The Car Expert

Ford Puma Gen-E

Sean Rees

-

5 July 2025

Summary

The Ford Puma Gen-E is the electric version of the UK’s best-selling Ford Puma small SUV. It arrived in showrooms in spring 2025 as part of Ford’s push to expand its electric line-up, building on a model that has dominated UK sales charts in petrol form.

The Ford Puma Gen-E retains the same basic body and practicality as the petrol Puma, including the clever underfloor MegaBox storage area. It offers compact dimensions suited to urban driving, along with competitive pricing compared with many electric rivals.

Early UK media reviews describe the Ford Puma Gen-E as sensible and easy to live with, rather than especially exciting. Ride comfort and everyday usability are generally well regarded, but performance and electric driving range are seen as adequate rather than class-leading. It does not set new standards in its segment, but it covers the basics competently.

For existing Ford owners considering a move to electric power, the Puma Gen-E offers a familiar driving position and practicality, although its range and performance are less distinctive than the petrol model’s driving appeal.

In the Expert Rating Index, the Ford Puma Gen-E scores very highly for zero tailpipe emissions and projected running costs. However, media review scores have been weaker than expected for a Ford model, and warranty cover is only average by current standards. Safety scores are also mid-table.

As of February 2026, the Ford Puma Gen-E holds a New Car Expert Rating of B, with a score of 69%. Excellent eco and running cost scores support the overall result, while modest media reception, average safety performance and average warranty cover temper the final grade.

Puma Gen-E highlights

Very low running costs
Zero tailpipe emissions
Practical cabin and MegaBox storage
Competitive pricing for an electric SUV
Easy and comfortable to drive

Puma Gen-E lowlights

Electric range only average
Performance not especially strong
Media review scores below expectations
Warranty cover only average
Safety rating mid-table

Key specifications

Body style: Small SUV/crossover
Engines: electric, battery-powered
Price: From £29,995 on-road

Launched: Spring 2025
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA

Image gallery

Media reviews

Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Featured reviews

“The Ford Puma Gen-E is an affordable electric crossover with decent range and nippy acceleration, but its rivals look that little bit better.”

Model reviewed: Select

Score: 6.8 / 10

Read full review

Matthew MacConnell

“The Ford Puma Gen-E brings an electric powertrain to a familiar, practical body – it’s good to drive and has a huge boot, but efficiency and range really suffer on the motorway.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 8 / 10

Read full review

Carwow

Tom Wiltshire

More reviews

Auto Express

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Switching from petrol to electric drive hasn’t really harmed the Ford Puma driving experience, and the Gen-E is still one of the most entertaining small SUVs to drive. It’ss still a little cramped in the back, but the vast boot has been made even more useful with enlarged under-floor storage. Prices are competitive, too, so the Ford Puma Gen-E deserves to be a big-seller.”
Author: Dean Gibson
Read review

Auto Trader

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“In the Puma Gen-E, Ford has done an electric car that makes a lot of sense. It’s not especially cutting-edge, nor does it have the best battery range. But by shoehorning an electric motor into the existing Puma, pricing it keenly, giving it a massive waterproof box under the boot, and partnering up with electricity providers to make it easy to live with, it’s an appealing zero-emissions runabout.”
Author: Mark Nichol
Read review

Business Car

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“Ford deserves praise for managing to translate the Puma’s keen drive to EV power, with credible efficiency, and unaltered practicality. Efficient to drive around town, it’s the Gen-E’s small battery that is its biggest issue. Drive this Ford on faster roads or motorways, and the range drops massively, making rivals with longer ranges a better bet.”
Author: Martyn Collins
Read review

Car

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“The Ford Puma Gen-E will go down well with the thousands of Puma and Fiesta buyers on a return PCP agreement wanting to dabble in the world of EVs with a product they know and feel comfortable with. But far better options are available elsewhere for not a lot more money – those with longer ranges and far better interiors. The Puma’s cabin alone would make me want to look in the direction of a Skoda Elroq.”
Author: Ted Welford
Read review

Carbuyer

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.6 / 10
“The electric Ford Puma Gen-E builds on everything we like about the standard Puma, but it feels a bit late to the EV party.”
Author: Charlie Harvey, Alastair Crooks
Read review

Daily Mail

Model reviewed: Range overview
“The Ford Puma Gen-E is an EV with spirit. I could even go so far as to say it’s a bit of a ‘driver’s’ small electric car, which could make it a genuine rival to the Renault 5 E-Tech.”
Author: Freda Lewis-Stempel
Read review

Driving Electric

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“Ford couldn’t go too far wrong by making an electric Puma. The Puma Gen-E keeps many of the best-selling petrol Puma’s virtues, while bolstering Ford’s EV range. However, by starting with an already ageing platform, there’s been a limit to how big a battery Ford could squeeze in, and the range figures and recharging abilities are only just competitive for its price and size.”
Author: Antony Ingram
Read review

Electrifying.com

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“I think the Puma Gen-E is just what Ford needs – a sensible, versatile, efficient small electric car that people feel familiar with.”
Author: Ginny Buckley
Read review

Green Car Guide

Model reviewed: Premium Standard Range
Score: 8 / 10
“The Ford Puma Gen-E is an electric version of the brand’s best-selling petrol model; it may not have a bespoke EV platform, but it does offer a sporty driving experience.”
Author: Paul Clarke
Read review

Honest John

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“In most regards the Ford Puma Gen-E is exactly what you’d expect it to be — a fully electric version of the combustion-engined Puma. It shares similarly engaging handling, the firm but not harsh ride quality, generous levels of equipment and cleverly space-efficient touches.”
Read review

Parkers

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6.2 / 10
“If you’re an existing Ford owner looking to make the step across into something electric, we think you’ll like the Puma Gen-E. But we don’t rate it as one of the best small electric SUVs. Its interior massively lets the side down and, though it’s very efficient, the on-paper electric range means it’ll be easily overlooked next to more impressive and rounded rivals, principally the excellent Kia EV3.”
Author: Ted Welford
Read review

The Independent

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“A safe electric transition for Puma fans, the Gen-E has familiar appeal and lots of storage, though the battery’s range feels a step behind the best EV rivals.”
Author: Steve Hogarty
Read review

The Telegraph

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Typically Ford, the Puma Gen-E doesn’t bring much that’s new to the small EV class. But if the technology is well known, the car appears expertly calibrated and you can bet that it will be brilliantly marketed.”
Author: Andrew English
Read review

Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“By rights an EV cobbled together like this one ought to be rubbish. The fact that it isn’t is testament to the rescue effort Ford’s engineers have pulled off.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 4 stars
Date tested: December 2022
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 75%
Child protection: 84%
Vulnerable road users: 70%
Safety assist: 69%

The Ford Puma Gen-E shares its safety rating with the petrol-powered Puma. This is not always the case for electric models, as there are substantial differences between EVs and petrol vehicles due to the removal of the engine/gearbox/petrol tank/exhaust and addition of electric motor/battery/inverter.

The petrol Ford Puma was tested in late 2022 and awarded a four-star safety rating, and Euro NCAP announced in July 2025 that this rating had been extended to the Puma Gen-E after conducting some additional tests.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of February 2026, the Ford Puma Gen-E has not been assessed by Green NCAP.

The Green NCAP programme measures exhaust pollution (which is zero for an electric car) and energy efficiency. Electric cars are much more energy-efficient than combustion cars, so the Puma Gen-E is likely to score very highly in Green NCAP testing if and when it takes place. Check back again soon.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Battery range	Average	Score	Variation	Score
EV models	230 miles	C

Electrical efficiency	Average	Score	Variation	Score
EV models	4.6 m/KWh	A

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	19	A

The Ford Puma has an efficient drive system, which means your electricity costs should be quite low. Its insurance group is very competitive as well, so your car insurance premiums shouldn’t be too painful.

We don’t yet have official servicing costs from Ford so we’ll add these as soon as they’re available, but Ford is generally quite good in this area as well.

Warranty rating

New car warranty information for the Ford Puma Gen-E

Overall ratingC50%
New car warranty duration3 years
New car warranty mileage60,000 miles
Battery warranty duration8 years
Battery warranty mileage100,000 miles

Ford’s new car warranty is pretty much the bare minimum offered in the UK, with a duration of three years and a limit of 60,000 miles. Other rivals in the price bracket do better (and in some cases, much better).

In addition to the standard new car warranty, there is an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty for the battery components.

Warranty on a used Ford Puma Gen-E

As of February 2026, the Puma Gen-E is still a very new model, so all cars will be covered by their new car warranty. The first Puma Gen-Es hit UK roads in early 2025, meaning their warranties will be valid until at least early 2028 (unless they hit the 60,000-mile limit before then).

If you’re looking to buy a used car that is approaching the end of its warranty period, a used car warranty is usually a worthwhile investment. Check out The Car Expert’s guide to the best used car warranty providers, which will probably be cheaper than a warranty sold by a dealer.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

As of February 2026, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Ford Puma Gen-E to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.

As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Puma Gen-E, we’ll publish the results here.

Recalls

Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Ford Puma Gen-E

As of February 2026, we’re not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the Ford Puma Gen-E. However, this information is updated very regularly, so this may have changed.

You can check to see if your car has any outstanding recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local Ford dealer.

Everything you need to know about UK vehicle recalls

Awards

Significant UK trophies and awards that the Ford Puma Gen-E has received

2025

News UK Motor Awards – Best Fun Car

Similar cars

If you’re looking at the Ford Puma Gen-E, you might also be interested in these alternatives.

More news, reviews and information about the Ford Puma Gen-E at The Car Expert

Electric car grant – all the EVs with discounts in 2026

Ford Puma Gen-E review

Electric Ford Puma Gen-E unveiled

Buy a Ford Puma Gen-E

If you’re looking to buy a new or used Ford Puma Gen-E, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car.

Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more

Find your next new or used car with Auto Trader. Find out more

Find your next new or used car with Carwow. Find out more

Lease a Ford Puma Gen-E

If you’re looking to lease a new Ford Puma Gen-E, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal.

Personal contract hire deals from Leasing.com. Find out more

Personal contract hire deals from Carwow. Find out more

Personal contract hire deals from Select Car Leasing. Find out more

Subscribe to a Ford Puma Gen-E

Subscriptions are becoming a very popular way for consumers to try an electric car for a few weeks or months to help decide whether it’s a suitable alternative to a petrol car. If you’re interested in a car subscription, The Car Expert’s partners can help. (PS: What’s a car subscription?)

Car subscriptions from SelfDrive.
Find out more

Car subscriptions from Cocoon.
Find out more

Car subscriptions from Just Vehicle Solutions.
Find out more

The fastest ways to sell your car

Tom Johnston

-

4 July 2025

0

Plenty of people want or need to sell their car quickly. It may be that they urgently need some extra cash, or it may be that they can’t stand the idea of a long and drawn-out process of haggling with strangers over a few hundred quid to reach a deal.

We have good news. Like pretty much everything else in today’s online and connected world – reserving tickets, booking a restaurant, arranging travel – selling your car can be done quickly and easily, without hassle or haggle.

Car selling of the past would offer you two or three unappealing choices: take your pride and joy to a local car dealer, who would try to get you to use it as a ‘part exchange’ (also known as a ‘trade in’) against another vehicle or offer you a derisory, low price for it.

You could alternatively advertise the car yourself and go through all the hassle of placing a classified ad, waiting for it to be printed and published (probably a week later) and then endure a queue of people coming to your house, expecting a test drive and then haggling you down from your asking price.

You could also make up a ‘For Sale’ sign, stick it in the rear windscreen of your car and hope that someone would see it and contact you. And that could take weeks.

All of that is no good to you if you are looking for cash quickly and easily. Today, there are solutions available. Many websites will have the whole selling process done and dusted in 24-48 hours, with the cash reaching your bank account within a couple of days.

And even if you don’t need the money quite that quickly, but you also don’t want the grief of actually selling your vehicle, there are websites that will do that work for you too.

Things have moved forward in massive leaps and bounds. Selling your car online in one or two days is perfectly possible and quite easy. Specialist agencies have been launched to do all the work for you, and at double quick time. It really couldn’t be easier.

The level of assistance given varies and so do the various offerings, but the end result – the sale of your vehicle – is well within grasp. So, who is out there and ready to do the selling for you? How do they differ? And what does it cost?

Some sites effectively buy the car from you and sell it on, making their profit in that way. You will be offered a price, but it might be slightly less than you would expect if you sold the vehicle yourself. But what you lose in the final figure, you gain in speed and convenience. In many cases. the money is paid to you direct – you don’t have to deal with chancers and hagglers.

Other sites help you to set up an advertisement to move your car on. You might still have to deal with the end buyer, but your advert is getting a broad showing across the UK. These sites have a wide audience, so you are putting your car out in front of a lot of potential buyers. And that’s far more preferable than sticking a ‘For Sale’ sign in the window and parking it on the street.

Here The Car Expert looks at the big players in the world of internet selling. This is a list not a ranking, as the offerings do differ. It often depends on the level of input you want, as well as cost.

The fastest way to sell your car

Motorway*

URL: motorway.co.uk

This is a hugely popular and well-reviewed way to sell your car quickly and easily – it has become a serious rival to the successful WeBuyAnyCar set up.

Step 1 is to request a valuation of your car. This takes just a few minutes – you simply enter your car’s registration number plus a few personal details such as email address, and Motorway does the rest, checking valuations of vehicles like yours using live data for up to the minute valuations.

If you are happy with the valuation, you’ll be asked to profile your car using your phone to take photos of the vehicle. Step-by-step instructions are given to help you get shots that buyers want to see. Those buyers are made up of the 7,500 dealers in Motorway’s network who might be interested in adding your car to their stock inventory.

The company also has an army of scrap metal dealers and recyclers who might also take the car, so it doesn’t matter if you have a sought-after beauty or an old banger worth just a few hundred pounds. Whichever trader you choose to sell to, Motorway will transfer the money to your account within 24 hours and collect the car free of charge.

Get a free valuation on your car from Motorway*

Carwow*

URL: carwow.co.uk/sell-my-car

Carwow was – and possibly still is – known for its ability to find you a great car to buy from a dealer and at a discount. And the know-how and expertise it had to do that task has now been applied to helping you sell a car too.

The company has assisted 10 million people to either find or sell a car and in terms of selling, it claims to have handled 230,000 such transactions.

The set-up is similar to Motorway’s in that you enter your registration number and personal details, and ask Carwow to circulate that information to its network of more than 5,500 trusted used car dealers who bid in an online auction. All you have to do is pick the offer that appeals to you, likely the highest one.

It’s important that you enter truthful and honest details about the car (and that goes for any similar site) because these will all be carefully checked anyway, before any cash is handed over.

The site is packed full of car reviews, tips, advice and other useful information.

Get a free valuation on your car from Carwow*

Autotrader*

URL: autotrader.co.uk

In the days when everything was printed on paper, Auto Trader was the go-to for anyone thinking of buying a used car. Today (except ‘Autotrader’ is now all one word, apparently), it offers a similar service which is very popular with potential buyers – except that today it’s all online.

You can still advertise your vehicle which puts you in control, allowing you to set the price and maximise your selling price while putting the car in front of a potential ten million people. But this is a longer process, and you have to pay for it – £18 for a two-week slot rising to £45 for the ‘Ultimate’ service, advertising the vehicle until it sells.

To speed things up – and get your hands on some cash quicker – Autotrader also offers the auction route. The site says a car can be sold in as little as 48 hours.

It takes the traditional path – the car is put in front, virtually, of thousands of dealers, who compete with each other by bidding to offer the best price. Once the auction is over, you will be notified of the best price and can then decide whether to proceed or not. There’s free collection of the vehicle offered and same-day payment made.

Get a free valuation on your car from Auto Trader*

Exchange My Car*

URL: exchangemycar.co.uk

It’s a similar story with Exchange My Car – and you can get paid in quick time too – but this system involves a few more checks.

To get started, you type in your car’s registration number, along with current mileage and your personal details. The site uses information from its car-buying partners to come up with an initial valuation for you.

If you’re going ahead, you then need to give more detailed information about the car and images of it so that the valuers can come up with a more accurate estimate. Here the further checks begin: you book an appointment for a specialist visit and gather all the car’s relevant documentation and paperwork.

On the day of the appointment, the car buying partner arrives to check over the car and confirm it’s all as described, before completing the sale paperwork and closing the deal. It’s at this point, of course, that the valuation can change as the vehicle’s condition is assessed. However, if everyone’s happy, money is transferred immediately, and arrangements are made to collect the car.

Get a free valuation on your car from Exchange My Car*

We Buy Any Car*

URL: webuyanycar.com

Thaks to a series of high profile advertising slots, including some catchy tunes, We Buy Any Car is the UK’s best-known online car buying site. It’s been going the longest, too, and really set the pace in terms of this method of car sales.

It also gained a reputation for reducing the expected price for minor cosmetic damage, sometimes knocking hundreds of pounds off what people thought they would receive. As rivals have emerged, We Buy Any Car has had to adjust its offer-making process to stay competitive.

One big difference here is that there is no free car collection service in the deal, so it’s not as ’relaxing’ as some offerings. You have to take your car to one of We Buy Any Car’s 500 depots across the country. They claim the nearest is no more than 15 minutes away, but that’s worth checking before you get in too deep with the sale.

The initial valuation is held for four days, so you can have a think about it and make an appointment. There is a charge to sell with We Buy Any Car – £50 for cars up to £4,000, £75 for up to £7,000, with other increments rising to £125 for up to £20,000. But it’s a fairly quick service and you can even get your money in 15 minutes – as long as you pay £30 for their ‘Immediate Payment’ service.

Get a free valuation on your car from Webuyanycar*

eBay Motors

URL: ebay.co.uk/motors

The term ‘eBay’ is a buzzword for online auctions and it you haven’t heard of this American giant, there’s something seriously amiss. The company is a leader in online selling and covers almost anything you can think of, including cars.

You fill in a detailed but easy-to-use online form, including details of your car with photos, and can then sign up for a length of time for an auction to be held – a week is a good benchmark. There’s the option to set a starting price and a reserve price for protection, plus the choice to have a ‘Buy it Now’ price, which can speed everything up.

There is a fee to sell in an eBay auction. It starts at £15 to list the vehicle, but the add-ons, such as £6 for ‘Buy it Now’ and £10 for a reserve to be set, can bump up the fee. And there’s more: a 1% cut of the final sale price fee (minimum £25, maximum £45) to pay.

For that though, you get financial peace of mind because eBay handles all the payment transactions for you. You don’t hand over the car until you have been paid, and you can check the useful feedback ratings on your potential buyer to see if they are trustworthy and quick.

Sell your car with eBay Motors

Gumtree

URL: gumtree.com

Gumtree is another great site worth a look when it comes to finding yourself a new-to-you used car – they have 230,000 of them all waiting to be sold. But this expertise has also been put to good use when it comes to buying from you too.

And there’s one big bonus with this car advertising site – if you’re a private seller, there’s no fee. You are basically creating a classified advert for Gumtree’s readers to see. Start with the registration number to set the ball rolling and the site fills in many of the car’s details for you.

There is the option to add other information if you wish, and there are tips and advice to help you fill in the greater detail that will help you attract more buyers. Photos are important in this process and Gumtree allows you to upload several showing all angles of the car.

Every car advertised gets a free, basic HPI history check to prove it hasn’t been written off, stolen or been in an accident. The system can prove speedy, however there is no payment assistance. Gumtree brings sellers and buyers together to find a deal – but arranging to get the money from them is down to you.

Facebook Marketplace

URL: facebook.com/marketplace/vehicles

Like eBay, Facebook is a name that’s become almost part of modern life. Millions of people use it as a form of communication through social media, but few know that it can be used to sell a vehicle. Launched in 2016, its Marketplace section is slowly gathering supporters.

This is a service for private buyers and sellers and consequently, cars at the cheaper end of the scale are more likely to be listed. It’s a cheap and convenient way to advertise your car – indeed listings are free. It’s a classified ad set-up again.

Click on the Marketplace section and open the ‘selling’ subdivision. There you enter details of your car and can include photos at this point.

There’s potentially a wide audience here as your advert can be seen by any Facebook user who goes to the Marketplace. Buyers can narrow down their search to your make, model or mileage so the right people could be driven towards your advert. Again, the negotiations and cash collection are down to you. Facebook merely puts you and a potential buyer together – but at least they’re another FB user.

Car Converter/Car TakeBack

URL: carconverter.co.uk / cartakeback.com

Got a car that you simply want to get rid of as quickly as possible in return for some small cash? These two sites could be your answer then. They take vehicles that other sites wouldn’t touch, such as badly damaged ones or older models that are ready for the scrappers.

Don’t expect a fortune from either of them but it’s likely to be a more competitive offer than from your local scrap dealer. Plus, there’s the added convenience that both these sites offer free collection, so you don’t even have to drive your car to the ‘breaker’s yard’.

Car Converter styles itself as ‘Cash for cars’ and says it’s the ‘damaged car buying specialist’. The simple site asks you to enter the car’s registration number, mileage and your postcode and with that they will send you a quote.

Car Take Back is the largest scrap car recycling network in the UK and has recycled nearly eight million vehicles. All Car Take Back needs is the registration number and your postcode to give you a quote. If you like what you see, you can arrange for a collection and once the vehicle is safely collected, the cash is sent to your bank.

Read more of our Expert website guides:

*The Car Expert has commercial partnerships with Autotrader, Carwow, eBay Motors, Exchange My Car, Motorway and We Buy Any Car. If you click through to their websites, we may receive a small commission. This does not affect the valuations you receive.

Stronger month for new car sales in June

Car industry news

Stuart Masson

-

4 July 2025

0

Stronger month for new car sales in June

The UK’s new car market returned to growth in June after a slow couple of months, with the overall results slightly ahead of last year as we reach the halfway point of 2025.

According to data published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), new car registrations were up by 7% in June compared to the same month last year, with fleet registrations up by 9% and private new car sales up by 6%. Just over 190,000 new cars were registered for the month.

So as we reach the halfway point of the year, 2025 registrations are about 4% ahead of the same point last year, with private sales 5% up and fleet registrations up by 3%.

While this is good news for the industry, it’s worth keeping in mind that this is still about 20% or so below the numbers we used to see before the Covid-19 pandemic, and it doesn’t look like the market will recover to those levels anytime in the foreseeable future.

EVs lead the charge

Unsurprisingly, electric cars and plug-in hybrids continued to lead the way in June. New EV registrations were up 39% on the same month last year, while plug-in hybrids were up by 29% and not far off the numbers recorded for regular (non-plugged) hybrids, which were down by 9%. Petrol cars registrations were down by 4% while diesels were almost unchanged – which is effectively going backwards since the market was up by 7%.

One in four new cars (25%) registered in June was an EV, with year-to-date numbers tracking ever closer to the government’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate figure for 2025. Officially, this says that 28% of all new cars must be EVs, but in reality there are allowances in the system that will bring that figure down to about 23%.

With June’s numbers running ahead of that figure, and year-to-date market share sitting at just under 22%, the industry seems better placed to meet the 28% mandate requirement this year than it was tracking to meet last year’s 22% target at the same point of the year. However, we still expect some manufacturers to be behind their targets in coming months so there are still likely to be strong deals around on new EVs from some car brands.

Plug-in hybrids continue to enjoy a 2025 resurgence, which is also linked to the ZEV mandate. This further eases pressure on some manufacturers to sell more EVs, as plug-in hybrids effectively count as partial credits. Regular hybrid sales were down quite notably, which was something of a surprise, while declining petrol car sales was less of a surprise and has become the norm as customers gradually switch to electrified vehicles.

Good month, bad month

Although the overall market was up by 7% in June, that growth wasn’t shared equally across all brands and some were a long way ahead or behind.

It was a good month for Alpine, BYD, Citroën, Cupra, DS Automobiles, Ford, KGM, Lexus, Mazda, Peugeot, Polestar and Skoda. All of these brands outperformed the overall market by at least 10% (ie – grew by at least 17% over the same month last year).

Meanwhile, things were not as rosy for Abarth, Audi, BMW, Fiat, Genesis, GWM, Honda, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, MG, Mini, SEAT, Smart, Suzuki, Toyota and Volvo. All of these brands underachieved against the overall market by at least 10% (ie – sales fell by at least 3%)

That means that the following brands were about where you’d expect, less than 10% above or below the overall market growth: Alfa Romeo, Bentley, Dacia, Hyundai, Ineos, Jeep, Kia, Land Rover, Nissan, Porsche, Renault, Subaru, Tesla, Vauxhall and Volkswagen.

What the lists above don’t show is the performance of the new brands that have entered the UK market within the last 12 months. Omoda and Jaecoo (two sister brands but effectively operating as one company) have had a very strong start to the year. Combined, they outsold brands like Mazda and Mini despite having only a couple of models between them. Leapmotor (a Chinese brand within the enormous Stellantis family) continued its slow start to UK sales, just ahead of Xpeng, while Skywell only managed to put number plates on two cars in the entire month.

As usual, Volkswagen ruled the roost in terms of total registrations, ahead of BMW, Ford, Hyundai and Kia. BYD recorded the largest growth, increasing registrations by nearly 3,900 cars compared to the same month last year. Going in the other direction, Toyota recorded the biggest fall with a drop of more than 2,600 cars over last June’s numbers.

We’ll have a more detailed 2025 half-time report coming in the next few days, analysing each brand’s performance over the first six months of the year and discussing what to expect in the next six months.

Qashqai takes top spot

The UK-made Nissan Qashqai was the UK’s best-selling new car in June, comfortably eclipsing the Ford Puma, which increased its lead in the overall 2025 sales race to more than 3,000 units over the Kia Sportage.

Tesla bounced back into the best-sellers list in June, with both of its UK models performing well. The Model Y crossover was the third-best-selling car, while the Model 3 saloon was sixth. Although people will inevitably connect improved Tesla sales with its CEO Elon Musk leaving his unpopular US government role, in reality these results are well within Tesla’s usual sales fluctuations and there’s probably not much more to read into things at this stage.

The Nissan Juke squeezed into the bottom end of the table in ninth place, giving us two UK-built cars in the top ten this month.

We’ll have our usual top ten report out later today.

More car industry news and analysis at The Car Expert

Audi A6 e-tron

Sean Rees

-

4 July 2025

0

Summary

The Audi A6 e-tron is the all-electric equivalent of the large Audi A6 executive family car. Becoming available to order in the UK in Autumn 2024, the range includes ‘Sportback’ saloon and ‘Avant’ estate body styles, as well as Sportier S6 variants.

Described by Jordan Katsianis of Auto Express as “arguably the best executive EV” Audi has launched to date, this upmarket saloon and estate has received a warm welcome from the British motoring media, with several favourable comparisons to the A6 e-tron’s closest rivals.

The Top Gear team argues that the Audi is “nicer to drive and less puzzling” than the Mercedes-Benz EQE, while Parker’s Alan Taylor-Jones points out that the A6 e-tron has a more impressive battery range than the BMW i5. Martyn Collins of Business Car adds that the executive car is “much better to drive” than the Q6 e-tron SUV, which is built on the same platform.

Both saloon and estate are also widely commended for Audi’s intuitive on-board tech and straight-line performance, though several outlets take issue with the car’s interior space.

While concluding that the A6 e-tron is “superbly well-rounded”, Paul Adam of Driving Electric warns that “rear space is compromised to the point that buyers will need to think seriously about whether the car meets their particular passenger-carrying needs.”

As of December 2025, the Audi A6 e-tron holds a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 79%. Besides its collection of good to excellent review scores, this overall rating is bolstered by a five-star Euro NCAP safety assessment and favourable running cost estimations.

More Audi Expert Ratings, new car reviews, news and features

A6 e-tron highlights

Long battery range between charges
Comfortable and tech-laden interior
Relaxing driving experience

A6 e-tron lowlights

Top-spec models get rather expensive
Rivals offer more rear passenger space
Fiddly touch-sensitive controls

Key specifications

Body style: Large saloon and estate
Engines: electric, battery-powered
Price: From £63,315 on-road

Launched: Autumn 2024
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA

Image gallery

Media reviews

Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Featured reviews

“The Audi A6 Avant e-tron is a spacious and all-electric estate car, with a decent range and good performance, although it falls ever so slightly behind its BMW i5 rival. “

Model reviewed: Avant (estate) range

Score: 7.6 / 10

Read full review

The Car Expert

Matt MacConnell

“The Audi A6 e-tron is sleek, comfortable and good to drive – but real-world range isn’t as good as promised and it feels a bit cheap in low trim levels.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 8 / 10

Read full review

Carwow

Tom Wiltshire

More reviews

Auto Express

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The superb Audi A6 e-tron has a wide appeal, making it the best executive EV from the brand to date.”
Author: Jordan Katsianis
Read review

Model reviewed: Estate (Avant) range
Score: 9 / 10
“There are flaws in terms of packaging, but the Audi A6 Avant e-tron’s dynamic performance and range are excellent.”
Author: Alex Ingram, Dean Gibson
Read review

Model reviewed: S6 estate (Avant)
Score: 9 / 10
“Audi’s mid-table S models have always had to find a balance between brains and brawn, and Audi has nailed it with the new Audi S6 e-tron Avant. This is a big, heavy beast, but the S6 appreciably ups the stakes on the already impressive A6 e-tron package. It’s comfortable, well built, fast and has a good estimated range. Plus it drives well and looks pretty slick.”
Author: Jordan Katsianis
Read review

Auto Trader

Model reviewed: Sportback (liftback) range
Score: 9 / 10
“Converting the popular Audi A6 to electric power took guts, but the A6 Sportback e-tron is everything you expect it to be and more. It might not be all that exciting to drive, but it’s well made, high-tech and it comes with a huge range, regardless of which battery size you choose. The only problem is that its main rivals – namely the BMW i5 and Mercedes-Benz EQE – have many of the same qualities.”
Author: Dan Trent
Read review

Model reviewed: Avant (estate) range
Score: 9 / 10
“Audi regains its estate car mojo in electrified form with the sleek, practical and very efficient A6 Avant e-tron.”
Author: Dan Trent
Read review

Business Car

Model reviewed: A6 Avant E-Tron Performance Edition 1
Score: 8 / 10
“We feel it is much better to drive than its Q6 sister – and more efficient. The interior design and tech are also first rate. It’s just a shame the Avant estate’s boot is no better than that of the Sportback hatch.”
Author: Martyn Collins
Read review

Car

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Audi A6 e-tron is, for the most part, a success. The heavy focus on aero has helped it jump to the top of the class for range, and the rear-drive A6 e-trons are significantly quicker than their equivalents from BMW and Mercedes, too. It’s good to drive with a polished feel to the controls and chassis tuning. We just wish it was more accommodating in the back, and the interior quality was a bit better in places.”
Author: Alan Taylor-Jones, Ted Welford
Read review

Model reviewed: A6 Avant E-Tron Performance
Score: 8 / 10
“It’s just as good as the BMW i5 Touring, which offers more space but less range, and it’s a strong premium option to the more affordable Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer. The handling may not be that exciting, but it delivers fantastic interior technology, a relatively compliant ride and decent straight-line performance.”
Author: Curtis Moldrich
Read review

Model reviewed: S6 Avant (estate)
Score: 8 / 10
“If you’ve got your heart set on a comfortable, tech-laden estate with decent practicality and class-leading range the Audi S6 Avant e-Tron is a strong choice. However, for similar money, the Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo is mighty tempting.”
Author: James Dennison
Read review

Model reviewed: S6 Sportback (liftback)
Score: 8 / 10
“If you liked the old S6 and want to go electric, you’ll probably like the Audi S6 e-tron. There’s the same easy-going performance car vibe, asking virtually no compromises over lesser A6 e-trons.”
Author: Alan Taylor-Jones
Read review

Carbuyer

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.6 / 10
“The Audi A6 e-tron is a great electric executive car that not only looks the part, but also sports a class-beating range thanks to large batteries and great efficiency. It’s comfortable, refined and full of technology, but its only achilles’ heel is a disappointing amount of interior space.”
Author: Charlie Harvey
Read review

Carwow

Model reviewed: A6 Avant E-Tron Performance
Score: 9 / 10
“The Audi A6 Avant e-tron is comfortable, great to drive, and promises massive range, but practicality can’t quite match alternatives.”
Author: Darren Cassey
Read review

Driving Electric

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“Rear space is compromised to the point that buyers will need to think seriously about whether the car meets their particular passenger-carrying needs. This important point aside, the A6 e-tron is superbly well-rounded.”
Author: Paul Adam
Read review

Electrifying.com

Model reviewed: A6 Avant E-Tron Performance
Score: 9 / 10
“I wish it had a bigger boot, and that the frunk was standard, and that it had V2L charging… But it is still one of the best long distance electric cars out there – that range is really good.”
Author: Vicky Parrott
Read review

Green Car Guide

Model reviewed: A6 Avant E-Tron Performance
Score: 9 / 10
“It’s an impressive car. The driving experience is excellent, with very comfortable ride quality and rewarding rear-wheel drive handling, a genuinely premium cabin and a user-friendly infotainment system.”
Author: Paul Clarke
Read review

Heycar

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Audi A6 e-tron is a futuristic new take on the traditional executive car, with its fully-electric drivetrain offering outstanding range and ultra-fast charging. Design and interior are forward-looking too, while the drive has the precision and integrity you’d expect of an Audi.”
Author: Richard Aucock
Read review

Parkers

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.2 / 10
“It feels like a much more polished product than the Mercedes-Benz EQE and has a longer range than the BMW i5. Rear space is a little disappointing, as is interior quality in places, but this is a fundamentally good electric car you’d be more than happy to own.”
Author: Alan Taylor-Jones
Read review

The Telegraph

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“I quite liked it – for an EV. I liked it better than the fellow German opposition, although if you are considering an EV estate the Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer shooting brake is cheaper and almost as good.”
Author: Andrew English
Read review

Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“It’s a slimmer, daintier car than the BMW i5, nicer to drive and less puzzling than a Mercedes EQE.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: March 2025
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 92%
Child protection: 91%
Vulnerable road users: 75%
Safety assist: 80%

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of December 2025, the Audi A6 e-tron has not been assessed by Green NCAP.

The Green NCAP programme measures exhaust pollution (which is zero for an electric car) and energy efficiency. Electric cars are much more energy-efficient than combustion cars, so the [Model] is likely to score very highly in Green NCAP testing if and when it takes place. Check back again soon.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Battery range	Average	Score	Variation	Score
EV models	428 miles	A

Electrical efficiency	Average	Score	Variation	Score
EV models	4.4 m/KWh	B

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£395	D
Year 2	£778	D
Year 3	£1,183	D
Year 4	£1,477	D
Year 5	£1,875	D
Overall	£5,708	D

The Audi A6 e-tron is a relatively expensive car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

The saloon and estate range offers one of the longest battery ranges on the market, with an average single-charge battery range of 428 miles (ranging from 384 to 461 miles depending on the model you choose).

Its electrical efficiency (the EV equivalent of miles per gallon for a petrol or diesel car) is better than average, while the car’s estimated servicing and maintenance costs are rather expensive, totalling nearly £6k over the first five years of ownership. That is to be expected of a car of his size and price tag, however.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

As of December 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Audi A6 e-tron to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.

As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the A6 e-tron, we’ll publish the results here.

Recalls

Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Audi A6 e-tron

As of December 2025, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the Audi A6 e-tron. However, this information is updated very regularly so this may have changed.

You can check to see if your car has any outstanding recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local Audi dealer.

Everything you need to know about UK vehicle recalls

Awards

Significant UK trophies and awards that the Audi A6 e-tron has received

2025

The Car Expert Awards – Best Premium Large Car
Auto Express Awards – Best Large Company Car

Similar cars

If you’re looking at the Audi A6 e-tron, you might also be interested in these alternatives.

More Audi ratings, reviews, news and features

More news, reviews and information about the Audi A6 e-tron at The Car Expert

Best Premium Large Car 2026

Audi A6 Avant e-tron review

New Audi A6 e-tron range now available to order

Buy an Audi A6 e-tron

If you’re looking to buy a new or used Audi A6 e-tron, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car.

Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more

Find your next new or used car with Auto Trader. Find out more

Find your next new or used car with Carwow. Find out more

Lease an Audi A6 e-tron

If you’re looking to lease a new Audi A6 e-tron, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal.

Personal contract hire deals from Leasing.com. Find out more

Personal contract hire deals from Carparison Leasing. Find out more

Personal contract hire deals from Select Car Leasing. Find out more

Subscribe to an Audi A6 e-tron

Subscriptions are becoming a very popular way for consumers to try an electric car for a few weeks or months to help decide whether it’s a suitable alternative to a petrol car. If you’re interested in a car subscription, The Car Expert’s partners can help. (PS: What’s a car subscription?)

Car subscriptions from SelfDrive.
Find out more

Car subscriptions from Cocoon.
Find out more

Car subscriptions from Just Vehicle Solutions.
Find out more

Renault 5 E-Tech test drive

Car reviews

Andrew Charman

-

3 July 2025

0

Make and model: Renault 5 E-Tech
Description: Electric supermini
Price range: £22,995 to £29,995

Renault says: “Faithful to the 2021 concept car, the Renault 5 E-Tech electric brings a welcome sparkle to the world of EVs”.
We say: The Renault 5 is a distinctive, affordable small EV which offers as much practicality as it does retro style.

Renault 5 E-Tech review 2025

Introduction

Most concept cars don’t reach production without their more radical aspects being diluted and ‘normalised’ for a buying public, but the story goes that when Renault’s CEO saw the company’s concept for a new electric small car in 2021, he insisted that it had to go on sale with as few changes as possible.

That concept reimagined the Renault 5, one of the first true ‘superminis’ – small hatchbacks – made between 1972 and 1995 that proved a huge success. More than five million were built and as well as becoming the most popular car in France, it found many satisfied owners across Europe.

The 2021 concept was instantly recognisable as a successor to the old 5, despite being a modern electric vehicle (EV). It had the upright proportions, sloping rear end, big wheel-on-each-corner design and various details that sparked instant memories of the original.

Now, four years on, the Renault 5 (Renault 5 E-Tech electric, to give it its full and official name) is finally arriving in showrooms and looking remarkably like the head-turning concept from a few years ago. It has also gone on to win the European Car of the Year Award, The Car Expert’s Best Small Car 2025 award and a host of other trophies. But does it live up to the hype?

What is the Renault 5?

In short, the Renault 5 is an electric supermini, replacing the previous Renault Zoe, the brand’s initial dip into the world of electric mobility which was popular (despite a disastrous Euro NCAP safety rating), but been long overtaken by the speed of EV development.

Thankfully, the new 5 is much more than a modern Zoe. This is Renault treading boldly down the same path trod by BMW with its Mini, and Fiat with the 500, producing a practical, current car that also distinctly references a classic predecessor and thus makes itself a fashionable lifestyle choice as well as a transport one.

However, this is also a car that Renault wants to sell in big numbers. So it’s practical – it’s quite light in weight for an EV, and crucially its price starts at just £23K, putting it right at the affordable end of electric motoring.

First impressions

This is where Renault has possibly had its greatest success – the new Renault 5 is a thoroughly up-to-date electric vehicle but in its body styling it really does reference its classic forebear, with so many details that fans of the original Renault 5 will recognise.

Yet even if you had no idea there was a previous Renault 5 – and much of the target market for this car will be in that category – this is simply attractive, a purposeful little car that owners will feel good driving and being seen driving.

The car offers a very poised stance, with big wheels that fill out the wheel arches, while such elements as the vertical light clusters on the rear pillars, another original Renault 5 detail, appear attractive in their own right.

Renault is certainly making the most of its new fashionable supermini. The paint options include the bright yellow always regarded as the signature colour of both Renault 5 and Renault itself, while there are also various decals and graphics on offer, replicating a market previously well exploited by BMW with its born-again Mini brand.

The retro treatment continues inside with the way the seats and the fascia are styled, but the major impression is the quality of fit and finish. It’s good to see Renault not going down the route of touchscreen-everything with a number of physical controls, though this does lead to a lot of stalks around the steering wheel.

We like: Car neatly fuses retro elements with modern practicalities
We don’t like: Some spec oddities such as heated seats only on the top model

What do you get for your money?

The Renault 5 is offered with trim levels in the UK, dubbed ‘Evolution’, ‘Techno’ and ‘Iconic Five’. Evolution is only available with the smaller 40kWh battery, which means a range of less than 200 miles – not necessarily an issue when most supermini owners will not get to a quarter of that in an average day’s driving.

Standard equipment includes 18-inch alloy wheels, auto air conditioning, wireless smartphone connection for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, rear parking sensors, cruise control and LED lights front and rear. Every Renault 5 also gets a heat pump, which aids battery charging in lower temperatures, and ‘vehicle to load’, allowing the car to be used to power external electrical equipment.

Likely to be most popular is the mid-range Techno spec, offering a significant increase in specification for £2,000 more than the Evolution and another £2,000 for the longer-range battery that stretches the official range close to 250 miles.

Specification highlights include a larger ten-inch driver display (up from the seven inches of the evolution), wireless phone charging, adaptive cruise control, a rear-view camera and multiple driving modes.

Go for the top Iconic Five trim level and you get different alloy wheels, plus heating for the steering wheel and front seats, hands-free parking and some safety extras, including lane centring and a blind-spot warning.

In terms of safety, the Renault 5 scored four stars when tested by Euro NCAP in December 2024. It performs well in crash situations, but misses out on a five-star rating by not achieving top marks in accident avoidance tests. It is, however, much better than the Zoe’s abysmal zero-star rating…

We like: Heat pump standard on all versions
We don’t like: Blind-spot warning only on top models

What’s the Renault 5 like inside?

Slip inside the Renault 5 and many potential buyers might notice the shelf-style fascia in front of the front passenger seat and be impressed by its padding and quality stitching, without realising that the shelf look is yet another nod to the original car.

As well as the driver’s digital display of seven or ten inches, all versions boast a ten-inch central touchscreen. On upper-spec models, this benefits from Renault’s tie-up with Google, with various apps available beyond the obvious Maps, but even the lower-spec versions accept Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connections with their access to Google functions.

What is a definite plus is the touchscreen not being needed to control the entire car. There are a number of physical buttons, including some four stalks on the steering column, and many aspects of the controls will be familiar to anyone who has driven a current Renault.

Gear selection is a simple matter of drive, neutral and reverse on most EVs and these functions on the Renault 5 are contained on a very slim stalk emerging top right of the steering wheel – it does look a little odd and, dare we say, fragile compared to its three chunkier siblings but does its job effectively.

In terms of space the rear seats are a little cosy, as one expects in this size of car. Taller passengers in the back will likely feel more comfortable than they would in a Mini, though their legs will be somewhat cramped.

The boot offers 326 litres of luggage space. It’s not that easy to use, however, as while pleasingly deep and with dedicated storage for the charging cable, it has a high loading lip which will have those with heavy suitcases struggling.

We like: Quality trim with padded, stitched fascia
We don’t like: High boot loading lip

What’s under the bonnet?

The Renault 5 offers a choice of two power units and two battery sizes, both employing a single electric motor driving the front wheels. The choice is between 40 kWh and 52 kWh batteries, and power outputs of 120 or 150hp.

This is not exactly the swiftest electric supermini out there, though it will offer enough get up and go for most users. The 120hp model will pass 62mph in nine seconds, while the more potent variant does the same sprint a second quicker.

In terms of charging, both variants will take around 11 hours to charge at home using an AC wallbox. The 120 model can only use DC fast charging at a rate of 80kWh, the 150 model 100kWh – in both cases you are looking at around half an hour to go from 15 to 80% energy level.

What’s the Renault 5 like to drive?

Small electric cars that are really successful tend to have certain qualities – they are excellently behaved in urban environments, able to manoeuvre with ease around traffic-choked town centres but they also offer a little fun behind the wheel when out on the open road. The Renault 5 ticks all these boxes very well, much like its inspiration did back in the 1980s.

As mentioned in the powertrain section it’s not a rocketship small EV – for more pace (though still not that fast in EV terms) you will need the sister Alpine A290. But the majority of buyers will not miss such potency, instead appreciating that the Renault 5 is fun to drive, while the instant response from the electric drivetrain does still allow swift overtaking of slower traffic.

The car will cruise smoothly and silently through urban roads, while up at motorway speeds it remains refined and comfortable, with for a small car in particular a remarkable lack of extraneous noise.

That right combination also shows up when cornering. This is no stiff sports model but it’s not over-soft either, with just the right amount of body roll and a chassis that goes where it’s pointed through proportional steering offering just enough feedback.

Obviously being a modern EV means that the Renault 5 comes fitted with EU mandatory driver alerts. The good news is that it also boasts Renault’s personalisation feature that allows the intervention of such alerts to be regulated or even removed at a single button press.

Those four stalks around the steering wheel do not leave room for the typical EV feature of regenerative braking paddles and the choices are limited, set in the personalisation feature with a choice of only two levels – certainly you can’t drive this car on one pedal like you can other EVs.

We like: General combination of comfort and driving fun
We don’t like: Limited brake regeneration

Verdict

The choice of affordable small electric cars is growing quickly. For the same money as the Renault 5, some rivals – particularly from Chinese brands – offer more space and more performance.

The Renault 5, however, scores on being both affordable and a car with personality, an image. It’s the same basic retro-inspired success story that keeps the Mini and the Fiat 500 selling in large numbers, but at a starting price that undercuts both – the Mini by £3.5K.

Throw in the fact that the success of both those cars means there are many on the roads, while the Renault is both shiny and new and more practical than either of its perceived direct rivals, and you can see why this car is set to be a hit.

The market for small electric cars was slow to get moving, but has been accelerating in the last couple of years. The Renault 5 is not the only retro-themed small EV available, with the Fiat 500e and Mini Cooper Electric also trading heavily on nostalgia for previous models.

More Renault Expert Ratings, reviews, news and features

Key specifications

Model tested: Renault 5 E-Tech Techno
Price as tested: £25,645
Powertrain: Front motor, 40kWh battery
Gearbox: Auto

Power: 120 hp
Torque: 225 Nm
Top speed: 93 mph
0-62mph: 9.0 seconds

Range: 192 miles (combined)
CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km
Euro NCAP safety rating: 4 stars
TCE Expert rating: A (82%, as of June 2025)

Buy a Renault 5 E-Tech

If you’re looking to buy a new or used Renault 5 E-Tech, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car.

Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more

Find your next new or used car with Auto Trader. Find out more

Find your next new or used car with Carwow. Find out more

Lease a Renault 5 E-Tech

If you’re looking to lease a new Renault 5 E-Tech, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal.

Personal contract hire deals from Leasing.com. Find out more

Personal contract hire deals from Carparison Leasing. Find out more

Personal contract hire deals from Rivervale Leasing. Find out more

If you’re interested in a car subscription, The Car Expert’s partners can help. (PS: What’s a car subscription?)

Car subscriptions from SelfDrive.
Find out more

Car subscriptions from DriveFuze.
Find out more

Car subscriptions from Cocoon.
Find out more

Everything you need to know about Mazda

Andrew Charman

-

3 July 2025

0

While Japanese brands like Toyota and Nissan are regarded as fairly conventional mainstream manufacturers targeting European equivalents like Ford and Volkswagen, Mazda has always been a little bit different.

This is a brand that has always been smaller than its domestic rivals and charted its own course, along the way producing some distinctive models – some that have sunk almost without trace, some that have become cult classics and one that has come to define an entire segment of the car market.

Despite building almost nothing but three-wheeled, motorcycle-based delivery trucks for three decades, Mazda evolved into an innovative car company that has been unafraid to challenge industry conventions, especially in terms of engine technology and ideas for how electric vehicles should work.

Many people today are familiar with Mazda primarily for its record-breaking small sports car, the MX-5, or perhaps its range of generally competent SUVs. However, this is a company with an interesting and complex history. Despite partnerships with larger automotive giants over the years, the company remains fiercely independent and has no plans to change its approach in the face of daunting changes confronting the car industry.

Everything you need to know about Mazda

So who or what is Mazda?

Several well-known car manufacturers started out making something entirely different and Mazda is certainly one of those. It was founded in 1920 in Hiroshima, Japan, as a manufacturer of cork. This did not prove particularly profitable, however, the company saved from bankruptcy by diversifying into machine tools and, from 1931, vehicles.

The first of these were motorcycles and three-wheeled trucks, effectively powered rickshaws. The first ‘Mazda-Go’ had a 200kg load capacity and was originally marketed by Mitsubishi despite wearing a Mazda badge.

Where the Mazda name comes from is unclear; the company has stated that it was inspired both by company founder Jujiro Matsuda and from the god of the earliest civilisation in western Asia, who was called Ahura Mazda – the company’s current logo supposedly indicates the beginning of the East and the West civilization, while also being a symbol of automotive civilization and culture. And you thought it was just a stylised ‘M’…

As with most car companies around the world in the 1930s and 1940s, Mazda was involved with making armaments for the second world war – in this case, weapons for the Japanese military. Work on its first passenger car continued during this time, with a prototype for a small car. However, it wouldn’t be until 1960 that Mazda’s first car reached production.

Immediately after the war, Mazda exploited its wartime know-how to produce a jeep-like two-seat utility truck. Three-wheelers continued to be the company’s core focus, however, with 200,000 built by 1957.

The company’s first car was the R360 coupé, a two-door four-seater powered by a tiny engine and priced to allow working people to buy their first car, in a very similar spirit to the Citroën 2CV, the Volkswagen Beetle, the Fiat 500 and the Mini.

Mazda’s model range expanded through the 1960s, including a pick-up truck, a micro-car, larger saloon and estate models, a people carrier and even a bus. But production was still dominated by its small trucks, even as the company started exporting to Europe in 1967.

The first real sign of Mazda’s unconventional thinking also came in 1967 with its first sports car. The Cosmo Sport was a two-seat convertible – much the same size as a modern MX-5, in fact – but it was powered by a completely different kind of petrol engine, called a rotary engine.

For several years, Mazda had been working with German manufacturer NSU (later acquired by Audi) to develop the Wankel rotary engine. This type of engine has far fewer moving parts than a conventional petrol engine, and offers high power and smooth running from a very compact unit. However, there are also challenges to the technology – particularly poor fuel economy and very high oil consumption, which has caused no end of problems for owners over the years.

Mazda marketed several rotary-powered models during the late 1960s and 1970s, these proving popular until the 1973 oil crisis pointed buyers in search of cars with better fuel efficiency. The company persevered, however, and launched two sports cars that have become cult classics over the years – the RX-7, made across three generations between 1978 and 2002, and the RX-8, which had a much shorter run of a single model between 2003 and 2012.

Other makers investigated and then abandoned rotaries, but Mazda has continued to work on the technology to this day and has built more than two million rotary engines over the years. The range-extender version of today’s MX-30 electric vehicle even uses a small rotary petrol engine to generate electricity for the electric motor.

In recent years, Mazda has also focused on squeezing ever more efficiency from conventional petrol and diesel engines through its SkyActiv programme, using different technologies to improve power and fuel economy while reducing emissions. Most of Mazda’s current models use SkyActiv engines, although the company has lagged behind the rest of the car industry when it comes to hybrids and electric cars.

As with most long-lived car brands, Mazda has endured periods of financial trouble. In 1979, it sold 25% of the company to Ford in an arrangement that led to several joint model projects. By the 1990s, Ford had upped its stake to 33% and began an extensive restructure of Mazda’s business to ensure its continued viability.

Ford’s management streamlined the company, bringing Mazda back into profit and helping Ford’s own balance sheet through cost savings from the joint venture projects. But when America’s financial crash of 2008 hit, Ford began selling off its stake in Mazda and completed its exit by 2015. Mazda then signed a new technical arrangement with Toyota, albeit with far less management integration.

Through its financial ups and downs, Mazda launched a car that would become the brand’s most famous product – the MX-5. A small two-seat roadster directly inspired by British sports cars of the 1960s, such as the MGB and Lotus Elan, it was initially greeted with some bemusement by rival manufacturers when it was revealed in 1989. Today, with the end of the fourth-generation model in sight and a fifth generation in development, Mazda has sold more than 1.2 million MX-5s around the world. It is, by a huge margin, the best-selling two-seat roadster in the world.

What models does Mazda have and what else is coming?

Without doubt, Mazda’s most famous car is the MX-5 roadster. Now in its fourth generation, it’s available with a traditional soft top or a targa metal roof. The current MX-5 has been widely praised by motoring journalists around the world for being a joy to drive, although it’s obviously not a very practical vehicle with only two seats and a tiny boot.

Unsurpisingly, however, the bulk of the Mazda range is made up of various SUVs. The mid-sized CX-5 was the company’s first crack at the SUV sector, now in its second generation and globally the brand’s best seller. It’s considered a good all-round vehicle, with The Car Expert’s industry-leading Expert Rating Index giving it a New Car Expert Rating of B. However, decent driving dynamics are offset by middling safety scores and poor reliability.

The smaller CX-30 was launched in 2019 and is based on the Mazda 3 hatchback. It earns a New Car Expert Rating of A, with the main criticisms being a small boot and less practicality than some other small crossovers.

The CX-60 sits above the CX-5, a larger mid-sized SUV that also debuted the brand’s first plug-in hybrid engine and aimed at a more upmarket audience. It, too, has a New Car Expert Rating of A, though reviewers don’t rate it in the same class as the Audis and BMWs it was supposedly built to compete with.

Even bigger is the CX-80, the most recent arrival in showrooms as Mazda’s large SUV flagship model and essentially a larger version of the CX-60. So new it has not been Expert Rated yet, the CX-80 offers seven seats and, like its CX-60 sibling, can be bought with a petrol/electric plug-in hybrid engine or even a diesel engine.

Mazda has not entirely abandoned traditional cars, although they make up a diminishing share of its sales. The Mazda 3, a mid-sized family hatch, remains on sale today in both hatch and saloon form. The latest generation model, introduced in 2019, earns a New Car Expert Rating of B, with reviewers feeling it doesn’t quite match the rival Volkswagen Golf or Ford Focus.

The long-lived Mazda 2 small hatchback has recently been discontinued, replaced the similarly named but entirely different Mazda 2 Hybrid, which is simply a Toyota Yaris with a Mazda badge. It’s reason for existing is to help Mazda hit EV emissions regulations. It enjoys a New Car Expert Rating of A, although there’s no compelling reason to choose it over a Yaris since the Toyota is cheaper and comes with a better warranty.

Current Mazda range on our Expert Rating Index

Mazda 2 (2014 to 2025)

Mazda 2 Hybrid

Mazda 3

Mazda CX-30

Mazda CX-5 (2017 to 2026)

Despite lagging badly in the move from fossil fuels to EVs, Mazda is finally coming to the party.

Its first EV, the MX-30, was launched in 2020 and praised for its driving dynamics but criticised for its very poor battery range. Unsurprisingly, few journalists or customers have accepted Mazda’s argument that most car buyers don’t actually need a driving range of more than 100 miles… As a result, the original MX-30 has since been joined by a version with a small rotary petrol engine to act as a generator for the electric motor, called the MX-30 R-EV. The range issues are the only significant minus marks against either car and both have earned a New Car Expert Rating of A in The Car Expert’s Expert Rating Index.

Likely to be regarded as the brand’s first mainstream EV, the all-new 6e will arrive in showrooms in 2026 as a direct replacement for the Mazda 6 saloon that was discontinued a few years ago. The company also previewed an electric SUV, the EZ-60, at the 2025 Shanghai motor show, which could come to the UK as an electric alternative to the CX-60.

As for the MX-5 – Mazda is known to be determined to continue its automotive big hit into a fifth generation, but the exact form of the new model is yet to be revealed. Some rumours suggest it could be based on a range-extender powertrain with a rotary engine like the MX-30 R-EV, but that would be a big departure from the simple petrol engine/manual gearbox formula of the last four generations.

Where can I try a Mazda car?

Mazda has around 120 dealers across the UK, generally well spread through England and Scotland. Wales, however, only has outlets at the very top of the country and around Cardiff. The Mazda website includes a finder to locate the nearest to you.

What makes Mazda different to the rest?

Mazda has long been seen as a bit different and somewhat eccentric – even compared to some of the wackiest parts of the Japanese car industry, but more recently it has gained a reputation for its maverick approach to electrification.

While much of the industry has been rushing to electrify, Mazda has argued that there is still more to be gained from the ongoing development of the internal combustion engine. It is pursuing this through its SkyActiv programme, and has also eschewed the move to smaller engines taken by other makers. However, it’s also fair to say that Mazda’s current line-up of cars doesn’t show any real advantages in terms of power, economy or emissions compared to rivals.

It’s also a proponent of sustainable fuels and has invested heavily in the development of these alternatives. There is an argument that if such fuels could be effectively produced at a low enough cost they could offer a major advantage in not requiring any infrastructure changes, such as charging networks, but there appears to be little evidence that sustainable fuels are ever going to be a viable solution for hundreds of millions of cars around the world.

Initially quite strident in these views, Mazda’s tone has softened in recent times and the company has belatedly started to play catch-up with electric vehicles.

Mazda is not entirely abandoning its stance on internal combustion, though, having recently committed to new engine development in partnership with Subaru and Toyota.

A Mazda fact to impress your friends

In the 1990s, a group of Mazda engineers once produced the very first car in a suitcase. Effectively a go-kart, it was created after they bought the largest Samsonite suitcase they could find and a quarter-sized motorcycle. They managed to house all the parts within the suitcase and when assembled, a task of minutes, the ‘car’ had a two-stroke engine, handlebars and a top speed of 19mph.

Sadly, the original prototype was destroyed by accident just a few months after its creation, but one ‘suitcase car’ is believed to still exist.

Summary

Mazda is developing electric vehicles for the future, but also refusing to abandon its own technology with new petrol and even diesel engines, encased within cars that earn generally positive comments for their comfort and quality.

The Mazda of today has come a long way from its first motorcycles of the 1930s, and it’s fair to assume that the future history of this particular brand will be no less complex. Independently owned car companies like Mazda are facing enormous challenges as the automotive world moves away from fossil fuels and embraces electrification, so it’s likely to be a rollercoaster ride.

Buy a Mazda

If you’re looking to buy a new or used Mazda, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car.

Find a used Mazda with Motors. Find out more

Find a new or used Mazda with Auto Trader. Find out more

Find a new or used Mazda with Carwow. Find out more

Lease a Mazda

If you’re looking to lease a new Mazda, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal.

Personal contract hire deals from Leasing.com. Find out more

Personal contract hire deals from Carparison Leasing. Find out more

Personal contract hire deals from Select Car Leasing. Find out more

Electric Kia EV4 now available to order

New model

Sean Rees

-

1 July 2025

0

Kia has announced that its new all-electric EV4 hatchback is now available to order in the UK, with three trim levels and two powertrain options to choose from.

Sitting between the smaller award-winning EV3 crossover and the upcoming EV5 SUV in Kia’s battery-powered UK range, the EV4 will be available in its hatchback body style at launch, with saloon variants to follow “in due course”.

It’s a mid-sized family car, set to compete with the sales of rivals like the Citroën ë-C4 and MG 4, Kia adding that it has been designed for European roads and is currently in production at the brand’s factory in Slovakia.

The range starts with the lead-in ‘Air’ trim, which is offered with either the ‘Standard Range’ 58kWh powertrain or ‘Long Range’ 81kWh battery pack. Both derive their power output from a front-mounted 200hp electric motor, but the former can muster up to 273 miles on a single charge, while the latter can reportedly handle up to 388 miles of travel without charging.

The EV4 can complete a 0-62mph sprint in a reported 7.5 seconds, with top speed electronically capped at 105mph. The mid-range ‘GT-Line’ and top-spec ‘GT-Line S’ trims are only offered with the larger 81kWh battery option, both having a slightly reduced official range of 362 miles.

Giving the battery a 10% to 80% top-up takes 29 minutes for the ‘Standard Range’ and 31 minutes for the ‘Long Range’ using a 350kW DC rapid charging station.

Key trim level features

Entry-level ‘Air’ (from £34,695)

LED headlights, daytime running lights, tail lights and rear fog lights
17-inch alloy wheels
Electric door mirrors with LED indicators
Rain-sensing windscreen wipers
Heated rear window and spoiler
Heated front seats
Artificial leather steering wheel
12-inch digital instrument cluster
Five-inch climate control touchscreen
12-inch infotainment touchscreen
Smart cruise control and lane keeping assistance
Front and rear parking sensors
Rear-view parking camera
Cloth upholstery

Mid-range ‘GT-Line’ (from £39,395)

All ‘Air’ features that are not replaced
19-inch alloy wheels
‘GT-Line’ exterior styling pack
Rear privacy glass
Artificial leather upholstery
Electrically-adjustable driver seat
Wireless smartphone charging pad
Customisable ambient interior lighting

Top-spec ‘GT-Line S’ (from £43,895)

All lower trim features that are not replaced
Front sunroof
Adaptive LED headlights
Heated and ventilated front seats
Heated outer rear seats
Motorised boot lid
Vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability
Remote parking assistance tech
Premium Harman Kardon sound system
Head-up display
Blind spot monitoring
Surround-view parking camera

Kia says that the hatchback comes with the brand’s latest suite of on-board tech, pointing to the 12-inch digital instrument cluster and 12-inch infotainment screen pairing on the dashboard that the brand calls the ‘connected car Navigation Cockpit’. This comes as standard, with these two displays connected together by a smaller five-inch touchscreen dedicated to the car’s climate control settings.

Part of Kia’s plans to launch 15 different electric cars by 2030, the EV4 is now available to order in the UK with prices starting at around £35k for the ‘Air’ variant with the ‘Standard Range’ battery pack.

Pricing announced for refreshed Kia Sportage

Model update

Sean Rees

-

1 July 2025

0

Pricing announced for refreshed Kia Sportage

The popular Kia Sportage SUV has been given a mid-life refresh, including cosmetic tweaks, trim line-up revisions and infotainment upgrades.

The Sportage is currently the second best-selling new car in the UK in 2025, accounting for around 38% of Kia’s total UK sales so far this year, and the manufacturer is hoping that this facelift can give the SUV a sales edge over rivals like the Nissan Qashqai and Hyundai Tucson.

Kia says it has given the Sportage look “a more confident look” including an updated front fascia with new LED headlights, LED ‘Star Map’ daytime running lights and revised front bumper design below an enlarged front grille. The SUV also sports new LED graphics for the tail lights and a new alloy wheel design. Kia also adds that it has improved the sound dampening in the front to make the driving experience a bit quieter in the cabin.

The manufacturer adds that it has “simplified” the Sportage model line-up, now including three different options – down from four. The entry-level ‘Pure’, mid-range ‘GT-Line’ and top-spec ‘GT-line S’ will be available with either a 145hp 1.6-litre petrol engine or a 232hp 1.6-litre petrol-electric hybrid, though a manual gearbox version of the lead-in petrol will only be available with the cheapest ‘Pure’ trim spec. All other models make use of an automatic gearbox.

The ‘Pure’, as well as the higher trims, will also be available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain for the first time, but the technical specs and arrival date of this plug-in hybrid are yet to be confirmed.

Key trim level features

Lead-in ‘Pure’ (from £30,885)

LED headlights, tail lights and daytime running lights
17-inch alloy wheels
Electric door mirrors
Leather steering wheel
Rain-sensing windscreen wipers
Keyless start/stop
Auto-dimming rear view mirror
Smart cruise control and lane keeping assistance
Four-inch digital instrument cluster
12-inch infotainment screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility
Cloth upholstery

Mid-range ‘GT-Line’ (from £33,385)

All ‘Pure’ features that are not replaced
18-inch alloy wheels (19-inch for hybrid)
‘GT-Line’ exterior styling package
LED front fog lights
Rear privacy glass
Chrome skid plates
Roof rails
Synthetic leather and suede upholstery
Heated steering wheel and front seats

Top-spec ‘GT-Line S’ (from £40,285)

All lower trim features that are not replaced
Adaptive LED headlights
Panoramic sunroof
Heated outer rear seats
Electrically-adjustable and ventilated front seats
Motorised boot lid
12-inch digital instrument cluster
Premium Harman Kardon sound system
Ten-inch head-up display
Wireless smartphone charging pad
Blind spot monitoring
Surround-view parking camera

Inside, there is a new two-spoke steering wheel and a 12-inch central infotainment screen orientated towards the driver. This display is compatible with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as before, but now comes with a Chat GPT-powered AI assistant and entertainment apps like Netflix and YouTube can be selected when the car is stationary.

While the ‘Pure’ and ‘GT-Line’ variants come with a four-inch screen behind the steering wheel, the range-topping ‘GT-Line S’ has a larger 12-inch digital instrument cluster, as well as a ten-inch customisable head-up display that projects driving information onto the windscreen.

Now available to order in the UK, pricing for the refreshed Kia Sportage starts at just under £31k, rising to around £44k for the petrol-electric hybrid all-wheel drive ‘GT-Line S’ – the only all-wheel drive version currently offered.

The fifth-generation Kia Sportage currently holds an Expert Rating of A, with a score of 73% in our Expert Rating index. The SUV has been praised by the motoring media for its value-for-money entry-level models and impressive interior trim and tech, but criticised for its expensive top-end models and its ride comfort when compared to key rivals.

Toyota Land Cruiser

Sean Rees

-

27 June 2025

0

Summary

The Toyota Land Cruiser is a large seven-seat 4×4, and Toyota’s answer to the likes of the Land Rover Defender and Nissan X-Trail.

This is the fifth-generation Land Cruiser, which arrived on UK roads towards the end of 2024. The range includes both a pure diesel powertrain and a diesel mild-hybrid.

Its predecessor was praised to its off-roading ability and its solid build-quality, and this latest iteration has received similar praise from the UK motoring media. “The Toyota Land Cruiser is an incredibly dependable and rugged, making one of best 4×4’s you can buy”, says the Carbuyer team while praising the SUV for its practicality and Toyota’s reliability record.

Dean Gibson of Auto Express also commends the Toyota for its “distinctive” retro-inspired exterior style, and its straightforward driving experience, but adds that “the seven-seat cabin isn’t the most intuitive layout we’ve come across” and that it is rather expensive considering “that it’s powered by a relatively weak and noisy four-cylinder diesel.”

Keep in mind that its predecessor, removed from sale in 2023, was around £30k cheaper to buy new during its lifetime. That’s a significant price hike, and means that that seven-seat versions of the Land Rover Defender are the cheaper of the two.

For the increased price however, Heycar’s Matt Robinson says the Land Cruiser comes with “a newfound sense of luxury”. That said, he adds that the 4×4 “can’t quite compete in terms of plushness with the wares of the German big three.”

As of June 2025, the Toyota Land Cruiser has a New Car Expert Rating of D, with a score of 58%. The 4×4’s good-to-average review scores are hindered by a low eco rating and rather high running cost estimations.

Land Cruiser highlights

Tough and dependable
Impressive off-roader that’s comfortable on-road
Spacious and practical upmarket interior
Attractive retro-inspired exterior looks
Toyota’s reliability record and long warranty

Land Cruiser lowlights

Significant price hike when compared to predecessor
Rather underpowered and noisy diesel engine
More lavish SUV rivals available for cheaper
Limited choice for trims and engines

Key specifications

Body style: Large SUV
Engines: diesel, diesel mild-hybrid
Price: From £77,845 on-road

Launched: Autumn 2024
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA

Image gallery

Media reviews

Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Featured reviews

“The retro looks of the Toyota Land Cruiser mask a new platform and contemporary technology for the long-running nameplate.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 7 / 10

Read full review

Auto Express

Dean Gibson, Antony Ingram

More reviews

Car

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The new Toyota Land Cruiser’s cool design and overhauled interior show it can be successfully modernised. The greatest improvement has to be the way it drives on the road, which no longer has to be a case of ‘I’ll put up with it because it’s great off-road’.”
Author: Alan Taylor-Jones
Read review

Carbuyer

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.4 / 10
“The Toyota Land Cruiser is an incredibly dependable and rugged, making one of best 4×4’s you can buy. There’s lots of interior space and clever off-roading equipment, making it a great choice for intrepid explorers heading off the beaten track.”
Read review

Heycar

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Toyota Land Cruiser is back, but it’s a little different on this occasion, blending the ruggedness we know it for with a newfound sense of luxury. The price has gone up, though, and you don’t have any choice in terms of powertrains or trim levels.”
Author: Matt Robinson
Read review

Honest John

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“The latest Land Cruiser is easily the most luxurious yet, but it can’t compete with similarly priced rivals in terms of plushness, refinement or on-road manners.”
Read review

Parkers

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6.6 / 10
“There are better road-biased SUVs for the money. A seven-seat Defender is significantly cheaper, a BMW X7 more spacious and luxurious, while a Jeep Wrangler is even better off-road. However, the Land Cruiser will almost certainly be the most dependable option.”
Author: Alan Taylor-Jones
Read review

Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“Want a genuinely rugged off-roader that’s phenomenally capable, quietly desirable, will never let you down, is well kitted out yet manages to look cool? Here you go.”
Author: Ollie Marriage
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

No safety rating

As of June 2025, the Toyota Land Cruiser has not been assessed by Euro NCAP.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of June 2025, the Toyota Land Cruiser has not been assessed by Green NCAP.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Diesel models	276 g/km	D	276 – 276 g/km	D – D

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	44	D	44 – 44	D – D

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£301	C
Year 2	£760	C
Year 3	£1,211	C
Year 4	£1,449	C
Year 5	£1,829	C
Overall	£5,550	C

The Toyota Land Cruiser is an expensive car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data. That said, we are yet to receive fuel economy data for this new model.

The SUV’s insurance premiums are in a high bracket, though this isn’t much of a surprise given its size and price tag. The car’s estimated servicing and maintenance costs over the first five years of ownership total at around five-and-a-half thousand pounds. While there are cheaper family cars to run and maintain, this is fairly average cost prediction for a large SUV.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

As of June 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Toyota Land Cruiser to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.

As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Land Cruiser, we’ll publish the results here.

Recalls

Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Toyota Land Cruiser

As of June 2025, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the Toyota Land Cruiser. However, this information is updated very regularly so this may have changed.

You can check to see if your car has any outstanding recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local Toyota dealer.

Everything you need to know about UK vehicle recalls

Awards

Significant UK trophies and awards that the Toyota Land Cruiser has received.

2024

Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year – Best 4×4 + Best Pick-up

Similar cars

If you’re looking at the Toyota Land Cruiser, you might also be interested in these alternatives.

More Toyota ratings, reviews, news and features

More news, reviews and information about the Toyota Land Cruiser at The Car Expert

Everything you need to know about Toyota

Toyota Land Cruiser (2018 to 2023)

New Toyota Land Cruiser ‘250-series’ coming to UK

New Toyota Land Cruiser SUV revealed

Updated Toyota Land Cruiser gets new engine and extra equipment

The best cars for hauling presents this Christmas

Toyota boosts its scrappage scheme offer

Frankfurt – Toyota Land Cruiser beefs up

230mph Toyota claims fastest SUV title

Buy a Toyota Land Cruiser

If you’re looking to buy a new or used Toyota Land Cruiser, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car.

Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more

Find your next new or used car with Auto Trader. Find out more

Find your next new or used car with Carwow. Find out more

Lease a Toyota Land Cruiser

If you’re looking to lease a new Toyota Land Cruiser, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal.

Personal contract hire deals from Leasing.com. Find out more

Personal contract hire deals from Carparison Leasing. Find out more

Personal contract hire deals from Select Car Leasing. Find out more

Subscribe to a Toyota Land Cruiser

If you’re interested in a car subscription, The Car Expert’s partners can help. (PS: What’s a car subscription?)

Car subscriptions from SelfDrive.
Find out more

Car subscriptions from DriveFuze.
Find out more

Car subscriptions from Cocoon.
Find out more

Engine update for Nissan Qashqai e-Power

Model update

Sean Rees

-

27 June 2025

0

Engine update for Nissan Qashqai e-Power

A revised version of the Nissan Qashqai e-Power will arrive in September, giving the hybrid SUV better fuel economy, more power and a quieter driving experience.

Added to the Qashqai range back in 2022, this ‘e-Power’ version of the popular SUV has a unique hybrid powertrain setup that uses its petrol engine solely to generate energy for a battery, which in turn powers the electric motor that actually drives the front wheels.

After this update, the Qashqai e-Power is still assisted by a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine, but now comes with Nissan’s ‘STARC combustion concept’ that the brand says increases thermal efficiency, a 20hp boost and a larger turbocharger. The end result is lower engine revs at motorway cruising speeds and an improved fuel economy of 62mpg in the best conditions – up from 54mpg.

This 200hp electric motor and petrol engine e-Power system is also said to be 5.6 decibels quieter than the current version. UK pricing is yet to be announced – the new model arrives in the UK in September.

The revised Qashqai e-Power will be built at the brand’s plant in Sunderland, alongside the new all-electric Nissan Leaf crossover that is set to arrive in UK showrooms before the end of the year.

The third-generation Nissan Qashqai holds a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 75% in our Expert Rating index. It has an excellent safety rating and low average CO₂ emissions, while its media review scores are also good. However, its running costs are only average while its reliability record is poor.

New Nissan Leaf crossover debuts

New model

Sean Rees

-

20 June 2025

0

The next-generation all-electric Nissan Leaf has made its public debut with new SUV-style looks and a competitive battery range.

Set to challenge the sales of compact family-friendly EVs like the Kia EV3 and Volkswagen ID.3, the new Leaf is a very important high-sales model for Nissan. It will soon enter production at the brand’s factory in Sunderland, the manufacturer hoping that the crossover will soon become “a British-built electric car icon.”

The new model’s exterior styling is a marked departure from its hatchback predecessor – once the best-selling electric car worldwide. The car’s thin LED headlights give the model a similar appearance to the larger Ariya SUV, while the crossover’s ducktail rear end is inspired by Nissan models of the 1990s.

Nissan adds that the car’s sloping rear roofline makes it more aerodynamic. Overall the car has a drag coefficient of just 0.25, which should make the battery slightly more efficient.

More important however is the substance below the surface. Two powertrain options will be available at launch, starting with the 52kWh ‘Standard’ battery option. This entry-level version can reportedly muster up to 270 miles on a single charge.

The range-topper is the ‘Extended’ variant, which is powered by a larger 75kWh battery and can handle up to 375 miles without re-charging. By comparison, the top-spec 81kWh Kia EV3 can also officially travel 375 miles between charges, while the 79kWh Volkswagen ID.3 has a maximum travel distance of 369 miles.

Nissan claims that the Leaf can charge at DC speeds of up to 150kW, adding that 260 miles of charge can be added in 30 minutes.

While UK pricing and trim specifications are yet to be announced, we do know that the new Leaf will be offered with the choice of 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels and seven different colour options. A panoramic dimming glass sunroof is also offered, but not likely as standard.

A 14-inch digital instrument cluster and 14-inch central infotainment touchscreen with built-in Google apps are combined in a single display that juts out of the dashboard. Standard safety tech includes intelligent cruise control and lane keeping assistance.

The Leaf will also be offered with a premium Bose sound system and a 3D eight-point surround view parking camera with ‘invisible hood view’ and a ‘front wide view’ cameras for seeing past parked cars, but these are likely reserved for the highest trim level or the optional extras list.

Opening the electronically-powered boot lid reveals 469 litres of boot space, and Nissan adds that ‘selected variants’ also come with roof rails.

That sums up what we know about the new Nissan Leaf so far. More details, including pricing and the car’s official arrival date, are sure to be announced in the coming weeks. Check back soon!

More Nissan news, reviews, Expert Ratings and features

The safest new cars on sale in the UK in 2025

Sean Rees

-

20 June 2025

0

The safest new cars on sale in the UK in 2025

Providing peace of mind and protection in the event of an accident, car safety features will always be an important factor for many when car shopping, particularly for those who are looking for their next family runaround.

Cars of every shape and size are getting safer and safer too, thanks to the increasing standards of crash avoidance technology expected of every new model. Car manufacturers are now fitting their cheapest models with on-board safety systems that only expensive luxury cars had a decade or so ago, partly thanks to increasingly strict government rules.

But, even though safety standards for new cars are consistently climbing across the board in the UK, there are a few models that our Expert Rating Index singles out from the rest of the competition.

All holding five-star safety scores from independent crash tester Euro NCAP, the new cars listed below have been commended for their adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, vulnerable road user protection (mainly cyclists and pedestrians) and safety assistance technology (accident avoidance and mitigation), with high scores in each category.

How our safety rating scores are calculated

Our Safety Rating score uses a complex algorithm based on Euro NCAP testing results, using all four of Euro NCAP’s testing categories rather than just the headline score. This includes a complete breakdown of scores for adults, children, pedestrians and assist systems, so you can see the information that matters most to you.

Euro NCAP scores expire after six or seven years, as the scoring criteria gets tougher each year and cars that were tested several years ago can no longer be guaranteed of maintaining their initial score. A car may be re-tested if it’s still on sale, which happened in the case of the Tesla Model 3 below, although this doesn’t always happen.

Euro NCAP testing gets tougher almost every year, so a five-star score from 2022 doesn’t necessarily equate to a five-star result in 2025. To account for this, and to factor in the seven-year expiry period, our safety rating algorithm contains an age factor as well.

Read More:

Highlighted by our Expert Rating Index, all of these cars are fitted with features to both help prevent collisions and protect occupants if a crash can’t be avoided. These include autonomous emergency braking, software to detect driver fatigue and a system to notify emergency services when a crash happens.

	Vehicle	Year tested	Adult protection	Child protection	Vulnerable road user protection	Assistance technology
1	Tesla Model 3	2025	90%	93%	89%	87%
2	Mercedes-Benz E-Class	2024	92%	90%	84%	87%
3	Volkswagen ID.7	2023	95%	88%	83%	80%
4	Tesla Model S	2022	94%	91%	85%	98%
5	Lexus RX	2022	90%	87%	89%	91%
6	Polestar 3	2025	90%	93%	79%	83%
7	Smart #3	2023	90%	86%	84%	85%
8	Audi Q6 e-tron	2024	91%	92%	81%	80%
9	Tesla Model Y	2022	97%	87%	82%	98%
10	Skoda Superb	2024	93%	87%	82%	80%

Source: Euro NCAP

1. Tesla Model 3

On sale since 2019 but recently re-assessed by Euro NCAP after the saloon’s major mid-life update, the Tesla Model 3 has the highest safety rating in our Expert Rating index.

The electric car’s re-test has returned another outstanding set of scores, including the highest scores in Euro NCAP’s child protection and vulnerable road user protection categories of any car on this list.

Euro NCAP has also awarded the car a ‘Moderate’ assisted driving grade, praising the car for its exceptional safety assistance technology, including its class-leading adaptive cruise control and steering assistance tech. It’s not, as Tesla describes, an autopilot function where the car can drive itself. But the combination of Tesla’s various tech systems as a safety net for the driver is better than anything else on sale.

The Tesla Model 3 currently holds a New Car Expert Rating of A in our Expert Rating Index, with a score of 86%. This is the highest score in our Expert Rating index by some margin.

Buy a used Tesla Model 3 with Motors

Buy a new or used Tesla Model 3 with Auto Trader

Buy a new or used Tesla Model 3 from Carwow

2. Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Put through its crash test paces by Euro NCAP last year, the upmarket Mercedes-Benz E-Class has the best safety credentials of any petrol/diesel/hybrid-powered model in our Expert Rating index.

The executive saloon and estate range is held in high regard by Euro NCAP, achieving impressive scores in each assessment category. The car also comes with Mercedes’ ‘Car-to-X Communication’ – award-winning software that allows cars to notify each other of hazards in real time to help prevent accidents.

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class currently holds a New Car Expert Rating of A in our Expert Rating Index, with a score of 75%.

Buy a used Mercedes-Benz E-Class with Motors

Buy a new or used Mercedes-Benz E-Class with Auto Trader

Buy a new or used Mercedes-Benz E-Class from Carwow

3. Volkswagen ID.7

Another excellent all-rounder recommended due to its top-class safety, the all-electric Volkswagen ID.7 was one of the most impressive cars Euro NCAP assessed in 2023, and the crash testers gave the car a very high ‘adult occupant protection’ score.

The Volkswagen ID.7 currently holds a New Car Expert Rating of A in our Expert Rating Index, with a score of 81%.

Buy a used Volkswagen ID.7 with Motors

Buy a new or used Volkswagen ID.7 with Auto Trader

Buy a new or used Volkswagen ID.7 from Carwow

4. Tesla Model S

Tesla Model S (2014 onwards) - overhead front

It’s been on sale since 2014 – although with plenty of updates over the last decade – but the Tesla Model S is still one of the safest new cars you can buy in the UK today. Tested by Euro NCAP in 2022, the Tesla scores top marks for its exceptional safety assistance technology. This tech is crucial as – obviously – avoiding an accident altogether is better than surviving one.

The Tesla Model S currently holds a New Car Expert Rating of A in our Expert Rating Index, with a score of 77%.

Tesla Model S (2014 onwards) – Expert Rating

Buy a used Tesla Model S with Motors

Buy a new or used Tesla Model S with Auto Trader

Buy a new or used Tesla Model S from Carwow

5. Lexus RX

The fifth-generation Lexus RX SUV impressed Euro NCAP testers when it was put through its safety paces in late 2022, achieving high scores in every category. The car’s particular stand-out trait is its ‘vulnerable road user protection’ score (pedestrians and cyclists).

The Lexus RX currently holds a New Car Expert Rating of A in our Expert Rating Index, with a score of 73%.

Lexus RX (2022 onwards) – Expert Rating

Buy a used Lexus RX with Motors

Buy a new or used Lexus RX with Auto Trader

Buy a new or used Lexus RX from Carwow

6. Polestar 3

Polestar 4 (2024 onwards) - front, dynamic

One of the most recent arrivals on this safety leaderboard, the large Polestar 3 SUV passed its Euro NCAP safety assessments with flying colours back in April – its family car credentials bolstered by exceptional adult and child protection scores.

The Polestar 3 currently holds a New Car Expert Rating of A in our Expert Rating Index, with a score of 77%.

Polestar 3 (2024 onwards) – Expert Rating

Buy a used Polestar 3 with Motors

Buy a new or used Polestar 3 with Auto Trader

Buy a new or used Polestar 3 from Carwow

7. Smart #3

Smart #3 (2024 onwards) - front, dynamic

Formerly the manufacturer of pint-sized electric city cars, Smart is now establishing itself as a family-focused marque with safety as a core design goal. The brand boasts about the safety credentials of its electric #3 SUV, which scored high marks in every Euro NCAP assessment category.

The Smart #3 currently holds a New Car Expert Rating of A in our Expert Rating Index, with a score of 78%.

Smart #3 (2024 onwards) – Expert Rating

Buy a used Smart #3 with Motors

Buy a new or used Smart #3 with Auto Trader

Buy a new or used Smart #3 from Carwow

8. Audi Q6 e-tron

Audi Q6 e-tron (2024) front view | Expert Rating

Put through its paces in 2024, the Q6 e-tron is a sign of what’s to come from Audi, including the brand’s latest class-leading safety tech. The large SUV achieved stand-out scores in Euro NCAP’s adult and child protection assessment categories.

The Audi Q6 e-tron currently holds a New Car Expert Rating of A in our Expert Rating Index, with a score of 77%.

Audi Q6 e-tron (2024 onwards) – Expert Rating

Buy a used Audi Q6 e-tron with Motors

Buy a new or used Audi Q6 e-tron with Auto Trader

Buy a new or used Audi Q6 e-tron from Carwow

9. Tesla Model Y

Tesla Model Y (2025 update) - front, dynamic

The Tesla Model Y aced its Euro NCAP safety tests in 2022. As with all Tesla vehicles, the driver assistance technology is the best around, and the Model Y also achieved Euro NCAP’s highest-ever adult protection score. The other scores, for children and other road users, are excellent as well.

The Tesla Model Y currently holds a New Car Expert Rating of A in our Expert Rating Index, with a score of 77%.

Tesla Model Y (2022 onwards) – Expert Rating

Buy a used Tesla Model Y with Motors

Buy a new or used Tesla Model Y with Auto Trader

Buy a new or used Tesla Model Y from Carwow

10. Skoda Superb

Skoda Superb (2024) front view | Expert Rating

Winner of The Car Expert’s Best Estate Car 2025 award, the fourth-generation Skoda Superb range is an excellent family car choice with ‘Superb’ safety credentials. The Skoda underwent Euro NCAP testing after its launch in 2024, and achieved a particularly impressive adult protection score.

The Skoda Superb currently holds a New Car Expert Rating of A in our Expert Rating Index, with a score of 80%.

Skoda Superb (2024 onwards) – Expert Rating

Buy a used Skoda Superb with Motors

Buy a new or used Skoda Superb with Auto Trader

Buy a new or used Skoda Superb from Carwow

Honorable mentions

Cupra Tavascan

Hyundai Ioniq 6

Renault Scenic E-Tech

New Audi Q3 available to order in July

New model

Sean Rees

-

20 June 2025

0

Featuring petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid variants, the compact third-generation Audi Q3 SUV range is arriving this Summer with three different trims to choose from.

Built on the same foundations as the Audi A3, Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tiguan, this latest iteration of the Audi Q3 features refreshed exterior looks and a new tech-laden interior layout.

Starting with the outside, which Audi says “exudes self-confidence and emotion”, the new Q3 sports slimmer LED headlights and a new front grille design flanked by a set of hidden main headlights that feature optional matrix beams. Using very similar design language, the compact SUV looks like a smaller version of the recently-launched Q5 SUV from the front.

In the rear, the Q3 takes more design inspiration from the latest A6 Avant estate, with a thin daytime running light that stretches across the boot lid, below slim angular LED tail lights. The SUV sits on 17-inch alloys as standard, though 18-, 19- and 20-inch alloy options will also be available on higher trim levels or the options list. 11 exterior colour options will be offered, some of which are exclusive to the Q3 range.

The new Q3 shares some of its engine options with the A3 hatchback and saloon range, which are more fuel efficient than the former Q3 powertrain line-up. The range begins with a front-wheel drive 1.5-litre ‘TFSI 150hp’ petrol mild-hybrid and a ‘TDI 150hp’ diesel.

Not available at launch but arriving a few months later, the next step up is the all-wheel drive ‘TFSI quattro 204hp’ petrol. This is followed by the more powerful all-wheel drive 2.0-litre ‘TSFI quattro 265hp’ petrol, and finally the flagship 272hp ‘SUVe-hybrid’ plug-in hybrid, which pairs a 28kWh battery and electric motor with a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, returning an electric only travel range of up to 74 miles. This plug-in hybrid is arriving slightly later in August. All models are only available with an automatic gearbox.

Inside, the SUV pairs a 12-inch digital instrument cluster and 13-inch infotainment touchscreen on a reconfigured dashboard with the panel of shortcut buttons removed in favour of shortcut tabs on the infotainment screen. The gear selector has been moved from the centre console to a new wrap-around panel mounted to the steering wheel column.

In the rear, the Q3 offers 575 litres of boot space with the second row in place, rising to 1,386 litres when the rear seats are folded.

Pricing for the new SUV range will start at just over £38k for the ‘TSFI 150hp’ in the entry-level ‘Sport’ trim, rising to £51k for the ‘SUVe-hybrid’ in the top-spec ‘Edition 1’ guise.

More Audi news, reviews, Expert Ratings and features

Kia updates EV6 GT and adds EV9 GT

Stuart Masson

-

19 June 2025

0

Kia is picking up the pace of its performance electric vehicles with two new GT models – the upgraded EV6 GT and brand-new EV9 GT.

The EV6 GT is belatedly making a return to the line-up this summer after being taken off sale when the rest of the EV6 range was updated last year. The EV9 GT, on the other hand, is a new addition to the EV9 range.

The upgraded Kia EV6 GT

The updated EV6 GT has improved performance and is powered by a larger battery pack than the previous model (84kWh vs 77kWh), which gives it an official driving range of 279 miles if you can resist using all its considerable performance, which consists of a 0 to 62mph acceleration time of 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 161mph. Kia claims that it’s the fastest-accelerating car that the company has ever produced.

As well as the same upgrades found in the latest versions of regular EV6 models, the GT now pumps out a colossal 480kW (650hp) of power and 770Nm of torque. Those numbers are 11% and 4% better than the not-exactly-slow previous model. The new model also offers what Kia calls Virtual Gear Shift technology, simulating a six-speed paddle-operated transmission.

As with the previous EV6 GT, the updated model is pretty stealthy in disguising its stunning performance. If you look hard, you’ll find neon green brake callipers, neon green piping throughout the interior, and a neon green ‘GT’ button on the steering wheel., But there are no massive wheels or crazy body kit – and obviously no burbling exhaust note to give the game away.

The upgraded model also features an enhanced GT Mode, a dedicated drive mode that sharpens up steering responses. GT Mode also changes the 12-inch driver display screen, with neon green details and a new font for the speed and range readouts.

Pricing for the Kia EV6 GT starts at £60K and you can buy one from your local Kia dealer today.

The new Kia EV9 GT

Kia has applied its GT magic to a second EV in its ever-growing range, the EV9 large SUV. It’s a slightly less overwhelming performance package than the EV6 GT, with ‘merely’ 375kW (510hp) of power and 740Nm of torque directed to all four wheels.

You’ll still be first to the school gates with a 0-62mph time of 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 136mph, and if you don’t go anywhere near either of those numbers, you may get somewhere close to the official driving range of 280 miles from the EV9’s 100kW battery.

As you’d expect, the Kia EV9 GT also features all the driver assistance systems found on the regular EV9. In addition, the Intelligent Speed Limit Assist is now customisable, allowing the driver to adjust the over-speed warning on the EV9 GT.

Over and above the conventional EV9, the GT’s added power is supported by electronically controlled suspension as standard, as well as a predictive system to detect and react to changing road surfaces.

As with the EV6 GT, the EV9 model only offers subtle hints at the performance contained underneath. There are new 21-inch alloy wheels and upgraded brakes, and similar neon green highlights both inside and out.

Like the GT-Line S version of the regular EV9 range, you can spec your EV9 GT with either six or seven seats, depending on whether you want a three-seat bench or two individual chairs in the middle row.

Pricing for the Kia EV9 GT starts at just over £82K. You can place an order today, with first customer cars expected sometime in September.

More Kia news, Expert Ratings, new car reviews and features

Everything you need to know about Dacia

Andrew Charman

-

19 June 2025

0

Those who remember the 1970s and ’80s will also recall the very cheap new cars that came into the UK from the Communist countries of Eastern Europe and Russia, wearing nameplates such as Lada and FSO. For most the only attraction was the price and very few survive today.

One former Communist maker, however, has not only survived but flourished. The Romanian firm Dacia effectively built its reputation by assembling badge-engineered Renaults, continually updating them to extend the lifespan of a single model to more than 35 years.

Eventually, as the Soviet Union collapsed, Renault stepped in to buy up Dacia and turn it into a proper Western car maker, but with one basic trait remaining – its cars would always be among the cheapest on the market.

That philosophy remains today and, despite adverse headlines for its poor safety ratings, Dacia appears in rude health, adopting the new challenges in its established way. The new Dacia Spring is the company’s first electric vehicle and yes, challenging for the title of cheapest EV you can buy.

Everything you need to know about Dacia

So who or what is Dacia?

The Dacia company had its beginnings in the 1960s in Romania, then a part of the Soviet Union – the company name comes from the historical Roman region of Dacia that is today known as Romania. The first factory in the area was opened during the second world war to produce aircraft engines, and afterwards was taken over by the Romanian railways and would eventually form the basis of Dacia car production.

Dacia had a Renault connection from the start – the Renault 8 was built under licence as the Dacia 1100, selling more than 37,000 between 1968 and 1972.

The 1100 was followed by the 1300, a much more modern car launched in 1969 and effectively the Renault 12, Dacia having acquired the design and tooling for the car. The 1300 spawned estate and even pick-up variants, and Dacia could not build them fast enough to keep up with customer demand in Romania.

Dacia briefly made its own version of the Renault 20 in the early 1980s but the co-operation with Renault then foundered and plans for future models were dropped. The company continued to rely on various versions of the 1300, including a model sold in the UK as the Dacia Denem. Parts from the 1300, meanwhile, were used in a car made by another Romanian manufacturer of off-road vehicles called ARO, and when sold in the UK the ARO10 became the first Dacia Duster.

Dacia continued with a wide variety of new model ideas, all based on the 1300 and some surviving in production to the noughties. Much of the development was carried out in secret and Dacia enthusiasts today still try to unravel the extent of the rare and sometimes novel versions of the 1300 that were produced over the years.

Not until 1994 did an all-new model appear in the Dacia range – this was the Nova, a three-box saloon on which development work had started some 11 years earlier. As a result even as it launched it looked dated amongst rivals, while questions over its reliability and durability ensured it was never as popular as the 1300 variants, the last of which was launched in 1998. Despite being based on a car now some 30 years old, its €4,200 starting price maintained its popularity.

The big change in Dacia’s fortunes came with the reappearance of Renault, which snapped up the Romanian manufacturer in 1999, planning to concentrate its production for central and eastern Europe in Romania. The first new model after the Renault takeover was an improved version of the Nova with a Renault engine and gearbox, called the SupeRNova, but it was merely a stopgap car as Renault prepared for what followed.

This was the Dacia Logan, launched in 2004 and promoted as the ‘€5,000 Car’, Renault signifying Dacia’s future as the French giant’s budget brand. While never quite reaching that price level, the Logan became a phenomenal success, popular in many countries and a best-seller in Romania, across central Europe and even in Russia.

The 2010s marked a decade of substantial European expansion for Dacia, as Renault pushed the brand into new markets with its full support. The Duster returned in 2010, now as an SUV in both two and four-wheel drive variants. Models like the Logan estate and Sandero went on sale in the UK in 2013, and while the former was discontinued in 2020, the latest Duster and Sandero models remain at the core of the Dacia range today, the latter also available in a more rugged version called the Sandero Stepway.

New models have also joined the family in recent years. The Jogger is a compact people-carrier, while the new Bigster SUV (is as its name suggests) Dacia’s largest model yet. But it is the Spring, launched in 2025, that is making the most headlines, preserving Dacia’s traditional image by claiming to be the cheapest electric vehicle on the UK market.

What models does Dacia have and what else is coming?

The Dacia Duster small SUV remains as the core model in the Romanian maker’s line-up and is now in its third generation, launched in 2024 and now only offered with petrol and hybrid powertrains. The latest model is noticeably improved over its predecessor, especially the interior, while still retaining its bargain basement status. It earns an overall New Car Expert Rating of B from The Car Expert, though its safety specification only merits a C – below-average safety scores being a recurring theme with Dacia models.

The current Sandero small hatchback – along with its Sandero Stepway sibling – has been around since 2021, although unlike the previous model, this one is no longer the cheapest new car on sale. While praised for its comfort and practicality, the Sandero is let down by a damning two-star safety rating from Euro NCAP. The car also remains available with the option of a dual-fuel petrol/LPG engine instead of the normal 90hp petrol unit.

People carriers are a rarity on the market these days and the Dacia Jogger is one of the newest, on sale from 2022. It’s essentially a stretched Sandero with another pair of seats, which makes it the cheapest way of having seven seats in a new car. That should make it hugely popular, but while the comfort and practicality themes of other Dacia models apply here, the safety issues get even worse. Due to poor protection for those in the rear-most seats, Euro NCAP awarded the Jogger a disastrous one-star safety rating.

Current Dacia range on our Expert Rating Index

Dacia Sandero Stepway

Dacia Spring

The most recent arrival in the Dacia showroom takes the firm’s budget credentials into the electric market. The Spring is the cheapest electric car you can buy, though a host of budget rivals are on their way. It’s basic, not exactly quick which many EVs are, and it can only go an official 140 miles between charges. But again, the big drawback is safety, with the Spring matching the very poor one-star Euro NCAP rating for the Jogger.

Hitting UK roads in the summer of 2025 is Dacia’s newest – and largest – model, called the Bigster. It is trying to be a bargain basement model in a market in which bargain basement isn’t really a thing, and it will be interesting to see if what has worked for Dacia in the smaller car sectors continues to do so in the very competitive compact SUV sector. One positive point though – the Bigster has improved Dacia’s woeful Euro NCAP showings, managing three stars.

What will follow the Bigster remains to be seen. Dacia is known to be working on a mid-sized hatchback to rival the likes of the Volkswagen Golf and Vauxhall Astra. When or even if it will launch any time soon is yet to be revealed, and there could be a saloon variant too.

Some reports also suggest that Dacia is working on a replacement for the Spring small electric city car, based on the latest Renault Twingo and a car that could launch within two years. Althouigh the Spring has only recently arrived in the UK, it has been on sale in Europe since 2021 so it is already in the second half of a regular seven-year model cycle.

Where can I try a Dacia car?

It’s quite easy to find your nearest Dacia dealer – seek out your local Renault outlet, and more often than not the badge of Dacia will be alongside it.

There are around 140 outlets spread across the UK, and being allied to Renault is a boon when it comes to aftersales, as the entire Renault network is available to Dacia owners for their servicing.

What makes Dacia different to the rest?

Dacia makes no attempt to glamourise its sales philosophy – basically as cheap as possible. The firm’s vehicles are the epitome of the bargain basement car, giving customers the choice of a new car for the price of a used one from other brands.

Dacia’s Romanian home is now very much part of Europe, and ensconced under the wing of Renault its cars are built to the standards expected by European buyers. While the less-than-normal safety ratings remain a concern, generally by choosing a Dacia, you won’t get any of the bells and whistles that are the norm with cars from other brands, but your money will go a long way.

A Dacia fact to impress your friends

In communist times, savvy buyers in Dacia’s home country of Romania would go abroad to buy their car, rather than purchasing from their local dealer.

Popular belief held that there were two production lines in the factory, with one building cars for export using better-quality parts than those on the cars intended for domestic sale.

Summary

Dacia continues to provide a new-car option for those buyers who normally wouldn’t have the money to buy one. Its offerings are unashamedly budget but, thanks to its tie-up with Renault, without the inherent risks that once came with buying at the bottom end of the market.

While the pressure on the lower end of the car market has never been higher, thanks chiefly to the influx of several new Chinese entrants, we can expect Dacia to keep following the same path that has worked very well for the brand.

More Dacia features, Expert Ratings, new car reviews and news

Buy a Dacia

If you’re looking to buy a new or used Dacia, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car.

Find a used Dacia with Motors. Find out more

Find a new or used Dacia with Auto Trader. Find out more

Find a new or used Dacia with Carwow. Find out more

Lease a Dacia

If you’re looking to lease a new Dacia, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal.

Personal contract hire deals from Leasing.com. Find out more

Personal contract hire deals from Carparison Leasing. Find out more

Personal contract hire deals from Select Car Leasing. Find out more

Suzuki e Vitara prices and models

New model

Stuart Masson

-

19 June 2025

0

The all-new Suzuki e Vitara – the company’s first electric car – will be arriving next month, and UK pricing has now been announced. It has been jointly developed with Toyota and shares much of its componentry with the upcoming Toyota Urban Cruiser.

The e Vitara will be available in two trim levels, lower-spec ‘Motion’ and upper-spec ‘Ultra’, with a choice of two-wheel drive (2WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The base model is also available with a smaller battery, making a total of five different versions.

Pricing starts at £30K for the entry-level Motion model with a 49kWh battery. The rest of the range gets a larger 61kWh battery. Two-wheel drive models use a single electric motor to drive the front wheels while the all-wheel drive models (which Suzuki calls Allgrip-e) have two motors, one for the front wheels and one for the rear wheels.

Most customers are likely to be happy with two-wheel drive power rather than spending an extra £2K for all-wheel drive, but there will certainly be a few who will be happy to pay extra for the AWD model.

Model	Battery	On-road price
Motion 2WD	49kWh	£29,999
Motion 2WD	61kWh	£32,999
Motion AWD	61kWh	£34,999
Ultra 2WD	61kWh	£35,799
Ultra AWD	61kWh	£37,799

Source: Suzuki GB

Suzuki hasn’t announced performance or battery range yet, but Toyota claims the (mechanically identical) two-wheel drive versions of its Urban Cruiser should get about 200 miles of range from the 49kWh battery and 250 miles from the 61kWh battery so we assume that the e Vitara will be similar. The all-wheel drive versions are likely to lose a chunk of battery range in return for better performance and grip.

We don’t have full technical specifications for the e Vitara yet, with Suzuki planning to announce those separately in the lead-up to the car’s UK launch. The jump in price from Motion to Ultra appears to be quite steep, at just under £3K, but we don’t know what you’re getting for your money yet so we’ll have to wait and see.

Suzuki has, however, announced a 0% PCP car finance offer (speak to your local Suzuki dealer for all the details), while customers ordering a car before the end of September will also get a free home charger and 10,000 miles of home charging credit.

More Suzuki news, Expert Ratings, new car reviews and features

New Peugeot e-208 GTi hot hatch unveiled

New model

Sean Rees

-

13 June 2025

0

New Peugeot e-208 GTi hot hatch unveiled

Peugeot has unveiled a new hot hatch variant of its all-electric e-208 supermini, marking the return of the brand’s ‘GTi’ performance badge.

Out to challenge the sales of Stellantis stablemate the Abarth 500e, as well as rivals like the Cupra Born, Alpine A290 and Mini John Cooper Works Electric, the e-208 GTi is powered by the same 280hp front-mounted electric motor as the Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce.

Paired with a 54kWh battery and a limited-slip differential fitted to the rear axle, the hot hatch can reportedly complete a 0-62mph sprint in 5.7 seconds. Top speed is electronically capped at 112mph.

The first electric model built by Peugeot Sport – the French brand’s motorsport division – the e-208 GTi has been given some suspension tuning that lowers the hatchback by three centimetres and revised handling dynamics that make the steering more direct. The car also has a slightly wider stance than the standard e-208, and comes with a rear anti-roll bar.

Peugeot says that the car can deliver up to 217 miles between charges, and that the hatchback can charge at DC speeds of up to 100kW – a 20% to 80% battery top-up taking less than 30 minutes.

This ‘GTi’ version has been given several ‘sporty’ cosmetic tweaks, including unique 18-inch alloy wheels that features the ‘GTi’ logo and are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport tyres, a chunkier spoiler that protrudes above the rear window and a thick diffuser on the rear bumper.

Changes are more subtle in the front. The hot hatch comes with three ‘tiger claw’ daytime running lights below the headlights. The show model has a bright red bodywork colour with the wing mirrors, wheel arches and spoiler finished in black.

The red and black colour scheme continues inside. The cabin layout is unchanged, but the bucket seats and steering wheel are trimmed in Alcantara leather.

Peugeot has yet to confirm its UK price list for the new hot hatch, and we don’t currently know exactly when the e-208 GTi will arrive in the UK either. Those details, as well as further trim specification details, are sure to follow in the coming months. Check back soon!

Mini Aceman test drive

Car reviews

Stuart Masson

-

13 June 2025

0

Make and model: Mini Aceman
Description: Medium SUV/crossover
Price range: from £28,905

Mini says: “The latest addition to the new Mini family, the Mini Aceman is the brand’s midsize all-electric crossover, which combines compact exterior dimensions with a creative use of interior space.”

We say: The Mini Aceman is a slightly more grown-up version of the three-door Mini Cooper Electric, with more room for passengers and luggage, but still keeps the family feeling.

Mini Aceman review 2024

Introduction

The newest addition to the Mini range is the Aceman, positioned between the Mini Cooper (hatchback) and Mini Countryman (SUV) models. It sort-of-replaces the previous Mini Clubman, and is pretty similar in size to the previous Mini Countryman.

Unlike the Cooper and Countryman models, which are offered in both petrol and electric form, the new Mini Aceman is only be offered as an electric vehicle (EV). However, it’s also fair to describe the Aceman as the electric equivalent of the new five-door Mini Cooper hatchback, as the two cars are pretty similar in both size and styling – even if they’re completely different underneath.

As of June 2025, the Mini Aceman has a New Car Expert Rating of B on The Car Expert’s unique Expert Rating Index, with a score of 69%. That’s down on the Cooper Electric (A, 82%) and Countryman Electric (A, 81%), but still a decent score overall. Part of the reason for the difference is that the Aceman has not yet been tested for safety by Euro NCAP, so its overall score may improve if/when this testing takes place (assuming the Aceman scores as well as the other electric Mini models).

What is the Mini Aceman?

The Mini Aceman is described as a crossover, meaning it rides slightly higher than a typical hatchback but not quite as high as an SUV. In reality, these definitions have become so blurred these days it’s basically irrelevant.

The Aceman sits about 5cm taller than the (petrol-powered) Mini Cooper five-door hatch, and is about 4cm longer, so it’s almost the same size externally. But despite the similar size and familiar Mini styling, the two cars are completely different underneath. The petrol Mini Cooper models are heavily upgraded versions of the previous-generation Mini hatch models, while the electric Mini models are built on an all-new platform and simply styled to look like the petrol cars.

Being a dedicated EV, the Aceman has notably more room inside than the five-door Cooper, which we’ll cover shortly.

First impressions

The Aceman feels very much part of the Mini family despite being a brand-new model. Since it will only be available with an electric powertrain, its grille is closed off. Externally, its styling takes a number of cues from the new Countryman, with quite angular styling replacing the traditional Mini curves. Given the size of these cars (the new Countryman is as big as a Nissan Qashqai), this makes sense, although it does mean that the Aceman does look odd from certain angles as the designers have tried to apply familiar Mini styling cues onto a bulky, squared-off body.

Inside, the Aceman benefits from Mini’s latest-generation interior design. This features a large and very high-resolution circular touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard, which controls the infotainment system. The dash and door panels are covered in textured fabrics rather than drab plastics – Mini continues to emphasise a quirky and not necessarily practical cabin. In between the passenger and driver’s seat there’s a pair of cup holders, a tray to hold your phone and a small box for other bits and bobs.

We like: The interior is distinctive and feels very high in quality
We don’t like: Exterior styling will polarise people, quite awkward from certain angles

What do you get for your money?

The Mini Aceman range is split into Aceman E and Aceman SE models, with the SE getting more performance and a bigger battery. There are then three trim levels to choose from – Classic, Exclusive and Sport. Finally, and not part of this review, there’s now a Mini Aceman John Cooper Works model. We drove this recently and will have a report coming shortly.

The entry-level Aceman E which comes with a 43kWh battery, which gives you an official range of up to 192 miles according to the official EU/UK government lab tests. Call it 150 miles in real-world driving and you should be safe. The electric motor puts out 135kW (184hp in old money) in this model.

Stepping up to the SE gets you a more powerful motor, up to 160kW (218hp), and a larger 54kWh battery to boost official driving range to more than 240 miles (call it 200 miles in the real world).

The main differences between the three trim levels focus on exterior styling and colour. Classic comes with 17-inch wheels, a choice of two wheel designs and three paint options. Exclusive trim ups this to six paint colours, three wheel designs and 18-inch wheels with the option of 19-inch rims. Sport has John Cooper Works styling, colour-coded accents and a rear spoiler.

Both SE and John Cooper Works versions can accept charging at fast chargers up to 90kW. The Aceman E is only capable of charging at a rate of up to 70kW. These speeds are not particularly impressive, as the standard for new EVs these days is usually 150kW or better.

In terms of safety, the Aceman comes with all the usual kit to help you avoid an accident and protect you if an accident cannot be avoided. However, it hasn’t yet been assessed by Euro NCAP, so we can’t give you a definitive report on how well the Aceman performs in an emergency. The electric Mini Cooper and Mini Countryman models both score five stars for safety, but we can’t confirm that the Aceman matches their performances at this time. We’ll update this report if and when Euro NCAP assesses it.

The Mini Aceman comes with a three-year / unlimited mileage warranty.

We like: Simple power and trim levels
We don’t like: Limited charging speeds, base models look pretty plain compared to more expensive trim levels

What’s the Mini Aceman like inside?

The focal point of the interior is the huge circular display. It injects some fun into the cabin design with different display modes to choose from. These alter the screen colours and graphics considerably, although it does feel like you’d play around with it for the first few days and then settle on your preferred style from then on. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are included as standard as well. A lot of functions are housed within the screen and the circular layout is unconventional, so it takes some time to familiarise yourself with how to change various systems while on the move.

In the Aceman E model, the central screen is also home to the speedo. For the other models (or with the Level 1 pack for an extra £2K), a head-up display is included. This projects information onto a small upright panel on top of the dashboard in front of the driver – it’s less glamorous than a fully integrated head-up display that projects straight onto the windscreen, but it works well enough in practice.

All versions have parking sensors and a rear-view camera to make your parking life easier. In the back seats, head and legroom should be enough for most passengers, including tall adults. The floor is nice and flat, unlike in the five-door petrol Mini Cooper, allowing for more foot space in the back and more storage space up front.

The boot space is decent enough at 300 litres, but the Fiat 600e, Cupra Born and others do better.

We like: Funky and useable interior space
We don’t like: Boot is smaller than rivals

What’s under the bonnet?

The Aceman E comes with a 43kWh battery and an electric motor that offers 135kW (184hp) of power and 290Nm of torque. This gives the entry-level version a 0-62mph time of eight seconds and a top speed limited to 99mph.

The SE has a larger 54kWh battery with 160kW (218hp) and 330Nm of torque. This version is a second quicker from 0-62mph with a time of seven seconds, and a top speed of 105mph. The official driving range also increases from 192 miles to 251 miles. Note also that paying extra for bigger wheels will knock a few miles off your battery range.

What’s the Mini Aceman like to drive?

Even in the E version, the Aceman feels quick off the line and fun to drive. Like all Minis, but especially the electric models, the ride is reasonably firm which means you bump hard off potholes in city driving and tend to bounce along country roads at higher speeds. When you put your foot down, a theme tune of whirring noises begins which adds some audible interest to the acceleration experience. While the noises add a bit of drama to the situation, they can be turned off if (or, more likely, when) they get too annoying.

Below the screen, there’s an ‘experiences’ button, which is a pleasingly tactile way to switch between driving modes. There are three modes: Core, Go-Kart and Green. Each has accompanying graphical changes on the screen and there are various other modes to choose from that just change the colour and theme of the display. For the vast majority of daily driving, Core mode will be sufficient.

As part of the Aceman’s safety suite, the car has advanced braking technology. The vehicle can control its braking response based on the situation. When approaching a parked car, for example, when you lift off the accelerator, the car initiates what feels like a regenerative braking response to slow the vehicle. The same happens when approaching cyclists, it automatically starts slowing down. When the car is travelling downhill, you can feel it controlling its speed so it doesn’t keep rolling progressively faster. In some scenarios, this is a useful feature but it takes a while to get used to as it can feel like it’s responding prematurely.

We like: All versions feel quick
We don’t like: Bouncy ride on country roads

Verdict

Mini is one of the few manufacturers that has created a distinct personality for its new models, and the Aceman is no different. Its round display screen, interesting use of materials inside and playful electric soundtrack make the Aceman distinctive and likeable. There’s a good amount of technology and safety features packaged in – albeit we don’t have independently verified safety data from Euro NCAP at this time.

As an all-electric model, it’s pricier than the five-door Cooper (and the previous model Clubman) but is fairly well matched against the growing number of rivals in the family EV marketplace. Its ultimate value for money will depend on how much you value the specific kit that’s included against features that other models offer, but you’re certainly not spoiled for choice.

Mini has always prioritised fashion over function, and the Aceman is no different in this regard. There are other electric cars in this price range that offer more space and longer ranges, but few have the personality or individuality of the Mini Aceman.

Similar cars

If you’re looking at the Mini Aceman, you might also be interested in these alternatives.

Key specifications

Model tested: Mini Aceman E Classic
Price as tested: £34,350
Engine: 130kW electric motor
Range: 192 miles

Power: 181 hp
Torque: 290 Nm
Top speed: 99 mph
0-62 mph: 7.9 seconds

CO2 emissions: 0 g/km
Euro NCAP safety rating: No rating yet
TCE Expert Rating: B (69%)

Buy a Mini Aceman

If you’re looking to buy a new or used Mini Aceman, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car.

Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more

Find your next new or used car with Auto Trader. Find out more

Find your next new or used car with Carwow. Find out more

Lease a Mini Aceman

If you’re looking to lease a new Mini Aceman, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal.

Personal contract hire deals from Leasing.com. Find out more

Personal contract hire deals from Carparison Leasing. Find out more

Personal contract hire deals from Rivervale Leasing. Find out more

If you’re interested in a car subscription, The Car Expert’s partners can help. (PS: What’s a car subscription?)

Car subscriptions from Wagonex.
Find out more

Car subscriptions from DriveFuze.
Find out more

Car subscriptions from Cocoon.
Find out more

Cupra Terramar

Sean Rees

-

13 June 2025

0

Summary

The Cupra Terramar is a mid-sized SUV that became available to order towards the end of 2024, with both petrol mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid engine options on offer.

Launched as the eventual successor to the Cupra Ateca, the Terramar sits above the smaller Formentor SUV in Cupra’s range, and will be the last ICE-powered car that the sporty SEAT-spinoff brand unveils as it turns its focus to becoming an electric-only marque by 2030.

Built on the same foundations as the Volkswagen Tiguan, Parker’s CJ Hubbard comments that the Terramar isn’t as “well-rounded” as its Volkswagen counterpart, but that the SUV’s “standard equipment levels make the Cupra much better value for money.”

Jordan Katsianis of Auto Express also praises the car’s “distinctive” exterior looks and describes the Cupra as an “excellent family hauler.”

When it comes to performance however, some reviewers were rather underwhelmed. “The handling is better than most SUVs of its stature”, concludes Evo’s Ethan Jupp, but “it’s a car that still could be a SEAT with a Cupra badge, rather than the kind of performance car we still think Cupra is capable of.”

As of September 2025, the Cupra Terramar holds a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 74%. It scores top marks for its safety rating and low CO₂ emissions (helped by the plug-in hybrid version), while its media review scores and Cupra’s new car warranty offering are also good. However, overall running costs are only average.

More Cupra Expert Ratings, new car reviews, news and features

Terramar highlights

Handsome looks and upmarket cabin design
Sharp driving dynamics
Well-equipped as standard

Terramar lowlights

Some family-orientated SUV rivals are cheaper
Rivals offer more boot space
Not as sporty as its looks suggest

Key specifications

Body style: Medium SUV
Engines: petrol, plug-in hybrid
Price: From £37,885 on-road

Launched: Autumn 2024
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA

Image gallery

Media reviews

Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Featured reviews

“The Cupra Terramar is a good-looking SUV with a sportier edge than alternatives, but the payoff is that it’s less comfortable and practical than it could be.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 8 / 10

Read full review

Carwow

Tom Wiltshire

“The Cupra Terramar compact SUV delivers sporty looks, decent space and a well-rounded drive.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 8 / 10

Read full review

Auto Express

Dean Gibson

More reviews

Auto Trader

Score: 9 / 10
“The Cupra Terramar has snazzier styling than the VW Tiguan on which it is based. Available with various levels of hybridisation (including a full plug-in) or performance-oriented petrols it combines practicality with sharp handling, good looks and a longer warranty than its VW cousin.”
Author: Dan Trent
Read review

Business Car

Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid
Score: 8 / 10
“In PHEV form, Cupra’s latest sporty SUV is an interesting option compared with rivals, and adds welcome extra efficiency.”
Author: Martyn Collins
Read review

Car

Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid
Score: 6 / 10
“The Cupra Terramar plug-in hybrid is almost certainly fine for most consumers and the wider market, but it lacks the sparkle and style of halo products such as the Tavascan, Born VZ and the petrol-powered Formentor. And even the petrol version of the Terramar. Cross shoppers elsewhere may well buy into the brand’s exciting performance and challenger-focused ethos – but in this Terramar they’re somewhat diluted.”
Author: Curtis Moldrich
Read review

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Terramar may be the most grown-up Cupra so far, but in 2.0-litre petrol form it has enough character, style and importantly performance to make sense. It’s practical and refined when it needs to be, but on more demanding roads it still feels quick and rewarding.”
Author: Curtis Moldrich
Read review

Carbuyer

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.2 / 10
“The Cupra Terramar is a mid-size SUV that deftly combines the company’s sporting intent with a very practical, roomy cabin.”
Read review

Evo

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Terramar gets the job done and then some. The handling is better than most SUVs of its stature. But viewed in terms of what some had hoped for from an exciting new sporting brand, it’s a car that still could be a Seat with a Cupra badge, rather than the kind of performance car we still think Cupra is capable of.”
Author: Ethan Jupp
Read review

Heycar

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Cupra Terramar is a compelling entrant into the family SUV sector.”
Author: Ivan Aistrop
Read review

Parkers

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“It isn’t quite as well-rounded as the Volkswagen Tiguan, but the Terramar’s standard equipment levels make the Cupra much better value for money, and it certainly has plenty of character.”
Author: CJ Hubbard
Read review

The Telegraph

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“A performance SUV based on a Volkswagen Tiguan might not sound promising – but you’d be surprised at just how much fun it can be.”
Author: Alex Robbins
Read review

Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Terramar is more aggressively styled than its competitors, but also thoroughly decent to drive.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: April 2025
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 89%
Child protection: 87%
Vulnerable road users: 82%
Safety assist: 76%

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of September 2025, the Cupra Terramar has not been assessed by Green NCAP.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Fuel consumption	Average	Score
Petrol models	38 mpg	D
Plug-in hybrid models	650 mpg	A

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	170 g/km	D
Plug-in hybrid models	10 g/km	A

Battery range	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Plug-in hybrid models	70 miles	C

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	29	C

Running costs for the Cupra Terramar are a bit of a mixed bag, according to inital data we have for the entire model range.

The petrol models are poor in terms of fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions, while the plug-in hybrid models are inevitably much better (although ignore the official lab figures, as you’re never going to get 650 miles on a gallon of petrol and a full charge of electricity).

Good news on the plug-in hybrid is that it has quite a decent electric range, so most urban driving could potentially be done purely on electric power if you are able to charge the car regularly.

As of September 2025, we don’t have verified servicing and maintenance costs for the first five years, which could affect the overall grade once we have that information. Check back again soon.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

As of September 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Cupra Terramar to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.

As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Terramar, we’ll publish the results here.

Warranty rating

New car warranty information for the Cupra Terramar

Overall ratingB69%
Petrol or diesel modelsC57%
Electric or hybrid modelsA83%
New car warranty duration5 years
New car warranty mileage90,000 miles
Battery warranty duration8 years
Battery warranty mileage100,000 miles

Cupra’s new car warranty is better than average, and better than a few rival brands in a similar price bracket as the Terramar.

The duration is five years, with a limit of 90,000 miles. In addition to the standard new car warranty, the Terramar plug-in hybrid version has an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty for the battery components.

Warranty on a used Cupra Terramar

As of September 2025, any used Cupra Terramar will still be covered by its new car warranty. The earliest cars hit UK roads in late 2024, meaning their warranty won’t expire until late 2029 (unless they hit their 90,000-mile limit before then).

If you’re looking to buy a used car that is approaching the end of its warranty period, a used car warranty is usually a worthwhile investment. Check out The Car Expert’s guide to the best used car warranty providers, which will probably be cheaper than a warranty sold by a dealer.

Recalls

Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Cupra Terramar

As of September 2025, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the Cupra Terramar. However, this information is updated very regularly so this may have changed.

You can check to see if your car has any outstanding recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local Cupra dealer.

Everything you need to know about UK vehicle recalls

Similar cars

If you’re looking at the Cupra Terramar, you might also be interested in these alternatives.

More Cupra ratings, reviews, news and features

More news, reviews and information about the Cupra Terramar at The Car Expert

Everything you need to know about Cupra

Cupra Terramar SUV now on sale

New Cupra Terramar SUV revealed

Buy a Cupra Terramar

If you’re looking to buy a new or used Cupra Terramar, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car.

Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more

Find your next new or used car with Auto Trader. Find out more

Find your next new or used car with Carwow. Find out more

Lease a Cupra Terramar

If you’re looking to lease a new Cupra Terramar, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal.

Personal contract hire deals from Leasing.com. Find out more

Personal contract hire deals from Carparison Leasing. Find out more

Personal contract hire deals from Select Car Leasing. Find out more

Subscribe to a Cupra Terramar

If you’re interested in a car subscription, The Car Expert’s partners can help. (PS: What’s a car subscription?)

Car subscriptions from SelfDrive.
Find out more

Car subscriptions from DriveFuze.
Find out more

Car subscriptions from Cocoon.
Find out more

Revised BMW XM comes with more equipment options

Model update

Sean Rees

-

13 June 2025

0

Revised BMW XM comes with more equipment options

The large high-performance BMW XM range has been updated with a faster hybrid charging speed, revised trim levels and more customisation choices on the options list.

The range now consists of two different models – down from three. The lead-in XM ’50e’ is powered by a 475hp turbocharged hybrid straight-six and 26kWh battery with a electric-only range of 50 miles, while the flagship XM ‘Label’ makes use of a 748hp hybridised V8 with an all-electric travel distance of 47 miles. Both versions are now compatible with improved AC charging speeds of up to 11kW.

The ‘Label’ options list has been expanded with a few new customisation options. The top-spec SUV can now be specced in a metallic ‘tanzanite blue’ exterior colour and the kidney grille in the front can be ordered in ‘high gloss black’. The ‘Label’ package also now includes a new welcome light animation and larger 22-inch alloy wheels, with even larger 23-inch alloys added to the optional extras. There are also a few new colour options for the seat upholstery accents inside.

As standard with the ’50e’, the XM is fitted with a 15-inch infotainment touchscreen and 12-inch digital instrument cluster, as well as a premium Harmon Kardon surround sound system.

The revised range is now available to order, with UK pricing starting at around £113k for the ’50e’, rising to over £154k for the ‘Label’.

Described by its manufacturer as “the ultimate driving machine”, the BMW XM currently holds a New Car Expert Rating of E with a score of 54% in our Expert Rating index. Although it scores top marks for its CO₂ emissions, the XM has picked up poor reviews scores from across the motoring media, who criticise the SUV’s expensive price tag and punishing ride comfort.

The best used family cars for every budget in 2025

Car buying advice

Sean Rees

-

13 June 2025

0

The best used family cars for every budget in 2025

Looking for a practical car to ferry the family around that won’t break the bank? The used market has plenty of good value-for-money deals on at the moment, and your next car could be cheaper than you think.

We’ve analysed all the used family cars available at each price point using the thousands of cars for sale from our partner Motors. Then, we have consulted our industry-leading Expert Rating Index to see which models have the highest Used Car Expert Ratings.

Our Expert Ratings are powered by comprehensive review data, safety and eco ratings, and reliability and running cost estimations, so you can be confident that this is the definitive guide to the best used family cars for every budget that are on sale in the UK right now.

Every car listed below has used models available to purchase now, each model being reasonably new; no older than three years old.

The best used family cars for every budget in 2025

Best used family car under £10,000

Skoda Octavia

Three-year-old models on Motors for just under £10k

2020 Skoda Octavia estate and hatch - rear

2020 Skoda Octavia estate review - interior and dashboard

The dependable Skoda Octavia is well-suited to the rigours of the everyday driving, offering a leisurely driving experience and low running costs. Whether you opt for the saloon or the larger estate version, the Skoda also has more rear legroom than most alternatives in the medium car class, making it a great fit for families.

The Skoda Octavia range holds a Used Car Expert Rating of A in our Expert Rating Index, with a score of 77%.

Skoda Octavia (2020 onwards) – Expert Rating

Browse cars

Also available on this budget:

Ford Focus

Three-year-old models on Motors for around £9K

Available on the used market as both a hatchback and an estate car, the Ford Focus is a great all-round family car package, earning praise from the motoring media thanks to its interior quality, technology and performance.

Ford Focus (2018 onwards) – Expert Rating

Or…

Nissan Leaf

Three-year-old models on Motors for around £8K

Roomy, affordable and reliable – the second-generation Nissan Leaf was the best selling electric car worldwide not that long ago. That said, it has also been surpassed by newer rivals that offer a longer battery range.

Nissan Leaf (2018 onwards) – Expert Rating

Best used family car under £15,000

MG 4

Two-year-old models on Motors for around £14K

MG 4 (2022 onwards) – front view dynamic

First arriving on UK roads back in 2022, the MG 4 stood out from its closest all-electric family car rivals thanks to its affordable price tag, as well as its enjoyable and comfortable driving experience. Three years on, the hatchback is also one of the most compelling value-for-money propositions on the used market too, with 100s of well-priced near-new models listed for sale in the UK.

The MG 4 range holds a Used Car Expert Rating of A in our Expert Rating Index, with a score of 80%.

MG 4 (2022 onwards) – Expert Rating

Browse cars

Also available on this budget:

Volkswagen Golf

Two-year-old models on Motors for around £14K

The Mk8 Volkswagen Golf is five years old now, but it is just as competitive in the family hatchback class as the day it first arrived. Available as either a hatchback or estate, the Golf pairs great ride comfort with excellent safety standards.

Volkswagen Golf (2020 onwards) – Expert Rating

Or…

Toyota Yaris Cross

Three-year-old models on Motors for around £14K

The taller sibling of the Yaris supermini, the Yaris Cross is a petrol-electric hybrid with class-leading fuel economy and a clever interior design well-suited to family life. Buyers should keep in mind that rear space is rather limited for adult passengers, however.

Toyota Yaris Cross (2021 onwards) – Expert Rating

Best used family car under £20,000

Kia Sportage

Three-year-old models on Motors for around £19K

Kia Sportage (2022 onwards) rear view | Expert Rating

Kia Sportage (2022 onwards) interior view | Expert Rating

The mid-sized Kia Sportage is currently one of the most popular new cars in the UK, and for good reason. Beyond the SUV’s spacious interior and impressive interior trim and tech, the Sportage is well-equipped as standard. It is also attractively priced on the used market, with an abundance of near-new used models available for purchase with our partners below.

The Kia Sportage range holds a Used Car Expert Rating of A in our Expert Rating Index, with a score of 74%.

Kia Sportage (2022 onwards) – Expert Rating

Browse cars

Also available on this budget:

Skoda Enyaq

Three-year-old models on Motors for around £16K

While new editions of the Skoda Enyaq SUV cost around £40k, three-year-old examples of the pre-facelift model shown above are listed on the used market for well under £20k. While this indicates that the electric SUV’s resale values aren’t very strong, the Skoda is a fantastic family car, boasting a roomy interior, intuitive tech, and a huge boot.

Skoda Enyaq (2021 onwards) – Expert Rating

Or…

Hyundai Ioniq 5

Three-year-old models on Motors for around £18K

This retro-modern Hyundai is larger than it looks and is well-mannered on the road. Reviewers are also impressed by the car’s powertrain and infotainment system, but alternatives have a softer ride. There are several near-new Ioniq 5 models on the used market with heavily discounted price tags.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 (2020 onwards) – Expert Rating

Best used family car under £30,000

Honda Civic

Two-year-old models on Motors for around £23k

Honda Civic (2022 - present) rear view | Expert Rating

Honda Civic (2022 - present) interior view | Expert Rating

Offering arguably the best ride comfort and handling in the medium car class, the 11th-generation Honda Civic is a well-rounded family-friendly saloon with low running costs, punchy hybrid performance, a large boot and a high-quality interior fit and finish. Larger family cars can be found on the used market for much cheaper, but two-year-old Civic models can be picked up for around £23k at the moment, which is a great value-for-money deal.

The Honda Civic range holds a Used Car Expert Rating of A in our Expert Rating Index, with a score of 78%.

Honda Civic (2022 onwards) – Expert Rating

Browse cars

Also available on this budget:

Audi Q4 e-tron

Two-year-old models on Motors for around £26K

While structurally similar alternatives like the Skoda Enyaq are cheaper on the used market, the electric Audi Q4 e-tron has excellent family car credentials, including its comfortable driving experience, its roomy and practical design and its cabin quality, which is a step above its closest rivals.

Audi Q4 e-tron (2021 onwards) – Expert Rating

Or…

Volvo XC60

Three-year-old models on Motors for around £27k

Volvo cars are known for their industry-leading safety standards, and the mid-sized XC60 SUV is no exception. It’s not that exciting to drive, but as a family car it is a real class act – comfortable, spacious, reliable and rather economical in plug-in hybrid form.

Volvo XC60 (2017 onwards) – Expert Rating

Best used family car under £40,000

Renault Scenic E-Tech

One-year-old models on Motors for around £32K

Should you have a budget of around £40k, you might have decided on a more luxurious brand than Renault. But before you settle on the likes of an Audi, BMW or Mercedes-Benz, we recommend that you give the electric Scenic E-Tech a test drive first. Winner of The Car Expert’s Best Medium Car of 2025, the Scenic E-Tech is only a year old – hence its higher pricing – and has excellent safety credentials, a spacious and practical interior, and a competitive battery range.

The Renault Scenic E-Tech range holds a Used Car Expert Rating of A with a score of 79%.

Renault Scenic E-Tech (2024 onwards) – Expert Rating

Browse cars

Also available on this budget:

Volkswagen ID. Buzz

Two-year-old models on Motors for around £39K

A battery-powered people carrier with unique styling, competitive battery range and more space and practicality than similarly priced SUVs, the Volkswagen ID. Buzz is an ideal fit for a family of five. It has strong resale values on the used market, which means that models are still pretty pricey even at three years old.

Volkswagen ID. Buzz (2022 onwards) – Expert Rating

Or…

BMW 5 Series

One-year-old models on Motors for around £36K

Available as either a saloon or estate at this price point, the eighth-generation BMW 5 Series is the benchmark model in the executive car class. Comfortable, great to drive and luxurious inside, one-year-old versions of the BMW are currently available for around £36k, £15k cheaper than the lead-in showroom price.

BMW 5 Series (2023 onwards) – Expert Rating

Best used family car under £50,000

Kia EV9

One-year-old models on Motors for just under £50K

The winner of The Car Expert’s Best Premium Large Car of 2025, the seven-seat Kia EV9 SUV has stellar family car credentials. Besides its seriously spacious cabin and acres of storage space, the all-electric Kia is fun to drive, well-equipped as standard and reassuringly safe. It is certainly expensive – in fact, it’s the most expensive Kia ever sold in the UK – but one-year-old models can be purchased for just under £50k at the moment, which is £15k cheaper than the showroom price.

The Kia EV9 range holds a Used Car Expert Rating of A in our Expert Rating Index, with a score of 71%.

Kia EV9 (2023 onwards) – Expert Rating

Browse cars

Also available on this budget:

Mercedes-Benz EQE

One-year-old models on Motors for just under £50k

If high-end luxury is a must-have consideration for your next family car, a used Mercedes-Benz EQE saloon should be on your shortlist. Pickings are few and far between on the used market, but one-year-old models are available at just under £50k. The comfortable all-electric long-distance cruiser has a long battery range and class-leading onboard tech.

Mercedes-Benz EQE (2022 onwards) – Expert Rating

Or…

Hyundai Santa Fe

One-year-old models on Motors for around £44K

Winner of The Car Expert’s Best Large Car of 2025, the fifth-generation Hyundai Santa Fe has higher build quality than its predecessor, which in turn means higher pricing. The large six- or seven-seat hybrid SUV is one of the most spacious and practical family cars on the market, and one-year-old models are listed on the used market at around £44k.

Hyundai Santa Fe (2024 onwards) – Expert Rating

For the definitive rankings of the best used family cars for every budget, we’ve used The Car Expert’s industry-leading Expert Rating index. The index analyses new car reviews from 35 of the top UK motoring websites, plus Euro NCAP safety ratings, five-year running costs and reliability data, all feeding into a sophisticated algorithm that we have refined over the last six years specifically to compare new cars (and now used cars up to ten years old as well).

The Index is recalculated every month with all the very latest data to make sure you’re getting the most accurate and reliable ratings for every new or near-new car.

Volkswagen Polo Edition 50 celebrates half century

Model update

The Car Expert staff

-

12 June 2025

0

Volkswagen Polo Edition 50 celebrates half century

A special edition of the Volkswagen Polo is being produced to mark half a century of the brand’s ever-popular small hatchback.

The Volkswagen Polo Edition 50 sits between the R-Line and Black Edition models in Volkswagen UK’s current Polo line-up and the special is priced from just over £26K.

The Edition 50 is identified by special 17-inch alloy wheels, tinted rear windows and a unique crystal blue metallic paint colour that isn’t available on other Polo models. Inside, you get Edition 50-branded sports seats and gloss black decorative inserts instead of the usual matte grey plastic.

To remind you that this is a special edition, there are ‘50’ badges on the steering wheel, door pillar, instrument panel and front door sills.

Other useful extra kit includes a tilting and sliding panoramic sunroof, rear-view camera, keyless access and start, and two-zone climate control air conditioning.

The usual 1.0-litre petrol engine with 95hp sits under the bonnet, paired to a five-speed manual gearbox, so performance is the same as other models in the range.

The Volkswagen Polo was the UK’s best-selling supermini (small hatchback) last year and remains popular choice for British car buyers – although it’s currently playing second fiddle to the Vauxhall Corsa in terms of 2025 sales.

Electric BYD Dolphin Surf supermini now on sale

New model

Sean Rees

-

12 June 2025

0

Electric BYD Dolphin Surf supermini now on sale

The compact all-electric BYD Dolphin Surf hatchback is now available to order in the UK, with budget-end pricing that undercuts rivals like the Renault 5 E-Tech and Citroën ë-C3.

On sale as the BYD ‘Seagull’ since 2023 in China, the Dolphin Surf is now the smallest entry-level car in BYD’s UK and Europe line-up.

It isn’t part of the Dolphin range which rivals the Cupra Born and Mini Cooper Electric – the Surf is a slightly smaller (30 centimetres shorter front to back) standalone model that aims to steal sales from the Citroën ë-C3 and Hyundai Inster.

The Dolphin Surf has a markedly different exterior design to that of the larger Dolphin, with more angular LED headlights, thick cladding on the front and rear bumpers, and a ‘sporty’ roof spoiler that extends over the rear window.

The lead-in 87hp ‘Active’ trim is powered by a 30kWh battery that returns up to a reported 137 miles on a single charge, with a 0-62mph sprint taking 11.1 seconds. Charging at DC speeds of up to 65kW, a 10% TO 80% battery top-up takes around half an hour.

Opting for the ‘Boost’ trim adds more battery range, but not performance. Powered by a larger 43kWh battery pack, this mid-range model can muster up to 200 miles without charging, but as it makes use of the same 87hp electric motor, the 0-62mph sprint time is cut to 12.1 seconds.

The top-spec model is the ‘Comfort’, which is powered by the same 43kWh battery but with a more powerful 154hp electric motor, increasing single-charge travel distance to 193 miles and cutting the 0-62mph sprint time to 9.1 seconds.

Inside, the car comes with a ten-inch rotating infotainment touchscreen compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard, as well as a seven-inch digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel, keyless entry, a rear view parking camera and rear parking sensors.

The ‘Active’ package also includes adaptive cruise control and traffic sign recognition tech, with electrically-folding door mirrors and rain-sensing wipers reserved for the ‘Boost’ trim and above, and a surround-view camera system featured on the ‘Comfort’ spec sheet. The cabin is trimmed in vegan leather, regardless of trim choice, and exterior colour choices include the standard lime green, black, white and blue.

Now on sale prices for the Dolphin Surf start at around £19k – nearly £7k cheaper than the entry-level Dolphin model and £4k cheaper than the Renault 5 E-Tech. There are still cheaper electric cars however, namely the smaller Dacia Spring and the Leapmotor T03 city car.

More BYD news, reviews, Expert Ratings and features

BMW iX test drive

Car reviews

Stuart Masson

-

10 June 2025

0

Make and model: BMW iX
Description: Large electric SUV
Price range: from £75,315

BMW says: “The BMW iX defines a new chapter for the brand with its pioneering design, cutting-edge technology and dynamic electrified drive.”

We say: Whatever you think of the BMW iX’s polarising styling, you can’t argue with the driving experience or the cabin ambience. It’s a fantastic car.

BMW iX review 2025 – The Car Expert

Introduction

This is the BMW iX, which has been around for four years now. It’s certainly been one of the most controversial new cars of the current decade, simply because of its styling. You’ll struggle to find anyone who doesn’t have a strong opinion about how it looks, even if they’ve never driven it and are not in the market to buy one.

Once you get past the styling, however, there’s been almost unanimous agreement from motoring journalists about the quality of the rest of the iX package. From the first reviews four years ago, critics have praised the quality of engineering beneath that curiously shaped bodywork, awarding it high marks for its driving performance and the quality of its interior.

Now BMW has given the iX a mid-life refresh. The styling remains just as controversial, although some minor changes have improved things – especially on the most popular M Sport models. Depending on the specific model you choose, there’s also more power, better battery range and further refinements to the driving experience.

What is it?

The BMW iX is a large, luxury SUV and a dedicated EV. That makes it unusual for a BMW, as the rest of its current electric line-up (the i4, i5, i7, iX1, iX2 and iX3) are jointly developed as both fossil-fuel and electric models. Being designed as an EV from the ground up means that it takes full advantage of the packaging benefits of an electric car, with a spacious cabin that offers plenty of room both front and rear, and great weight distribution that makes the car comfortable and well-balanced to drive.

The iX range received a mid-life update (called LCI, or life cycle impulse, in BMW-speak) in early 2025, which follows the usual EV programme of some refreshed styling, revised equipment levels, and improvements to the electric motors and batteries.

Even after four years on sale, there are not many comparable cars to the BMW iX. Audi had a model called the Q8 e-tron, which has now been discontinued and replaced by the new Q6 e-tron, but these are both a bit smaller and cheaper than the iX. Mercedes has a model called the EQE SUV, which is a strong contender although not as good to drive. Tesla still offers its large Model X, but only to special order, only in left-hand drive and only in a high specification that starts at more than £100K. And there’s the Lotus Eletre, an electric SUV from pretty much the last brand you’d expect to build such a vehicle.

What do you get for your money?

There are four models in the updated BMW iX line-up – all of which offer all-wheel drive and a high level of standard equipment.

The range kicks off with the entry-level xDrive45, starting at £75K for the Sport specification and £78K for the M Sport specification. There’s a big jump up to xDrive60 M Sport model, which starts at £9K, and then an even bigger jump to the flagship M70 xDrive model at £114K.

The base model xDrive45 Sport isn’t expected to make up a massive proportion of overall sales, with most customers expected to plump for the M Sport version for an extra £3K. Both of these models get a 408hp electric motor supplied by a 95kWh battery.

The Sport version gets a healthy level of standard equipment, with some of the highlights including adaptive LED headlights, auto tailgate, heated front seats and steering wheel, BMW’s latest operating system for the interior touchscreen and a Harman Kardon sound system. M Sport bumps this up with larger 21-inch alloy wheels, revised front and rear bumper styling, upgraded interior materials and more bolstered seats. These extras, plus a few other cosmetic differences, add £3K to the price tag.

The mid-spec xDrive60 brings a large helping of extra performance, with the motor output jumping to 544hp. This model is only available in M Sport specification.

The top-spec M70 xDrive adds even more performance, with 659hp available. As well as getting you where you’re going even more quickly, the M70 gets additional kit as well. As standard, the outline of the enormous kidney grille lights up (it’s optional on the rest of the range) and has a slightly different grille pattern. Wheels are even bigger, at 22 inches, and the suspension system is reworked to provide better handling at higher speeds.

Expert tips

Base model Sport spec unlikely to see too many sales, with most customers preferring M Sport
All models get noticeable improvements in performance and battery range
Still plenty of opportunity to get carried away with extra-cost options

What’s the BMW iX like inside?

While the exterior styling of the BMW iX has drawn plenty of criticism (and, to be fair, quite a bit of praise as well), the interior has received almost universal acclaim. It’s certainly a minimalist look, as is increasingly popular these days, but the comfort and ergonomics are excellent. M Sport models get cool retro-style stitching and stripes, which look to be inspired by 1980s M models.

Since it’s a dedicated EV, not a converted petrol car, the iX has a cabin layout that offers much more space than a similarly sized petrol or diesel or hybrid car. If you’re familiar with BMW’s fossil-fuel SUVs, you could say that the iX has similar exterior dimensions to the X5, but interior space that’s more comparable to the much larger X7.

The driving position is commanding, with good visibility and an excellent range of adjustment for both the seat and steering wheel. For the passengers, both front and rear, there’s plenty of headroom and legroom. Boot space is maybe less than you’d expect for a large SUV, but it has a nice square, flat shape maximises the available space. The rear seats can be folded in a 40:20:40 way (as seen in the photo below), which gives more family flexibility than the traditional 60:40 split.

With any new car, a large part of the interior experience revolves around the central screen and how easy or difficult it is to use on the move – especially since car manufacturers are moving most of the function controls onto the screen rather than through proper buttons. BMW is very good here, with an operating system that is easy to use and responds instantly to your inputs.

The driver gets a massage function in the seat but we found it simply uncomfortable and annoying, rather than providing a comforting prod and roll that would be welcome on a long journey.

Expert tips

M Sport seats are bolstered but still very comfortable
Central screen works better in than most cars, but most functions still require poking a screen rather than using dedicated buttons

BMW iX xDrive60 M Sport (2025 facelift) - dashboard and front seats

What’s the BMW iX like to drive?

Although it has abandoned its decade-long tagline of “The Ultimate Driving Machine” in recent years, BMW still places a lot of weight on the driving experience in its cars. Does a large, all-electric luxury SUV live up to the standards of many petrol-powered sporty saloons and coupés from over the years?

Obviously, any 2.5-tonne electric SUV is not going to handle like a compact BMW sporting saloon from 20 years ago, so the bleating about that from certain quarters is fairly irrelevant. Compared to most large SUVs, the BMW iX is delightful to drive.

We drove the mid-level BMW iX xDrive60 M Sport, to give it its full and rather awkward title. That means it two electric motors (one for the front wheels and one for the rear wheels) producing a combined 540-odd horsepower, big (21-inch as standard, 22- or 23-inch optional) wheels and sporty-ish suspension. In many BMWs from the last decade or more, this would mean a car that crashes across potholes and bumps, and bounces you around on anything but a smooth motorway, but the latest generation of BMWs is much better than that. The ride quality is very good most of the time (our launch drive was quite short but covered a decent variety of road surfaces, including a bumpy dirt road), with the iX feeling stable and well balanced.

At any speed, the iX is particularly quiet and smooth. Yes, you can say the same about most EVs compared to petrol or diesel vehicles, but a lack of engine noise can also draw more attention to road and wind noise. BMW has done well to minimise those sources of noise as well in the iX, which is not easy in a large, square SUV with huge tyres.

The xDrive60 pushes out 544hp through all four wheels, so performance is far beyond anything you’d ever need. The car industry loves to quote 0-62mph acceleration figures, even though they’re pretty much irrelevant to normal drivers, and the iX xDrive60 dispatches that test in 4.6 seconds. If you’re not used to driving an electric car, the 0-30 part of that test is the most impressive, as an electric motor generates all of its twisting power immediately while a petrol or diesel engine needs to rev to generate the same output. That means that, despite its size and weight, the iX launches forward like a supercar from a standing start, only starting to ease up as you approach 60mph. A petrol BMW X5, by comparison, is slower to launch and really starts to pick up speed once you get to about 30mph, catching up to the iX as you get to 60mph.

For such a big and heavy SUV, the iX feels remarkably agile on twisty roads. The steering isn’t quite as light as on many modern cars – although BMW does make steering wheels with annoyingly thick rims that are not particularly comfortable to hold – and the suspension remains composed. Often, sharpening the handling comes at the expense of a very firm ride (for a good example, you only need to look at any sports model from BMW-owned Mini), but the iX manages to corner very well without shaking the fillings out of your teeth on a bumpy road. Even with sports suspension, the ride is better than that of many other similar cars with large wheels.

The digital screens are better than most, but the driver’s screen, in particular, tends to be too busy in its default settings. After faffing about with various screen displays, we ended up with the simplest choice that just showed speed and nothing else – if there’s a problem, a warning message will pop up to alert you. The good news is that the head-up display is very good, so you can largely ignore the driver’s screen and have key information projected directly onto the windscreen.

Expert tips

Good balance of ride comfort and sharp handling
Plenty of performance on tap in xDrive60 model, not sure why anyone would need the M70
Setting both screens to display the minimum of information worked best for us, as most screen options were too busy and crowded for reading while on the move

BMW iX xDrive60 M Sport - front, dynamic

How safe is the BMW iX?

The BMW iX was assessed by Euro NCAP back in late 2021 and was awarded a five-star rating, with excellent scores in all four categories (adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, vulnerable road user protection and accident-avoidance technology).

All the crucial safety kit is included as standard on every iX model. The top-spec M70 gets an additional ‘Driving Assistant Professional’ pack that adds additional hands-off lane-keeping technology, but this doesn’t earn it any more points with Euro NCAP.

As with pretty much all new cars, the iX has the latest EU-mandated warning systems that will beep and bong at you constantly unless you disable them, Although BMW has managed to implement these better than most manufacturers, you’ll still get bonged at whenever the speed limit changes, and whenever you happen to drift one single mile per hour over that limit, and whenever it thinks you may possibly be distracted, or whenever it thinks you may possibly be tired, and so on. The theory is great, but these systems simply don’t work and it’s not BMW’s fault. Thank the EU for forcing through legislation to enforce systems that are not fit for purpose. And we still get them in the UK, even after Brexit, because car manufacturers are not going to code separate software for UK-bound vehicles…

You can disable the systems fairly easily but they will be reactivated every time you start the car, so it becomes part of your pre-drive checklist to switch the bongs off before each trip. Yes, this seems ridiculous for what are ostensibly safety systems, but that’s where we’re at.

Expert tips

Excellent safety score from 2021 is still valid today
Adding optional Technology Pack (more than £3K extra) gives more advanced lane-keeping tech, but doesn’t improve urban safety

BMW iX economy, battery range and charging

The charging capabilities of the iX will depend on which model, and specifically which battery, you choose. They’re all competitive, but the 60 and M70 models are better.

The xDrive45 and xDrive60 models both return a similar result for electrical efficiency (the EV equivalent of fuel economy) of about 3.4 miles/kWh. The M70 is a bit less efficient, dropping to 3 miles/kWh. However, the xDrive45 model gets a smaller battery, so it doesn’t go as far as the xDrive60 on a full charge. The ranges are as follows:

xDrive45 Sport: 95kWh battery, official driving range of 374 miles, maximum charging speed of 175kW
xDrive45 M Sport: 95kWh battery, official driving range of 376 miles, maximum charging speed of 175kW
xDrive60 M Sport: 109kWh battery, official driving range of 426 miles, maximum charging speed of 195kW
M70 xDrive: 109kWh battery, official driving range of 365 miles, maximum charging speed of 195kW

In reality, all of the iX variations will give you more than enough battery range for normal day-to-day driving needs. Even in the middle of a cold British winter, you can expect at least 300 miles of urban battery range if driving sensibly – or probably closer to 350 miles in the xDrive60.

At public chargers, the iX can accept a maximum charging speed of 175kW for the smaller battery (xDrive45) and 195kW for the larger battery models (xDrive60 and M70), which is very good – albeit not best-in industry – and most public chargers can’t charge at 175kW anyway, so you’ll be limited to whatever charging speed is available. Assuming you are plugged into a 100kW charger, that means that you can get a charge from 10% to 80% in a bit over half an hour. If you’re charging at home with a 7kW wallbox, a full charge from 0-100% will take 12-13 hours, but bear in mind that most times you won’t be charging from a completely empty battery so real-world charging time will be less.

The charging port is in the right-rear corner of the car, so you’ll want to reverse into most charging bays rather than driving in forwards.

Expert tips

Official battery range of 364-426 miles, depending on specification. In real-world urban driving, this might be achievable but motorway driving will reduce your range significantly.
Driving range should be plenty for most customer needs (average household mileage in the UK is about 120 miles/week).
Heat pump is standard, which helps maintain driving range in very cold conditions
The charging port is in the right-rear of the car, which means reverse parking in most charging bays will be better.
Comes standard with the usual Type-2-to-Type-2 charging cable for plugging into a dedicated charging unit, but not a Type-2-to-Type-3 cable for plugging into a standard three-point electricity plug.

Verdict

For many people, the BMW iX will be a non-starter because its exterior styling is simply too off-putting for any other qualities to matter. That’s completely understandable, as most people want to be happy looking at the car they’ve just spent thousands of pounds on. If the styling is a dealbreaker for you, you’re not alone. BMW knows this and is fine with it.

But if you are happy with the styling, you’ll be pleased to know that there’s a very good car underneath. The cabin is comfortable and spacious, featuring a minimalist luxury style. It’s smooth and quiet, and generally a lovely place to be. It also illustrates the difference between design and styling. The styling is what you see on the surface, but the design underneath is well-executed, delivering a car that is well-packaged and laid out.

The driving experience in the iX is one of the best you’ll find in a luxury SUV, regardless of whether it’s powered by electricity or fossil fuels. Ride quality is good despite sports suspension and large wheels, while the handling is far better than you’d expect from an SUV of this size and weight.

The BMW iX is intended to appeal to a minority of customers, not the majority. Whatever you think of the polarising styling, you can’t argue with the driving experience or the cabin ambience. It has a hefty price tag, but it’s a fantastic car.

Expert recommendations

Our pick of the range is probably the xDrive45 M Sport, which has plenty of power and battery range
Don’t get carried away with extra-cost options. Only pay for what you really want, not what you think might be good.

Similar cars

Previous models: Audi Q8 e-tron | Jaguar I-Pace | Mercedes-Benz EQC |

Key specifications

Model tested: BMW iX xDrive60 M Sport
Price: £94,105
Engine: Dual electric motors, all-wheel drive
Gearbox: Single-speed automatic

Power: 400 kW (544 hp)
Torque: 765 Nm
Top speed: 124 mph
0-60 mph: 4.6 seconds

Battery range: 426 miles
CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km
Euro NCAP safety rating: Five stars (December 2021)
TCE Expert Rating: A (76%) as of June 2025

Buy a BMW iX

If you’re looking to buy a new or used BMW iX, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car.

Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more

Find your next new or used car with Auto Trader. Find out more

Find your next new or used car with Carwow. Find out more

Lease a BMW iX

If you’re looking to lease a new BMW iX, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal.

Personal contract hire deals from Leasing.com. Find out more

Personal contract hire deals from Carparison Leasing. Find out more

Personal contract hire deals from Select Car Leasing. Find out more

Upgrades for Lotus Emira

Model update

The Car Expert staff

-

9 June 2025

0

Lotus has unveiled an upgrade to its Emira sports car range with the new Lotus Emira V6 SE. The new model joins the existing line-up, which already includes the Turbo SE.

At the same time, Lotus introduces a number of refinements across the Emira range. These include two new colours – Eos Green and Purple Haze metallic – and further optimisation of the cooling and transmission.

In addition to the new Emira V6 SE and Turbo SE, the Emira Turbo joins the line-up as the entry point to the model range.

The new Emira V6 SE is powered by the same six-cylinder powertrain of the Emira – a supercharged 3.5-litre V6 engine with 400 hp, mated to either a six-speed manual gearbox (with a limited-slip differential) or an optional automatic transmission, allowing for a 0-62 mph sprint in 4.3 seconds and a maximum speed of 180mph.

The V6 powertrain has been refined for what Lotus describes as “more emotional engagement”, including the introduction of new mountings for the manual gearbox that allow for more precise gear changes.

The car has two defined chassis and suspension settings. Tour is tuned for everyday road use, delivering the optimum blend of dynamic performance and handling with a more comfortable ride.

In terms of safety, the Lotus Emira is equipped with advanced driver assistance systems as standard, as well as the option of an ‘Extended Co-Driver Pack’ for extra support. Standard features include autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind spot warning, traffic sign recognition and fatigue detection.

Meanwhile, the Emira Turbo marks the entry point to the Emira line-up. It is powered by the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic gearbox found in the Turbo SE, both of which are sourced from technology partner Mercedes-AMG. It achieves a 0-62 mph sprint in 4.4 seconds with a top speed of 171mph.

Finally, Lotus has launched a new ‘Racing Line’ trim aimed at enthusiasts who want to give their Emira an even sportier look. Available on the Turbo SE and V6 SE, Racing Line adds a subtle, lower pinstripe (in yellow, red or silver) matched to the colour of the brake callipers. The mirror caps also get the same accent colour.

Racing Line badges with a matching accent, high-gloss black wheels and a black and silver exterior logo complete the dynamic look. Inside, the cars are further enhanced by a special interior badge and stitching in the chosen accent colour.

Unlike the new electric Lotus Eletre SUV and Lotus Emeya saloon, which are built in China, the Emira models are hand-built at the historic Lotus facility in Hethel, where the brand has produced sports cars since 1966.

The Lotus Emira Turbo starts at £79.5K, while the Emira V6 SE starts at £96.5K. You can order them now, with first cars expected to reach showrooms in September.

Expert Recommended

Expert News and Reviews

More

Summary

Key specifications

Image gallery

Media reviews

Featured reviews

The Car Expert

Carwow

More reviews

Auto Express

Auto Trader

Business Car

Car

Carbuyer

Daily Mail

Driving Electric

Electrifying.com

Green Car Guide

Honest John

Parkers

The Independent

The Telegraph

Top Gear

Safety rating

Eco rating

Running cost rating

Warranty rating

Reliability rating

Recalls

Awards

Similar cars

More information

Buy a Ford Puma Gen-E

Lease a Ford Puma Gen-E

Subscribe to a Ford Puma Gen-E

Motorway*

Carwow*

Autotrader*

Exchange My Car*

We Buy Any Car*

eBay Motors

Gumtree

Facebook Marketplace

Car Converter/Car TakeBack

EVs lead the charge

Good month, bad month

Qashqai takes top spot

Summary

Key specifications

Image gallery

Media reviews

Featured reviews

The Car Expert

Carwow

More reviews

Auto Express

Auto Trader

Business Car

Car

Carbuyer

Carwow

Driving Electric

Electrifying.com

Green Car Guide

Heycar

Parkers

The Telegraph

Top Gear

Safety rating

Eco rating

Running cost rating

Reliability rating

Recalls

Awards

Similar cars

More information

Buy an Audi A6 e-tron

Lease an Audi A6 e-tron