Vauxhall Ampera (Team Review) - Fifth Gear

The team test out the hybrid Vauxhall Ampera.

[Aless_Cnz]

I really like the idea of range-extended electric vehicles, seems like you get all that's good in a traditional electric car, without the range anxiety.
Also they were very expensive new, but they're more reasonably priced in the used market

[LarsJ]

So first you empty the battery and THEN you try to race the thing around the track? great plan!

[NotRealNamesAgain]

I never realized that Vauxhall sold a re-branded Volt. That front end- it's like they shipped over a Volt, picked on it, and told it "We're calling you an Ampera, and we don't care if you like it", which made it cry and made it's eyeliner run.

[radityaindera]

A freakin 6 for driving it stupidly fast like no one in this world would do (certainly the intended market wont). Thats a solid 2 for the journalism sir.

[Peoplestariff]

Unusually high score and Jonny was so impressed he bought one :)

[kenlawton]

Testing a hybrid on a race track and complains that he can't power out of corners😂

[audiwankenobi]

the Volt should've looked like this.

[ivantuma]

if you're planning on a track day ... keep it in hold or mountain mode to preserve the charge. It is a good idea to occasionally draw down the power to "propulsion power reduced" to help balance the battery cells - but for 99% of your driving - you can use the mixed driving modes to prevent the car from reaching that point unless you just don't understand how it was meant to work.

[farishanafiah]

I may not be a fan of EV, but Extended Range EV is definitely the one I'll choose instead of a standalone battery power.

[SylverWWA]

OH YM GOSH, is THAT really Johnny from FullyCharged??? :D What an utter surprise!

[jesters]

just bought one of these, for less then £9000, free road tax, not bought any petrol as the tank is half full and only there if i need it. drives great and packs a punch with the 150bhp electric motors and if and when on petrol there is still no sound as the engine runs on tick over as that generates enough power to cruise at town speeds. My Bmw was costing me £90 a month in running costs fuel and tax. Amazing car and now affordable. go find one a take a test drive. They only sold in the uk for 3 years 2012-2015

[simonjelley]

Now I can afford one (and have bought one) I see quite how dumb Tiff’s review is. Under any normal spirited use, including full throttle acceleration from a series of roundabouts, the car maintains the battery level using regen and increased engine power once at speed, even if ev mode battery is depleted. This works as long as you aren’t accelerating all the time and also better off you brake more gently. If you want to be an imbecile, hold or mountain mode would prioritise charging the battery more on the straights so would maintain power better. Context: my other car is an Elise; I don’t hang about, and this car is great.

[thegreypenguin]

Hey look it the Chevy Volt!! Oh, I, I mean it's a Vauxhall Ampera.

[philmzbyphred]

Before, all I thought was this is a rebadged Chevy Volt. After I watched this video, I wished they sold the Chevy Volt exactly like this.

[LifeOfNathan]

It looks like something trying to be modern from 10 years ago. And £34, 000 even with discount!

[AndorRadnai]

I like the baby Fisker! It’s a nice car!

[TheSimonhammond]

Funny that this tech has been around since the 1950's in diesel electric locomotives.

[greenrangercorey]

I never thought to look up the Ampera, it looks so much better than the Volt

[bmstylee]

so the question is would they give the Chevy the same scores? my guess is no even though it's the same car but it doesn't have a Euro badge on it.

[chrisdooley]

Looks like the Chevy Volt here in the states. I swear those are the exact rims on the Focus ST here lol