Vauxhall Ampera review - What's it like to drive?

The first thing that strikes you is how quiet the Ampera is. In full EV mode, you don't hear anything from the powertrain, and even when the petrol engine is called into action, it stays impressively quiet.

Road noise is extremely well isolated, too, which also helps make the Ampera a refined cruiser. There's some wind noise, but it's noticeable only because there's so little sound from elsewhere.

The soft suspension also contributes the car's relaxed, easy-going nature. It's brilliant at smothering nasty bumps and potholes at all speeds, and the car feels smooth and settled on the motorway. Granted, it can feel floaty over undulating roads, but in most situations, the Ampera is a comfortable and composed way to travel.

The suspension's softness does mean a fair amount of body lean in bends, but there's plenty of grip, so it always feels secure. The steering is a little irritating, though. It's light and slow to react around the straight-ahead, which means you find yourself constantly making small adjustments to keep the car going in a straight line.

Performance isn't a problem, though. The 148bhp electric motor gives a hefty 273lb ft of torque that's available as soon as you touch the accelerator. The pick-up feels instantaneous and brisk, if not quite as rapid as a Nissan Leaf's – Vauxhall quotes a 0-60mph time of around nine seconds.

There are four driving modes. Normal is the default mode that's selected when you start up, while Sport mode sharpens accelerator responses even further. Mountain mode conserves extra minimum battery charge to help with steep inclines, while Hold mode allows you to immediately switch to extended-range mode – where the engine kicks in to power the motor – so you can save your battery power for when you need it most.