The Car Expert

Volkswagen Tayron

Sean Rees

-

23 September 2025

Summary

The Volkswagen Tayron (pronounced ‘Tie-ron’) is a large five- or seven-seat SUV that sits between the smaller Tiguan and larger Touareg SUVs in Volkswagen’s UK range.

Available with a choice of petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid power, the Tayron is built on the same foundations as the Tiguan, as well as perhaps its closest rival, the large Skoda Kodiaq.

“The Tayron’s real issue is that the Kodiaq offers exactly the same, just that little more stylishly and affordably”, says Autotrader’s Dan Trent. On the other hand, Carwow’s Mario Christou argues that, while the Tayron is on par with the Kodiaq in terms of practicality, “its posh interior and fancier design makes it a viable alternative to more premium cars” like the Volvo XC40.

Comparisons aside, the Top Gear team concludes that the Tayron is “a deeply impressive thing”, praising the SUV for its flexible seven-seater layout, “utterly cavernous” interior and quiet driving experience. Meanwhile, Alastair Crooks of Auto Express commends the large SUV for its “strong variety” of engine choices and its “excellent” standard equipment list.

That said, as Charlie Harvey of Carbuyer points out, “the plug-in hybrids can’t be had with seven seats, which makes them seem rather redundant compared to the equivalent Tiguan five-seater plug-in hybrids.”

As of September 2025, the Volkswagen Tayron holds a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 73%. It achieves top marks for its excellent Euro NCAP safety rating and its low CO₂ emissions (helped by the plug-in hybrid version), while its media review scores have also been good. However, its overall running costs are only average and Volkswagen’s new car warranty offering is poor.

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

Tayron highlights

Seriously spacious interior
Good build quality and plenty of standard equipment
Wide range of engine options

Tayron lowlights

Peugeot 5008 has more third row legroom
Plug-in hybrid models not available with seven seats
Skoda Kodiaq has a cheaper lead-in price tag

Key specifications

Body style: Large SUV
Engines: petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid
Price: From £xx,xxx on-road

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

Image gallery

Media reviews

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

Featured reviews

“The Volkswagen Tayron is a significant investment but with plenty of choice and Volkswagen quality in both build and performance, one worth making.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 7.8 / 10

Read full review

Andrew Charman

“Big, bold and easy to live with, the Volkswagen Tayron is a fantastic family SUV – but you certainly pay for the privilege of owning it.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 9 / 10

Read full review

Carwow

Mario Christou

More reviews

Auto Express

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Tayron is a new Tiguan Allspace in all but name and manages to provide an appealing step between the Tiguan and Touareg, with the Tayron’s excellent kit list, strong variety of engines and solid interior standing out as real positives.”
Author: Alastair Crooks
Read review

Auto Trader

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Fine in its own right and a useful addition to VW’s already broad crossover line-up, the Volkswagen Tayron’s real issue is that the Skoda Kodiaq offers exactly the same, just that little more stylishly and affordably.”
Author: Dan Trent
Read review

Business Car

Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid R-Line
Score: 8 / 10
“If you want a Volkswagen Tiguan with more seats, the Volkswagen Tayron is the default choice, as it’s good to drive (especially with the adaptive suspension), and usefully practical. However, most will be eHybrid plug-in versions, which lack the extra seats!”
Author: Martyn Collins
Read review

Carbuyer

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.6 / 10
“If you’re looking for a well-built, seven-seater family SUV, the Volkswagen Tayron is well worth your consideration. Unfortunately, the plug-in hybrids can’t be had with seven seats, which makes them seem rather redundant compared to the equivalent Tiguan five-seater PHEVs.”
Author: Charlie Harvey
Read review

Heycar

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volkswagen Tayron fills the gap between Tiguan and Touareg and offers up to seven seats. It’s a really practical family SUV that has a broad range of engines and is upmarket and sophisticated to drive.”
Author: Richard Aucock
Read review

Parkers

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The Tayron’s very anonymity and crushing competence is why it appeals so much – here at last is a VW that feels well developed and crafted to be exactly what it needs to be and nothing more.”
Author: Keith Adams
Read review

Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“In many ways the Volkswagen Tayron is a deeply impressive thing. The way it goes about its business belies its size, and the flexibility of those extra two jump seats will give you a real headache if you’ve gone into the dealership with your heart set on a Tiguan.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

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

Adult protection: 87%
Child protection: 85%
Vulnerable road users: 83%
Safety assist: 80%

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of September 2025, the Volkswagen Tayron has not been assessed by Green NCAP.

Running cost rating

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

Fuel consumption	Average	Score
Petrol models	41 mpg	C
Diesel models	50 mpg	C
Plug-in hybrid models	668 mpg	A

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	159 g/km	C
Diesel models	147 g/km	C
Plug-in hybrid models	10 g/km	A

Battery range	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Plug-in hybrid models	72 miles	C

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	28	C

Most of the running cost information we currently have for the Volkswagen Tayron puts it firmly in the middle of the overall new car market. Fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions and insurance groups are all C-grade scores.

The plug-in hybrid looks impressive on paper, with an official fuel consumption average of more than 660mpg. However, this is the result of poor UK/EU government lab testing methodology. In the real world, there’s no way you’re going to travel more than 600 miles on a gallon (4.5 litres) of petrol and a full charge of electricity.

As of September 2025, we don’t have independently verified five-year servicing and maintenance costs for the Volkswagen Tayron. As soon as this information is available, we’ll update this section.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

As of September 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Volkswagen Tayron 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 Tayron, we’ll publish the results here.

Warranty rating

New car warranty information for the Volkswagen Tayron

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

Volkswagen’s new car warranty is pretty much the bare minimum offered by any car manufacturer in the UK, and far less comprehensive than rival brands in a similar price bracket as the Tayron.

The duration is three years, with a limit of 60,000 miles. Some other manufacturers offer up to seven years of cover.

In addition to the standard new car warranty, the Tayron plug-in hybrid version has an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty for the battery components.

Warranty on a used Volkswagen Tayron

As of September 2025, any used Volkswagen Tayron should still be covered by its original new car warranty. The first cars arrived in the UK in early 2025, meaning that their warranty cover will expire in early 2028 (unless a car has hit its 60,000-mile limit before then)

If you’re looking to buy any 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 Volkswagen Tayron

As of September 2025, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the Volkswagen Tayron. 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 Volkswagen dealer.

Everything you need to know about UK vehicle recalls

Similar cars

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

More Volkswagen ratings, reviews, news and features

More news, reviews and information about the Volkswagen Tayron at The Car Expert

Volkswagen Tayron test drive

Large Volkswagen Tayron SUV now on sale

New seven-seat Volkswagen Tayron to arrive next year

Buy a Volkswagen Tayron

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

Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more

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If you’re looking to lease a new Volkswagen Tayron, 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

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Audi A6 Avant e-tron review

Car reviews

Matt MacConnell

-

23 September 2025

0

Make and model: Audi A6 Avant e-tron Edition 1
Description: Upmarket estate car, battery-powered EV
Price: £87,360 (plus options)

Audi says: “Performance in a new light.”
We say: Good looking, with decent performance, but lacks physical buttons.

Audi A6 Avant e-tron review 2025

Introduction

A bit of quick explanation before we get stuck in. Audi has two different cars that both carry the name ‘A6’. The one reviewed here is the electric model, called the A6 e-tron. However, there’s another one arriving shortly, which is the next generation of the long-serving petrol/diesel/plug-in hybrid A6 family. The two A6 models are similar in size but otherwise unrelated.

Under a previous Audi plan, the new fossil-fuel-powered car was going to be called the A7, but the plan was abandoned and it will keep its familiar A6 name instead. Apparently, having two completely different cars sharing the same name is meant to reduce confusion…

The A6 Avant is the largest estate car Audi offers. Buyers can choose from a petrol and diesel engine or the all-electric powertrain as tested here. Audi also offers the A6 saloon if you don’t require the masses of space offered by the estate version.

What is it?

The Audi A6 e-tron Avant is an executive all-electric estate that rivals cars like the BMW i5 Touring, Mercedes-Benz EQE, and Porsche Taycan.

It’s available in three trims: Sport, S line and Edition 1. There are also three electric powertrains: ‘e-tron’, ‘e-tron Performance’ and ‘e-tron quattro’. Prices start from £64k and stretch to £100k for the fast S6 Avant.

Who is this car aimed at?

Like previous Audi estates, the A6 e-tron Avant is designed for those who require extra space over the saloon, catering to families, construction site managers, dog owners, and everyone in between. It will also appeal to tech-savvy drivers who seek a balance between practicality and sportiness.

Similarly, caravan owners will be pleased to hear that the Audi A6 e-tron Avant will tow up to 2.1 tonnes.

Who won’t like it?

Being an executive all-electric car from a premium brand means the entry-level car is already expensive, and those on a budget should consider the Peugeot e-308 SW or Vauxhall Astra Electric Sports Tourer.

Then there’s the lack of physical buttons, and although it’s not as bad as a Ford Mustang Mach-E, which has very little, most of the car’s settings are controlled via one of its many screens. Therefore, if an overly technical, futuristic interior is not for you, look elsewhere.

First impressions

The Audi A6 e-tron looks good from almost every angle, and its fresh and modern design will surely age well.

Its large boot easily swallows prams and two large dogs, despite it being slightly smaller than its BMW i5 rival. Pop the bonnet, and you’ll find a deep storage area that’s perfect for stashing charging cables. Likewise, there’s enough room for six-foot-tall adults.

What do you get for your money?

The range kicks off with the Sport, which features 20-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, heated front seats, high-beam assist, 360-degree cameras, adaptive cruise control, and an Audi sound system.

Upgrading to the S line, which costs an extra £3.5k, adds sportier exterior bits, privacy glass, front sports seats, and a fancier steering wheel with paddle shifters to control brake regeneration.

And finally, there’s the Edition 1 as tested here. Costing nearly £73k, it adds black exterior trim, red brake callipers, electrically adjustable front seats, steering wheel heating and 21-inch alloy wheels.

We feel the Sport and S line trim levels are best. You might not get a heated steering wheel unless you opt for the Edition 1, which is odd considering the A6 e-tron’s base price, but both offer decent standard equipment levels.

The base e-tron also has the smallest battery (83kWh), while the performance and quattro have larger batteries (95kWh). Audi quotes between 325 and 363 miles of range for the e-tron, 392 to 438 miles with the performance, and 378 to 417 miles for the quattro.

All A6 e-trons come with a three-year warranty or 60,000 miles, covering mechanical defects, while a separate eight-year 100,000-mile warranty covers the battery.

We like: Decent equipment levels on entry-level models and a good battery warranty
We don’t like: No heated steering wheel unless you opt for expensive Edition 1 trim

What’s the Audi A6 Avant e-tron like inside?

Although its interior is snazzy, there’s a lot going on, especially when equipped in Edition 1 trim. Almost everywhere you look, there’s a screen.

Suede covers the doors and seats. There are also door-integrated monitors for the rather useless camera side mirrors, as well as a passenger screen that can control the sat-nav and radio. Buy a car without the extra screen and you get a slab of black plastic instead.

Likewise, while most of its interior feels solid, scratchy plastics can be felt low on the doors and under the dashboard, and the cup holder, a small detail, is covered by a cheap plasticky shutter.

Oddly, despite its low-slung exterior, the Audi A6 e-tron has a high driving position. Still, the seats are comfortable and supportive for long-distance journeys.

It also feels remarkably airy for a cabin cloaked with darker material, but this is because of Audi’s large panoramic sunroof, which comes as standard.

We like: Feels solid and has comfortable seats
We don’t like: Some parts are let down by cheaper-feeling plastics and too many screens

What’s the Audi A6 Avant e-tron like to drive?

We’ve only driven the 370hp e-tron performance version, although the standard 281hp e-tron will be enough for most daily situations.

As with most electric cars, the A6 Avant e-tron is no slouch. In our testing, the performance version managed 0-62mph in 5.6 seconds, while 30-70mph took 4.2 seconds, meaning overtaking is swift.

It’s also remarkably quiet at motorway speeds. We recorded 64dB at 70 mph, putting it just 1dB behind a Bentley Flying Spur plug-in hybrid.

Topping up the car’s battery doesn’t take long, and charging via a rapid charger from 10-80% takes around 20-30 minutes. When full, our test car showed 305 miles, which is 87 miles off Audi’s claimed figure.

And despite driving mostly in its Efficiency Plus setting, the A6 Avant e-tron returned just 3.1mi/kWh. However, this is a large, powerful and comfortable electric estate car packed with all sorts of mod-cons, after all.

While cool, the camera mirror novelty will soon wear off. The screens that cast the camera’s image allow the driver to adjust their angle, like you would on a normal car, but there’s very little adjustment in comparison to a regular mirror.

There’s also a slight delay in it feeding real-time motion to the screens, and hideous blind spots. A Lamborghini Countach would be easier to park in Central London than one of these would. If you can, our advice would be to stick with the regular mirrors.

We like: Punchy powertrain, fast charging and incredibly quiet at motorway speeds
We don’t like: mediocre efficiency and real-world range, silly camera mirrors

How safe is the Audi A6 Avant e-tron?

The Audi A6 Avant e-tron secured a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, scoring 92% in adult occupancy, 91% in child occupancy and 80% for safety assistance.

It comes packed with standard safety kit like 360-degree cameras, collision avoidance, lane-keep assist and autonomous braking.

Verdict

The Audi A6 Avant e-tron is an attractive car packed with modern tech. It’s also incredibly spacious, is offered with decent standard equipment, is comfortable over long distances and charges quickly. It’s also nearly £6k cheaper than the equivalent BMW i5. This said, it can get expensive.

Its range isn’t terrible, but 3.1mi/kWh isn’t the best either, despite its bodywork being carved in a wind tunnel to make it as slippery as possible. Then there are the screens, lack of buttons and camera mirrors. It’s all just a bit much.
Be in no doubt, the Audi is a fine car, but the i5 Touring edges slightly ahead.

It’s a better car to drive, has a slightly larger boot, and it isn’t trying to reinvent itself. It’s just a posh electric estate car that does its job well.

Key specifications

Model tested: Audi A6 Avant e-tron Edition 1
Price: £87,360 (plus options)
Drivetrain: 100 kWh ‘quattro’ all-wheel drive
Gearbox: single-speed automatic

Power: 428 hp
Torque: 580 Nm
Top speed: 130 mph
0-60 mph: 5.4 seconds

Fuel economy : 437 miles CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km
Euro NCAP safety rating: Five stars (March 2025)
TCE Expert Rating: A (82%)

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BYD Dolphin Surf

The Car Expert staff

-

21 September 2025

0

BYD Dolphin Surf (2025 onwards) | Expert Rating

Summary

The BYD Dolphin Surf is a small electric city car that was launched in the UK in the summer of 2025. Despite the name, it’s a different car from the larger BYD Dolphin.

In China, this car is called the BYD Seagull, part of the company’s ongoing ‘Ocean’ naming series. However, BYD’s marketing department (probably wisely) decided that European customers are not really as fond of seagulls as Chinese customers and the name could be a hindrance, so we get the name Dolphin Surf. In some other markets, it’s called the Dolphin Mini instead.

The BYD Dolphin Surf falls into the city car category, so it’s about the same size as small EVs like the Dacia Spring and Leapmotor T03. Like these two rivals, the Dolphin Surf was designed as a dedicated EV, rather than being adapted from a petrol car, so there’s more cabin and boot space than you’d expect from such a small car.

The Dolphin Surf is offered in three trim levels – Active, Boost and Comfort – with a very competitive list of standard equipment at each level. Pricing in the UK ranges from about £19K to £24K. That makes it slightly more expensive than the Dacia and Leapmotor, but cheaper than European rivals like the Fiat 500e.

Initial media reviews have been mixed, with generally average-to-low scores from most reviewers. It has been praised for its space and levels of standard equipment, but criticised for a perceived lack of quality. The first local media drives took place around a short urban route in London, so we may see score change (for better or worse) once media titles have spent more time with the car on a wider range of local roads.

As of September 2025, the BYD Dolphion Surf holds a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 71%. It achieves top marks for its low running costs, zero tailpipe emissions and BYD’s excellent new car warranty offering. However, the overall rating is dragged down by the Dolphin Surf’s poor media review scores. We also don’t have Euro NCAP safety rating data at this time, so this could affect the rating when it is published.

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

Key specifications

Body style: Small five-door hatchback
Engines: Single electric motor
Price: From £18,650 on-road

Launched: Summer 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

“In the BYD Dolphin Surf, buyers have the option of a truly affordable electric vehicle without any significant compromises – it’s likely to become a popular model on UK roads.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 6.9 / 10

Read full review

The Car Expert

Andrew Charman, Stuart Masson

“The BYD Dolphin Surf squeezes a lot of useful equipment and space into a small package, but the interior quality is lacklustre.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 6 / 10

Read full review

Carwow

Mario Christou

More reviews

Auto Express

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The roomy and compellingly-priced BYD Dolphin Surf is arguably the Chinese brand’s most convincing model yet.”
Author: Ellis Hyde, Steve Walker
Read review

Auto Trader

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“BYD Dolphin Surf? Stupid name, right, but who cares when it’s a spacious, comfy and well-equipped city-focused EV priced at £19K. Subjectively, it’s nowhere near as interesting as a Hyundai Inster or a Renault 5 (or a used BMW i3), and it’s not as cheap as a Dacia Spring, but it does have an awful lot going for it. And we expect that its particular set of skills will make it another BYD that flies off the shelves. It’s a perfectly reasonable zero-emissions runabout.”
Author: Mark Nichol
Read review

Business Car

Model reviewed: Comfort 43kWh
Score: 8 / 10
“If the BYD Dolphin Surf doesn’t attract the attention of fleets for its looks, interior space, and high levels of standard equipment, the affordable list pricing surely will.”
Author: Martyn Collins
Read review

Car

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The BYD Dolphin Surf isn’t quite as roomy or zippy as an Inster, but it feels much more of a quality product than rivals from Dacia and Leapmotor and – dare we say it – Fiat. Crucially, though, it ticks many boxes: assured handling, perfectly decent performance, good range and good space. BYD’s best car? Quite possibly.”
Author: Jake Groves
Read review

Electrifying.com

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“BYD’s electric march across Europe continues, and the new Dolphin Surf might just be its most relevant model yet. It’s the brand’s eighth pure-electric model in under three years, but this one lands firmly in the sweet spot: small, practical, efficient and affordable.”
Author: Vicky Parrot
Read review

Green Car Guide

Model reviewed: Comfort
Score: 9 / 10
“The BYD Dolphin Surf is a game-changing EV: starting from just £18,650, the electric city car is well designed, great to drive, and very efficient in real-world driving.”
Author: Paul Clarke
Read review

Heycar

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The name is a bit silly, but the BYD Dolphin Surf is impressive, especially considering how cheap yet well-equipped it is. This is probably the best BYD to make it to the UK so far.”
Author: Matt Robinson
Read review

Honest John

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The BYD Dolphin Surf might just be the Chinese firm’s best car yet. While other models we’ve tested have been underwhelming considering their strong pricing, the Dolphin Surf is cheap to buy yet polished and well-equipped considering how little it costs.”
Read review

Parkers

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Impressively equipped and roomy electric supermini.”
Author: Luke Wilkinson
Read review

The Independent

Score: 8 / 10
“The BYD Dolphin Surf is a talented little car with a grown-up feel. We like the drive, the tech and the space. But it has entered a market brim-full of talent and charm, which will make life tough for the little BYD.”
Read review

The Telegraph

Score: 6 / 10
“The Chinese firm largely succeeds in its aim to attract youth to its smallest EV, although older drivers may question its value for money.”
Author: Alex Robbins
Read review

Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 5 / 10
“One of Britain’s cheapest EVs has loads of equipment. We wish they’d spent that money elsewhere, though.”
Author: Paul Horrell
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

No safety rating

As of September 2025, the BYD Dolphin Surf has not been assessed by Euro NCAP.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of September 2025, the BYD Dolphin Surf 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 Dolphin Surf 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	177 miles	C

Electrical efficiency	Average	Score	Variation	Score
EV models	4 m/KWh	C

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	16	A

Based on initial analysis, the BYD Dolphin Surf has very low running costs in terms of its electrical efficiency and insurance group ratings.

However, we don’t yet have verified five-year service and maintenance costs, so our running cost score is currently incomplete. As soon as we have more information, we’ll publish it here.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

The BYD Dolphin Surf is a brand-new car, so we won’t have enough reliability data to generate a reliability rating for some time.

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 Dolphin Surf, we’ll publish the results here.

Warranty rating

New car warranty information for the BYD Dolphin Surf

BYD’s new car warranty is better than average and better than rival brands in a similar price bracket as the Dolphin Surf.

The duration is six years, with a limit of 93,750 miles. In addition, there’s an eight-year/125,000-mile warranty for the battery components.

Warranty on a used BYD Dolphin Surf

Given that the Dolphin Surf is a new car only launched in 2025, the first cars won’t reach the end of their new car warranty until 2031 (unless they hit the 93,750-mile limit before that)

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 BYD Dolphin Surf

As of September 2025, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the BYD Dolphin Surf. 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 BYD dealer.

Everything you need to know about UK vehicle recalls

Awards

Significant UK trophies and awards that the BYD Dolphin Surf has received

2025

World Car Awards – Best Urban Car

Similar cars

If you’re looking at the BYD Dolphin Surf, you might also be interested in these alternatives.

Current models: BYD Dolphin | Dacia Spring | Fiat 500e | Hyundai Inster | Leapmotor T03

Discontinued models: SEAT Mii Electric | Skoda Citigo-e | Volkswagen e-Up

The electric city car market has started really growing in the mid-2020s after years of not really going anywhere. Inspired by the success of its fellow Chinese small cars, the Dacia Spring and Leapmotor T03, the Chinese-market BYD Seagull was rebranded as the Dolphin Surf for its European launch.

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

More information

More news, reviews and information about BYD at The Car Expert

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Buy a BYD Dolphin Surf

If you’re looking to buy a new or used BYD Dolphin Surf, 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 BYD Dolphin Surf

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

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

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Alpine A290

Stuart Masson

-

21 September 2025

0

Summary

The Alpine A290 is a performance version of the Renault 5 E-Tech small electric hatchback. It was launched in the summer of 2024, with the first customer cars arriving in the UK in the spring of 2025.

The A290 is the second model in Alpine’s range under its rebirth, alongside the longstanding Alpine A110 sports car. Unlike the A110, however, the A290 is based on a Renault rather than being a bespoke model – in this case, the reborn Renault 5 electric hatch.

There are five trim levels: GT, GT Premium, GT Performance, GTS and Première Edition. The first two get a 180hp electric motor, while the top three levels get an upgraded 220hp motor. The battery is the same size for all models at 52kWh. This gives the 180hp models an official driving range of 236 models, while the higher-performance model officially gets 226 miles from a full charge.

Early media reviews have been positive, although actual review scores have been fairly average. While journalists have praised the A290’s performance and styling, the consensus is that the Alpine deserves a bigger performance advantage over the ordinary Renault 5 to make it worth the extra money.

As of December 2025, the Alpine A290 has a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 75%. It scores top marks for its low running costs and zero tailpipe emissions, while its safety rating and media review scores to date have also been good. However, Alpine’s new car warranty coverage is only average. with other brands offering more.

Key specifications

Body style: Small hatchback
Engines: Single electric motor
Price: From £33,500

Launched: Summer 2024
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 compact Alpine A290 oozes personality and is heaps of fun to drive, but the Renault 5 E-Tech isn’t much slower and has a cheaper price tag.”

Model reviewed: GTS

Score: 7.4 / 10

Read full review

The Car Expert

Matthew MacConnell

“The Alpine A290 is a small electric hot hatch that puts an emphasis on putting a smile on your face – whether that be every time you look at its baby rally car looks or in the brilliant way it drives.”

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 new Alpine A290 all-electric hot hatchback is a rounded, well priced and very funky new model that’s got desirability in spades.”
Author: Shane Wilkinson
Read review

Model reviewed: A290 GTS
Score: 8 / 10
“The Alpine A290 is a fantastic electric hot hatch, but it comes with a hefty price tag.”
Author: Alex Ingram
Read review

Auto Trader

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“With its retro, rally-inspired styling and sporty manners, the Alpine A290 is primed to compete with the likes of the Mini Cooper SE and Abarth 500e, while the upmarket cabin is a step up from the Renault 5.”
Author: Dan Trent
Read review

Business Car

Model reviewed: GTS 220
Score: 8 / 10
“The new Alpine A290 impresses, has real ‘want’ factor, and deserves any future fleet success.”
Author: Martyn Collins
Read review

Car

Model reviewed: A290 GTS
Score: 8 / 10
“In many ways the A290 is job done for Alpine. As a performance car, it’s superior to the Abarth 500e and Mini Cooper Electric and provides a neat step up for those that the looks and feel of a Renault 5 but with added motorsport credentials.”
Author: James Dennison, Ryan Gilmore
Read review

Carbuyer

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Alpine A290 is a very desirable small car with a talented chassis. Proof the hot hatch is alive and well with zero emissions.”
Author: Charlie Harvey, Alex Ingram
Read review

Driving Electric

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Alpine A290 is a desirable, all-electric hot hatch that’s hard to resist.”
Author: Paul Adam
Read review

Electrifying.com

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The Alpine A290 is an absolute joy. Sure, a Cupra Born is more practical and is good fun, but the Alpine is another level when it comes to driver entertainment and sheer ‘want one’ factor. It really is a brilliant little package, and I suspect it’ll win over a lot of buyers who may previously not have considered an electric car, at all.”
Author: Ginny Buckley
Read review

Evo

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The A290 is a more characterful and enjoyable car than the VW ID.3 GTX, and its Cupra Born sister car. A closer match for character is the Abarth 500e, which generates less power and torque than the Alpine.”
Author: Yousuf Ashraf, James Taylor
Read review

Fleetworld

“The Alpine A290 GTS is not a cheap car, but then hot hatches never were, even in their 1980s heyday. Naturally, leasing takes the sting out of this and you get a lot of kit included with the GTS trim. What you don’t get is a particularly long driving range and that is a frustration in a car that you will want to drive for the fun of it.”
Author: Al Suttie
Read review

Green Car Guide

Model reviewed: A290 GTS
Score: 10 / 10
“The Alpine A290 is a hot hatch for the electric age. It’s huge fun to drive, with quick throttle responses and sharp steering, and effective brakes. What really sets it apart is its compact size and relatively light weight, which results in genuine agility. It also looks the part, with large alloy wheels and sporty styling details.”
Author: Paul Clarke
Read review

Honest John

Model reviewed: Range overview
“The Renault 5’s retro-informed modern styling has been working out in the Alpine A290. It’s performance credentials look good on paper, and it’s priced competitively with key rivals. It’s significantly costlier than the R5 E-Tech, though. Will brand awareness prove a stumbling block in the UK?”
Read review

Motoring Research

Model reviewed: A290 GTS
Score: 8 / 10
“As a hot hatchback, the Alpine’s shortcomings are those you’d expect from an electric car: a lack of drama from its drivetrain, plus a rather high seating position that results from locating batteries beneath the floor. However, by keeping weight down and sprinkling on some Renault Sport fairy dust, it avoids the stodgy, one-dimensional feel of some EVs.”
Read review

Parkers

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.2 / 10
“If you want a small, fun electric car, the Alpine A290 is worth your time. Its handling is a cut above rivals, it looks the part and the interior is a great place to sit. If you’re intending to swap your petrol hot-hatch in for the A290, we would advise managing your expectations somewhat. As performance cars go, it’s a work in progress, but one that’s certainly got enough to offer in the here and now.”
Author: James Dennison
Read review

The Independent

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“Alpine’s first all-electric hot hatchback is a sporty version of the brilliant new Renault 5 with a bit of know-how from the Alpine Formula One team thrown in for added spice.”
Author: Steve Fowler
Read review

The Sunday Times

Model reviewed: A290 GTS
Score: 8 / 10
“Fun but needs more puff.”
Author: Will Dron
Read review

Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Renault 5 spawns a hot-hatch with reasonable results. Decent enough, but not a latterday Renaultsport Clio”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 4 stars
Date tested: December 2024
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 80%
Child protection: 80%
Vulnerable road users: 76%
Safety assist: 68%

The Alpine A290 shares its safety rating with the Renault 5, which was assessed by Euro NCAP in December 2024 and scored a four-star safety rating. While it meets the 80% threshold for five stars in adult impact protection and child impact protection, and the 70% threshold for five stars for vulnerable road user protection (pedestrians and cyclists), it fell short of the 70% threshold for accident-avoidance technology.

However, it should be noted that Euro NCAP testing gets tougher almost every year, so a four-star score in 2024 can possibly be a better result than a five-star score from five years ago, depending on results from each test.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of December 2025, the Alpine A290 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	231 miles	C

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

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	28	C

The Alpine A290 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. As with any electric car, this is quite dependent on where you charge your car – if you can charge at home or work with cheap electricity tariffs, it will cost peanuts in energy compared to buying petrol or diesel. If you’re relying on public charging all the time, the advantage is much less.

Electrical efficiency (the EV equivalent of fuel consumption in a petrol car) is pretty good, while insurance should also be competitive. However, as yet we don’t have official servicing cost data so we’ll update this section once that becomes available.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

The Alpine A290 is a brand-new model, we don’t have enough data 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 A290, we’ll publish the results here.

Recalls

Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Alpine A290

As of December 2025, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the Alpine A290. 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 Alpine dealer.

Everything you need to know about UK vehicle recalls

Awards

Significant UK trophies and awards that the Alpine A290 has received

2025

The Car Expert Awards – Best Hot Hatch
European Car of the Year (joint winner with Renault 5)

Similar cars

If you’re looking at the Alpine A290, you might also be interested in these alternatives.

The number of electric hot hatches is gradually increasing, although not as fast as other areas of the new car market.

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

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Buy an Alpine A290

If you’re looking to buy a new or used Alpine A290, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car.

Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more

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Lease an Alpine A290

If you’re looking to lease a new Alpine A290, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal.

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

Personal contract hire deals from Carparison Leasing. Find out more

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

Subscribe to an Alpine A290

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?)

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Who or what is Changan?

Andrew Charman

-

20 September 2025

0

Hardly a month seems to go by without a new Chinese car manufacturer announcing its arrival on the UK market and it’s pretty likely that very few car buyers in Britain will have heard of Changan, dismissing it as “just another of those Chinese brands.”

The launch of Changan and its initial Deepal S07 car is, however, more significant than it looks. Not only is this one of China’s oldest and largest automotive manufacturers, it is a brand that has been in Europe, and the UK, for a long time – just not selling cars.

Changan arrived in Europe almost a quarter of a century ago when it opened a design studio in Turin, choosing Italy as the country is renowned as the spiritual home of the best car designers. The UK has always been equally renowned for its automotive technical excellence and so a research and development centre was set up in Birmingham in 2016.

Both have not just contributed but taken major responsibility for the Deepal 07 and its successors, allowing Changan to claim with some justification that its products will be rather more European than those of most of its Chinese rivals.

So who or what is Changan?

Changan describes itself as China’s oldest passenger car manufacturer, having been producing them since 1984. The company itself, however, is much older, dating back 163 years to 1862 and the setting up of a military supply facility called the Shanghai Foreign Gun Bureau.

Soon renamed the Suzhou Arsenal, the company moved to Nanjing and quickly became one of China’s foremost military manufacturers, with more than 1,700 employees. It was considered so important by the Chinese Government that when in 1937 Nanjing came under threat during the second Sino-Japanese War, the whole operation was moved to Chongqing – today the largest city in the world, said to be the size of Austria with 36 million inhabitants, remains Changan’s home.

By the mid-1950s, activities had been expanded beyond defence into other industries and, in 1959, this saw one of the company’s entities, Chonqing Changan Arsenal, making the Changjiang Type 46, described as the first production vehicle in China.

The real change, however, came in 1984 when Changan signed a technical tie-up with Suzuki. This saw the launch of the first Changan vehicles, the SC112 MPV and SC110 truck. From this point, Changan focused on automotive rather than military production.

The progress since then has been rapid as Changan expanded to become one of the largest automobile groups in China. Cars are sold today under the Changan, Changan Deepal and Avatr brands, while there are also joint ventures with Ford, Mazda and JMC.

Changan has become a global player in the process. Today, the group has 39 plants around the world, employing around 145,000 and exporting to some 103 countries. Annual global sales are now more than 3 million, with the Deepal and Avatr brands accounting for 85% of them.

Until now, however, Changan has not sold cars in Europe – but the launch is currently underway with the start of UK sales following launches earlier this year in Germany and the Netherlands.

A European design centre was established in Turin, Italy in 2001 and now employs more than 300 designers. It was followed by a UK research and development facility in 2010 employing 100+ engineers, and Changan’s European models have been created in these facilities.

The latest move has seen a second design studio opened in Munich, Germany for Changan’s forthcoming Avatr ‘sports luxury’ brand. Plans for manufacturing in Europe are also progressing rapidly, no doubt encouraged by the recent imposition of tariffs on Chinese exports, and a European Changan plant is expected to become reality in the near future.

When did Changan launch in the UK?

Changan as a UK commercial sales operation is launching in September 2025 – the company has been in Britain, however, almost 15 years. The research and development centre set up in 2010 moved to a site close to Birmingham airport in 2015, when £22 million was invested in building a new test centre.

What models does Changan have and what else is coming?

Changan has two brands that it plans to sell in the UK – Deepal is launching now and its more upmarket sibling Avatr is expected to follow in a year or so.

The first Deepal model is a mid-sized electric SUV, the 07. Initially, it is only available in single-motor rear-wheel-drive form with a driving range of up to 295 miles and a five-star Euro NCAP rating. In line with Changan’s sales structure, the only option available is an electric towbar, and so the car is priced at, not from, £39,990. It also comes with a seven-year warranty, with eight years on the battery.

Before the end of 2025, the Deepal 07 should be joined by a slightly smaller sister, the 05, and both vehicles will later be offered with both full-electric and range-extender powertrains, small petrol engines acting as generators for the battery.

Changan believes that the internal combustion engine has a role to play in future products, while the company also has plans for smaller cars with hybrid engines to cover a range of price points.

Where can I try a Changan car?

One aspect that Changan shares with its Chinese rivals is an intention to establish a traditional UK dealer network, and quickly.

So far, more than 30 outlets have been agreed with ten major dealer groups around the UK. The first Changan showroom opened in Birmingham in September, and the company aims to have more than 60 sites by the end of 2025.

What’s particularly significant about this company?

Changan may be a virtually unknown company in the UK, but this is very much not the case in China or indeed globally, prime aspects of the group being the scale of its operation and the long history, outstretching virtually all rivals.

Seemingly late to the party in the UK expansion of Chinese brands, Changan is actually following a determined path of preparation before launch, believing that establishing a European infrastructure before selling any cars is the best course of action.

What makes Changan different to the rest?

In a UK market currently dominated by new Chinese names, Changan stands out from its rivals in the importance of its British operation to the entire company. Not only has Changan been in Britain since 2011, its UK presence has involved much more than being an assembly and distribution hub for products created entirely in China.

The Birmingham R&D centre now employs more than 100 engineers working in five separate buildings. These buildings house high-tech testing and development hardware for everything from electric motors to hybridised engines and full vehicles. Several engines have been designed from clean sheets of paper in the UK centre and have been employed in Changan’s models across the world, including in China.

The R&D centre is currently expanding to also house training facilities for the UK dealer network, alongside a major parts facility established at the East Midlands Airport in Derbyshire.

Changan states that the hardware of the Deepal 07 and 05 has effectively been created in the UK, but the look of the cars is equally European-sourced, from the design centre in Turin.

While other Chinese brands are aggressively representing themselves as new kids on the block Changan claims that its buyers will now see the results of something around two decades in the making.

Summary

On the face of it, Changan has rather more going for it than many of its rivals, especially the ones from its home market of China – the company has been around longer than those competitors, and the only reason it’s following them onto the UK market is through several years of preparation and ‘Euro-proofing’ its product.

With such qualities, it’s easy to see Changan becoming a major player on the UK market – if it can meet the challenge of persuading potential car buyers to look at its products at a time when they are more than spoiled for choice.

Read more:

New Kia K4 hatchback arriving this year

New model

Sean Rees

-

19 September 2025

0

Billed as the upcoming successor to the Ceed family car, the Kia K4 hatchback will arrive in the UK before the end of the year, offering “class-leading legroom and boot space.”

The K4 will be offered with petrol and petrol mild-hybrid engine options at launch, with a petrol-electric hybrid variant planned for launch in 2026. While Kia notes that the K4 is not related to the now-retired Ceed, this new addition to Kia’s UK range will take the Ceed’s place in the medium car class – below the long-standing XCeed which is still on sale – rivalling the likes of the Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf and Skoda Octavia.

The lead-in powertrain option will be a turbocharged 115hp 1.0-litre petrol engine, and will be available with either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed automatic gearbox and mild-hybrid technology. The powertrain list also includes two turbocharged 1.6-litre petrols, with an output of 150hp and 180hp respectively, only available with a seven-speed auto.

Inside, the K4 has a similar interior layout and tech package as the all-electric EV4, with a continuous display that stretches across the dashboard housing a 12-inch digital instrument cluster, a five-inch climate control screen and a 12-inch infotainment touchscreen wirelessly compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Kia says that the K4’s designers aimed to maximise passenger space inside, with a focus on rear legroom and a high roofline for generous head room. Opening the boot lid reveals 438 litres of luggage space – 43 litres more than the Ceed could handle.

Kia is yet to announce the K4’s UK price list or its official arrival date just yet. Built at Kia’s factory in Mexico, there is also a saloon version of the K4, but whether that version will reach the UK remains to be seen. Interested? More details are sure to follow in the coming weeks, check back soon!

More Kia news, reviews, Expert Ratings and features

Best EV salary sacrifice providers

Tom Johnston

-

18 September 2025

0

As we have reported previously in The Car Expert, more new car customers are turning to EV salary sacrifice schemes to take advantage of considerable tax benefits compared to other forms of financing.

This trend is accelerating rapidly, with a large percentage of EVs now financed via salary sacrifice. If you are eligible for a salary sacrifice plan through your employer and you want a new EV, it’s almost a no-brainer to go down this path.

Since the introduction of valuable Benefit in Kind tax savings for low-emission cars, the demand for electric vehicles has rocketed, and an EV salary sacrifice scheme can offer big savings on income tax and National Insurance. While you can take a petrol or diesel car on salary sacrifice as well, there are comparatively few financial advantages to doing so these days.

Salary sacrifice, known as ‘sal-sac’, allows employees to reduce their cash earnings in return for a non-cash benefit, which can include a car. And because the deduction is made before income tax is applied, the scheme can represent a significant saving, especially when that’s set alongside the lower car tax (VED) which zero-emission EVs attract.

One of the biggest problems with EV salary sacrifice is that it is quite difficult to understand compared to traditional PCP car finance or PCH car leasing. Your employer needs to be signed up to a salary sacrifice programme, and the monthly cost of a car will depend on how much you earn and how you earn it (unlike a PCP or lease, where the monthly payment is going to be the same no matter what your salary is).

However, a number of new start-up companies have made great headway in helping potential customers understand the costs involved, as well as making it easier for small businesses to sign up to salary sacrifice programmes. Combined with the tax savings in salary sacrifice for electric cars, it’s proving to be a very favourable way for customers to make the switch from petrol power to electricity.

So where should you go for more information and a chance to sign up for a new car under an EV salary sacrifice scheme? Here, The Car Expert sets out the websites of some of the best providers currently available, to give a broad overview of the service currently being provided to companies and their employees.

Some of the companies below are marked with an asterisk* – these companies are commercial partners of The Car Expert, so we may receive a small commission if you click through to their websites to find out more. This does not affect the price you pay, but helps us to keep the site running. The rest of the sites are listed alphabetically.

The UK’s best EV salary sacrifice providers 2026

[–]

SalSac*

URL: salsac.co.uk

The first and most obvious point is that SalSac does exactly what its name suggests, providing ‘sal-sac’ vehicles for both small and large employers. The website concentrates on electric vehicles, but it can offer salary sacrifice on any type of vehicle if you’d prefer a petrol, diesel or hybrid car.

The site is full of clearly explained information about how salary sacrifice works, even including an example payslip that shows how your net pay will look if you take up a vehicle. This really helps people considering salary sacrifice for the first time to understand exactly how it would work and whether it would be right for them.

A range of electric vehicles is shown, with indications of how much you’d save on petrol costs and how much your electricity is likely to cost for each car over a three-year period. Even allowing for these numbers being a general guide that will depend on your circumstances, it’s helpful for your budget calculations when making your decision. There’s also an indication of total savings over a three-year period.

Pricing includes the vehicle plus comprehensive insurance, servicing and road tax for the entire duration of the agreement. SalSac will also deliver the car to your door.

Explore salary sacrifice from SalSac*

Fleet Alliance*

URL: fleetalliance.co.uk

Fleet Alliance is a Glasgow-based fleet management and funding specialist, and has now brought its expertise into the EV salary sacrifice market. The company is concentrating on electric vehicles only for its salary sacrifice offering, as that’s where the best savings are available for employees.

The site has loads of helpful information for both employees and employers, with both an FAQ section and explainer videos. There are some good example calculations of how much different cars cost with salary sacrifice compared to traditional leasing. However, you’ll need to be registered to be able to log in and see all the latest offers on the full range of electric cars.

Fleet Alliance also promises plenty of back-up service and support for employers, which is reassuring for companies that are taking their first steps into salary sacrifice.

Explore salary sacrifice from Fleet Alliance*

Octopus*

URL: octopusev.com

Octopus says it realised how good EV salary sacrifice was and decided to design a scheme that makes it easy and cost-neutral for companies to set up and run. That’s the group’s vision, and the website goes on to explain more about that goal. You can click on ‘employer’ or ‘employee’ from the landing page for more detailed information but the general ‘Salary Sacrifice’ drop-down menu offers information on how sal-sac works and what you get with an Octopus scheme.

That includes the new car, insurance, servicing, maintenance, breakdown cover plus 4,000 miles of free charging and a home charger installed. There are useful sections explaining how businesses can sign up with Octopus, how the scheme will affect net income and what effect it will have on your tax returns.

The ‘employer’ section provides plenty of information about how the scheme can work for your company, while the ‘employee’ route even has a tab entitled ‘convince your company’ with a call to ‘join the electric revolution’ and help get more businesses to switch over to EVs.

Explore salary sacrifice from Octopus Electric Vehicles*

Pink Salary Exchange*

URL: p inksalaryexchange.co.uk

Pink Salary Exchange offers a range of electric vehicles via salary sacrifice, working with a panel of lenders to ensure customers are getting the best deal on whichever car they choose.

There are terms available from as little as six months, if you only need a car for a short period of time, up to four years if you’re comfortable with committing that far in advance (which is the same term as the most popular PCP or leasing deals anyway).

The site shows you indicative monthly costs for every car for each tax bracket, which is quite helpful. There’s also a ‘Community’ section aimed at helping to transfer cars between employers when an employee leaves the business.

E xplore salary sacrifice from Pink Salary Exchange*

The Electric Car Scheme*

URL: e lectriccarscheme.com

The Electric Car Scheme was set up to help drivers access government tax incentives for EV salary sacrifice that are ‘hard to access’. The company also says it will find cheaper deals and take some of the risk away from businesses, such as paying early exit fees if employees go on sick or parental leave.

The Scheme works with a selection of car leasing companies to find the best value lease deals for each model. Drop-down menus at the top of the landing page take either companies or employees through the system, explaining how it all works, what’s included with the scheme and calculations on savings.

There’s a good advice section which compares electric vs petrol cars, considers leasing against buying and so on. The site also tackles popular issues such as range anxiety, using charging points and deciding whether to go full electric or hybrid.

To look at specific cars you have to register, but that page offers lots of comparison advice in terms of price, specifications, range and extras.

Explore salary sacrifice from The Electric Car Scheme*

Select Car Leasing*

URL: selectcarleasing.co.uk/salary-sacrifice

Select Car Leasing is one of the UK’s leading providers of personal and business leasing, and is now a top choice for salary sacrifice as well.

Helpfully, the site provides indicative costs for both 20% and 40% taxpayers, and shows how the monthly cost compares with a standard personal contract hire agreement.

As with the other sites on this page, there;s plenty of helpful information for both employees and employers, as well as an FAQ section .

Explore salary sacrifice from Select Car Leasing*

Love Electric*

URL: loveelectric.cars

Started by a husband and wife partnership, Love Electric claims that its car scheme can halve the monthly cost of any new electric car and the clearly laid-out website explains how this works. The landing page runs through a selection of electric cars that are available to lease and there are helpful sections that explain the different aspects of what’s on offer.

Unusually, Love Electric also runs a used car salary sacrifice scheme, which is calls Reloved. This is a potential way for small businesses, in particular, to get the benefits of salary sacrifice at a lower monthly cost.

The website goes to great lengths to show how simple the scheme can be. Additionally, from the landing page, there are useful news sections and information on the company’s pledge to the environment, a blog section and even a community forum.

Explore salary sacrifice from Love Electric*

Corparison*

URL: corp arison.co.uk

Corparison is part of the same group as Carparison (car leasing) and Vanparison (van leasing), so there are plenty of options for whatever you or your business need.

The Corparison site talks about fleet solutions, but it still offers salary sacrifice for companies running just one vehicle.

Being a company that specialises in fleet management, Corparison can take care of all of the admin associated with implementing the scheme and running the vehicles.

Explore salary sacrifice from Corparison *

Motor Source Group*

URL: motorsourcesalarysacrifice.com

Motor Source Group is the salary sacrifice arm of a company called Forces Cars Direct, which was established to help source and lease vehicles for armed forces veterans. However, you don’t have to have served to be a customer of Motor Source Group as it’s open to everyone.

The site is quite a simple one, highlighting the benefits of salary sacrifice for both employers and employees. It’s lighter on detail than many other sites in this list, although the programme will work in much the same way.

Explore salary sacrifice from Motor Source Group*

Hippo Leasing*

URL: hippoleasing.co.uk

With more than 100 years’ experience in the UK motor industry, Hippo Leasing is probably justified in saying it can find you ‘the right car at the right price’. And one of the ways to do this is through salary sacrifice. From the landing page click on ‘Leasing’ and you’ll find it tucked away at the bottom of a list of leasing arrangements.

The site goes a long way towards explaining what sal-sac is and how it works. It outlines the benefits for employers and employees, and offers to take care of all the paperwork involved in signing up.

There’s even a good case study on how it all works using the popular Tesla Model 3 and a fictitious marketing manager as examples. This also shows how the Hippo deal includes servicing, maintenance and roadside assistance as part of the set-up.

There’s a frequently asked questions section and finally an application form to request a call from the company. The site offers plenty of help and news and outlines the car brands available.

Explore salary sacrifice from Hippo Leasing*

Fleet Evolution

URL: fleetevolution.com

Fleet Evolution claims to have launched the UK’s first electric car salary sacrifice scheme in 2012 and today has a wide range of clients – its smallest customer has three employees and the largest more than 10,000. They have developed a simple approach, they say, that is based on HR department needs, not fleet department.

There’s lots of helpful information explaining how salary sacrifice schemes work and how to set one up for a business. To encourage people who don’t have access to a home charger, Fleet Evolution have schemes where they supply a two-port 22kW charger to a factory or office for employees’ use.

You need to be registered to request a quote for a car but once that’s done it’s a case of using the drop down menus to choose a manufacturer and then a model, before sending send that criteria to receive a quote.

The site also contains helpful information about fleet management, specialist vehicle control and making changes to a company’s vehicle needs so that it becomes more environmentally friendly.

Go Green

URL: gogreenleasing.co.uk

Like its name, which pretty much sums them up, Go Green’s website is simple to navigate. From the landing page you are instantly given the opportunity to search for a make, model, fuel type (electric or hybrid), range or you can just browse through special offers or price bands.

Go Green is part of the Bridle Group, a large vehicle finance broker. They are dedicated to offering only electric or hybrid vehicles, which (probably not coincidentally) are the vehicles that benefit most from salary sacrifice tax advantages.

There is the same amount of space given to electric cars as there is to hybrids. And they say it’s not all about the environment – Go Green says there are real savings to be made and they want to help you find them.

The drop-down menu will assist in finding what you’re looking for, but if you’re still not sure what you want you can request a call back from one of their experts. There are special offers, blogs and a handy section of guides for the most common questions about electric vehicles and leasing including, of course, EV salary sacrifice.

LeasePlan

URL: leaseplan.com/en-gb

There’s plenty of bright ticks and pound sign images when you land on the LeasePlan page giving a positive feel. Scrolling down you’ll quickly find ‘Greener and Easier’ a section all about salary sacrifice with positive messages about saving money, the environment and reducing our carbon footprint.

This section comes second only to ‘Rentals’, LeasePlan’s core business, so you can see how much importance the company now gives sal-sac. You can go straight to a group of interesting topics, such as ‘how much to pay’, ‘what are the rules’ and ‘is it worth it’ and there’s even a downloadable guide available with more information.

Finally, there’s a section for next steps which asks employees to speak to their employer and ask them to get in touch or, if you’re the business owner, HR or fleet manager, there’s an email address to click on and start negotiations.

Novuna

URL: novunavehiclesolutions.co.uk

Award-winning Novuna offer all sorts of car leasing and fleet service deals and are committed to cleaner, more efficient motoring. There’s lots of offer from the start but, among the wealth of information on EVs and their use, is a section on salary sacrifice.

It takes a few clicks to get there, but eventually there’s plenty of information for businesses and employees looking to change over to an EV in this way. It explains fully what sal-sac is and how it works and goes on to show the benefits to employees, businesses and the environment when changing over.

Among the plus points offered by a Novuna scheme are a choice of car, a home charger fitted by British Gas, maintenance, road tax and insurance. There’s an ‘EV Hub’ that answers many of the questions and concerns an employee might have, while showing available vehicles within various parameters such as price, range, charging speed and even boot space.

WeVee

URL: wevee.uk

WeVee’s claims its mission is to make the process of getting a new electric car as simple as possible by bringing EVs together and setting up salary sacrifice programmes with employers.

To find your ideal EV click on the drop down menu and search by body style, make or group such as sports cars, SUVs or even vans. The website is geared towards employers and explains how a sal-sac scheme can help bosses attract and retain workers while halving their motoring costs.

For employees there are explanations of how the scheme works – including an entire section on ‘Driving an EV’ – but for more detailed advice WeVee offers special employee advisers to talk rookies through the initial minefield.

There’s a section in EVs currently in stock and ready for delivery and, slightly tongue in cheek, there’s an offer to ‘drive like the boss’ with a range of tempting higher-end models normally seen in the executive car park but which, being electric cars, are available at tempting monthly rates.

Zenith

URL: zenith.co.uk

A leading independent vehicle management business, Zenith specialises in all sorts of leasing and outsourcing programmes, including EV salary sacrifice.

It’s not instantly obvious where sal-sac is from Zenith’s landing page and indeed you have to go via the ‘Business’ drop down menu and then scroll down through ‘Funding’ to find it, such is the breadth and depth of Zenith’s offerings.

Once there, everything is explained: how the scheme works, the tax benefits, the choice of cars, and what’s offered in a Zenith scheme, which includes: insurance, road tax, servicing, maintenance, breakdown cover, replacement tyres, windscreen cover and accident management.

For employers, Zenith’s online management system, called Pulse, gives access to information regarding employees’ cars such as emissions or accidents. And its scheme offers levels of risk mitigation to protect against financial penalties if an employee has to go on a longer-term absence.

Looking for a new electric car? Our Expert Ratings give you the definitive verdict on every new EV on sale in the UK:

Additional reporting by Stuart Masson. Originally published in 2022, last updated January 2026.

*The Car Expert has commercial partnerships with Corparison, Fleet Alliance, Hippo Leasing, Love Electric, Motor Source Group, Octopus Electric Vehicles, Pink Salary Exchange, SalSac and Select Car Leasing. If you click through to their websites, we may receive a small commission. This does not affect the price you pay.

Mercedes-Benz GLC EQ

Stuart Masson

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16 September 2025

0

Mercedes-Benz GLC EQ (2026 onwards) | Expert Rating

Summary

The Mercedes-Benz GLC EQ (“GLC with EQ Technology”, to give it its full name) is a mid-sized electric SUV that was revealed in September 2025 at the Munich motor show. It is set to go on sale in the UK in the first half of 2026.

The GLC EQ effectively replaces the previous Mercedes EQC, which was sold between 2019 and 2023. The new name reflects Mercedes’ latest plan to simplify its complex and confusing naming strategy, where ‘EQ’ names will be phased out and electric models will be aligned with their fossil fuel-powered equivalents.

As such, the GLC EQ is a similar size to the petrol/diesel/hybrid GLC, which was launched in 2022. However, the two cars are completely different vehicles, with the EQ model being designed and constructed as a dedicated EV (rather than being adapted from a petrol model like the company’s smaller SUVs, the EQA and EQB), so we’re not sure if this is really reducing confusion.

The GLC EQ is the first model in a new range of Mercedes-Benz EVs, and showcases the company’s latest design and engineering directions. This is most notable by the enormous light-up chromed grille, along with multiple three-pointed star motifs in the LED headlights and tail lights. You can expect to see the same themes repeated on a whole range of new Mercedes models in coming years.

Mercedes claims significant improvements in performance, efficiency and range from its latest electric powertrain. The launch-edition GLC 400 produces about 490hp and is likely to claim an official battery range of about 440 miles, but final figures will be announced closer to the car’s UK arrival. There will also be more versions added to the range in the coming months, presumably including cheaper models with less power and a smaller battery.

Inside, the new GLC EQ is dominated by an enormous touchscreen that stretches across the entire dashboard. There is also a more advanced voice control system, driven by the compay’s latest software system and powered by advanced processors. Being a dedicated EV, cabin space is a bit better than the petrol GLC in both the front and rear.

The Mercedes-Benz GLC EQ is due to arrive in the UK by the summer of 2026. We’ll have full UK pricing and specification details as soon as they become available.

More Mercedes-Benz Expert Ratings, new car reviews, news and features

Mercedes-Benz GLC EQ – need to know

Brand-new model, not based on the petrol/diesel/hybrid GLC model
First model to carry latest Mercedes styling and engineering themes
Slightly larger inside than petrol/diesel/hybrid GLC
Significantly better performance and battery range than previous EQC
On sale in the UK by Summer 2026

Key specifications

Body style: Medium SUV
Engines: electric, all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive
Price: TBA (from approx. £60,000)

Launched: Autumn 2025
UK on sale date: Spring 2026

Image gallery

Media reviews

Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media.

No media rating

As of September 2025, we don’t have any reviews of the upcoming Mercedes-Benz GLC EQ. We expect to see first reviews from the global launch in late 2025, with the first UK-based reviews in early 2026.

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

No safety rating

As of September 2025, the Mercedes-Benz GLC EQ has not been assessed by Euro NCAP.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of September 2025, the Mercedes-Benz GLC EQ 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 GLC EQ 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

No data yet

As of September 2025, we don’t have independently verified data available for the Mercedes-Benz GLC EQ. Check back again soon.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

The Mercedes-Benz GLC EQ is a brand-new model, so we won’t have enough reliability data to generate a reliability rating for some time.

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 GLC EQ, we’ll publish the results here.

Warranty rating

New car warranty information for the Mercedes-Benz GLC EQ

Overall ratingA82%
New car warranty duration3 years
New car warranty mileageUnlimited miles
Battery warranty duration8 years
Battery warranty mileage100,000 miles

Mercedes-Benz’s standard new car warranty is not much better than the bare minimum offered by car companies in the UK, running for three years, with no limit on mileage.

In addition to the standard new car warranty, there’s an 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 Mercedes-Benz GLC EQ

As of September 2025, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the Mercedes-Benz GLC EQ. However, recall information is updated very regularly (even though the car has not yet gone on sale in the UK), 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 Mercedes-Benz dealer.

Everything you need to know about UK vehicle recalls

Similar cars

If you’re looking at a new or used Mercedes-Benz GLC EQ, you might also be interested in these alternatives.

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Buy a Mercedes-Benz GLC EQ

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

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Lease a Mercedes-Benz GLC EQ

If you’re looking to lease a new Mercedes-Benz GLC EQ, 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

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.
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Car subscriptions from Cocoon.
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Mercedes reveals electric GLC EQ

New model

The Car Expert staff

-

16 September 2025

0

A new electric “GLC with EQ Technology” mid-sized SUV has been introduced by Mercedes-Benz at the Munich motor show.

This is an all-new model built on an all-new EV platform, rather than being based on a petrol model like the company’s smaller electric EVs, the EQA and EQB.

It essentially replaces the previous EQC, with the new name reflecting Mercedes’ desire to start cleaning up its confusing naming policy. Dedicated ‘EQ’ model names are being phased out, with new models sharing their names with similarly sized petrol models, even if the vehicles are completely different. So this car is a completely different vehicle to the petrol/diesel/hybrid GLC launched a few years ago. Unfortunately, “GLC with EQ Technology” doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue and normal humans are unlikely to ever refer to it as such, so the naming confusion is unlikely to end soon.

The new electric GLC is set to go head-to-head with the all-new BMW iX3 next year, as well as the still-fresh Audi Q6 e-tron and a multitude of other electric SUVs crowding into the UK market.

As with the BMW iX3, Mercedes claims that the new GLC EQ is the first in a new line of cars, showcasing the company’s new house style and engineering priorities. The most obvious example of this is the enormous light-up chromed grille, along with multiple three-pointed star motifs in the LED headlights and tail lights.

The cabin also reflects Mercedes’ latest design philosophy, featuring a dashboard that’s almost entirely screen-based. This is an evolution of the ‘hyperscreens’ available on the EQE and EQS models, measuring 39 inches in size and spanning the entire dashboard from driver to passenger. There’s also extensive ambient lighting that the driver can customise at length. The whole thing is powered by Mercedes’ latest operating system, which claims to use AI to make voice commands more natural and conversational.

Compared to the fossil fuel-powered GLC, the electric GLC offers more headroom and legroom for both front and rear passengers. As well as the regular boot, which can swallow 570 litres of luggage, there’s an additional frunk (‘front trunk’) under the bonnet that can take a very decent 128 litres – much better than most electric SUVs.

Unsurprisingly for a latest-generation electric vehicle, Mercedes-Benz claims that the new GLC EQ offers significant improvements in performance, efficiency and driving range. The launch model will be the GLC 400, which is all-wheel drive and offers 360kW (490hp) of power. The motor is supplied by a 94kWh battery, which should yield a driving range of about 440 miles on official government lab tests. Exact distances will be available once UK pricing and specification are confirmed.

Further down the road, there will be up to four more GLC EQ variants. We don’t have any more information on these at this time, but they are likely to include entry-level models that should be substantially cheaper than the launch-spec GLC 400.

New Polestar 5 now on sale

New model

Sean Rees

-

15 September 2025

0

Upmarket all-electric brand Polestar has introduced its fifth model – the Polestar 5 – which is now on sale in the UK as the Swedish marque’s flagship grand tourer.

Now rivalling the likes of the Audi e-tron GT, Porsche Taycan and Lotus Emeya, this performance-focused grand tourer now sits at the top of the Polestar range, above the slightly shorter Polestar 4 coupé-SUV that launched in the UK last summer.

Built on a unique aluminium platform that reduces overall weight, this sleek grand tourer has been designed for maximum aerodynamic efficiency – in an effort to boost battery range – with 13% of that aluminium used being recycled.

Like the Polestar 3 and 4, the Polestar 5 sports the brand’s ‘SmartZone’ front end with a housing sensors, cameras and radar instead of a traditional front grille, and dual blade LED headlights that stretch up the bonnet.

Like the Polestar 4, this new model also doesn’t feature a rear window. Instead, the rearview mirror in the cabin has a high-definition screen that displays the live feed of a roof-mounted rear camera, which the manufacturer says gives a much wider field of view. This screen can also be disabled, allowing the driver to view passengers in the rear seats when needed.

Inside, the grand tourer features the largest panoramic glass roof of any Polestar so far at just over two metres long, while the seats are designed in collaboration with Recaro. While the 5 is technically a five-seater car, the manufacturer says its design primarily as a four-seater, with the central armrest in its lower position.

A 15-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen juts out of the dashboard which runs the brand’s Snapdragon software, which features Google Maps, Google Assistant and Google Play as standard. A 21-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system is available for an extra fee, replacing the standard ten-speaker system.

On the performance front, there are two different ‘Launch Edition’ powertrain options to choose from. Both are all-wheel drive and powered by a 112kWh battery paired to two electric motors. The lead-in ‘Dual Motor’ model can reportedly muster 748hp – compared to the 544hp output of the standard Polestar 4. The grand tourer has a battery range of 416 miles between charges.

The more expensive 884hp Polestar 5 ‘Performance’ is the fastest model Polestar has ever produced – capable of completing a 0-62mph spirit in 3.2 seconds – 0.7 seconds faster than the ‘Dual Motor’. This added performance comes with a lesser maximum battery range of 351 miles. Top speed is electronically limited to 155mph, and the electric car can charge at DC speeds of up to 350kW, with a 10% to 80% battery top up taking around 22 minutes.

Pricing for the new Polestar 5 now begins at nearly £90k for the ‘Dual Motor’, rising to £105k for the ‘Performance’ edition.

More Polestar news, reviews, Expert Ratings and features

Everything you need to know about McLaren

Andrew Charman

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14 September 2025

0

Everything you need to know about McLaren

McLaren versus Ferrari is a battle that has been played out on race tracks around the world since the 1960s. But today it is also a battle that is fought in the most upmarket automotive showrooms.

McLaren dipped its toe into the road market in the early 1990s with a single car that became a legend, called the F1. But it has been a proper road car manufacturer for less than two decades – and in that short time its futuristic factory in Surrey has produced a succession of machines that have each earned a significant place at the very top of the automotive food chain – the supercar sector.

The company has rapidly become a serious competitor to much longer established supercar makers, and none more so than Ferrari. Every time a new McLaren is launched, it is always compared first and foremost to the latest equivalent rival from Maranello.

It hasn’t all been plain sailing for McLaren, however, and very recently the marque has gained new owners as it seeks to move on from profitability issues and find its place in the new automotive electric era.

Everything you need to know about McLaren

So who or what is McLaren?

Like Ferrari, McLaren is a brand with its history firmly in international motorsport. Bruce McLaren was a New Zealand racing driver who came to the UK in 1958 and rose to compete in Formula 1, building his own cars from 1964. Sadly, a promising career was cut short when he was killed testing a sports car at Goodwood in 1970.

Continuing on without its founder and leader, the McLaren team’s form fluctuated through the 1970s, winning the F1 World Championship in 1974 and 1976 (the latter with British driver James Hunt), but struggling badly towards the end of the decade. In 1980, the team merged with a junior racing team run by a young team principal called Ron Dennis – he turned McLaren into the most successful team of the 1980s and ‘90s, winning numerous championships with drivers such as Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna.

In 1988 Gordon Murray, McLaren’s hugely regarded designer of its racing cars, persuaded Dennis to embark on a project to create “the ultimate road-going supercar”. The result was the McLaren F1, a revolutionary mid-engined three-seater in which the passengers sat either side of and slightly behind the driver.

A separate company called McLaren Cars was set up to build the new model. Production lasted only four years between 1992 and 1998 and just 106 were built, the car quickly gaining cult status. Several found their way into international GT racing and a McLaren F1 won the 1995 Le Mans 24 Hours.

McLaren Cars’ next project was to design a car for its F1 engine supplier, Mercedes-Benz. The 626hp V8-engined Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren was manufactured between 2003 and 2010 at a brand-new technology centre (the company really didn’t like it being called a ‘factory’), designed by famed architect Norman Foster and built in Woking, Surrey. Today, the site is home to both the race team and road car production.

The road car company was relaunched in 2010 and separated more clearly from the race team, taking the name McLaren Automotive. The first car, the 12C, was launched in 2011 as a mid-engined supercar in either coupé or open-top versions. The company quickly expanded its plans to develop a three-pronged range dubbed Sports, Super and Ultimate.

The parent McLaren Group was racked by politics in the 2010s, with Ron Dennis eventually selling his shares and departing. The road car company continued to produce much admired supercars, but struggled to achieve profitability. McLaren Automotive posted an £873 million loss in 2023 and its largest shareholder, the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom of Bahrain, acquired the entire McLaren Group in early 2024.

Last December, McLaren Automotive was sold on to CYVN Holdings, an investment firm mostly owned by the government of Abu Dhabi. CYVN also owns around 20% of Chinese electric vehicle brand Nio and also acquired Forseven, a UK-based start-up that had already signed up several prominent talents in electric automotive.

The final element was to acquire Gordon Murray Technologies, a company set up by the former McLaren designer and which had developed innovative new manufacturing processes to make more cost-effective vehicles of lighter weight.

Forseven and McLaren Automotive were merged under the new name of McLaren Group Holdings. The company is now develop the brand’s first electric car, which several sources have speculated could be an SUV, as well as expanding into other areas of the automotive market.

What models does McLaren have and what else is coming?

McLaren’s cars are exclusive and effectively all limited editions – model ranges do not tend to go on for many years before being replaced with a new model and a new name. The 600LT, for example, was built for only three years between 2018 and 2020 and the 720S lasted five, discontinued in 2022.

Currently there is a four-strong model range, and if anything made by McLaren could be considered entry-level, it is the GTS, effectively an updated version of the GT, a car made between 2019 and 2024 and one that tended to be less of an attraction to the marque’s affluent buyers than its more potent sisters.

The updates encompass more power, less weight and bolder styling, and the GTS is pitched as a grand tourer that anyone who could afford its £185,000 starting price might drive on a daily basis, rather than an out-and-out supercar. It employs the company’s signature drivetrain format of a mid-mounted 4.0-litre V8 engine, with 635hp and a 3.2-second 0-62mph time.

Current McLaren range on our Expert Rating Index

McLaren 750S

McLaren Artura

McLaren GTS

The Artura is McLaren’s first plug-in hybrid. Launched in 2022 and costing from £223,000, it mates an electric motor to a twin-turbo V6 petrol engine for 671hp. Seen as a prime rival to the Ferrari 296 GTB, the Artura is offered as a coupé or an open-top Spider.

The 750S launched in 2023 as a direct supercar successor to the popular 720S. It uses the mid-mounted 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 driving the rear wheels and putting out 750 horsepower. Like the Artura it passes 62mph in under three seconds and has a claimed top speed of 206mph. Again, and typical of McLaren, it can also be had as a Spider.

Finally there is the W1, unveiled in October 2024, pitched as a 50^th anniversary celebration of McLaren’s first GP victory and the third offering in the brand’s ultimate series – preceeded by the original F1 of the 1990s and the P1 which was made between 2013 and 2015. The W1 pumps out an astonishing 1275hp from its hybrid drivetrain and all of the 399 planned production run are already sold, despite a price tag of “circa £2 million…”

What’s coming next from McLaren is open to speculation. The merger with electric start-up Forseven suggests more electric models are in the pipeline, and company management has promised more details of future McLarens before the end of 2025 – industry sources suggest a wider range could be in the pipeline, with both electric and high performance internal combustion engines. These could include a long-rumoured SUV.

Where can I try a McLaren car?

Being a niche manufacturer of supercars, McLaren’s dealers are plush, luxury sites but few in number with a couple having reverted from sales to only service in recent times.

There are now just seven retail outlets in the UK, with one in Scotland and none in Wales – and, remarkably, none in central London as its former flagship showroom in Knightsbridge is “temporarily closed”.

The potential buyer with well over six figures burning a hole in their pocket has a choice of Ascot, Birmingham, Glasgow, Hatfield, Leeds, Manchester or the New Forest, while there are also service facilities in Bristol, Guildford and Petersfield.

What makes McLaren different to the rest?

McLaren is a very young supercar maker, competing against marques with some of the most glittering histories such as Aston Martin, Lamborghini and the daddy of them all, Ferrari.

But the upstart manufacturer from Woking has made the most of its own glorious motorsport history to ensure that its road cars are equally special and instantly recognisable – when you see a McLaren on the road, you know what it is.

A McLaren fact to impress your friends

McLaren has landed on Mars. McLaren Composites, one of the several companies in the group alongside the car manufacturer, produced ultra-light bodyshell parts for the Beagle 2 lander sent to the red planet in 2003.

Sadly contact was lost with the spacecraft just as it approached the surface, but it was found 12 years later, not far from its intended landing point.

Summary

McLaren’s road car ambitions have come a long way in a short time and the manufacturer has established a reputation for models that sits alongside the success of its F1 team.

But McLaren still needs to make more money from its road cars than it currently does, and the recent major changes of ownership suggest that the next few years will be crucial to cement the future for the UK’s leading supercar company.

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

Buy a McLaren

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

Find a used McLaren with Motors. Find out more

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New Renault Clio hatchback debuts

New model

Sean Rees

-

10 September 2025

0

Renault has shown off its new sixth-generation Clio hatchback for the first time at the Munich motor show, which will arrive with both pure petrol and hybrid powertrain options.

Introducing overhauled exterior design language and updated on-board tech, this new iteration of the Clio is set to replace the current-generation model on sale since 2019, but won’t arrive until reportedly sometime in 2027. First arriving in 1990, over 1.3 million models have been sold with the Clio nameplate to date.

Starting with the car’s exterior looks, the hatchback sports a shorter more angular front grille, a new LED headlight design and more prominent front bumper air intakes with C-shaped daytime running lights. In comparison to the current model’s softer clam-shell silhouette, the new Clio has sharper body contours, a lip spoiler above the rear windscreen and hexagon-shaped tail lights.

While still smaller than mid-sized hatchbacks like the BMW 1 Series and Volkswagen Golf, Renault has made the Clio around seven centimetres longer and four centimetres wider than the current generation, which should slightly increase passenger room inside.

Renault says it has paid special attention to the car’s interior, using recycled materials to trim the cabin and installing a ten-inch infotainment and ten-inch digital instrument cluster in one continuous display as that juts out of the dashboard – the same system found in the all-electric Renault 4 and 5 model ranges.

Opening the boot lid reveals 391 litres of boot space – identical to the current model. Two powertrain options will be offered, starting with a 115hp 1.2-litre pure petrol engine paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. The latter, more expensive choice will be a 160hp hybrid setup with a 1.8-litre petrol engine and two electric motors working in tandem.

Renault adds that the hybrid has a fuel consumption of 72mpg, and can complete a 0-62mph sprint in 8.3 seconds – a second quicker off the line than the current Clio E-Tech hybrid.

That sums up what we know about the upcoming sixth-generation Renault Clio. More details, including the car’s official launch date, UK pricing and trim specifications, are sure to follow in the coming months. Check back soon!

More Renault news, reviews, Expert Ratings and features

Slow new car sales in August but EV numbers up again

Car industry news

Stuart Masson

-

9 September 2025

0

Slow new car sales in August but EV numbers up again

(Sorry for this being very late, I’ve been in Australia for family reasons over the last three weeks.)

It was a slow month for new car sales in August, with private sales flat and fleet registrations down. However, EV market share continued to grow.

According to data published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), overall new car registrations were down by 2% in August compared to the same month last year. Private sales were up by about 1% but fleet registrations were down 5%.

It’s important to bear in mind that August is one of the smallest months of the year for new car sales (along with February), so relatively small changes can mean large swings in percentage terms. Just under 83,000 new cars were registered in August, whereas September will probably see more than 270,000 cars registered thanks to the new 75-plate registration change.

EV and hybrid numbers continue to climb

August was the first full month of the UK government’s new electric car grant scheme, after its botched rollout in July. This meant that there were a few new EV sales that benefitted from the grant in August, plus quite a lot of EV sales that benefitted from manufacturers’ own ‘grant’ offers.

Plug-in hybrid registrations continued their astonishing growth in 2025, even outperforming regular (non-plugged) hybrids. A particular mention goes to new Chinese brand Jaecoo, whose Jaecoo 7 was the UK’s best-selling plug-in hybrid in August. But again, August is a small month so results can be manipulated to some degree. September will give us a much better idea of how the market is really performing.

The other interesting part of the registration data was that petrol and diesel cars made up 50.3% of sales, while hybrids and EVs made up 49.7%. It’s entirely likely that we will achieve the next milestone of electrification, with electrified cars outselling fossil-fuel cars, at some point before the end of this year.

Good month, bad month

Although we repeatedly caution against reading too much into February and August results, we’re still interested in significant increases or decreases for different car brands. And as usual, there were plenty of good and bad results in the UK car market last month. The overall market was down by 2% compared to last August, and we look for brands that are at least 10% better or worse than the overall figure.

It was a good month for the following brands, which all outperformed the overall market by at least 10%: Alfa Romeo, Alpine, Bentley, BMW, BYD, Cupra, GWM, Hyundai, Land Rover, Mini, Omoda, Peugeot and Polestar.

Meanwhile, things were slow for these brands, which all underachieved against the overall market by at least 10%: Abarth, Audi, Citroën, DS Automobiles, Fiat, Genesis, Honda, Ineos, KGM, Kia, Maserati, Mazda, MG, Nissan, SEAT, Smart, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, Vauxhall and Volvo.

That means the following brands were about where you’d expect them to be: Dacia, Ford, Jeep, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Renault, Skoda, Tesla and Volkswagen.

As usual, Volkswagen was the UK’s best-selling brand in August, followed by Ford, BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

In terms of absolute growth, Jaecoo registered 1,367 cars in August, despite being a new name that did not exist in the UK 12 months ago. Mini was close behind, increasing sales over last August by 1,364 units. Going the other way, Audi recorded the largest fall in registrations compared to last year, dropping nearly 1,400 units. SEAT also lost out big time, dropping nearly 1,200 sales on the same month last year.

Puma extends its lead in August

The UK’s best-selling car continues to be the Ford Puma, which again sat atop the sales charts in August. In second place was once again its nearest challenger from the last couple of years, the Kia Sportage. With four months left to run, the Puma has edged out a lead of nearly 4,000 units over the Sportage in the overall 2025 sales race.

Kia had a very strong second half of the year in 2024, right up until December when Sportage sales seemed to come to a screeching halt, allowing the Puma to snatch the overall 2024 sales crown. What will the last four months of this year bring? Well, the Sportage has been freshly facelifted with first cars arriving in September, while the Puma will get a boost from its electric Puma Gen-E model being the only car in its class to get the full £3,750 government grant, meaning it’s very competitively priced. Keep following this battle all the way to the end of the year.

In other news, Tesla had both its cars in the top five, defying suggestions that the company’s sales would collapse over anti-Elon sentiment. The Jaecoo 7 also made a surprising debut appearance in the top ten, popping up in sixth place.

We’ll have our usual analysis of the top ten shortly.

More car industry news and analysis at The Car Expert

Dacia Duster engine line-up updated

Model update

Sean Rees

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8 September 2025

0

Dacia has revised the engine line-up of its compact Duster SUV, replacing two engine options with more powerful and efficient variants.

This mild model update, which arrives this November, removes the current mid-range petrol ‘mild-hybrid 130’ with a new 1.2-litre ‘mild-hybrid 140’ option paired with a six-speed manual gearbox, boosting power output by 10hp.

The second change is the introduction of the ‘hybrid 155’ engine option, also available in the larger Bigster SUV range. Replacing the ‘hybrid 140’, this new 155hp hybrid pairs a four-cylinder petrol engine with two electric motors and an automatic gearbox.

Dacia has also given the Duster a revised interior trim for the ‘Journey’ equipment grade. The ‘Extreme’ trim gains larger 18-inch black alloy wheels. With the hybrid powertrains, both ‘Extreme’ and ‘Journey’ levels are now available with adaptive cruise control as standard.

Pricing for the updated SUV range is yet to be announced, and will be revealed closer to the update’s arrival in November.

The Dacia Duster currently holds a New Car Expert Rating of B, with a score of 68%. It scores top marks for its low CO2 emissions and media review scores, but its safety score is only average. Its running costs are also surprisingly high, which will negate some of the savings on the car’s sticker price.

New electric BMW iX3 revealed

New model

Stuart Masson

-

5 September 2025

0

BMW has revealed the second-generation iX3 SUV, the first model of its vaunted new ‘Neue Klasse’ programme, ahead of the Munich motor show that starts next week.

The all-new BMW iX3 SUV, which will arrive in the UK in March, is essentially a clean-slate design that marks the beginning of a new generation of BMW models – both electric- and combustion-powered.

‘Neue Klasse’ is a name that BMW enthusiasts will be familiar with as it was originally given to a BMW saloon range launched in the 1960s, which was a similarly substantial break with the company’s past and previewed its next generation of cars.

The original Neue Klasse range was so influential that it went on to influence BMW’s design and engineering principles for the next 40 years. Earmarked as the start of a new era for the brand, BMW has similarly lofty ambitions for a whole host of new models slated for release over the next couple of years.

Although the company built its reputation on compact sports saloons and coupés, it’s no great surprise that the model chosen to debut the latest Neue Klasse philosophy is a mid-sized SUV – after all, this is the contemporary equivalent of a 1990s 3 Series saloon. If you still prefer saloons to SUVs, however, you’ll be pleased to know that the next Neue Klasse model will be the first all-electric 3 Series saloon, due next year.

The iX3’s striking exterior design is a clear departure from BMW styling over the last 20 years. As with many new cars, the exterior is shorn of almost all ornamentation, but BMW eschews soft and rounded styling in favour of crisp and sharp detailing. The kidney grille and trim surrounds may look like chrome in photos, but are actually strips of light.

At launch, only one powertrain option will be available at launch – the top-end, all-wheel drive ‘xDrive 50’, which is powered by two electric motors that produce a combined 470hp. The motor is paired with a huge 109kWh battery, meaning an official driving range of about 500 miles. Further powertrain options will arrive at a later date, including an entry-level, single-engined rear-wheel drive model.

That 500-mile range is a significant boost over the original BMW iX3, whose 80kWh battery was officially rated at 285 miles. BMW claims that its Neue Klasse architecture helps generate these improvements by attacking multiple areas throughout the car. The powertrain is about 40% more efficient than the old model, as well as being 10% lighter, which helps explain how a 36% larger battery leads to a 75% improvement in driving range. It also charges 30% faster and is 20% cheaper to manufacture.

Performance is plenty, with 0-60mph coming up in less than five seconds. More importantly for most potential customers, the new iX3 can charge very quickly at up to 400kW if you can find the right charging station (which we don’t have yet in the UK, but will be coming eventually). At 400kW, the car can add 230 miles of range in just ten minutes. If you’re hooked up to a 350kW charger running at full speed in the UK, that would still give you about 200 miles in ten minutes.

The Neue Klasse models will also include bidirectional charging, including V2L (vehicle-to-load) for powering devices from the car and V2H (vehicle-to-home), which allows you to use your car’s battery to power your house if you have a suitable home wallbox.

While the exterior styling is certainly dramatic, it’s nowhere near as radically redesigned as the interior. The steering wheel is square-shaped and filled with buttons to control various systems, while customisable ambient LED lighting is arranged across the dashboard, door panels and footwells.

In addition to the usual large central touchscreen, there’s also a full-width projection at the base of the windscreen. BMW calls this ‘Panoramic iDrive’ – it looks like a digital screen, but is actually projected like a head-up display. Various sections of this strip can be configured with different information. An augmented reality head-up display feature is available for an extra fee, which projects 3D navigation information onto the windscreen. Underpinning it all is the latest version of BMW’s operating system, which also brings vastly more processing power and entertainment apps like Spotify, YouTube, Disney+ and so on.

While the exact launch date is yet to be announced, the new BMW iX3 will be available in the UK with a choice of three different trim levels: standard, M Sport and M Sport Pro. Standard features include 20-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, and the brand’s ‘Driving Assistant Plus’ package. Higher trims introduce cosmetic M Sport exterior styling packs, as well as adaptive LED headlights (M Sport Pro only).

UK pricing will begin at just under £59k, with first UK deliveries of the ’50 xDrive’ in March 2026.

Your 3-minute guide to car leasing

Car leasing advice

Stuart Masson

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4 September 2025

0

If you tend to change your car every three to four years, and you prefer new cars to used cars, leasing is often the most cost-effective way to run it. Many people don’t understand how leasing works, so here’s our simple guide. If you’re looking for more information, we have an entire car leasing hub that can provide you with plenty of details.

If you’re a private customer leasing a car, the type of product is called personal contract hire (PCH). This is different to a personal contract purchase (PCP), although customers often tend to treat them in exactly the same way.

In most cases, PCH works out to be a bit cheaper than PCP on a given new car. It will vary, however, and it depends on the car and your circumstances.

Leasing is usually confined to new cars, although some leasing companies do offer a limited selection of used cars. It is usually managed through dedicated brokers, rather than through regular dealer showrooms.

You might also like: Your 3-minute guide to PCP car finance

How does personal car leasing work?

We cover this in a lot more detail in our dedicated PCH guide, but here’s a quick summary:

Leasing is simply a long-term car rental. You pay an upfront amount, which is often several thousand pounds although it can be much less, followed by regular monthly payments for three or four years. At the end of the lease period, you give the car back to the leasing company.

The car belongs to the leasing company at all times, and you’re simply paying a monthly fee for exclusive use of the vehicle. You’ll have a mileage allowance that you need to stick to – if you hand the car back and you’ve done more miles than allowed in your contract, you’ll have to pay a penalty.

You are responsible for keeping the car in good condition. Wear and tear is acceptable, but any damage beyond that is your responsibility.

You have to pay for car insurance, and you need to make sure that the car is serviced correctly and on time. Some leasing companies will have packages that include insurance and/or servicing, but it’s often cheaper to manage it yourself. If you’re comparing offers from different leasing brokers, always look at what’s included and what’s not – it can make a large difference to your total cost over four years.

Is leasing cheaper than PCP finance?

If you’re looking online, you’ll probably find that the monthly payments for PCH are cheaper than for PCP on the same car. Why is that?

The secret is the starting price of the car. If you walk into a showroom to buy a new car, you’re going to pay full price or pretty close to it – even if there are advertised offers on that car. Leasing companies, however, usually pay much less for the same vehicle. Sometimes they’ll get discounts of up to 40% on new cars, which is way beyond anything private customers get.

This is simply because they’re buying thousands of cars every year and you’re buying one car every four years. If the leasing company is getting a massive discount on the purchase price, they can afford to pass on significant savings to you and still make a tidy profit.

Car leasing pros and cons

Pros:

Your monthly payments are usually lower than other types of finance for a given car
You can bundle servicing and insurance costs into your lease (for extra cost, obviously)
Fixed monthly payments for the life of the contract
You give the car back at the end, so no hassle in terms of selling or part-exchanging the car

Cons:

You’re simply renting a car rather than paying off a loan, so you never have the opportunity to own the car
Strict limitations on mileage and vehicle condition, with hefty penalty fees
No early exit provision, so if you have to cancel your lease early it could cost you thousands of pounds
Best deals are always on what’s available rather than what you want
Mostly limited to brand new vehicles, with very few options for used car leasing

Summary

Personal contract hire has been growing in popularity for several years now. If you have previously bought new cars with PCP finance and you want to change your vehicle every few years with no intention of keeping it, it’s certainly worth looking at leasing instead.

To get the best deals on car leasing, you need to select a car from what’s available. That means you won’t necessarily have as much choice on colour and specification. You can walk into a showroom, choose a car to your perfect specification with all the options you want and get a personal leasing quote from the dealer, but it probably won’t be any cheaper than a PCP.

If you do want to take a personal lease for your next car, make sure you understand your financial commitments, both up-front and throughout the course of the agreement.

Originally published May 2024. Last updated September 2025.

More car leasing information and advice here:

Pricing announced for electric Kia EV5

New model

Sean Rees

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3 September 2025

0

Kia has announced the UK price list for its new electric EV5 SUV, which is now available to order in the UK.

The EV5 is be built on the same foundations as the Kia EV6 crossover – The Car Expert’s ‘Car of the Year’ in 2022 – but while the EV6 uses the brand’s 800V battery architecture, the new EV5 will make use of a less powerful 400V unit. This will reduce Kia’s production costs – and the car’s price list as a result – but this SUV to charges at a slower rate than its acclaimed crossover counterpart.

The SUV, which sits below the larger EV9 in Kia’s battery-powered model range, is powered by a 81kWh battery and 215hp electric motor pairing that can reportedly muster up to 329 miles on a single charge. Using a 150kW DC charging station, the battery can be topped up from 10% to 80% in 30 minutes.

Kia adds that the EV can complete a 0-62mph sprint in 8.4 seconds, with top speed electronically capped at 102mph. Kia had initially announced back in October 2023 that the SUV range could include a cheaper 58kWh powertrain, but this has been dropped from the manufacturer’s UK plans, at least for the car’s launch.

The EV5 has a ‘Tiger face’ exterior design which bears some resemblance its larger EV9 sibling, and the similarities continue inside. A continuous dashboard display combines a 12-inch digital instrument cluster with a 12-inch infotainment touchscreen that both sit either side of a five-inch segment display that provides driving information.

Kia has decided to keep physical buttons to a minimum, with the large majority of vehicle functions controlled through the display. This has freed up room on the centre console for additional storage space and a table.

Key trim level features

Entry-level ‘Air’ (from £39,295)

LED headlights and tailights
18-inch alloy wheels
Rear privacy glass
Rain-sensing windscreen wipers
Heated front seats
12-inch digital instrument cluster
Five-inch climate control touchscreen
12-inch infotainment touchscreen
Front and rear parking sensors
Rear-view parking camera
Lane-keeping assistance
Blind spot monitoring

Mid-range ‘GT-Line’ (from £42,595)

All features of the ‘Air’ trim that are not replaced
19-inch alloy wheels
‘GT-line exterior styling pack
Adaptive LED headlights
Motorised boot lid
Heated rear seats
Interior ambient lighting
Wireless smartphone charging pad
Electrically-adjustable front seats

Top-spec ‘GT-Line S’ (from £47,095)

All features of lower trims that are not replaced
Sunroof
Ventilated front seats
Harmon Kardon sound system
Side parking sensors
Digital key and fingerprint recognition
Remote parking assistance
Head-up display
surround-view parking camer with blind-spot view

Compared with the ICE-powered Sportage SUV – one of the UK’s best-selling new cars – the EV5 is slightly taller and longer, with seven centimetres of extra length between the front and rear wheels.

The boot offers up to 566 litres of boot space in the rear – extending to 1,650 litres with the rear seats folded – and an extra 44 litres of ‘frunk’ space below the bonnet. The car also comes with 16 litres of cubby space below the centre console.

Now available to order – with the first customer deliveries expected later this year – the EV5 is now priced at around £39k as standard.

Fiat 600e range bolstered by new ‘Icon’ trim

Model update

Sean Rees

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2 September 2025

0

Fiat 600e range bolstered by new ‘Icon’ trim

Fiat has expanded its battery-powered 600e crossover range with the introduction of a mid-range ‘Icon’ trim which qualifies for the government’s electric car grant.

This ‘Icon’ grade, which is also already available in the 600 Hybrid range, sits above the lead-in ‘Red’ equipment level which already includes keyless entry, a ten-inch infotainment touchscreen, rear parking sensors and a synthetic leather steering wheel.

In addition, this mid-range trim adds front parking sensors, a rear view parking camera and a wireless smartphone charging pad. The car sits on 17-inch alloys, and comes with black and ivory fabric seat upholstery.

One powertrain choice is available cross the full 600e trim range – a 154hp electric motor and 54kWh battery pairing that Fiat says can muster ‘more than’ 250 miles on a single charge, and can complete a 0-62mph sprint in a reported nine seconds.

Pricing for the Fiat 600e ‘Icon’ now starts at under £32k – around £1,500 more expensive than the lead-in ‘Red’. The ‘Icon’ is also eligible for the government’s electric car grant that has been introduced this Summer, providing a £1,500 discount for UK buyers.

Chery expands UK line-up

Car manufacturer news

The Car Expert staff

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2 September 2025

0

Chinese automotive giant Chery Automobile has officially launched its flagship Chery car brand in the UK with a large event in London, unveiling its full line-up of SUVs for UK customers – including two new models.

Marking the start of the next chapter in the company’s assault on the UK car market, Chery will leverage the success of sister brands, Omoda and Jaecoo, which have claimed a significant share of the UK new car market in just 12 months. Chery confirmed it will initially open with 25 franchised dealerships – shared with existing Omoda and Jaecoo outlets – with plans to expand to 100 by 2026.

At the event at London’s O2 Arena, Chery showed its first two cars for the UK – the Chery Tiggo 7 mid-sized SUV and Chery Tiggo 8 large SUV, both available with petrol or plug-in hybrid power. It also announced the next two models to sit above and below these two – the Chery Tiggo 4 small SUV and the flagship Chery Tiggo 9 large SUV.

The company also indicated that it intends to open a new R&D centre ‘in the near future’ to support the long-term development of its three brands – plus any additional brands it may bring to the UK.

As with its Omoda and Jaecoo models, Chery cars are covered by a seven-year new car warranty and aftermarket care, along with RAC roadside assistance for the first three year, (subject to annual servicing terms and conditions).

MG IM5

Stuart Masson

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31 August 2025

0

Summary

The MG IM5 and IM6 twins signify MG’s strategic entry into the premium electric executive car segment, directly challenging the likes of the Tesla Model 3. The IM5 has been on sale in China for some time, but made its UK launch in the summer of 2025, with first customer cars arriving in September 2025.

Although the saloon car market is struggling against SUVs and crossovers, MG clearly feels there is enough available business to bring its new IM sub-brand to the UK. The IM5 and IM6 carry almost no MG badging at all, using IM badges and branding instead. This makes more sense when you look at it from a Chinese perspective, where these cars are sold under the IM brand rather than the MG brand. Here in the UK, it makes things slightly more confusing to the average person on the street.

The MG IM5 is a sizeable vehicle, pushing close to five metres in length. That makes it longer than the Tesla Model 3, and broadly similar to the BMW i5, which is a whole market segment above the MG (and about twice the price). The closely related IM6 is a higher-riding crossover version, much like the Tesla Model Y.

Like many new cars, especially those coming from China, there is a heavy reliance on touchscreens rather than physical buttons or switches to control almost every function of the car. While this might appeal to some customers, it can be quite off-putting to others and can make controlling even simple functions difficult while driving. In fact, there are almost no buttons or physical controls anywhere in the interior.

Acceleration is astonishing for an executive or family saloon. Top-spec ‘Performance’ models put out 750hp of power and 800Nm of torque, enough to get from rest to 60mph in about three seconds – which is supercar territory. Not only are you highly unlikely to ever need that much power, most average drivers will probably be overwhelmed if they try to actually use it on normal UK roads. We’d recommend sticking to the mid-spec ‘Long Range’, which puts out a still-considerable 400hp and also offers 440 miles of range on the official government lab tests.

Standard equipment levels are very good on all models, including an excellent 20-speaker stereo system that puts many fancy (and expensive) optional stereos in German cars to shame.

As of January 2026, the MG IM5 holds a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 78%.

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

IM5 highlights

Blistering performance
Excellent range, fast charging
High level of standard equipment
Quiet and spacious cabin
Superb standard stereo

IM5 lowlights

Almost entirely touchscreen controls
Boot smaller than most rivals’
Ride is not particularly comfortable
Confusion of MG & IM branding on same car
Performance is silly fast rather than useful

Key specifications

Body style: Large saloon
Engines: electric motor, single or twin
Price: From £39,450 on-road

Launched: Summer 2025
Last updated: N/A

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 MG IM5 ticks a lot of boxes in terms of performance and luxury equipment, including a fantastic stereo system, but the infotainment system is frustrating to use, the boot is too small, and the driving experience is fast but unrefined.”

Model reviewed: Performance

Score: 7.5 / 10

Read full review

The Car Expert

Stuart Masson

“The MG IM5 is a sleek electric saloon with mega-fast charging and huge range, but the infotainment system is a pain to use.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 7 / 10

Read full review

Carwow

Darren Cassey

More reviews

Auto Express

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Our first experience of the new MG IM5 has left us rather impressed. The numbers are class-leading, with range and charging figures to embarrass the likes of Tesla and Hyundai. It’s a slight pity the IM5 can’t quite replicate the magic of the MG4’s driving dynamics, although the performance is pretty serious in the 100kWh versions. Refinement is a positive too.”
Author: Alastair Crooks
Read review

Auto Trader

Score: 8 / 10
“The MG IM5 takes the brand into new Tesla-chasing territory with its combination of beyond ludicrous power output, impressive standard kit, cutting edge electric tech and BYD Seal clubbing bang for buck. All very impressive, but we’d prefer more focus on comfort and quality than pointlessly inflated performance stats.”
Author: Dan Trent
Read review

Business Car

Model reviewed: 100kWh Performance
Score: 8 / 10
“As unnecessary as we feel the MG IM5 Performance powertrain is, we must concede that genuine supercar acceleration for what these days is hot hatchback money is a remarkable proposition. That being said, we still feel most will be better served by opting for lesser powertrains in the line-up – either the Standard Range, which at less than £40,000 avoids the UK Government’s Expensive Vehicle Supplement, or the Long Range, which impressively covers 441 miles between charges.”
Author: Sean Keywood
Read review

Car

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“MG has made a car that gives the Tesla Model 3 a run for its money. It’s looks good on the outside and is super refined when cruising. Throw in a 441-mile range in the case of the single-motor 100kWh has the Model 3 beat. The only real places the MG falls short? The boot space is well behind that of the competition, while it also lacks the brand recognition of Model 3 or BYD Seal.?
Author: Curtis Moldrich
Read review

Electrifying.com

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The MG IM5 is a truly impressive thing. The tech on offer, from the charging speed to the semi-autonomous tricks and treats, really does make some alternative electric executive cars look almost old fashioned. It’s nice to drive but not exceptional, and others have more space inside despite the IM5’s generous proportions, but there’s no doubting that it’s offering a huge amount for the money.”
Author: Ginny Buckley
Read review

Honest John

Model reviewed: Range overview
“The MG IM5 is set to offer fine value compared with established rivals. It offers fine driving ranges, even with the smaller battery. There’s also extraordinary speed from the Performance version. But could its lack of MG-ness prove a sticking point? Tech-fest interior’s lack of physical controls also disappoints.”
Read review

Parkers

Score: 7.8 / 10
“Stylish EV with substance and surprises.”
Author: Curtis Moldrich
Read review

The Independent

Score: 9 / 10
“MG has clearly been eyeing the Tesla Model 3 as in many ways the MG IM5 matches – and sometimes beats – Tesla’s big-selling saloon. It’s close on price, tech, range and performance, but with more space and quality inside.”
Author: Steve Fowler
Read review

Top Gear

Score: 5 / 10
“If all you do is pound up and down the motorway, you *could* make a case for the MG IM5… but in any other scenario you should run a mile from it.”
Author: Joe Holding
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

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

Adult protection: 89%
Child protection: 85%
Vulnerable road users: 85%
Safety assist: 87%

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of January 2026, the MG IM5 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 IM5 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	367 miles	A

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

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	49	E

The MG IM5 is more expensive to run than you might think, according to real life running cost data supplied by our partner Clear Vehicle Data.

Its electrical efficiency (the EV equivalent of miles per gallon for a petrol or diesel car) is acceptable, but bested by the smaller MG 4 hatchback and similarly-sized rivals like the Mercedes-Benz CLA EQ.

The car’s official battery range of 367 miles is above average. So you shouldn’t need to worry about running out of charge in normal day-to-day driving. The biggest running cost surprise is the car’s estimated insurance premiums, which are predicted the roughly match the insurance costs of the Tesla Model 3.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

The MG IM5 is a brand-new model, so we won’t have any reliability data for some time.

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 IM5, we’ll publish the results here.

Warranty rating

New car warranty information for the MG IM5

Overall ratingA96%
New car warranty duration7 years
New car warranty mileage80,000 miles
Battery warranty duration8 years
Battery warranty mileage100,000 miles

MG’s new car warranty is one of the best in the new car market, and better than pretty much any rival brands in a similar price bracket to the MG IM5.

The duration is seven years, with a limit of 80,000 miles. In addition, battery components benefit from an additional eight-year/100,000-mile warranty. This is pretty much standard for all new EVs on sale in the UK, but is an extra reassurance that petrol and diesel cars don’t get.

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 MG IM5

As of January 2026, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the MG IM5. 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 MG dealer.

Everything you need to know about UK vehicle recalls

Similar cars

If you’re looking at a new or used MG IM5, you might also be interested in these alternatives.

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

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Buy an MG IM5

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Lease an MG IM5

If you’re looking to lease a new MG IM5, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal.

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BYD Dolphin Surf test drive

Car reviews

Andrew Charman

-

29 August 2025

0

Make and model: BYD Dolphin Surf
Description: Electric supermini
Price range: £18,650 to £23,950

BYD says: “BYD’s most accessible model yet combines sporty looks and a fun-loving personality with a spacious, practical cabin that’s packed with trademark useful high-tech features.”

We say: The BYD Dolphin Surf is a good value small EV that is likely to encourage more buyers to go electric.

Additional reporting by Stuart Masson.

BYD Dolphin Surf review 2025 – The Car Expert

Introduction

The ever-growing presence of BYD on the UK market is now extending to the supermini sector with the launch of the Dolphin Surf, the Chinese brand’s fifth model and a car designed to extend the electric switch to small cars thanks to its price – even without any additional grants this car can be had for under £19,000, making it one of the cheapest electric vehicles (EVs) on the market and its creators describe it as the brand’s most accessible model yet.

BYD is confident in the prospects for the Dolphin Surf, as it’s already been on sale for some time in other markets but under the name of the Seagull – the renaming for the UK market fits it into the brand’s so-called ‘Ocean Series’, pitching the car as a smaller sister to the already on sale Dolphin.

What is the BYD Dolphin Surf?

If you’re already familiar with the BYD Dolphin, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the Dolphin Surf is a trim variation of that model. However, it’s a completely separate vehicle, smaller and cheaper than the Dolphin. In automotive jargon, the Dolphin is a supermini and similar in size to a Volkswagen Polo or Vauxhall Corsa, while the Dolphin Surf is a city car, roughly similar in size to a Kia Picanto or Hyundai i10.

In China and other Asian countries, this car is called the BYD Seagull. However, the company decided that European customers don’t really hold the humble seagull in quite the same esteem as its Asian customers presumably do, so the name here in the UK is therefore Dolphin Surf.

The Dolphin Surf is one of a growing number of electric city cars, competing with rivals like the Dacia Spring and Leapmotor T03, that are bringing the starting price for a new EV down to rival (or even beat) the cheapest new petrol cars on sale.

There are three trim levels, dubbed Active, Boost and Comfort, and differentiated by battery size (and therefore range) and the power of the motor, as well as equipment levels.

Powered by a single electric motor driving the front wheels, the official range stretches up to 200 miles with the top-spec, largest battery version. That’s typical for smaller electric cars aimed more at urban commuting rather than long journeys across the country.

First impressions

The BYD Dolphin Surf is certainly not a supermini with bland looks. Tall and narrow proportions mark out this car with very strong exterior lines, especially in the lower door area and with a beltline swooping upwards and resulting in quite small rear windows.

The ‘lime green’ paintwork of our test car (which looks more yellow than green) certainly served to emphasise these looks. Some buyers will no doubt be pleased to hear there are alternatives to this particular colour – the car also be had in black, white or blue.

Both outside and in, the BYD Dolphin Surf follows the company’s established image of being well put together with quality surfaces.

A glance at the specification and comparisons with the price asked marks this car out as a potential major player in bringing electric motoring to a much wider audience. Although it’s more expensive than the similar Leapmotor T03 and Dacia Spring, the standard kit list is better and the car has an overall feeling of being much better built.

Having said that, the less than 140-mile range offered by the entry-level model is disappointing, so most buyers will likely be factoring in the extra expense of the larger battery.

We like: Value for money package
We don’t like: Paltry battery range of entry-level model

What do you get for your money?

BYD argues that pitching a car as affordable does not mean offering a lack of equipment. Even the entry-level Active (£18.6K) comes with rear-parking sensors and a reversing camera, vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability enabling the powering of external equipment from the car’s battery, and in the cabin a pair of digital displays – seven inches for the driver and a ten-inch centrally mounted touchscreen.

Boost trim costs £2,300 more than Active. Alongside the bigger battery, it offers alloy wheels, electric front seats (six-way adjustment for the driver, four for the passenger) and electrically folding mirrors.

The top-level Comfort, another £2,000 price walk, adds a more powerful electric motor, heated front seats, wireless phone charging, rear privacy glass, 360-degree surround view cameras, and LED headlights.

At the time of writing the Dolphin Surf is yet to be crash-tested by Euro NCAP. All three cars include an identical and extensive safety specification topped by a number of ADAS electronic aids, including adaptive and intelligent cruise control, lane departure warning and prevention and traffic sign recognition.

One particularly useful gain resulting from the government’s electric car grant and the threat to exclude BYD from it, is that in addition to the six-year vehicle warranty, the brand has increased the maximum mileage of its eight-year battery warranty from 125,000 to 155,342 miles (200,000km), and added a five-year free servicing package on cars bought before the end of 2025.

Also worth noting is that all BYD’s models, including the Dolphin Surf, use the company’s much-publicised ‘Blade’ units that are claimed to be significantly safer than typical EV batteries.

We like: Safety kit standard across all three models
We don’t like: Steel wheels on entry model

What’s the BYD Dolphin Surf like inside?

The Dolphin Surf is a small but quite tall car, being less than four metres long but with a long wheelbase. This translates to supermini levels of space in a city car.

Certainly, four adults (there are only seats for four) will be comfortable in it, which you can’t usually say about a petrol-powered city car. Head and legroom in the rear seats are particularly impressive. The seats themselves are not especially comfortable, feeling fairly shapeless and firm, so probably not ideal for longer journeys. Boot space compares favourably with rivals too – 308 litres with the rear seats up, and 1,037 litres with them folded. The rear seats split 50/50 for folding, so you can still have one rear-seat passenger and some longer luggage, which is better than the Leapmotor T03 whose rear seat folds in a single piece.

The driver gets a seven-inch digital display mounted directly atop the steering column, while the centre of the car is dominated by BYD’s signature ten-inch touchscreen, which rotates from horizontal to vertical format at the touch of a button.

The driver’s screen feels small, not helped by small fonts that can be difficult to read on the move. You have to squint and look hard to readf key information, which then triggers the EU-mandated disraction warning to remind you to look at where you’re going. One other point to note is that, while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration is standard, apps such as Google Maps will not change with the screen orientation.

BYD does include a row of buttons along the base of the touchscreen but the Dolphin Surf does suffer from the industry-wide obsession to put everything possible on the screen. You can’t, for example, change the direction or intensity of the air conditioning without making swipe movements across the screen. In fact, trying to operate any car functions on the screen while CarPlay was running appeared to be a bit of a pain, which is not what you want when you’re driving.

BYD has already earned plaudits for the general fit and finish of its larger, more expensive cars and it is good to see the same levels being applied to this more affordable model.

We like: Rear cabin space good for sector
We don’t like: Too many controls on the touchscreen

What’s under the bonnet?

The supplied test car was a top-spec Comfort model, which combines the largest battery capacity, 43kWh, with a 115kW motor, equivalent to 156hp. This gives the car a 0-62mph time of about nine seconds, and an official range between charges of 193 miles.

This is not quite the furthest the Dolphin Surf will go. The mid-range Boost spec also employs the higher capacity battery but with a smaller 65kW/88hp motor. Two seconds slower reaching 62mph is compensated for by the official range just cracking 200 miles.

The entry-level Active variant matches the smaller motor to a 30kWh battery. The Active takes 11.1 seconds to reach 62mph, quicker than the Boost due to the lower weight of its hardware, but it only has a range of 137 miles which is definitely at the lower end of today’s EV expectations.

The different capacities also mean variations in recharging. All versions offer DC fast-charging but the Active only at 65kW, whereas the other two can charge at 85kW, going from 10 to 80% capacity in half an hour. Using a three-phase 11kW AC wallbox the Active takes 3.5 hours for a full recharge, the Boost and Comfort five hours.

What’s the BYD Dolphin Surf like to drive?

The BYD Dolphin Surf offers all the ease of driving that comes with an EV, especially on more urban streets where it is very much at home. The steering is not over-light like can be the case with too many superminis, while one of the more impressive aspects of the car is its turning circle, which is great for negotiating narrow streets.

Acceleration is smooth, with the power level matched well to this type of car – often, EVs can feel overpowered in day-to-day driving, but the Dolphin Surf is dead simple for ducking and weaving through urban traffic.

General ride quality of the Surf is competent, though more significant road imperfections will be felt at higher speeds. Generally, however it cruises happily, even on the motorway. It’s not a car to excite the enthusiastic driver, the steering fairly lifeless through more challenging bends.

One disappointment is the brake regeneration, which is controlled entirely by the touchscreen and therefore cannot really be adjusted on the move. There are just two levels and the more severe does not offer significantly noticeable retardation, so the typical EV trait of energy-generating ‘one-pedal driving’ is not an option on this car. A steering wheel paddle to adjust brake regeneration would be preferable, particularly on a machine designed for stop-start traffic.

One positive aspect is that the battery seems to hold up well – during a long-distance run conducted as part of the test and varying from single-track roads to motorways, we found the car’s range coming impressively close to the quoted government lab test figure.

We like: General ride quality
We don’t like: Lack of regen options

Verdict

The BYD Dolphin Surf fulfils everything one would expect from an electric runabout, with no major issues to put off the potential buyer. The brand’s first serious push into the most affordable end of the market has come with no obvious compromises, and it is easy to see this car becoming a popular option for many people who want to go electric on a budget.

Key specifications

Model tested: BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort
Price: £23,950
Engine: single electric motor, front-wheel drive
Gearbox: Automatic

Power: 115 kW / 156 hp
Torque: 220 Nm
Top speed: 93 mph
0-60 mph: 9.1 seconds

Range: 193 miles
CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km
Euro NCAP safety rating: Not yet tested (August 2025)
TCE Expert Rating: Not yet rated as of August 2025

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New Audi Q3 Sportback to arrive in October

New model

Sean Rees

-

29 August 2025

0

New Audi Q3 Sportback to arrive in October

Audi has unveiled the latest iteration of its Q3 Sportback coupé-SUV, which will arrive in the UK in October with petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains to choose from.

Launching a month after the compact third-generation Q3 SUV range, this Sportback range is identical in the front, but has a sloping rear roofline and a sharper rear window angle in the back, giving it more of a coupé silhouette. Built on the same foundations as the Audi A3, Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tiguan, this latest iteration of the Audi Q3 Sportback features refreshed exterior looks and a new tech-laden interior layout.

That exterior design changes include slimmer LED headlights and a new front grille design flanked by a set of hidden main headlights that feature optional matrix beams.

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

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

Opening the boot lid reveals 488 litres of boot space (375 litres for the range-topping plug-in hybrid), though the Audi offers up to 575 litres of luggage room with the rear seating bench slid all the way forward (while still upright). With the rear seats folded, boot space increases to 1,386 litres (1,293 litres for the plug-in hybrid).

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

The next step up is the all-wheel drive ‘TFSI quattro 204hp’ petrol. This is followed by the more powerful all-wheel drive 2.0-litre ‘TSFI quattro 265hp’ petrol, and finally the flagship 272hp ‘SUVe-hybrid’ plug-in hybrid, which pairs a 28kWh battery and electric motor with a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, returning an electric only travel range of up to 72 miles. All models are only available with an automatic gearbox.

Pricing for the new Q3 Sportback range will start at just around £40k for the ‘TSFI 150hp’ in the entry-level ‘Sport’ trim, this coupé-SUV version carrying a £1,500 price tag premium over the regular Q3 line-up.

More Audi news, reviews, Expert Ratings and features

Everything you need to know about Chery

Andrew Charman

-

27 August 2025

0

Visitors to the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July had what appeared to be yet another new Chinese car manufacturer to check out.

However, Chery arrives on the UK market next month, knowing exactly what to expect because two of the group’s subsidiary brands have been on offer to British buyers for the past year. Omoda and Jaecoo launched as sister brands in 2024 and have already established a 75-strong dealer network, selling the two brands together.

The arrival of cars wearing a Chery badge is just the centrepiece of a five-brand push by the overall Chery Automobile group. While not well known in the UK, Chery has been China’s largest vehicle exporter for decades.

Chery’s highly effective approach has been to focus particular brands on their likely rivals. Omoda, for example, tackles European brands such as Cupra, while Jaecoo targets Land Rover’s upmarket Range Rover models. As well as parent brand Chery, the group is exploring the potential to bring another two new badges to the UK. Lepas is a value-for-money proposition, while iCaur (sold in China as iCar) is an off-road specialist brand. Either or both of these new names could be on UK sale next year.

But that could still all change. Chery Group’s plans have been so fluid that several observers have been wrong-footed trying to second-guess them over the last year. Several predictions had Lepas being the third brand launch in the UK after Omoda and Jaecoo, other rumours suggest that iCaur might not be coming after all and still more sugest that another brand called Jetour is also under consideration.

Chery already has an agreement for one European plant, to build Omoda models in Spain, and there are rumours (or possibly wishful thinking) that the company is considering building a production plant in the UK. This would likely be an assembly centre putting together cars from parts imported from China, much as MG previously did in Birmingham.

So who or what is Chery?

Chery is young in terms of global automotive powerhouses, but one of the oldest in the Chinese car industry. Today, it’s rated the fourth of China’s ‘big four’ automotive groups in domestic Chinese sales, although it outsells all other Chinese car companies in export sales. It has always been state-owned.

The group was first formed in 1997 by a group of officials in the city of Wuhu, in the Anhui province of China. Chery’s first car was the Fengyun in 1999, which was based on the SEAT Toledo. It sold around 50,000 in Chery’s local Anhui province, but the brand was not permitted to sell cars in the rest of China until 2003 – a distinctive feature of China’s highly regulated automotive industry.

The company had a controversial first decade. It was accused by American giant General Motors of copying one of its cars, the Daewoo Matiz, with the Chery QQ in 2003. That was settled out of court, but Volkswagen then threatened a lawsuit over claims that Chery was using Volkswagen’s Chinese suppliers to effectively copy the Volkswagen Jetta (a saloon version of the Golf, as saloons have long been more popular than hatchbacks in China).

Meanwhile, Chery’s early attempts to sell cars in America through a deal with US company Visionary Vehicles collapsed and the US firm won a lawsuit against Chery for breach of contract.

Things eventually began to turn as Chery continued to invest in its own engineering capabilities. In 2007, the Chery A3 – no relation to the Audi A3 – was launched, styled by the famed Italian studio Pininfarina (better known for 50 years of being Ferrari’s preferred design house), and it proved a major success. The A3 also became the first Chinese car to gain a five-star safety rating from the country’s own version of Euro NCAP, By 2008, Chery was making its own-design engines and even selling them to Fiat, and by 2009 it was building more than half a million cars annually.

In that year, Chery became one of the earliest Chinese automotive manufacturers to begin making electric cars, while the company’s next move was to pivot away from its budget image and launch multiple car brands under the Chery group. Ambitions quickly exceeded reality, however, with some 100 different models planned and the company eventually scaled its plans back to a more manageable level.

In 2012, Chery signed a deal with Jaguar Land Rover after several failed attempts to set up partnerships with other international manufacturers. This alliance has since seen the group making Range Rovers for the Chinese market, and even a version of the classic Mini Moke from the 1960s. A couple of years ago, JLR licensed the Freelander nameplate to Chery for a new range of EVs – these will be sold initially in China but there are ambitions to export them globally.

Chery revived its multiple brand strategy, the first of its new badges being Cowin and an upmarket badge called Exeed – plans to launch the latter in America have so far not been realised. Despite this, the company’s global export ambitions are undimmed, launching its ‘Double 50’ strategic plan in 2021 to target half a million annual exports. This plan succeeded beyond the management’s wildest dreams – by the end of 2023, Chery had exported more than 900,000 vehicles.

Those exports included the first moves into Europe – two new badges, Omoda and Jaecoo were unveiled as specific export brands in early 2023 and a year later both arrived in the UK. With yet more new names, Lepas and Icaur also being prepared for the British market, the arrival of cars wearing the badge of the original Chery brand surprised some onlookers.

When did Chery launch in the UK?

At time of writing, Chery is in the process of its UK launch programme, which kicks off in September 2025. Cars will be hitting roads almost immediately afterwards.

Chery’s Omoda and Jaecoo brands are already rapidly becoming familiar. After only a year on the UK market, by August the two brands have already sold 20,000 cars and established a dealer network of more than 70 outlets across the country.

What models does Chery have and what else is coming?

Chery’s initial UK offerings are a pair of SUVs – the Tiggo 7 and the Tiggo 8.

The Tiggo 7 is intended as a low-price mid-sized SUV which will be available with either a 1.6-litre petrol engine or a plug-in hybrid petrol unit – the latter has two motors, one on each axle and can cover 56 miles on electric power only. Chery has Dacia’s recently launched Bigster firmly in its sights with the Tiggo 7 costing under £25,000 for the petrol version and under £30,000 for its plug-in sibling.

Chery Tiggo 8 front view | Expert Rating — Chery Tiggo 8

Chery Tiggo 8 rear view | Expert Rating — Chery Tiggo 8

The Tiggo 8 is effectively a larger Tiggo 7 – while it comes with the same choice of drivetrains, it has seven seats on offer. Prices for the Tiggo 8 are yet to be announced.

What will follow these is yet to be revealed – they could be Chery models, or something with a completely new badge or two…

Where can I try a Chery car?

With Chery only just launching in the UK, opportunities to try its cars out are currently few and far between, but we should expect this to change rapidly. The company’s Omoda and Jaecoo brands quickly gained a solid network of outlets and with Chery having confirmed it will seek its own dedicated outlets, a similar aggressive programme to sign up dealers is likely.

Several of these are likely to be those groups that already have Omoda and Jaecoo franchises – this is certainly true of one of the first to announce it will open Chery showrooms, major northern-based dealer group Arnold Clark.

What’s particularly significant about this company?

Chery might not be a name familiar to UK motorists, even those who have got used to other heavily promoted Chinese brands such as BYD. But on the global automotive market, Chery puts all its home rivals in the shade.

The group has been China’s largest exporter of automobiles since 2003. In 2024, Chery exported more than 1.1 million vehicles to 80-plus markets around the world – and in future more and more of them are going to be coming to the UK.

What makes Chery different to the rest?

The traditional method of growing an automotive brand has been to offer a range of cars in different markets but under the same badge, the only expansion beyond this being the launch of upmarket sub brands such as Lexus from Toyota and Genesis from Hyundai. And generally the new Chinese entrants such as BYD and GWM seem to be following this model.

Not Chery – the group almost seems to want to launch new brand names more often than individual models. Even though it has pulled back from the excesses of the mid-2000s with more than 100 model lines, as of mid-2025 Chery has at least 14 different brands selling across the globe with well over 50 different models.

Summary

Following the progress of Chery’s expansion into the UK promises to be challenging, simply because the number of different areas the group is getting into – this is without doubt the most complex of all the new Chinese entrants coming into the UK.

However, the track record already established in under two years by Chery brands Omoda and Jaecoo, and the recent export record of the group as a while, suggest that it will not be long before the Chery badge is just as familiar as those of BYD or Omoda.

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

New Volkswagen T-Roc crossover unveiled

New model

Sean Rees

-

27 August 2025

0

Volkswagen has unveiled what is said to be its final combustion-powered model – a second-generation T-Roc crossover that introduces an improved interior, an exterior design refresh and a new hybrid engine option.

Based on the brand’s popular Golf hatchback, Volkswagen has sold over two million versions of the current T-Roc across Europe since the model’s launch in 2017. The German marque is hoping that this new successor model will be just as popular when it arrives later this year, rivalling the sales of the Kia Niro, Renault Captur, and the seriously popular Ford Puma.

This next generation model is twelve centimetres longer than the current T-Roc, as Volkswagen aim to give the small SUV a more distinctive exterior look to differentiate it more obviously from the Golf.

Like newer editions to the Volkswagen range like the Tiguan and Tayron SUVs, the new T-Roc sports thin LED lights that stretch across the car’s front and rear fascia with illuminated Volkswagen logos, as well as a larger front grille finished in black.

Arriving in the UK in November, the crossover’s powertrain line-up will consist of two 1.5-litre petrol mild-hybrid engines – 116hp and 150hp respectively. Two range-topping petrol-electric hybrid models are set to arrive in 2026 alongside a more powerful 2.0-litre petrol mild-hybrid. This full hybrid powertrain is a first for Volkswagen, who have offered pure petrol, diesel, mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric drivetrains to date. All models will make use of an automatic gearbox.

Built on the same platform as the larger Tiguan, the new T-Roc has been given the same on-board infotainment package – a 13-inch central touchscreen that juts out the dashboard, alongside a ten-inch digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel. Settings like drive mode and media volume can be adjusted using a dial mounted on the centre console.

Volkswagen adds that it has “significantly improved” the crossover’s interior quality with more use of soft-touch materials “newly developed” interior fabrics. A head-up display that projects driving information onto the windscreen will not be included as standard, but will be offered either as part of the top-spec trim package or an optional extra.

Launching in the coming months with four trims to choose from – standard, ‘Life’, ‘Style’ and ‘R-Line’ – UK pricing for the second-generation T-Roc is yet to be confirmed. The crossover has been priced up in Germany at under €31k, which translates to under £27k in the UK. The model’s price list, as well as the full trim specifications, are sure to be announced in the coming weeks.

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UK pricing announced for electric BYD Atto 2

New model

Sean Rees

-

22 August 2025

0

UK pricing announced for electric BYD Atto 2

The compact battery-powered BYD Atto 2 SUV is now available to order in the UK, with two trim levels to choose from.

Originally scheduled for a February arrival, the Atto 2 slots in between the Dolphin and Atto 3 in BYD’s range, and has been designed to be maneuverable on the inner-city commute, “with no compromise on comfort and ‘big-car’ features.”

Set to rival the likes of the new Kia EV3, Renault 4 and Volvo EX30, the entry-level ‘Boost’ version of the small family car is powered by a 51kWh battery and 175hp electric motor pairing that provides a range of 214 miles between charges. This is an improvement on the Atto 2 powertrain spec that was announced back in January – while the power of the electric motor remains unchanged, the battery is more powerful than previously stated, increasing single-charge travel distance.

Customers can also opt for the more expensive ‘Comfort’ model, which makes use of a larger 65kWh battery and a slightly more powerful 201hp motor, this combination mustering up to 261 miles of range. While the ‘Boost’ has its DC charging speed capped at 82kW, the ‘Comfort’ has an improved charging rate of 155kW, which the manufacturer says cuts around 15 minutes off the time it takes to top the battery up from 10% to 80% charge – 25 minutes total.

The SUV sits on 17-inch alloy wheels and comes with a rather generous lead-in equipment list, including a 13-inch rotating infotainment touchscreen (the same system found in the entry-level Atto 3) and a nine-inch digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel, a wireless smartphone charging pad, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, and a panoramic sunroof.

Beyond the more powerful powertrain, the ‘Comfort’ grade adds rear privacy glass, ambient interior lighting and a rear armrest with cup-holders.

UK pricing for the BYD Atto 2 now starts at just under £31k, undercutting rivals like the Kia EV3 and Hyundai Kona Electric by a few thousand pounds.

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