last time around that EV wouldn't suit, despite his tiny mileage. He has 20k klms on the clock. He is picking up an Inster on Wednesday. The 49kWh top spec, rather than the 40kWh, which would actually suit him perfectly with more than enough mileage, as he only does local driving. He lives in an apartment with UG parking and I ran a double socket down to where he parks, which will covers his driving needs.

He was anti-EV when I went EV back in 2017 and made all the jokes about us running out of battery (never happened btw) and driving a golf-buggy. He did run out of petrol a few times before though 😂. Going PHEV was by chance. He just wanted the Tucson and happened to end up buying the PHEV version, not knowing it was a plug-in model when he ordered.

HBC08 · 21-02-2026 10:10AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124253091#Comment_124253091

In fairness you don't know them so saying definitively " of course" doesn't hold any weight.

I thought they might manage i thought they might struggle.We tried lots of EVs and it turned out to be the latter.

I don't know enough about your 2nd point to comment definitively on it.Ill be looking to educate myself on that over the next while but they have expressed a preference for a mild hybrid.

EV For elderly parents

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