In 2020 the column ‘Back to Basics’ was again a popular column. Every Saturday a basic version of a specific model was ready to be dissected. These are the ten best-read loafers of the past year!
The list below is by no means one-sided. From the Toyota Yaris to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, there was something for everyone. Another striking car in the list is the Volkswagen Passat. You see him driving less and less on the country’s roads, but you were still interested in what the basic version of the D-segmenter has to offer. Ultimately, the Mercedes-Benz GLA took the ‘win’ in terms of popularity.
10. MG ZS EV
MG is back in Europe. The ZS EV marked the return of the former British brand to our country. One thing immediately stood out in a positive way: the price. With a starting price of € 30,895, it is a very competitive offer on the EV market given its size. For that money, you are also not in the least scant.
9. Peugeot 2008
Peugeot’s compact crossover also did not escape the renewal drive within the brand. The 2008 is now also available as e-2008, but at the beginning of the year we could only get started with the 1.2 PureTech 100 in the basic version. One thing was immediately noticeable in a positive sense: even the slip-on has the LED tusks in the front bumper.
8. Polestar 2
Not only does a star play a big role in the Christmas story, the Polestar 2 also makes a regular return in our top lists this year. Many people looked forward to this EV, of course it is interesting to know what you get for the basic price of € 59,800. The answer: quite a lot! The scope of the options list is very limited.
7. Toyota Yaris (2020)
The new Toyota Yaris looks a lot more dynamic than its predecessors. He has now been part of our endurance test fleet for over a month. What is left of that sleek look when the Yaris is stripped down to the base version? In any case, a lot of silence in the interior …
6. Mercedes-Benz S-class
For a car with a starting price of more than € 130,000, ‘basic version’ is of course a relative concept. The flagship of Mercedes-Benz is already pretty good in its stuff as standard, but for the real novelties you will have to make the cut. Get started with the option lists and you will end up with an amount of more than € 190,000 for a fully loaded S 350d!
5. Mercedes-Benz CLA
The second car from Das Haus in this list is more at the bottom of the offer. Where the S-class still looks reasonably dressed for its starting price, the CLA is a lot more meager. For a mere € 38,000 you also have to put your left foot to work, because the entry-level CLA has a manual six-speed gearbox. Fortunately, there are also a number of essential things to mention that you always get on the fashionable four-door.
4. Volkswagen Passat
The Volkswagen Passat was once immensely popular, but thanks to the rise of the SUVs, the D-segmenter has suffered considerably in terms of sales numbers. Nevertheless, the basic version of the facelifted Passat received a lot of interest. Moreover, there was not much to complain about the equipment of the slip-on.
3. Renault Captur
The big counterpart of the number 9 in this list (the Peugeot 2008) is of course the Renault Captur. Both articles appeared on the site in the same month, but apparently the Renault could count on more interest than its opponent from its own country. The Captur is considerably cheaper than the 2008, but for that you have to give up on a number of essential points.
2. Volkswagen Golf
Despite the advance of crossovers and EVs, the Volkswagen Golf remains unabatedly popular. This is evident from the fact that he is a welcome guest in the top lists of the past year. You can get in from € 25,995 in the 1.0 TSI with 90 hp. Of course you can make it considerably more expensive by ticking all kinds of options, but even if you leave the options list alone, you can get along with the Golf.
1. Mercedes-Benz GLA
This year’s best-read Back to Basics is that of the Mercedes-Benz GLA. When seeing the new starting price, it was perhaps a shock for many, because the GLA is no less than € 10,000 more expensive than its predecessor. Fortunately, you also get a better entry-level version in the form of the GLA 200, but whether that also applies to the rest of the equipment?