The Car Expert

BMW iX test drive

Car reviews

-

10 June 2025

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

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

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

BMW iX review 2025 – The Car Expert

Introduction

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

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

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

What is it?

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

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

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

What do you get for your money?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Expert tips

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

What’s the BMW iX like inside?

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

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

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

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

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

Expert tips

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

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

What’s the BMW iX like to drive?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Expert tips

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

BMW iX xDrive60 M Sport - front, dynamic

How safe is the BMW iX?

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

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

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

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

Expert tips

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

BMW iX economy, battery range and charging

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

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

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

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

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

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

Expert tips

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

Verdict

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

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

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

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

Expert recommendations

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

Similar cars

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

Key specifications

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

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

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

Buy a BMW iX

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

Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more

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

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

Lease a BMW iX

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

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

Personal contract hire deals from Carparison Leasing. Find out more

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

Upgrades for Lotus Emira

Model update

The Car Expert staff

-

9 June 2025

0

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Audi A5

Sean Rees

-

6 June 2025

0

Summary

The third-generation Audi A5 is a mid-sized saloon and ‘Avant’ estate that arrived in UK showrooms in the second half of 2024. Instead of replacing the previous A5 range, which included coupé and cabriolet models, this latest iteration is the successor of the now-retired A4 range.

Beyond the A5 saloon and A5 Avant, the range also includes the sportier S5, which is also offered in saloon and estate body styles. The A5 is currently available with a choice of petrol and diesel engines, with two plug-in hybrid powertrains soon joining the line-up.

The line-up has received a warm welcome from the British motoring media, Carbuyer’s Charlie Harvey explaining that the “next-generation A5 has more style and an even nicer interior than before.”

The range has also been commended for its on-board tech and its quiet and refined engine options. That said, reviewers generally agree that the biggest issue with the A5 is the strength of its rivals. “It is spacious, refined, and well-made”, concludes Autotrader’s Catherine King, “yet it’s not quite as engaging to drive as a BMW 3 Series or as comfortable as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.”

Carwow’s Darren Cassey adds that alternatives are more practical, while Paul Barker of Auto Express notes that the A5 is “much more expensive” than the A4 it replaces.

As of July 2025, the Audi A5 holds a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 70%. It scores top marks for its five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, while it also gets good grades for its media review scores and its low CO₂ emissions. However, its running costs are only average and its warranty score is poor.

A5 highlights

High-quality, tech-laden interior
More rear legroom than A4 predecessor
Intuitive infotainment
Refined engines

A5 lowlights

Marked price increase over Audi A4
Rivals are more comfortable and practical
Rear headroom might annoy taller passengers
Other options are more fuel efficient

Key specifications

Body style: Medium saloon and estate car
Engines: petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid
Price: From £43,385 on-road

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

Image gallery

Media reviews

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

Featured reviews

“The Audi A5 Saloon is really comfortable and has a solid interior, but alternatives are more practical.”

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic saloon

Score: 8 / 10

Read full review

Carwow

Darren Cassey

“The experience behind the wheel won’t tempt keener drivers, but the Audi A5 doubles down on being a high-quality, solid and sensible car with smart looks and better legroom for rear passengers.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 8 / 10

Read full review

Auto Express

Steve Walker, Paul Barker

More reviews

Auto Express

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid S-line quattro saloon
Score: 8 / 10
“Audi’s e-hybrid plug-in hybrid powertrain fills a crucial gap in the A5 range, offering fuel and tax efficiency that will appeal to many.”
Author: Steve Walker
Read review

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic estate (Avant)
Score: 8 / 10
“As a replacement for both the A4 and A5, the all-new Audi A5 Avant makes a lot of sense, especially in diesel guise. It’s practical and spacious, comes with an efficient mild-hybrid powertrain, and is arguably better looking than the saloon. It’s also full of excellent new tech and feels unusually well made. Well worth a look if you can afford the premium price.”
Author: Steve Sutcliffe
Read review

Model reviewed: 3.0-litre petrol automatic S5 estate (Avant)
Score: 8 / 10
“There’s much to like about the new Audi S5 Avant, and not a whole lot to dislike. It looks good, goes well, is beautifully made inside and out, and drives as sharply as any car of its type right now. It’s also spacious, and comes extremely well equipped.”
Author: Steve Sutcliffe
Read review

Auto Trader

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“It is spacious, refined, and well-made, yet it’s not quite as engaging to drive as a BMW 3 Series or as comfortable as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.”
Author: Catherine King
Read review

Car

Model reviewed: S5 Saloon
Score: 8 / 10
“The S5 is potent, premium and still flies under the radar as it always has done badged as an S4 previously. It feels less rabid than a Mercedes-AMG C43, for example, which really appeals.”
Read review

Model reviewed: A5 Avant estate
Score: 8 / 10
“It’s well built, feels solid and dependable to drive and represents good value given how astronomical some car prices have gotten recently. It’s a sensible flavour of small family estate over the glitzier Mercedes C-Class estate or sharper 3-series Touring, but one that’s worth a serious look at.”
Author: Jake Groves
Read review

Model reviewed: A5 Saloon
Score: 8 / 10
“The A5 picks up where the previous A5s and A4s left off. It’s smart, rides well and feels every bit as premium as you’d want a £42,000 five door sportback to feel. I’ve some reservations with the styling and layout of the interior, but overall it’s a car I’d still happily devour miles in.”
Author: Seth Walton
Read review

Carbuyer

Model reviewed: A5 Avant estate
Score: 8.2 / 10
“You get all of the Audi quality and style that you’d expect, coupled to a spacious estate car. It provides plenty of room for families, business users, or both as this type of car usually has to sing for its supper through the week and fetch the shopping at the weekend.”
Author: Alisdair Suttle
Read review

Model reviewed: A5 Saloon
Score: 8 / 10
“The next-generation A5 has more style and an even nicer interior than before. It feels very modern, then, but its petrol engines are somewhat rudimentary 2.0-litre turbos with so-so power and efficiency.”
Author: Charlie Harvey
Read review

Carwow

Model reviewed: 3.0-litre petrol automatic S5 quattro saloon
“The Audi S5 is a high-tech performance saloon with a standout interior – but other German alternatives are even quicker and the estate version makes much more sense.”
Read review

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic Avant estate
“Audi A5 Avant is the new name for the A4 Avant. Despite the new moniker it’s still a stylish executive estate with a posh, high-tech cabin, but it’s a shame there’s no electric or hybrid power yet.”
Read review

Evo

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The A5’s place among these rivals is more or less unchanged compared to the A4 it replaces. That’s to say, the BMW 3-series is still the keen driver’s choice, though if comfort, technical appointment and refinement are what you want, this is a great alternative to a C-Class.”
Author: Ethan Jupp
Read review

Model reviewed: S5 Saloon
Score: 8 / 10
“As ever, we suspect a more engaging rival can be found in the equivalent BMW and perhaps a more luxurious rival can be found in the equivalent Mercedes. But the S5 is an impressive thing, from its powertrain, to its build quality and its technology.”
Author: Ethan Jupp
Read review

Heycar

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Audi A5 is the curvaceous replacement for the old Audi A4. Instead of going electric, the Audi A5 offers a range of traditional petrol and diesel engines, with long-range plug-in hybrids coming soon”
Author: Richard Aucock
Read review

Model reviewed: 3.0-litre petrol automatic S5
Score: 8 / 10
“The Audi S5 is a discreet and classy high-performance hatchback and Avant estate. It is not outlandish, but delivers plenty of everyday pace with a satisfying overlay of premium appeal.”
Author: Richard Aucock
Read review

Parkers

Model reviewed: A5 Avant estate
Score: 7.6 / 10
“The ride comfort is well balanced and the diesel engines – usually known for sounding loud and rough – are kept impressively quiet. Rear space also isn’t great, leading us to wonder why you’d bother getting an estate at all.”
Author: Keith Adams and Jake Groves
Read review

Model reviewed: A5 Saloon
Score: 8 / 10
“The new Audi A5 is a fine car and I find it encouraging that the German marque is still willing to pursue the development of efficient combustion engines, but the A5’s competition is very strong.”
Author: Seth Walton
Read review

The Sunday Times

Model reviewed: S5 Saloon
Score: 9 / 10
“Once upon a time, we would more likely have recommended the BMW 3 Series or the Mercedes C-Class ahead of the Audi A4. Now, with the new A5 platform, the game has been changed completely, and nowhere more so than with the S5 version. It’s a much closer battle between the Audi and the M340i, and we’re no longer convinced the BMW is the better choice.”
Author: James Fossdyke
Read review

The Telegraph

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic Avant (estate)
Score: 8 / 10
“Capable of delivering 55mpg in the real world, the mild hybrid Audi A5 diesel Avant is also comfortable and effortlessly swift.”
Author: Andrew English
Read review

Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“Audi’s drift towards overbearing levels of tech is a worry. More concerning is the lack of verve to the handling, which means it trails its main rivals despite being the newer entry. Ultimately the A5 suffers for trying to sit in the middle of that Venn diagram, depriving it of a proper USP.”
Read review

Model reviewed: S5 Saloon
Score: 7 / 10
“There’s a lot to appreciate about the S5… unfortunately it gets everything going except your heart rate.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: December 2024
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 87%
Child protection: 88%
Vulnerable road users: 78%
Safety assist: 77%

The Audi A5 has been awarded a full five-star safety rating by Euro NCAP. This rating stands for the entire range, including the A5 saloon and Avant estate, as well as the sportier S5 saloon and Avant estate models.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of July 2025, the Audi A5 has not been assessed by Green NCAP.

Running cost rating

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

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	161 g/km	C
Diesel models	133 g/km	A

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£292	C
Year 2	£751	C
Year 3	£1,278	C
Year 4	£1,447	C
Year 5	£1,856	C
Overall	£5,624	C

The Audi A5 can be a relatively expensive car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

Our current crop of data for the Audi A5 paints a rather limited picture of the A5’s running costs, with no data for the Audi’s fuel efficiency or insurance bracket. However, the car’s servicing and maintenance cost estimations over the course of the first five years of ownership are on the expensive side, totalling over £5,500 in fees over that period.

We are sure to receive more running cost data for the A5 in the coming months, so 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 current Audi A5 range to generate a reliability rating.

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

As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the A5, we’ll publish the results here.

Warranty rating

New car warranty information for the Audi A5

Overall ratingD31%
Petrol or diesel modelsE17%
Hybrid or plug-in hybrid modelsC56%
New car warranty duration3 years
New car warranty mileage60,000 miles
Battery warranty duration8 years
Battery warranty mileage100,000 miles

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

In addition to the standard new car warranty, the A5 plug-in hybrid version has an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty for the battery components, which is why it gets a better score than the standard petrol and diesel models.

Recalls

Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Audi A5

As of July 2025, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the Audi A5. However, this information is updated very regularly so this may have changed.

You can check to see if your car has any outstanding recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local A5 dealer.

Everything you need to know about UK vehicle recalls

Similar cars

If you’re looking at the Audi A5, you might also be interested in these alternatives.

More Audi ratings, reviews, news and features

More news, reviews and information about the Audi A5 range at The Car Expert

Everything you need to know about Audi

Audi A5 range expanded with new plug-in hybrid

Audi A5 Sportback (2017 to 2024)

Audi A5 Coupé (2016 to 2024)

Audi RS 5

New Audi A5 pricing confirmed

New Audi A5 to replace current A4 range

Audi revises trim line-up for many models in its range

Audi A5 Cabriolet review

Audi A5 Sportback review

Audi A5 Coupe review

Audi reveals Mk2 version of A5 drop-top

Buy an Audi A5

If you’re looking to buy a new or used Audi A5, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car.

Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more

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

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

Lease an Audi A5

If you’re looking to lease a new Audi A5, 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 an Audi A5

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

Car subscriptions from SelfDrive.
Find out more

Car subscriptions from DriveFuze.
Find out more

Car subscriptions from Cocoon.
Find out more

How to understand a PCP car finance quote

Stuart Masson

-

6 June 2025

10

How to understand a PCP car finance quote

We get a lot of readers asking questions or looking for explanations about personal contract purchase (PCP) quotes they have received from a dealer or seen online. This is not surprising, as a PCP car finance quotation can look quite confusing.

In this comprehensive article, we are going to go through a PCP car finance quote line by line and explain what each item means. We will tell you what to look out for, and what you can do to adjust each number to suit your needs. If you can understand every aspect of the quote, you are much more likely to get yourself a deal that works for you rather than a deal that works for the car dealer.

When looking at a car finance quote, take your time and work through it line by line, as we will do below. Refer back to this document as you are reading your quote to help you understand it. Don’t just accept whatever the car dealer tells you; you need to take responsibility for making sure the finance offer meets your needs.

The most important thing to remember is that every part of a finance deal is connected to every other part. If you’re borrowing (for example) £30,000 for a car, then the finance deal can be arranged in various different ways to suit your needs. But if you want one part to go down (say, the monthly payment), then that inevitably means other parts will go up (say, the upfront payment or the duration) to make up for it.

How to understand a PCP car finance quote

Look beyond the monthly payment

Most buyers tend to focus on one line – the monthly payment figure. They will have a target of £X per month, and that’s all they are interested in. However, every aspect of a finance quotation is connected, so if you are trying to reduce a monthly payment quote to get it down to your target, that will inevitably mean you have to compromise somewhere else. Tweaking one line of the quote will always affect several other lines, and you may end up worse off as a result.

Customers looking at a new car in a showroom — Don’t be distracted by the shiny things; focus on your financial limits.

For this article, I have taken a genuine PCP car finance quotation from a large manufacturer finance company on one of the best-selling cars in the UK. However, everything you read below will apply to any PCP car finance quotation.

The reason we are using a PCP quotation is because it is by far the most popular type of car finance for retail car buyers in the UK. More than 80% of all private new car buyers will use a PCP to buy their vehicle, and a rapidly growing number of used car buyers as well.

If you want even more information about any of the technical jargon used in this article, check out our comprehensive car finance glossary that explains everything in plain English.

PCP car finance quote example*

Duration	48 months
Monthly payment	£311.08
Customer deposit	£4,201.50
Deposit contribution	£3,000.00
Retail cash price	£28,010.00
Acceptance fee	£0.00
Optional final payment	£11,084.40
Option to purchase fee	£10.00
Total amount payable	£32,916.66
Total amount of credit	£20,808.50
Representative APR %	7.9% APR
Rate of interest	7.85% fixed
Annual mileage allowance	10,000
Excess mileage (per mile)	7.2p

*example is an actual finance quotation taken for a popular new car in the UK, as advertised in June 2020

1. Duration

The duration is also called the term. In this case, the 48 months shown actually consists of 47 regular monthly payments plus one large final payment, also called the balloon or guaranteed (minimum) future value (GFV/GMFV).

A PCP car finance agreement can usually run for anywhere between 18 months and 48 months. A longer duration will usually mean lower monthly payments, but the overall amount you end up paying will be higher as you will pay more in interest since you are borrowing the money over a longer period.

Some brands have started offering 60-month (five-year) PCPs on electric cars to help bring monthly payments down. Be very cautious about taking a five-year PCP, as it’s committing you to that car for a long time.

If you want to make the duration shorter, you can:

increase your upfront deposit
increase your monthly payment
choose a cheaper car

2. Monthly payment

This is the number that most buyers are looking at – how much will this car cost per month? However, it’s only one part of the equation, and you have to make sure that every other aspect suits your needs.

The question of “How do I bring my monthly payments down?” is very common, but there’s no magic answer here. Reducing the monthly payment will require you to accept a less-desirable change somewhere else, and concentrating only on the monthly payment can lead you into trouble.

If you want to bring this payment down, you can:

choose a cheaper car
increase your upfront deposit
reduce your annual mileage
take a longer term (max. is usually 48 months; see above)
negotiate a discount on the price of the car
negotiate a discount on the interest rate on the finance

3. Customer deposit

This is the amount you are paying the dealership up front, which is taken into account as part of your overall PCP car finance agreement. We prefer to simply call it an upfront payment because the word deposit can be confusing; you won’t get this money back again at the end of the agreement.

The more money you put in at the start, the less you will have to pay per month. Conversely, the less you put in to start off, the more you will have to pay each month.

Car dealers will often encourage you to put in less deposit and increase your monthly payment, and a common phrase they will use is that a large deposit is “dead money”. Don’t be fooled; they’re saying this because it suits them. They get commission on every pound that you borrow, so if you reduce your deposit by £1,000 you will be increasing your debt by £1,000 and they will get more commission. Do what is right for you.

Part-exchange vehicle
If you have a part-exchange vehicle, that can be used as a form of deposit. If the dealer values your car at £2,000 then that’s the same as a £2,000 cash deposit. If you have outstanding finance on your vehicle, it’s value will be the net result of its value minus the finance. So if your car is valued at £8,000 but you still owe £7,000 to the finance company, it’s only a £1,000 deposit.

If your car is valued at £8,000 but you still owe £9,000, that’s called negative equity, and it means you have to pay £1,000 to get rid of your car before you can start thinking about an additional deposit towards your new car. If you’re trying to part-exchange your car and still have quite a long time left on your current finance agreement, you will almost certainly be in negative equity.

If you want to bring this payment down, you can:

choose a cheaper car
increase your monthly payment
reduce your annual mileage
take a longer term
negotiate a discount on the price of the car
negotiate a discount on the interest rate on the finance

4. Deposit contribution

A deposit contribution is basically a discount for taking the finance agreement; in the example above, it’s £3,000 (which is quite generous and higher than most cars will have). Instead of taking £3,000 off the price of the car, the dealer and/or car company is giving you £3,000 towards the price of the car. It’s kind of the same thing, but it can have advantages if you need to voluntarily terminate the agreement later on.

This amount is typically offered as part of a national campaign for a specific model and is available from any dealership for that manufacturer. It’s a discount/offer, so it won’t be available on any model. It’s also much less common to see a deposit contribution offered on a used car.

Dealers will often offer to use this deposit contribution to cover any negative equity you have in your current car (see above), so you don’t have to find the cash to settle the outstanding finance. This means that there will be little or no contribution left towards the new car, so you are making your new car more expensive by doing this.

5. Retail cash price

This may be listed as total on-road price or something similar. It’s basically the overall price of the car you’re buying (including any extras you have added), and other costs like road tax.

If you want to bring this payment down, you can:

choose a cheaper car
remove unnecessary extras like GAP insurance or paint protection (the dealer will hate that, but that’s because they make a lot of commission on those extras)
negotiate a discount on the price of the car

6. Acceptance fee

This will vary between different finance providers, and may or may not be relevant. Almost all PCP car finance contracts will have fees of some sort (unless they specifically say 0% APR). In this particular case, there is no fee here – however some finance companies may try to charge you as much as £100.

A 0% APR offer means no interest and no fees (other than penalty charges). If a dealer claims an offer is “interest-free” but there are still fees involved, it’s not 0% APR.

An acceptance fee is usually built into the agreement and isn’t generally negotiable. If you really want to haggle over it, all the dealer is likely to do is deduct the equivalent amount off the price of the car.

7. Optional final payment

This is the amount you will still owe at the end of the duration, also known as the balloon. In a PCP agreement, this amount is the same as the guaranteed future value (which is technically a different thing, but for a finance quote it doesn’t matter). If you want to pay off the finance and keep the car, this is how much you will have to pay.

Describing this final payment as ‘optional’ is misleading, as it implies that the default situation is not to pay anything. This is the exact opposite of what your contract says – you owe this money to the finance company, but there are options to avoid paying it. That may sound petty, but it’s important to remember that you have borrowed this money from the finance company and it needs to be repaid, one way or another.

The final payment is what the finance company expects the car to be worth at the end of the agreement. So in this case, the car starts out at £28,010.00 new, and after four years and 40,000 miles it should be worth £11,084.40. That’s 39% of the starting price, which is about average for a four-year-old car.

The finance company will try to take this payment on direct debit unless you hand the car back or part-exchange it before the due date. For more information, have a read of our article about your options at the end of a PCP.

The higher the final payment is, the lower your monthly payments will be. If you want to keep this payment as high as possible to reduce your monthly payments (which is likely if you’re not planning to make the final payment and keep the car), you can take the following actions.

If you want to keep this payment high (to keep your monthly payments down), you can:

reduce your annual mileage allowance
remove any unnecessary options (like a sunroof or upgraded stereo) and dealer extras (like GAP insurance or paint protection) that increase your starting price but don’t increase the final value
stick with the most popular colour and trim combinations (unpopular colours and personalisations can devalue your car)

8. Option to purchase fee

Again, every finance company will charge fees here or there. In this example, if you choose to pay the £11,084.40 to keep the car at the end of the agreement, you will also have to pay an extra £10 admin fee. Yes, you’re right – it does seem petty.

As with the acceptance fee above, this fee is usually built into the agreement and is non-negotiable. Again, if you want to make a fuss about it, the dealer will simply deduct £10 (using the example above) off the price of the car.

9. Total Amount Payable

This is one of the most important numbers in any finance agreement, as it reflects the cost of the car plus the interest and fees you pay as part of the finance. Based on the example above, this amount equals your deposit (£4,201.50), the seller’s deposit contribution (£3,000), 47 monthly payments of £311.08 each, the final payment of £11,084.40 and the final £10 fee.

Even if you don’t plan to keep the car, this is still an important number as it shows you how much you are really paying to finance the car. In this case, the Total Amount Payable of £32,916.66 minus the cash price of the car (£28,010.00) means you are paying £4,906.66 in interest and fees to finance the car over four years.

Total debt

What the quote is not required to show is your total debt, which is the amount you ultimately owe the finance company. It is the total amount payable minus your deposit and any deposit contribution. In this example, the debt would be £25,715.16.

A significant amount of debt may affect your ability to borrow money for a house or get credit for other purposes (credit card, phone, personal loan, etc.). Obviously, you will make inroads to this debt each month with your repayments, so your debt will slowly reduce each month.

If you settle the finance early, you’re effectively borrowing the money over a shorter term. This reduces the overall interest you pay, which reduces the overall debt and means your total amount payable is reduced.

Voluntary termination
Another reason that the total amount payable is important is because it is used to calculate your voluntary termination point, which is 50% of the total amount payable – in this case, £16,458.33. This amount does not need to be shown on a finance quote, but it will be shown in your contract.

Based on the upfront payment (£4,201.50) plus deposit contribution (£3,000) and monthly payments of £311.08, you would reach this 50% mark after 30 months in this example contract. This is earlier than you’d normally expect on a four-year agreement, and is largely because the upfront payment and deposit contributions are high. In most four-year PCP agreements, you won’t reach the 50% mark until sometime in your fourth and final year.

For more information, check out our guide to voluntary termination of a PCP or HP.

Repossession
Your repossession rights are also determined by the total amount payable. If you have repaid less than a third of the total (in this case, £10,972.22, which you would reach in about 13 months) and you default on your payments, the finance company has the right to repossess the vehicle.

Once you have repaid more than a third of the total amount payable, they would have to get a court order to repossess the vehicle. In practice, that means they may be a little more patient with you before going to the effort of trying to repossess your car, as going to court costs money with no guarantee that they would win.

If you want to bring this payment down, you can:

choose a cheaper car
take a shorter term (thereby paying less interest)
remove unnecessary extras like GAP insurance or paint protection
negotiate a discount on the price of the car
negotiate a discount on the interest rate on the finance
find a finance agreement with a lower APR (interest rate)

10. Total amount of credit

This is the amount of money you are borrowing, and is equal to the price of the car (£28,010 in this example) minus your deposit (£4,201.50) and the deposit contribution (£3,000), which works out to £20,808.50. That’s not the same as your total debt, because you pay interest on the amount borrowed.

It’s a common misconception that you’re not borrowing the balloon amount – not true at all. You are borrowing that £11,084.40 and paying interest on it, but you are not repaying it unless you decide to make the final payment at the end of the agreement.

If you want to bring this payment down, you can:

choose a cheaper car
increase your up-front deposit
negotiate a discount on the price of the car
negotiate a discount on the interest rate on the finance
find a finance agreement with a lower APR

11. Representative APR

APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate, and includes all the interest and fees you have to pay on the finance agreement. It is essentially the cost of taking out finance, and obviously a lower number is better than a higher number.

If you are looking at a finance quote that has been prepared specifically for you rather than an advertised example, it may simply say “APR” rather than “Representative APR”.

A Representative APR is the rate that at least 51% of applicants must be offered, but you may not be offered this rate. The Representative APR in this example is 7.9%, but you may be offered a higher rate (say, 9.5%) if the finance company considers you a higher-risk customer.

If you want to bring this payment down, you can:

negotiate a discount on the interest rate
make sure your credit details are up to date and correct, using a free credit score service

12. Rate of interest

APR includes both interest AND fees; this bit is the interest component. In this example, the interest rate is 7.85% but the APR is only 7.9%, which means that there are very few fees that only make up 0.05% of your cost of borrowing.

This can be important because interest and fees are different. Interest is spread across your monthly payments, whereas a fee is charged in one hit. For any given APR, it’s usually better to be paying more in interest and less in fees.

Negotiate a better rate
If you are buying a car as part of an advertised campaign offer, there may not be any additional room for negotiation on the interest rate. However, in any other case (and especially on a used car), there is normally an opportunity to negotiate a percentage point or two off the interest rate.

If you can save 1% on your interest rate, that might be a much better result than haggling over a few hundred pounds off the price of the car.

13. Annual mileage allowance

For too long, this number has been buried in the fine print. It should be up there with all the other information, like it is in our example above – especially if you are looking at a specific finance quote prepared for you rather than an advertised example.

This number should reflect the number of miles you expect to do each year – the national average is about 10,000, which is what the example above shows. However, many dealers and finance companies are now quoting customers on much lower mileage figures (often 6,000 per year) unless you specifically nominate a higher mileage.

Why do they do this? Well, a lower annual mileage will make your final payment higher, which will reduce your monthly payments and/or your up-front deposit. The problem is that if you go over your mileage allowance, the finance company will charge you an excess mileage penalty (see below).

Make sure your mileage allowance reflects your driving requirements, and be realistic about it rather than optimistic.

14. Excess mileage

This is what the finance company will charge you for every mile you go over your allowance for the term of the agreement. It only applies if you are giving the car back to the finance company at the end of the agreement and claiming the guaranteed future value. For more information, have a read of our article about your options at the end of your PCP agreement.

This example is a 48-month (four-year) PCP with an annual mileage allowance of 10,000 miles, which means the total mileage allowance over the entire agreement would be 40,000 miles.

The excess mileage penalty fee in this example is 7.2p per mile, which works out to £72 for every 1,000 miles that you exceed your allowance. That’s relatively low, but will still be more than you’d pay if you set the mileage correctly in the first place.

Summary

Ultimately, there’s no such thing as a perfect finance quote. As you can see above, a number of the variables above can be adjusted to suit your particular needs.

For example, if you increase your deposit then you pay less per month. That might suit you but may not suit another buyer, who may not have the cash available and would therefore prefer to pay a bit more per month in order to pay less up front.

Likewise, one buyer may prefer to wear a higher monthly payment in order to have a three-year PCP, while another buyer may prefer a lower payment over four years.

You need to work out what suits your financial circumstances, and don’t be charmed or bullied by a dealer who wants you to borrow more money or put in less deposit – they are doing this because it suits them, not because they’re trying to help you.

More car finance advice and information from The Car Expert

Customers signing PCP car finance agreement — Have you followed The Car Expert’s advice? Good, you can sign that contract now.

This post was originally published in June 2018. Last updated June 2025.

Disclaimer
PCP car finance agreements in the UK are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, and anyone involved in the selling of car finance must be accredited by the FCA. You should always consider the terms and conditions of any agreement carefully before taking out any form of car finance, as you are making a substantial ongoing commitment and there may be significant costs if you change your mind or are unable to meet your commitments at a later date.

Honda Civic Type R to be removed from sale in the UK

Model update

Sean Rees

-

5 June 2025

0

Honda Civic Type R to be removed from sale in the UK

The Honda Civic Type R will be pulled from sale in UK and Europe next year, its final farewell marked by a limited-run ‘Ultimate Edition’ model.

The current eleventh-generation Civic Type R is regarded as one of the best hot hatch options on the UK market – with a New Car Expert Rating of A in our Expert Rating index – but will be removed from the UK market in the middle of next year due to changing automotive regulations in the EU.

Honda has not named the exact piece of legislation that has caused the Type R’s retirement, but the EU’s tightening safety tech and emissions standards are the likely culprit – the same new regulations that will retire rivals like the Alpine A110 and Toyota GR86. These US regulations stipulate that cars that don’t meet the current standards and are under 1,500 annual sales can remain on sale until July 2026 – the same month that the Type R is set to be removed from sale.

To mark the end of the Civic Type R in the UK and Europe, Honda has announced that it will produce 40 ‘Ultimate Edition’ versions, with ten of these allocated for sale in the UK on a first come, first serve basis.

The ‘Ultimate Edition’ only comes in white with a unique red racing stripe decal, a black roof, carbon detailing on the large wing spoiler and the centre console inside, and more ambient interior lighting for the door lining, cup holder, centre console, and footwells.

The limited-run model also comes with a ‘celebratory gift box’, which includes the car’s carbon-detailed key ring, an emblem with a number between one and 40 to denote the car’s position on the production line, unique ‘Ultimate Edition’ floor mats, and a car cover.

Honda is yet to announce the pricing of the ‘Ultimate Edition’, or exactly when this special Type R model will become available to order in the UK.

The Honda Civic Type R holds a New Car Expert Rating of A with a score of 75% – three points off the standard Civic range.

Everything you need to know about Jeep

Andrew Charman

-

5 June 2025

0

It’s remarkable that a vehicle designed as a military staff car still today makes much of a reputation gained by its very first versions used in the second world war – a vehicle that could go anywhere, no matter how far off the beaten track.

In truth, Jeep’s insistence on ensuring its vehicles really could go anywhere proved a drawback in more recent times. The brand claims to have launched the first-ever SUV in the 1960s but as the modern incarnations of such vehicles have developed, Jeep has failed to keep up with rivals that were so much better on the road – where even Jeeps spend most of their time.

Now, as part of the giant that is Stellantis, Jeep is transforming into a brand that can compete in a market where on-road performance and quality take precedence over all-terrain ability. While Jeeps are still regarded as all-wheel-drive vehicles, today few of them are.

Jeep has also maintained its status as a US icon during a chequered history – most people still see the brand as American, despite the fact that it has been controlled by the French (Renault), Germans (DaimlerChrysler) and Italians (Fiat Chrysler), before being absorbed by the European giant that is Stellantis, headquartered in the Netherlands.

Everything you need to know about Jeep

So who or what is Jeep?

What became Jeep had its beginnings in 1941, when the US military needed a light four-wheel-drive scout car for the war they were inevitably going to enter. They pitched the idea to 135 companies but just two responded, probably because of the 49-day deadline to produce a working prototype.

The American Bantam Car Company met the deadline but the Army thought it would never be able to make the number required, so the Bantam design was shared with Ford and Willys-Overland, and quickly evolved into the specification for the vehicle that has forever been a staple of war movies. Every US regiment received, on average, some 145 Jeeps and they were used for all sorts of purposes.

As for the name, Jeep was already US military slang for new and untested recruits or vehicles. When a prototype of the scout car was demonstrated by driving up the steps of the US Capitol building, a newspaper reporter asked what the vehicle was and was told a Jeep – the resultant news piece used the term and the rest, as they say…

After the war, Willys-Overland marketed passenger versions of the Jeep, including a station wagon and a ‘Jeepster’ model directly aimed at civilian buyers. Willys was then acquired, first in 1953 by Kaiser Motors and then in 1970 by the American Motors Corporation (AMC), which separated Jeep’s military and civilian businesses into separate companies. The military division would later create another iconic US military vehicle – the Humvee, which in civilian models became the Hummer.

In 1962, Jeep launched the Wagoneer, a vehicle that claims to be the first-ever SUV. It remained in production for almost 30 years before finally being retired, and the name was reborn a few years ago as Jeep’s flagship SUV model.

More than eighty years after the first Jeep was created, its spiritual descendant lives on in the form of the Jeep Wrangler – although it’s a conceptual connection that unsurprisingly shares no common parts with the original 1940s model.

Thousands of Jeeps were left behind in Europe after the war and, in Britain, directly inspired the creation of the first Land Rover in 1947. But it wasn’t until the late 1970s that Jeep officially went on sale in Europe, through Renault dealerships following the French giant’s investment in AMC. But financial issues and unrest in the late 1980s encouraged Renault to sell off its interest in AMC and the company was snapped up by US giant Chrysler.

In 1987 the ownership switched back to Europe when Chrysler merged with Mercedes-Benz owner Daimler to create DaimlerChrysler. That merger went disastrously, with Daimler unloading Chrysler again after just ten years. Another merger with Fiat followed in 2014 to form Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, which was subsequently absorbed into Stellantis when FCA merged with PSA Groupe (including Peugeot, Citroën, Vauxhall, and others) in 2020. Today, Jeep is one of more than a dozen brands within the sprawling Stellantis family, which has influenced its current lineup, especially in Europe.

What models does Jeep have and what else is coming?

As of June 2025, Jeep has a five-strong UK model line-up, albeit one that is in the process of undergoing major changes.

The Jeep Wrangler can trace its lineage directly back to the 1980s, and conceptually back to the earliest military Jeeps. Now available with just a petrol engine, it’s renowned for its off-road ability but not for its on-road dynamics or safety. Euro NCAP gave the Wrangler a paltry one star when testing the latest generation in 2018, a major factor in the New Car Expert Rating of E earned by the car in The Car Expert’s Expert Rating programme.

In contrast, the Jeep Grand Cherokee earned an excellent five-star Euro NCAP score for its latest generation launched in 2023. The large SUV, the flagship of the range, is now sold as a plug-in hybrid and earns a New Car Expert Rating of C – mediocre UK reviews are compensated for by that excellent safety performance.

Sadly, it’s back to E-grade territory for more recent Jeep fare. The Jeep Renegade launched in 2015 as a small SUV and as a result of Jeep’s merger with Fiat. Underneath the familiar Jeep styling themes is basically a Fiat 500X, and it’s built in Italy. It follows the US brand’s typical style – no rivals can touch it off-road but they leave it behind once on the tarmac.

The Jeep Compass went on UK sale in 2018, effectively filling the gap between the Renegade and the larger Cherokee models. This was a Jeep supposedly more focused on improved on-the-road performance, while losing none of its off-road credentials. It achieved the latter but not the former, still lagging behind its many rivals in this crowded market.

The most recent Jeep launch, however, has bucked the trend and perhaps marked a turning point for the brand. The Jeep Avenger is a compact SUV and the first all-electric model in Jeep’s line-up. It also shares its makeup with the Peugeot e-2008 and Vauxhall Mokka Electric, following Jeep’s absorption into the Stellantis Group. This has resulted in rather better scores in all areas and a New Car Expert Rating of A from The Car Expert.

Current Jeep range on our Expert Rating Index

The initial electric Avenger has since been joined by mild-hybrid and petrol variants and while in standard form it is two-wheel-drive, an off-road focused 4WD version is now offered too.

The third of Jeep’s traditional model names should make its return in 2026, the Cherokee. First sold in 1974 and last in showrooms in 2023, the new Cherokee will be totally unrelated to its predecessor, offered in hybrid and electric propulsion and pitched as a rival to the Land Rover Discovery.

The new Cherokee’s styling will match that of the all-new Compass, the third-generation model going for a complete reinvention with bold styling, better quality but still more off-road ability than its Stellantis sisters the Peugeot 3008 and Citroën C5 Aircross. On the road before the end of 2025, it will be offered with petrol, plug-in hybrid and electric versions, including a range-topping all-wheel-drive model.

Reports also suggest that both the Grand Cherokee and Wrangler could be dropped from Jeep’s model range this year as the brand continues its push towards a mainly electric future. The Grand Cherokee will be replaced by the electric Wagoneer S, on sale before the end of 2025, while the Wrangler could be killed off by the arrival of Jeep’s new small EV, the Recon.

Where can I try a Jeep car?

Jeeps remain fairly specialised vehicles, with a narrower range of models compared to some brands, and this is reflected in the number of dealerships. Like many brands, there has been some consolidation, and today there are around 50 outlets, although they are well-spaced throughout the UK.

Many Jeep dealerships can be found alongside those of other Stellantis brands, particularly those of Fiat, a result of the merger with the Italian brand in 2014.

What makes Jeep different to the rest?

It’s probably fairer to say ‘what made Jeep different to the rest’ because for much of its life, Jeep traded on a reputation of all its models being all-wheel-drive and able to traverse the toughest of off-road terrains – a similar image adopted by its younger British rival, Land Rover.

In fact, even some of the earliest Jeeps were two-wheel-drive machines and today market forces demand that most of the brand’s model range are. You can still get all-wheel-drive Jeeps and they will still go just about anywhere – but this ability has made it harder for them to keep up with the refinement of rivals where they spend most of their time, on the road. On-road quality is likely to be a bigger factor than off-road ability in Jeep’s future.

A Jeep fact to impress your friends

Following the second world war, enterprising locals in the Philippines took the many surplus Jeeps left behind by US forces and welded on longer, wider rear ends, effectively turning them into mini buses.

Elaborately decorated by their owners, the ‘Jeepneys’ have become as much a symbol of the Philippines as the black cab is of the UK.

Summary

The Jeep of today is at a crossroads – but appears to be heading in the right direction. As a central part of the Stellantis empire and benefiting from the economies of scale that come with developing new models for three or four brands at a time, Jeep is in the process of renewing its range.

These new models both embrace the switch to electric and eliminate the on-road deficiencies that were a byproduct of maintaining traditional off-road ability. For Jeep, the future holds great potential.

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

Buy a Jeep

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

Find a used Jeep with Motors. Find out more

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

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

Lease a Jeep

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

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

Personal contract hire deals from Carparison Leasing. Find out more

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

New car sales still fairly flat in May

Car industry news

Stuart Masson

-

5 June 2025

0

New car registrations improved by less than 2% in May 2025, although it was a mix of growing fleet business and falling consumer sales, with the overall market still struggling along well below pre-pandemic levels.

According to results published this morning by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the overall new car market improved by just under 2% compared to the same month last year, thanks to a 4% improvement in fleet registrations. Private new car sales, however, fell by 2%.

This means that for the first five months of this year, the overall market is up by about 3% on last year – with private sales up 5% and fleet sales up 2%.

As has been the case all year, electric and plug-in hybrid cars saw the strongest growth in May 2025, while sales of traditional petrol and diesel cars continued to decline.

EVs and plug-in hybrids still driving growth

EV registrations were up by 26% compared to the same month last year, which resulted in a 22% of the overall market share. Plug-in hybrid sales increased by 51%, resulting in a 12% market share and narrowing the gap with basic (non-plugged) hybrids, which saw 7% growth for a market share of 14%.

The data appears to show that the Expensive Car Supplement (an additional £410/year of road tax on new cars over £40K) being added to EVs from April has not really slowed demand, but we’re only two months into this new tax so we’ll have to keep monitoring this.

The resurgence of plug-in hybrids this year has multiple potential drivers: the government’s ZEV (zero emissions vehicle) mandate allows partial credits for plug-in hybrids, which is helpful for car manufacturers who don’t have many EVs to sell; some market sectors (like large SUVs) still don’t have many EV options, so previous diesel customers are turning to plug-in hybrids instead; and plenty of customers are still reluctant to jump straight from a petrol car into an EV, so a plug-in hybrid is a good halfway house that offers local electric driving with the reassurance of a petrol engine for longer journeys.

Petrol’s market share was again below 50%, as it has been each month since February, as customers progressively move away from purely fossil fuel power to various levels of electrification. However, it must also be noted that some brands are limiting the sales of certain petrol and diesel models to avoid fines from the government’s ZEV mandate.

The ZEV mandate continues to stir debate within the industry. Nominally, EVs have to make up 28% of all new car registrations this year, but after May 2025 we’re currently sitting at 21%. In reality, however, there are various loopholes built into the system, which have been increased recently as the government allows the car industry some more flexibility to shift from fossil fuels to electricity. It’s estimated that the actual target is likely to be about 23%, so we’re not far off. That won’t stop the shouting from both sides of the debate, however.

The Tesla conundrum

One of the question marks about EV registrations every month is always about Tesla’s performance. There has been a lot of noise in recent months about customers being put off Tesla because of their dislike of the company’s CEO, Elon Musk.

In both April and May, Tesla’s registrations in the UK were significantly down, but then Tesla’s registrations tend to fluctuate wildly at the best of times as the company doesn’t operate a traditional dealer network. What we don’t know is whether the April and May results are just part of Tesla’s normal variation that could turn around completely in June, or if this is a genuine indication of a decline in the company’s fortunes as customers turn elsewhere.

If it’s part of the normal variation, and Tesla still has a normal order bank of customers awaiting delivery, we could see a jump in both Tesla and overall EV sales whenever the next boatloads of Tesla Model 3 and Model Y cars arrive from China and Germany. This would give the overall EV market a boost and make the numbers look more positive.

If, however, Tesla is seeing a genuine fall in customer demand, with those consumers and businesses choosing from the many excellent alternatives to the Model 3 and Model Y now available, then it’s bad news for both Tesla and the overall EV market.

We typically review Tesla data quarterly, rather than monthly. At the end of Q1 in March, Tesla registrations were up 6%, just behind the overall market. April and May have been poor, but we’ll have more confidence in the company’s overall direction of travel at the end of June.

Good month, bad month – May 2025

Although the market was up by just under 2%, there were still plenty of ups and downs from the 52 car brands that report their registrations to the SMMT.

It was a good month for Alpine, Bentley, BYD, Cupra, DS Automobiles, Fiat, Ford, Genesis, Ineos, Jeep, Lexus, Maxus, Mazda, Peugeot, Polestar, Renault and Vauxhall. All of these brands outperformed the overall market by at least 10%, which means they saw growth of at least 12% on the same month last year.

Meanwhile, the news wasn’t so good for Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Audi, BMW, Citroën, Dacia, GWM, Honda, KGM, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, SEAT, Smart, Subaru, Suzuki, Tesla and Volvo. These brands underperformed against the overall market by at least 10%, meaning they experienced declines of at least 8% compared to last May’s data.

That means that the following brands were about where you’d expect them to be: Hyundai, Kia, Land Rover, MG, Mini, Nissan, Porsche, Skoda, Toyota and Volkswagen. This means they were within 10% (plus or minus) of the overall market.

The biggest improver in overall numbers was BYD, which jumped from about 600 cars last May to 3,000 cars this year. It’s still a new brand that has added several models to its range, so that’s not quite as significant as it might seem on the surface. But it certainly shows that BYD is making strides. Omoda and Jaecoo, two new brands that essentially operate as one company, also registered about 3,000 cars in May and didn’t even exist in the UK 12 months ago, which shows the inroads that new Chinese brands are making into the UK market.

Going in the other direction, Audi registrations dropped by about 2,600 units compared to the same month last year, which was a 24% fall. Year-to-date, Audi is down about 18% as some of its best-selling models are replaced. It will be interesting to see if sales recover in the second half of the year.

Volkswagen remains the UK’s best-selling brand, comfortably ahead of BMW in second place, followed by Kia, Ford and Audi.

Ford Puma back on top in battle with Kia Sportage

The Ford Puma edged further ahead in the 2025 sales race, topping the sales charts in May ahead of its main rival, the Kia Sportage. Puma sales will no doubt be helped by the arrival of the new Gen-E electric model and, as we approach the halfway point of the year, the Puma has a lead of exactly 2,300 cars.

It was a good month for Nissan’s UK production in Sunderland, with the Qashqai and Juke models placing third and fourth in May’s results. The Qashqai is about 500 units ahead of the Vauxhall Corsa, which finished fifth in May.

It was another good month for MG, with the ZS small SUV popping up in sixth place in May and moving up to seventh in year-to-date sales. With the larger HS SUV in tenth, MG now has two models in the top ten after five months of the year.

It was the first appearance in the top ten for a long time (possibly ever?) for the Hyundai Kona, with its larger sibling, the Tucson, disappearing from both the monthly and year-to-date best-seller list. And the new Mini Cooper is slowly making inroads, with a second month in tenth place. It’s been a slow burn for the new Mini, after the previous model was one of the UK’s best-selling cars for almost its whole production life.

Several of the top ten models have electric versions (Ford Puma Gen-E, Vauxhall Corsa Electric, Hyundai Kona Electric, Peugeot e-2008, Mini Cooper Electric), but with another slow month from Tesla, there are no dedicated EV models in the top ten.

We’ll have our usual in-depth look at the top ten in the next few days.

More car industry news and analysis at The Car Expert

New Toyota Aygo X Hybrid announced

Model update

The Car Expert staff

-

3 June 2025

0

Toyota is adding a hybrid system to its smallest model with the new Toyota Aygo X Hybrid, which will go on sale later this year.

Based on projected official testing figures, Toyota claims that the new Aygo X Hybrid will boast the lowest CO₂ emissions of any regular hybrid (non-plug-in) in the UK with a predicted figure of 86g/km. That means it will comply with current low-emission zone requirements.

The hybrid powertrain, which replaces the current 1.0-litre petrol unit, also brings a performance boost. Overall power output increases by 43hp compared to the previous non-hybrid version, reaching a maximum of 115hp and enabling 0-62mph acceleration in less than ten seconds.

The transition has been no easy task, and adapting the Aygo X to accommodate the hybrid components within the tight confines of a city car has required some innovative packaging from Toyota’s engineers and designers. The hybrid batteries are arranged differently to the company’s larger models, while the auxiliary battery has also been moved to preserve storage capacity.

The larger hybrid powertrain needs more space under the bonnet, so a restyled front end sticks forward about 8cm more than the previous petrol model.

To help emphasise the smooth, electric-capable drive of the Aygo X Hybrid, Toyota has fitted new noise insulation components in the dashboard, under the bonnet lid and underneath the engine, combined with an updated exhaust system. Further noise reduction measures are featured on higher grade models, including thicker window glass and additional soundproofing.

The required reworking of the front end coincides with a mid-life restyle for the Aygo X, with a new bonnet, headlights and grille. There are also new designs for the alloy wheels in either 17- or 18-inch sizings

Interior design has also been refreshed, with a larger central display and revised plastic surround, as well as a digital display in front of the driver to replace analogue instruments. Final UK specifications are yet to be confirmed.

Toyota says that the new Aygo X Hybrid will come with its latest safety and driver assistance package, including an enhanced pre-collision system, lane trace and road sign assist features, as well as a new emergency driving stop system and proactive driving assist. Over-the-air software updates will be available for the first time on an Aygo X, keeping the safety systems updated.

Full pricing details of UK-spec models will be revealed in coming months ahead of the revised model going on sale later in the year. We do know that a GR Sport version is on the cards, in line with most of Toyota’s larger models. As well as sportier interior and exterior trim highlights, this model is expected to get retuned suspension and steering for a sharper driving experience.

The best websites for leasing a new car

Andrew Charman

-

3 June 2025

0

Leasing a new car was once limited to business motorists and large fleets, but for consumers it has become an increasingly popular alternative to traditional car finance in recent years.

Walk into a new car showroom and you’ll find them offering PCH (personal contract hire) deals alongside the longer-established PCP (personal contract purchase) schemes. Additionally, there are hundreds of independent brokers, including many major business-lease players, all offering tempting deals.

Leasing can offer several advantages, particularly in terms of cashflow. Depending on the sort of car you’re looking at, you will often pay less to lease a new car rather than buying it using a finance product like a PCP or hire purchase.

Most leasing products these days also include the option to include servicing and maintenance in the monthly payments, which removes the risk of big bills when you take the car for its annual service.

We won’t go into detail about the pros and cons of car leasing here, but if you’re keen to know more then check out our guide to personal contract hire.

So if you’ve added up the sums and decided leasing is for you, you’ll face a new question – which car leasing operator should you go for?

The most important thing to remember is to ensure you are looking at PCH offers, and not BCH (business contract hire), available only to business customers. It’s also vital to be careful entering your details, particularly the annual mileage as it can make a big difference to your potential costs.

The best websites for leasing a new car in 2025

The vast majority of new car leasing is arranged through specialist leasing companies, and we’ve listed more than a dozen of them below.

The biggest leasing operators have very good relationships with the major car manufacturers (which is not surprising, since they buy thousands of new cars every year). That also means that they’re paying a lot less for their cars than you would when you walk into a dealership, so you get to benefit from their purchasing power.

Most of the top 12 companies listed here are brokers, rather than actually providing the lease – a bit like franchise car dealers who sell vehicles on behalf of a manufacturer, rather than the manufacturer selling you a car directly.

The list of companies below isn’t ranked – they all provide a high level of service and are worthy of consideration. They’re simply sorted by those who are commercial partners of The Car Expert (the ones with an asterisk next to their name), which means that we may get a small commission if you click through to their website, and those that are not. This doesn’t affect the deals you are offered or the price you pay on any of the sites.

Leasing.com*

URL: leasing.com

Leasing.com describes itself as the car leasing expert and is one of several comparison sites on the internet. The company doesn’t lease cars itself but acts as a comparison site for lease companies, enabling customers to compare deals and select the one that best suits them.

Having been trading since 2000, Leasing.com claims to have helped more than a million people find a deal, and it certainly offers plenty of choice. The rates we looked at were also cheaper than leasing the same cars directly from the manufacturers.

As with most comparison sites, there’s a huge choice of potential cars – from MG to Maserati and Renault to Rolls-Royce. And the site also includes a number of tutorials, including a video explaining how ‘you’re in the driving seat’.

Since July 2021, Leasing.com’s vehicle ratings have been powered by The Car Expert’s industry-leading Expert Rating Index, so you can be sure that the vehicles have been reviewed and rated by professional journalists from 30 of the UK’s top automotive websites.

Search for your next new car with Leasing.com*

Octopus Electric Vehicles*

URL: octopusev.com

Octopus specialises in electric vehicles, offering leasing and salary sacrifice, as well as supplying electricity for your home and EV charging.

By claiming to focus entirely on EVs, Octopus claims to be able to get the best possible deals on your desired car, as well as offering customers discounts on heat pumps and solar panels if you’re trying to make your home as energy efficient as possible.

If you pair your EV with an Octopus home electricity account, you can save even more on your overnight charging costs, with a claimed 6p/kWh, which is even cheaper than the normal Octopus off-peak rate.

There’s also plenty of customer support to help you decide if you’re ready to switch to an EV, and guidance to help you along the way.

Search for your next new EV with Octopus Electric Vehicles

Select Car Leasing*

URL: selectcarleasing.co.uk

Select claims to be one of the biggest providers of lease cars, boasting 50,000-plus cars delivered in around 16 years of trading, and 21,000 five-star Trustpilot reviews as a result.

Each car includes all the usual information plus a useful review of the car, both in ten-second short form and a much more detailed version. Our sample search brought up only a few choices but they were at very competitive prices. As well as the usual EV section, there’s also plenty of general information about car leasing and whether it is right for you.

Select also currently promotes a price-match service, paying out £50 in Amazon vouchers if customers find a comparable deal at a better price elsewhere.

Search for your next new car with Select Car Leasing

Carparison*

URL: carparisonleasing.co.uk

They say: “We do the leg work, you enjoy the ride”

Carparison presents a friendly and personal image to help you to sort out a lease car. For a fast, simple start you can enter your wish list details (starting with your monthly budget) and then follow up with all their latest top deals, which show initial rental outlay and the monthly payments.

The company says it was launched in 2018 to fill a demand not met by existing leasing sites for sourcing quick and easy deals. The site majors on personal service with lots of smiling faces all over the site.

Personal and Business options are sensibly kept very separate – in fact one is in a black box and the other in white. Click on the button and you’re taken to a more detailed page in which to enter more details and requirements.

You can do a simple search for make and model and then narrow it down, or an advanced search with far more details, including whether the offer that tempts you is actually in stock (which is helpful, as not all deals offered in the leasing market are available immediately at the moment).

There are several interesting features and advice pieces such as ‘Leasing fees explained’, ‘How to order a lease car’ and even ‘Is leasing right for me?’.

Search for your next car with Carparison*

DreamLease*

URL: dreamlease.co.uk

DreamLease is a family-run leasing broker based in Buckinghamshire but servicing the entire UK. The company works with customers small and large, whether you’re looking for one car for personal use or a fleet of cars for a whole company.

The clean, easily scannable site has a prominent search bar front and centre, so you can quickly find quotes for any particular vehicle. There are also plenty of special offers on the home page, so you could even find a bargain that might not have been the car you had in mind. You can easily tweak the upfront payment, term and mileage to see how the monthly payments are affected so you can be sure you’re finding a car that perfectly fits your budget.

There are also dedicated pages for electric vehicles, van leasing and salary sacrifice.Finally, there’s a useful help page that has a load of FAQs and tips for first-time leasing customers.

Search for your next car with DreamLease*

VIP Gateway*

URL: vipgateway.co.uk

VIP Gateway is a Manchester-based leasing broker with customers all across the UK. To back up its ambitions to provide the very highest levels of service, the company claims to have customers on their ninth or even tenth vehicles.

The site has a colourful menu to highlight special offers, in-stock vehicles, electric cars, short-term leasing, used leasing offers, prestige vehicles and so on.

There’s also a whole raft of testimonials from famous customers, with a particular emphasis on Manchester-based football stars and celebrities.

Search for your next car with VIP Gateway*

Rivervale Leasing*

URL: rivervale.co.uk

Established in 2001, Rivervale Leasing has grown to become one of the UK’s leading car leasing companies for both business and personal users.

As it’s not tied to any car maker, Rivervale Leasing promises to find you any make and any model of car and its website features 35 manufacturers to choose from. There’s a simple slider to switch between Personal and Business quotes, and a section high up showing the latest ‘Hot Deals’ currently available.

To find the car you’re looking for (your ‘Perfect Car’) you can choose to go one of four ways: manufacturer, preference (luxury, economical etc), car type or size, or budget (under £150 to over £500). From these, it’s easy to follow the next drop down boxes until you find yourself with a pared-down list, whichever way you’ve arrived there.

The site also has a growing library of car leasing advice plus some general features, tips advice and surveys.

Search for your next car with Rivervale Leasing*

LeaseLoco*

URL: leaseloco.com

LeaseLoco is another car lease comparison site, and once you get beyond the home-page graphics recalling Mexican Day of the Dead celebrations, the site has much to recommend it.

Chief among these is the score system. It uses a comparison algorithm to analyse the value of each lease deal and whether customers can do better – for example, leasing an Audi A6 for the price of an A4.

The site majors on affordability – there is no make and model menu on the homepage, but a simpler one asking how much you want to spend each month. The site then seeks out the deals available, which you can narrow down by make, model, mileage and such like. One advantage of this is that, although you may have been tempted by one particular vehicle, the site shows alternatives you might not have considered.

It helpfully keeps Business and Personal schemes quite separate and the choice is wide. Another neat feature is a ‘dream garage’, enabling you to save certain cars and track their price movements, with notifications when the price drops.

Search for your next car with LeaseLoco*

Gateway2Lease*

URL: gateway2lease.com

Gateway2Lease offers both new and used cars, as well as vans and pick-ups for commercial customers. The site emphasises its latest offers in all of those categories so you can potentially grab the perfect car at a discounted price.

There are also pages for the latest electric car deals, as well as deals for both personal and business customers. Each car is given a ‘G2L score’, although it’s not clear how those scores are calculated.

You can sort models by trim levels, fuel type, CO₂ levels and P11d values to find the right car for your budget. Cars that are in stock are also tagged so you can see which models are available for immediate delivery. As with most other sites, there’s also plenty of useful information for first-time leasing customers to explain how everything works.

Search for your next car with Gateway2Lease*

Hippo Leasing

URL: hippoleasing.co.uk

Hippo Leasing’s parent company certainly knows a thing or two about cars and the automotive business – the family-owned Hippo Motor Group has been trading for more than a century. They use that experience and know-how to make car leasing simple for customers, using their access to a wide range of vehicle manufacturers to bring a vast choice of vehices, from Ford to Ferrari.

Unlike most of the sites listed here, Hippo devotes a specific section of its website to used car leasing, rather than only offering new cars. All used cars come with a minimum six-month warranty (potentially more if the car is still under its new car warranty) and go through a comprehensive workshop inspection before collection by the customer.

The site is well laid out and begins with four easy steps to lease a car, from finding one to driving one. If you don’t know what you want, there’s a browse section broken down into sections such as price, make, body type, and new or used, and if you need a nudge in the right direction there’s a good section of hottest special offers.

Search for your next new or used car with Hippo Leasing*

LeasePlan

URL: leaseplan.com

Long-established as one of the biggest names in business leasing for fleets, it’s probably not as well known that LeasePlan also offers personal car leasing for consumers. The site includes a host of ‘hot offers’ as well as allowing you to seek out a specific car or price.

The most important first click is on the slider to ‘Personal’ rather than ‘Business’ – both sides of the site look very similar, with the same images, and it’s easy to go the wrong way.

LeasePlan is good at explaining how car leasing works: the site includes extensive information for first-time customers, including video tutorials.

Lots of extras are available as part of your deal, such as breakdown cover, insurance and maintenance, which can include tyre replacement. The site also includes more unusual offers, such as specific deals on Tesla electric cars.

Auto Trader

URL: autotrader.co.uk

Auto Trader makes the most of its years of experience in selling cars to offer an extensive leasing comparison section on its site. The home page boasts the usual menu finder but majors on offering information on how leasing works. This is extensive, including video advice from former BBC Top Gear presenter Rory Reid.

The site will likely answer most questions a first-time leasing customer might have. There’s a good section showing reviews of some of the site’s latest cars too.

Once you feel you understand what you are after, the site offers a similar search engine to other comparison sites, narrowing down the deals based on the usual entries of model, mileage, monthly cost and such.

The deals on the site are good quality, Auto Trader claiming to source the best deals from the UK’s leading leasing providers, but there is not as wide a selection as on other comparison sites.

Zen Auto

URL: zen.auto

Leeds-based Zen Auto is one of the newest of the direct-leasing firms, but is a subsidiary of the very long-established Zenith leasing provider, aiming to extend Zenith’s business-leasing clout into the consumer market.

A nice touch on the home page is an initial choice of three menus, based on whether you are not sure what you want, know exactly what car you want or exactly what you aim to spend. The search engine then seeks out deals based on these choices, which you can then further refine.

Entering our sample cars brought up a similar number of deals to other direct leasing sites and at similar prices. However when we searched the site was missing too much information. It places great stead by its model ratings from car review site Parkers, but could not offer a rating for either of our chosen cars despite most of them having been on sale for more than a year.

More car leasing news, information and advice at The Car Expert

Leasing a new car direct from the manufacturer

In recent years, several car manufacturers have added personal leasing offers to their long-established business leasing services. Often it serves as a way of shifting large numbers of specific models, and to feed their used car forecourts with end-of-lease cars.

Leasing a new car directly from a manufacturer comes with obvious advantages – you are effectively ‘cutting out the middle man’ by dealing direct, with all the front-line servicing and maintenance back-up. And surprisingly, comparing certain models across the market, the manufacturer deals were necessarily not the most expensive.

The biggest downside is a lack of choice. Manufacturer sites tend to offer just a few grades available, sometimes on cars that are less easy to shift off forecourts, and on by no means their entire model line-up. There’s also the other obvious drawback that you can’t directly compare cars from different brands side-by-side.

If you go to a showroom, they’ll happily provide you a PCH quote on any car in the range, in any specification, but it will often cost you just as much as a PCP on the same vehicle.

More car leasing information

Your 3-minute guide to car leasing

Are you eligible for a Motability car?

The best websites for short-term car leasing

Can I modify my lease car?

Different types of car leasing sites

Additional reporting by Tom Johnston and Stuart Masson. Originally published in April 2021, most recently updated June 2025.

*The Car Expert has commercial partnerships with Carparison, DreamLease, Gateway2Lease, Hippo Leasing, LeaseLoco, Leasing.com, Octopus Electric Vehicles, Rivervale Leasing, Select Car Leasing and VIP Gateway. If you click through to their websites, we may receive a small commission. This does not affect the price you pay.

New V8-powered Bentley Bentayga Speed revealed

New model

Sean Rees

-

2 June 2025

0

New V8-powered Bentley Bentayga Speed revealed

Bentley has added a new high-performance ‘Speed’ variant to its Bentayga range, which is the fastest SUV the British brand has produced to date.

Unlike the previous iteration of the Bentayga Speed, which was powered by a 6.0-litre W12 petrol engine, this new model makes use of a smaller twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 unit which adds an extra 15hp – 650hp in total. The new engine also drops the Bentayga Speed’s weight by 42kg, which contributes to the SUV’s reported 0-62mph sprint time of 3.4 seconds.

That means that this two-and-a-half tonne flagship SUV is half a second faster to 62mph than its predecessor, and that it can accelerate faster than the lighter V8-powered Aston Martin DB12 Grand Tourer. Top speed is capped at 193mph and the Bentley comes with a new launch control function and stiffer suspension shock absorbers.

When compared with the standard Bentayga model, the Bentayga Speed has a few subtle cosmetic tweaks. ‘Speed’ badges feature on the front doors, treadplates, passenger-side dashboard and the embroidered seats.

The options list includes an Akrapovic-supplied titanium exhaust system with four tailpipes, and customers can choose between 22- and 23-inch alloy wheels with unique design patterns, the latter also coming with carbon-ceramic brake discs. Now on sale in the UK, the new Bentley Bentayga Speed is on sale for £219k.

The Bentley Bentayga currently holds a New Car Expert Rating of D, with a score of 57%. This lags well behind the latest Range Rover. The SUV’s media review scores have only been average and running costs are unsurprisingly enormous.

New high-performance BMW M2 CS revealed

New model

Sean Rees

-

2 June 2025

0

BMW has announced that a new limited-edition ‘CS’ version of its compact M2 coupé is now available to order, featuring a power boost and plenty of carbon fibre elements inside and out.

Offering the “ultimate driving pleasure”, the rear-wheel drive coupé is powered by the same turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine as the standard M2, but with a 50hp power boost. Total output stands at 530hp – making the M2 CS just as powerful as BMW’s larger M4 Competition coupé.

This CS variant, which is only available with an eight-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifters, can reportedly complete a 0-62mph sprint in 3.8 seconds – two tenths of a second faster than the standard M2 – and top speed is capped at 188mph.

BMW has also lowered the car’s suspension by close to a centimetre for this top-spec version, and the car’s bronze-coloured 19- and 20-inch alloy wheels come with red brake callipers.

BMW has also cut the coupé’s weight by 30kg, by using carbon fibre across the car’s exterior build. The roof and more prominent ducktail spoiler are made of the lighter material, as are the wing mirrors and the rear diffuser, which houses a quad tailpipe exhaust system.

The options list includes a lighter titanium ‘M Performance’ exhaust system, carbon ceramic brake discs, ‘ultra-track’ tyres and the car is available in four different metallic exterior colours – black, grey, ‘portimao blue’ and ‘velvet blue’.

More carbon fibre features inside, notably on the centre console and dashboard trim. The carbon fibre sports seats are electrically adjustable and come with an illuminated ‘CS’ logo below the headrest. The steering wheel is trimmed in Alcantara leather and has a red centre marker.

Built at BMW’s factory in Mexico and now available to order, UK pricing for the limited edition M2 CS now begins at over £92k. By comparison, the entry-level M2 model is currently priced at under £69k.

The BMW M2 holds a New Car Expert Rating of C, with a score of 62%. Although it receives high praise from motoring journalists, its overall score is weighed down by inevitably high running costs, while its safety rating and CO₂ emissions levels are only average.

Alpine A390 crossover makes its debut

New model

The Car Expert staff

-

31 May 2025

0

Alpine has expanded its range to three models with the arrival of the A390, an electric coupé SUV that will pitch into the growing EV market against cars like the Cupra Tavascan, Ford Capri – and maybe even the new electric Porsche Macan.

Don’t get too excited just yet, though. Although the A390 was unveiled at Alpine’s 70th birthday bash last week, the A390 won’t reach the UK until sometime in the second half of next year.

Described as a ‘sports fastback’, the Alpine A390 packs three electric motors under its sleek bodywork (one at the front, two at the rear) to form an all-wheel drive system that allows torque vectoring for cornering – where the outside rear wheel can push out more power while the inside rear wheel backs off, helping to make the car more agile.

The new A390 takes Alpine’s model range to three, alongside the Renault 5-based A290 small hatch and the ageing A110 sports car, which will be replaced by an all-new, all-electric A110 at the end of next year.

Under the skin, the Alpine A390 shares its platform with the more mundane Renault Scenic and Nissan Ariya SUVs, which is no bad thing as they’re both fine family EVs. But Alpine has turned the performance up to 11 to take the A390 into new territory.

Two versions will be available – the A390 GT and A390 GTS. The GT offers 400hp, which will produce a 0-62mph time of just under five seconds and a top speed of 125mph. The GTS builds this up 470hp, taking the 0-62mph time down to four seconds and a top speed of 138mph.

Both versions will be supplied by a 89kWh battery, which should yield a driving range of up to 350 miles in the base-spec GT – although official figures will be confirmed once UK specifications are confirmed. Fast charging should yield a 15%-80% charge time of about 25 minutes if you have access to a 190kW charger or better.

The A390 measures about 4.6 metres long, which is a bit shorter than the new Porsche Macan, but a low height of 1.5 metres gives it a slippery aerodynamic profile to maximise driving range and minimise wind noise. There’s room for five adults and a decent boot size of 532 litres.

There’s also a full suite of driver assistance systems, with driver attention monitoring with progressive emergency braking, automatic emergency braking in both forward and reverse, lane departure warning and, when parking, safe exit warnings.

A ‘My Safety’ button beside the steering wheel allows the driver to select their preferred assistance settings with a single touch, choosing whether to activate or deactivate them, their level of intervention and the presence of audible alerts. This is to help drivers get around the latest EU nanny regulations, which insist on reactivating systems that you have previously deactivated every time you start the car.

The A390 also features adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go as standard, and, depending on specification, a function that allows the car to move out of the way to let two-wheeled vehicles pass.

Alpine has yet to confirm UK pricing, but the GT is expected to start at around £60K, with the GTS about £10K more than that.

A special Alpine A390 Premiere Edition will be available when order books open in November, and deliveries are expected to commence in the second half of 2026.

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

Electric Renault 4 E-Tech pricing announced

New model

The Car Expert staff

-

30 May 2025

0

Electric Renault 4 E-Tech pricing announced

Renault has announced the UK price and trim specifications list of its new Renault 4 E-Tech crossover, which will become available to order in the UK from the start of July.

It’s the second EV from Renault to take inspiration from the company’s back catalogue, in this case the original Renault 4 from the 1960s. While it echoes the original’s boxy looks, practicality and versatility, this new interpretation gets its power from electricity.

Prices will start from about £27K and three trim levels – Evolution, Techno, and Iconic – will be available.

Retro-inspired touches include the bonnet lines that continue to the bottom of the grille, the rear quarter windows and sculpted lines along the doors that echo the plastic protectors of the original. Later, there’ll be the option of an electric canvas roof, mimicking the original sixties model, on all but the entry-level version.

The new Renault 4 is larger than the Renault 5, offering more interior space. Rear seat occupants benefit from more knee room, while headroom is particularly generous for this class of vehicle. Boot space is generous as well, at 420 litres with the rear seats up and 1,405 litres with them down – plus a 55-litre underfloor area. The top-spec Iconic model comes with a powered tailgate.

Standard equipment levels are competitive across the board,with the entry-level evolution model boasting 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, automatic high-beam headlights, keyless entry and dual-zone climate control. There’s also a ten-inch central touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, cruise control, rear parking sensors, a rear view camera and the usual array of accident-avoidance safety systems.

Prices start from £27K for the Evolution model, £29K for the mid-spec Techno and £31K for the top-spec Iconic version. All models will come with a 150hp electric motor powered by a 52kWh battery, which should yield a driving range of up to 247 miles. A 15%-80% public rapid charge should take about half an hour, while a full 0-100% charge at home should take less than eight hours.

More Renault news, reviews, Expert Ratings and features

Everything you need to know about Bentley

Car brands explained

Andrew Charman

-

30 May 2025

0

Everything you need to know about Bentley

In the UK, the two signature symbols of opulent motoring are without doubt Bentley and Rolls-Royce, a pair of brands renowned across the world for their luxury and very British heritage – despite, ironically, both being under German ownership.

The two brands have spent most of their histories closely intertwined. After a glorious beginning based on its 1920s racing exploits, Bentley was bought by Rolls-Royce and, for many years, lived in the shadow of its parent brand.

The saviour of Bentley proved to be a complicated acquisition deal and a bidding war over Rolls-Royce Motors (which included Bentley) between Volkswagen and BMW. This ultimately resulted in BMW taking Rolls-Royce and Volkswagen owning Bentley, and for the first time in decades, the two sibling British brands became rivals. Volkswagen rejuvenated Bentley by reaffirming its luxury credentials while also highlighting one of its oldest traits: high performance.

Today, Bentley again has a top-notch worldwide reputation for cars that are beautifully constructed to the exact requirements of their owners, and which can perform with the very best – it may be German-owned, but Bentley today is considered as a very special British brand.

So who or what is Bentley?

Wilfred Owen Bentley, known as W.O., began his automotive career before the first world war, selling French cars in north London with his brother.

After developing lightweight aluminium parts for aeroplane engines during the war, Bentley launched his own car company, Bentley Motors, with the first cars going on sale in 1921. The new Bentleys immediately found favour with racing drivers who appreciated their durability, winning many races in England and competing at the Indianapolis 500 in America. Bentley also won the famous Le Mans 24 Hours race five times in seven years between 1924 and 1930.

Despite building up an enviable reputation for its racing cars and upmarket road machines, Bentley hit financial trouble in the 1920s. W.O. Bentley sold the business to one of his racing driver customers, Woolf Barnato, but respite was only temporary as the Great Depression at the end of the 1920s nearly destroyed the expensive car market. On the brink of closure, Bentley was acquired by rival premium manufacturer Rolls-Royce.

Rolls-Royce moved Bentley’s operations from north London to its premises in Derby, and all Bentley cars for the next 70 years were basically reworked Rolls-Royce models. After the second world war, production moved to a new factory in Crewe that had been built to manufacture Rolls-Royce Merlin aero engines for the Spitfire fighter and Lancaster bomber planes.

After the war, most Rolls-Royce and Bentley models moved to standard steel bodies, produced by Pressed Steel in Oxford, although customers could still specify custom coachbuilt bodies for more exclusive models. This practice survived until the mid-1960s, with many custom Bentley and Rolls-Royce designs built by a company called Mulliner & Co. This company ended up being bought by Rolls-Royce, and the Mulliner name is still used by Bentley today for its bespoke services that allows customers to tailor their cars individually.

By the arrival of the 1970s, Rolls-Royce was in major financial trouble and the car company was split from the aerospace business. The Bentley brand became very much neglected, at one point accounting for just 5% of Rolls-Royce’s total sales. Rolls-Royce Motors was sold to manufacturing conglomerate Vickers in 1980, with the new owners putting more investment into Bentley with more differentiation from Rolls-Royce models and higher-performance cars like the Mulsanne. By the early 1990s, Bentley production equalled those of Rolls-Royce – although that was also partly due to a steady decline in Rolls-Royce sales over the 1980s.

By 1997, Vickers put Rolls-Royce Motors up for sale, initially negotiating with BMW before Volkswagen swept in with a bid that was 25% more than BMW was offering. Except it wasn’t that simple.

As a result of the complicated breaking up of Rolls-Royce into an aerospace company and an automotive company in the 1970s, Volkswagen did end up buying Rolls-Royce Motors (which included Bentley), but the rights to use the name “Rolls-Royce” were still held by the aerospace company – a fact that still causes public confusion to this day.

BMW promptly did a deal to license the Rolls-Royce name, leaving Volkswagen with all the physical company assets, trademarks and the Bentley name, but not the name of the company it had just bought. Oh, and all of Bentley’s engines were supplied by BMW…

Intense negotiations between Volkswagen and BMW followed, as both parties had spent a lot of money but neither was able to build any cars. Eventually, they agreed that Volkswagen would get Bentley and BMW would get Rolls-Royce, and temporary arrangements were put in place to keep the current models in production until both sides were ready to finalise the split.

Bentley Continental GT (2024 update) front view | The Car Expert — 1958 Bentley Continental

Volkswagen immediately poured £500 million of investment into modernising the ageing Crewe factory to be ready for the launch of its first model under new ownership, the 2003 Continental GT coupé. Today, Crewe is basically a posh assembly plant with most crucial components shipped in from other parts of the vast Volkswagen empire.

The new Continental GT and subsequent models proved to be hugely successful, with annual production growing from around 400 cars in 1998 to around 10,000 cars in 2007. Despite a slump following the financial crash of the late 2000s, Bentley recovered in the 2010s as the range expanded to include the Bentayga, a luxury SUV that is now the brand’s best-selling model.

Bentley now faces its next challenge as it adapts to the electric age. The company has introduced plug-in hybrid power across all its models, and its first electric model is set to appear in 2027. From there, a new hybrid or fully electric car will be launched each year under plans to be an electric-only brand by 2035.

What models does Bentley have and what else is coming?

Bentley currently has a four-strong model range, comprising a saloon, a coupé, a convertible and an SUV.

The core of the Bentley range since 2003 has been the Continental GT, a large 2+2 coupe. The current third-generation model was launched in 2017 and underwent a significant update in 2023. Once boasting a potent 12-cylinder petrol engine, it is now powered by a V8 plug-in hybrid unit instead.

If you prefer your large two-door model with a folding soft-top roof, the Continental GTC is your car. The electrically folding roof is impressively quiet, but it cuts the already limited boot space by half.

The Flying Spur is Bentley’s flagship saloon, evolving into that role since the demise of the Mulsanne saloon in 2020. Originally seen as little more than a stretched GT, the latest third-generation model has a more individual identity. Although praised for its sheer opulence, the current Flying Spur received criticism for its poor standard safety equipment. This was addressed in a major update carried out in 2024.

Finally, the Bentayga SUV first appeared in 2015, initially to some scepticism at the time as to whether Bentley customers would want to drive an SUV – especially as its styling was most politely described as “challenging”. However, most luxury brands have since entered the SUV market, and a 2023 update has softened the Bentayga’s appearance to some degree. Inside, it certainly matches the Flying Spur saloon for comfort and luxury.

Current Bentley range on our Expert Rating Index

Bentley Bentayga

Bentley Continental GT

Bentley Continental GT Convertible

Bentley Flying Spur

The next new Bentley is expected to be an all-electric ‘urban SUV’ launching in 2026 or 2027. It will be one of ten new or updated EV and plug-in hybrid models being launched up until 2035 as part of the company’s ‘Beyond 100+’ programme – though this was actually a scaling back of the original announcement in 2020 that aimed to make Bentley EV-only by 2030.

Where can I try a Bentley car?

You will not find a Bentley showroom on typical motor alleys. This is a very high-end manufacturer that sells only around 1,000 cars a year in the UK from a network of just 16 dealerships.

Some are standalone, while others are part of upmarket multi-franchise sites alongside brands like Lamborghini, Maserati and Lotus. Each showroom is very plush, as you’d expect. Specifying an individual Bentley is an extended process of finishes, colours and equipment – customers are made very comfortable as they spend at least £200,000…

What makes Bentley different to the rest?

A Bentley is something more than a very upmarket performance car – it’s not too strong a statement to describe the cars as crafted rather than built, a view proven by taking one of the popular tours of the Crewe works run particularly for intending customers.

These tours always include the wood shop, where the door is thrown open to the storage area and participants immediately hit by the aroma of the various veneers. Also popular is the leather shop, where teams of staff sit patiently hand-stitching steering wheels, dash panels and such like.

With customers choosing every aspect of their car, and intricate attention to detail going into creating it, it’s fair to say that no two Bentleys are the same.

A Bentley fact to impress your friends

Bentley’s Mulliner division creates bespoke interior finishes for customers and claims to be able to incorporate virtually any image or design idea into the finished trim – right up to an individual family crest with perhaps 20,000 stitches.

This attention to detail even extends to such extras as child seats – Bentley makes its own and they are trimmed in exactly the same finish as the car they are being fitted to.

Summary

Bentley has emerged from a sometimes troubled history to become one of the most highly regarded brands of today. Its cars are considered special, both for the attention to detail that goes into building them and the potency they display. While remaining old-school and traditional in a rapidly changing automotive world, a Bentley is still a car that many dream of driving one day.

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

Buy a Bentley

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

Find a used Abarth with Motors. Find out more

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

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

Skoda Enyaq range bolstered by ‘Sportline 85’ trim

Model update

Sean Rees

-

30 May 2025

0

Skoda Enyaq range bolstered by ‘Sportline 85’ trim

Skoda will soon introduce a new single-motor model option to its range-topping Enyaq ‘Sportline’ SUV line-up that is cheaper and has a longer battery range than its dual-motor counterpart.

Now available to buy in both SUV and coupé-SUV bodystyles, the ‘Sportline 85’ is powered by the same 77kWh battery as the dual-motor ‘Sportline 85x’ which was updated recently alongside the rest of the Enyaq range, but all of the model’s power comes from one rear-mounted 286hp electric motor.

Without an additional electric motor mounted in the front, the Enyaq’s efficiency increases, allowing the ‘Sportline 85’ to reportedly muster up to 354 miles on a single charge (356 miles for the sleeker coupé-SUV) – 22 miles more than the ‘Sportline 85x’.

Top speed is electronically capped at 111mph and the car can charge at speeds of up to 135kW, with a 10% to 80% battery top-up taking around 28 minutes.

Opting for a single-motor model over a dual-motor version usually translates to more battery range at the expense of power and performance, but for the ‘Sportline 85’ this isn’t the case. This new single-motor model can match the 6.7-second 0-62mph sprint time of its dual-motor counterpart, and comes with the same equipment list for a slightly cheaper price.

Sitting above the ‘Edition 85’ model in the Enyaq range, pricing for the ‘Sportline 85’ will begin at just over £47k when it becomes available to order on 12th June – this being £1,500 cheaper than the ‘Sportline 85x’ lead-in price.

One of the most highly-regarded mid-sized SUVs in our Expert Rating index, the Skoda Enyaq currently holds a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 80%.

Skywell BE11

Sean Rees

-

30 May 2025

0

Summary

The Skywell BE11 is a mid-sized all-electric SUV that went on sale in the UK in early 2025. It’s Chinese brand Skywell’s first model to be launched in the UK.

Based on the BE11’s first round of reviews from the UK motoring media, the new Chinese brand is off to a shaky start. While praising the SUV for its interior space, equipment and warranty, the Carbuyer team explains that the electric car “falls some way short on quality or driving appeal.”

Calling the SUV “under-talented”, Top Gear’s Joe Holding is more emphatic in his assessment of the BE11. “Please buy something – anything – other than this.” That said, Parker’s Graham King asserts that “there’s no denying that it’s fantastic value for money, undercutting every similarly-specced rival by a big margin.”

Car’s Seth Walton describes the SUV’s interior as “cheap and tacky in places”, while Matt Robinson of The Sunday Times says that “literally every other electric SUV option in this class is better.” As The Car Expert’s Andrew Charman concludes, “the Skywell BE11 is a car that underestimates the UK market.”

As of July 2025, the Skywell BE11 holds a New Car Expert Rating of E, with a score of 56%. That makes it the lowest-ranked electric car in our Expert Rating Index. However, it does score top marks for having zero tailpipe emissions, and Skywell’s new car warranty is one of the best on offer in the UK.

This score could change in the near future as we receive safety and reliability data on the model.

Who or what is Skywell?

BE11 highlights

Well-equipped as standard
Spacious family-friendly interior
One of the best new car warranties available

BE11 lowlights

Frustrating infotainment
Lacking the safety kit offered by rivals
Spongy throttle response and numb steering
Can only charge at speeds up to 80kW

Key specifications

Body style: medium SUV
Engines: electric, battery-powered
Price: From £36,995 on-road

Launched: Winter 2024/25
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 Skywell BE11 is a car that underestimates the UK market – it comes with plenty of equipment but frustrating infotainment, poor driving dynamics and an out-of-date safety specification.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 4.8 / 10

Read full review

Andrew Charman

“The Skywell BE11 holds price and practicality amongst its merits, but lags behind its rivals in too many key areas.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 6 / 10

Read full review

Auto Express

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

More reviews

Auto Trader

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 4 / 10
“As it stands there’s just too much about the BE11’s software and general driving experience that’s infuriating. But, as with so many electric cars these days, it might be a mere over-the-air update away from being a genuinely decent left-field family EV. Here’s hoping.”
Author: Mark Nicol
Read review

Business Car

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 5 / 10
“Electric SUV from UK market newcomer is cheap to buy for its size, but flawed.”
Author: Sean Keywood
Read review

Car

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 4 / 10
“Beneath a thin veneer of style, it felt quite cheap and tacky in places. The design isn’t interesting nor alluring, and it simply doesn’t stir the soul like you’d want a new car to do.”
Author: Seth Walton
Read review

Carbuyer

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6.6 / 10
“Electric SUV that hopes to attract buyers with its space, equipment and warranty, but it falls some way short on quality or driving appeal.”
Author: Alisdair Suttle, Alex Ingram
Read review

Parkers

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 5 / 10
“There’s no denying that it’s fantastic value for money, undercutting every similarly-specced rivals by a big margin – though lower-spec versions of better cars are available for similar money.”
Author: Graham King
Read review

The Sunday Times

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 2 / 10
“Have a look at the BE11 by all means, out of curiosity more than anything else, but whatever you do, don’t buy one. Literally every other electric SUV option in this class is better.”
Author: Matt Robinson
Read review

The Telegraph

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 4 / 10
“This unknown electric SUV from China excels in certain areas but falls short of mainstream European-produced cars in several others.”
Author: Ed Wiseman
Read review

Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 3 / 10
“Overpriced and under-talented. Please buy something – anything – other than this.”
Author: Joe Holding
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

No safety rating

As of July 2025, the Skywell BE11 has not been assessed by Euro NCAP.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of July 2025, the Skywell BE11 has not been assessed by Green NCAP.

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

Running cost rating

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

Battery range	Average	Score	Variation	Score
EV models	276 miles	B

Electrical efficiency	Average	Score	Variation	Score
EV models	3.5 m/KWh	D

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	43	D

The Skywell BE11 is a relatively 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 electric SUV’s average battery range of 276 miles (between 248 miles and 304 miles) is competitive for its size and price. That said, it isn’t the most efficient electric car in its class and our data suggests that it has a surprisingly high insurance bracket.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

As of May 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Skywell BE11 to generate a reliability rating.

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

As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the BE11, we’ll publish the results here.

Recalls

Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Skywell BE11

As of July 2025, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the Skywell BE11. However, this information is updated very regularly so this may have changed.

You can check to see if your car has any outstanding recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local BE11 dealer.

Everything you need to know about UK vehicle recalls

Similar cars

If you’re looking at the Skywell BE11, you might also be interested in these alternatives

More news, reviews and information about the Skywell range at The Car Expert

Electric car grant – all the EVs with discounts

The ten worst new cars on sale in 2025

China – the world’s new automotive superpower

Which new cars are built in China?

Who or what is Skywell?

Skywell BE11 test drive

Buy a Skywell BE11

If you’re looking to buy a new or used Skywell BE11, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car.

Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more

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

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

Subscribe to a Skywell BE11

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

Car subscriptions from SelfDrive.
Find out more

Car subscriptions from DriveFuze.
Find out more

Car subscriptions from Cocoon.
Find out more

Kia Picanto test drive

Car reviews

Stuart Masson

-

30 May 2025

0

Make and model: Kia Picanto 1.0-litre petrol manual ‘2’
Description: Small hatchback
Price range: from £16,065

Kia says: “Kia’s smallest model, the Picanto, has been enhanced with an impressive new design and advanced technologies. The Picanto offers customers a modern, stylish and advanced A-segment model at an affordable price point.”

We say: Facelifted with bold styling and more tech, the Kia Picanto city car is practical, reliable and cheap to run. It’s still a top contender in this ever-declining segment of the new car market.

Kia Picanto 2 review 2024

Introduction

The Kia Picanto is a leading contender in the city car segment, which comprises the smallest hatchbacks currently on sale. The current model has been around since 2017, but received a major update in early 2024. This facelift introduced dramatic new styling, inspired by larger models in the family like the Kia EV3 and Kia EV9.

The city car segment has been in decline for a number of years, as car manufacturers have struggled to make new models that meet ever-more stringent safety and emissions laws, while still turning a profit. Companies like Peugeot and Vauxhall have abandoned this segment, while Kia and sister brand Hyundai soldier on.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the newest challengers are now small electric cars coming from China – like the Leapmotor T03 and the Dacia Spring. So how does an ageing petrol car from Kia stack up to the latest EVs in this space? Quite well, actually.

What is it?

The Kia Picanto is a five-door hatchback, and the smallest model in the Kia range. It shares most of its mechanical components with the Hyundai i10 (Kia is owned by Hyundai), and the current model dates back to 2017. It received a new lease of life in 2024, with a major update that should see the current model through to somewhere near the end of this decade.

Reflecting both its age and the city car market segment, the Picanto is only available with petrol power – there are no diesel, hybrid or EV models here – and a choice of manual or automatic gearboxes.

The major 2024 update touched most aspects of the car, with dramatically updated styling, revised engines and more standard equipment.

First impressions

The inevitable first reactions relate to the styling, which is surprisingly individual and distinctive for this segment. It’s quite aggressive compared to the original version before the facelift, with T-shaped headlights and a completely revised grille/front bumper section. It’s a world away from budget Kias of old, although it’s fair to say that reactions have been mixed.

The rear end has also had significant changes compared to the earlier model, continuing a more dramatic theme. The rear diffuser is a bit naff, though.

We like: Dramatoc restyling creates a clear difference to previous model
We don’t like: Not everyone will like it

What do you get for your money?

City cars sit at the lowest price point in the new car market, so you’d expect the Kia Picanto to be lacking in any kind of creature comforts. But you’d be wrong.

There are five trim levels to choose from, each with a choice of manual or automatic transmission. The lower three levels are ‘2’, ‘GT-Line’ and ‘3’, all of which are powered by a 1.0-litre engine pushing out 62hp. The upper two trim levels are ‘Shadow’ and ‘GT-Line S’, which get a 1.2-litre that raises power to 77hp.

Pricing runs from just over £16K for the entry-level 2 manual, up to just over £19.5K for the GT-Line S automatic. At each level, the only extra-cost option is premium paint.

We’re not going to regurgitate the Picanto brochure here, so if you want detailed equipment information then head to Kia’s website or your local dealership. All models get alloy wheels, automatic headlights, electric windows all round, rear parking sensors and reversing camera, 60:40 split-folding rear seat, and an eight-inch central touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Top-spec models get niceties like a sunroof, wireless phone charging, and heated seats and steering wheel.

Another important point is that the Picanto’s age means its Euro NCAP safety rating has now expired. When it was tested back in 2017, the entry-level Picanto models achieved a three-star rating while the higher-spec models scored four stars. While these scores were not outstanding, they were competitive for budget-price city cars eight years ago. However, safety standards get tougher every year, and the newer Toyota Aygo X is a better choice for safety today.

As with every Kia, you get a seven-year/100,000-mile new car warranty, which is one of the best in the business.

We like: Plenty of standard kit, even on base model.
We don’t like: Safety rating now expired due to age

What’s the Kia Picanto like inside?

As with the spec sheet, the cabin of the Kia Picanto really does belie its price tag. It feels functional and solid, with mostly hard plastics, but it doesn’t feel cheap and certainly not nasty.

You settle into a good driving position with excellent visibility. The steering wheel is not adjustable for reach but it still felt ok rather than like you’re stretching. The seats are comfy, with a greyish-black fabric pattern that’s bland but fine. Our launch drive wasn’t particularly long, but the seats didn’t start to feel achey at all.

Inevitably, things are much tighter in the rear seats on such a small car. Legroom is very restricted for adults, as with any other city car, but headroom is good. The window sills are also relatively low, so visibility is good for kids in the back seats as well. The boot space is modest, but with quite a deep floor and a 60:40 split rear seat, which some city cars don’t get.

Stereo-wise, the Picanto is perfectly acceptable. The four-inch digital display in front of the driver, between the speedo and rev counter, is clear and not too crowded with information. The larger eight-inch central screen is easy enough to operate, even though the buttons are set up for left-hand drive, meaning you have to stretch for the volume knob more than you’d like.

We like: Functional and solid, but certainly doesn’t feel cheap
We don’t like: Inevitably tight for adults in the rear seats

What’s under the bonnet?

In the updated Kia Picanto, you have a choice of two petrol engines:

a 1.0-litre unit producing 62hp and 93Nm, which is offered in the 2, GT-Line and 3 trim levels
a 1.2-litre unit producing 77hp and 112Nm, which is offered in the Shadow and GT-Line S trim levels

Both are available with a choice of five-speed manual or five-speed automatic gearboxes.

If you look at the performance on paper, it sounds disappointing – anywhere between 13 seconds and 18 seconds to get from 0-62mph. But that’s rather missing the point of a car like this, which is very much designed to excel in urban and local driving, and we’ll explore that further in the next section.

Official fuel economy is 50-51mpg on the 1.2-litre engine, and 52-54mpg on the 1.0-litre version, based on EU/UK lab tests. In the real world, gentle driving will get you reasonably close to these figures, but if you’re trying to keep up with bigger, more powerful cars when accelerating on A-roads and motorways then you’re going to use a lot more fuel.

What’s the Kia Picanto like to drive?

We drove the entry-level Kia Picanto 2 with the 1.0-litre engine and manual gearbox, and it was a lot of fun. Compared to an electric or hybrid car, it’s a far more analogue experience – so if you’re over the age of about 30 then it’s going to feel completely natural.

Being a small car with a small engine and a manual gearbox, you’re doing a lot of work to keep moving. But this isn’t a chore, as the gear change is easy and the steering is light but responsive. It feels quite nippy, as a city car should, despite its paltry power numbers. Compared to the electric Leapmotor T03 we reviewed recently, it feels more old-fashioned but a lot more enjoyable.

Once you get beyond the suburbs and hit open roads, the performance drops off a lot – as you’d expect with only 62hp available. You can also expect it to struggle more if you’re loaded up with a full complement of passengers, or pushing up a hill. This also dials up the noise levels in the cabin as the little engine works hard to meet your demands.

The Picanto generally rides comfortably. It’s a bit bouncy at times, particularly at higher speeds, but it is a very short car so this is to be expected and you’ll find the same in any other car of a similar size.

Being an older model, the Picanto doesn’t have as many over-intrusive accident-avoidance warnings beeping and bonging all the time. However, this may change as part of minor updates, so make sure you take a test drive before buying.

We like: Enjoyable driving experience
We don’t like: Engine struggles on open roads or under heavier loads

Verdict

As a dedicated city car, the Kia Picanto is a brilliant little machine. It’s great to drive, has plenty of standard kit and is well built. Plus, you get the reassurance of a long seven-year new car warranty, making it a good bet as a used car as well.

If you regularly take passengers, or your driving involves open roads and motorways, or you tend to have a heavy right foot, you’ll find that the Picanto may struggle to keep up with your demands. But around town, it’s perfectly up to the job.

The biggest criticism of the Kia Picanto is that its safety credentials are lacking compared to the best-ranked cars in this class, like the Toyota Aygo X. In our Expert Rating Index, this drags the Picanto’s score down significantly as safety scores are a major factor in the overall ratings.

Compared to electric offerings from the likes of Leapmotor and Dacia, the Picanto does feel like a throwback. You have to work the manual gearbox to get decent performance, while the auto is sluggish. If you drive an electric city car, you’ll be shocked at how quickly they respond in urban driving compared to a small petrol engine like the one in the Kia. And, obviously, a petrol car will consume more fossil fuels and produce more CO₂ than an electric car (even if the electricity is coming from a coal-fired power station).

But if you’re not ready to make the jump to an electric car just yet, the Kia Picanto is one of the better old-school petrol choices on the market.

This review was originally published in October 2024. Last updated May 2025.

Similar cars

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

Key specifications

Model tested: Kia Picanto ‘2’
Price as tested: £16,065
Engine: 1.0-litre petrol
Gearbox: Five-speed manual

Power: 63 hp
Torque: 93 Nm
Top speed: 90 mph
0-62 mph: 15.4 seconds

CO₂ emissions: 116 g/km
Euro NCAP safety rating: N/A (expired)
TCE Expert Rating: D (58%) as of May 2025

Buy a Kia Picanto

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

Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more

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

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

Lease a Kia Picanto

If you’re looking to lease a new Kia Picanto, 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 Leasing.com. Find out more

Personal contract hire deals from Rivervale Leasing. Find out more

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

Car subscriptions from SelfDrive.
Find out more

Car subscriptions from DriveFuze.
Find out more

Car subscriptions from Cocoon.
Find out more

Everything you need to know about Jaecoo

Stuart Masson

-

24 May 2025

0

Everything you need to know about Jaecoo

Chinese brand Jaecoo has arrived in the UK and has set ambitious sales targets for its range of petrol, hybrid and electric models. It’s a name you may not have heard about just yet, but that’s set to change.

Jaecoo is the second car brand from Chinese giant Chery to launch here in the UK over the last 12 months, following the launch of Omoda last summer. The two brands are working in tandem, targeting different customers but building a joint dealer network across the country.

While the company describes Omoda as being a ‘fashion forward’ brand that competes with other mainstream names, Jaecoo is positioned as a more premium offering, with brands like Land Rover firmly in its sights and off-roading prowess considered to be a higher priority. As of right now (May 2025), each brand only has one SUV-style model available, so this strategy may not yet be evident. It should become more clearly defined, however, as more models join the two line-ups later this year.

So who or what is Jaecoo?

If you follow the car industry, you may have heard of Jaecoo’s parent company, Chery, which is a state-owned car manufacturer that has been around for about 30 years and has been China’s largest car exporter for most of that time. As with China’s other big car companies, it operates a number of subsidiary brands in different markets around the world – as well as Omoda and Jaecoo, it has Aiqar, Exeed, Exlantix, iCar, Jetour, Lepas, Luxeed and Rely, as well as Chery itself.

Jaecoo and Omoda don’t exist in China itself, being purely export brands. The same cars offered here are sold under different brand names in their home market. It’s not the first time a major car company has done this – Japanese giant Toyota launched its Lexus luxury brand in the late 1980s, but didn’t start selling Lexus-branded cars in Japan until the mid-2000s. Honda launched its American-focused premium brand, Acura, at about the same time but still doesn’t sell Acura in Japan today.

Jaecoo has only existed for about two years, but is being steadily introduced to a number of markets in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The brand is also sold in Russia, which is obviously controversial as most Western car brands have withdrawn from the country since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Like most of the Chinese car industry, Jaecoo is heavily invested in electric vehicle technology. But unlike most of the other Chinese brands arriving on these shores, Jaecoo’s first UK model, the Jaecoo 7, is only available in petrol and plug-in hybrid forms. This will change quickly, however, with more models on the way that will include EVs.

Although it only has one model from each of its two new brands on sale to start with, Chery still expects to sell 35,000 Jaecoo and Omoda cars in 2025. Sales of the Jaecoo 7 have started strongly, prompting local execs to call up Chery HQ in China and ask for more cars. By 2027, Omoda & Jaecoo UK wants to build up to 50,000 sales a year, which would put the combined company above many famous-name European car brands

When did Jaecoo launch in the UK?

Jaecoo arrived very recently in the UK – January 2025. Following Omoda’s launch last year, it already has a network of dealers in place and a pipeline of new models on their way over the first 12 months.

Because the brand is paired with Omoda (the company is referred to as “O&J” within the industry), which arrived about six months ahead of Jaecoo, there was plenty of preparatory work already in place before the first cars arrived.

What models does Jaecoo have and what else is coming?

Jaecoo 7 plug-in hybrid - rear three-quarters city — *Jaecoo 7*

Jaecoo launched with one model in the UK – its mid-sized Jaecoo 7 SUV, which is available in petrol and plug-in hybrid forms. The plug-in hybrid is a particularly advanced system, with more emphasis on the electric motor than in many rivals. The petrol engine has specifically been developed to work in conjunction with the electric motor, rather than the company just hooking up an existing engine. This means that the electric motor does more of the work, with the petrol engine playing more of a supporting role, which gives better efficiency and fuel economy.

Jaecoo’s ambitious plans for UK sales success aren’t just based on one model, however. Two more SUV models are known to be on the way this year, with further new models coming next year but with further details under wraps for now.

The first new model to arrive will be the smaller Jaecoo 5 – a range that will include both petrol and electric powertrain options. This range serves as a more premium alternative to the Omoda 5 and E5 range. While UK pricing and specifications are yet to be announced, the 5 is expected to arrive in UK showrooms by the end of 2025.

We had the chance to drive this car at an exclusive preview in China last month, and initial impressions were favourable. But this new model will be entering the UK’s most hotly contested market sector, so we’ll see how it stacks up once it gets here.

The second is the Jaecoo 8, which is a large seven-seat SUV and will become Jaecoo’s flagship model. It’s currently expected to also make it here before the end of this year, but we’re not sure exactly when just yet.

Jaecoo has said that off-roading capability is a key part of its brand, even if most of its customers don’t need it, so any future models are also likely to be SUVs.

Where can I try or buy a Jaecoo car?

Since setting up shop in the UK in early 2024, Omoda and Jaecoo have established 72 dealerships across the UK, thanks to agreements with large motoring groups like Arnold Clark, Listers and Endeavour. Chery has further expansion plans, and intends to expand its Omoda-Jaecoo dealership network to 130 different outlets by the end of this year. That will make it one of the larger dealer networks in the UK.

The company has key finance partnerships in place with established lenders, with BNP Paribas providing consumer finance and Arval UK providing leasing solutions.

The brand has no plans to offer direct online sales at this time, with the company aiming to grow its two brands through its dealer network and fleet programmes.

What’s particularly significant about Jaecoo?

Unlike the rest of the new wave of Chinese car manufacturers heading to Europe, Jaecoo plans to offer petrol and plug-in hybrid models alongside the inevitable electric vehicles.

As with Omoda, Jaecoo has a wide range of potential vehicles it can pull from the wider Chery family, so it can react quickly to UK demand for models of any size, shape or fuel type. Initially, the line-up will all be SUVs, but that could change over time.

Jaecoo models come with a seven-year/100,000-mile new car warranty, which is one of the best in the industry.

What’s in a name?

The name Jaecoo doesn’t come from the company’s founder, or some piece of ancient Chinese wisdom, or anything remotely meaningful. The reality is a bit more formulaic.

It’s a portmanteau of the German word Jaeger, meaning ‘hunter’, and the English word cool. So “Jaecoo” is supposed to mean “a cool hunter”. This appears to be a common practice for Chinese car brands attempting to Anglicise their names. For example, sister brand Omoda gets its name from O – the chemical symbol for oxygen – and the Italian word moda, meaning ‘fashion’.

It’s another lesson the Chinese car manufacturers seem to have learned from the Japanese – Lexus, Acura, Infiniti and Eunos were all made-up names for fledgling premium car brands that were supposed to sound important and meaningful in English…

Jaecoo doesn’t have a logo as such, simply a wordmark with the brand name proudly set in capital letters inside the grille and across the tailgate of each car.

Summary

It’s quite easy to get lost in the flood of new Chinese brands looking to carve out a piece of the UK market – Aiways, BYD, GWM, Leapmotor, Nio and Skywell are some of the other new names from China. Jaecoo, however, is a name that is likely to stick.

Chery is one of China’s largest car companies, building more than 2.6 million cars last year. By comparison, the entire UK car industry built less than a third of that number…

The company has already made a significant investment to build its two brands across Europe, with at least one more brand likely to be joining Omoda and Jaecoo next year. It has a choice of cars from the wider Chery family that it can choose to bring to the UK with either of its brands to react to market trends, and has built a network of more than 70 dealers already.

So you may not have heard much about Jaecoo before now, but you’re likely to see plenty more of its cars on your local streets before long.

Additional reporting by Sean Rees

More in our series ‘Spotlight on China’:

Mini Cooper Convertible

Sean Rees

-

23 May 2025

0

Summary

Part of the latest compact Mini Cooper range, the Cooper Convertible is a petrol-powered soft-top that arrived in UK showrooms in 2024.

Taking the place of the now-retired Mini Convertible of the previous generation, the three-door Cooper Convertible isn’t entirely new design, sharing some components with the outgoing drop-top. That said, the British motoring media generally agree that this latest soft-top Mini is a marked improvement over its predecessor.

“This is effectively a heavy refresh of the model that had been on sale since 2017”, says Business Car’s Martyn Collins, Parker’s Ted Welford describing this model as a “gentle evolution on the previous car, its tech-filled interior represents a significant step forward.”

“It’s just as much fun to drive as before”, says Heycar’s Antony Ingram, who concludes that the convertible’s “peppy powertrains make it one of the most amusing small cars to drive.” That said, the car’s price list has received some criticism, particularly the price tag of top-spec trim levels.

As Top Gear’s Jason Barlow points out, “there’s not much else out there” when it comes to compact convertibles. The Mazda MX-5 is a price range competitor, but is only available with two seats. Car’s James Dennison praises the Mini for its enjoyable handling and interior flair, but advises buyers to “pick your version carefully as the standard automatic gearbox really is not the best.”

As of May 2025, the Mini Cooper Convertible holds a New Car Expert Rating of B, with a score of 67%. This score is likely to change in the near future as we receive further Euro NCAP safety scoring and more running cost data.

Cooper Convertible highlights

Stylish, tech-laden interior
Exciting driving experience
Attractive exterior looks

Cooper Convertible lowlights

Firm ride quality
Not a practical choice for daily commuting
No manual gearbox options

Key specifications

Body style: Small convertible
Engines: petrol
Price: From £28,715 on-road

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

Image gallery

Media reviews

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

Auto Express+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“Fun to drive with a funky interior that’s perfectly practical for a weekend away, the Mini Cooper Convertible is a brilliant little soft-top.”
Author: Ellis Hyde
Read review

Business Car+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Mini seems to have a niche of its own with the Cooper Convertible, as there are no obvious rivals. Like the Cooper hatch, it’s a stylish and well-resolved drop top, but it’s not a cheap option, and as before, rear seat and boot space are even more compromised.”
Author: Martyn Collins
Read review

Car+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The cabin design is blessed with flair and there’s more than enough tech, the roof-down experience is accomplished and the handling is enjoyable. Just pick your version carefully as the standard automatic gearbox really is not the best.”
Author: James Dennison
Read review

Carbuyer+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.8 / 10
“It’s great to drive and now its funky interior has been brought up to date with the rest of the lineup. We would certainly not call the MINI Cooper Convertible practical, but it doesn’t fare too badly compared to its few rivals.”
Author: Charlie Harvey
Read review

Carwow+

Model reviewed: Range overview
“Fun and style points aplenty, but the Mini Cooper Convertible is anything but practical.”
Read review

Heycar+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“It’s just as much fun to drive as before – MINI’s nimble handling and peppy powertrains make it one of the most amusing small cars to drive. It’s even decent value, at least at the lower end of the range.”
Author: Antony Ingram
Read review

Parkers+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.6 / 10
“This new MINI is up there with the best convertibles, and though it is generally a gentle evolution on the previous car, its tech-filled interior represents a significant step forward.”
Author: Ted Welford
Read review

The Sun+

Model reviewed: John Cooper Works Convertible
“The “most British” little petrol car on sale today. We’re gonna miss it when it’s gone.”
Author: Rob Gill
Read review

Top Gear+

Score: 7 / 10
“If you’re in the market for a small soft-top, look no further. Even if you wanted to, there’s not much else out there. We’d go for the Cooper S with the Sport pack, no question, but we suspect that might not be a deal-breaker for the likely Mini Cooper Convertible buyer. The new interior is a USP in its own right.”
Author: Jason Barlow
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

No safety rating

As of May 2025, the Mini Cooper Convertible has not been assessed by Euro NCAP.

While Euro NCAP has put the hard-top Cooper Electric through its paces at the time of writing, this five-star safety rating does not stand for the Cooper Convertible, which is structurally different due to its fabric roof.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of May 2025, the Mini Cooper Convertible has not been assessed by Green NCAP.

Running cost rating

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

No data yet

As of May 2025, we don’t have independently verified data available for the Mini Cooper Convertible. Check back again soon.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

As of May 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Mini Cooper Convertible to generate a reliability rating.

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

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

Recalls

Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Mini Cooper Convertible

As of May 2025, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the Mini Cooper Convertible. However, this information is updated very regularly so this may have changed.

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

Everything you need to know about UK vehicle recalls

Similar cars

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

Abarth 124 Spider | Audi A3 Cabriolet | Fiat 124 Spider | Fiat 500C | Mazda MX-5

More Mini ratings, reviews, news and features

More news, reviews and information about the Mini Cooper range at The Car Expert

Electric cars – what’s on sale and what’s coming in 2024?

Mini goes monochrome on two EV models

Everything you need to know about Mini

Mini Cooper Electric

Mini Cooper

New Mini Cooper Convertible revealed

Mini Cooper Electric test drive

Five-door versions of Mini Cooper now on sale

All-new Mini Cooper now on sale

Buy a Mini Cooper Convertible

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

Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more

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

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

Lease a Mini Cooper Convertible

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

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

Personal contract hire deals from Carparison Leasing. Find out more

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

Subscribe to a Mini Cooper Convertible

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

Car subscriptions from SelfDrive.
Find out more

Car subscriptions from DriveFuze.
Find out more

Car subscriptions from Cocoon.
Find out more

Everything you need to know about Leapmotor

Andrew Charman

-

23 May 2025

0

Everything you need to know about Leapmotor

Leapmotor is one of many Chinese automotive brands currently launching in the UK with a range of electric vehicles (EVs) – but this one is a little bit different to its rivals.

Leapmotor has grown quickly from 1,000 global sales in its first year, 2019, to close to 300,000 in 2024. This is not surprising as this company has the not insignificant clout of Stellantis behind it – the automotive giant that owns 14 major brands including Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citroën, Alfa Romeo, Jeep, Maserati and others.

So not only will Leapmotor be able to make use of UK market know-how, its efforts to build a UK dealer network will be eased by having a whole load of existing Stellantis outlets willing and able to take an extra franchise – very important when rival brands, such as BYD and Omoda & Jaecoo, are also aggressively signing up dealers.

There has been a lot of talk from Stellantis about how it can help Leapmotor get off the ground in Europe, but the same works in reverse. Stellantis has been struggling with sliding sales and profitability, especially with its electric models, for the last few years. Having a budget Chinese EV brand as part of the family will be very useful to help boost overall group sales of EVs in markets like the UK, which last year introduced a mandate for minimum numbers of EV sales, and in the EU, which has launched a similar programme this year.

All our Leapmotor Expert Ratings, new car reviews, news and features

So who or what is Leapmotor?

Leapmotor is one of the newest car brands in the world, just a decade old. Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology was only established in China in 2015, and its first vehicles made production four years later.

The Leapmotor brand was officially launched in 2017, and the first vehicle, a mid-sized electric coupe called the Leapmotor S01, started production in 2019. The company also pushed forward in computing technology by developing an artificial intelligence chip for potential use in its cars.

Two more models followed in the next 18 months, a small city car called the T03 and a larger crossover called the C11.

The company’s big move, however, happened in 2023 when Stellantis Group acquired 20% of Leapmotor for €1.5 billion. A new Leapmotor International division was launched, with ownership split 51 to 49% in favour of Stellantis and ambitions to sell Leapmotor vehicles in global markets outside China.

When did Leapmotor launch in the UK?

Leapmotor models went on sale in the UK with two models in March 2025 as part of an expansion throughout Europe.

The brand has already established more than 40 dealerships across the country, and has plans for 80 locations by the end of 2025.

What models does Leapmotor have and what else is coming?

Leapmotor C10

Leapmotor T03

Leapmotor made its UK debut with two electric models, the C10 family SUV and the T03 small car. A range-extender version of the C10, with a small petrol engine that generates electricity for the electric motor, will also join the range this year.

A smaller SUV called the B10 is expected in showrooms before the end of 2025. It will also be an electric model.

The T03 is of similar size to the Fiat 500e and, in terms of price, is only beaten by the Dacia Spring, while offering more equipment. This and a lot of space has earned the T03 plaudits from reviewers, though they’ve been less impressed by the driving experience – especially the issue that affects many Chinese cars, over-intrusive driver warning systems.

The C10 is an electric SUV sized to rival the likes of the Skoda Enyaq and Nissan Ariya. While currently available with a range of around 260 miles, which puts it in front of its Nissan rival, it is about to gain an extra model going the range-extender route, with a small engine present only to generate power for the battery and eliminating any of the lingering range anxiety around electric cars.

A novel aspect of the C10 is the ability to fold down both the back and front seats, creating a two-metre long space for the like of picnics when the weather doesn’t play ball.

The company plans to have six vehicles on sale in its UK dealers by 2027. The coming three are expected to be a pair of electric hatchback cars and a small SUV. The B05 will be of similar size to the Ford Focus and VW Golf, there will be a small crossover, the A10, targeting the likes of the Renault 4, and then a coupe version of this model, the A05, which reportedly could have a sub £20,000 price tag.

What we don’t know is whether any of these newcomers will also be offered in range-extender form like the C10. Leapmotor management does place a lot of faith in the range-extender concept, believing it will aid the UK’s switch to electric motoring.

Where can I try a Leapmotor car?

As of May 2025, there are around 40 Leapmotor outlets in the UK, and all of them will be found alongside existing Stellantis franchises. In many cases, Leapmotor showrooms are replacing Vauxhall showrooms that have closed in recent years, and the network already includes some of the biggest dealer groups on the UK market.

Like its Chinese rivals, the company is keen to grow its presence in Britain. Stellantis has indicated that it will roll out another 40 Leapmotor showrooms by the end of this year, with more to come beyond that.

What’s particularly significant about this company?

While Leapmotor has been among a raft of new Chinese start-ups in the UK, it does claim to offer the best-value electric car in the UK in the T03, which at under £16,000 competes for rock-bottom price with the Dacia Spring but offers rather more equipment. With cost being pitched as one of the prime factors preventing drivers from going electric, such value-pitched pricing could give the company a significant advantage over rivals.

What makes Leapmotor different to the rest?

Much about Leapmotor is a familiar tale seen across the Chinese electric vehicle market – high technology companies looking to sell their products on a global stage. But it is the Stellantis link that sets this newest of new brands apart.

While Stellantis has been keen to talk up its role in bringing a new brand to market, it’s important to remember that the French-Italian giant is doing this for a good reason. Stellantis needs Leapmotor about as much as Leapmotor needs Stellantis right now, as every car company looks to ramp up EV sales while still trying to turn a profit.

Summary

With so many Chinese brands beating a path to the UK market at present, it’s easy to be sceptical as to how many will go the distance. Leapmotor may not have the “next Tesla” cachet of a brand like BYD, but the fact that Stellantis is piling so much investment into its new electric direction suggests that this will be a brand that’s here to stay.

All our Leapmotor Expert Ratings, new car reviews, news and features

More in our series ‘Spotlight on China’:

Tesla Model Y

Sean Rees

-

23 May 2025

0

Summary

The Tesla Model Y is a mid-sized electric crossover, and for the last couple of years has been the world’s best-selling car – that’s car of any kind, not just the best-selling EV.

Launched in 2022, the Model Y is essentially a raised crossover version of the Model 3 saloon. Like other Tesla models, it has received regular updates each year, and a substantially updated version was launched in early 2025.

The all-electric Model Y range is available in the UK in three versions: short- and long-range versions of the entry-level model, which has a single electric motor driving the rear wheels; and a long-range all-wheel drive model.

Like the other vehicles in the Tesla line-up, the Model Y has been praised by British reviewers for its on-board tech features, impressive performance and battery range – all of which were improved with the mid-life update in 2025. The Model Y also offers worldwide access to Tesla’s acclaimed Supercharger charging network.

Although it’s ultimately a similar overall size to the Tesla Model 3 saloon, the Model Y adds extra practicality to the equation. “It’s more family friendly with a practical hatchback and SUV-shaped body”, Electrifying.com concludes, adding that “it’s sure to be Tesla’s most desired car.”

At same time, the Model Y inherits many of the same drawbacks as other Tesla models. Carbuyer comments that the SUV has “patchy” build quality, while almost every review has criticised the ride quality compared to other family cars.

For The Sun, this is “further proof that Tesla is excellent when it comes to new tech but is still catching up on the basics of making cars.” That said, The Sun still concludes that the Model Y is one of the leaders in its class, and poses a simple question to UK buyers who are considering the pros and cons of booking a test drive: “Y-not?”

As of June 2025, the Tesla Model Y holds a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 79%. This includes data from both the original and facelifted versions. It has excellent scores for safety and media reviews, and has zero tailpipe emissions. Running costs are not cheap, however, largely thanks to high insurance premiums, and we don’t yet have reliability data.

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

Model Y highlights

Innovative on-board tech
Impressive performance and battery range
Tesla’s excellent Supercharger infrastructure
Family-friendly and spacious cabin
Zero tailpipe emissions

Model Y lowlights

Inconsistent build quality
Limited range of models
Model 3 is cheaper and better to drive
Poor ride quality
Insurance premiums are high

Key specifications

Body style: Medium SUV/crossover
Engines: electric motor, battery-powered
Price: From £44,990 on-road

Launched: Spring 2022
Last updated: Spring 2025
Next update 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 new Tesla Model Y doesn’t break any new ground, but it’s a big step up from the previous version and has practicality, range and tech on its side.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 8 / 10

Read full review

Carwow

Tom Wiltshire

“While CEO Elon Musk divides opinion, there’s no doubt that the Tesla Model Y is one of the best EVs that’s currently available to buy. It was good before, but Tesla’s engineers have made a series of improvements to the car that help it maintain its position at the front of the electric SUV pack.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 9 / 10

Read full review

Auto Express

Alex Ingram, Ellis Hyde

More reviews

Auto Express

Model reviewed: 2025 facelift range
Score: 8 / 10
“The updated Tesla Model Y is an improvement over its predecessor, but many of its criticisms remain.”
Author: Lena Trautermann
Read review

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The new all-electric Tesla Model Y SUV brings all the benefits of the Model 3, while offering extra space.”
Read review

Auto Trader

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 10 / 10
“At first glance, the Tesla Model Y looks like a jacked-up Model 3, for which you’ll pay a hefty extra amount, but a test drive reveals that this small SUV is more than the sum of its parts. To our mind, it’s also the best looking Tesla.”
Read review

Business Car

Model reviewed: Long Range
Score: 9 / 10
“The Tesla Model Y is an impressive EV, with rivals still seeming to be playing catch up in terms of the performance, range and technology. If you’re after a mid-sized SUV and want to make the move to electric, this has to be one of the best options.”
Read review

Car

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Tesla Model Y is dynamic to drive and addictively fast, and with prices ranging from £45k to £60k, makes a compelling case for itself. It’s a Model 3 with extra space and practicality it remains up there with the best in class.” (Phil McNamara)
Read review

Carbuyer

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.4 / 10
“The Tesla Model Y takes what makes the Model 3 great and adds SUV practicality.” (Ben Custard)
Read review

Company Car Today

Model reviewed:
“Another appealing model from Tesla. Range, performance and practicality are all excellent, although the Model 3 can do a lot of what the Model Y does, and for a cheaper price.”
Read review

Daily Mirror

Model reviewed: Long Range
Score: 8 / 10
“The Tesla Model Y Long Range five-door SUV is essentially a crossover version of the Model 3 and looks set to become a common sight on UK roads from early next year and, like all Teslas, it feels like a different world when you climb aboard.”
Read review

Driving Electric

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The long-awaited Tesla Model Y boasts ultra-rapid charging capability and bundles of practicality, making Tesla’s take on the popular mid-size SUV class one of the best electric cars on sale.” (Ellis Hyde)
Read review

Electrifying.com

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“This is a Model 3 without the compromises of a saloon. It’s more family friendly with a practical hatchback and SUV-shaped body. It’s sure to be Tesla’s most desired car.”
Read review

Green Car Guide

Model reviewed: 2025 facelift range
Score: 9 / 10
“Apart from being the world’s best-selling car in 2023 and in 2024, the Tesla Model Y is one of the most efficient cars in its class, with an impressive range, and Model Y drivers can use the excellent Tesla Supercharger network. It offers family-friendly amounts of space, and it’s one of the best value cars for its size, performance and efficiency.”
Author: Paul Clarke
Read review

Model reviewed: Long Range Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive
Score: 9 / 10
“The Tesla Model Y does all the things well that Tesla does well. This includes having a long driving range and lots of performance. And access to the Tesla Supercharger network is also a big benefit. It’s also more practical than the Model 3, with a hatchback and more luggage space.” (Paul Clarke)
Read review

Honest John

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Tesla Model Y offers the same range of strengths that make the similar Model 3 so appealing: it’s very fast, it’s loaded with tech features, the efficiency and battery range are really impressive and public charging is a doddle. However, the ride comfort just isn’t good enough for a family SUV.”
Read review

Parkers

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.2 / 10
“On the road, it’s decent, but a Model 3 is better. Fast steering and acceleration mean the Model Y promises a sporty drive, but the lumpy ride quality and disappointing noise levels take the shine off somewhat.”
Read review

The Independent

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“We recommend avoiding the Performance version of the Tesla Model Y, since it’s more expensive and has less range than the less powerful models. But also because this family-orientated SUV isn’t an EV that benefits from ballistic acceleration. Save your money and go for either of the long range models and enjoy a car that nails almost every aspect of being an EV.”
Author: Alistair Charlton, Steve Fowler
Read review

The Sun

Model reviewed: Model Y Long Range
“It crashes over potholes, which in turn shatters the peace of the otherwise serene cabin. It’s further proof that Tesla is excellent when it comes to new tech but is still catching up on the basics of making cars.”
Read review

The Sunday Times

Model reviewed: Model Y Long Range
Score: 9 / 10
“The UK spec Model Y is pricier than expected, and on British roads it’s let down by an overly-stiff ride and a boomy, rattly cabin — particularly at low speeds — but if you opt for the smallest 19in wheels, that should be mitigated to some degree. As a package, owners are likely to be delighted.”
Read review

The Telegraph

Model reviewed: Seven-seat option
Score: 6 / 10
“A new third-row option in the big-selling US electric car feels like an afterthought, while Tesla’s build-quality issues persist.”
Author: Alex Robbins
Read review

Model reviewed: Long Range
Score: 8 / 10
“Good rather than great, the Tesla Model Y offers much of the driving experience on the successful Model 3 but with more space – at the cost of efficiency and range. With so many good battery electric alternatives coming to market, it would pay to look around.”
Read review

Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
““Everything you liked (and most of what you didn’t) in the Model 3, in a more practical shape. But not a pretty one.”
Read review

Which EV?

Model reviewed: Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive
Score: 8.5 / 10
“If you can’t wait for the Juniper Tesla Model Y refresh, the Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive version recently added to the previous range makes for a tempting proposition. It’s faster than the outgoing Standard Range version yet still goes further than a single charge than the All-Wheel Drive one.”
Author: James Morris
Read review

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“It has been a long wait for the Tesla Model Y to arrive in the UK, but it was worth it. This is the best electric SUV on the market for performance, features and charging infrastructure. The boot space is enormous. But the Model Y is also priced into territory beyond the Model 3 and is more expensive in the UK than it is in the US and Europe. In other words, a brilliant electric SUV, if you can afford it.” (James Morris)
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: September 2022
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 97%
Child protection: 87%
Vulnerable road users: 82%
Safety assist: 98%

Notes on safety rating

The Tesla Model Y has one of the best safety ratings of any new car on the market, with the highest overall Euro NCAP score in recent years.

The only thing to remember is that Tesla’s AutoPilot and ‘self-driving’ functions are not properly autonomous driving functions, and still require human control at all times. However, they do provide very good assistance to the driver in many circumstances to help prevent an accident.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of May 2025, the Tesla Model Y 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 Model Y 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 May 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Tesla Model Y to generate a reliability rating.

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

As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Model Y, 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	311 miles	A	283 – 331 miles	A – B

Electrical efficiency	Average	Score	Variation	Score
EV models	4.5 m/KWh	A	4.2 – 4.9 m/KWh	A – B

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	50	F	50 – 50	F – F

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£353	C
Year 2	£610	B
Year 3	£984	B
Year 4	£1,310	C
Year 5	£1,675	C
Overall	£4,932	C

We don’t have complete running cost data on the Tesla Model Y, but the good news is that it’s quite efficient in its use of electricity (the EV equivalent of miles per gallon on a petrol or diesel car), which will help keep costs down and also helps the Model Y to average more than 300 miles of driving range on a single charge.

Insurance might be quite hefty, however, as the Model Y is in the top-ranked Group 50. Servicing costs are average to good over the first five years, which is better than many premium-brand rivals.

Recalls

Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Tesla Model Y

Apr 2022

Dec 2021

Date: April 2022
Recall number: R/2022/131
Model types: All
Build dates: 06/2021 to 11/2021
Number of vehicles affected: 9,471
Defect: On certain vehicles that are running firmware release 2022.8 and that experience a loss of low voltage system support the audio subsystem may become unavailable including the use of eCall functionality.
Remedy: Firmware release 2022.12.3 or later reverses the power management process introduced in firmware release 2022.8 and maintains eCall audio functionality.

Date: December 2021
Recall number: R/2022/006
Model types: All
Build dates: 03/2020 to 06/2021
Number of vehicles affected: 127
Defect: The front suspension lateral link may be insufficiently torqued.
Remedy: Inspect the connection of both front suspension lateral links to the sub-frame. Replace any related damaged components and ensure correct torque of fastening bolts.

As of August 2024 (our latest data point), there have been two DVSA vehicle safety recalls on the Tesla Model Y. These cover suspension and software issues.

Not all vehicles are affected by recalls. You can check to see if your car is included in any of the above recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local Tesla service centre.

If your car is affected by a recall, the vehicle must be repaired and you should not be charged for any work required. If you are buying a used Model Y, you should insist that any outstanding recall work is completed before you take delivery of the vehicle.

Awards

Trophies, prizes and awards that the Tesla Model Y has received

2024

Carbuyer Awards – Best Large Company Car

2023

Auto Express Awards – Best Mid-Size Company Car
Auto Trader Awards – Best Car for Families
Carbuyer Awards – Best Company Car

2022

GQ eCar Awards – Best SUV

Similar cars

If you’re looking at the Tesla Model Y, you might also be interested in these alternatives

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

More information

More news, reviews and information about the Tesla Model Y at The Car Expert

Should you refuse to drive a Tesla because of Elon Musk?

The best used EV bargains in 2024

Five-star crash test results for Tesla and Genesis

The safest new cars on sale in the UK

Everything you need to know about Tesla

Britain’s best-selling cars of 2023

The UK’s best-selling electric cars of 2022

Britain’s best-selling cars of 2022

Five electric cars perfect for family life

Tesla Model Y crossover goes on sale in UK

New Tesla Model Y electric crossover unveiled

Buy a Tesla Model Y

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

Search less, live more. We make finding the right car simple. Find out more

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

Discover great deals available on both new and used cars. Find out more

Lease a Tesla Model Y

If you’re looking to lease a new Tesla Model Y, 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 Leasing.com. Find out more

Personal contract hire deals from Rivervale Leasing. Find out more

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

Car subscriptions from SelfDrive.
Find out more

Car subscriptions from DriveFuze.
Find out more

Car subscriptions from Cocoon.
Find out more

Everything you need to know about BYD

Stuart Masson

-

23 May 2025

0

BYD is a name that’s been all over automotive industry media for the last couple of years, but it’s still relatively unknown to consumers. If you’ve never heard of BYD, that’s perfectly normal. It’s one of several new car brands that have arrived in the UK over the last few years.

BYD stands for Build Your Dreams, which is a rather cringey name for a car company but presumably sounded good at a marketing meeting in China when the company was being founded. Its cars originally had ‘BUILD YOUR DREAMS’ emblazoned across their bootlids, but thankfully this has now been swapped for a far more discreet BYD badging on all export models.

Regardless of what you think of the name, you can’t really deny the company’s success. BYD is one of the largest and most successful new automotive brands from China, and is now one of the largest EV producers in the world. It’s privately owned and is now China’s largest private-sector employer, although it is believed to receive substantial financial support from the Chinese government to help it achieve its expansion goals.

BYD Auto launched in the UK in 2023, and already has five models to choose from – four electric cars and a plug-in hybrid.

BYD – Build Your Dreams – rear badge Atto 3

So who or what is BYD Auto?

Relatively few UK consumers will have heard of BYD, but it’s a very different story in its home nation of China. The car company is merely one division of this corporate behemoth.

BYD Company is a conglomerate founded in 1995 to make batteries for various applications. It has since started building its own electric cars through its subsidiary BYD Auto, and is also growing into the van, truck, bus and even rail sectors.

BYD Auto has been China’s biggest-selling EV manufacturer for a decade, and is now rapidly expanding throughout Europe. It has recently announced plans to build a new European headquarters in Hungary, including a major research and development centre.

The company has an ambitious target of 5.5 million global sales in 2025. That’s more than most brands you’ve definitely heard of, and not far off some of the biggest names in the world (for comparison, Volkswagen sold 4.8 million cars around the world last year).

The big difference with BYD (and also applies to other Chinese car companies) is that the majority of its sales are still within China, whereas other major global brands have their sales more evenly distributed around the world. BYD expects to export around 15% of its total production this year – about 800,000 cars – but plans to increase this to 50% by 2030. That’s a huge uplift of millions of cars around the world, which will have significant impacts on other car manufacturers if it succeeds.

When did BYD launch in the UK?

BYD Auto launched in the UK in early 2023 with its first car, the BYD Atto 3, although that was not BYD’s first presence in the UK. London commuters have ridden on BYD buses for several years, with 500 buses operating in the nation’s capital. The company even has its own assembly plant in Scotland where it installs electric batteries in buses made by UK manufacturer ADL (Alexander Dennis Ltd).

The Atto 3 was not the first BYD car on our shores either – a decade ago, the company dipped its toe in UK waters with a few examples of an early electric vehicle called the e6, which was placed with private-hire fleets. This time, the manufacturer is rather more serious about cracking Europe and the UK with far grander plans.

What models does BYD have and what else is coming?

As of May 2025, UK customers have five BYD models to choose from – four all-electric models and a plug-in hybrid – mostly with marine animal-themed names.

The range starts with the BYD Dolphin, a small electric hatchback similar in size to a Vauxhall Corsa. When it launched, the Dolphin was the UK’s cheapest EV, but a few smaller and cheaper models have since arrived from China (the Dacia Spring and Leapmotor T03).

The BYD Atto 3 is a small electric SUV/crossover that competes in one of the most heavily fought sectors of the new car market. It lines up against rivals like the MG S5 EV, Kia EV3, Smart #1, Hyundai Kona Electric, Omoda E5, Skoda Elroq, Vauxhall Mokka Electric and plenty of others.

The BYD Seal is a larger electric saloon that is very much a competitor to the Tesla Model 3, BMW i4, Hyundai Ioniq 6 and others. There’s also the BYD Seal U, which (rather confusingly) is a mid-sized SUV that’s a plug-in hybrid model rather than being fully electric. This is in the same market territory as cars like the Volkswagen Tiguan, Vauxhall Grandland, Peugeot 5008, Jaecoo 7 and so on.

Finally, the BYD Sealion is another mid-sized SUV. It’s slightly larger than the Seal U, but is fully electric, so it competes against the likes of the Tesla Model Y, Skoda Enyaq, Volkswagen ID.4, Vauxhall Grandland Electric, Peugeot e-5008 and others.

On the way is the Atto 2, which is unsurprisingly a smaller SUV in the same mould as the Atto 3. It’s due to reach the UK in the second half of 2025. It will go up against cars like the Skoda Epiq, Renault 4, Vauxhall Frontera and so on.

In its home market, the BYD model range numbers almost 20 vehicles from small cars to trucks, and any of them could conceivably be sold in the UK if the company feels that there’s enough of a market opportunity.

Where can I try a BYD car?

By the end of last year, BYD had more than 60 dealers in the UK, and the plan is for this to expand to baby 120 by the end of 2025. Many of these are located within multi-franchise dealerships like Arnold Clark, Lookers, LSH and Pendragon, who are all major dealer groups and regarded as top names in the automotive retail industry.

Many of these groups have seen European brands closing showrooms in recent years, so they have been quite enthusiastic about welcoming BYD to fill empty sites around the country.

What’s particularly significant about this company?

As well as now being the world’s largest producer of electric vehicles, BYD is also a completely self-contained manufacturer. It makes almost every component of its vehicles in-house, reducing reliance on external suppliers. The level of investment required to do this is enormous, and is something that the Western car industry hasn’t seen for many decades.

This includes its own chips and semiconductors, global shortages of which caused massive problems for the car industry a couple of years ago.

What makes BYD different to the rest?

Its batteries – BYD cars use a battery pack called a Blade which employs lithium-iron phosphate rather than lithium-ion and a different kind of construction that doesn’t require the battery cells to be placed into modules, saving weight.

In the BYD Seal, the battery is built into the shell of the car rather than being a separate pack, allowing much more freedom in designing the car’s interior. The downside to this, however, is that it makes battery repairs or replacement very difficult.

Battery safety attracts far more attention in China than elsewhere around the globe, thanks to some incidents where faulty batteries have set cars alight while being charged. BYD promotes its battery as much safer than a typical pack, claiming that a pack can have nails fired into it or be heated to 300 degrees C without catching fire.

The Blade also makes no use of cobalt – of all the rare-earth minerals used in EV batteries, cobalt is the least environmentally-friendly, as the mining of it is highly polluting.

Summary

If you haven’t already heard of BYD or seen its cars in your local streets, you’ll certainly start to see them soon. The company sold more cars in the first three months of 2025 than it sold in all of 2024, so its growth curve is almost vertical.

Reviews of BYD’s cars have been fairly mixed, but there’s no doubt that the company has the resources to continue its growth and overall development for years to come.

More in our series ‘Spotlight on China’:

Originally published in March 2023. Last updated in May 2025 to reflect BYD’s rapid growth.

Polestar 4

Stuart Masson

-

23 May 2025

0

Summary

The Polestar 4 is a large electric coupé SUV that arrived in the UK in 2024. It is built on the same platform as the larger Polestar 3.

The Polestar 4’s chief claim to fame when it was launched was that it was the first passenger car to be designed without a rear window – you get a reversing camera instead. The idea is that this frees up more headroom for the rear passengers. It certainly caused a lot of publicity, but most reviewers felt that it wasn’t actually that important within a few minutes of driving the car.

As with other Polestar models, there are four options packs – Plus, Pilot, Pro and Performance – to add extra equipment. The cabin, described as “gorgeous” by Darren Cassey at Carwow, is an exercise in modern Scandinavian minimalism. It features sustainable materials, woven fabrics rather than traditional leather, and metals rather than woodgrain. As with every other new car, most of the controls are activated via a giant touchscreen.

The driving experience is comfortable rather than sporty. Alan Taylor-Jones at Parkers describes it as “good, if not thrilling to drive”, while Ethan Jupp at Evo mourns that while the car greatly appeals, “it lacks the absolute dynamic polish of some rivals.”

As of July 2025, the Polestar 4 holds a New Car Expert Rating of A with a score of 75%. It scores top marks for its zero tailpipe emissions and excellent safety rating, while its media review scores are also good. However, its running costs are only average.

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

Polestar 4 highlights

Attractive exterior and interior design
Extensive list of standard equipment
Comfortable driving dynamics
Plenty of battery range

Polestar 4 lowlights

Lack of rear window is concerning for some people
Over-reliance on touchscreen for car settings
Performance Pack models have a firm ride quality

Key specifications

Body style: Large coupé SUV
Engines: electric, battery-powered
Price: From £60,000 on-road

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

Image gallery

Media reviews

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

Featured reviews

“The Polestar 4 wraps design and practicality in one potent package with plenty of equipment, with only minor irritations denting the overall experience.”

Score: 7.8 / 10

Read full review

The Car Expert

Andrew Charman

“The Polestar 4 is a posh electric car with quirky styling and a gorgeous interior, but that unconventional design might put you off.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 8 / 10

Read full review

Carwow

Darren Cassey

More reviews

Auto Express

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The cutting-edge Polestar 4 likes to do things a little differently, and is sure to attract buyers who want to make a statement. The lack of a rear window will be a talking point, but it doesn’t detract from the day-to-day driving experience or sophisticated interior. That said, some of the technology onboard can feel overwhelming at times, and while the car has a sporty edge, it isn’t engaging to drive.”
Author: Ellis Hyde, Alastair Crooks
Read review

Auto Trader

Score: 8 / 10
“The sleek Polestar 4 combines design, technology and power, and also has the lowest carbon footprint of any Polestar to date.”
Author: Catherine King
Read review

Business Car

Model reviewed: 4 Long Range Dual Motor
Score: 8 / 10
“the performance range-topper is an impressive start with its attractive, individual exterior and interior styling – plus the fact it’s good to drive.”
Author: Martyn Collins
Read review

Car

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Polestar 4 cuts quite a dash in the car park without screaming ‘look at me’, and its calm Swedish-designed interior is an absolute delight to spend time in. Yes, the infotainment set-up is 10% too dependent on the touchscreen, but at least it looks classy, is easy to navigate and works well.”
Author: Keith Adams
Read review

Carbuyer

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.2 / 10
“Stylish and accomplished in most areas, the Polestar 4 is a cool all-electric coupe-SUV for buyers looking for something different.”
Author: Andy Goodwin
Read review

Driving Electric

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“It may not have a rear window but the Polestar 4 ticks a lot of the other boxes for a premium mid-size SUV.”
Author: Ryan Birch
Read review

Electrifying.com

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The lack of rear window might be the biggest talking point of the Polestar, but there are plenty of other qualities which deserve your attention. That Scandi-cool interior is compelling and beautifully built, and the rear space is huge. The tech is easy to use and well thought through too.”
Author: Tom Barnard
Read review

Evo

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Polestar 4 is a style and performance statement that greatly appeals, even if it lacks the absolute dynamic polish of some rivals.”
Author: Ethan Jupp
Read review

Green Car Guide

Model reviewed: Long Range Dual Motor
Score: 9 / 10
“The Polestar 4 offers the most agility and the best ride quality of any Polestar, and in all-wheel drive form, there’s lots of traction to deliver the significant performance. You even get an impressive official driving range of 367 miles. The infotainment system offers lots of features, but a lot of button-pressing is needed to change basic car controls. The lack of a rear window may have attracted lots of headlines, but it doesn’t have a big impact on the driver.”
Author: Paul Clarke
Read review

Heycar

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“We think the 4 has precisely the character that Polestar was aiming for, with sharp handling and direct steering, allied to a reasonably forgiving ride.”
Author: Ivan Aistrop
Read review

Parkers

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.6 / 10
“While I wouldn’t suggest immediately rushing out and ordering one, the Polestar 4 is an appealing alternative to the usual premium SUVs. Its calming interior is a delight to be in and it’s spacious for people, too. It’s good, if not thrilling to drive and the range is good, too.”
Author: Alan Taylor-Jones
Read review

Regit

Model reviewed: Single motor long range
Score: 9 / 10
“The Polestar 4 really raises the bar when it comes to styling. Admittedly, the lack of a rear screen and the digital rear-view mirror will have its critics, but we cannot fail to applaud Polestar for its forward-thinking and state-of-the-art technology. Customers can choose between rear or all-wheel drive with both versions being labelled as ‘Long range’. We can expect ‘Short range’ versions in the future which will likely see a reduction in the asking price.”
Author: Maxine Ashford
Read review

The Sun

Model reviewed: Range overview
“Now here’s a car that’s loaded with even more unnecessary and expensive tech. It’s a roof-mounted camera that replaces the rear window. Is that progress? I don’t think so. The main reason Polestar didn’t tick the option box for a rear window on Polestar 4 is to create SUV-like headroom for back-seat passengers but still give it a designer coupe look on the outside. In that respect, job done. It works. It’s not another jelly-mould SUV.”
Author: Rob Gill
Read review

The Sunday Times

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“It’s a tricky car to pigeon-hole, the Polestar 4. Is it a sports saloon masquerading as an SUV or is it the other way around? Perhaps that doesn’t and shouldn’t matter. What it is, is gorgeous, spacious, long-ranged, quick and blessed with a tremendously interesting and well-made interior.”
Author: Neil Briscoe
Read review

Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Polestar 4 is fun and interesting, and has a distinctive design. But that distinctiveness does have one perverse aspect. The lack of rear-view to gain a bit of rear headroom and marginal aero gains on what is a 2.3-tonne, high-riding SUV isn’t really worth it.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

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

Adult protection: 92%
Child protection: 85%
Vulnerable road users: 81%
Safety assist: 79%

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of July 2025, the Polestar 4 has not been assessed by Green NCAP.

The Green NCAP programme measures exhaust pollution (which is zero for an electric car) and energy efficiency. Electric cars are much more energy-efficient than combustion cars, so the Polestar 4 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, the Polestar 4 is still a new model, so we don’t have enough reliability data on the SUV to generate a reliability rating.

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

As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Polestar 4, we’ll publish the results 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	368 miles	A	360 – 379 miles	A – A

Electrical efficiency	Average	Score	Variation	Score
EV models	3.7 m/KWh	D	3.6 – 3.8 m/KWh	C – D

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	43	D	41 – 44	D – D

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£423	D
Year 2	£799	C
Year 3	£1,201	C
Year 4	£1,412	C
Year 5	£1,887	C
Overall	£5,722	C

The Polestar 4 can be a rather expensive car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

The car’s average battery range of 3681 miles (ranging from 360 to 379 miles depending on the model you choose) is excellent when compared to the rest of the EV market. That said, it’s not very efficient. Its electrical efficiency (the EV equivalent of miles per gallon for a petrol or diesel car) of 3.7 m/kWh is only average.

The car’s insurance premiums are high, and its predicted five-year servicing and maintenance cost total of almost £6k can also be considered fairly expensive.

Recalls

Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Polestar 4

As of July 2025, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the Polestar 4. However, this information is updated very regularly so this may have changed.

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

Similar cars

If you’re looking at the Polestar 4, you might also be interested in these alternatives.

Polestar’s naming convention is determined by the order in which cars were developed, rather than in any kind of size arrangement, so the Polestar 4 is smaller than the Polestar 3 SUV but a bit bigger than the Polestar 2 liftback. That also means that there are plenty of different cars that you may be looking at against the Polestar 4.

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

More news, reviews and information about the Polestar 4 at The Car Expert

Electric cars – what’s on sale and what’s coming in 2024?

Who or what is Polestar?

Polestar 4 test drive

New Polestar 4 coupé-SUV now on sale

Polestar 4 coupé-SUV revealed

Buy a Polestar 4

If you’re looking to buy a new or used Polestar 4, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car.

Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more

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

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

Lease a Polestar 4

If you’re looking to lease a new Polestar 4, 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 Polestar 4

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

Car subscriptions from SelfDrive.
Find out more

Car subscriptions from DriveFuze.
Find out more

Car subscriptions from Cocoon.
Find out more

Leapmotor C10

The Car Expert staff

-

22 May 2025

0

Summary

The Leapmotor C10 is a new mid-large electric SUV that was launched in the UK in early 2025. The C10 and the small T03 city car are the first models to be sold by new Chinese car brand, Leapmotor.

Leapmotor is part of the huge Stellantis network of brands, so its dealerships are popping up alongside various Vauxhall, Fiat, Peugeot and Citroën dealers around the UK. It’s early days but there will be up to 80 dealers by the end of 2025.

The C10 plays heavily on being a value proposition, meaning you’re getting a lot more car for your money than with many similar vehicles from other brands. It’s much more spacious than pretty much anything else at a similar price point, or if you prefer, it’s a lot cheaper than cars with a similar amount of space and standard equipment.

The biggest criticisms of the C10 so far have been the way that it drives. Although it’s mostly comfortable in how it rides and copes with bumps, the steering and handling have been judged harshly by the automotive media. Car, for example, was less than glowing about the “decidedly average driving experience”. But the biggest complaints have been reserved for the car’s accident-avoidance systems, which Auto Express described as “infuriating” and Electrifying said are “horribly intrusive”. Our own editor at The Car Expert, Stuart Masson, has said that “the constant beeping and bonging is so bad that it would be a deal-breaker” for many customers.

As of July 2025, the Leapmotor C10 holds a New Car Expert Rating of B, with a score of 69%. It scores top marks for its five-star Euro NCAP safety rating and its zero tailpipe emissions, while its running costs and new car warranty scores are also good. But it’s let down by very poor media reviews from the UK launch. This may improve over time as more journalists spend more time with the car, and if Leapmotor can address some of the key problems with the C10’s accident-avoidance technology.

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

C10 highlights

Much more spacious than similarly priced EVs
Plenty of standard kit for your money
Build quality seems competitive
Ride is generally comfortable
Excellent Euro NCAP safety rating

C10 lowlights

Unknown brand
Accident-avoidance warnings are unbearable
Noisy for an EV
Handling is very disappointing
No Apple CarPlay or Android Auto

Key specifications

Body style: Medium-sized SUV
Engines: Single electric motor
Price: From £36,490 on-road

Launched: Spring 2025
Last updated: N/A
Next update 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 Leapmotor C10 offers genuine value for money, but infuriating driver-assistance tech and sub-par range limit its appeal.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 6 / 10

Read full review

Auto Express

Ellis Hyde, Richard Ingram

“The Leapmotor C10 offers a decent range and lots of standard equipment in an affordable SUV package.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 7.6 / 10

Read full review

Carbuyer

Richard Ingram, Tom Gumbrell, Andy Goodwin

More reviews

Auto Trader

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“If the generic electric SUV styling is nothing to get excited about the price perhaps is, the Leapmotor C10 is a big step up from the T03 city car, a tad more modern looking and polished than some of the other Chinese newcomers and undercuts established players like the VW ID.4 and Skoda Enyaq by a healthy margin.”
Author: Dan Trent
Read review

Business Car

Score: 8 / 10
“There is plenty to like about the Leapmotor C10. It looks and feels upmarket, has impressive levels of interior space and plenty of standard equipment for the price. We just feel more work is needed on the infotainment and safety systems to suit UK buyers.”
Author: Martyn Collins
Read review

Car

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“The Leapmotor C10 is an interesting entrant to the electric family SUV class – and an entirely recommendable one at that. It’s a genuinely decent car that’s far better equipped and less expensive than most of its rivals. However, the derivative styling, lack of customisation options and decidedly average driving experience may hold it back.”
Author: Luke Wilkinson, Seth Walton
Read review

Carwow

Model reviewed: Range overview
“The Leapmotor C10 is a smart-looking budget EV with reasonable specs – but doesn’t seem to offer anything to trouble the established alternatives.”
Read review

Electrifying.com

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“You might not have heard of the Leapmotor C10, but the brand has the backing of industry giant Stellantis, and this big SUV looks brilliant value next to rivals like the Tesla Model Y. It has plenty of space and equipment too, but it lacks polish in some areas and the driver assist systems are horribly intrusive.”
Author: Tom Barnard
Read review

Green Car Guide

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Leapmotor C10 is an easy car to live with overall, offering comfort, space, a decent real-word range, and a price that undercuts most rivals. However if you simply get in the car and drive off, within a short distance you’re likely to be assaulted by multiple beeps and boings, and you probably won’t know what the beeps are for. We’ve reviewed every single EV that’s ever been on sale in the UK, and no other car has beeped at us this much.”
Author: Paul Clarke
Read review

Parkers

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“Lots of room, lots of equipment.”
Author: Luke Wilkinson, Seth Walton
Read review

The Independent

Score: 6 / 10
“Leapmotor is big on value and the C10 puts a huge tick in the lots of car for your money box, but the price puts it up against some seriously talented contenders.”
Author: Steve Fowler
Read review

The Sunday Times

Score: 6 / 10
“Value but no vigour.”
Author: James Fossdyke
Read review

Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 5 / 10
“The Leapmotor C10 is competent in enough areas to be a budget option, but will you pine for one? No.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: December 2024
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 89%
Child protection: 85%
Vulnerable road users: 77%
Safety assist: 76%

Although the Leapmotor gets an excellent safety rating for including all of the systems designed to help protect you in an accident, the high score for helping you avoid an accident (the ‘safety assist’ score above) is not backed up by the actual driving experience. Pretty much every single review of the C10 has singled out the car’s accident avoidance warning systems as being terrible.

Our own editor at The Car Expert, Stuart Masson, has said that “the constant beeping and bonging is so bad that it would be a deal-breaker” for many customers, and that the C10 is “a prime example of badly executed safety systems that actually make driving less safe”. We strongly suggest you test drive a C10 before buying one…

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of July 2025, the Leapmotor C10 has not been assessed by Green NCAP.

The Green NCAP programme measures exhaust pollution (which is zero for an electric car) and energy efficiency. Electric cars are much more energy-efficient than combustion cars, so the C10 is likely to score very highly in Green NCAP testing if and when it takes place. Check back again soon.

Running cost rating

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

Battery range	Average	Score	Variation	Score
EV models	263 miles	B

Electrical efficiency	Average	Score	Variation	Score
EV models	3.8 m/KWh	D

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	41	D

The Leapmotor C10 is only average when it comes to running costs, according to numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data. However, if you can charge the car at home or work, rather than relying on public charging, it should still be much cheaper to run than a petrol or diesel car.

We don’t yet have service and maintenance costs, so we will update this table when we have more information. However, the insurance group is high for a relatively budget car, and the electrical efficiency (the EV equivalent of miles per gallon in a petrol or diesel car) is only average.

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 Leapmotor C10 to generate a reliability rating.

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

As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the C10, we’ll publish the results here.

Warranty rating

New car warranty information for the Leapmotor C10

Overall ratingB68%
New car warranty duration4 years
New car warranty mileage60,000 miles
Battery warranty duration8 years
Battery warranty mileage100,000 miles

Leapmotor’s new car warranty is better than the industry average, although there are other brands in this price bracket that do better, offering up to seven years of warranty cover.

The duration for Leapmotor is four years, with a limit of 60,000 miles. Additionally, 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.

Recalls

Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Leapmotor C10

As of July 2025, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the Leapmotor C10, which is not surprising, since it’s a brand-new car. However, this information is updated very regularly, so it may have changed.

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

Everything you need to know about UK vehicle recalls

Similar cars

If you’re looking at the Leapmotor C10, you might also be interested in these alternatives.

The Leapmotor C10 is very aggressively priced, meaning that it competes on price against smaller electric SUVs, or against similarly sized electric SUVs that are more expensive.

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

More news, reviews and information about Leapmotor at The Car Expert

Electric car grant – all the EVs with discounts

Leapmotor T03

Everything you need to know about Leapmotor

Leapmotor T03 test drive

The new car brands set to appear on UK roads in 2025

Leapmotor to arrive in UK with two electric models

New Leapmotor B10 crossover unveiled

Buy a Leapmotor C10

If you’re looking to buy a new or used Leapmotor C10, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car.

Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more

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

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

Lease a Leapmotor C10

If you’re looking to lease a new Leapmotor C10, 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 Leapmotor C10

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

Car subscriptions from SelfDrive.
Find out more

Car subscriptions from DriveFuze.
Find out more

Car subscriptions from Cocoon.
Find out more

New electric Nissan Micra to arrive this year

New model

Sean Rees

-

22 May 2025

0

New electric Nissan Micra to arrive this year

Nissan has announced more details regarding its upcoming Micra EV range, which will become available to order in the UK later this year and will include two different all-electric powertrain options.

First announced back in April, the new battery-powered Micra will be an important model for Nissan in the coming years – alongside the new Leaf family car – and replaces the petrol-powered fifth-generation Micra supermini that was retired last year.

Based on the same foundations as the Renault 5 E-Tech (and manufactured alongside its Renault counterpart) the range will include two different powertrain options – 40kWh and 52kWh – with the former providing 122hp and a maximum battery range of over 192 miles, while the latter reportedly able to muster 150hp and 253 miles on a single charge.

Charging at speeds of up to 100kW, the hatchback can reportedly be topped up from 15% to 80% in 30 minutes. Both versions also come with a Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) port, giving owners the option to use the battery to power external devices like laptops, air pumps, and vacuum cleaners.

The car has four different driving modes – ‘Comfort’ as standard, ‘Sport’ for more responsive performance and stiffer handling, ‘Eco’ to boost efficiency and ‘Perso’ which allows you to manually change settings to your preference – and the regenerative braking can be adjusted using paddles on the steering wheel column.

The compact five-door electric car sits on 18-inch alloy wheels as standard, with three different alloy designs depending on the trim chosen. Unique circular daytime running lights surround LED headlights that have a pulsing ‘wink’ animation when the car is unlocked. 14 different exterior colour options will be offered.

Inside, the car comes with a ten-inch digital instrument cluster and a ten-inch infotainment touchscreen housed in a display that juts out of the dashboard. Three different interior upholstery packages will be available – ‘Modern’, ‘Audacious’, and ‘Chill’ – which will be backlit by an ambient lighting system with 48 different colour options.

That sums up what we know about the new Nissan Micra EV so far. More details, including the UK price list, are sure to follow as we get closer to the car’s official showroom arrival towards the end of this year.

Expert Recommended

Expert News and Reviews

More

Introduction

What is it?

What do you get for your money?

What’s the BMW iX like inside?

What’s the BMW iX like to drive?

How safe is the BMW iX?

BMW iX economy, battery range and charging

Verdict

Similar cars

Key specifications

Buy a BMW iX

Lease a BMW iX

Summary

Key specifications

Image gallery

Media reviews

Featured reviews

Carwow

Auto Express

More reviews

Auto Express

Auto Trader

Car

Carbuyer

Carwow

Evo

Heycar

Parkers

The Sunday Times

The Telegraph

Top Gear

Safety rating

Eco rating

Running cost rating

Reliability rating

Warranty rating

Recalls

Similar cars

More information

Buy an Audi A5

Lease an Audi A5

Subscribe to an Audi A5

Look beyond the monthly payment

PCP car finance quote example*

1. Duration

2. Monthly payment

3. Customer deposit

4. Deposit contribution

5. Retail cash price

6. Acceptance fee

7. Optional final payment

8. Option to purchase fee

9. Total Amount Payable

10. Total amount of credit

11. Representative APR

12. Rate of interest

13. Annual mileage allowance

14. Excess mileage

Summary

So who or what is Jeep?

What models does Jeep have and what else is coming?

Where can I try a Jeep car?

What makes Jeep different to the rest?

A Jeep fact to impress your friends

Summary

Buy a Jeep

Lease a Jeep

EVs and plug-in hybrids still driving growth

The Tesla conundrum

Good month, bad month – May 2025

Ford Puma back on top in battle with Kia Sportage

Leasing.com*

Octopus Electric Vehicles*

Select Car Leasing*

Carparison*

DreamLease*

VIP Gateway*