While mobility scooters are great for keeping people mobile, for those transitioning from driving a car they can seem lacking in many regards. They are either open to the elements (all too often wind, rain and the cold for us, unfortunately) or enclosed in unwieldy flimsy canopies that are unstable in the wind, restrict vision, and offer no protection from the cold. Being open, they lack the security of a car, and can also seem less safe, particularly when driving long distances with just a lap belt to fasten you to an open seat. Scooters also omit many of the driving aids that car drivers rely on, such as rear-view mirrors and parking sensors.
The Cabin Car solves all those problems. It features a fully-enclosed car-like body, keeping you safely ensconced as you drive. Not only are you protected from the wind and rain - with a windscreen wiper to ensure visibility - it also features a built-in heater and fan, to keep you warm (or cool) as the weather necessitates. This means it is the first truly all-weather scooter that you can drive regardless of conditions.
Your safety is ensured within the solid bodywork and toughened glass windows, while wing mirrors and a central rear-view mirror allow you to monitor your surrounds. The reversing camera and sensors allow precision manoeuvring, ensuring you never struggle to reverse again, and that parking is easy. Motor industry grade high-intensity LED lights outshine those offered on most other scooters, and keep you and your surroundings visible. Safety is further complemented by an over-shoulder seatbelt that keeps you securely in place.
The security of the scooter itself is ensured by a remote central locking system, the same as found on cars. Further luxury features include the digital dashboard display that shows your speed, distance travelled, temperature and more. A cup holder allows you to conveniently bring a drink of your choice along, safe from spillages. Two USB sockets on the tiller allow you to plug a satnav in while charging your phone at the same time. A choice of colours is available - white, black, blue and red.
Comfort is not neglected - the Cabin Car has super-soft suspension that soaks up the roughest ground with ease, and has been precision designed to be super-quiet. Large 13 inch pneumatic tyres further cushion the ride, while the seat is a luxury car-style one, contoured for maximum comfort even when driving for long periods of time. The 28.5 stone (181 kg) weight capacity is one of the largest on the market.
Large 75 Ah batteries give the Cabin Car a range of up to 30 miles on a single charge, and these can even be upgraded to 100 Ah batteries - the largest we've ever come across in a mobility product - to take you even further. The ground clearance is an impressive 5.25 inches, allowing the Cabin Car to tackle rougher ground should you wish to take it off-road.
Other luxury features that come as standard include an external charging cable - ideal if you park your Cabin Car on the driveway, an inbuilt trip computer, and twin USB charging ports. The four standard colours available are red, white, blue and black - however, bespoke paint jobs are available as each Cabin Car is built to order in the UK. A large number of optional extras are available to customise your Cabin Car further - including an alarm system, heated seat, electrically adjusting mirrors, wireless handsfree system and a lockable rear box.
Our Verdict
The Cabin Car is significantly more expensive than traditional mobility scooters, yet it offers far more than them. An outstanding product, there is no comparable scooter on the market. It is designed primarily for those who are no longer able to drive and wish to transition to using a scooter, but is also well-suited to those who already make extensive use of a scooter and want to upgrade to an all-weather model that allows them to drive in luxury. It really needs to be driven to understand just how different it feels to driving a traditional mobility scooter - it feels far closer to driving a car. Unlike most scooters that are mass-produced in the Far East, each Cabin Car Mk2 Plus is built to order at Scooterpac's UK headquarters, ensuring its quality and offering a high degree of customisation.
