Volvo has expanded its mid-sized XC60 trim line-up with the addition of the ‘Black Edition’ optional package, which changes the SUV’s looks, inside and out.
Rather than being a free-standing trim choice of its own, the ‘Black Edition’ is an optional extra that can be combined with either the mid-range ‘Plus’ or top-spec ‘Ultimate’ trim grades. As you might have guessed, this package finishes the car in black – this optional extra is strictly cosmetic.
In addition to painting the exterior in what the brand calls ‘Onyx Black’, the car’s logo emblems and model lettering are also finished in black, as are the 21-inch alloy wheels. This theme continues inside, with a charcoal-coloured headliner and seating finished in the same shade. Volvo offers two ventilated upholstery options – a partial Nappa leather and textile combo, or full Nappa leather.
Provided you opt for the two top trims, the ‘Black Edition’ trim can be specced with one of three powertrains – a mild-hybrid petrol and two petrol-electric plug-in hybrids.
On sale now, prices for the Volvo XC60 Black Edition start just north of £54k for the ‘Plus’ grade. Volvo adds that there are savings for buyers who order before 27th November, which knocks around £2k off that lead-in price.
The Volvo XC60 currently holds an Expert Rating of 75%, and has been particularly praised for its exterior and interior design, class-leading safety standards and comfort. However, its driving experience is not considered as enjoyable as some rivals.
Mini has revealed its next iteration of its John Cooper Works Countryman ‘hot SUV’, with a more powerful petrol engine, fresh exterior looks based on the new third-generation Countryman range, and an interior overhaul with a larger infotainment screen.
Designed by Mini’s performance-focused John Cooper Works sub-division, this model is the high-power variant of the latest Countryman SUV that was shown off at the Munich motor show in September.
Instead of the 2.0-litre 230hp petrol unit that powers the current JCW Countryman, Mini has decided to opt for a more powerful 2.0-litre engine for this next-generation model, which provides 300hp. This performance boost impacts the 0-62mph sprint time, which decreases from 6.5 seconds to 5.4 seconds.
As you would expect, the JCW has the same broad design strokes and silhouette as the standard Countryman, but with a slightly sportier exterior finish that Mini managing director Stefanie Wurst says exudes “a unique combination of style, power and a sense of adventure.”
In typical JCW style, the model features plenty of red accents, most prominently on the roof, wing mirrors and front bumper air intakes, and the standard model’s dashed grille design is replaced by a chequered pattern finished in matte back to match the bodywork.
Those that eventually take the model for a test drive will also notice that the car is not so ‘mini’ anymore either, as it is six centimetres taller and 13 centimetres longer than its predecessor, which should increase shoulder room and legroom in the cabin. The car sits on 19-inch alloy wheels as standard, but 20-inch alloys are also available.
Only available as an all-wheel drive automatic, Mini says it has focused on giving the JCW Countryman the “go-kart feeling” that has become synonymous with the smaller Mini hatch. The tyre width has been increased by 25 centimetres, presumably to improve traction in high-speed corners, and the car boosts the sound of the engine in the cabin to “enhance the emotional driving experience.”
Like the standard countryman, Mini has given the JCW a new minimalist interior design with a large circular OLED display in the centre of a recycled polyester dashboard.
This screen is customisable, with different display modes to choose from including a ‘personal mode’ which allows you to pick any picture to use as the screen’s background, and the optional projector hidden behind the screen will then pick out the dominant colours and display them across the knitted dash and door panels.
The car’s voice assistant can be used to operate numerous functions, such as navigation, telephone, and entertainment. The boot offers 460 litres of luggage space, which increases to 1,450 litres with the rear seats folded down.
Now on to assistance tech – Mini says that this ‘hot SUV’ comes with 12 sensors and four surround-view cameras that support several driver assistance systems, including blind spot monitoring and a cross-traffic alert, as well as a partially automated driving function that is included in the optional ‘driving assistant professional’ package, that allows the driver to take their hands off the steering wheel on “highway-like routes” at speeds of up to 37mph.
That sums up what we know about the new Mini John Cooper Works Countryman. The manufacturer is yet to announce exactly when the model will become available to order, and further details like UK pricing and full specifications list will be announced in the coming months. Check back soon!
Set to challenge the sales of the BMW i5, Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 6, the new Volkswagen ID.7 saloon is now available to order in the UK in ‘Pro Launch Edition’ guise.
This all-electric model will eventually replace the Arteon saloon and Passat estate in Volkswagen’s range, as a ID.7 Tourer estate variant is also planned. For now, the saloon is available to order only in one introductory 286hp ‘Pro Launch Edition’ trim, which is powered by a 77kWh battery and can reportedly muster a 384-mile range.
A more powerful variant is also on the way next year, the ID.7 ‘Pro S’, which is projected to have a range of about 430 miles thanks to its larger 82kWh battery.
Volkswagen says it has maximised interior space by opting for short overhangs and a long wheelbase. LED lights feature in the front and back, and the car sits on 19-inch alloy wheels. The side and rear windows are made of heat-insulating glass, and the heated wing mirrors are electronically adjustable too.
Inside, the ID.7 introduces Volkswagen’s new “Ready 2 Discover” 15-inch infotainment display, complete with freely assignable favourites buttons and – in response to feedback from customers – illuminated sliders to control cabin temperature. It also comes with the brand’s navigation software installed.
Wireless smartphone charging is included, as is a voice assistant for controlling the phone call and navigation system. This voice assistant can also open the panoramic sunroof, which can be switched between opaque and transparent.
The steering wheel is heated and wrapped in leather, while the heated power-adjustable seating is trimmed in a mircofleece fabric. Ambient cabin lighting, keyless start and entry, three-zone climate control and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror also come as standard.
Pricing for the new electric saloon now starts at under £56k. Customers that order an ID.7 by 2nd January 2024 can get a free Ohme wall charger, or £750 in charging credit from We Charge by Elli – a public charging network owned by Volkswagen.
Mercedes-Benz has announced the pricing for hard-top coupé versions of its new CLE, which is now on sale in the UK. Cabriolet versions are set to arrive in the new year.
The ‘CLE’ nameplate is new. Previously, Mercedes-Benz offered its C-Class and E-Class models in saloon, estate, coupé and cabriolet body styles. The introduction of the CLE range slims down this wide range of models, as Mercedes-Benz ramps up its investment in its all-electric EQ range of cars.
The spiritual successor to the Mercedes-Benz CLK models that were removed from production back in 2010, the CLE replaces the coupé and cabriolet models in the C-Class and E-Class model lines, which are being retired.
The new range is based on the same foundations as the C-Class, and will no doubt be one of the German brand’s last combustion-powered models to debut in the UK. The 2+2 seater CLE is close to 4.9 metres in length, making it longer than the large E-Class coupé and its closest rival, the BMW 4 Series Coupé.
Four trims are on offer, starting with the entry-level ‘AMG Line’ trim. Mercedes’ trim names are a bit confusing – this trim and the grades above aren’t high-power ‘AMG’ versions, this is simply what the brand decided to name these trim grades. Mercedes’ MBUX software setup comes as standard, pairing a 12-inch digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel with a 12-inch infotainment display on the dashboard.
The lead-in model also comes with ambient lighting and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, as well as several safety tech features such as blind spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition and a reversing camera for parking scenarios.
The ‘AMG Line Premium’ upgrades the car’s LED headlights with the brand’s ‘adaptive high-beam assistance’ tech, and gives the CLE a surround-view parking camera and a panoramic roof. Now reaching towards the top of the range, the ‘AMG Line Premium Plus’ introduces head-up display software which projects driving information onto the lower windscreen, and comes with a higher-quality Burmester speaker system that uses Dolby Atmos.
Key trim level features
Entry-level ‘AMG Line’ (from £46,605)
12-inch infotainment display
12-inch digital instrument cluster
Voice assistant
Wireless smartphone compatibility
18-inch alloy wheels
Automatic climate control
LED headlights
Nappa leather steering wheel
Ambient lighting
Blind spot assistance
Traffic sign recognition
Reversing parking camera
‘AMG Line Premium’ (from £50,355)
All ‘AMG Line’ features that are not replaced
19-inch alloy wheels
Adaptive LED headlights
Keyless start and entry
360-degree parking camera
Panoramic sliding roof
‘AMG Line Premium Plus’ (from £54,355)
All lower trim features that are not replaced
20-inch alloy wheels
Head-up display
17-speaker Burmester sound system
Top-spec ‘Premier Edition’ (from £56,855)
All lower trim features that are not replaced
20-inch alloy wheels in black
Heated steering wheel
Nappa leather upholstery
Finally, the range-topping ‘Premier Edition’ will include all of the prior features, but with a more plush interior, including a heated steering wheel and Nappa leather upholstery.
Buyers who opt for either of the top two trims will be offered the optional ‘driving assistance package plus’ bundle. This includes more intelligent speed limiter tech, evasive steering assistance, and active lane change assistance.
Four different powertrain options are available, including both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations, and all come with 48V of mild-hybrid assistance and a nine-speed automatic gearbox.
The range begins with the petrol-powered CLE 200 which makes use of a 198hp 2.0-litre engine. This is followed by the CLE 200d – a 191hp 2.0-litre diesel powertrain. These two are the only other rear-wheel drive choices.
The more expensive two are four-wheel drive. The CLE 300 4MATIC uses the same 2.0-litre petrol engine as the 200, but the 300’s output is boosted to 252hp. Finally, the range-topping engine belongs to the CLE 450 4MATIC – a 381hp 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine capable of accelerating from 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds, around three seconds faster than the standard model.
Now available, prices for the CLE range start at under £47k, rising to £73k for the CLE 450 4MATIC in ‘Premier Edition’ guise.
Private new car sales continued to struggle in October, a scant 0.3% up on the same month last year, according to latest data published this morning by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
As cost-of-living pressures and high interest rates continue to squeeze household budgets, consumer new car spending is failing to keep pace with the growth in fleet purchasing. While private new car sales were flat in October, fleet registrations were up by 29%, meaning that the overall new car market was up by 14% on the same month last year.
October is a month that has fluctuated significantly over the last five years, and this year’s overall result is the best since 2017 – well before the Covid-19 pandemic. And that’s despite zero growth in private new car sales, which shows just how strong fleet sales were last month.
New car registrations by buyer type – October
Buyer
October 2023
October 2022
% change
Market share 2023
Market share 2022
Private
62,915
62,738
0.3%
41.0%
46.7%
Fleet
87,479
67,911
28.8%
57.0%
50.6%
Business
3,135
3,695
-15.2%
2.0%
2.8%
Total
153,529
134,344
14.3%
Source: SMMT
Year to date
Buyer
YTD 2023
YTD 2022
% change
Market share 2023
Market share 2022
Private
713,301
701,805
1.6%
44.4%
52.3%
Fleet
854,372
606,952
40.8%
53.2%
45.4%
Business
37,764
33,955
11.2%
2.4%
2.5%
Total
1,605,437
1,342,712
19.6%
Source: SMMT
Consumers still avoiding new EVs
On the surface, it looked like a good month for electric cars, with sales up by 20% over the same month last year. But market share of less than 16% is lower than the year-to-date average, causing headaches for the car industry. Starting in January, they have to sell at least 22% EVs, which means a 40% increase on October’s market share.
The SMMT claims that less than 25% of EV sales this year have been to private buyers. Some quick maths based on the published numbers suggests that this equates to only about 9% of consumers who have bought EVs this year. For fleet buyers, it’s a very different story. Based on fleet customers making up at least 75% of EV sales, that puts EV market share at more than 23% for fleets – already exceeding next year’s targets.
So if car companies want to hit their mandated EV targets for 2024, it’s clear that they need to convince a lot more consumers to switch to electric power.
In the meantime, plug-in hybrid sales continue to creep upwards, a trend that has been developing over the last few months. Whether or not this is from people moving away from diesel (large SUVs are a good example, where there are few EV options but quite a few plug-in hybrids), or from people who are hesitant about going all-in on a switch from petrol to electric power, remains to be seen.
New car registrations by fuel type – October
Fuel
October 2023
October 2022
% change
Market share 2023
Market share 2022
Petrol*
84,451
77,986
8.3%
55.0%
58.0%
Electric
23,943
19,933
20.1%
15.6%
14.8%
Hybrid
19,574
15,712
24.6%
12.7%
11.7%
Plug-in hybrid
14,285
8,900
60.5%
9.3%
6.6%
Diesel*
11,276
11,813
-4.5%
7.3%
8.9%
Total
153,529
134,344
14.3%
*includes mild hybrids Source: SMMT
New car registrations by fuel type – Year to date
Fuel
YTD 2023
YTD 2022
% change
Market share 2023
Market share 2022
Petrol*
905,331
771,271
17.4%
56.4%
57.4%
Electric
262,487
195,547
34.2%
16.3%
14.6%
Hybrid
202,130
158,139
27.8%
12.6%
11.8%
Diesel*
122,211
134,894
-9.4%
7.6%
10.0%
Plug-in hybrid
113,278
82,861
36.7%
7.1%
6.2%
Total
1,605,437
1,342,712
19.6%
*includes mild hybrids Source: SMMT
Good month, bad month
Despite overall market growth of more than 14%, it wasn’t champagne and caviars for car companies in October. Some brands saw significantly less growth than the market average, while others saw sales fall dramatically.
In absolute terms, Tesla had the largest growth. This October, it registered nearly 2,700 new cars. Last October, it registered 11. No, that’s not a typo.
At the other end of the scale, Fiat registered nearly 1,500 fewer cars this October than it did last year – a fall of 57% in a market that was up 14%.
In overall sales, Volkswagen continued to lead the market, just ahead of sister brand Audi. Ford placed third, ahead of BMW and Vauxhall.
Ford Puma locks in sales crown with another month on top
With just two months to run until the end of 2023, the Ford Puma has opened up a commanding lead at the top of the sales charts. Last year’s (and last month’s) best-selling new car, the Nissan Qashqai, had a slow month in October and didn’t even make the top ten.
In fact, the race for second place is very close between the Qashqai and the Vauxhall Corsa, while the Kia Sportage overtook the Tesla Model Y for fourth place. And on a sad final note, the now-discontinued Ford Fiesta has finally slipped off the bottom of the top ten sales charts forever, with the Audi A3 now in tenth place after a strong performance in October.
We’ll have our usual monthly analysis of the top ten tomorrow.
Make and model: BYD Atto 3 Description: Mid-sized hatch – new-to-UK brand’s second offering Price range: £26,195 – £31,695
BYD says: “The BYD Atto 3 combines modern aesthetics with exceptional intelligence and efficiency derived from pioneering electric vehicle technology and smart connectivity.”
We say: Competently styled, with lots of equipment and affordable, the BYD Dolphin is certainly worthy of consideration by the EV family hatch buyer.
You cannot fault the pace of BYD Auto – the Chinese brand launched itself onto the UK market with its Atto 3 SUV in mid 2023, and a second model has arrived only a couple of months on in the form of the Dolphin, a mid-sized electric hatchback.
A larger saloon model, called the Seal, will be in showrooms before the end of 2023 and boasts a sub-four-second 0-62mph time. Meanwhile an aggressive dealer growth programme has already included the opening of a showroom in London’s Berkeley Square amongst the likes of Bentley, Ferrari and Rolls-Royce, and will see the brand’s outlets increase from the current single figures to 100 by the end of 2024 – clearly, BYD is very serious about making its mark in the UK.
What is it?
The Dolphin is part of BYD’s ‘Ocean Series’, and one of some 19 different models the brand offers in its home market of China. As we detailed in our feature on the brand, BYD Auto might not be well known to UK car buyers but the company is big globally, having sold more than five million EVs. It’s even bigger in batteries – half the world’s iPad batteries are made by BYD and it supplies the batteries for one in five smartphones.
The Dolphin is a mid-sized hatchback and as such will be aiming to take customers from the likes of fellow Chinese contender the highly-regarded MG 4, but also other mainstream EVs –it offers the interior space of a Volkswagen ID.3 in a car that is more Peugeot e-208 sized. The newcomer will eventually be available in four trim levels and two battery sizes – once the entry-level versions join the range in 2024 prices will start from a highly affordable £26,195.
How does it look?
The BYD Dolphin strikes a satisfactory pose – basically, it looks a lot like any other mid-sized hatchback, which for many years seemed to be something EVs must not do. We are told that the rounded styling represents “the graceful lines of a leaping dolphin.” We’re not sure about that, but the visuals, notably the strong arrowhead-like creases on the flanks, are very competently done. The rear light signature, an LED running right across the flank, strikes a distinctive note too.
It’s a practical profile too – the car boasts a long wheelbase with short overhangs, a side effect of the car’s platform and its clever battery pack, and an attribute that translates to impressive interior space.
We like: General exterior styling is pleasingly normal We don’t like: ‘Build Your Dreams’ written across the rear – but this is now a ‘no cost option’
What are the specs like?
Launch versions of the Dolphin are on offer in the two top trim levels, Comfort and Design, and from early in 2024 they will be joined by two lower trims dubbed Active and Boost (A, B, C, D, get it?). And as we will detail shortly the range encompasses three motor ratings and two battery sizes.
Prices start from about £26K for the Active, which is a head-turning price, offering true affordability in the EV market – even the most expensive Design variant is cheaper than the entry models of some European rivals. And the low price does not come at the expense of standard equipment – the list includes the kind of extras you don’t usually find in base versions.
The front seats have electric adjustment, for example, while there are also auto headlights, keyless entry and start, the list goes on… Even the huge rotatable touchscreen and ‘Vehicle to Load’ feature that allows the car battery to be used to charge an external electric device are standard across the range.
The safety package is particularly impressive, which has allowed the Dolphin to earn the maximum five-star rating from Euro NCAP with an impressive set of scores across the board. It offers a comprehensive suite of active safety aids, including forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, rear collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert and rear cross-traffic brake, lane departure prevention and emergency lane-keeping assist.
Other highlights of the comprehensive specification across the range include adaptive cruise control, a panoramic camera and more aids including blind spot monitoring, hill descent control and traffic sign recognition.
The Boost specification adds £1,000 to the price which pays for a more powerful motor, 17-inch wheels and a multi-link rear suspension. Finally, we have the two top levels and the first versions on sale, Comfort and Design which use the most powerful motor and battery.
The Comfort costs a smidge over £30K and gains heated front seats and an 11kW onboard charger compared to the 7kW of the lower trims, while for another £1,500 the range-topper comes with a panoramic roof, privacy glass in the rear seats, wireless smartphone charging and vehicle-to-load.
We like: Breadth of specification, especially safety aids We don’t like: Entry-level versions not available at launch
What’s it like inside?
The positive impressions given off by the Dolphin continue once one steps inside. It’s well put together with the soft-touch surfaces feeling more upmarket than some buyers might expect.
The colour scheme is interesting – BYD arrived in the UK with some quite outlandish colour combinations (ooh, pink…) but has reacted quickly to customer feedback, in a similar vein to putting the brand’s full name across the back of the boot. From November 2023 production the standard interior finish will be the more subtle black that UK buyers tend to prefer.
The interior of the first BYD, the Atto 3, was we were told inspired by gym equipment and the Dolphin has its own theme, its interior apparently boasting aquatic elements, the most notable being the interior door handles which we are told are shaped to represent dolphin fins… it’s a little more conventional though – no door bins masquerading as playable guitar strings for example.
The controls are logically laid out and fairly minimalist – a great many functions are controlled through the laptop-sized infotainment screen which can be rotated from landscape to vertical format. Opinions of this are mixed (our reviewer considers vertical sensible, especially when using sat nav maps, while his colleague on the launch drive event couldn’t see the point), but one issue is the screen’s size – in vertical format, it seriously intrudes into the driver’s field of vision.
By the way, there are a couple of ways of rotating said screen – a button on the screen itself, or asking BYD’s voice assistant. Now we did not have unwarranted success with this, saying “Hey BYD” eliciting a response to this reviewer but the Yorkshire accent of his colleague producing only ignorance…
BYD says that the patented design of its Blade battery pack frees up more space on the insides and this becomes obvious when sitting in the back seat – the room, both ahead of the legs and above the head, is surprisingly generous for a car of the size.
At first glance, the boot appears small by comparison, but it does have a second compartment under the floor, big enough to store the charging cables and other items you might want to hide away. The official figures are 345 litres, rising to 1,310 with the seats folded – that’s adequate for a supermini, though some rivals offer more.
We like: Lots of people room, especially in the back We don’t like: Boot space could be bigger
Under the bonnet
As is typical with EVs, the Dolphin’s powertrain is slim. The electric motor is mounted between the front wheels and the battery pack sits under the cabin floor, adding to the car’s rigidity.
Like the Atto 3 the Dolphin employs BYD’s cobalt-free Blade battery pack. Its design allows much denser packaging of the battery cells and as these are of Lithium Iron-Phosphate (LFP) they are said to be much safer – BYD delights in showing video tests of the pack involving pressing nails into them and running over them with heavy trucks.
There are two battery sizes on offer and three motor options. The upper two trim levels come with the larger of the two batteries, a 60kWh unit promising a WLTP-certified range between charges of 265 miles and powering the 204hp motor. This will send the Dolphin through 62mph from rest in seven seconds – not so many years ago such pace would see GTi or similar badges added to the car. Comfort and Design models can also be charged at rates up to 88 kW, boosting the battery from 30 to 80% in half an hour.
The two lower trim versions joining the range in the first quarter of 2024 have a 45kWh LFP battery, its estimated range likely to be around the 190 to 210-mile mark depending on the motor – the base Active model gets a 95hp unit while the Boost virtually doubles its power to 176hp. We’ve yet to see performance or charging figures for these cars.
One other notable aspect of the Dolphin is its standard-fit heat pump – this clever system makes use of all the residual heat it can find to make the car’s batteries more efficient. What this means in simple terms is that the drop-off in range the average EV owner expects in cold winter conditions is far less of an issue if you are driving a BYD.
How does it drive?
The Dolphin eases away and accelerates with all the virtually silent smoothness that is now expected of an EV. At motorway speeds, there is audible wind noise, which with an EV becomes more noticeable because there’s no engine to drown it out.
The driving experience is easy, if uninvolving. There’s little feel through the steering wheel but, even with its snappy acceleration, the Dolphin is not the kind of car you’d imagine enthusiastically hustling along a challengingly twisty country route.
Ride comfort is good, with only the most damaged of road surfaces unsettling the car, though the multi-link suspension no doubt helps with this – we’re not convinced the entry-level torsion bar will be so forgiving.
Anyone trying out the BYD who has previously driven an EV will find one other major difference – there’s no regenerative braking to speak of. The drivetrain does include some regeneration, but not to a level one can feel behind the wheel. Perhaps it’s something to do with the makeup of the battery pack, but this is definitely not a car one can drive on a single pedal like many other electrics.
We like: Unfussed progress and level of ride comfort We don’t like: Wind noise at speed
Verdict
There’s a lot to like about the BYD Dolphin. It’s potent enough for a mainstream car, it tackles much of the UK’s less-than-perfect road surfaces without issue, it looks okay inside and out and it comes with a long list of equipment.
Yes, it has its quirks, but these idiosyncracies are nothing that significantly affects one’s life with the car. And then you remember just how much you will pay for all of this, at which point the Dolphin becomes a car that really opens up EV motoring to a much wider potential audience.
Model tested: BYD Dolphin Design Price (as tested): £31,695 Motor unit: 150kW, 60kWh battery Gearbox: Automatic Power: 176 hp
Top speed: 99 mph 0-60 mph: 7.0 seconds Battery range: 265 miles (WLTP combined) Euro NCAP safety rating:Five stars (October 2023) TCE Expert Rating: 58% (as of November 2023)
Buy a BYD Dolphin
If you’re looking to buy a new or used BYD Dolphin, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car
Discover great deals available on both new and used cars. Find out more
Search for your next new or used car with Auto Trader. Find out more
Lease a BYD Dolphin
If you’re looking to lease a new BYD Dolphin, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal
Personal contract hire deals from Carparison Leasing. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Rivervale Leasing. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from LeaseLoco. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Hippo Leasing. Find out more
Subscribe to a BYD Dolphin
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?)
The new fourth-generation Skoda Superb range has been unveiled, which has been given a minor design update, more interior space and a more efficient set of powertrain options.
This new model’s design isn’t a major departure from the current model’s exterior looks. Instead, Skoda says it has made a “number of small tweaks” to make the car more aerodynamic, which in turn makes the car slightly more fuel efficient. As before, both saloon and ‘Combi’ estate models will be available.
Skoda has also moderately increased the family car’s length and height, which it says provides a bit more headroom and legroom in the cabin, as well as an additional 20 litres of boot space – 645 litres in total (690 litres for the estate).
In the front, the design of the car’s long bonnet has been changed, with a new contour shape and a larger Skoda badge installed flush against the bodywork. A wider grille is flanked by more angular Matrix LED headlights which the brand claims delivers “40% more light than the first generation”.
The grille’s chrome surround finish also features on the lower bumper, which now has a squarer shape, and a new oval-shaped tail light design features in the rear. Scrolling indicators are available with the range-topping trim, and the car sits on 17-inch alloy wheels as standard.
It’s inside the cabin that the big differences can be seen, starting with the new infotainment setup. Skoda has opted to give the Superb a larger 10-inch console that juts out of the dashboard (displayed below is the larger 13-inch screen that comes with top-spec versions), with a hand rest underneath.
Below that sits three smart dials that can control heating and ventilation, media volume, the zoom of the screen’s navigation map and the car’s driving mode. The Superb also comes with a wireless smartphone charging box that also cools the device during the process.
There will be no all-electric models in the Superb generation, Skoda has decided to continue offering petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid options. The range begins with the entry-level 1.5-litre mild-hybrid 150hp petrol, followed by two 2.0-litre petrols with either 204hp or 265hp – the latter with four-wheel drive.
Two 1.5-litre diesel options will also be offered, the first with 150hp and the second with 193hp and all-wheel drive. Finally the range is topped by a 2.0-litre 204hp petrol plug-in hybrid, which can reportedly muster 60 miles of electric-only driving. All models come with an automatic gearbox.
That sums up the key points of Skoda’s latest model announcement. The ‘Combi’ estate becomes available to order in January, and the saloon will follow in April. Details like UK pricing will follow in the coming weeks.
Britain’s economy is very flat as we head toward the end of 2023, without a lot of good news on the horizon. The cost of living crisis still looms large, and it is still more important than ever to double-check that you can afford to run the car you are looking to buy.
The Car Expert has tallied up these monthly costs, and they may be more expensive than you think. Using data collected from our technical partner Clear Vehicle Data, insurance comparison site Confused.com and financial analytics company NimbleFins, The Car Expert estimates that motorists spend an average of £245.76 each month simply on running a petrol or diesel car each month – and that doesn’t include purchase costs or finance payments.
Over a year, this means the average car costs about £3,000 to run. While many of us have been keeping an eye on the cost of fuel at the pumps in the last year, NimbleFins reports that UK car owners spend just under £120 on fuel a month on average, which is the same figure they reported last year.
Obviously, fuel is the cost that fluctuates the most each month, as most other costs are either fixed or don’t vary significantly. Prices were very high in Summer 2022, at nearly £2 a litre, then gradually fell for most of the last 12 months to less than £1.40 before starting to rise again in the last couple of months.
Instead, the recent rise in running costs is mostly due to the insurance sector. Analysing its database of offers from its trusted insurance providers, Confused.com says that insurance premiums are 58% higher on average compared to this time last year.
Item
Average monthly spend
Fuel
£119.58
Car insurance
£77.00
Routine maintenance and servicing
£22.75
Vehicle excise duty (road tax)
£13.75
MOT
£4.58
Breakdown cover
£1.50
Parking permits and tickets
£3.67
Fines
£0.35
Cleaning and other costs (like garage rent)
£2.58
Monthly average total (excluding purchase costs)
£245.76
Source: Confused.com and NimbleFins (2023 figures)
NimbleFins adds that some upkeep costs for car owners, like cleaning products and garage rent, have become cheaper over the last six months as inflation has started to fall. Other costs, like annual road tax and MOT charges are unchanged.
Why are insurance costs rising?
Based on its car insurance database of over six million quotes in just the last three months, Confused.com reports that insurance premiums have increased by around £148 on average since the summer.
The company adds that this is the sharpest increase since it started recording insurance prices in 2006, and that all regions in the UK are seeing the highest prices on record.
There are several reasons for this:
New car prices have been steadily increasing, which means that premiums have increased to cover the values of the vehicles insured
Used car values have been at historically high levels, which means that insurers have had to pay out much more in the event of a write-off
Many new cars come with the latest driving assistance technology, which can cost the insurer more to repair or replace
In addition, Confused.com suggests that the rising popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) has also had a significant effect. The company concludes that:
EVs are usually more expensive than their petrol or diesel equivalents, which will in turn raise insurance costs
EVs can be more expensive to repair (although this is not universally true)
A shortage of trained EV repairers and body shops means that cars are taking longer to repair, so insurance companies are spending more money on courtesy vehicles for their customers
EVs generally have quicker acceleration and speed than fossil-fuel vehicles, so could appear riskier to insurers
Used electric car values have been even higher than petrol/diesel cars, which in turn keeps insurance premiums high
What you can do to keep costs at a minimum
Managing your insurance renewal
If you have just received an expensive renewal quote, the best first step is to use a price comparison site to ensure you’re not paying more than you need to, and it’s quite likely that you will be able to get a cheaper quote from elsewhere.
While it might take a large chunk out of your finances in the short term, paying an annual lump sum for your car insurance is the cost-effective option, should you be able to afford it. This is because insurance companies often charge interest for spreading the cost of your cover over the year.
To lower your insurance further, you could also increase your voluntary excess, but make sure you can afford to pay that sum if you need to make a claim. You might be tempted to lower your estimated mileage to keep costs down, but the best thing to do is be honest and accurate. You will be charged down the line for going over the estimate you gave, and insurance companies can also see very low mileage estimates as a risk too.
Actions to save at the petrol station
Ever-increasing fuel costs are the largest expenditure you will face from month to month, so any savings you can regularly make at the petrol pump can really go the extra mile.
To keep your car as fuel efficient as you can, you should make sure your car’s engine well maintained, and that your tyres are properly inflated. Drive in the highest gear possible to conserve fuel, avoid accelerating or braking too hard, and also keep your steering as smooth as possible.
Many drivers also travel long distances to find the best petrol pump deals, but make sure you weigh up the cheaper fuel prices with the distance you need to travel to the petrol station. Check out our full set of fuel-saving tips here.
Servicing plans – check the fine print
A service plan can be a good way to spread your car’s maintenance expenses over the year, but you need to look carefully to ensure that the terms and conditions suit your needs. You might spend more overall but in more manageable monthly chunks rather than in one big hit each year.
Some plans are quite affordable, but remember to check for limitations in the fine print, such as a maximum value for the car’s age and/or mileage. Some providers offer a multi-year plan but lock you into that specific dealership for servicing, which is no good if you move house to the other side of the country.
As we’ve said in our Ten golden rules for buying a car: Any car can go wrong at any time with expensive consequences, so you need to make sure your wallet can cope with it.
It doesn’t have to be a breakdown or failure – it could be a puncture or damaged wheel from hitting a pothole. It could be a broken window from a vandal or thief. It could be that you accidentally put the wrong fuel in your tank during a moment’s inattention, or any sort of unexpected drama.
If you’re so financially stretched that you can’t deal with these inevitable demands on your bank account, you are very likely to hit money troubles at some stage of your car ownership. Instead, you might want to look for a cheaper (or cheaper to run) car.
Part of the latest sixth-generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class range, a new E-Class Estate model is now available to order in the UK, offering more rear space for passengers, several on-board tech upgrades, a subtle exterior styling refresh and a new engine line-up.
Its range was first unveiled back in April – announced as Mercedes-Benz tries to keep its combustion-powered range up to date with the technology and design ethos rolled out across its newer all-electric EQ range.
The Estate has been given the same cosmetic treatment, including new-look tail lights in the rear, which are longer than before, and display a new three-pointed star light signature. An illuminated grille surround is also an optional extra.
Compared with its predecessor, the Estate has gotten bigger – three centimetres wider and two centimetres longer to be exact. The brand says that this change gives rear passengers a bit more leg and elbow room than the prior model.
Like the saloon, the E-Class Estate engine options list has been overhauled. Customers will be able to choose from four petrol and diesel engines with 48V of mild-hybrid assistance, or a plug-in hybrid with a 21kWh battery and a reported all-electric range of 62 miles. All models will be fitted with a nine-speed automatic gearbox.
Opting for the plug-in hybrid engine will decrease the car’s storage space. The mild-hybrid E-Class Estate comes with 615 litres of boot space (1830 litres with the rear seats down), while the plug-in hybrid model instead comes with 460 litres of room in the boot (1675 litres with the rear seats down).
Over the standard E-Class, the Estate has been given an air suspension upgrade in the rear to improve driving comfort. Besides the hybridised engines, Mercedes-Benz adds that it has also been able to marginally improve the car’s aerodynamics when compared to the current Estate, further improving the car’s fuel efficiency.
In the cabin, the E-Class Estate has been given the same interior makeover as its saloon sibling, which includes the optional E-Class ‘Superscreen’ dashboard which runs the brand’s latest ‘MBUX’ software, as well as several third party apps, including TikTok, Zoom video calls, and even the Angry Birds game. A selfie camera is also located on the top of the dashboard.
The options list also includes ambient cabin lighting with a ‘sound visualisation’ – a lighting system that responds to the media you are playing – and an automatic climate control feature that automatically regulates temperature, air flow and air distribution for the front and back of the cabin separately.
Pricing for the new estate starts at just south of £58k for the lead-in ‘E 200 AMG Line’ model, rising to around £79k for the hybridised ‘E 200 e’ variant in the range-topping ‘AMG Line Premium Plus’ guise.
Ask who is the US-based automotive manufacturer that produces the most potent range of electric vehicles (EVs) on the market and most will likely say Tesla, but in fact that title is held by another more recent start-up, boasting former Tesla top brass amongst its management.
Lucid Motors states proudly that it builds “the longest range, fastest-charging luxury electric car in the world,” and considering its Air saloon hits 62mph in under three seconds, will go more than 500 miles before needing plugging in, and recharge much faster than typical rivals, it has a point.
Lucid is a car maker with big ambitions – an even more potent Air with three motors instead of two, an SUV with similar supercar levels of performance, and annual production of around half a million vehicles. This is a company that could be seriously gunning for Tesla’s EV number-one status.
So who or what is Lucid?
The company that became Lucid was launched in 2007 in America under the name Atieva, by Bernard Tse, who had previously been vice-president of Tesla. Initially, Atieva made batteries for EVs and powertrains for other vehicle manufacturers.
In 2013, the company scored a major coup by signing up Peter Rawlinson. A renowned engineer in the automotive industry, Rawlinson had previously headed the engineering teams at Jaguar and Lotus, before in 2010 becoming another attracted by the Tesla dollar where he oversaw the engineering of the Model S, Tesla’s breakout model that really put Elon Musk’s company on the map (and still in production today). Initially taking on the role of chief technology officer at Lucid, Rawlinson became the company’s CEO in 2019.
Atieva was renamed Lucid Motors in 2016, when the company announced plans to create its own car, a performance luxury EV, in a brand-new factory in Casa Grande, Arizona. Bold plans for the $700 million plant included an initial output of 20,000 cars a year, rising to 130,000 at which point it would be redesigned to boost annual production to 380,000 – that’s a lot of EVs…
Lucid also proved adept at attracting investment, allowing construction of the factory to start in late 2019 – the first examples of the new car, named the Lucid Air, started coming off the Arizona production line in September 2021.
While that 380,000 planned annual production might seem ambitious, Lucid is looking even higher – a second international factory is planned in Saudi Arabia building another 150,000 vehicles a year, possibly influenced by the Saudi Government announcing it will buy at least 50,000 and possibly as many as 100,000 Lucid vehicles over ten years.
Meanwhile, in the UK, Aston Martin has announced a deal with Lucid which will see the US manufacturer supply the electrical hardware and batteries for Aston’s planned future range of EVs.
When will Lucid launch in the UK?
Watch this space… Lucid definitely has plans for UK sales with right-hand-drive vehicles, and its one current model, the Air, has appeared at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Suggestions as to exactly when those sales will start keep being made, and then changed, but we are told that UK buyers attracted to Lucid’s models will be able to start putting their money down in 2024. Other than that, we don’t have any information as to when we’ll see Lucid cars on UK roads.
Lucid Air
What models does Lucid have and what else is coming?
There’s just one Lucid model on the market at present, the Air. This comes in three main varieties, the Pure, Touring and Grand Touring, with prices starting from around $78,000 in the US.
These are no EV slouches. The single-motor Pure’s electrics give it the equivalent of 430hp, which sees it through 62mph from rest in 4.5 seconds with up to 410 miles between charges. And Lucid’s charging technology allows that battery to be replenished at a rate that adds 200 miles in just 15 minutes.
The Touring has two motors, which cut the 62mph sprint to 3.4 seconds and two minutes from the charging time, while also adding 15 miles to the range. And the Grand Touring hits 62mph in 3.0 seconds, thanks to its battery which at 113kWh is the largest in any car giving it a range between charges of, wait for it… 512 miles… And it takes just 12 minutes to replenish 200 miles’ worth of energy.
While that sounds impressive, we’re told that a new and even more potent version of the Air is on the way. Three electric motors will produce a combined 1,600hp, putting the car into hypercar territory with 0-62mph times of under two seconds.
Meanwhile, Rawlinson has revealed plans for a Lucid SUV, the Gravity, due to be unveiled in November 2023 as a rival to the Tesla Model X – we are promised that this too will offer “supercar levels of performance”. And Lucid aims to follow the Gravity with a rival to the Tesla Model 3 saloon, revealing it by 2025.
Where can I try a Lucid car?
Nowhere in the UK, at present. Currently the best way to experience a Lucid is to go to the USA, although the company has opened ‘retail studios’ in Munich, Germany and Norway.
UK sales are not likely to commence until the second half of 2024, and Britain is likely to be in the second phase of an extensive launch across Europe.
What’s different about this company?
Lucid has put its electric vehicle hardware expertise into many areas, not least electric motorsport.
Working with McLaren Applied Technologies, Lucid has been supplying the battery packs for the cars of the FIA ‘s single-seater electric international racing series, Formula E, and the third-generation cars of what is now a world championship now use Lucid electric motors too.
Summary
On first hearing the name Lucid, it sounds like one of those start-up ideas with boldly stated ambitions that will never happen.
But once you learn what the company has already achieved, both in the sheer potency of its product, and the major interest being attracted to sell that product to, it becomes clear that this is a manufacturer that could easily get very big indeed – Tesla watch out, a big rival is coming up fast in your rear-view mirror…
The Hyundai Kona is a small SUV/crossover that sits between the smaller Bayon and larger Tucson in Hyundai’s SUV line-up. This is the second-generation model which is now available as a petrol or petrol-electric hybrid model.
While its predecessor shared its foundations with the petrol-powered Kia Stonic, the new Kona is based on the latest version of the battery-powered Kona Electric, and has been adapted to appeal to customers more interested in traditional petrol and hybrid cars.
Reviewers agree that the crossover is a certain improvement over the previous iteration. Parker‘s Alex Ingram says that the Kona’s “physical growth in size compared with its predecessor means it’s now big enough to comfortably cover typical family-car duties”.
That said, some outlets assert that the hybrid version is rather underpowered, while others take issue with the crossover’s ride quality. The Kona’s styling is unlike anything else in this segment, which has delighted some reviewers while leaving others less impressed. It will certainly be a significant factor in customer buying decisions.
As of April 2025, the Hyundai Kona holds a New Car Expert Rating of B, with a score of 70%. This is largely based on the Kona’s media reviews, safety rating and running cost data, as the model is too new to have any meaningful reliability data. Check back soon.
Value will depreciate faster than other small SUVs
Hybrid model feels slow
Key specifications
Body style: Small SUV/crossover Engines:petrol, petrol-electric hybrid Price:From £25,725 on-road
Launched: Autumn 2023 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 Hyundai Kona is a fantastic example of how a brand can listen to feedback and act upon it. Hyundai has grown its small SUV sensibly, delivering just enough additional practicality to satisfy those looking for their next family car. To go along with the extra space is a far more polished cabin. It’s smart looking, logically laid out, and features an intuitive infotainment system.”
Model reviewed: Range overview (including Kona Electric)
Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol automatic N Line Score: 7 / 10 “Like so many semi-performance editions, the 1.6-litre Hyundai Kona N Line S delivers extra pace but no more enjoyment compared with cheaper versions. Its two biggest problems are the Ford Puma ST, which is a proper small hot baby SUV and cheaper, and the fact that the Kona’s perfectly acceptable 1.0-litre powertrain is also available in this trim level, for a few thousand pounds less. If you’re really sold on the sporty styling pack, we’d advise you to save cash and spec it with the cheaper engine.” Author: John McIlroy Read review
Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual Advance Score: 9 / 10 “Well equipped, decent to drive and almost reassuringly simple, the entry-level Hyundai Kona petrol is a very capable all-rounder which retains the qualities that earned its pricier stablemates our top award. It should be at the sharp end of your shortlist if you’re in the market for a small family SUV.” Author: John McIlroy Read review
Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol/electric hybrid Ultimate Score: 9 / 10 “The Hyundai Kona isn’t quite as accomplished in hybrid form as the EV version, but it’s still a solid contender in the small SUV sector. Its physical growth in size compared with its predecessor means it’s now big enough to comfortably cover typical family-car duties, and it does so with generous equipment levels, plenty of comfort and superb efficiency – especially on short trips around town. This more affordable Kona is a great SUV.” Author: Alex Ingram Read review
Business Car
Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol/electric N Line Score: 7 / 10 “The new Hyundai Kona was developed as an EV first. So, you might ask, have other powertrain options in the range been compromised? In terms of running costs, the hybrid can’t compete with the 2% BIK company car tax rate of the electric variant, but on a cost-per-mile basis it does work out cheaper thanks to its lower P11D. However, despite being more expensive, overall we’d say the Kona Electric is indeed the more convincing choice.” Author: Sean Keywood Read review
Car
Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol/electric hybrid Score: 6 / 10 “We just couldn’t fully get on with the Hyundai Kona Hybrid. The powertrain is uninspiring, not economical enough, and reluctant to use its electric power to the best effect. The busy ride will also destabilise some families. The good news is that the interior is very usable, and its B-road poise, distinctive looks, capable chassis, and technology on offer mark it out as being nearer the front end of the B-SUV grid.” Author: Keith Adams Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 10 / 10 “We’ve been truly dazzled by the all-electric version of the new Hyundai Kona, thanks to its tempting mix of comfort refinement, practicality and quality. It has to be said the combustion-engined versions of the car don’t have quite the same level of wow-factor, but if you’re looking for a compact family car that’s stylish, practical, easy to live with and packed with tech, we can’t think of many cars that’ll suit you better than the Kona.” Author: Ivan Aistrop, Andy Goodwin Read review
Honest John
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The new Hyundai Kona is bigger and better than before, while still devent value for money. You get a lot of equipment for your money, while the Hyundai Kona Hybrid is efficient.” Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol/electric hybrid Score: 7.6 / 10 “The Hyundai Kona in 1.6-litre hybrid form is a bit of a mixed bag. The powertrain is uninspiring, it’s not powerful or economical enough, and reluctant to use its electric juice to the best effect. The busy ride will also destabilise some families. The good news is that the interior is very usable, and its B-road poise, distinctive looks, capable chassis, and technology on offer mark it out as being nearer the front end of the B-SUV grid.” (Keith Adams) Read review
The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: Range overview (including electric models) Score: 9 / 10 “Perhaps more impressive even than the Kona Electric is the model at the other end of the scale. Having driven the EV, we sampled a petrol model, and it was just as loveable as the one with no tailpipe emissions.” Author: Matt Robinson Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of April 2025, the Hyundai Kona has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of April 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the latest iteration of the Hyundai Kona to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as we have sufficient data on the second-generation Kona, we’ll publish the score here.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
Fuel consumption
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Petrol models
45 mpg
C
42 – 49 mpg
C – D
Hybrid models
59 mpg
A
55 – 60 mpg
A – B
CO₂ output
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Petrol models
141 g/km
B
131 – 150 g/km
A – B
Hybrid models
107 g/km
A
106 – 115 g/km
A – A
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
26
B
16 – 28
A – B
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£204
B
Year 2
£544
B
Year 3
£894
B
Year 4
£1,120
B
Year 5
£1,444
B
Overall
£4,206
B
The Hyundai Kona is a pretty affordable car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
Petrol models average fuel consumption of 46mpg (44 to 49mpg) which sits around the market average, while hybrid models are much more fuel efficient, offering 60mpg on average. The car’s servicing and maintenance costs should be fairly affordable over the course of the first five years of ownership, and the Kona has fairly low insurance premiums.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Hyundai Kona has received.
2023
Auto Express Awards – Car of the Year
Carbuyer Awards – Best Small Family Car
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Hyundai Kona, you might also be interested in these alternatives.
The Hyundai Kona Electric is a compact battery-powered family SUV that directly rivals the Kia Niro EV and Volkswagen ID.3. This is the second-generation version, which became available to order in the UK in Autumn 2023.
Unlike the former SUV range, this new Kona model has been designed as an electric car first, and then adapted to offer petrol and petrol-electric hybrid options afterwards. We have assessed those combustion-powered versions separately.
Its predecessor was highly regarded by the British motoring media and a tough act to follow, but reviewers agree that the new model is a significant improvement.
The Carbuyer team notes that Hyundai has “clearly listened to customer feedback” by increasing interior space and making the family car feel “more grown-up inside” by installing plush cabin materials and a suite of the brand’s latest infotainment and driving assistance technology.
Like the similar Kia Niro EV, reviewers conclude that the car’s electric powertrain is a key highlight. With a battery range that will exceed 300 miles (according to official lab testing procedures), Driving Electric notes that the Kona Electric can travel further than many of its compact SUV rivals.
Top-spec trims can get quite expensive, and outlets also report that some rivals have faster charging speeds. “It’s a shame it’s not a little more exciting to drive”, adds Car‘s CJ Hubbard, “but we imagine most buyers will be happy to trade this for the additional space. The tech you can get really is quite impressive for this class, too.”
As of July 2025, the Hyundai Kona Electric holds a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 77%. It scores top marks for having zero tailpipe emissions, low running costs, media review scores and new car warranty coverage. However, its safety score is only average.
Body style: Small SUV/crossover Engines:electric, battery-powered Price:From £34,995 on-road
Launched: Autumn 2023 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 original Hyundai Kona Electric was good, but the second-generation model is even better. It’s larger, which means it’s more practical than many of its rivals, while a combination of plush materials and the latest tech make the interior feel more upmarket than before.”
“The Hyundai Kona Electric is a spacious family car with excellent electric range, but there are some cheap materials inside and it’s not the most fun car in corners.”
Model reviewed: Ultimate 65kWh Score: 8 / 10 “The biggest asset of the Hyundai Kona Electric’s chassis is ride comfort, which is impressive, the suspension doing a very good job of absorbing bumps and potholes. Handling-wise, although things get a bit roly-poly under hard cornering and braking it can still be fun to drive once you’re used to this, and underlying grip levels are good. The steering is unfeelsome but precise enough. Perhaps the biggest snag with the driving experience is that the various assistance systems can be annoyingly intrusive.” Author: Sean Keywood Read review
Car
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 6 / 10 “It’s a shame the Hyundai Kona Electric isn’t a little more exciting to drive, but we imagine most buyers will be happy to trade this for the additional space and the sheer good sense exhibited by the interior design.” Author: CJ Hubbard Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 9 / 10 “The latest Hyundai Kona Electric is more spacious, refined and upmarket than its predecessor, making it a serious contender for the small SUV throne.” Author: Ellis Hyde, Andy Goodwin Read review
Driving Electric
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 9 / 10 “As futuristic as it is family-friendly, the second-generation Hyundai Kona Electric moves the game on from its predecessor in almost every respect.” Author: Tome Jervis, John McIlroy Read review
Electrifying.com
Model reviewed: Score: 9 / 10 “We’ve always been big fans of the Hyundai Kona Electric, thanks to its real-world efficiency and practicality. But rivals caught up, and technology moves fast in the electric car world. So Hyundai has moved the game on again, with a new Kona with upgrades just about everywhere. It feels more spacious and is a real step forward in terms of quality and technology.” Author: Ginny Buckley Read review
Green Car Guide
Score: 8 / 10 “The new Hyundai Kona Electric has grown in size, but the key selling points of the previous model remain: a practical range (up to 319 miles), and competitive pricing.” Author: Paul Clarke Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “The Hyundai Kona Electric isn’t the most exciting thing on four wheels, but you detect the effort that’s gone into this small electric SUV very easily. Anyone upgrading from the previous version is going to be pleasantly surprised, we reckon.” Author: CJ Hubbard Read review
The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: Range overview (including petrol and hybrid models) Score: 9 / 10 “It whirrs around town in near silence, providing no audible thumps and bangs whatsoever from the suspension, with super-smooth ride quality to match.” Author: Matt Robinson Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The new Hyundai Kona Electric is just as competent as before, but with more of all the good stuff. Well done Hyundai.” Author: Greg Potts Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of July 2025, the Hyundai Kona Electric has not been lab tested 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 Kona Electric is likely to score very highly in Green NCAP testing whenever it ever takes place. Check back again soon.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of July 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Hyundai Kona Electric to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as we have sufficient data on the Kona Electric, we’ll publish the score here.
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
280 miles
B
Electrical efficiency
Average
Score
Variation
Score
EV models
4.5 m/KWh
B
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
31
C
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£194
B
Year 2
£457
B
Year 3
£766
B
Year 4
£918
A
Year 5
£1,195
A
Overall
£3,530
A
The Hyundai Kona Electric is a very affordable 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 electrical efficiency (the EV equivalent of fuel economy) is good, while range is perfectly decent for most household use. If you regularly make long journeys then you may prefer an EV with a range of 300-350 miles, and there are a growing number of choices available.
Servicing costs should be good to very good over the first five years, while insurance is about average – nothing special, but better than others.
Warranty rating
New car warranty information for the Hyundai Kona Electric
Overall rating
D
31%
Petrol or diesel models
E
17%
Electric or hybrid models
C
56%
New car warranty duration
3 years
New car warranty mileage
60,000 miles
Battery warranty duration
8 years
Battery warranty mileage
100,000 miles
Hyundai’s new car warranty is better than average, and better than rival brands in a similar price bracket as the Kona Electric.
The duration is five years, with no limit on mileage. In addition to the standard new car warranty, there is a separate eight-year/100,000-mile warranty for the battery components.
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.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Hyundai Kona Electric has received
2023
Auto Express Awards – Car of the Year (full Kona range)
The Car Expert Awards – Best Small SUV
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Hyundai Kona Electric, you might also be interested in these alternatives.
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 Hyundai Kona Electric
If you’re looking to lease a new Hyundai Kona Electric, 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 Hyundai Kona Electric
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?)
From spacious hatchbacks to high-riding SUVs to seven-seat estate cars, there’s a wide array of options for ferrying around the family on the market right now. If you’re in the market to swap your current car for a newer model, there’s something for every budget.
We’ve analysed all the family cars available at key price points in the car market and consulted our industry-leading Expert Rating Index to see which models have the highest review scores from across the UK motoring media.
All the suggested models below can be purchased for the price stated as either new or nearly new (18 months old or younger). With the price tags of new showroom family cars continually rising, the nearly-new used market can potentially save you thousands of pounds.
With comprehensive review data backing our recommendations – based on more than 15,000 new car reviews from 35 of the UK’s top motoring websites – you can be confident that this is the definitive guide to the best new family cars for every budget that are on sale right now.
All of the pricing estimates given in the article below are accurate as of October 2023. To select our near-new family car suggestions, we have scoured the website of our trusted partner motors.co.uk – one of the largest online motoring marketplaces for UK buyers and sellers.
If you don’t want to spend more than £20k on your next family runaround, it’s hard to top the popular Ford Focus. The mid-sized hatchback is an accomplished all-rounder that offers a polished and comfortable driving experience and a spacious cabin, while the estate version offers all of the above plus even more practicality.
It’s a good value-for-money package, too. Besides its decent fuel economy, the Focus estate is currently available near-new on the used market for around £17k to £20k. That said, other estates in this mid-size class offer more boot space, and the Ford’s interior trim is rather cheap in places.
This fourth-generation Focus range was given a mid-life facelift in early 2022, consisting of some exterior tweaks and new interior hardware, which makes near-new models more appealing. It currently holds a very creditable Expert Rating of 75%.
Looking for a family car with a higher driving position? The popular Ford Puma crossover can also be picked up near-new for under £20k, but it’s smaller than the Focus. Another option in this bracket is the Skoda Octavia, which has also been widely praised for its spacious cabin, practicality and value for money. However, the Octavia’s near-new pricing tends to be a tad steeper than the Focus.
The new family car market starts to get very competitive passing the £20k mark, but if your budget maxes out at around £25k, opting for a Skoda Superb is your best bet.
Available as either a liftback or estate, the name ‘Superb’ is no exaggeration. It has won more than 50 UK awards since its launch in 2015. A near-new liftback is currently priced at around £22k to £25k on the used market, while estate models are slightly more expensive.
Praised for its practicality, design and value for money, the Skoda Superb has an outstanding Expert Rating of 82%. Its infotainment system is a bit harder to use on the move, however, while other large cars offer more driver appeal.
The fact that this model has been on the road since 2015 – and is about to be replaced by an all-new version – shouldn’t put you off if you’re looking for the best family car in this price bracket.
If you would prefer to opt for an SUV, the Hyundai Tucson has been one of the UK’s best-selling new cars this year, and for good reason. Available as a nearly-new model for around the same price, the Tucson is another great all-rounder that is roomy and generously equipped, but like the Superb, it’s not very exciting to drive.
Yes, it’s another Skoda… but this time with electric power. The Skoda Enyaq is a class-leading mid-sized SUV that has gained overwhelmingly positive reviews and almost universal praise from the UK motoring media. It has also picked up industry awards every year since its 2021 arrival.
Opting for a brand-new version can get expensive, but there are plenty of nearly-new Enyaq models priced between £27k and £30k on the used market.
Praised for its excellent battery range, interior space and affordable pricing, the Skoda Enyaq holds an Expert Rating of 82%. The SUV is well-equipped as standard too, meaning cheaper entry-level trims still make a great family car choice.
Of course, there are some excellent petrol-powered options in this price range too. Used prices for Volvo’s widely recommended SUV range start at around £26k for a near-new XC40 – a compact family car that offers a smooth driving experience and enough room to comfortably accommodate two adults and three children. That said, the larger Enyaq is the roomier choice.
Sitting slightly higher than a regular petrol-engined car but lower than an SUV, the all-electric Kia EV6 is another serial award-winner and The Car Expert‘s Car of the Year for 2022. Add to the mix that you can currently purchase this car near-new for £33k to £35k, and the EV6 becomes one of the best family-oriented motoring packages on the market.
Currently holding an exceptional Expert Rating of 88%, the EV6 has been widely commended for its excellent battery range, upmarket interior fit and finish, spacious cabin and sporty driving experience. However, some reviewers comment that its suspension is rather firm, which could make long-distance drives a bit taxing.
The EV6’s sister model – the electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 – is just as impressive, with a practical interior and user-friendly infotainment being the highlights of its impressive family car credentials. It’s certainly worth checking out if you are interested in the EV6, particularly if you take a liking to its retro-futuristic ‘Ioniq’ exterior looks. That said, the Hyundai runs into the same ride quality issues, and some motoring outlets prefer the Kia’s driving dynamics.
Best family car under £50,000: BMW 5 Series Touring
Known for its impressive build quality, great performance and lavish looks inside and out, the BMW 5 Series has been the benchmark for cars in the premium saloon class since its arrival in 2017. The 5 Series Touring (BMW-speak for estate) is particularly talented at ferrying around the family with poise.
The Touring adds a fair chunk of extra boot space over the standard saloon, while retaining the same driving experience and luxurious interior.
A winner of more than 25 different industry awards, this seventh-generation 5 Series holds an Expert Rating of 87%. With the launch of the all-new eighth-generation 5 Series range this year, this version of the Touring is no longer available to buy new. But it is available near-new on the used market, with prices between £41k and £50k.
The electric Jaguar I-Pace offers similar levels of interior opulence for around the same used price. The spacious SUV is one of the most desirable large family cars on the market at the moment, but reviewers add that its infotainment system isn’t as advanced as the software in some of its newer rivals.
If your family car budget can comfortably stretch beyond the £50k mark, then a Land Rover should certainly be on your shortlist. Our choice is the Land Rover Defender, which was The Car Expert‘s ‘Large SUV Class Champion’ back in 2021, and is available in three different wheelbase configurations to meet your families’ requirements.
The Defender is no longer a utilitarian farmer’s tool like its illustrious forebear, but the upmarket SUV retains the superb off-roading ability of Land Rovers of yesteryear while doubling as a luxury family SUV with a grand interior trim, expensive tech and everyday practicality.
Despite rather consistent doubts about the fuel economy of the Defender, this top-of-the-line SUV has an Expert Rating of 79%, based on 47 reviews from UK media sources.
There are currently several near-new versions of the smallest Defender ’90’ model available on the used market for £54k to £63k, but if you are looking for a larger model, things get quite expensive. There are only a few of the largest ‘130’ models on offer near-new, with prices between £73k and £85k.
For the definitive rankings of the best new 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, using an advanced algorithm that we have developed specifically to compare review scores.
It constantly recalculates and updates the Expert Rating score for every single car in real time to make sure you’re getting the most accurate and reliable ratings for every new car.
While it looks pretty similar to the regular hatch at first glance, this ‘N’ package adds black trim accents, a rear spoiler, revisions for the front bumper to give the car a sportier stance and widened wheel arches that accommodate new-look 21-inch alloy wheels with wider tyres.
Hyundai has decided to limit this range to a single high-spec trim. The car’s lights are all LEDs as standard, as is rear privacy glass, folding heated door mirrors, Alcantara leather heated bucket seats, a 12-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12-inch infotainment display on the dashboard.
The interior includes several nods to Hyundai’s ‘N’ performance sub-division, including aluminium performance pedals. The package also includes a head-up display that projects driving information onto the windscreen, wireless smartphone charging, a Bose sound system, a 360-degree parking camera and an electronically-powered boot lid.
Finally, the hot hatch comes with an extensive set of safety systems, including lane keeping assistance, speed sign recognition, blind spot monitoring and parking assistance tech. Hyundai’s panoramic ‘vision roof’ is also available, but for an extra fee.
The Ioniq 5 N is now available to order here in the UK, with prices beginning at £65k. This is over £20k more than the standard Ioniq 5 and the Smart #1 Brabus hot hatch. It is also £2k more expensive than the performance-focused Kia EV6 GT, which is built on the same foundations.
Temperatures are falling, the wind is picking up, the clocks have gone back and you’re switching on your headlights every time you get in the car. It can only mean one thing – winter is coming. But are you and your car ready for it?
We all know that keeping a car well maintained is not only good sense from a safety point of view, but it’s financial logic too. At The Car Expert,we’re often telling you how a little care and attention to your car can go a long way towards bringing you many happy years of service from your vehicle.
And good maintenance is never more important than during the winter months. In the run-up to winter and then during the coldest part of the season, your car must be in good condition for the tough job it has ahead of it.
Modern cars are stronger, safer and better designed than ever, but even the newest, most up-to-date models will still suffer during the harsh winter months if they are not cared for.
Bitter cold, driving rain, snow, ice and slush can all take their toll on a car’s components. As temperatures fall, car parts can shrink, crack, perish, seize up or fail. Road recovery experts say that batteries are more likely to go flat, tyres are more likely to deflate or puncture and important fluids are more liable to freeze over when winter comes.
And that means the chances of being marooned at the side of the road can increase – at exactly the time of year when that prospect is the least attractive.
Some planning and checking on your car now, before the clocks go back and the temperature gauge begins heading south, could pay handsomely for you in the long run. Here’s our simple guide to getting your vehicle ready for winter.
Winter checks
Fuel
There’s never a good time to run out of fuel, but coming to a halt on a dark, snowy night is not only highly inconvenient, it’s dangerous too.
During the winter months especially, never let your fuel gauge go below a quarter and you should certainly not wait for the ‘low fuel’ warning light to come on. Make sure you always have plenty of petrol or diesel in your tank.
Oil
Cars don’t like operating without oil but it’s amazing the number of motorists who never check the level in their engine. Manufacturers ensure that the dipstick is easy to find, and it only takes a few minutes to check it.
There’s an upper and lower limit on the dipstick: ensure yours is reading towards the higher end and, if necessary, top up. But don’t overfill – that can also do damage to the engine.
Battery
Batteries have to work hard during the winter with more strain on them to fire up a freezing engine in the morning while other components vie for power to help them work. So it’s no wonder that they stutter and fail at this time of year.
They are only designed to last four to five years anyway so, if yours is getting old, think about investing in a new one, especially if the engine is struggling to turn, your headlights appear dimmer than usual, or the battery warning light comes on.
Antifreeze
Not so important in the summer, antifreeze certainly comes into its own as the colder months arrive. Antifreeze stops the water in your car’s cooling system from freezing up when the engine is not running (or in extreme cases, even when it is running).
If coolant isn’t circulating through the engine, it can cause serious damage. Make sure to top up coolant regularly in any season and, if it’s more than three years old, it should be drained and replaced.
Brakes
Wet or icy roads, dark conditions and poor weather all require brakes that are in excellent condition. Anything less and you could be putting yourself and others in danger.
If your brakes are squeaking, grinding or making other noises, or if the car is pulling to one side or not stopping as well as you would expect, have it checked by an expert. Has your car been left idle for a few days in harsh weather? Drive off slowly at first, in case the braking system or brake discs have seized up.
Tyres
It’s not just foolish to drive around with worn or damaged tyres, it’s illegal too, and the police take a dim view of anyone choosing this option.
In winter, it’s even more important to have good quality rubber with plenty of grip: the legal limit is 1.6mm but safety experts recommend 3mm. When you check your tyres for tread depth, have a look also for cuts or bulges in the sidewall – on the inside where you can’t see easily, as well as the outside.
Lights
You’ll be using your lights a lot more during the winter months, compared with the summer, so it’s vital to have all of them working properly.
Switch everything on and walk around the vehicle checking that it’s all illuminated. Wipe all your lights and indicators over regularly as dirt and grime can stick to them, reducing their effectiveness. While you’re there, give the number plates a quick wipe too – along with their lighting.
Wipers
You have to see out of your car to be able to operate it properly, so don’t rely on damaged or torn wiper blades to keep the windscreen clear.
Damaged blades can make the screen worse to see out of, not better. Replace any that you find damaged and check and wipe them regularly to remove dirt that could scratch your windscreen glass.
Don’t switch your wipers on if the screen looks frozen; check that you can lift them off the screen before you drive off. You could do lasting damage to the blades or even the wiper mechanism if you try to activate the wiper motor while the wiper blades are stuck to the glass.
Safety body Euro NCAP has put BYD’s UK range through its paces, also awarding favourable results to two of Mercedes’ latest models.
Top marks have been given to the all-electric BYD Dolphin hatchback and Seal saloon, both of which arrived on UK roads this year. Euro NCAP’s secretary general Dr Michiel van Ratingen comments that the Chinese brand has “hit the ground running, recognizing that European car-buyers will not compromise on safety.”
The compact Dolphin has been given a full five-star safety rating, with high scores for occupant crash protection and pedestrian and cyclist collision safety. The Seal received identical passenger crash safety scores, but a slightly lower pedestrian and cyclist protection score, presumably due to its larger weight and size.
BYD DolphinBYD Seal
This latest batch of tests also included the latest iteration of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class executive saloon, but Euro NCAP only tested the car’s automated driving tech, not its collision safety. The saloon was given the highest rating, denoted as ‘very good’, and was praised for its intuitive lane keeping assistance, traffic sign recognition and blind spot monitoring, as well as its clear head-up display.
The larger electric Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV, which uses the same assistance systems, was given an identical score.
Mercedes-Benz E-ClassMercedes-Benz EQE SUV
Last but not least, Euro NCAP has also now crash tested the P7, an upmarket saloon from another Chinese brand, XPeng. Targeting Tesla Model 3 sales like the BYD Seal, the XPeng P7 has been awarded a full five-star safety rating and is already on sale in some Northern European countries. The saloon is yet to arrive in the UK though, with its arrival date still unconfirmed.
Mazda has announced that its MX-5 sports car is set to receive some small exterior design alterations, a larger infotainment touchscreen, a new ‘track driving mode’ and a few mechanical upgrades.
Starting with the car’s looks, the updated MX-5’s exterior design is largely the same as the current model, but does feature redesigned LED headlights that now incorporate daytime running lights, and Mazda says it has updated the design of the tail lights in the rear too.
The most notable change can be found inside – a larger nine-inch touchscreen display that the manufacturer says offers clearer navigation mapping and, like the current software, wireless Apple CarPlay compatibility. Mazda adds that it has also added some additional USB-C ports for charging electronic devices, and installed a frameless rear-view mirror.
Mazda has also introduced a ‘track’ mode that can be activated using a physical button on the lower right-hand side of the steering wheel, which uses dynamic stability control tech to improve track times. This tech automatically controls braking and engine torque in high speed corners to prevent the car’s rear end from slipping at high speed.
The manufacturer also says it has improved response of the accelerator “to deliver a more accurate throttle application” and has tweaked the steering system, again to improve response.
This facelift also introduces a few additional bits of safety tech, including lane-keeping assistance and speed sign recognition which are included as standard.
That sums up what we know about the updated Mazda MX-5 – this facelift is set to arrive in March next year, with UK pricing and trim specifications to be announced in the coming months.
The Mazda MX-5 has received widespread praise for its driving dynamics, light weight and uncompromised sports car experience. The only real criticisms relate to its lack of space and inevitably poor practicality. It currently holds an Expert Rating of 85%.
Make and model: Citroën C5 X Description: Large five-door liftback Price range: £28,695 – £39,960 (plus options)
Citroën says: “The C5 X breathes new life into the large car segment with an original design that combines a saloon and a station wagon, an innovative proposition in the purest tradition of great Citroën cars.”
We say: The Citroën C5 X defines its own car segment that takes the best of an estate and mixes it with a higher stance on the road. It’s quirky yet practical, and offers a relaxing driving experience.
Introduced in 2021, the C5 X is Citroën’s flagship model. It’s essentially a 21st-century successor to previous big Citroën liftback models like the CX and BX from the 1970s and ’80s, but featuring the higher-riding characteristics of a modern crossover vehicle.
The high-riding liftback body style is growing in popularity, with several car brands embracing this style of vehicle. We recently reviewed the mechanically similar Peugeot 408, while electric cars like the Polestar 2 and Genesis GV60 also embrace car-like styling with the higher seating position of an SUV.
For those looking for a car leaning more towards an SUV style, the Citroën C5 Aircross could be a good alternative. Compared to the endless model range of most German brands, the pared-back Citroën line-up is a good mix of family-friendly cars that are stylish, economical and affordable.
Citroën describes the C5 X as a cross between a laarge saloon and an estate but it’s also got some SUV roots in the mix, with a higher ride height which makes it easy to get in and out of. Translated, that makes it a high-riding liftback (like a hatchback but with a much sleeker rear tailgate)
Although it sounds like a Frankenstein’s monster of different car design, the result is rather sleek. Liftback-style cars have always been a feature of UK roads, although their popularity has waxed and waned over the years. The C5 X competes with the likes of the Skoda Octavia and Superb Estate, Peugeot 408, Audi A5 Sportback and Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Brake.
First impressions
The C5 X’s styling is similar to that of its slightly smaller sibling, the Citroën e-C4 X, and its Peugeot 408 cousin. Against a backdrop of boxy SUVs and samey saloons, it grabs attention without even trying. Inside, it feels suitably upmarket and spacious, a quirky option with more practicality than a conventional saloon.
Each model in the range is generously equipped, and there’s a choice of petrol or plug-in hybrid engine options. Inside, it feels suitably upmarket and solidly finished. The sloping roof adds headroom for rear seat passengers compared to a saloon, but it does reduce visibility out of the rear window.
We like: Attractive exterior styling… We don’t like: … which limits visibility through the rear windscreen
What do you get for your money?
Trim levels start with ‘Sense Plus’, followed by ‘Shine’ and the range-topping ‘Shine Plus’. The entry-level Sense Plus is well-equipped and comes with a ten-inch touchscreen display, front and rear parking sensors, and a reversing camera with a rear 180-degree top-down view. Paired with the 130hp petrol engine, it starts at around £28K. If you prefer the plug-in hybrid version, the price tag gets pushed up to about £36.5K.
Shine adds a 12-inch touchscreen display, wireless phone charging and a heated leather steering wheel. This trim can be specified with three different engine options, ranging from just over £29K up to £38K for the plug-in hybrid.
Shine Plus adds features such as a 360-degree camera, a powered boot lid with hands-free access, and a few exterior styling tweaks to distinguish it from the lower models. The top-level trim is the only version where the optional panoramic sunroof can be added, for an extra £1,300. Shine and Shine Plus can be specified with roof bars, which cost £200. As the range-topping trim, Shine Plus is the priciest of the lot, starting from £31K and running up to £40,000 before adding any options.
On value for money, we’d opt for Sense Plus and later on in this article, we’ll discuss which engine option would be the best to pair it with. If there’s room to squeeze the budget, Shine has a few luxury perks that could be worth upgrading for. Good predicted residual values mean there should be some competitive finance options too.
The Citroën C5 X comes with an unlimited-mileage warranty that lasts two years.
We like: Well equipped from entry-level We don’t like: Shorter warranty period than most rivals
What’s the Citroën C5 X like inside?
From the driver’s seat, the C5 X earns its flagship status. It offers a comfortable, modern, fuss-free interior that’s easy to get familiar with. Climate control is operated via buttons and dials under the main media screen, while shortcut buttons on the steering wheel make it simple to find essential functions on the move.
The operating system powering the media touchscreen is not particularly intuitive, so most drivers will probably use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto (which can be paired either wired or wirelessly) for most of their screen interactions. The piano black finish around the screen and centre console is indicative of the high quality touch points throughout the cabin.
There’s a useful cubby below the climate controls to charge and store phones and the central armrest is a good place for sunglasses and other bits and bobs. In the back, the fairly flat bench means all passengers get an equal amount of headroom. When there’s no central passenger an armrest folds out of this seat with additional cupholders.
Thanks to the liftback body, the boot is tallest close to the rear seats (which fold in a conventional 60/40 split) and easily swallows several bags of luggage. A squarer estate body style would offer more space for bulky objects, but the liftback will suit the vast majority of family needs.
We like: Practical storage and ample space throughout We don’t like: Media system not as intuitive as it should be
What’s under the bonnet?
There are three engines to choose from, two conventional petrol options and a plug-in hybrid. The entry-level offering is a 1.2-litre, 130hp engine that can be specified with any of the trim levels. It does a reasonable job of moving the C5 X along fairly quickly, although you won’t be outpacing most traffic with a 0-60mph time of more than ten seconds.
Next is a 1.6-litre petrol engine capable of 180hp. This engine is more enthusiastic than the 130hp unit, getting up to 60mph from a standstill in under nine seconds, and copes better with more passengers or luggage. The plug-in hybrid also features this engine combined with a 110hp electric motor. Its official battery range is 34 miles but in real world conditions this can be slightly less.
While the plug-in hybrid engine has a higher price tag, it’s worth considering for the fuel economy benefits and as a company car. However, plug-in hybrids only return impressive fuel figures if they are regularly charged. Having a charging point at home and getting into the habit of plugging the car in will maximise the fuel savings of a hybrid.
With the entry-level 130hp engine, official fuel economy is around 41 to 48mpg. The 180hp unit delivers 38 to 44mpg, while the plug-in claims 186 to 236mpg – these numbers are obviously nonsense and are simply a reflection of inadequate EU/UK government lab testing procedures. There’s no way you will get anywhere near 186 miles on one gallon (4.5 litres) of petrol and some electricity. In real-world driving, your fuel consumption will depend entirely on how often you are able to plug in the car to charge, ensuring you use electricity for as much driving as possible.
For those looking to tow, the 180hp engine is the best option with a braked tow weight of up to 1,600kg. The plug-in hybrid can tow 1,350kg and the 130hp models can handle up to 1,050kg. Roof bars on all specifications can handle 80kg.
What’s the Citroën C5 X like to drive?
The Citroën C5 X features a hydraulic suspension system, which makes for a wafty ride on undulating country roads. On harsher potholed surfaces, it stays settled for the most part but can feel a little jolty around tight bends or changing lanes over a section of broken road.
The plug-in hybrid we drove was very quiet, calming at all speeds and comfortable on long journeys. As visibility out the back is limited due to the sloping roofline, the reversing camera and parking sensors are essential to negotiate tight spaces.
Looking out of the front, the pillars encasing the windscreen are quite thick so at the wrong angle it can be difficult to see past them but the elevated ride height gives good front visibility otherwise. The ride height makes it comfortable to get in and out of the car and on the road it’s easy to get used to its positioning.
We like: All models come with a reversing camera as standard We don’t like: Chunky pillars next to windscreen impede visibility at junctions
Verdict
Whether it’s destined to be used as a family car or a practical runaround that’s easy to get in and out of, the Citroën C5 X is a great choice. The crossover body gets points for style and practicality so this quirky car is an affordable way to stand out in the car park.
The head-up display from Shine trim upwards gives the C5 X a premium feel and makes it relaxing to drive over long periods of time as all the key information is displayed in the driver’s line of sight. The media system can take a little while to get used to but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are a great addition for an intuitive display.
If you’re looking for something a bit different, that feels sturdy and can fit passengers and all their luggage in then look no further. The entry-level engine and trim are a well-equipped combination and, if the budget stretches to it, the plug-in hybrid is a relaxing economical ride.
C5 X highlights
Affordable entry-level pricing
Cabin refinement
Spacious interior
Distinctive exterior looks
C5 X lowlights
SUV alternatives offer more boot space
Lethargic handling
Plug-in hybrid is expensive
Awkward automatic gearbox
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Citroën C5 X, you might also be interested in these alternatives.
If you want a car for a few months, a short-term lease or a car subscription could fit the bill. We explain what they are and the pros and cons.
Over the last few years, there has been a growing demand for shorter-term alternatives to conventional leasing or PCP car finance. Many people don’t want to be locked into the same vehicle for several years, either because they know their needs will change or they’re simply uncertain about what may happen over that time. Plenty of people have had their personal and work circumstances turned upside-down over the last four years, for example.
Previously, if you wanted a car for a matter of months, you’d be looking at a long-term car rental from the same companies that normally handle daily rental and holiday rental cars. But there’s been strong growth in recent years for two newer options; short-term leasing and car subscriptions.
These two terms are often used interchangeably, but they are different things. Let’s look at both of them and how they each compare with a traditional (long-term) car lease.
Feature
Long-term lease
Short-term lease
Subscription
Term
12-48 months
6-12 months
1-12 months+
Contracttype
Fixed
Fixed
Rolling
Monthly payment
Lower
Average
Higher
Initial payment
Usually high
Lower
Very low or none
Insurance and servicing
Extra cost
Extra cost
Included
Flexibility to change vehicles?
No
No
Yes
Penalty for ending contract early
Very high
High
Very low or none
Choice of vehicles
Very large
Limited
Limited
New or used vehicles?
Usually new
New or near-new
New or near-new
What’s a lease?
Traditional leasing is also called personal contract hire (PCH). It’s basically a long-term car rental – usually a new car – for a fixed period, usually for two to four years. Insurance and servicing are not included but can be added. You don’t own the car.
You pay a fixed monthly fee, with an upfront payment (also called an initial payment) that is equivalent to several months’ payments, although you can choose to increase or decrease your initial payment to consequently decrease or increase your monthly payment amount. This is not a returnable deposit, but part of the overall cost. It’s very simple but very strict – you’re contractually locked into that car, and there are expensive penalties if you want or need to end the contract early.
All leases are subject to a credit check – it’s a stipulation of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) – and is classed as a loan, to see if you have any history of missed payments. If you don’t have a good credit score, you may not be able to get the advertised prices.
If you don’t like the idea of being locked in for three or four years, some leasing companies now offer much shorter terms, which get close to the minimum length for subscription cars and without big upfront payments. Like any lease, you simply return the car when the contract ends and start a new contract with another car if you like.
Some providers boast of being able to supply lease cars from stock. It’s likely that if you only want a car for a few months, you’re more likely to want it at shorter notice as well. This could be a used car – which shouldn’t deter you – but if you want a specific car, colour and options, there could be a wait of a few months. Because there are so many leasing companies with links to all manufacturers, the choice of available cars is still fairly wide.
Your up-front payment will be smaller, and you’re only taking the car for a matter of months rather than years, so you’re monthly payments will be significantly higher than for a longer-term lease. But if your circumstances change, or if you’ve chosen a can that’s simply not right for your needs, you only have to put up with it for a few months rather than being stuck with it for a lot longer.
Leasing pros:
Can start with a new car to exactly your specification
Long-term financial planning
Can have a full maintenance and insurance package
Some providers offer the ability to tailor the lease payments to your needs
Leasing cons:
Often large upfront payment
Heavy penalties for ending the lease early
Can’t swap cars within the agreed period
Looking for a short-term lease? Our Expert Partners can help:
What’s a car subscription?
Subscription schemes go under many different names: flexible lease or rental; long-term rental, long-term hire or (confusingly) short-term leasing. The essential idea is that you have a car for as long as you like on a rolling contract, from as little as one month to as long as several years. If things change, you can hand it back or swap it for a different vehicle without a penalty.
Like leasing companies, subscriptions are offered by companies who source a wide variety of car makes and models, either new or used. Some also offer vans, if your personal or business needs change over time. In addition, a small number of car manufacturers now offer in-house subscription programmes.
You can usually have a car from 28 days to 36 months and change it when you like – subject to conditions. Depending on the provider, sometimes insurance is included, as is servicing (although if you subscribe to a car for less than a year it probably won’t need a service anyway).
Because subscription cars are usually needed quickly (say for somebody staying from overseas) they tend to belong to a pool, so may not be new. The Car Expert’s Expert Partner Mycardirect runs a pool of around 3,000 cars aged 14-15 months old. It specialises in subscriptions but also offers leases.
Unlike a lease, there is no major upfront charge. There is either a small fee to sign up or a fully refundable damage deposit (£250 is standard but for luxury cars such, as a Bentley, deposits can run into thousands).
You may also be asked to undergo a credit check for a subscription car. Mycardirect is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as its average length of subscription is 12 months. It carries out a credit and affordability check on the individual. However, unlike a lease, a subscription is not classed as a financial loan but as a rental payment, which won’t appear on a credit history.
The principal difference between a subscription and a lease is flexibility. “My view is the subscription is exactly the same as when you subscribe to Netflix or anything of that nature,” says Mycardirect CEO Duncan Chumley. “It always has a flexibility built in so whilst you can have a subscription for one month, all the way up to four years with ourselves every month you still have the option to hand the car back or to swap it over.”
Cocoon Vehicles also offers what it calls a flexible car contract, shorter than a short lease, and can be looked upon as a subscription. It says that all of the cars can be taken for one month, although the best prices are when a customer commits to 90 days or more (some are higher). The customer can still send the vehicle back before the 90 days are up, but they will have to pay the higher rate plus the delivery charge. Each time you change cars, you start another 90-day period.
Ability to end the subscription after as little as one month or keep rolling
Subscription cons:
Cars may not be new
Long-term subscription can work out more expensive than a lease
If you have your own insurance, you’ll have to re-insure with every swap
Looking for a car subscription? Our Expert Partners can help:
Short-term lease vs. car subscription – which is best?
When comparing a short-term lease and a subscription over the same period of time, it’s important to look at the overall costs for the whole period, rather than just comparing the monthly payments. The lease will tend to have lower monthly payments, but a higher initial payment. It will also cost you more if you need to terminate the agreement early.
For both subscriptions and leases, the monthly payments are lower if you commit to a longer contract. But if you signed up for, say, a 12-month subscription but changed your mind after one month, you may have to pay the difference between the one-month rate and the 12-month rate (says between £650 a month and £500 a month). On a lease, you’d potentially be up for paying most or all of the remaining payments.
All monthly subscriptions and leases include a monthly or yearly mileage allowance, typically 1,000 miles a month. If you’re likely to regularly go over this, it’s better to pay more for a higher mileage upfront. Both lease and subscription cars are subject to excess mileage charges and penalties for damage beyond the expected wear and tear.
If your plans look pretty certain and you are unlikely to need the flexibility to cancel the contract early or change cars, a short-term lease will probably suit you better. You will save a bit of money by making a firmer commitment, but you’ll have to pay more if your situation changes.
If you’re not as confident of how your needs might change, or if you just want the freedom to change cars whenever it suits, a subscription gives you much more flexibility to change your mind. For example, subscriptions are proving popular with people who want to switch from a petrol car to an electric one, but are not sure about making a long-term commitment until they know it will suit their needs.
Peugeot’s 208 supermini range has been given a minor mid-life update, including a few cosmetic tweaks, engine and infotainment changes.
Refreshed in order to keep the supermini competitive with rivals like the Skoda Fabia, Volkswagen Polo and SEAT Ibiza, the Peugeot 208 has been given a few front-end design tweaks.
The grille, which features the brand’s new logo, is now wider with a new angular dash pattern design, and the ‘claw’ light signatures on either side of the bumper have been shifted outwards to make the car appear wider – the design of which differs depending on the model you choose.
In the rear, the supermini is essentially unchanged, apart from a small update for the rear tail lights, which now have horizontal LED strips, instead of vertical. Seven exterior colours are available, including two additional options – a grey and a yellow.
The same trim levels remain – the ‘Active’, ‘Allure’, ‘GT’ and the limited-run e-208 ‘E-Style’ – but the equipment levels of these trims have been revised, which has brought price increases.
A ten-inch infotainment screen now comes as standard on the dashboard (replacing the old seven-inch console), which can now mirror devices wirelessly, and includes a TomTom navigation system and a voice assistant. Peugeot adds that the screen’s graphics have a higher resolution and the display layout with different colours or information.
The range of powertrain options has seen more dramatic changes. The lead-in 75hp and 100hp 1.2-litre petrol options have been carried over from the previous model range, but two extra petrol mild-hybrids have also been introduced, offering 100hp and 136hp respectively.
The electric e-208 range still includes both older 50kWh and newer 51kWh models. The latter was introduced earlier this year, and can muster a distance of 248 miles from full charge, up from the former’s 225-mile range.
Now available to order in the UK, pricing for the facelifted 208 starts at over £20k for the entry-level petrol, and at over £32k for the e-208.
Praised for its design inside and out, as well as its low running costs, the Peugeot 208 currently holds an Expert Rating of 70%. The electric e-208 has received similar praise and holds a higher Expert Rating of 73%.
Kia has announced that it will be expanding its highly-regarded electric (EV) line-up with the introduction of the EV5 – a compact SUV that will sit below the flagship EV9 in Kia’s battery-powered range.
The model was unveiled for the first time at the Chinese Chengdu motor show back in April, but Kia has now announced that the electric SUV will be sold globally, and adds that British buyers should expect the EV5 to become available to order in 2025.
The EV5 will be built on the same foundations as the Kia EV6 crossover – The Car Expert’s ‘Car of the Year’ in 2022 – but while the EV6 uses the brand’s 800V battery architecture, the new EV5 will make use of a less powerful 400V unit. This will reduce Kia’s production costs (which could in turn lower the pricing), but expect this SUV to charge at a slower rate than its acclaimed crossover counterpart.
With the SUV’s arrival date a couple of years away, Kia is yet to confirm the EV5’s pricing as of yet, but it says that it plans to sell a range of EVs in the lower £30k to £40k bracket, to help accelerate the widespread adoption of electric cars. These plans include the EV5, as well as the smaller EV3 and EV4 models which are still in the concept stage.
Kia says that two different battery pack options will be available in the UK at launch – an entry-level ‘standard’ 58kWh battery unit, and the ‘Long-Range’ 81kWh battery. Front-wheel drive models make use of a 160kW front-mounted electric motor, while all-wheel drive is only available with the larger battery, and adds an additional 70kW motor to the rear axle.
We don’t know what the battery range of these model options will be as of yet, but Kia says the range “will be tailored to meet the market demands” in Europe, to keep the EV5 competitive with similar electric SUVs.
The EV5 has a ‘Tiger face’ exterior design which bears some resemblance to the large EV9 SUV which is now on sale, and the similarities continue inside. A continuous dashboard display combines a 12-inch digital instrument cluster with a 12-inch infotainment touchscreen that both sit either side of a five-inch segment display that provides driving information.
Like its larger sibling, Kia has decided to keep physical buttons to a minimum inside the EV5, with the large majority of vehicle functions controlled through the display. This has freed up room on the centre console for additional storage space and a table. A head-up display, which projects driving information onto the windscreen, will be an optional extra.
All versions will feature “an advanced heat pump”, and the car’s driving settings will include a single-pedal mode.
The car’s ‘digital key’ feature offers keyless entry and start, as well as a remote autonomous parking function that can park the car without a further prompt. Kia says that there will be a few different upholstery options, including an ‘eco-friendly’ selection made of recycled plastics and synthetic leathers.
The brand also asserts that you will be able to “effectively transform the rear of the vehicle into a bedroom” thanks to the second-row ‘camping’ seat that can fold flat, and the car can also be specced with a refrigerator/warmer in the rear.
That sums up what we know about the EV5 so far. We will no doubt learn more about Kia’s upcoming EVs, including the EV3 and EV4 in the coming months. Check back soon!
Citroën has revealed its new electric-only ë-C3 – a compact crossover that is set to become one of the cheapest electric cars on the UK market.
This new electric model is a major departure from the current combustion-powered C3 range that is currently available. For starters, the ë-C3 is a taller compact crossover, instead of a hatchback like its predecessor, and it is slightly longer and wider than the C3 hatch too.
The brand says that these changes give the ë-C3 a more commanding driving position, better visibility, more elbow room, and claims that the crossover will offer “best-in-class” rear knee room.
Citroën has decided to take the new car’s styling in an entirely different direction too, as it ditches the C3’s curved silhouette in favour of a more squared-off exterior look that is similar to that of the Jeep Avenger – another compact electric crossover from a Stellantis-owned brand.
The ë-C3 also marks the introduction of Citroën’s latest oval-shaped logo, and comes with the brand’s ‘advanced comfort’ suspension tech, which uses hydraulic ‘cushions’ to counteract harsher bumps and jolts on the road. The car sits on 16- or 17-inch alloy wheels, depending on your trim choice.
Inside, the fabric-wrapped dashboard comes with a floating 10-inch infotainment console (unless you opt for the lead-in ‘YOU!’ trim which comes with a smartphone holder and app instead), and Citroën’s ‘advanced comfort’ seats also feature, which are designed with more padding and lumbar support for ‘optimal driving comfort’.
The multi-function steering wheel has been made smaller, which the brand says makes it easier to handle, and helps to ensure that the optional head-up display is easier to see when operational.
What Citroën hasn’t changed is its budget pricing strategy. Marketed by the manufacturer as “the first affordable European electric car”, the ë-C3 is powered by a 44kWh battery pack and will be able to muster up to a reported 199 miles of travel on a single charge, and will cost under £23k.
At this price, the crossover will undercut smaller budget EVs like the BYD Dolphin, and Citroën adds that it has plans for an even cheaper ë-C3 version with a 124-mile range, which will arrive in 2025.
That sums up the key details we know about the new Citroën ë-C3 – the full trim specs have not been announced as of yet, and Citroën hasn’t decided on the crossover’s pricing or arrival date either at the time of writing. These details are sure to follow in the coming months – check back soon!
Using the power of our industry-leading Expert Rating Index, The Car Expert consistently highlights the most impressive, efficient and affordable cars available in the UK, to help readers find the best new cars to meet their needs. But what about the cars you should avoid?
By aggregating more than 15,000 new car reviews from 35 different media titles, our award-winning Expert Rating Index now includes more than 500 different cars across an automotive industry that is constantly trying to evolve and innovate with the times.
It’s inevitable that some new cars will struggle to compete. Often, these are older models that have fallen behind the curve as newer rivals have arrived, while other models have simply been sub-standard from the start.
Using the Expert Rating Index, we’ve listed the ten worst new cars on sale in the UK, as judged by the country’s top motoring websites.
All of these cars are (or have been) available for sale in 2023, although a few will be withdrawn or replaced before the end of the year. The good news is that you can pick most of these cars for a relative bargain – either brand new or second-hand – which makes them a lot more attractive.
Sitting at the bottom of the rankings in last year’s list, the Nissan e-NV200 Combi and Smart’s compact EQ range have now been retired. Six of the cars below have carried over their inclusion from this undistinguished list from last year, however.
With comprehensive review data backing the rankings below, you can be confident that this is the definitive guide to the worst new cars in the UK.
On sale since 2017, the second-generation Subaru XV SUV has not had much love from the UK media. Journalists generally conclude that the XV is a competent car in isolation and, like most Subarus, it’s a highly capable off-roader. But if you rarely leave the bitumen, other choices in this segment are more practical, less expensive to buy and cheaper to run.
Powered by a mild hybrid petrol engine (‘e-Boxer’ in Subaru marketing parlance), improvements to the XV have made it slightly more appealing to UK buyers in recent years. But it’s not enough to make the Subaru XV stand out in the medium SUV class, a highly competitive segment that basically lists all the most popular family cars on sale today.
The Jeep Renegade is quite a unique choice in the small SUV class – it offers off-road solutions that no other car in the sector can quite manage. It should also be quite cheap to run daily, but beyond that, reviewers find little else to praise.
This chunky-looking crossover isn’t very fun to drive, its interior is cheap in places and cramped in the rear, motorway cruises produce plenty of wind noise and its three-star Euro NCAP safety rating is below-par compared to its rivals. The Renegade’s biggest issue, however, is its pricing. In a highly competitive small SUV sector, there are more comfortable and refined alternatives available for less money.
Another accomplished off-roader, the robust second-generation SsangYong Rexton is a big improvement over its predecessor and is likely to pleasantly surprise those familiar with the brand, offering an enormous seven-seat interior with an upmarket fit and finish.
But most buyers are not too bothered with off-roading ability. If you’re looking for an SUV for the road, with car-like handling and great efficiency, then the Rexton is not for you. While it makes plenty of sense as an agricultural workhorse, the handling is heavy, the diesel engine can be expensive to run and several reviewers report that the Rexton is rather uncomfortable on tarmac, which can make long-distance journeys quite taxing.
A high-performance BMW model in the bottom ten? You’d better believe it. The expensive BMW XM is the most powerful car ever produced by BMW’s famed ‘M’ division, and beyond its divisive exterior design, reviewers conclusively agree that BMW’s engineers have missed the mark.
The XM is certainly a capable SUV, but several reviews have concluded that it offers the weakest driving experience of all the choices in the high-power BMW M family. The SUV has also been heavily criticised for its punishing ride, hesitant automatic gearbox and very poor fuel economy, which is even more disappointing when you consider its sky-high price tag.
This is one Panda that we think actually should be extinct. On sale since 2012 and rarely updated since, the current-generation Fiat Panda has long passed its sell-by date – one of the oldest models on this list and well off the pace of newer vehicles in its class. This is highlighted by its abysmal zero-star Euro NCAP safety rating, with some of the worst scores ever recorded by the safety organisation.
It’s a shame that Fiat hasn’t given the Panda the significant updates needed to meet the evolving standards of modern cars in the years gone by, because the small hatchback is a great fit for tight inner-city streets, and it’s actually very reliable and cheap to run.
Another Fiat that has been widely criticised by the UK motoring media, the Tipo is the company’s competitor in the budget end of the crowded family hatchback class. In its favour, it has been commended for keen pricing, a spacious cabin and good levels of standard equipment.
However, the Tipo’s cheap price tag has caused compromises in other areas. It’s regarded by reviewers as dull to drive and cheaply fitted inside. The engine is not as efficient to run as other budget alternatives, which raises running costs in the long term.
The Tipo also has a sub-par three-star Euro NCAP safety rating and, when you look to sell it, the resale values won’t be very strong either. The hatchback will soon be discontinued and is currently only available new in the chunkier and top-spec Tipo Cross guise, which is more expensive than the standard model that was previously available.
The quirky Abarth 695 hot hatch is the range-topping petrol model in the brand’s performance-focused range. Its punchy performance, sporty styling and exclusive limited-run model releases offer an exciting driving experience that far exceeds its humble Fiat 500 origins. It’s also available in hatchback and fabric roll-back roofed ‘convertible’ versions.
But, inevitably, an expensive high-performance version of a long-outdated city car platform comes with plenty of limitations. Practicality is unsurprisingly poor, especially if you buy the ‘Biposto’ two-seat mode, which trades the rear seats for a roll cage. But regardless of which version of the Abarth 695 you choose, reviewers tend to agree that you can have just as much fun in the more comfortable Ford Fiesta ST for thousands of pounds less.
MG has made large strides recently with its latest models, like the highly praised MG 4 electric family hatch, but the ageing MG 3 is a relic from previous generations. Originally launched in 2014 and facelifted in 2019, it has received fairly negative reviews throughout its lifespan.
The MG 3 has been praised for its affordability and extensive warranty, and did show some promise as the budget alternative in the supermini class. But that was before the arrival of the latest Dacia Sandero, which is a better car in every aspect for a slightly cheaper price.
Reviewers have marked down the MG 3 for its uninspiring driving experience, led by a wheezy and underpowered engine. They also report that the interior finish is cheap and that it lacks basic safety features and infotainment gadgets, culminating in a very underwhelming car.
MG has been a sales success over the last few years, with the petrol-powered MG ZS leading that charge, but media reviewers haven’t been as kind as customers. The petrol ZS languishes with an Expert Rating score of just 39% – although the electric ZS EV version does markedly better, with a score of 58%.
One of the unique positives of the MG ZS is its seven-year new car warranty, and this budget SUV does offer great value for money, offering a starting price far lower than its rivals. However, MG has been outclassed again by Dacia, as the Dacia Duster is a better package than the MG ZS in every category, and all for a cheaper price.
Much like the MG 3 supermini, the MG ZS has received criticism from the UK media for its cheap build quality, poor safety rating and inferior engine quality. In summary, it’s good value but not really a great car.
Last, and actually least in this case, the Ford EcoSport is currently the lowest-ranked model in our Expert Rating Index. Recently discontinued, the small SUV has been poorly received by the UK motoring media from its 2013 launch until its retirement, as it’s a sub-standard package in pretty much every area.
The EcoSport was markedly improved by its 2017 facelift, which greatly improved its interior trim, exterior design, and tech feature line-up, but it still faced very tough competition from SUV alternatives with more value for money, more practical features, and better performance.
The 2020 arrival of the similarly sized, but vastly superior, Ford Puma made the EcoSport’s shortcomings even more apparent. The only real surprise is that it took three more years before the EcoSport was retired.
For the definitive rankings of the worst new cars on sale in 2023, we’ve used The Car Expert‘s award-winning Expert Rating index. The index analyses new car reviews from 35 of the top UK motoring websites, using an advanced algorithm that we have developed specifically to compare review scores.
It constantly recalculates and updates the Expert Rating score for every single car every time a new review is added to our database to make sure you’re getting the most accurate and reliable ratings for every new car. The Expert Rating Index is now the definitive ranking for every new car on sale in the UK.
Mercedes-Benz has announced that its compact AMG GLA 45 performance SUV will be getting some small exterior alterations, as well as an expanded entry-level equipment list.
This update follows the standard GLA crossover’s mid-life facelift back in March, which included minor modifications to the front bumper. The more powerful AMG model now gets similar treatment, now sporting a revised front bumper and an AMG crest on the bonnet.
The exterior design is largely the same after the update, but Mercedes has altered the design of the LED headlights and taillights, and the car’s wheel arches are now body-coloured, instead of being finished in black. Larger 21-inch alloy wheels are now also fitted as standard.
Interior changes are also minimal. The updated AMG GLA will come with an ‘AMG Performance’ steering wheel as standard, which allows the driver to control several driving functions using physical buttons, and Mercedes reports that the infotainment has been given a new graphic design.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are still wirelessly compatible with the infotainment screen, but should you want to plug your phone in to charge, Mercedes has also added an additional USB-C port.
The engine is unchanged – a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol that provides 421hp and can complete a 0-62mph sprint in 4.3 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited at 168mph.
That sums up what we know about the Mercedes-AMG GLA refresh. Some details are still missing, like the car’s full specification list, its pricing, and its UK arrival date. These are sure to follow in the coming months.
It is more than likely that the average UK car buyer won’t have heard of Maxus – but they might have noticed the name on the van making their latest delivery of Amazon parcels or supermarket shopping.
Remarkably, what is today Maxus was once the commercial division of British Leyland, the nationalised UK car maker. Today as one of the former British brands snapped up by the Chinese, the brand has re-established itself on the UK commercial vehicle market and is forging a reputation for its electric vans.
Now, Maxus is looking towards car buyers, having added a new people carrier to its range alongside a pick-up truck, with the possibility of more to come.
So who or what is Maxus?
Sports car manufacturer MG and commercial vehicle maker Leyland Trucks were both swallowed up by the conglomerate that became the much-maligned British Leyland. Today the pair are together again, among the several brands owned by another state-owned automotive giant, but this time a Chinese one – SAIC, the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation.
In 1987, Leyland Trucks merged with Dutch maker DAF to become Leyland DAF, and this was rebranded as LDV in 1994, launching a range of vans under the model name Maxus that were built in Birmingham. After LDV collapsed in 2008, the rights to the firm were bought by SAIC, which started building LDV Maxus vans in China.
When did Maxus launch in the UK?
If you consider the company’s history then it’s been around since the dawn of motoring – the first Leyland Motors product was a steam van launched at the end of the 19th century alongside its range of steam lawnmowers!
SAIC relaunched the LDV brand in the UK in 2016, managed by the Dublin-based Harris Group. In 2020, the LDV name was dropped in favour of Maxus, which was already being used in other markets.
In terms of offering passenger cars, Maxus is a very new entrant to the UK market.
What models does Maxus have and what else is coming?
Maxis is best known for its commercial vehicle range, which consists of three different panel vans and an electric pick-up. For prospective car buyers, the conpamy has just one option right now, the MIFA 9 people carrier. The name stands for ‘Maximum, Intelligent, Friendly and Artistic’.
Launched in the UK, rather ironically, at the 2022 Comercial Vehicle Show, Maxus describes the MIFA 9 as “the world’s first full-size pure electric MPV”. Although it’s a passenger vehicle, the target audience for the MIFA 9 is the professional chauffeur market, which is currently served by vehicles like the van-based Mercedes-Benz V-Class.
This is a big vehicle, measuring some five metres long and with seven adult-sized seats, and boasts a range of up to 320 miles between charges. It’s also intended to be a top-specification luxury model with such niceties as electric sliding doors and tailgate, which probably goes some way to justifying the price, starting at around £65,000…
If you think a luxury people carrier is an odd choice for a new brand, it’s worth pointing out that both Lexus and Volvo have recently announced brand-new luxury people carrier models as well. Maybe we’re on track for a resurgence in the MPV marketplace?
At the same event, Maxus also pulled the covers off its electric pick-up truck. The T90EV is a right-hand drive version of a model already sold in China, has a two-wheel-drive powertrain and a range of close to 200 miles.
There could be more to come. Maxus has indicated it will launch at least three new EVs over the next couple of years, but has given no clue as to whether they will be vans or cars.
Maxus MIFA 9Maxus T90EV
Where can I try a Maxus car?
Unlike many of the new Asian brands, Maxus does have plenty of dealers. As of mid-2023 the brand had opened more than 60 outlets across the UK and is still expanding. Note, however, that most of these will be more used to van customers so a car buyer might find the dealer experience not quite what they’re used to…
What’s particularly significant about this company?
The speed at which Maxis is growing in the UK is remarkable, particularly considering the challenges thrown at the automotive industry in recent years. Harris Group opened a sparkling new UK headquarters for Maxus in Warrington in 2021 – less than two years later, the company has found itself replacing that facility with another one four times larger in Liverpool. Maxus registrations were up 52% in 2022 and the brand anticipates the pace further accelerating.
One aspect that separates Maxus from the clutch of other Chinese brands now targeting British buyers is that its UK operation is owned by a long-established European company focused on a very specialist portfolio of vehicles.
Some Chinese manufacturers, such as MG, have chosen to set up their own operations, while others such as Nio and GWM Ora have signed up with major dealer groups where the new models have to fight for recognition alongside established mainstream manufacturers.
Maxus is one of the six brands distributed by Dublin-based Harris Group, all of which are commercial vehicles. Only Isuzu’s pick-ups come close to having any crossover with Maxus vehicles that might appeal to the non-commercial buyer, and Harris only handles Isuzu distribution in Ireland.
Summary
Maxus has an established reputation in the UK commercial vehicle sector with household names such as DPD running the brand’s vans, and a rapidly growing appreciation of its electric vehicle range. In the UK car market, however, this is a virtually unknown name.
With its one consumer vehicle so far announced being a top-spec and therefore top-price people-carrier, at a time when most manufacturers have dropped their MPVs in favour of even more SUVs, it’s unlikely that Maxus will be causing many ripples among UK car buyers any time soon.
