The all-new Suzuki e Vitara – the company’s first electric car – will be arriving next month, and UK pricing has now been announced. It has been jointly developed with Toyota and shares much of its componentry with the upcoming Toyota Urban Cruiser.
The e Vitara will be available in two trim levels, lower-spec ‘Motion’ and upper-spec ‘Ultra’, with a choice of two-wheel drive (2WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The base model is also available with a smaller battery, making a total of five different versions.
Pricing starts at £30K for the entry-level Motion model with a 49kWh battery. The rest of the range gets a larger 61kWh battery. Two-wheel drive models use a single electric motor to drive the front wheels while the all-wheel drive models (which Suzuki calls Allgrip-e) have two motors, one for the front wheels and one for the rear wheels.
Most customers are likely to be happy with two-wheel drive power rather than spending an extra £2K for all-wheel drive, but there will certainly be a few who will be happy to pay extra for the AWD model.
Model
Battery
On-road price
Motion 2WD
49kWh
£29,999
Motion 2WD
61kWh
£32,999
Motion AWD
61kWh
£34,999
Ultra 2WD
61kWh
£35,799
Ultra AWD
61kWh
£37,799
Source: Suzuki GB
Suzuki hasn’t announced performance or battery range yet, but Toyota claims the (mechanically identical) two-wheel drive versions of its Urban Cruiser should get about 200 miles of range from the 49kWh battery and 250 miles from the 61kWh battery so we assume that the e Vitara will be similar. The all-wheel drive versions are likely to lose a chunk of battery range in return for better performance and grip.
We don’t have full technical specifications for the e Vitara yet, with Suzuki planning to announce those separately in the lead-up to the car’s UK launch. The jump in price from Motion to Ultra appears to be quite steep, at just under £3K, but we don’t know what you’re getting for your money yet so we’ll have to wait and see.
Suzuki has, however, announced a 0% PCP car finance offer (speak to your local Suzuki dealer for all the details), while customers ordering a car before the end of September will also get a free home charger and 10,000 miles of home charging credit.
Peugeot has unveiled a new hot hatch variant of its all-electric e-208 supermini, marking the return of the brand’s ‘GTi’ performance badge.
Out to challenge the sales of Stellantis stablemate the Abarth 500e, as well as rivals like the Cupra Born, Alpine A290 and Mini John Cooper Works Electric, the e-208 GTi is powered by the same 280hp front-mounted electric motor as the Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce.
Paired with a 54kWh battery and a limited-slip differential fitted to the rear axle, the hot hatch can reportedly complete a 0-62mph sprint in 5.7 seconds. Top speed is electronically capped at 112mph.
The first electric model built by Peugeot Sport – the French brand’s motorsport division – the e-208 GTi has been given some suspension tuning that lowers the hatchback by three centimetres and revised handling dynamics that make the steering more direct. The car also has a slightly wider stance than the standard e-208, and comes with a rear anti-roll bar.
Peugeot says that the car can deliver up to 217 miles between charges, and that the hatchback can charge at DC speeds of up to 100kW – a 20% to 80% battery top-up taking less than 30 minutes.
This ‘GTi’ version has been given several ‘sporty’ cosmetic tweaks, including unique 18-inch alloy wheels that features the ‘GTi’ logo and are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport tyres, a chunkier spoiler that protrudes above the rear window and a thick diffuser on the rear bumper.
Changes are more subtle in the front. The hot hatch comes with three ‘tiger claw’ daytime running lights below the headlights. The show model has a bright red bodywork colour with the wing mirrors, wheel arches and spoiler finished in black.
The red and black colour scheme continues inside. The cabin layout is unchanged, but the bucket seats and steering wheel are trimmed in Alcantara leather.
Peugeot has yet to confirm its UK price list for the new hot hatch, and we don’t currently know exactly when the e-208 GTi will arrive in the UK either. Those details, as well as further trim specification details, are sure to follow in the coming months. Check back soon!
Make and model: Mini Aceman Description: Medium SUV/crossover Price range: from £28,905
Mini says: “The latest addition to the new Mini family, the Mini Aceman is the brand’s midsize all-electric crossover, which combines compact exterior dimensions with a creative use of interior space.”
We say: The Mini Aceman is a slightly more grown-up version of the three-door Mini Cooper Electric, with more room for passengers and luggage, but still keeps the family feeling.
The newest addition to the Mini range is the Aceman, positioned between the Mini Cooper (hatchback) and Mini Countryman (SUV) models. It sort-of-replaces the previous Mini Clubman, and is pretty similar in size to the previous Mini Countryman.
Unlike the Cooper and Countryman models, which are offered in both petrol and electric form, the new Mini Aceman is only be offered as an electric vehicle (EV). However, it’s also fair to describe the Aceman as the electric equivalent of the new five-door Mini Cooper hatchback, as the two cars are pretty similar in both size and styling – even if they’re completely different underneath.
As of June 2025, the Mini Aceman has a New Car Expert Rating of B on The Car Expert’s unique Expert Rating Index, with a score of 69%. That’s down on the Cooper Electric (A, 82%) and Countryman Electric (A, 81%), but still a decent score overall. Part of the reason for the difference is that the Aceman has not yet been tested for safety by Euro NCAP, so its overall score may improve if/when this testing takes place (assuming the Aceman scores as well as the other electric Mini models).
What is the Mini Aceman?
The Mini Aceman is described as a crossover, meaning it rides slightly higher than a typical hatchback but not quite as high as an SUV. In reality, these definitions have become so blurred these days it’s basically irrelevant.
The Aceman sits about 5cm taller than the (petrol-powered) Mini Cooper five-door hatch, and is about 4cm longer, so it’s almost the same size externally. But despite the similar size and familiar Mini styling, the two cars are completely different underneath. The petrol Mini Cooper models are heavily upgraded versions of the previous-generation Mini hatch models, while the electric Mini models are built on an all-new platform and simply styled to look like the petrol cars.
Being a dedicated EV, the Aceman has notably more room inside than the five-door Cooper, which we’ll cover shortly.
First impressions
The Aceman feels very much part of the Mini family despite being a brand-new model. Since it will only be available with an electric powertrain, its grille is closed off. Externally, its styling takes a number of cues from the new Countryman, with quite angular styling replacing the traditional Mini curves. Given the size of these cars (the new Countryman is as big as a Nissan Qashqai), this makes sense, although it does mean that the Aceman does look odd from certain angles as the designers have tried to apply familiar Mini styling cues onto a bulky, squared-off body.
Inside, the Aceman benefits from Mini’s latest-generation interior design. This features a large and very high-resolution circular touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard, which controls the infotainment system. The dash and door panels are covered in textured fabrics rather than drab plastics – Mini continues to emphasise a quirky and not necessarily practical cabin. In between the passenger and driver’s seat there’s a pair of cup holders, a tray to hold your phone and a small box for other bits and bobs.
We like: The interior is distinctive and feels very high in quality We don’t like: Exterior styling will polarise people, quite awkward from certain angles
What do you get for your money?
The Mini Aceman range is split into Aceman E and Aceman SE models, with the SE getting more performance and a bigger battery. There are then three trim levels to choose from – Classic, Exclusive and Sport. Finally, and not part of this review, there’s now a Mini Aceman John Cooper Works model. We drove this recently and will have a report coming shortly.
The entry-level Aceman E which comes with a 43kWh battery, which gives you an official range of up to 192 miles according to the official EU/UK government lab tests. Call it 150 miles in real-world driving and you should be safe. The electric motor puts out 135kW (184hp in old money) in this model.
Stepping up to the SE gets you a more powerful motor, up to 160kW (218hp), and a larger 54kWh battery to boost official driving range to more than 240 miles (call it 200 miles in the real world).
The main differences between the three trim levels focus on exterior styling and colour. Classic comes with 17-inch wheels, a choice of two wheel designs and three paint options. Exclusive trim ups this to six paint colours, three wheel designs and 18-inch wheels with the option of 19-inch rims. Sport has John Cooper Works styling, colour-coded accents and a rear spoiler.
Both SE and John Cooper Works versions can accept charging at fast chargers up to 90kW. The Aceman E is only capable of charging at a rate of up to 70kW. These speeds are not particularly impressive, as the standard for new EVs these days is usually 150kW or better.
In terms of safety, the Aceman comes with all the usual kit to help you avoid an accident and protect you if an accident cannot be avoided. However, it hasn’t yet been assessed by Euro NCAP, so we can’t give you a definitive report on how well the Aceman performs in an emergency. The electric Mini Cooper and Mini Countryman models both score five stars for safety, but we can’t confirm that the Aceman matches their performances at this time. We’ll update this report if and when Euro NCAP assesses it.
The Mini Aceman comes with a three-year / unlimited mileage warranty.
We like: Simple power and trim levels We don’t like: Limited charging speeds, base models look pretty plain compared to more expensive trim levels
What’s the Mini Aceman like inside?
The focal point of the interior is the huge circular display. It injects some fun into the cabin design with different display modes to choose from. These alter the screen colours and graphics considerably, although it does feel like you’d play around with it for the first few days and then settle on your preferred style from then on. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are included as standard as well. A lot of functions are housed within the screen and the circular layout is unconventional, so it takes some time to familiarise yourself with how to change various systems while on the move.
In the Aceman E model, the central screen is also home to the speedo. For the other models (or with the Level 1 pack for an extra £2K), a head-up display is included. This projects information onto a small upright panel on top of the dashboard in front of the driver – it’s less glamorous than a fully integrated head-up display that projects straight onto the windscreen, but it works well enough in practice.
All versions have parking sensors and a rear-view camera to make your parking life easier. In the back seats, head and legroom should be enough for most passengers, including tall adults. The floor is nice and flat, unlike in the five-door petrol Mini Cooper, allowing for more foot space in the back and more storage space up front.
The boot space is decent enough at 300 litres, but the Fiat 600e, Cupra Born and others do better.
We like: Funky and useable interior space We don’t like: Boot is smaller than rivals
What’s under the bonnet?
The Aceman E comes with a 43kWh battery and an electric motor that offers 135kW (184hp) of power and 290Nm of torque. This gives the entry-level version a 0-62mph time of eight seconds and a top speed limited to 99mph.
The SE has a larger 54kWh battery with 160kW (218hp) and 330Nm of torque. This version is a second quicker from 0-62mph with a time of seven seconds, and a top speed of 105mph. The official driving range also increases from 192 miles to 251 miles. Note also that paying extra for bigger wheels will knock a few miles off your battery range.
What’s the Mini Aceman like to drive?
Even in the E version, the Aceman feels quick off the line and fun to drive. Like all Minis, but especially the electric models, the ride is reasonably firm which means you bump hard off potholes in city driving and tend to bounce along country roads at higher speeds. When you put your foot down, a theme tune of whirring noises begins which adds some audible interest to the acceleration experience. While the noises add a bit of drama to the situation, they can be turned off if (or, more likely, when) they get too annoying.
Below the screen, there’s an ‘experiences’ button, which is a pleasingly tactile way to switch between driving modes. There are three modes: Core, Go-Kart and Green. Each has accompanying graphical changes on the screen and there are various other modes to choose from that just change the colour and theme of the display. For the vast majority of daily driving, Core mode will be sufficient.
As part of the Aceman’s safety suite, the car has advanced braking technology. The vehicle can control its braking response based on the situation. When approaching a parked car, for example, when you lift off the accelerator, the car initiates what feels like a regenerative braking response to slow the vehicle. The same happens when approaching cyclists, it automatically starts slowing down. When the car is travelling downhill, you can feel it controlling its speed so it doesn’t keep rolling progressively faster. In some scenarios, this is a useful feature but it takes a while to get used to as it can feel like it’s responding prematurely.
We like: All versions feel quick We don’t like: Bouncy ride on country roads
Verdict
Mini is one of the few manufacturers that has created a distinct personality for its new models, and the Aceman is no different. Its round display screen, interesting use of materials inside and playful electric soundtrack make the Aceman distinctive and likeable. There’s a good amount of technology and safety features packaged in – albeit we don’t have independently verified safety data from Euro NCAP at this time.
As an all-electric model, it’s pricier than the five-door Cooper (and the previous model Clubman) but is fairly well matched against the growing number of rivals in the family EV marketplace. Its ultimate value for money will depend on how much you value the specific kit that’s included against features that other models offer, but you’re certainly not spoiled for choice.
Mini has always prioritised fashion over function, and the Aceman is no different in this regard. There are other electric cars in this price range that offer more space and longer ranges, but few have the personality or individuality of the Mini Aceman.
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Mini Aceman, you might also be interested in these alternatives.
The Cupra Terramar is a mid-sized SUV that became available to order towards the end of 2024, with both petrol mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid engine options on offer.
Launched as the eventual successor to the Cupra Ateca, the Terramar sits above the smaller Formentor SUV in Cupra’s range, and will be the last ICE-powered car that the sporty SEAT-spinoff brand unveils as it turns its focus to becoming an electric-only marque by 2030.
Built on the same foundations as the Volkswagen Tiguan, Parker’s CJ Hubbard comments that the Terramar isn’t as “well-rounded” as its Volkswagen counterpart, but that the SUV’s “standard equipment levels make the Cupra much better value for money.”
Jordan Katsianis of Auto Express also praises the car’s “distinctive” exterior looks and describes the Cupra as an “excellent family hauler.”
When it comes to performance however, some reviewers were rather underwhelmed. “The handling is better than most SUVs of its stature”, concludes Evo’s Ethan Jupp, but “it’s a car that still could be a SEAT with a Cupra badge, rather than the kind of performance car we still think Cupra is capable of.”
As of September 2025, the Cupra Terramar holds a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 74%. It scores top marks for its safety rating and low CO2 emissions (helped by the plug-in hybrid version), while its media review scores and Cupra’s new car warranty offering are also good. However, overall running costs are only average.
Body style: Medium SUV Engines:petrol, plug-in hybrid Price:From £37,885 on-road
Launched: Autumn 2024 Last updated: N/A Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Featured reviews
“The Cupra Terramar is a good-looking SUV with a sportier edge than alternatives, but the payoff is that it’s less comfortable and practical than it could be.”
Score: 9 / 10 “The Cupra Terramar has snazzier styling than the VW Tiguan on which it is based. Available with various levels of hybridisation (including a full plug-in) or performance-oriented petrols it combines practicality with sharp handling, good looks and a longer warranty than its VW cousin.” Author: Dan Trent Read review
Business Car
Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid Score: 8 / 10 “In PHEV form, Cupra’s latest sporty SUV is an interesting option compared with rivals, and adds welcome extra efficiency.” Author: Martyn Collins Read review
Car
Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid Score: 6 / 10 “The Cupra Terramar plug-in hybrid is almost certainly fine for most consumers and the wider market, but it lacks the sparkle and style of halo products such as the Tavascan, Born VZ and the petrol-powered Formentor. And even the petrol version of the Terramar. Cross shoppers elsewhere may well buy into the brand’s exciting performance and challenger-focused ethos – but in this Terramar they’re somewhat diluted.” Author: Curtis Moldrich Read review
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The Terramar may be the most grown-up Cupra so far, but in 2.0-litre petrol form it has enough character, style and importantly performance to make sense. It’s practical and refined when it needs to be, but on more demanding roads it still feels quick and rewarding.” Author: Curtis Moldrich Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8.2 / 10 “The Cupra Terramar is a mid-size SUV that deftly combines the company’s sporting intent with a very practical, roomy cabin.” Read review
Evo
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “The Terramar gets the job done and then some. The handling is better than most SUVs of its stature. But viewed in terms of what some had hoped for from an exciting new sporting brand, it’s a car that still could be a Seat with a Cupra badge, rather than the kind of performance car we still think Cupra is capable of.” Author: Ethan Jupp Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The Cupra Terramar is a compelling entrant into the family SUV sector.” Author: Ivan Aistrop Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “It isn’t quite as well-rounded as the Volkswagen Tiguan, but the Terramar’s standard equipment levels make the Cupra much better value for money, and it certainly has plenty of character.” Author: CJ Hubbard Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “A performance SUV based on a Volkswagen Tiguan might not sound promising – but you’d be surprised at just how much fun it can be.” Author: Alex Robbins Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The Terramar is more aggressively styled than its competitors, but also thoroughly decent to drive.”
Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of September 2025, the Cupra Terramar has not been assessed by Green NCAP.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
Fuel consumption
Average
Score
Petrol models
38 mpg
D
Plug-in hybrid models
650 mpg
A
CO₂ output
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Petrol models
170 g/km
D
Plug-in hybrid models
10 g/km
A
Battery range
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Plug-in hybrid models
70 miles
C
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
29
C
Running costs for the Cupra Terramar are a bit of a mixed bag, according to inital data we have for the entire model range.
The petrol models are poor in terms of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, while the plug-in hybrid models are inevitably much better (although ignore the official lab figures, as you’re never going to get 650 miles on a gallon of petrol and a full charge of electricity).
Good news on the plug-in hybrid is that it has quite a decent electric range, so most urban driving could potentially be done purely on electric power if you are able to charge the car regularly.
As of September 2025, we don’t have verified servicing and maintenance costs for the first five years, which could affect the overall grade once we have that information. Check back again soon.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of September 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Cupra Terramar to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.
As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Terramar, we’ll publish the results here.
Warranty rating
New car warranty information for the Cupra Terramar
Overall rating
B
69%
Petrol or diesel models
C
57%
Electric or hybrid models
A
83%
New car warranty duration
5 years
New car warranty mileage
90,000 miles
Battery warranty duration
8 years
Battery warranty mileage
100,000 miles
Cupra’s new car warranty is better than average, and better than a few rival brands in a similar price bracket as the Terramar.
The duration is five years, with a limit of 90,000 miles. In addition to the standard new car warranty, the Terramar plug-in hybrid version has an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty for the battery components.
Warranty on a used Cupra Terramar
As of September 2025, any used Cupra Terramar will still be covered by its new car warranty. The earliest cars hit UK roads in late 2024, meaning their warranty won’t expire until late 2029 (unless they hit their 90,000-mile limit before then).
If you’re looking to buy a used car that is approaching the end of its warranty period, a used car warranty is usually a worthwhile investment. Check out The Car Expert’s guide to the best used car warranty providers, which will probably be cheaper than a warranty sold by a dealer.
As of September 2025, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the Cupra Terramar. However, this information is updated very regularly so this may have changed.
You can check to see if your car has any outstanding recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local Cupra dealer.
The large high-performance BMW XM range has been updated with a faster hybrid charging speed, revised trim levels and more customisation choices on the options list.
The range now consists of two different models – down from three. The lead-in XM ’50e’ is powered by a 475hp turbocharged hybrid straight-six and 26kWh battery with a electric-only range of 50 miles, while the flagship XM ‘Label’ makes use of a 748hp hybridised V8 with an all-electric travel distance of 47 miles. Both versions are now compatible with improved AC charging speeds of up to 11kW.
The ‘Label’ options list has been expanded with a few new customisation options. The top-spec SUV can now be specced in a metallic ‘tanzanite blue’ exterior colour and the kidney grille in the front can be ordered in ‘high gloss black’. The ‘Label’ package also now includes a new welcome light animation and larger 22-inch alloy wheels, with even larger 23-inch alloys added to the optional extras. There are also a few new colour options for the seat upholstery accents inside.
As standard with the ’50e’, the XM is fitted with a 15-inch infotainment touchscreen and 12-inch digital instrument cluster, as well as a premium Harmon Kardon surround sound system.
The revised range is now available to order, with UK pricing starting at around £113k for the ’50e’, rising to over £154k for the ‘Label’.
Described by its manufacturer as “the ultimate driving machine”, the BMW XM currently holds a New Car Expert Rating of E with a score of 54% in our Expert Rating index. Although it scores top marks for its CO2 emissions, the XM has picked up poor reviews scores from across the motoring media, who criticise the SUV’s expensive price tag and punishing ride comfort.
Looking for a practical car to ferry the family around that won’t break the bank? The used market has plenty of good value-for-money deals on at the moment, and your next car could be cheaper than you think.
We’ve analysed all the used family cars available at each price point using the thousands of cars for sale from our partner Motors. Then, we have consulted our industry-leading Expert Rating Index to see which models have the highest Used Car Expert Ratings.
Our Expert Ratings are powered by comprehensive review data, safety and eco ratings, and reliability and running cost estimations, so you can be confident that this is the definitive guide to the best used family cars for every budget that are on sale in the UK right now.
Every car listed below has used models available to purchase now, each model being reasonably new; no older than three years old.
The best used family cars for every budget in 2025
Three-year-old models on Motors for just under £10k
The dependable Skoda Octavia is well-suited to the rigours of the everyday driving, offering a leisurely driving experience and low running costs. Whether you opt for the saloon or the larger estate version, the Skoda also has more rear legroom than most alternatives in the medium car class, making it a great fit for families.
The Skoda Octavia range holds a Used Car Expert Rating of A in our Expert Rating Index, with a score of 77%.
Available on the used market as both a hatchback and an estate car, the Ford Focus is a great all-round family car package, earning praise from the motoring media thanks to its interior quality, technology and performance.
Roomy, affordable and reliable – the second-generation Nissan Leaf was the best selling electric car worldwide not that long ago. That said, it has also been surpassed by newer rivals that offer a longer battery range.
First arriving on UK roads back in 2022, the MG 4 stood out from its closest all-electric family car rivals thanks to its affordable price tag, as well as its enjoyable and comfortable driving experience. Three years on, the hatchback is also one of the most compelling value-for-money propositions on the used market too, with 100s of well-priced near-new models listed for sale in the UK.
The MG 4 range holds a Used Car Expert Rating of A in our Expert Rating Index, with a score of 80%.
The Mk8 Volkswagen Golf is five years old now, but it is just as competitive in the family hatchback class as the day it first arrived. Available as either a hatchback or estate, the Golf pairs great ride comfort with excellent safety standards.
The taller sibling of the Yaris supermini, the Yaris Cross is a petrol-electric hybrid with class-leading fuel economy and a clever interior design well-suited to family life. Buyers should keep in mind that rear space is rather limited for adult passengers, however.
The mid-sized Kia Sportage is currently one of the most popular new cars in the UK, and for good reason. Beyond the SUV’s spacious interior and impressive interior trim and tech, the Sportage is well-equipped as standard. It is also attractively priced on the used market, with an abundance of near-new used models available for purchase with our partners below.
The Kia Sportage range holds a Used Car Expert Rating of A in our Expert Rating Index, with a score of 74%.
While new editions of the Skoda Enyaq SUV cost around £40k, three-year-old examples of the pre-facelift model shown above are listed on the used market for well under £20k. While this indicates that the electric SUV’s resale values aren’t very strong, the Skoda is a fantastic family car, boasting a roomy interior, intuitive tech, and a huge boot.
This retro-modern Hyundai is larger than it looks and is well-mannered on the road. Reviewers are also impressed by the car’s powertrain and infotainment system, but alternatives have a softer ride. There are several near-new Ioniq 5 models on the used market with heavily discounted price tags.
Offering arguably the best ride comfort and handling in the medium car class, the 11th-generation Honda Civic is a well-rounded family-friendly saloon with low running costs, punchy hybrid performance, a large boot and a high-quality interior fit and finish. Larger family cars can be found on the used market for much cheaper, but two-year-old Civic models can be picked up for around £23k at the moment, which is a great value-for-money deal.
The Honda Civic range holds a Used Car Expert Rating of A in our Expert Rating Index, with a score of 78%.
While structurally similar alternatives like the Skoda Enyaq are cheaper on the used market, the electric Audi Q4 e-tron has excellent family car credentials, including its comfortable driving experience, its roomy and practical design and its cabin quality, which is a step above its closest rivals.
Volvo cars are known for their industry-leading safety standards, and the mid-sized XC60 SUV is no exception. It’s not that exciting to drive, but as a family car it is a real class act – comfortable, spacious, reliable and rather economical in plug-in hybrid form.
Should you have a budget of around £40k, you might have decided on a more luxurious brand than Renault. But before you settle on the likes of an Audi, BMW or Mercedes-Benz, we recommend that you give the electric Scenic E-Tech a test drive first. Winner of The Car Expert’sBest Medium Car of 2025, the Scenic E-Tech is only a year old – hence its higher pricing – and has excellent safety credentials, a spacious and practical interior, and a competitive battery range.
The Renault Scenic E-Tech range holds a Used Car Expert Rating of A with a score of 79%.
A battery-powered people carrier with unique styling, competitive battery range and more space and practicality than similarly priced SUVs, the Volkswagen ID. Buzz is an ideal fit for a family of five. It has strong resale values on the used market, which means that models are still pretty pricey even at three years old.
Available as either a saloon or estate at this price point, the eighth-generation BMW 5 Series is the benchmark model in the executive car class. Comfortable, great to drive and luxurious inside, one-year-old versions of the BMW are currently available for around £36k, £15k cheaper than the lead-in showroom price.
The winner of The Car Expert’sBest Premium Large Car of 2025, the seven-seat Kia EV9 SUV has stellar family car credentials. Besides its seriously spacious cabin and acres of storage space, the all-electric Kia is fun to drive, well-equipped as standard and reassuringly safe. It is certainly expensive – in fact, it’s the most expensive Kia ever sold in the UK – but one-year-old models can be purchased for just under £50k at the moment, which is £15k cheaper than the showroom price.
The Kia EV9 range holds a Used Car Expert Rating of A in our Expert Rating Index, with a score of 71%.
If high-end luxury is a must-have consideration for your next family car, a used Mercedes-Benz EQE saloon should be on your shortlist. Pickings are few and far between on the used market, but one-year-old models are available at just under £50k. The comfortable all-electric long-distance cruiser has a long battery range and class-leading onboard tech.
Winner of The Car Expert’sBest Large Car of 2025, the fifth-generation Hyundai Santa Fe has higher build quality than its predecessor, which in turn means higher pricing. The large six- or seven-seat hybrid SUV is one of the most spacious and practical family cars on the market, and one-year-old models are listed on the used market at around £44k.
For the definitive rankings of the best used family cars for every budget, we’ve used The Car Expert’s industry-leading Expert Rating index. The index analyses new car reviews from 35 of the top UK motoring websites, plus Euro NCAP safety ratings, five-year running costs and reliability data, all feeding into a sophisticated algorithm that we have refined over the last six years specifically to compare new cars (and now used cars up to ten years old as well).
The Index is recalculated every month with all the very latest data to make sure you’re getting the most accurate and reliable ratings for every new or near-new car.
A special edition of the Volkswagen Polo is being produced to mark half a century of the brand’s ever-popular small hatchback.
The Volkswagen Polo Edition 50 sits between the R-Line and Black Edition models in Volkswagen UK’s current Polo line-up and the special is priced from just over £26K.
The Edition 50 is identified by special 17-inch alloy wheels, tinted rear windows and a unique crystal blue metallic paint colour that isn’t available on other Polo models. Inside, you get Edition 50-branded sports seats and gloss black decorative inserts instead of the usual matte grey plastic.
To remind you that this is a special edition, there are ‘50’ badges on the steering wheel, door pillar, instrument panel and front door sills.
Other useful extra kit includes a tilting and sliding panoramic sunroof, rear-view camera, keyless access and start, and two-zone climate control air conditioning.
The usual 1.0-litre petrol engine with 95hp sits under the bonnet, paired to a five-speed manual gearbox, so performance is the same as other models in the range.
The Volkswagen Polo was the UK’s best-selling supermini (small hatchback) last year and remains popular choice for British car buyers – although it’s currently playing second fiddle to the Vauxhall Corsa in terms of 2025 sales.
The compact all-electric BYD Dolphin Surf hatchback is now available to order in the UK, with budget-end pricing that undercuts rivals like the Renault 5 E-Tech and Citroën ë-C3.
On sale as the BYD ‘Seagull’ since 2023 in China, the Dolphin Surf is now the smallest entry-level car in BYD’s UK and Europe line-up.
It isn’t part of the Dolphin range which rivals the Cupra Born and Mini Cooper Electric – the Surf is a slightly smaller (30 centimetres shorter front to back) standalone model that aims to steal sales from the Citroën ë-C3 and Hyundai Inster.
The Dolphin Surf has a markedly different exterior design to that of the larger Dolphin, with more angular LED headlights, thick cladding on the front and rear bumpers, and a ‘sporty’ roof spoiler that extends over the rear window.
The lead-in 87hp ‘Active’ trim is powered by a 30kWh battery that returns up to a reported 137 miles on a single charge, with a 0-62mph sprint taking 11.1 seconds. Charging at DC speeds of up to 65kW, a 10% TO 80% battery top-up takes around half an hour.
Opting for the ‘Boost’ trim adds more battery range, but not performance. Powered by a larger 43kWh battery pack, this mid-range model can muster up to 200 miles without charging, but as it makes use of the same 87hp electric motor, the 0-62mph sprint time is cut to 12.1 seconds.
The top-spec model is the ‘Comfort’, which is powered by the same 43kWh battery but with a more powerful 154hp electric motor, increasing single-charge travel distance to 193 miles and cutting the 0-62mph sprint time to 9.1 seconds.
Inside, the car comes with a ten-inch rotating infotainment touchscreen compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard, as well as a seven-inch digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel, keyless entry, a rear view parking camera and rear parking sensors.
The ‘Active’ package also includes adaptive cruise control and traffic sign recognition tech, with electrically-folding door mirrors and rain-sensing wipers reserved for the ‘Boost’ trim and above, and a surround-view camera system featured on the ‘Comfort’ spec sheet. The cabin is trimmed in vegan leather, regardless of trim choice, and exterior colour choices include the standard lime green, black, white and blue.
Now on sale prices for the Dolphin Surf start at around £19k – nearly £7k cheaper than the entry-level Dolphin model and £4k cheaper than the Renault 5 E-Tech. There are still cheaper electric cars however, namely the smaller Dacia Spring and the Leapmotor T03 city car.
Make and model: BMW iX Description: Large electric SUV Price range: from £75,315
BMW says: “The BMW iX defines a new chapter for the brand with its pioneering design, cutting-edge technology and dynamic electrified drive.”
We say: Whatever you think of the BMW iX’s polarising styling, you can’t argue with the driving experience or the cabin ambience. It’s a fantastic car.
This is the BMW iX, which has been around for four years now. It’s certainly been one of the most controversial new cars of the current decade, simply because of its styling. You’ll struggle to find anyone who doesn’t have a strong opinion about how it looks, even if they’ve never driven it and are not in the market to buy one.
Once you get past the styling, however, there’s been almost unanimous agreement from motoring journalists about the quality of the rest of the iX package. From the first reviews four years ago, critics have praised the quality of engineering beneath that curiously shaped bodywork, awarding it high marks for its driving performance and the quality of its interior.
Now BMW has given the iX a mid-life refresh. The styling remains just as controversial, although some minor changes have improved things – especially on the most popular M Sport models. Depending on the specific model you choose, there’s also more power, better battery range and further refinements to the driving experience.
The BMW iX is a large, luxury SUV and a dedicated EV. That makes it unusual for a BMW, as the rest of its current electric line-up (the i4, i5, i7, iX1, iX2 and iX3) are jointly developed as both fossil-fuel and electric models. Being designed as an EV from the ground up means that it takes full advantage of the packaging benefits of an electric car, with a spacious cabin that offers plenty of room both front and rear, and great weight distribution that makes the car comfortable and well-balanced to drive.
The iX range received a mid-life update (called LCI, or life cycle impulse, in BMW-speak) in early 2025, which follows the usual EV programme of some refreshed styling, revised equipment levels, and improvements to the electric motors and batteries.
Even after four years on sale, there are not many comparable cars to the BMW iX. Audi had a model called the Q8 e-tron, which has now been discontinued and replaced by the new Q6 e-tron, but these are both a bit smaller and cheaper than the iX. Mercedes has a model called the EQE SUV, which is a strong contender although not as good to drive. Tesla still offers its large Model X, but only to special order, only in left-hand drive and only in a high specification that starts at more than £100K. And there’s the Lotus Eletre, an electric SUV from pretty much the last brand you’d expect to build such a vehicle.
What do you get for your money?
There are four models in the updated BMW iX line-up – all of which offer all-wheel drive and a high level of standard equipment.
The range kicks off with the entry-level xDrive45, starting at £75K for the Sport specification and £78K for the M Sport specification. There’s a big jump up to xDrive60 M Sport model, which starts at £9K, and then an even bigger jump to the flagship M70 xDrive model at £114K.
The base model xDrive45 Sport isn’t expected to make up a massive proportion of overall sales, with most customers expected to plump for the M Sport version for an extra £3K. Both of these models get a 408hp electric motor supplied by a 95kWh battery.
The Sport version gets a healthy level of standard equipment, with some of the highlights including adaptive LED headlights, auto tailgate, heated front seats and steering wheel, BMW’s latest operating system for the interior touchscreen and a Harman Kardon sound system. M Sport bumps this up with larger 21-inch alloy wheels, revised front and rear bumper styling, upgraded interior materials and more bolstered seats. These extras, plus a few other cosmetic differences, add £3K to the price tag.
The mid-spec xDrive60 brings a large helping of extra performance, with the motor output jumping to 544hp. This model is only available in M Sport specification.
The top-spec M70 xDrive adds even more performance, with 659hp available. As well as getting you where you’re going even more quickly, the M70 gets additional kit as well. As standard, the outline of the enormous kidney grille lights up (it’s optional on the rest of the range) and has a slightly different grille pattern. Wheels are even bigger, at 22 inches, and the suspension system is reworked to provide better handling at higher speeds.
Expert tips
Base model Sport spec unlikely to see too many sales, with most customers preferring M Sport
All models get noticeable improvements in performance and battery range
Still plenty of opportunity to get carried away with extra-cost options
What’s the BMW iX like inside?
While the exterior styling of the BMW iX has drawn plenty of criticism (and, to be fair, quite a bit of praise as well), the interior has received almost universal acclaim. It’s certainly a minimalist look, as is increasingly popular these days, but the comfort and ergonomics are excellent. M Sport models get cool retro-style stitching and stripes, which look to be inspired by 1980s M models.
Since it’s a dedicated EV, not a converted petrol car, the iX has a cabin layout that offers much more space than a similarly sized petrol or diesel or hybrid car. If you’re familiar with BMW’s fossil-fuel SUVs, you could say that the iX has similar exterior dimensions to the X5, but interior space that’s more comparable to the much larger X7.
The driving position is commanding, with good visibility and an excellent range of adjustment for both the seat and steering wheel. For the passengers, both front and rear, there’s plenty of headroom and legroom. Boot space is maybe less than you’d expect for a large SUV, but it has a nice square, flat shape maximises the available space. The rear seats can be folded in a 40:20:40 way (as seen in the photo below), which gives more family flexibility than the traditional 60:40 split.
With any new car, a large part of the interior experience revolves around the central screen and how easy or difficult it is to use on the move – especially since car manufacturers are moving most of the function controls onto the screen rather than through proper buttons. BMW is very good here, with an operating system that is easy to use and responds instantly to your inputs.
The driver gets a massage function in the seat but we found it simply uncomfortable and annoying, rather than providing a comforting prod and roll that would be welcome on a long journey.
Expert tips
M Sport seats are bolstered but still very comfortable
Central screen works better in than most cars, but most functions still require poking a screen rather than using dedicated buttons
What’s the BMW iX like to drive?
Although it has abandoned its decade-long tagline of “The Ultimate Driving Machine” in recent years, BMW still places a lot of weight on the driving experience in its cars. Does a large, all-electric luxury SUV live up to the standards of many petrol-powered sporty saloons and coupés from over the years?
Obviously, any 2.5-tonne electric SUV is not going to handle like a compact BMW sporting saloon from 20 years ago, so the bleating about that from certain quarters is fairly irrelevant. Compared to most large SUVs, the BMW iX is delightful to drive.
We drove the mid-level BMW iX xDrive60 M Sport, to give it its full and rather awkward title. That means it two electric motors (one for the front wheels and one for the rear wheels) producing a combined 540-odd horsepower, big (21-inch as standard, 22- or 23-inch optional) wheels and sporty-ish suspension. In many BMWs from the last decade or more, this would mean a car that crashes across potholes and bumps, and bounces you around on anything but a smooth motorway, but the latest generation of BMWs is much better than that. The ride quality is very good most of the time (our launch drive was quite short but covered a decent variety of road surfaces, including a bumpy dirt road), with the iX feeling stable and well balanced.
At any speed, the iX is particularly quiet and smooth. Yes, you can say the same about most EVs compared to petrol or diesel vehicles, but a lack of engine noise can also draw more attention to road and wind noise. BMW has done well to minimise those sources of noise as well in the iX, which is not easy in a large, square SUV with huge tyres.
The xDrive60 pushes out 544hp through all four wheels, so performance is far beyond anything you’d ever need. The car industry loves to quote 0-62mph acceleration figures, even though they’re pretty much irrelevant to normal drivers, and the iX xDrive60 dispatches that test in 4.6 seconds. If you’re not used to driving an electric car, the 0-30 part of that test is the most impressive, as an electric motor generates all of its twisting power immediately while a petrol or diesel engine needs to rev to generate the same output. That means that, despite its size and weight, the iX launches forward like a supercar from a standing start, only starting to ease up as you approach 60mph. A petrol BMW X5, by comparison, is slower to launch and really starts to pick up speed once you get to about 30mph, catching up to the iX as you get to 60mph.
For such a big and heavy SUV, the iX feels remarkably agile on twisty roads. The steering isn’t quite as light as on many modern cars – although BMW does make steering wheels with annoyingly thick rims that are not particularly comfortable to hold – and the suspension remains composed. Often, sharpening the handling comes at the expense of a very firm ride (for a good example, you only need to look at any sports model from BMW-owned Mini), but the iX manages to corner very well without shaking the fillings out of your teeth on a bumpy road. Even with sports suspension, the ride is better than that of many other similar cars with large wheels.
The digital screens are better than most, but the driver’s screen, in particular, tends to be too busy in its default settings. After faffing about with various screen displays, we ended up with the simplest choice that just showed speed and nothing else – if there’s a problem, a warning message will pop up to alert you. The good news is that the head-up display is very good, so you can largely ignore the driver’s screen and have key information projected directly onto the windscreen.
Expert tips
Good balance of ride comfort and sharp handling
Plenty of performance on tap in xDrive60 model, not sure why anyone would need the M70
Setting both screens to display the minimum of information worked best for us, as most screen options were too busy and crowded for reading while on the move
How safe is the BMW iX?
The BMW iX was assessed by Euro NCAP back in late 2021 and was awarded a five-star rating, with excellent scores in all four categories (adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, vulnerable road user protection and accident-avoidance technology).
All the crucial safety kit is included as standard on every iX model. The top-spec M70 gets an additional ‘Driving Assistant Professional’ pack that adds additional hands-off lane-keeping technology, but this doesn’t earn it any more points with Euro NCAP.
As with pretty much all new cars, the iX has the latest EU-mandated warning systems that will beep and bong at you constantly unless you disable them, Although BMW has managed to implement these better than most manufacturers, you’ll still get bonged at whenever the speed limit changes, and whenever you happen to drift one single mile per hour over that limit, and whenever it thinks you may possibly be distracted, or whenever it thinks you may possibly be tired, and so on. The theory is great, but these systems simply don’t work and it’s not BMW’s fault. Thank the EU for forcing through legislation to enforce systems that are not fit for purpose. And we still get them in the UK, even after Brexit, because car manufacturers are not going to code separate software for UK-bound vehicles…
You can disable the systems fairly easily but they will be reactivated every time you start the car, so it becomes part of your pre-drive checklist to switch the bongs off before each trip. Yes, this seems ridiculous for what are ostensibly safety systems, but that’s where we’re at.
Expert tips
Excellent safety score from 2021 is still valid today
Adding optional Technology Pack (more than £3K extra) gives more advanced lane-keeping tech, but doesn’t improve urban safety
BMW iX economy, battery range and charging
The charging capabilities of the iX will depend on which model, and specifically which battery, you choose. They’re all competitive, but the 60 and M70 models are better.
The xDrive45 and xDrive60 models both return a similar result for electrical efficiency (the EV equivalent of fuel economy) of about 3.4 miles/kWh. The M70 is a bit less efficient, dropping to 3 miles/kWh. However, the xDrive45 model gets a smaller battery, so it doesn’t go as far as the xDrive60 on a full charge. The ranges are as follows:
xDrive45 Sport: 95kWh battery, official driving range of 374 miles, maximum charging speed of 175kW
xDrive45 M Sport: 95kWh battery, official driving range of 376 miles, maximum charging speed of 175kW
xDrive60 M Sport: 109kWh battery, official driving range of 426 miles, maximum charging speed of 195kW
M70 xDrive: 109kWh battery, official driving range of 365 miles, maximum charging speed of 195kW
In reality, all of the iX variations will give you more than enough battery range for normal day-to-day driving needs. Even in the middle of a cold British winter, you can expect at least 300 miles of urban battery range if driving sensibly – or probably closer to 350 miles in the xDrive60.
At public chargers, the iX can accept a maximum charging speed of 175kW for the smaller battery (xDrive45) and 195kW for the larger battery models (xDrive60 and M70), which is very good – albeit not best-in industry – and most public chargers can’t charge at 175kW anyway, so you’ll be limited to whatever charging speed is available. Assuming you are plugged into a 100kW charger, that means that you can get a charge from 10% to 80% in a bit over half an hour. If you’re charging at home with a 7kW wallbox, a full charge from 0-100% will take 12-13 hours, but bear in mind that most times you won’t be charging from a completely empty battery so real-world charging time will be less.
The charging port is in the right-rear corner of the car, so you’ll want to reverse into most charging bays rather than driving in forwards.
Expert tips
Official battery range of 364-426 miles, depending on specification. In real-world urban driving, this might be achievable but motorway driving will reduce your range significantly.
Driving range should be plenty for most customer needs (average household mileage in the UK is about 120 miles/week).
Heat pump is standard, which helps maintain driving range in very cold conditions
The charging port is in the right-rear of the car, which means reverse parking in most charging bays will be better.
Comes standard with the usual Type-2-to-Type-2 charging cable for plugging into a dedicated charging unit, but not a Type-2-to-Type-3 cable for plugging into a standard three-point electricity plug.
Verdict
For many people, the BMW iX will be a non-starter because its exterior styling is simply too off-putting for any other qualities to matter. That’s completely understandable, as most people want to be happy looking at the car they’ve just spent thousands of pounds on. If the styling is a dealbreaker for you, you’re not alone. BMW knows this and is fine with it.
But if you are happy with the styling, you’ll be pleased to know that there’s a very good car underneath. The cabin is comfortable and spacious, featuring a minimalist luxury style. It’s smooth and quiet, and generally a lovely place to be. It also illustrates the difference between design and styling. The styling is what you see on the surface, but the design underneath is well-executed, delivering a car that is well-packaged and laid out.
The driving experience in the iX is one of the best you’ll find in a luxury SUV, regardless of whether it’s powered by electricity or fossil fuels. Ride quality is good despite sports suspension and large wheels, while the handling is far better than you’d expect from an SUV of this size and weight.
The BMW iX is intended to appeal to a minority of customers, not the majority. Whatever you think of the polarising styling, you can’t argue with the driving experience or the cabin ambience. It has a hefty price tag, but it’s a fantastic car.
Expert recommendations
Our pick of the range is probably the xDrive45 M Sport, which has plenty of power and battery range
Don’t get carried away with extra-cost options. Only pay for what you really want, not what you think might be good.
Lotus has unveiled an upgrade to its Emira sports car range with the new Lotus Emira V6 SE. The new model joins the existing line-up, which already includes the Turbo SE.
At the same time, Lotus introduces a number of refinements across the Emira range. These include two new colours – Eos Green and Purple Haze metallic – and further optimisation of the cooling and transmission.
In addition to the new Emira V6 SE and Turbo SE, the Emira Turbo joins the line-up as the entry point to the model range.
The new Emira V6 SE is powered by the same six-cylinder powertrain of the Emira – a supercharged 3.5-litre V6 engine with 400 hp, mated to either a six-speed manual gearbox (with a limited-slip differential) or an optional automatic transmission, allowing for a 0-62 mph sprint in 4.3 seconds and a maximum speed of 180mph.
The V6 powertrain has been refined for what Lotus describes as “more emotional engagement”, including the introduction of new mountings for the manual gearbox that allow for more precise gear changes.
The car has two defined chassis and suspension settings. Tour is tuned for everyday road use, delivering the optimum blend of dynamic performance and handling with a more comfortable ride.
In terms of safety, the Lotus Emira is equipped with advanced driver assistance systems as standard, as well as the option of an ‘Extended Co-Driver Pack’ for extra support. Standard features include autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind spot warning, traffic sign recognition and fatigue detection.
Meanwhile, the Emira Turbo marks the entry point to the Emira line-up. It is powered by the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic gearbox found in the Turbo SE, both of which are sourced from technology partner Mercedes-AMG. It achieves a 0-62 mph sprint in 4.4 seconds with a top speed of 171mph.
Finally, Lotus has launched a new ‘Racing Line’ trim aimed at enthusiasts who want to give their Emira an even sportier look. Available on the Turbo SE and V6 SE, Racing Line adds a subtle, lower pinstripe (in yellow, red or silver) matched to the colour of the brake callipers. The mirror caps also get the same accent colour.
Racing Line badges with a matching accent, high-gloss black wheels and a black and silver exterior logo complete the dynamic look. Inside, the cars are further enhanced by a special interior badge and stitching in the chosen accent colour.
Unlike the new electric Lotus Eletre SUV and Lotus Emeya saloon, which are built in China, the Emira models are hand-built at the historic Lotus facility in Hethel, where the brand has produced sports cars since 1966.
The Lotus Emira Turbo starts at £79.5K, while the Emira V6 SE starts at £96.5K. You can order them now, with first cars expected to reach showrooms in September.
The third-generation Audi A5 is a mid-sized saloon and ‘Avant’ estate that arrived in UK showrooms in the second half of 2024. Instead of replacing the previous A5 range, which included coupé and cabriolet models, this latest iteration is the successor of the now-retired A4 range.
Beyond the A5 saloon and A5 Avant, the range also includes the sportier S5, which is also offered in saloon and estate body styles. The A5 is currently available with a choice of petrol and diesel engines, with two plug-in hybrid powertrains soon joining the line-up.
The line-up has received a warm welcome from the British motoring media, Carbuyer’s Charlie Harvey explaining that the “next-generation A5 has more style and an even nicer interior than before.”
The range has also been commended for its on-board tech and its quiet and refined engine options. That said, reviewers generally agree that the biggest issue with the A5 is the strength of its rivals. “It is spacious, refined, and well-made”, concludes Autotrader’s Catherine King, “yet it’s not quite as engaging to drive as a BMW 3 Series or as comfortable as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.”
Carwow’s Darren Cassey adds that alternatives are more practical, while Paul Barker of Auto Express notes that the A5 is “much more expensive” than the A4 it replaces.
As of July 2025, the Audi A5 holds a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 70%. It scores top marks for its five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, while it also gets good grades for its media review scores and its low CO2 emissions. However, its running costs are only average and its warranty score is poor.
“The experience behind the wheel won’t tempt keener drivers, but the Audi A5 doubles down on being a high-quality, solid and sensible car with smart looks and better legroom for rear passengers.”
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid S-line quattro saloon Score: 8 / 10 “Audi’s e-hybrid plug-in hybrid powertrain fills a crucial gap in the A5 range, offering fuel and tax efficiency that will appeal to many.” Author: Steve Walker Read review
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic estate (Avant) Score: 8 / 10 “As a replacement for both the A4 and A5, the all-new Audi A5 Avant makes a lot of sense, especially in diesel guise. It’s practical and spacious, comes with an efficient mild-hybrid powertrain, and is arguably better looking than the saloon. It’s also full of excellent new tech and feels unusually well made. Well worth a look if you can afford the premium price.” Author: Steve Sutcliffe Read review
Model reviewed: 3.0-litre petrol automatic S5 estate (Avant) Score: 8 / 10 “There’s much to like about the new Audi S5 Avant, and not a whole lot to dislike. It looks good, goes well, is beautifully made inside and out, and drives as sharply as any car of its type right now. It’s also spacious, and comes extremely well equipped.” Author: Steve Sutcliffe Read review
Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “It is spacious, refined, and well-made, yet it’s not quite as engaging to drive as a BMW 3 Series or as comfortable as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.” Author: Catherine King Read review
Car
Model reviewed: S5 Saloon Score: 8 / 10 “The S5 is potent, premium and still flies under the radar as it always has done badged as an S4 previously. It feels less rabid than a Mercedes-AMG C43, for example, which really appeals.” Read review
Model reviewed: A5 Avant estate Score: 8 / 10 “It’s well built, feels solid and dependable to drive and represents good value given how astronomical some car prices have gotten recently. It’s a sensible flavour of small family estate over the glitzier Mercedes C-Class estate or sharper 3-series Touring, but one that’s worth a serious look at.” Author: Jake Groves Read review
Model reviewed: A5 Saloon Score: 8 / 10 “The A5 picks up where the previous A5s and A4s left off. It’s smart, rides well and feels every bit as premium as you’d want a £42,000 five door sportback to feel. I’ve some reservations with the styling and layout of the interior, but overall it’s a car I’d still happily devour miles in.” Author: Seth Walton Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: A5 Avant estate Score: 8.2 / 10 “You get all of the Audi quality and style that you’d expect, coupled to a spacious estate car. It provides plenty of room for families, business users, or both as this type of car usually has to sing for its supper through the week and fetch the shopping at the weekend.” Author: Alisdair Suttle Read review
Model reviewed: A5 Saloon Score: 8 / 10 “The next-generation A5 has more style and an even nicer interior than before. It feels very modern, then, but its petrol engines are somewhat rudimentary 2.0-litre turbos with so-so power and efficiency.” Author: Charlie Harvey Read review
Carwow
Model reviewed: 3.0-litre petrol automatic S5 quattro saloon “The Audi S5 is a high-tech performance saloon with a standout interior – but other German alternatives are even quicker and the estate version makes much more sense.” Read review
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic Avant estate “Audi A5 Avant is the new name for the A4 Avant. Despite the new moniker it’s still a stylish executive estate with a posh, high-tech cabin, but it’s a shame there’s no electric or hybrid power yet.” Read review
Evo
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “The A5’s place among these rivals is more or less unchanged compared to the A4 it replaces. That’s to say, the BMW 3-series is still the keen driver’s choice, though if comfort, technical appointment and refinement are what you want, this is a great alternative to a C-Class.” Author: Ethan Jupp Read review
Model reviewed: S5 Saloon Score: 8 / 10 “As ever, we suspect a more engaging rival can be found in the equivalent BMW and perhaps a more luxurious rival can be found in the equivalent Mercedes. But the S5 is an impressive thing, from its powertrain, to its build quality and its technology.” Author: Ethan Jupp Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The Audi A5 is the curvaceous replacement for the old Audi A4. Instead of going electric, the Audi A5 offers a range of traditional petrol and diesel engines, with long-range plug-in hybrids coming soon” Author: Richard Aucock Read review
Model reviewed: 3.0-litre petrol automatic S5 Score: 8 / 10 “The Audi S5 is a discreet and classy high-performance hatchback and Avant estate. It is not outlandish, but delivers plenty of everyday pace with a satisfying overlay of premium appeal.” Author: Richard Aucock Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: A5 Avant estate Score: 7.6 / 10 “The ride comfort is well balanced and the diesel engines – usually known for sounding loud and rough – are kept impressively quiet. Rear space also isn’t great, leading us to wonder why you’d bother getting an estate at all.” Author: Keith Adams and Jake Groves Read review
Model reviewed: A5 Saloon Score: 8 / 10 “The new Audi A5 is a fine car and I find it encouraging that the German marque is still willing to pursue the development of efficient combustion engines, but the A5’s competition is very strong.” Author: Seth Walton Read review
The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: S5 Saloon Score: 9 / 10 “Once upon a time, we would more likely have recommended the BMW 3 Series or the Mercedes C-Class ahead of the Audi A4. Now, with the new A5 platform, the game has been changed completely, and nowhere more so than with the S5 version. It’s a much closer battle between the Audi and the M340i, and we’re no longer convinced the BMW is the better choice.” Author: James Fossdyke Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic Avant (estate) Score: 8 / 10 “Capable of delivering 55mpg in the real world, the mild hybrid Audi A5 diesel Avant is also comfortable and effortlessly swift.” Author: Andrew English Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “Audi’s drift towards overbearing levels of tech is a worry. More concerning is the lack of verve to the handling, which means it trails its main rivals despite being the newer entry. Ultimately the A5 suffers for trying to sit in the middle of that Venn diagram, depriving it of a proper USP.” Read review
Model reviewed: S5 Saloon Score: 7 / 10 “There’s a lot to appreciate about the S5… unfortunately it gets everything going except your heart rate.”
Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
The Audi A5 has been awarded a full five-star safety rating by Euro NCAP. This rating stands for the entire range, including the A5 saloon and Avant estate, as well as the sportier S5 saloon and Avant estate models.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of July 2025, the Audi A5 has not been assessed by Green NCAP.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
CO₂ output
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Petrol models
161 g/km
C
Diesel models
133 g/km
A
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£292
C
Year 2
£751
C
Year 3
£1,278
C
Year 4
£1,447
C
Year 5
£1,856
C
Overall
£5,624
C
The Audi A5 can be a relatively expensive car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
Our current crop of data for the Audi A5 paints a rather limited picture of the A5’s running costs, with no data for the Audi’s fuel efficiency or insurance bracket. However, the car’s servicing and maintenance cost estimations over the course of the first five years of ownership are on the expensive side, totalling over £5,500 in fees over that period.
We are sure to receive more running cost data for the A5 in the coming months, so check back again soon.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of July 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the current Audi A5 range to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.
As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the A5, we’ll publish the results here.
Warranty rating
New car warranty information for the Audi A5
Overall rating
D
31%
Petrol or diesel models
E
17%
Hybrid or plug-in hybrid models
C
56%
New car warranty duration
3 years
New car warranty mileage
60,000 miles
Battery warranty duration
8 years
Battery warranty mileage
100,000 miles
Audi’s new car warranty is pretty much the bare minimum offered in the UK, with a duration of three years and a limit of 60,000 miles. Other rivals in the price bracket do better (and in some cases, much better).
In addition to the standard new car warranty, the A5 plug-in hybrid version has an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty for the battery components, which is why it gets a better score than the standard petrol and diesel models.
As of July 2025, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the Audi A5. However, this information is updated very regularly so this may have changed.
You can check to see if your car has any outstanding recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local A5 dealer.
We get a lot of readers asking questions or looking for explanations about personal contract purchase (PCP) quotes they have received from a dealer or seen online. This is not surprising, as a PCP car finance quotation can look quite confusing.
In this comprehensive article, we are going to go through a PCP car finance quote line by line and explain what each item means. We will tell you what to look out for, and what you can do to adjust each number to suit your needs. If you can understand every aspect of the quote, you are much more likely to get yourself a deal that works for you rather than a deal that works for the car dealer.
When looking at a car finance quote, take your time and work through it line by line, as we will do below. Refer back to this document as you are reading your quote to help you understand it. Don’t just accept whatever the car dealer tells you; you need to take responsibility for making sure the finance offer meets your needs.
The most important thing to remember is that every part of a finance deal is connected to every other part. If you’re borrowing (for example) £30,000 for a car, then the finance deal can be arranged in various different ways to suit your needs. But if you want one part to go down (say, the monthly payment), then that inevitably means other parts will go up (say, the upfront payment or the duration) to make up for it.
Most buyers tend to focus on one line – the monthly payment figure. They will have a target of £X per month, and that’s all they are interested in. However, every aspect of a finance quotation is connected, so if you are trying to reduce a monthly payment quote to get it down to your target, that will inevitably mean you have to compromise somewhere else. Tweaking one line of the quote will always affect several other lines, and you may end up worse off as a result.
Don’t be distracted by the shiny things; focus on your financial limits.
For this article, I have taken a genuine PCP car finance quotation from a large manufacturer finance company on one of the best-selling cars in the UK. However, everything you read below will apply to any PCP car finance quotation.
The reason we are using a PCP quotation is because it is by far the most popular type of car finance for retail car buyers in the UK. More than 80% of all private new car buyers will use a PCP to buy their vehicle, and a rapidly growing number of used car buyers as well.
If you want even more information about any of the technical jargon used in this article, check out our comprehensive car finance glossary that explains everything in plain English.
PCP car finance quote example*
Duration
48 months
Monthly payment
£311.08
Customer deposit
£4,201.50
Deposit contribution
£3,000.00
Retail cash price
£28,010.00
Acceptance fee
£0.00
Optional final payment
£11,084.40
Option to purchase fee
£10.00
Total amount payable
£32,916.66
Total amount of credit
£20,808.50
Representative APR %
7.9% APR
Rate of interest
7.85% fixed
Annual mileage allowance
10,000
Excess mileage (per mile)
7.2p
*example is an actual finance quotation taken for a popular new car in the UK, as advertised in June 2020
1. Duration
The duration is also called the term. In this case, the 48 months shown actually consists of 47 regular monthly payments plus one large final payment, also called the balloon or guaranteed (minimum) future value (GFV/GMFV).
A PCP car finance agreement can usually run for anywhere between 18 months and 48 months. A longer duration will usually mean lower monthly payments, but the overall amount you end up paying will be higher as you will pay more in interest since you are borrowing the money over a longer period.
Some brands have started offering 60-month (five-year) PCPs on electric cars to help bring monthly payments down. Be very cautious about taking a five-year PCP, as it’s committing you to that car for a long time.
If you want to make the duration shorter, you can:
increase your upfront deposit
increase your monthly payment
choose a cheaper car
2. Monthly payment
This is the number that most buyers are looking at – how much will this car cost per month? However, it’s only one part of the equation, and you have to make sure that every other aspect suits your needs.
The question of “How do I bring my monthly payments down?” is very common, but there’s no magic answer here. Reducing the monthly payment will require you to accept a less-desirable change somewhere else, and concentrating only on the monthly payment can lead you into trouble.
If you want to bring this payment down, you can:
choose a cheaper car
increase your upfront deposit
reduce your annual mileage
take a longer term (max. is usually 48 months; see above)
negotiate a discount on the price of the car
negotiate a discount on the interest rate on the finance
3. Customer deposit
This is the amount you are paying the dealership up front, which is taken into account as part of your overall PCP car finance agreement. We prefer to simply call it an upfront payment because the word deposit can be confusing; you won’t get this money back again at the end of the agreement.
The more money you put in at the start, the less you will have to pay per month. Conversely, the less you put in to start off, the more you will have to pay each month.
Car dealers will often encourage you to put in less deposit and increase your monthly payment, and a common phrase they will use is that a large deposit is “dead money”. Don’t be fooled; they’re saying this because it suits them. They get commission on every pound that you borrow, so if you reduce your deposit by £1,000 you will be increasing your debt by £1,000 and they will get more commission. Do what is right for you.
Part-exchange vehicle If you have a part-exchange vehicle, that can be used as a form of deposit. If the dealer values your car at £2,000 then that’s the same as a £2,000 cash deposit. If you have outstanding finance on your vehicle, it’s value will be the net result of its value minus the finance. So if your car is valued at £8,000 but you still owe £7,000 to the finance company, it’s only a £1,000 deposit.
If your car is valued at £8,000 but you still owe £9,000, that’s called negative equity, and it means you have to pay £1,000 to get rid of your car before you can start thinking about an additional deposit towards your new car. If you’re trying to part-exchange your car and still have quite a long time left on your current finance agreement, you will almost certainly be in negative equity.
If you want to bring this payment down, you can:
choose a cheaper car
increase your monthly payment
reduce your annual mileage
take a longer term
negotiate a discount on the price of the car
negotiate a discount on the interest rate on the finance
4. Deposit contribution
A deposit contribution is basically a discount for taking the finance agreement; in the example above, it’s £3,000 (which is quite generous and higher than most cars will have). Instead of taking £3,000 off the price of the car, the dealer and/or car company is giving you £3,000 towards the price of the car. It’s kind of the same thing, but it can have advantages if you need to voluntarily terminate the agreement later on.
This amount is typically offered as part of a national campaign for a specific model and is available from any dealership for that manufacturer. It’s a discount/offer, so it won’t be available on any model. It’s also much less common to see a deposit contribution offered on a used car.
Dealers will often offer to use this deposit contribution to cover any negative equity you have in your current car (see above), so you don’t have to find the cash to settle the outstanding finance. This means that there will be little or no contribution left towards the new car, so you are making your new car more expensive by doing this.
5. Retail cash price
This may be listed as total on-road price or something similar. It’s basically the overall price of the car you’re buying (including any extras you have added), and other costs like road tax.
If you want to bring this payment down, you can:
choose a cheaper car
remove unnecessary extras like GAP insurance or paint protection (the dealer will hate that, but that’s because they make a lot of commission on those extras)
negotiate a discount on the price of the car
6. Acceptance fee
This will vary between different finance providers, and may or may not be relevant. Almost all PCP car finance contracts will have fees of some sort (unless they specifically say 0% APR). In this particular case, there is no fee here – however some finance companies may try to charge you as much as £100.
A 0% APR offer means no interest and no fees (other than penalty charges). If a dealer claims an offer is “interest-free” but there are still fees involved, it’s not 0% APR.
An acceptance fee is usually built into the agreement and isn’t generally negotiable. If you really want to haggle over it, all the dealer is likely to do is deduct the equivalent amount off the price of the car.
7. Optional final payment
This is the amount you will still owe at the end of the duration, also known as the balloon. In a PCP agreement, this amount is the same as the guaranteed future value (which is technically a different thing, but for a finance quote it doesn’t matter). If you want to pay off the finance and keep the car, this is how much you will have to pay.
Describing this final payment as ‘optional’ is misleading, as it implies that the default situation is not to pay anything. This is the exact opposite of what your contract says – you owe this money to the finance company, but there are options to avoid paying it. That may sound petty, but it’s important to remember that you have borrowed this money from the finance company and it needs to be repaid, one way or another.
The final payment is what the finance company expects the car to be worth at the end of the agreement. So in this case, the car starts out at £28,010.00 new, and after four years and 40,000 miles it should be worth £11,084.40. That’s 39% of the starting price, which is about average for a four-year-old car.
The finance company will try to take this payment on direct debit unless you hand the car back or part-exchange it before the due date. For more information, have a read of our article about your options at the end of a PCP.
The higher the final payment is, the lower your monthly payments will be. If you want to keep this payment as high as possible to reduce your monthly payments (which is likely if you’re not planning to make the final payment and keep the car), you can take the following actions.
If you want to keep this payment high (to keep your monthly payments down), you can:
reduce your annual mileage allowance
remove any unnecessary options (like a sunroof or upgraded stereo) and dealer extras (like GAP insurance or paint protection) that increase your starting price but don’t increase the final value
stick with the most popular colour and trim combinations (unpopular colours and personalisations can devalue your car)
8. Option to purchase fee
Again, every finance company will charge fees here or there. In this example, if you choose to pay the £11,084.40 to keep the car at the end of the agreement, you will also have to pay an extra £10 admin fee. Yes, you’re right – it does seem petty.
As with the acceptance fee above, this fee is usually built into the agreement and is non-negotiable. Again, if you want to make a fuss about it, the dealer will simply deduct £10 (using the example above) off the price of the car.
9. Total Amount Payable
This is one of the most important numbers in any finance agreement, as it reflects the cost of the car plus the interest and fees you pay as part of the finance. Based on the example above, this amount equals your deposit (£4,201.50), the seller’s deposit contribution (£3,000), 47 monthly payments of £311.08 each, the final payment of £11,084.40 and the final £10 fee.
Even if you don’t plan to keep the car, this is still an important number as it shows you how much you are really paying to finance the car. In this case, the Total Amount Payable of £32,916.66 minus the cash price of the car (£28,010.00) means you are paying £4,906.66 in interest and fees to finance the car over four years.
Total debt
What the quote is not required to show is your total debt, which is the amount you ultimately owe the finance company. It is the total amount payable minus your deposit and any deposit contribution. In this example, the debt would be £25,715.16.
A significant amount of debt may affect your ability to borrow money for a house or get credit for other purposes (credit card, phone, personal loan, etc.). Obviously, you will make inroads to this debt each month with your repayments, so your debt will slowly reduce each month.
If you settle the finance early, you’re effectively borrowing the money over a shorter term. This reduces the overall interest you pay, which reduces the overall debt and means your total amount payable is reduced.
Voluntary termination Another reason that the total amount payable is important is because it is used to calculate your voluntary termination point, which is 50% of the total amount payable – in this case, £16,458.33. This amount does not need to be shown on a finance quote, but it will be shown in your contract.
Based on the upfront payment (£4,201.50) plus deposit contribution (£3,000) and monthly payments of £311.08, you would reach this 50% mark after 30 months in this example contract. This is earlier than you’d normally expect on a four-year agreement, and is largely because the upfront payment and deposit contributions are high. In most four-year PCP agreements, you won’t reach the 50% mark until sometime in your fourth and final year.
Repossession Your repossession rights are also determined by the total amount payable. If you have repaid less than a third of the total (in this case, £10,972.22, which you would reach in about 13 months) and you default on your payments, the finance company has the right to repossess the vehicle.
Once you have repaid more than a third of the total amount payable, they would have to get a court order to repossess the vehicle. In practice, that means they may be a little more patient with you before going to the effort of trying to repossess your car, as going to court costs money with no guarantee that they would win.
If you want to bring this payment down, you can:
choose a cheaper car
take a shorter term (thereby paying less interest)
remove unnecessary extras like GAP insurance or paint protection
negotiate a discount on the price of the car
negotiate a discount on the interest rate on the finance
find a finance agreement with a lower APR (interest rate)
10. Total amount of credit
This is the amount of money you are borrowing, and is equal to the price of the car (£28,010 in this example) minus your deposit (£4,201.50) and the deposit contribution (£3,000), which works out to £20,808.50. That’s not the same as your total debt, because you pay interest on the amount borrowed.
It’s a common misconception that you’re not borrowing the balloon amount – not true at all. You are borrowing that £11,084.40 and paying interest on it, but you are not repaying it unless you decide to make the final payment at the end of the agreement.
If you want to bring this payment down, you can:
choose a cheaper car
increase your up-front deposit
negotiate a discount on the price of the car
negotiate a discount on the interest rate on the finance
find a finance agreement with a lower APR
11. Representative APR
APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate, and includes all the interest and fees you have to pay on the finance agreement. It is essentially the cost of taking out finance, and obviously a lower number is better than a higher number.
If you are looking at a finance quote that has been prepared specifically for you rather than an advertised example, it may simply say “APR” rather than “Representative APR”.
A Representative APR is the rate that at least 51% of applicants must be offered, but you may not be offered this rate. The Representative APR in this example is 7.9%, but you may be offered a higher rate (say, 9.5%) if the finance company considers you a higher-risk customer.
APR includes both interest AND fees; this bit is the interest component. In this example, the interest rate is 7.85% but the APR is only 7.9%, which means that there are very few fees that only make up 0.05% of your cost of borrowing.
This can be important because interest and fees are different. Interest is spread across your monthly payments, whereas a fee is charged in one hit. For any given APR, it’s usually better to be paying more in interest and less in fees.
Negotiate a better rate If you are buying a car as part of an advertised campaign offer, there may not be any additional room for negotiation on the interest rate. However, in any other case (and especially on a used car), there is normally an opportunity to negotiate a percentage point or two off the interest rate.
If you can save 1% on your interest rate, that might be a much better result than haggling over a few hundred pounds off the price of the car.
13. Annual mileage allowance
For too long, this number has been buried in the fine print. It should be up there with all the other information, like it is in our example above – especially if you are looking at a specific finance quote prepared for you rather than an advertised example.
This number should reflect the number of miles you expect to do each year – the national average is about 10,000, which is what the example above shows. However, many dealers and finance companies are now quoting customers on much lower mileage figures (often 6,000 per year) unless you specifically nominate a higher mileage.
Why do they do this? Well, a lower annual mileage will make your final payment higher, which will reduce your monthly payments and/or your up-front deposit. The problem is that if you go over your mileage allowance, the finance company will charge you an excess mileage penalty (see below).
Make sure your mileage allowance reflects your driving requirements, and be realistic about it rather than optimistic.
14. Excess mileage
This is what the finance company will charge you for every mile you go over your allowance for the term of the agreement. It only applies if you are giving the car back to the finance company at the end of the agreement and claiming the guaranteed future value. For more information, have a read of our article about your options at the end of your PCP agreement.
This example is a 48-month (four-year) PCP with an annual mileage allowance of 10,000 miles, which means the total mileage allowance over the entire agreement would be 40,000 miles.
The excess mileage penalty fee in this example is 7.2p per mile, which works out to £72 for every 1,000 miles that you exceed your allowance. That’s relatively low, but will still be more than you’d pay if you set the mileage correctly in the first place.
Summary
Ultimately, there’s no such thing as a perfect finance quote. As you can see above, a number of the variables above can be adjusted to suit your particular needs.
For example, if you increase your deposit then you pay less per month. That might suit you but may not suit another buyer, who may not have the cash available and would therefore prefer to pay a bit more per month in order to pay less up front.
Likewise, one buyer may prefer to wear a higher monthly payment in order to have a three-year PCP, while another buyer may prefer a lower payment over four years.
You need to work out what suits your financial circumstances, and don’t be charmed or bullied by a dealer who wants you to borrow more money or put in less deposit – they are doing this because it suits them, not because they’re trying to help you.
Have you followed The Car Expert’s advice? Good, you can sign that contract now.
This post was originally published in June 2018. Last updated June 2025.
Disclaimer PCP car finance agreements in the UK are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, and anyone involved in the selling of car finance must be accredited by the FCA. You should always consider the terms and conditions of any agreement carefully before taking out any form of car finance, as you are making a substantial ongoing commitment and there may be significant costs if you change your mind or are unable to meet your commitments at a later date.
The Honda Civic Type R will be pulled from sale in UK and Europe next year, its final farewell marked by a limited-run ‘Ultimate Edition’ model.
The current eleventh-generation Civic Type R is regarded as one of the best hot hatch options on the UK market – with a New Car Expert Rating of A in our Expert Rating index – but will be removed from the UK market in the middle of next year due to changing automotive regulations in the EU.
Honda has not named the exact piece of legislation that has caused the Type R’s retirement, but the EU’s tightening safety tech and emissions standards are the likely culprit – the same new regulations that will retire rivals like the Alpine A110 and Toyota GR86. These US regulations stipulate that cars that don’t meet the current standards and are under 1,500 annual sales can remain on sale until July 2026 – the same month that the Type R is set to be removed from sale.
To mark the end of the Civic Type R in the UK and Europe, Honda has announced that it will produce 40 ‘Ultimate Edition’ versions, with ten of these allocated for sale in the UK on a first come, first serve basis.
The ‘Ultimate Edition’ only comes in white with a unique red racing stripe decal, a black roof, carbon detailing on the large wing spoiler and the centre console inside, and more ambient interior lighting for the door lining, cup holder, centre console, and footwells.
The limited-run model also comes with a ‘celebratory gift box’, which includes the car’s carbon-detailed key ring, an emblem with a number between one and 40 to denote the car’s position on the production line, unique ‘Ultimate Edition’ floor mats, and a car cover.
Honda is yet to announce the pricing of the ‘Ultimate Edition’, or exactly when this special Type R model will become available to order in the UK.
The Honda Civic Type R holds a New CarExpert Rating of A with a score of 75% – three points off the standard Civic range.
It’s remarkable that a vehicle designed as a military staff car still today makes much of a reputation gained by its very first versions used in the second world war – a vehicle that could go anywhere, no matter how far off the beaten track.
In truth, Jeep’s insistence on ensuring its vehicles really could go anywhere proved a drawback in more recent times. The brand claims to have launched the first-ever SUV in the 1960s but as the modern incarnations of such vehicles have developed, Jeep has failed to keep up with rivals that were so much better on the road – where even Jeeps spend most of their time.
Now, as part of the giant that is Stellantis, Jeep is transforming into a brand that can compete in a market where on-road performance and quality take precedence over all-terrain ability. While Jeeps are still regarded as all-wheel-drive vehicles, today few of them are.
Jeep has also maintained its status as a US icon during a chequered history – most people still see the brand as American, despite the fact that it has been controlled by the French (Renault), Germans (DaimlerChrysler) and Italians (Fiat Chrysler), before being absorbed by the European giant that is Stellantis, headquartered in the Netherlands.
What became Jeep had its beginnings in 1941, when the US military needed a light four-wheel-drive scout car for the war they were inevitably going to enter. They pitched the idea to 135 companies but just two responded, probably because of the 49-day deadline to produce a working prototype.
The American Bantam Car Company met the deadline but the Army thought it would never be able to make the number required, so the Bantam design was shared with Ford and Willys-Overland, and quickly evolved into the specification for the vehicle that has forever been a staple of war movies. Every US regiment received, on average, some 145 Jeeps and they were used for all sorts of purposes.
As for the name, Jeep was already US military slang for new and untested recruits or vehicles. When a prototype of the scout car was demonstrated by driving up the steps of the US Capitol building, a newspaper reporter asked what the vehicle was and was told a Jeep – the resultant news piece used the term and the rest, as they say…
After the war, Willys-Overland marketed passenger versions of the Jeep, including a station wagon and a ‘Jeepster’ model directly aimed at civilian buyers. Willys was then acquired, first in 1953 by Kaiser Motors and then in 1970 by the American Motors Corporation (AMC), which separated Jeep’s military and civilian businesses into separate companies. The military division would later create another iconic US military vehicle – the Humvee, which in civilian models became the Hummer.
In 1962, Jeep launched the Wagoneer, a vehicle that claims to be the first-ever SUV. It remained in production for almost 30 years before finally being retired, and the name was reborn a few years ago as Jeep’s flagship SUV model.
More than eighty years after the first Jeep was created, its spiritual descendant lives on in the form of the Jeep Wrangler – although it’s a conceptual connection that unsurprisingly shares no common parts with the original 1940s model.
1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Thousands of Jeeps were left behind in Europe after the war and, in Britain, directly inspired the creation of the first Land Rover in 1947. But it wasn’t until the late 1970s that Jeep officially went on sale in Europe, through Renault dealerships following the French giant’s investment in AMC. But financial issues and unrest in the late 1980s encouraged Renault to sell off its interest in AMC and the company was snapped up by US giant Chrysler.
In 1987 the ownership switched back to Europe when Chrysler merged with Mercedes-Benz owner Daimler to create DaimlerChrysler. That merger went disastrously, with Daimler unloading Chrysler again after just ten years. Another merger with Fiat followed in 2014 to form Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, which was subsequently absorbed into Stellantis when FCA merged with PSA Groupe (including Peugeot, Citroën, Vauxhall, and others) in 2020. Today, Jeep is one of more than a dozen brands within the sprawling Stellantis family, which has influenced its current lineup, especially in Europe.
What models does Jeep have and what else is coming?
As of June 2025, Jeep has a five-strong UK model line-up, albeit one that is in the process of undergoing major changes.
The Jeep Wrangler can trace its lineage directly back to the 1980s, and conceptually back to the earliest military Jeeps. Now available with just a petrol engine, it’s renowned for its off-road ability but not for its on-road dynamics or safety. Euro NCAP gave the Wrangler a paltry one star when testing the latest generation in 2018, a major factor in the New Car Expert Rating of E earned by the car in The Car Expert’s Expert Rating programme.
In contrast, the Jeep Grand Cherokee earned an excellent five-star Euro NCAP score for its latest generation launched in 2023. The large SUV, the flagship of the range, is now sold as a plug-in hybrid and earns a New Car Expert Rating of C – mediocre UK reviews are compensated for by that excellent safety performance.
Sadly, it’s back to E-grade territory for more recent Jeep fare. The Jeep Renegade launched in 2015 as a small SUV and as a result of Jeep’s merger with Fiat. Underneath the familiar Jeep styling themes is basically a Fiat 500X, and it’s built in Italy. It follows the US brand’s typical style – no rivals can touch it off-road but they leave it behind once on the tarmac.
The Jeep Compass went on UK sale in 2018, effectively filling the gap between the Renegade and the larger Cherokee models. This was a Jeep supposedly more focused on improved on-the-road performance, while losing none of its off-road credentials. It achieved the latter but not the former, still lagging behind its many rivals in this crowded market.
The most recent Jeep launch, however, has bucked the trend and perhaps marked a turning point for the brand. The Jeep Avenger is a compact SUV and the first all-electric model in Jeep’s line-up. It also shares its makeup with the Peugeot e-2008 and Vauxhall Mokka Electric, following Jeep’s absorption into the Stellantis Group. This has resulted in rather better scores in all areas and a New Car Expert Rating of A from The Car Expert.
The initial electric Avenger has since been joined by mild-hybrid and petrol variants and while in standard form it is two-wheel-drive, an off-road focused 4WD version is now offered too.
The third of Jeep’s traditional model names should make its return in 2026, the Cherokee. First sold in 1974 and last in showrooms in 2023, the new Cherokee will be totally unrelated to its predecessor, offered in hybrid and electric propulsion and pitched as a rival to the Land Rover Discovery.
The new Cherokee’s styling will match that of the all-new Compass, the third-generation model going for a complete reinvention with bold styling, better quality but still more off-road ability than its Stellantis sisters the Peugeot 3008 and Citroën C5 Aircross. On the road before the end of 2025, it will be offered with petrol, plug-in hybrid and electric versions, including a range-topping all-wheel-drive model.
Reports also suggest that both the Grand Cherokee and Wrangler could be dropped from Jeep’s model range this year as the brand continues its push towards a mainly electric future. The Grand Cherokee will be replaced by the electric Wagoneer S, on sale before the end of 2025, while the Wrangler could be killed off by the arrival of Jeep’s new small EV, the Recon.
Where can I try a Jeep car?
Jeeps remain fairly specialised vehicles, with a narrower range of models compared to some brands, and this is reflected in the number of dealerships. Like many brands, there has been some consolidation, and today there are around 50 outlets, although they are well-spaced throughout the UK.
Many Jeep dealerships can be found alongside those of other Stellantis brands, particularly those of Fiat, a result of the merger with the Italian brand in 2014.
What makes Jeep different to the rest?
It’s probably fairer to say ‘what made Jeep different to the rest’ because for much of its life, Jeep traded on a reputation of all its models being all-wheel-drive and able to traverse the toughest of off-road terrains – a similar image adopted by its younger British rival, Land Rover.
In fact, even some of the earliest Jeeps were two-wheel-drive machines and today market forces demand that most of the brand’s model range are. You can still get all-wheel-drive Jeeps and they will still go just about anywhere – but this ability has made it harder for them to keep up with the refinement of rivals where they spend most of their time, on the road. On-road quality is likely to be a bigger factor than off-road ability in Jeep’s future.
A Jeep fact to impress your friends
Following the second world war, enterprising locals in the Philippines took the many surplus Jeeps left behind by US forces and welded on longer, wider rear ends, effectively turning them into mini buses.
Elaborately decorated by their owners, the ‘Jeepneys’ have become as much a symbol of the Philippines as the black cab is of the UK.
Summary
The Jeep of today is at a crossroads – but appears to be heading in the right direction. As a central part of the Stellantis empire and benefiting from the economies of scale that come with developing new models for three or four brands at a time, Jeep is in the process of renewing its range.
These new models both embrace the switch to electric and eliminate the on-road deficiencies that were a byproduct of maintaining traditional off-road ability. For Jeep, the future holds great potential.
New car registrations improved by less than 2% in May 2025, although it was a mix of growing fleet business and falling consumer sales, with the overall market still struggling along well below pre-pandemic levels.
According to results published this morning by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the overall new car market improved by just under 2% compared to the same month last year, thanks to a 4% improvement in fleet registrations. Private new car sales, however, fell by 2%.
This means that for the first five months of this year, the overall market is up by about 3% on last year – with private sales up 5% and fleet sales up 2%.
As has been the case all year, electric and plug-in hybrid cars saw the strongest growth in May 2025, while sales of traditional petrol and diesel cars continued to decline.
Source: SMMT
EVs and plug-in hybrids still driving growth
EV registrations were up by 26% compared to the same month last year, which resulted in a 22% of the overall market share. Plug-in hybrid sales increased by 51%, resulting in a 12% market share and narrowing the gap with basic (non-plugged) hybrids, which saw 7% growth for a market share of 14%.
The data appears to show that the Expensive Car Supplement (an additional £410/year of road tax on new cars over £40K) being added to EVs from April has not really slowed demand, but we’re only two months into this new tax so we’ll have to keep monitoring this.
The resurgence of plug-in hybrids this year has multiple potential drivers: the government’s ZEV (zero emissions vehicle) mandate allows partial credits for plug-in hybrids, which is helpful for car manufacturers who don’t have many EVs to sell; some market sectors (like large SUVs) still don’t have many EV options, so previous diesel customers are turning to plug-in hybrids instead; and plenty of customers are still reluctant to jump straight from a petrol car into an EV, so a plug-in hybrid is a good halfway house that offers local electric driving with the reassurance of a petrol engine for longer journeys.
Petrol’s market share was again below 50%, as it has been each month since February, as customers progressively move away from purely fossil fuel power to various levels of electrification. However, it must also be noted that some brands are limiting the sales of certain petrol and diesel models to avoid fines from the government’s ZEV mandate.
The ZEV mandate continues to stir debate within the industry. Nominally, EVs have to make up 28% of all new car registrations this year, but after May 2025 we’re currently sitting at 21%. In reality, however, there are various loopholes built into the system, which have been increased recently as the government allows the car industry some more flexibility to shift from fossil fuels to electricity. It’s estimated that the actual target is likely to be about 23%, so we’re not far off. That won’t stop the shouting from both sides of the debate, however.
Source: SMMT
The Tesla conundrum
One of the question marks about EV registrations every month is always about Tesla’s performance. There has been a lot of noise in recent months about customers being put off Tesla because of their dislike of the company’s CEO, Elon Musk.
In both April and May, Tesla’s registrations in the UK were significantly down, but then Tesla’s registrations tend to fluctuate wildly at the best of times as the company doesn’t operate a traditional dealer network. What we don’t know is whether the April and May results are just part of Tesla’s normal variation that could turn around completely in June, or if this is a genuine indication of a decline in the company’s fortunes as customers turn elsewhere.
If it’s part of the normal variation, and Tesla still has a normal order bank of customers awaiting delivery, we could see a jump in both Tesla and overall EV sales whenever the next boatloads of Tesla Model 3 and Model Y cars arrive from China and Germany. This would give the overall EV market a boost and make the numbers look more positive.
If, however, Tesla is seeing a genuine fall in customer demand, with those consumers and businesses choosing from the many excellent alternatives to the Model 3 and Model Y now available, then it’s bad news for both Tesla and the overall EV market.
We typically review Tesla data quarterly, rather than monthly. At the end of Q1 in March, Tesla registrations were up 6%, just behind the overall market. April and May have been poor, but we’ll have more confidence in the company’s overall direction of travel at the end of June.
Good month, bad month – May 2025
Although the market was up by just under 2%, there were still plenty of ups and downs from the 52 car brands that report their registrations to the SMMT.
The biggest improver in overall numbers was BYD, which jumped from about 600 cars last May to 3,000 cars this year. It’s still a new brand that has added several models to its range, so that’s not quite as significant as it might seem on the surface. But it certainly shows that BYD is making strides. Omoda and Jaecoo, two new brands that essentially operate as one company, also registered about 3,000 cars in May and didn’t even exist in the UK 12 months ago, which shows the inroads that new Chinese brands are making into the UK market.
Going in the other direction, Audi registrations dropped by about 2,600 units compared to the same month last year, which was a 24% fall. Year-to-date, Audi is down about 18% as some of its best-selling models are replaced. It will be interesting to see if sales recover in the second half of the year.
Volkswagen remains the UK’s best-selling brand, comfortably ahead of BMW in second place, followed by Kia, Ford and Audi.
Ford Puma back on top in battle with Kia Sportage
The Ford Puma edged further ahead in the 2025 sales race, topping the sales charts in May ahead of its main rival, the Kia Sportage. Puma sales will no doubt be helped by the arrival of the new Gen-E electric model and, as we approach the halfway point of the year, the Puma has a lead of exactly 2,300 cars.
It was a good month for Nissan’s UK production in Sunderland, with the Qashqai and Juke models placing third and fourth in May’s results. The Qashqai is about 500 units ahead of the Vauxhall Corsa, which finished fifth in May.
It was another good month for MG, with the ZS small SUV popping up in sixth place in May and moving up to seventh in year-to-date sales. With the larger HS SUV in tenth, MG now has two models in the top ten after five months of the year.
It was the first appearance in the top ten for a long time (possibly ever?) for the Hyundai Kona, with its larger sibling, the Tucson, disappearing from both the monthly and year-to-date best-seller list. And the new Mini Cooper is slowly making inroads, with a second month in tenth place. It’s been a slow burn for the new Mini, after the previous model was one of the UK’s best-selling cars for almost its whole production life.
Toyota is adding a hybrid system to its smallest model with the new Toyota Aygo X Hybrid, which will go on sale later this year.
Based on projected official testing figures, Toyota claims that the new Aygo X Hybrid will boast the lowest CO2 emissions of any regular hybrid (non-plug-in) in the UK with a predicted figure of 86g/km. That means it will comply with current low-emission zone requirements.
The hybrid powertrain, which replaces the current 1.0-litre petrol unit, also brings a performance boost. Overall power output increases by 43hp compared to the previous non-hybrid version, reaching a maximum of 115hp and enabling 0-62mph acceleration in less than ten seconds.
The transition has been no easy task, and adapting the Aygo X to accommodate the hybrid components within the tight confines of a city car has required some innovative packaging from Toyota’s engineers and designers. The hybrid batteries are arranged differently to the company’s larger models, while the auxiliary battery has also been moved to preserve storage capacity.
The larger hybrid powertrain needs more space under the bonnet, so a restyled front end sticks forward about 8cm more than the previous petrol model.
To help emphasise the smooth, electric-capable drive of the Aygo X Hybrid, Toyota has fitted new noise insulation components in the dashboard, under the bonnet lid and underneath the engine, combined with an updated exhaust system. Further noise reduction measures are featured on higher grade models, including thicker window glass and additional soundproofing.
The required reworking of the front end coincides with a mid-life restyle for the Aygo X, with a new bonnet, headlights and grille. There are also new designs for the alloy wheels in either 17- or 18-inch sizings
Interior design has also been refreshed, with a larger central display and revised plastic surround, as well as a digital display in front of the driver to replace analogue instruments. Final UK specifications are yet to be confirmed.
Toyota says that the new Aygo X Hybrid will come with its latest safety and driver assistance package, including an enhanced pre-collision system, lane trace and road sign assist features, as well as a new emergency driving stop system and proactive driving assist. Over-the-air software updates will be available for the first time on an Aygo X, keeping the safety systems updated.
Full pricing details of UK-spec models will be revealed in coming months ahead of the revised model going on sale later in the year. We do know that a GR Sport version is on the cards, in line with most of Toyota’s larger models. As well as sportier interior and exterior trim highlights, this model is expected to get retuned suspension and steering for a sharper driving experience.
Bentley has added a new high-performance ‘Speed’ variant to its Bentayga range, which is the fastest SUV the British brand has produced to date.
Unlike the previous iteration of the Bentayga Speed, which was powered by a 6.0-litre W12 petrol engine, this new model makes use of a smaller twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 unit which adds an extra 15hp – 650hp in total. The new engine also drops the Bentayga Speed’s weight by 42kg, which contributes to the SUV’s reported 0-62mph sprint time of 3.4 seconds.
That means that this two-and-a-half tonne flagship SUV is half a second faster to 62mph than its predecessor, and that it can accelerate faster than the lighter V8-powered Aston Martin DB12 Grand Tourer. Top speed is capped at 193mph and the Bentley comes with a new launch control function and stiffer suspension shock absorbers.
When compared with the standard Bentayga model, the Bentayga Speed has a few subtle cosmetic tweaks. ‘Speed’ badges feature on the front doors, treadplates, passenger-side dashboard and the embroidered seats.
The options list includes an Akrapovic-supplied titanium exhaust system with four tailpipes, and customers can choose between 22- and 23-inch alloy wheels with unique design patterns, the latter also coming with carbon-ceramic brake discs. Now on sale in the UK, the new Bentley Bentayga Speed is on sale for £219k.
The Bentley Bentayga currently holds a New CarExpert Rating of D, with a score of 57%. This lags well behind the latest Range Rover. The SUV’s media review scores have only been average and running costs are unsurprisingly enormous.
BMW has announced that a new limited-edition ‘CS’ version of its compact M2 coupé is now available to order, featuring a power boost and plenty of carbon fibre elements inside and out.
Offering the “ultimate driving pleasure”, the rear-wheel drive coupé is powered by the same turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine as the standard M2, but with a 50hp power boost. Total output stands at 530hp – making the M2 CS just as powerful as BMW’s larger M4 Competition coupé.
This CS variant, which is only available with an eight-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifters, can reportedly complete a 0-62mph sprint in 3.8 seconds – two tenths of a second faster than the standard M2 – and top speed is capped at 188mph.
BMW has also lowered the car’s suspension by close to a centimetre for this top-spec version, and the car’s bronze-coloured 19- and 20-inch alloy wheels come with red brake callipers.
BMW has also cut the coupé’s weight by 30kg, by using carbon fibre across the car’s exterior build. The roof and more prominent ducktail spoiler are made of the lighter material, as are the wing mirrors and the rear diffuser, which houses a quad tailpipe exhaust system.
The options list includes a lighter titanium ‘M Performance’ exhaust system, carbon ceramic brake discs, ‘ultra-track’ tyres and the car is available in four different metallic exterior colours – black, grey, ‘portimao blue’ and ‘velvet blue’.
More carbon fibre features inside, notably on the centre console and dashboard trim. The carbon fibre sports seats are electrically adjustable and come with an illuminated ‘CS’ logo below the headrest. The steering wheel is trimmed in Alcantara leather and has a red centre marker.
Built at BMW’s factory in Mexico and now available to order, UK pricing for the limited edition M2 CS now begins at over £92k. By comparison, the entry-level M2 model is currently priced at under £69k.
The BMW M2 holds a New Car Expert Rating of C, with a score of 62%. Although it receives high praise from motoring journalists, its overall score is weighed down by inevitably high running costs, while its safety rating and CO2 emissions levels are only average.
Alpine has expanded its range to three models with the arrival of the A390, an electric coupé SUV that will pitch into the growing EV market against cars like the Cupra Tavascan, Ford Capri – and maybe even the new electric Porsche Macan.
Don’t get too excited just yet, though. Although the A390 was unveiled at Alpine’s 70th birthday bash last week, the A390 won’t reach the UK until sometime in the second half of next year.
Described as a ‘sports fastback’, the Alpine A390 packs three electric motors under its sleek bodywork (one at the front, two at the rear) to form an all-wheel drive system that allows torque vectoring for cornering – where the outside rear wheel can push out more power while the inside rear wheel backs off, helping to make the car more agile.
The new A390 takes Alpine’s model range to three, alongside the Renault 5-based A290 small hatch and the ageing A110 sports car, which will be replaced by an all-new, all-electric A110 at the end of next year.
Under the skin, the Alpine A390 shares its platform with the more mundane Renault Scenic and Nissan Ariya SUVs, which is no bad thing as they’re both fine family EVs. But Alpine has turned the performance up to 11 to take the A390 into new territory.
Two versions will be available – the A390 GT and A390 GTS. The GT offers 400hp, which will produce a 0-62mph time of just under five seconds and a top speed of 125mph. The GTS builds this up 470hp, taking the 0-62mph time down to four seconds and a top speed of 138mph.
Both versions will be supplied by a 89kWh battery, which should yield a driving range of up to 350 miles in the base-spec GT – although official figures will be confirmed once UK specifications are confirmed. Fast charging should yield a 15%-80% charge time of about 25 minutes if you have access to a 190kW charger or better.
The A390 measures about 4.6 metres long, which is a bit shorter than the new Porsche Macan, but a low height of 1.5 metres gives it a slippery aerodynamic profile to maximise driving range and minimise wind noise. There’s room for five adults and a decent boot size of 532 litres.
There’s also a full suite of driver assistance systems, with driver attention monitoring with progressive emergency braking, automatic emergency braking in both forward and reverse, lane departure warning and, when parking, safe exit warnings.
A ‘My Safety’ button beside the steering wheel allows the driver to select their preferred assistance settings with a single touch, choosing whether to activate or deactivate them, their level of intervention and the presence of audible alerts. This is to help drivers get around the latest EU nanny regulations, which insist on reactivating systems that you have previously deactivated every time you start the car.
The A390 also features adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go as standard, and, depending on specification, a function that allows the car to move out of the way to let two-wheeled vehicles pass.
Alpine has yet to confirm UK pricing, but the GT is expected to start at around £60K, with the GTS about £10K more than that.
A special Alpine A390 Premiere Edition will be available when order books open in November, and deliveries are expected to commence in the second half of 2026.
Renault has announced the UK price and trim specifications list of its new Renault 4 E-Tech crossover, which will become available to order in the UK from the start of July.
It’s the second EV from Renault to take inspiration from the company’s back catalogue, in this case the original Renault 4 from the 1960s. While it echoes the original’s boxy looks, practicality and versatility, this new interpretation gets its power from electricity.
Prices will start from about £27K and three trim levels – Evolution, Techno, and Iconic – will be available.
Retro-inspired touches include the bonnet lines that continue to the bottom of the grille, the rear quarter windows and sculpted lines along the doors that echo the plastic protectors of the original. Later, there’ll be the option of an electric canvas roof, mimicking the original sixties model, on all but the entry-level version.
The new Renault 4 is larger than the Renault 5, offering more interior space. Rear seat occupants benefit from more knee room, while headroom is particularly generous for this class of vehicle. Boot space is generous as well, at 420 litres with the rear seats up and 1,405 litres with them down – plus a 55-litre underfloor area. The top-spec Iconic model comes with a powered tailgate.
Standard equipment levels are competitive across the board,with the entry-level evolution model boasting 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, automatic high-beam headlights, keyless entry and dual-zone climate control. There’s also a ten-inch central touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, cruise control, rear parking sensors, a rear view camera and the usual array of accident-avoidance safety systems.
Prices start from £27K for the Evolution model, £29K for the mid-spec Techno and £31K for the top-spec Iconic version. All models will come with a 150hp electric motor powered by a 52kWh battery, which should yield a driving range of up to 247 miles. A 15%-80% public rapid charge should take about half an hour, while a full 0-100% charge at home should take less than eight hours.
In the UK, the two signature symbols of opulent motoring are without doubt Bentley and Rolls-Royce, a pair of brands renowned across the world for their luxury and very British heritage – despite, ironically, both being under German ownership.
The two brands have spent most of their histories closely intertwined. After a glorious beginning based on its 1920s racing exploits, Bentley was bought by Rolls-Royce and, for many years, lived in the shadow of its parent brand.
The saviour of Bentley proved to be a complicated acquisition deal and a bidding war over Rolls-Royce Motors (which included Bentley) between Volkswagen and BMW. This ultimately resulted in BMW taking Rolls-Royce and Volkswagen owning Bentley, and for the first time in decades, the two sibling British brands became rivals. Volkswagen rejuvenated Bentley by reaffirming its luxury credentials while also highlighting one of its oldest traits: high performance.
Today, Bentley again has a top-notch worldwide reputation for cars that are beautifully constructed to the exact requirements of their owners, and which can perform with the very best – it may be German-owned, but Bentley today is considered as a very special British brand.
So who or what is Bentley?
Wilfred Owen Bentley, known as W.O., began his automotive career before the first world war, selling French cars in north London with his brother.
After developing lightweight aluminium parts for aeroplane engines during the war, Bentley launched his own car company, Bentley Motors, with the first cars going on sale in 1921. The new Bentleys immediately found favour with racing drivers who appreciated their durability, winning many races in England and competing at the Indianapolis 500 in America. Bentley also won the famous Le Mans 24 Hours race five times in seven years between 1924 and 1930.
Despite building up an enviable reputation for its racing cars and upmarket road machines, Bentley hit financial trouble in the 1920s. W.O. Bentley sold the business to one of his racing driver customers, Woolf Barnato, but respite was only temporary as the Great Depression at the end of the 1920s nearly destroyed the expensive car market. On the brink of closure, Bentley was acquired by rival premium manufacturer Rolls-Royce.
Rolls-Royce moved Bentley’s operations from north London to its premises in Derby, and all Bentley cars for the next 70 years were basically reworked Rolls-Royce models. After the second world war, production moved to a new factory in Crewe that had been built to manufacture Rolls-Royce Merlin aero engines for the Spitfire fighter and Lancaster bomber planes.
After the war, most Rolls-Royce and Bentley models moved to standard steel bodies, produced by Pressed Steel in Oxford, although customers could still specify custom coachbuilt bodies for more exclusive models. This practice survived until the mid-1960s, with many custom Bentley and Rolls-Royce designs built by a company called Mulliner & Co. This company ended up being bought by Rolls-Royce, and the Mulliner name is still used by Bentley today for its bespoke services that allows customers to tailor their cars individually.
By the arrival of the 1970s, Rolls-Royce was in major financial trouble and the car company was split from the aerospace business. The Bentley brand became very much neglected, at one point accounting for just 5% of Rolls-Royce’s total sales. Rolls-Royce Motors was sold to manufacturing conglomerate Vickers in 1980, with the new owners putting more investment into Bentley with more differentiation from Rolls-Royce models and higher-performance cars like the Mulsanne. By the early 1990s, Bentley production equalled those of Rolls-Royce – although that was also partly due to a steady decline in Rolls-Royce sales over the 1980s.
By 1997, Vickers put Rolls-Royce Motors up for sale, initially negotiating with BMW before Volkswagen swept in with a bid that was 25% more than BMW was offering. Except it wasn’t that simple.
As a result of the complicated breaking up of Rolls-Royce into an aerospace company and an automotive company in the 1970s, Volkswagen did end up buying Rolls-Royce Motors (which included Bentley), but the rights to use the name “Rolls-Royce” were still held by the aerospace company – a fact that still causes public confusion to this day.
BMW promptly did a deal to license the Rolls-Royce name, leaving Volkswagen with all the physical company assets, trademarks and the Bentley name, but not the name of the company it had just bought. Oh, and all of Bentley’s engines were supplied by BMW…
Intense negotiations between Volkswagen and BMW followed, as both parties had spent a lot of money but neither was able to build any cars. Eventually, they agreed that Volkswagen would get Bentley and BMW would get Rolls-Royce, and temporary arrangements were put in place to keep the current models in production until both sides were ready to finalise the split.
1958 Bentley Continental2024 Bentley Continental
Volkswagen immediately poured £500 million of investment into modernising the ageing Crewe factory to be ready for the launch of its first model under new ownership, the 2003 Continental GT coupé. Today, Crewe is basically a posh assembly plant with most crucial components shipped in from other parts of the vast Volkswagen empire.
The new Continental GT and subsequent models proved to be hugely successful, with annual production growing from around 400 cars in 1998 to around 10,000 cars in 2007. Despite a slump following the financial crash of the late 2000s, Bentley recovered in the 2010s as the range expanded to include the Bentayga, a luxury SUV that is now the brand’s best-selling model.
Bentley now faces its next challenge as it adapts to the electric age. The company has introduced plug-in hybrid power across all its models, and its first electric model is set to appear in 2027. From there, a new hybrid or fully electric car will be launched each year under plans to be an electric-only brand by 2035.
What models does Bentley have and what else is coming?
Bentley currently has a four-strong model range, comprising a saloon, a coupé, a convertible and an SUV.
The core of the Bentley range since 2003 has been the Continental GT, a large 2+2 coupe. The current third-generation model was launched in 2017 and underwent a significant update in 2023. Once boasting a potent 12-cylinder petrol engine, it is now powered by a V8 plug-in hybrid unit instead.
If you prefer your large two-door model with a folding soft-top roof, the Continental GTC is your car. The electrically folding roof is impressively quiet, but it cuts the already limited boot space by half.
The Flying Spur is Bentley’s flagship saloon, evolving into that role since the demise of the Mulsanne saloon in 2020. Originally seen as little more than a stretched GT, the latest third-generation model has a more individual identity. Although praised for its sheer opulence, the current Flying Spur received criticism for its poor standard safety equipment. This was addressed in a major update carried out in 2024.
Finally, the Bentayga SUV first appeared in 2015, initially to some scepticism at the time as to whether Bentley customers would want to drive an SUV – especially as its styling was most politely described as “challenging”. However, most luxury brands have since entered the SUV market, and a 2023 update has softened the Bentayga’s appearance to some degree. Inside, it certainly matches the Flying Spur saloon for comfort and luxury.
The next new Bentley is expected to be an all-electric ‘urban SUV’ launching in 2026 or 2027. It will be one of ten new or updated EV and plug-in hybrid models being launched up until 2035 as part of the company’s ‘Beyond 100+’ programme – though this was actually a scaling back of the original announcement in 2020 that aimed to make Bentley EV-only by 2030.
Where can I try a Bentley car?
You will not find a Bentley showroom on typical motor alleys. This is a very high-end manufacturer that sells only around 1,000 cars a year in the UK from a network of just 16 dealerships.
Some are standalone, while others are part of upmarket multi-franchise sites alongside brands like Lamborghini, Maserati and Lotus. Each showroom is very plush, as you’d expect. Specifying an individual Bentley is an extended process of finishes, colours and equipment – customers are made very comfortable as they spend at least £200,000…
What makes Bentley different to the rest?
A Bentley is something more than a very upmarket performance car – it’s not too strong a statement to describe the cars as crafted rather than built, a view proven by taking one of the popular tours of the Crewe works run particularly for intending customers.
These tours always include the wood shop, where the door is thrown open to the storage area and participants immediately hit by the aroma of the various veneers. Also popular is the leather shop, where teams of staff sit patiently hand-stitching steering wheels, dash panels and such like.
With customers choosing every aspect of their car, and intricate attention to detail going into creating it, it’s fair to say that no two Bentleys are the same.
A Bentley fact to impress your friends
Bentley’s Mulliner division creates bespoke interior finishes for customers and claims to be able to incorporate virtually any image or design idea into the finished trim – right up to an individual family crest with perhaps 20,000 stitches.
This attention to detail even extends to such extras as child seats – Bentley makes its own and they are trimmed in exactly the same finish as the car they are being fitted to.
Summary
Bentley has emerged from a sometimes troubled history to become one of the most highly regarded brands of today. Its cars are considered special, both for the attention to detail that goes into building them and the potency they display. While remaining old-school and traditional in a rapidly changing automotive world, a Bentley is still a car that many dream of driving one day.
Skoda will soon introduce a new single-motor model option to its range-topping Enyaq ‘Sportline’ SUV line-up that is cheaper and has a longer battery range than its dual-motor counterpart.
Now available to buy in both SUV and coupé-SUV bodystyles, the ‘Sportline 85’ is powered by the same 77kWh battery as the dual-motor ‘Sportline 85x’ which was updated recently alongside the rest of the Enyaq range, but all of the model’s power comes from one rear-mounted 286hp electric motor.
Without an additional electric motor mounted in the front, the Enyaq’s efficiency increases, allowing the ‘Sportline 85’ to reportedly muster up to 354 miles on a single charge (356 miles for the sleeker coupé-SUV) – 22 miles more than the ‘Sportline 85x’.
Top speed is electronically capped at 111mph and the car can charge at speeds of up to 135kW, with a 10% to 80% battery top-up taking around 28 minutes.
Opting for a single-motor model over a dual-motor version usually translates to more battery range at the expense of power and performance, but for the ‘Sportline 85’ this isn’t the case. This new single-motor model can match the 6.7-second 0-62mph sprint time of its dual-motor counterpart, and comes with the same equipment list for a slightly cheaper price.
Sitting above the ‘Edition 85’ model in the Enyaq range, pricing for the ‘Sportline 85’ will begin at just over £47k when it becomes available to order on 12th June – this being £1,500 cheaper than the ‘Sportline 85x’ lead-in price.
One of the most highly-regarded mid-sized SUVs in our Expert Rating index, the Skoda Enyaq currently holds a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 80%.
The Skywell BE11 is a mid-size electric SUV and the first model launched by the Chinese brand in the UK. While early reviews note generous equipment and interior space, overall assessments place it well behind established rivals in a highly competitive market.
Among the wave of new Chinese brands entering the UK in 2025, the BE11 has struggled to match the standard expected in this segment. Our reviewer, Andrew Charman, drove the BE11 here in the UK and described it as “a car that underestimates the UK market”, noting that while it offers plenty of equipment, it is hampered by frustrating infotainment, unconvincing driving dynamics and an out-of-date safety specification.
Other motoring publications have reached similarly critical conclusions, resulting in the lowest Media Rating score in our Expert Rating Index. In areas such as refinement, ride quality, technology integration and overall polish, the BE11 consistently falls short of direct competitors – many of which offer a more complete package at a similar price.
The BE11 has not yet been assessed by Euro NCAP, so we can’t rate its safety credentials – including occupant protection and driver assistance systems – in an emergency situation.
As of February 2026, the BE11 holds a New Car Expert Rating of D, with a score of 56%, reflecting the weakest media review scores in our database. Strong eco credentials and a seven-year warranty package provide some reassurance, but they do not fully compensate for the model’s broader shortcomings.
Skywell has announced a substantially updated version for early 2026 in response to these initial criticisms. We will continue to update this page as reviews of the revised model are published.
Stuart’s view:
“The Skywell BE11 enters a fiercely competitive electric SUV market but, in its current form, simply isn’t competitive enough. Generous equipment and a long warranty are positives, but they do not compensate for shortcomings in refinement, driving dynamics and technology compared with established rivals. For most buyers, there are stronger and more polished alternatives at a similar price.”
Body style: medium SUV Engines:electric Price:From £36,995 on-road
Launched: Winter 2024/25 Last updated: N/A Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Featured reviews
“The Skywell BE11 is a car that underestimates the UK market – it comes with plenty of equipment but frustrating infotainment, poor driving dynamics and an out-of-date safety specification.”
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 4 / 10 “As it stands there’s just too much about the BE11’s software and general driving experience that’s infuriating. But, as with so many electric cars these days, it might be a mere over-the-air update away from being a genuinely decent left-field family EV. Here’s hoping.” Author: Mark Nicol Read review
Business Car
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 5 / 10 “Electric SUV from UK market newcomer is cheap to buy for its size, but flawed.” Author: Sean Keywood Read review
Car
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 4 / 10 “Beneath a thin veneer of style, it felt quite cheap and tacky in places. The design isn’t interesting nor alluring, and it simply doesn’t stir the soul like you’d want a new car to do.” Author: Seth Walton Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 6.6 / 10 “Electric SUV that hopes to attract buyers with its space, equipment and warranty, but it falls some way short on quality or driving appeal.”
Author: Alisdair Suttle, Alex Ingram Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 5 / 10 “There’s no denying that it’s fantastic value for money, undercutting every similarly-specced rivals by a big margin – though lower-spec versions of better cars are available for similar money.”
Author: Graham King Read review
The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 2 / 10 “Have a look at the BE11 by all means, out of curiosity more than anything else, but whatever you do, don’t buy one. Literally every other electric SUV option in this class is better.” Author: Matt Robinson Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 4 / 10 “This unknown electric SUV from China excels in certain areas but falls short of mainstream European-produced cars in several others.” Author: Ed Wiseman Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 3 / 10 “Overpriced and under-talented. Please buy something – anything – other than this.”
Author: Joe Holding Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
No safety rating
As of February 2026, the Skywell BE11 has not been assessed by Euro NCAP.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of February 2026, the Skywell BE11 has not been assessed by Green NCAP.
The Green NCAP programme measures exhaust pollution (which is zero for an electric car) and energy efficiency. Electric cars are much more energy-efficient than combustion cars, so the BE11 is likely to score very highly in Green NCAP testing if and when it takes place. Check back again soon.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
Battery range
Average
Score
Variation
Score
EV models
276 miles
B
Electrical efficiency
Average
Score
Variation
Score
EV models
3.5 m/KWh
D
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
43
D
The Skywell BE11 is a relatively affordable car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
The electric SUV’s average battery range of 276 miles (between 248 miles and 304 miles) is competitive for its size and price. That said, it isn’t the most efficient electric car in its class and our data suggests that it has a surprisingly high insurance bracket.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of February 2026, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Skywell BE11 to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.
As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the BE11, we’ll publish the results here.
As of July 2025, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the Skywell BE11. However, this information is updated very regularly so this may have changed.
You can check to see if your car has any outstanding recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local BE11 dealer.
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Make and model: Kia Picanto 1.0-litre petrol manual ‘2’ Description: Small hatchback Price range: from £16,065
Kia says: “Kia’s smallest model, the Picanto, has been enhanced with an impressive new design and advanced technologies. The Picanto offers customers a modern, stylish and advanced A-segment model at an affordable price point.”
We say: Facelifted with bold styling and more tech, the Kia Picanto city car is practical, reliable and cheap to run. It’s still a top contender in this ever-declining segment of the new car market.
The Kia Picanto is a leading contender in the city car segment, which comprises the smallest hatchbacks currently on sale. The current model has been around since 2017, but received a major update in early 2024. This facelift introduced dramatic new styling, inspired by larger models in the family like the Kia EV3 and Kia EV9.
The city car segment has been in decline for a number of years, as car manufacturers have struggled to make new models that meet ever-more stringent safety and emissions laws, while still turning a profit. Companies like Peugeot and Vauxhall have abandoned this segment, while Kia and sister brand Hyundai soldier on.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the newest challengers are now small electric cars coming from China – like the Leapmotor T03 and the Dacia Spring. So how does an ageing petrol car from Kia stack up to the latest EVs in this space? Quite well, actually.
What is it?
The Kia Picanto is a five-door hatchback, and the smallest model in the Kia range. It shares most of its mechanical components with the Hyundai i10 (Kia is owned by Hyundai), and the current model dates back to 2017. It received a new lease of life in 2024, with a major update that should see the current model through to somewhere near the end of this decade.
Reflecting both its age and the city car market segment, the Picanto is only available with petrol power – there are no diesel, hybrid or EV models here – and a choice of manual or automatic gearboxes.
The major 2024 update touched most aspects of the car, with dramatically updated styling, revised engines and more standard equipment.
First impressions
The inevitable first reactions relate to the styling, which is surprisingly individual and distinctive for this segment. It’s quite aggressive compared to the original version before the facelift, with T-shaped headlights and a completely revised grille/front bumper section. It’s a world away from budget Kias of old, although it’s fair to say that reactions have been mixed.
The rear end has also had significant changes compared to the earlier model, continuing a more dramatic theme. The rear diffuser is a bit naff, though.
We like: Dramatoc restyling creates a clear difference to previous model We don’t like: Not everyone will like it
What do you get for your money?
City cars sit at the lowest price point in the new car market, so you’d expect the Kia Picanto to be lacking in any kind of creature comforts. But you’d be wrong.
There are five trim levels to choose from, each with a choice of manual or automatic transmission. The lower three levels are ‘2’, ‘GT-Line’ and ‘3’, all of which are powered by a 1.0-litre engine pushing out 62hp. The upper two trim levels are ‘Shadow’ and ‘GT-Line S’, which get a 1.2-litre that raises power to 77hp.
Pricing runs from just over £16K for the entry-level 2 manual, up to just over £19.5K for the GT-Line S automatic. At each level, the only extra-cost option is premium paint.
We’re not going to regurgitate the Picanto brochure here, so if you want detailed equipment information then head to Kia’s website or your local dealership. All models get alloy wheels, automatic headlights, electric windows all round, rear parking sensors and reversing camera, 60:40 split-folding rear seat, and an eight-inch central touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Top-spec models get niceties like a sunroof, wireless phone charging, and heated seats and steering wheel.
Another important point is that the Picanto’s age means its Euro NCAP safety rating has now expired. When it was tested back in 2017, the entry-level Picanto models achieved a three-star rating while the higher-spec models scored four stars. While these scores were not outstanding, they were competitive for budget-price city cars eight years ago. However, safety standards get tougher every year, and the newer Toyota Aygo X is a better choice for safety today.
As with every Kia, you get a seven-year/100,000-mile new car warranty, which is one of the best in the business.
We like: Plenty of standard kit, even on base model. We don’t like: Safety rating now expired due to age
What’s the Kia Picanto like inside?
As with the spec sheet, the cabin of the Kia Picanto really does belie its price tag. It feels functional and solid, with mostly hard plastics, but it doesn’t feel cheap and certainly not nasty.
You settle into a good driving position with excellent visibility. The steering wheel is not adjustable for reach but it still felt ok rather than like you’re stretching. The seats are comfy, with a greyish-black fabric pattern that’s bland but fine. Our launch drive wasn’t particularly long, but the seats didn’t start to feel achey at all.
Inevitably, things are much tighter in the rear seats on such a small car. Legroom is very restricted for adults, as with any other city car, but headroom is good. The window sills are also relatively low, so visibility is good for kids in the back seats as well. The boot space is modest, but with quite a deep floor and a 60:40 split rear seat, which some city cars don’t get.
Stereo-wise, the Picanto is perfectly acceptable. The four-inch digital display in front of the driver, between the speedo and rev counter, is clear and not too crowded with information. The larger eight-inch central screen is easy enough to operate, even though the buttons are set up for left-hand drive, meaning you have to stretch for the volume knob more than you’d like.
We like: Functional and solid, but certainly doesn’t feel cheap We don’t like: Inevitably tight for adults in the rear seats
What’s under the bonnet?
In the updated Kia Picanto, you have a choice of two petrol engines:
a 1.0-litre unit producing 62hp and 93Nm, which is offered in the 2, GT-Line and 3 trim levels
a 1.2-litre unit producing 77hp and 112Nm, which is offered in the Shadow and GT-Line S trim levels
Both are available with a choice of five-speed manual or five-speed automatic gearboxes.
If you look at the performance on paper, it sounds disappointing – anywhere between 13 seconds and 18 seconds to get from 0-62mph. But that’s rather missing the point of a car like this, which is very much designed to excel in urban and local driving, and we’ll explore that further in the next section.
Official fuel economy is 50-51mpg on the 1.2-litre engine, and 52-54mpg on the 1.0-litre version, based on EU/UK lab tests. In the real world, gentle driving will get you reasonably close to these figures, but if you’re trying to keep up with bigger, more powerful cars when accelerating on A-roads and motorways then you’re going to use a lot more fuel.
What’s the Kia Picanto like to drive?
We drove the entry-level Kia Picanto 2 with the 1.0-litre engine and manual gearbox, and it was a lot of fun. Compared to an electric or hybrid car, it’s a far more analogue experience – so if you’re over the age of about 30 then it’s going to feel completely natural.
Being a small car with a small engine and a manual gearbox, you’re doing a lot of work to keep moving. But this isn’t a chore, as the gear change is easy and the steering is light but responsive. It feels quite nippy, as a city car should, despite its paltry power numbers. Compared to the electric Leapmotor T03 we reviewed recently, it feels more old-fashioned but a lot more enjoyable.
Once you get beyond the suburbs and hit open roads, the performance drops off a lot – as you’d expect with only 62hp available. You can also expect it to struggle more if you’re loaded up with a full complement of passengers, or pushing up a hill. This also dials up the noise levels in the cabin as the little engine works hard to meet your demands.
The Picanto generally rides comfortably. It’s a bit bouncy at times, particularly at higher speeds, but it is a very short car so this is to be expected and you’ll find the same in any other car of a similar size.
Being an older model, the Picanto doesn’t have as many over-intrusive accident-avoidance warnings beeping and bonging all the time. However, this may change as part of minor updates, so make sure you take a test drive before buying.
We like: Enjoyable driving experience We don’t like: Engine struggles on open roads or under heavier loads
Verdict
As a dedicated city car, the Kia Picanto is a brilliant little machine. It’s great to drive, has plenty of standard kit and is well built. Plus, you get the reassurance of a long seven-year new car warranty, making it a good bet as a used car as well.
If you regularly take passengers, or your driving involves open roads and motorways, or you tend to have a heavy right foot, you’ll find that the Picanto may struggle to keep up with your demands. But around town, it’s perfectly up to the job.
The biggest criticism of the Kia Picanto is that its safety credentials are lacking compared to the best-ranked cars in this class, like the Toyota Aygo X. In our Expert Rating Index, this drags the Picanto’s score down significantly as safety scores are a major factor in the overall ratings.
Compared to electric offerings from the likes of Leapmotor and Dacia, the Picanto does feel like a throwback. You have to work the manual gearbox to get decent performance, while the auto is sluggish. If you drive an electric city car, you’ll be shocked at how quickly they respond in urban driving compared to a small petrol engine like the one in the Kia. And, obviously, a petrol car will consume more fossil fuels and produce more CO2 than an electric car (even if the electricity is coming from a coal-fired power station).
But if you’re not ready to make the jump to an electric car just yet, the Kia Picanto is one of the better old-school petrol choices on the market.
This review was originally published in October 2024. Last updated May 2025.
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Chinese brand Jaecoo has arrived in the UK and has set ambitious sales targets for its range of petrol, hybrid and electric models. It’s a name you may not have heard about just yet, but that’s set to change.
Jaecoo is the second car brand from Chinese giant Chery to launch here in the UK over the last 12 months, following the launch of Omoda last summer. The two brands are working in tandem, targeting different customers but building a joint dealer network across the country.
While the company describes Omoda as being a ‘fashion forward’ brand that competes with other mainstream names, Jaecoo is positioned as a more premium offering, with brands like Land Rover firmly in its sights and off-roading prowess considered to be a higher priority. As of right now (May 2025), each brand only has one SUV-style model available, so this strategy may not yet be evident. It should become more clearly defined, however, as more models join the two line-ups later this year.
So who or what is Jaecoo?
If you follow the car industry, you may have heard of Jaecoo’s parent company, Chery, which is a state-owned car manufacturer that has been around for about 30 years and has been China’s largest car exporter for most of that time. As with China’s other big car companies, it operates a number of subsidiary brands in different markets around the world – as well as Omoda and Jaecoo, it has Aiqar, Exeed, Exlantix, iCar, Jetour, Lepas, Luxeed and Rely, as well as Chery itself.
Jaecoo and Omoda don’t exist in China itself, being purely export brands. The same cars offered here are sold under different brand names in their home market. It’s not the first time a major car company has done this – Japanese giant Toyota launched its Lexus luxury brand in the late 1980s, but didn’t start selling Lexus-branded cars in Japan until the mid-2000s. Honda launched its American-focused premium brand, Acura, at about the same time but still doesn’t sell Acura in Japan today.
Jaecoo has only existed for about two years, but is being steadily introduced to a number of markets in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The brand is also sold in Russia, which is obviously controversial as most Western car brands have withdrawn from the country since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Like most of the Chinese car industry, Jaecoo is heavily invested in electric vehicle technology. But unlike most of the other Chinese brands arriving on these shores, Jaecoo’s first UK model, the Jaecoo 7, is only available in petrol and plug-in hybrid forms. This will change quickly, however, with more models on the way that will include EVs.
Although it only has one model from each of its two new brands on sale to start with, Chery still expects to sell 35,000 Jaecoo and Omoda cars in 2025. Sales of the Jaecoo 7 have started strongly, prompting local execs to call up Chery HQ in China and ask for more cars. By 2027, Omoda & Jaecoo UK wants to build up to 50,000 sales a year, which would put the combined company above many famous-name European car brands
When did Jaecoo launch in the UK?
Jaecoo arrived very recently in the UK – January 2025. Following Omoda’s launch last year, it already has a network of dealers in place and a pipeline of new models on their way over the first 12 months.
Because the brand is paired with Omoda (the company is referred to as “O&J” within the industry), which arrived about six months ahead of Jaecoo, there was plenty of preparatory work already in place before the first cars arrived.
What models does Jaecoo have and what else is coming?
Jaecoo 7
Jaecoo launched with one model in the UK – its mid-sized Jaecoo 7 SUV, which is available in petrol and plug-in hybrid forms. The plug-in hybrid is a particularly advanced system, with more emphasis on the electric motor than in many rivals. The petrol engine has specifically been developed to work in conjunction with the electric motor, rather than the company just hooking up an existing engine. This means that the electric motor does more of the work, with the petrol engine playing more of a supporting role, which gives better efficiency and fuel economy.
Jaecoo’s ambitious plans for UK sales success aren’t just based on one model, however. Two more SUV models are known to be on the way this year, with further new models coming next year but with further details under wraps for now.
The first new model to arrive will be the smaller Jaecoo 5 – a range that will include both petrol and electric powertrain options. This range serves as a more premium alternative to the Omoda 5 and E5 range. While UK pricing and specifications are yet to be announced, the 5 is expected to arrive in UK showrooms by the end of 2025.
We had the chance to drive this car at an exclusive preview in China last month, and initial impressions were favourable. But this new model will be entering the UK’s most hotly contested market sector, so we’ll see how it stacks up once it gets here.
Jaecoo 5
The second is the Jaecoo 8, which is a large seven-seat SUV and will become Jaecoo’s flagship model. It’s currently expected to also make it here before the end of this year, but we’re not sure exactly when just yet.
Jaecoo has said that off-roading capability is a key part of its brand, even if most of its customers don’t need it, so any future models are also likely to be SUVs.
Where can I try or buy a Jaecoo car?
Since setting up shop in the UK in early 2024, Omoda and Jaecoo have established 72 dealerships across the UK, thanks to agreements with large motoring groups like Arnold Clark, Listers and Endeavour. Chery has further expansion plans, and intends to expand its Omoda-Jaecoo dealership network to 130 different outlets by the end of this year. That will make it one of the larger dealer networks in the UK.
The company has key finance partnerships in place with established lenders, with BNP Paribas providing consumer finance and Arval UK providing leasing solutions.
The brand has no plans to offer direct online sales at this time, with the company aiming to grow its two brands through its dealer network and fleet programmes.
What’s particularly significant about Jaecoo?
Unlike the rest of the new wave of Chinese car manufacturers heading to Europe, Jaecoo plans to offer petrol and plug-in hybrid models alongside the inevitable electric vehicles.
As with Omoda, Jaecoo has a wide range of potential vehicles it can pull from the wider Chery family, so it can react quickly to UK demand for models of any size, shape or fuel type. Initially, the line-up will all be SUVs, but that could change over time.
Jaecoo models come with a seven-year/100,000-mile new car warranty, which is one of the best in the industry.
What’s in a name?
The name Jaecoo doesn’t come from the company’s founder, or some piece of ancient Chinese wisdom, or anything remotely meaningful. The reality is a bit more formulaic.
It’s a portmanteau of the German word Jaeger, meaning ‘hunter’, and the English word cool. So “Jaecoo” is supposed to mean “a cool hunter”. This appears to be a common practice for Chinese car brands attempting to Anglicise their names. For example, sister brand Omoda gets its name from O – the chemical symbol for oxygen – and the Italian word moda, meaning ‘fashion’.
It’s another lesson the Chinese car manufacturers seem to have learned from the Japanese – Lexus, Acura, Infiniti and Eunos were all made-up names for fledgling premium car brands that were supposed to sound important and meaningful in English…
Jaecoo doesn’t have a logo as such, simply a wordmark with the brand name proudly set in capital letters inside the grille and across the tailgate of each car.
Summary
It’s quite easy to get lost in the flood of new Chinese brands looking to carve out a piece of the UK market – Aiways, BYD, GWM, Leapmotor, Nio and Skywell are some of the other new names from China. Jaecoo, however, is a name that is likely to stick.
Chery is one of China’s largest car companies, building more than 2.6 million cars last year. By comparison, the entire UK car industry built less than a third of that number…
The company has already made a significant investment to build its two brands across Europe, with at least one more brand likely to be joining Omoda and Jaecoo next year. It has a choice of cars from the wider Chery family that it can choose to bring to the UK with either of its brands to react to market trends, and has built a network of more than 70 dealers already.
So you may not have heard much about Jaecoo before now, but you’re likely to see plenty more of its cars on your local streets before long.
