For the 2025 Awards, we’ve had a bit of a reorganisation. When it comes to large family vehicles, the line between ‘car’ and ‘SUV’ has become so blurred that it’s effectively pointless. So we’ve grouped them together.
Instead, we’ve separated large cars into mainstream and premium as that tends to better reflect how real-world car buyers look for their next vehicle. The badge, price tag (or monthly payments) and feature list tend to be more important than the body style, although customers are overwhelmingly choosing SUV-style cars instead of conventional hatchback/saloon/estate models – even if they’re no more practical and no more spacious (and have limited off-roading capabilities).
This was one of the more controversial categories, as the winning car comes from a brand that wouldn’t normally be considered ‘premium’. But looking at price, quality and features, it was a better fit here than in the mainstream large car category.
Our awards recognise both the best new models launched over the last 12 months and the best overall cars in each category – because newest doesn’t always mean best.
It’s telling that the best premium large car winner doesn’t carry an old-school European badge. The EV9 puts Kia firmly into luxury SUV territory, and it’s a revelation. Not only does the Kia EV9 sit shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the biggest names in the business very comfortably indeed, it puts them in the shade in many ways.
Clever design, strong build quality, loads of standard kit, acres of cabin and boot space, and a warranty that makes so-called ‘premium’ brands look stingy. Plus, it’s fully electric at a price that matches diesel and petrol models from other brands. Kia could charge another £10,000 for the EV9 and it would still be good value.
Class champion, electric: Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo (91%)
The Porsche Taycan continues to be the benchmark for new electric vehicles according to motoring journalists all over the UK, and the Cross Turismo version is the pick of the range.
With stunning performance, impeccable build quality and all the creature comforts you’d expect from a £100K+ luxury car, the Taycan Cross Turismo is one of the best EVs (a lot of) money can buy.
Class champion, petrol/diesel/hybrid: Rolls-Royce Phantom (92%)
Calling a Rolls-Royce ‘premium’ is a bit like calling Buckingham Palace a ‘mansion’ – it just doesn’t quite convey the appropriate level of grandeur. Still, here we are.
The Phantom is, quite simply, the peak of almost every quality that one could want in a luxury car. Well, apart from running costs, but that’s unlikely to put off too many prospective customers. It even drives nicely, although that’s not likely to be of much interest to buyers, either, as they’re far more likely to be luxuriating in the rear seats while the chauffeur drives.
Sleekly styled coupés have been in decline for several years now, as car manufacturers prioritise switching their models ranges from fossil-fuel power to electricity. But, thankfully, some car companies are keeping the faith.
Although luxury sports cars and supercars remain popular, the choices available at real-world prices are slimming all the time. This year again saw more models disappearing than new models arriving, with just three new models eligible – two of which are different versions of the same car:
Our awards recognise both the best new models launched over the last 12 months and the best overall cars in each category – because newest doesn’t always mean best. And in this category, there’s no electric class champion as there are no eligible models yet available.
Just when you thought it was all over for pony cars, Ford has unleashed its best Mustang ever, led by the inspired Dark Horse model. With muscular styling and a growling V8 soundtrack, the new Mustang is the perfect antidote to modern econoboxes’ tedium.
This may be the last Mustang as we know it, so we recommend you take whatever opportunity you can to get behind the wheel.
Whisper it quietly, but the best coupé in the Porsche range isn’t the famous 911. Instead, it’s the smaller 718 Cayman that gets reviewers more enthused when there’s a windy piece of road up ahead.
It may be approaching retirement age, and it may be the last petrol-engined Cayman, but the current model is a lovely thing to drive. Forget practicality, touchscreens and even rear seats – the Cayman is all about the driving experience. That makes it difficult to live with on a day-to-day basis for most people, but as a second car for weekends and road trips, it’s brilliant.
The BMW X3 is a mid-size SUV/crossover, and this is the current fourth-generation model, which launched in late 2024.The range includes petrol, diesel and petrol plug-in hybrid model options.
Based on initial reviews at the X3’s launch, the British motoring media generally agree that the latest iteration of BMW’s mid-sized SUV still leads its class for driving experience.
“It offers a handling and ride balance that really impresses”, says Parker’s Ted Welford, “with comfort a noticeable improvement compared to the old car.”
James Fossdyke of The Sunday Times also praises the SUV for its “roomy” cabin and “brilliant” range of engines, but adds that it is a “shame” that “the X3’s interior is such a disappointment”, concluding that “the materials used in the interior are below par.”
As of September 2025, the fourth-generation BMW X3 holds a New Car Expert Rating of C with a score of 63%. It gets good grades for its media review scores, low CO2 emissions and new car warranty rating, but the overall result is dragged down by high running costs.
It’s worth noting that the X3 has yet to undergo Euro NCAP safety testing, so its Expert Rating could improve in coming months if the test results go well.
“This high-spec BMW X3 finally feels like a well executed, cleverly designed and premium product in the way former generations just haven’t. Yes, the M50 variant is expensive, but it’s backed up by an impressive powertrain and a sophisticated driving experience that lifts it above its competitors.”
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “While not a driver’s car like other BMWs, the X3 is one of the better mid-size SUVs from behind the wheel.” Author: Alex Ingram, Alastair Crooks Read review
Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 9 / 10 “New generation of BMW’s mid-size favourite sticks to the winning formula with a new look inside and out.” Author: Dan Trent Read review
Car
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The BMW X3 remains a spacious and practical choice, while we’re happy BMW has resisted and kept it available with such a broad range of engine options – with the new M50 being a real highlight. It’s only the slightly cheap-feeling interior that detracts from what is otherwise an SUV that’s hard to fault. Other than the way it looks, perhaps…” Author: Ted Welford Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8.4 / 10 “The fourth-generation X3 still leads the upmarket mid-size SUV class when it comes to driver feel. It’s pretty good in most other respects too, with first-rate interior quality and infotainment software that works well.” Author: Alastair Crooks Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The latest BMW X3 is an expertly-judged step on from its predecessor. The new styling won’t please everyone but the cabin is much easier to appreciate for its look and feel, it drives well, and BMW has kept pace on both infotainment and safety tech too.” Author: Antony Ingram Read review
Honest John
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The BMW X3 has more space in its smart interior and equipment than ever. With an engine range that covers most bases, it should have broad appeal even if you’re not that fussed by the sporty handling and aggressive new styling.” Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8.2 / 10 “It successfully builds on two areas the previous X3 excelled, with a brilliant driving experience that no longer sacrifices comfort, and a spacious layout that’s ideal for families. The only area where we think BMW can improve is the interior, which though packed with technology, feels quite cheap in some areas.” Author: Alan Taylor-Jones, Ted Welford Read review
The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “It’s a shame, really, that the X3’s interior is such a disappointment, because the rest of the car is incredibly well sorted. It drives nicely, it’s roomy enough and the engines are brilliant.” Author: James Fossdyke Read review
The Telegraph
Score: 8 / 10 “The fourth-generation BMW X3 delivers the driving pleasure and practicality you’d expect, although it’s no longer the default choice.” Author: Andrew English Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “It’s as solid as ever, but some cheap plastics and a ponderous petrol engine have let the side down a bit.”
Author: Paul Horrell Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
No safety rating
As of September 2025, the fourth-generation BMW X3 has not been tested by Euro NCAP.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of September 2025, the BMW X3 has not been tested 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
40 mpg
D
Diesel models
48 mpg
C
Plug-in hybrid models
283 mpg
A
CO₂ output
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Petrol models
161 g/km
C
Diesel models
155 g/km
C
Plug-in hybrid models
22 g/km
A
Battery range
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Plug-in hybrid models
55 miles
D
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
36
D
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£283
C
Year 2
£644
C
Year 3
£1,033
C
Year 4
£1,393
D
Year 5
£1,814
D
Overall
£5,167
D
The BMW X3 is a rather expensive car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
Fuel economy is disappointing for petrol models but decent for diesel-engined versions. The plug-in hybrid models look amazing on paper, but this is largely thanks to ridiculous EU/UK government lab tests that are completely inadequate for plug-in hybrids. There is no way you will ever travel for 283 miles on a single gallon (4.5 litres) of fuel and some electricity…
The battery range of the plug-in hybrid model is fairly average compared to most rivals, and compared to the rest of the mid-sized SUV sector, the car’s service and maintenance costs are pretty average.
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 BMW X3 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 X3, we’ll publish the results here.
Warranty rating
New car warranty information for the BMW X3
Overall rating
B
68%
Petrol or diesel models
C
41%
Electric or hybrid models
A
82%
New car warranty duration
3 years
New car warranty mileage
Unlimited miles
Battery warranty duration
8 years
Battery warranty mileage
100,000 miles
BMW’s new car warranty is only average, and not as attractive as some other cars in a similar price bracket as the X3.
The duration is three years, with no limit on mileage – although, in reality, the mileage numbers are likely to be fairly irrelevant as most cars only cover about 10,000 miles each year.
In addition to the standard new car warranty, the X3 plug-in hybrid models have an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty for the battery components. The overall rating above is a mix of the different models.
As of September 2025, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the latest-generation BMW X3. 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 BMW dealer.
The mid-sized Cupra Terramar SUV is now available to order in the UK, with petrol, petrol mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid models to choose from.
Named after an old racing circuit in Spain that had close ties to the Cupra brand, the Terramar sits above the high-riding Ateca and Formentor in the Cupra range, and is the Spanish brand’s answer to the popular Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson.
Based on the same foundations as the new Skoda Kodiaq, Cupra says that it has further tuned the Terramar to provide greater driver engagement than the other cars based on the same architecture, modifying the adaptive damper suspension setup to improve cornering and braking, and slightly lowering the ride height.
Four different powertrain options are now available to order, with another on the way early next year. The range starts with a 150hp front-wheel drive 1.5-litre petrol mild-hybrid, and is followed by a 265hp all-wheel drive 2.0-litre straight-petrol option only available with the more expensive high-performance ‘VZ1’ and ‘VZ2’ trim levels.
The range-toppers are 1.5-litre plug-in hybrids that are mated to a 20kW battery. The first has an output of 200hp, and the second ‘VZ’ 272hp, and Cupra adds that the latter provides an electric-only driving range of over 70 miles. The VZ models can also be specced with optional ‘performance’ brakes.
Another all-wheel drive 2.0-litre straight-petrol engine choice will join the range in January. It’s less powerful than the 265hp ‘VZ’ version – output being 204hp – and will be available with the lead-in ‘V1’ and ‘V2’ trims. Regardless of the model you choose, all are paired with a seven-speed automatic gearbox.
Inside, a ten-inch digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel is paired with a 13-inch central infotainment screen that houses most of the car’s function controls. The car also comes with a premium Sennheiser stereo system and wireless smartphone charging.
The entry-level ‘V1’ model comes with LED lights, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, reversing camera, keyless entry and a heated steering wheel. The ‘V2’ adds heated and electrically adjustable front seats, a surround-view parking camera, a head-up display that projects driving information onto the windscreen, and blind spot monitoring.
Beyond the more powerful petrol engine option, the sportier ‘VZ1’ has larger 19-inch alloy wheels, more advanced matrix LED lights, ambient interior lighting, heated and electrically adjustable seats and adaptive dampers. The ‘VZ2’ has even bigger 20-inch alloy wheels and leather upholstery.
UK pricing for the new Terramar now begins at under £38k, rising to around £52k for the range-topping 272hp 1.5-litre plug-in hybrid in limited-edition ‘VZ First Edition’ guise.
The new second-generation Audi Q5 Sportback coupé-SUV will become available to order in the UK in January, with three trim levels to choose from.
Audi says that the coupé-SUV combines the characteristics of its recently-unveiled third-generation Q5 SUV – such as “versatility and a spacious interior” – with “an even more dynamic” rear sloping roof line silhouette.
Beyond the alternate rear end that also moderately reduces boot space (515 litres instead of 550 litres), the Q5 Sportback is essentially identical to the standard Q5 SUV underneath, with the same interior, engine options and trim choices.
The lead-in model is the 204hp petrol mild-hybrid, which pairs a 2.0-litre engine with a small 2kW battery that can boost power by 24hp for a short period when called upon and aids the car’s regenerative braking. This is followed by the 204hp diesel mild-hybrid with the same battery.
Also available in January is the new all-wheel drive SQ5 Sportback, which is powered by a 367hp 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine. Only all-wheel drive ‘quattro’ configurations are offered and all three options are paired with a seven-speed automatic gearbox.
Like the Q5, the Q5 Sportback has had a notable styling update. The coupé-SUV has a wide grille like its predecessor, but it doesn’t stretch as far down the car’s front fascia, freeing up room for larger air intakes on the lower front bumper. The grille is flanked by narrower LED headlights too.
In the rear, the Q5 Sportback has been given narrower LED tail lights that are connected together by a new full-width light bar that stretches across the boot lid.
Stepping inside, the car has been given a number of changes including a new 15-inch infotainment display angled towards the driver. Screens stretch across the entire soft-touch dashboard too, as this central touchscreen is joined by a 12-inch digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel.
Mid-range ‘S line’ and top-spec ‘Edition 1’ models will come with sportier front and rear bumper inserts, and larger 20- or 21-inch wheels. The ‘Edition 1’ package also includes an OLED rear light bar, matrix LED headlights, Dinamica soft-touch fabric upholstery, an 11-inch passenger media display and a top-down surround-view parking camera.
A head-up display that projects driving information onto the windscreen will also be offered for an extra fee. Beyond Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, Audi adds that the infotainment system can run apps like Spotify and YouTube without a smartphone, and that the system will be remotely updated with over-the-air updates.
Pricing for the new Q5 Sportback range will begin at over £52k – £2k more than the lead-in Q5 SUV – with pricing rising to £77k for the range-topping SQ5 Sportback which will only available with the highest ‘Edition 1’ trim at launch.
On sale for only a couple of months, Vauxhall has decided to slash the pricing of its new Grandland Electric SUV, which the brand says is part of its mission to help make “Britain’s switch to electric simple and attainable.”
This news follows price reductions for the brand’s Corsa Electric and Astra Electric earlier this year, and the recent Stellantis decision to close its Vauxhall van-making Luton factory which put around 1,100 jobs at risk.
The UK government’s EV mandate policy stipulates electric cars have to make up 22% of new car sales for each manufacturer this year, with £15k fines applied for every sale that pushes it outside the mandate.
This Grandland Electric price reduction – which includes savings of up to nearly £5k – narrows the price gap between this battery-powered SUV and its cheaper Grandland petrol mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid range, making the electric version a more attractive proposition.
The entry-level Grandland Electric ‘Design’ now costs a few hundred over £37k – this representing a saving of over £3k when compared to the initial launch price – while pricing for the mid-range ‘GS’ model has been cut by over £4k to £38.5k.
Vauxhall highlights that these price reductions mean that the ‘Design’ and ‘GS’ will now not be subject to the upcoming ‘expensive car supplement’ rate of VED that is coming into force next year for electric cars priced over £40k.
The range-topping ‘Ultimate’ will qualify for this additional road tax if registered from April onwards – an extra £410 annual charge from the second year of ownership – as it is now priced at £40.5k, down from £45k. By comparison, pricing for the Grandland petrol mild-hybrid starts at under £35k.
The Vauxhall Grandland Electric holds a New Car Expert Rating of C with a score of 65%. Beyond the car’s lower-than-average review scores, this overall rating is aided by the SUV’s low running costs.
The Mercedes-AMG GT is an upmarket high-performance coupé. This is the second-generation version, which arrived in the UK in 2024.
Whereas the former model was a two-seater V8, this latest iteration is a four-seater, available as either a four-cylinder petrol mild-hybrid or a V8 twin-turbocharged plug-in hybrid.
A key rival of the Porsche 911, the AMG GT is largely regarded as an improvement on its predecessor by the British motoring media, with Alex Ingram from Auto Express praising its “more refined, grown-up attitude”.
Carwow’s Darren Cassey also highlights the car’s unexpected practicality, but caveats that with the conclusion that the “the rear seats are pretty much pointless.”
As of March 2026, the Mercedes-AMG GT holds a New Car Expert Rating of E, with a score of 51%. In addition to its media review scores only being average, the overall rating is inevitably hindered by high running costs and poor CO2 emissions.
Body style: Coupé Engines:petrol Price:From £101,685 on-road
Launched: Spring 2024 Last updated: N/A Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Reviews, road tests and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Featured reviews
“The new AMG GT accomplishes the majority of its goals with a high degree of success. It’s a better grand tourer than its predecessor and a more engaging, characterful and precise sports car too. A rival for Porsche’s 911? For some quite possibly.”
Model reviewed: GT55 Score: 7 / 10 “In the wider Mercedes-AMG GT range, we think this is the model that makes the most sense. It’s got more than enough performance, benefits from the fantastic soundtrack of that V8 engine, yet doesn’t have the complexity or weight of the hybrid set-ups in the more expensive models above. Despite this, we think this new, more rounded Mercedes-AMG GT has lost the character of its predecessor, and still can’t match the driver appeal of the Porsche 911.” Author: Alex Ingram Read review
Model reviewed: GT 63 S E Performance Score: 7 / 10 “Mercedes-AMG has rarely held back in the pursuit of power, and in its hybrid age none are more potent than the AMG GT 63 S E Performance. This is a wickedly fast car, and knocks on the door of hypercar-levels of straight-line speed. But the means by which the flagship GT’s performance has been achieved results in a finished product that’s hard to engage with, even if it is still mightily impressive.” Author: Jordan Katsianis Read review
Model reviewed: GT 63 coupé Score: 8 / 10 “It carries the same name as its predecessor, but you have to judge the new Mercedes-AMG GT 63 on very different criteria. Its move towards a more refined, grown-up attitude has plenty of practical benefits, yet its tech-laden chassis still offers stunning performance and grip while adding continent-crossing comfort.” Author: Alex Ingram Read review
Car
Model reviewed: GT 63 S E Performance Score: 6 / 10 “While the GT63 S E Performance four-door is undoubtedly a 21st century performance car, it feels very much an old-school AMG in many respects. In other words, it’s like holding onto an exceptionally large engine that just so happens to have a car attached. Unfortunately, its unpleasant brakes probably generate even higher heartrates, and quite simply the regular GT63 handles with more aplomb for far less cash.” Author: Alan Taylor-Jones, CJ Hubbard Read review
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 10 / 10 “Mercedes-AMG has put our worries to rest: its latest AMG GT is a good car and thus a big relief. The new AMG GT oozes confidence from every aluminium and carbon fibre pore because its reassuringly wide comfort zone is not tailored for Russell and Antonelli but rather the every day driver, like us, instead.” Author: Georg Kacher, Seth Walton Read review
Model reviewed: 4.0-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid GT 63 SE Performance Score: 6 / 10 “The SE Performance certainly has some very big numbers going for it, but it’s a bit of a one trick pony. It’s certainly effective on the autobahn, both at generating very big numbers very quickly, and at persuading slower traffic out of the overtaking lane, but there’s little joy to be had at slower speeds. If you must have an AMG GT, get the regular 63.” Author: Alan Taylor-Jones Read review
Evo
Model reviewed: GT 63 Pro Score: 9 / 10 “Mercedes-AMG has toughened up the GT63 coupe for track work. It’s expensive but crushingly effective.” Author: Yousuf Ashraf Read review
Model reviewed: 4.0-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid GT 63 SE Performance Score: 8 / 10 “At monster speeds it feels rock solid, relaxed almost, and the sight of its aggressive front end in the mirror clears the outside lane effectively too. This feels very much like the natural habitat of the AMG’s hybrid GT.” Author: John Barker Read review
Motoring Research
Model reviewed: GT 63 Score: 7 / 10 “The new Mercedes-AMG GT is a slightly softer, more practical proposition – one with the Porsche 911 Turbo squarely in its sights. While not as instantly exciting as the outgoing GT, it is a better car overall. The 911 still wins our vote, but the V8-engined AMG is arguably more characterful.” Author: Tim Pitt Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The standard GT 63 apes the Porsche 911’s practicality and refinement, but the GT 63 Pro brings back a dose of aggression. It’s sharper and more precise than the standard V8 – never mind the power bump – and certainly fun when pushed on track.” Author: Curtis Moldrich Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: GT63 4Matic+ Premium Plus Score: 8 / 10 “A whopping V8 petrol engine delivering 577bhp and a svelte coupé body provide all the drama you need.” Author: Andrew English Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “AMG reinvents the GT as more of a… GT. Quick, composed, versatile and keeps the thunderous V8 alive a little longer.”
Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
No safety rating
As of March 2026, the Mercedes-AMG GT has not been assessed by Euro NCAP. Due to its pricing and exclusivity, the sports car is unlikely to undergo these crash tests in the future.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of March 2026, the Mercedes-AMG GT 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
20 mpg
E
Plug-in hybrid models
35 mpg
D
CO₂ output
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Petrol models
319 g/km
E
Plug-in hybrid models
188 g/km
D
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
50
F
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£687
E
Year 2
£1,685
E
Year 3
£2,798
E
Year 4
£3,077
E
Year 5
£4,165
E
Overall
£12,412
E
The Mercedes-AMG GT is a very 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.
As you might expect from a top-of-the-line sports car, the AMG GT’s fuel efficiency is poor – particularly for petrol mild-hybrid models which on average offer a fuel consumption of 20mpg. Plug-in hybrid variants aren’t as thirsty – with an average fuel consumption of 35mpg – but this is still much less fuel efficient than the average hybrid.
The car’s insurance premiums are in the highest bracket and its servicing and maintenance costs during the course of the first five years of ownership are expensive. The estimated five-year maintenance total of over £12k is over £2k more costly than the equivalent expected costs for rivals like the Porsche 911 and Maserati MC20.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of March 2026, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Mercedes-AMG GT 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 AMG GT, we’ll publish the results here.
As of March 2026, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the second-generation Mercedes-AMG GT. 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 Mercedes-Benz dealer.
Volkswagen has revised the trim line-ups of its all-electric ID.3, ID.4 and ID.5 model ranges, adding new lead-in trims that “offer eye-catching value for money” and a new entry-level battery option.
The ID.3 range has gained two new trims – the ‘Pure Essential’ and ‘Pure Match’, which sit below the ‘Pro’ and ‘GTX’ trims in the model line-up. Now available to order in the UK, both new lead-in versions of the hatchback make use of a smaller 170hp 52kWh battery which lowers the electric car’s entry-level price to just under £31k – a £4k price reduction.
Both models have an estimated battery range of 240 miles on a single charge, and can be charged from 10% to 80% battery in 25 minutes using a 145kW DC charger.
The ‘Pure Essential’ offering includes a 13-inch infotainment screen, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, LED headlights, folding door mirrors and ambient interior lighting, while the ‘Pure Match adds the brand’s ‘Comfort’ package (heated front seats and two-zone climate control), as well as a rear-view camera and rear tinted windows.
The ‘Pure Match’ has also been added to the ID.4 range, which lowers the SUV’s lead-in price tag by £3k to just under £40k, and also now appears in the ID.5 trim list. Unlike the ID.4 ‘Pure Match’ model, the ID.5 version is powered by the smaller 52kWh battery, with a range of 222 miles and a price tag of just over £41k. This is a rather dramatic price decrease for the ID.5, which has been criticised by reviewers for its rather expensive pricing since its launch in 2022.
The Vauxhall Grandland is a medium-sized SUV/crossover that is based on the foundations as the similar Peugeot 3008. This is the second-generation version, which arrived in the UK in late 2024. There is also an all-electric version, which we cover here.
British reviewers agree that this new iteration of the Grandland is an improvement over the original SUV, Parker’s Keith Adams explaining that the second-generation “looks better, drives more sweetly and is more accommodating”, but when compared to the SUV market at large, the Vauxhall struggles to stand out. “It’s hard to think of a single area where the Grandland excels or makes a lasting impression.”
Currently only available as a petrol mild-hybrid with a plug-in hybrid model on the way, The Sun’s Rob Gill argues that the Grandland’s “1.2-litre petrol engine is too weedy for a big car, especially if you come into contact with a hill”.
Summing up the general consensus, Carwow’s Darren Cassey concludes that the new Grandland is “spacious”, “smart” and “comfortable”, but also “really, really boring”.
As of May 2025, the Vauxhall Grandland holds a New Car Expert Rating of C with a score of 64%. It scores top marks for its low CO2 emissions, while its safety rating is also good. However, its running costs are high and its media review scores are very poor.
Body style: Medium SUV/crossover Engines:petrol mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid Price:From £34,700 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 Vauxhall Grandland is a genuine contender in the family SUV class thanks to its practicality and attractive pricing. But it’s a shame it’s not particularly interesting to drive.”
Model reviewed: Range overview (petrol, plug-in hybrid and EV)
Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol/electric hybrid GS Score: 7 / 10 “The Vauxhall Grandland is a big step forward from the previous-generation car, and there are obvious strengths in size, front and rear space, specification, efficiency and value in particular, while the styling is also a step up. But the hybrid powertrain isn’t refined, responsive or powerful enough to compete with some high-quality competition.” Author: Paul Barker Read review
Business Car
Model reviewed: Range overview (including Grandland Electric) Score: 6 / 10 “The Grandland’s steering feels much like the 3008’s. Overly light with excessive play around the straight-ahead, so it is all too easy to dial in an excessive input when coming into a corner and find yourself clumsily shuffling back and forth at the wheel.” Author: Pete Tullin Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview (including Grandland Electric) Score: 8.2 / 10 “It’s much more competitive than the old car, and worth considering if you’re in the market for a stylish and practical mid-size SUV. Author: Charlie Harvey Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 6 / 10 “As family SUVs go, the Vauxhall Grandland is a convincing effort that does a decent job in most (but not all) areas, but looks aside, we can’t see much that really marks it out compared with the competition.” Author: Ivan Aistrop Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7.2 / 10 “If Vauxhall’s goal was to better the old Grandland, they’ve pulled that off with ease. This one looks better, drives more sweetly and is more accommodating than its predecessor. Job done.” Author: Keith Adams Read review
The Sun
Model reviewed: Range overview (including Grandland Electric) “The 1.2-litre petrol engine is too weedy for a big car. Especially if you come into contact with a hill. And we weren’t loaded up with kids and all the usual family debris. Or trying to tow something with it. The old Grandland had a 1.6 turbo.” Author: Rob Gill Read review
The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: Range overview (including Grandland Electric) Score: 7 / 10 “We can’t help but feel that the Vauxhall Grandland needed something beyond a flashy light show when you unlock the car to help make it stand out more.” Author: Matt Robinson Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 6 / 10 “This large family SUV is steadfast rather than sparkling.” Author: Andrew English Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “The new Vauxhall Grandland is an improvement on old both inside and out, but it isn’t anything groundbreaking.”
Author: Peter Rawlins Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
The Vauxhall Grandland takes its safety rating from the Peugeot 3008 as the two cars are structurally similar and built on the same Stellantis platform. Euro NCAP conducted specific additional testing to ensure that the Grandland performed adequately in the areas where it differed from the 3008.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of May 2025, the Vauxhall Grandland has not been tested 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
Variation
Score
Petrol models
51 mpg
B
51 – 51 mpg
B – B
CO₂ output
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Petrol models
125 g/km
A
125 – 125 g/km
A – A
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£177
A
Year 2
£519
B
Year 3
£810
A
Year 4
£1,104
B
Year 5
£1,532
B
Overall
£4,142
B
The Vauxhall Grandland is a relatively affordable car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
As a petrol mild-hybrid (plug-in hybrid versions are on the way), the SUV’s average fuel consumption of 51mpg is lower than the average car, but many smaller pure-petrol hatchbacks are more fuel efficient.
The Grandland’s predicted servicing and maintenance costs over the first five years of ownership are on the cheaper side too, but the Nissan Qashqai – a key rival – is has a slightly cheaper estimated servicing total.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of May 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Vauxhall Grandland 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 Grandland, we’ll publish the results here.
Recalls
Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Vauxhall Grandland
As of May 2025, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the Vauxhall Grandland. 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 Vauxhall dealer.
The Vauxhall Grandland Electric is a mid-sized battery-powered SUV/crossover that became available to order in the UK in Autumn 2024. It’s part of the second-generation Grandland range, which also includes a petrol mild-hybrid version that we cover here.
Built on the same foundations as the mechanically similar Peugeot e-3008, the Grandland Electric is described by British reviewers as a sensible family SUV choice, which is perfectly capable of performing the usual around-town duties, but doesn’t stand out well in an increasingly crowded field of highly-regarded electric SUVs.
“The Grandland Electric does exactly what it says on the tin as a compact crossover”, concludes Top Gear’s Peter Rawlins, who praises the car’s smart exterior looks and upmarket interior fit and finish, “but it’s not going to knock your socks off.”
As of August 2025, the Vauxhall Grandland Electric holds a New Car Expert Rating of A with a score of 69%. It scores top marks for its low running costs, zero tailpipe emissions and five-star Euro NCAP safety rating. However, Vauxhall’s new car warranty offering is only average, and the Grandland’s media review scores to date have been very poor.
Body style: Medium SUV/crossover Engines:electric, battery-powered Price:From £36,995 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 Vauxhall Grandland is a genuine contender in the family SUV class thanks to its practicality and attractive pricing. But it’s a shame it’s not particularly interesting to drive.”
Model reviewed: Range overview (petrol, plug-in hybrid and EV)
Score: 8 / 10 “Decent to drive, practical and competitively priced, if there’s no single stand-out reason to pick the Vauxhall Grandland out over its many rivals it does at least have the reassurance of buying from a recognised brand with a long history of no-nonsense dependability.” Author: Dan Trent Read review
Business Car
Model reviewed: Range overview (including ICE-powered Grandland) Score: 6 / 10 “it offers a decent compromise between giddy-up and efficiency, so apart from more audible electric motor whine than you might expect, it goes about hauling the Grandland in a seamless manner.” Author: Pete Tullin Read review
Car
Score: 6 / 10 “The Vauxhall Grandland Electric is a perfectly acceptable family SUV that doesn’t put in a bad performance on the road, should offer competitive driving range, and has good seats. It’s not bad, but neither does it stand out. I wouldn’t be too upset if this ended up being my next company car, but I rather suspect retail buyers will find the Ford Explorer and Renault Scenic far more appealing.” Author: Keith Adams Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview (including ICE-powered Grandland) Score: 8.2 / 10 “The Grandland is well insulated from road and wind noise which makes it a good car for peaceful cruising, especially the EV.” Author: Charlie Harvey Read review
Electrifying.com
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 6 / 10 “The Grandland is not a bad car, but it is a rather middling one that may struggle to really justify itself in the very busy family SUV class.” Author: Vicky Parrott Read review
Green Car Guide
Model reviewed: Grandland Electric GS Score: 8 / 10 “The Vauxhall Grandland Electric is another Stellantis EV that offers an excellent all-round package for a competitive price – under £40,000 for the Design and GS trim levels. You get a comfortable and easy driving experience, stylish looks, lots of space, a practical range and ultra-rapid 160 kW charging.” Author: Paul Clarke Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 6 / 10 “Your visibility towards the front of the Grandland is fine, but your rear view is hampered by a rear window that’s slightly smaller than those of many rivals, and when it rains, the rear wiper only clears a small section of the pane.” Author: Ivan Aistrop Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “Despite being stylish and refined at speed, judging it against the best electric SUVs, such as the Renault Scenic E-Tech, Skoda Enyaq and Kia EV6, there isn’t much that makes the Vauxhall Grandland Electric stand out.” Author: Keith Adams Read review
The Sun
Model reviewed: Range overview (including ICE-powered Grandland) “It starts at £41k. That’s a lot of cash for a Vauxhall, right? Longer-range versions with the option of 4WD will be even chunkier.” Author: Rob Gill Read review
The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: Range overview (including ICE-powered Grandland) Score: 7 / 10 “There’s nothing particularly new that the Vauxhall does which challenges the best in the sector, and if it were the only model of car in this class with a purported 400-mile-plus range then it would at least have that on its side.” Author: Matt Robinson Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “The Vauxhall Grandland Electric does exactly what it says on the tin as a compact crossover, but it’s not going to knock your socks off.” Author: Peter Rawlins Read review
Which EV?
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7.2 / 10 “A solid family EV choice, although while two trims dip below the £40,000 Expensive Car tax bracket, it’s not exactly cheap, nor is the Vauxhall Grandland Electric fast or class-leading in other respects.” Author: Tim Barnes-Clay Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
The Vauxhall Grandland Electric takes its safety rating from the Peugeot e-3008 as the two cars are structurally similar and built on the same Stellantis platform. Euro NCAP conducted specific additional testing to ensure that the Grandland Electric performed adequately in the areas where it differed from the e-3008.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of August 2025, the Vauxhall Grandland Electric has not been tested by Green NCAP.
The Green NCAP programme measures exhaust pollution (which is zero for an electric car) and energy efficiency. Electric cars are much more energy-efficient than combustion cars, so the Grandland Electric is likely to score very highly in Green NCAP testing whenever it ever 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
323 miles
A
Electrical efficiency
Average
Score
Variation
Score
EV models
4.4 m/KWh
B
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£168
B
Year 2
£447
A
Year 3
£692
A
Year 4
£914
A
Year 5
£1,248
A
Overall
£3,469
A
The Vauxhall Grandland Electric 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.
Electrical efficiency (the EV equivalent of miles per gallon for a petrol or diesel car) is good, which helps to give the Grandland Electric a strong battery range. Servicing costs should also be very competitive, and are predicted to be a few hundred pounds cheaper than the Peugeot e-3008 over the course of the first five years of ownership.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of August 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Vauxhall Grandland Electric 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 Grandland Electric, we’ll publish the results here.
Warranty rating
New car warranty information for the Vauxhall Grandland Electric
Overall rating
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
Vauxhall’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 Grandland Electric has an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty for the battery components.
Warranty on a used Vauxhall Grandland Electric
Any used Vauxhall Grandland Electric should still be covered by its new car warranty until at least 2027
If you’re looking to buy a used car that is approaching the end of its warranty period, a used car warranty is usually a worthwhile investment. Check out The Car Expert’s guide to the best used car warranty providers, which will probably be cheaper than a warranty sold by a dealer.
Recalls
Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Vauxhall Grandland Electric
As of August 2025, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the Vauxhall Grandland Electric. 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 Vauxhall dealer.
Find your next new or used car with Auto Trader. Find out more
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Lease a Vauxhall Grandland Electric
If you’re looking to lease a new Vauxhall Grandland Electric, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal.
Personal contract hire deals from Leasing.com. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Carwow. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Select Car Leasing. Find out more
Subscribe to a Vauxhall Grandland Electric
Subscriptions are becoming a very popular way for consumers to try an electric car for a few weeks or months to help decide whether it’s a suitable alternative to a petrol car. If you’re interested in a car subscription, The Car Expert’s partners can help. (PS: What’s a car subscription?)
Cupra’s second all-electric model, the Tavascan is an upmarket coupé-SUV that first arrived in the UK in late 2024.
Praised by the motoring media for its styling, battery range and ride comfort, some reviewers conclude that, while the Tavascan is a compelling family-friendly package, it doesn’t deliver the sporty driving experience its manufacturer promised – a criticism also levelled against the smaller Cupra Born when it first launched.
“There’s lots to admire but not enough to love”, says Andrew English of The Telegraph, adding that Cupra’s promise of a “terrific driving experience” is not backed up by the coupé-SUV’s performance, and that the slightly rubbery brakes “are horrible”.
Charlie Harvey of Carbuyer acknowledges that the car is “not especially quick to drive”, but that “it has nicely weighted controls and a good balance of driving feel and comfort.”
If you are simply looking for your next family car and driving thrills aren’t as necessary, Will Dron of the Sunday Times concludes that the Tavascan is a good “rational” SUV choice that is “more interesting than most other Volkswagen Group” models.
As of February 2026, the Cupra Tavascan currently holds a New Car Expert Rating of A with a score of 76%. While its review scores are hampered by some disappointment surrounding the car’s performance, this overall score is bolstered by the Tavascan’s full five-star Euro NCAP safety rating and low running costs.
Body style: Medium coupé-SUV Engines:electric, battery-powered Price:From £47,340 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.
Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “If you want an electric family car that stands out from the crowd, then the Cupra Tavascan is it. The head-turning looks don’t come at the expense of practicality, either, because there’s plenty of space inside for passengers and luggage.” Author: Alex Ingram, Jordan Katsianis Read review
Auto Trader
Score: 7 / 10 “While the Cupra Tavascan is comfortable and certainly looks the part, it doesn’t quite live up to the assertive styling in all areas.” Author: Catherine King Read review
Car
Score: 8 / 10 “For better or worse, the Cupra Tavascan essentially takes the Born formula and scales it up. It executes its brief well, providing grip, ample straight-line speed and a degree of feedback that makes driving it fast relatively rewarding. But that if sounds stilted in some ways, that’s because, even in VZ mode, the Tavascan feels ‘competent’ rather than truly gripping.” Author: Curtis Moldrich Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “While it uses family underpinnings shared with other EVs from the Volkswagen Group, its design feels unique, whether you love or hate it. It’s not especially quick to drive, but it has nicely weighted controls and a good balance of driving feel and comfort.” Author: Charlie Harvey Read review
Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview “The Cupra Tavascan is a stylish SUV inside and out, but it remains to be seen whether it’s good enough to justify the rather hefty price tag.” Read review
Driving Electric
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “Cupra’s first electric SUV is the beginning of a new chapter for this growing brand, and a very promising one at that.” Author: Shane Wilkinson Read review
Electrifying.com
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “I had high expectations but have come away disappointed. I’d expected a car which took the best elements of the Born and Formentor and put them in a bigger package. But it’s not quite there.” Author: Tom Barnard Read review
Evo
Score: 7 / 10 “The Cupra Tavascan is the best-looking and most interesting of the Volkswagen Group EV models, inside and out, with dynamics that are as well-resolved as they can be for this sort of car. It doesn’t however have the extra edge and playfulness by comparison to the ID.5 GTX, that say, the Cupra Leon has over its cousin, the Golf GTI. The Tavascan’s main distinction is in its design flair, rather than the way it drives.” Author: Ethan Jupp Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “The Cupra Tavascan is a well-rounded electric SUV that brings a bold sense of style to this area of the market. It offers customers a well-tuned chassis, decent real-world battery range and a comfortable ride with a good edge of sportiness, as befits the Cupra brand.” Author: Phill Tromans Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “Is the Tavascan good? Yes, but it’s some nicer plastics and a little more calibration away from being very a true recommended choice.” Author: Curtis Moldrich Read review
The Sun
Model reviewed: Range overview “Their bulk makes the back feel dark and dingy, but actually there’s plenty of room behind. Electric crossovers are mostly boring, if easy to drive.” Author: Rob Gill Read review
The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “The Tavascan has a tough job on its hands to attract buyers, though is more interesting than most other Volkswagen Group efforts and the Cupra brand is currently one of the coolest out there. And while somewhat less thrilling than the eye-catching design suggests, it’s actually a more rational choice than Cupra’s boss suggests.” Author: Will Dron Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: VZ dual motor Score: 6 / 10 “There’s lots to admire but not enough to love. Cupra promises a terrific driving experience with the Tavascan and it simply isn’t. It promises sporting handling, which it hasn’t, while the brakes are horrible and inhibit your ability to exploit the chassis that promises a lot more.” Author: Andrew English Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The styling is a matter of taste, but anyone put off by it will be missing out on one of the best-realised EV crossovers there is.”
Author: Paul Horrell 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 February 2026, the Cupra Tavascan 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 Tavascan is likely to score very highly in Green NCAP testing whenever it ever 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
339 miles
A
Electrical efficiency
Average
Score
Variation
Score
EV models
4.1 m/KWh
C
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
31
C
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£293
D
Year 2
£559
C
Year 3
£860
B
Year 4
£1,112
C
Year 5
£1,375
B
Overall
£4,199
C
The Cupra Tavascan 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 SUV’s battery range is competitive and its electrical efficiency (the EV equivalent of miles per gallon for a petrol or diesel car) is good for a car of this size.
It’s insurance premiums are in a middling bracket and its servicing and maintenance costs over the first five years of ownership are on the cheaper side too.
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 Cupra Tavascan 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 Tavascan, we’ll publish the results here.
As of February 2026, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the Cupra Tavascan. 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.
Find your next new or used car with Auto Trader. Find out more
Find your next new or used car with Carwow. Find out more
Lease a Cupra Tavascan
If you’re looking to lease a new Cupra Tavascan, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal.
Personal contract hire deals from Leasing.com. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Carparison Leasing. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Carwow. Find out more
Subscribe to a Cupra Tavascan
Subscriptions are becoming a very popular way for consumers to try an electric car for a few weeks or months to help decide whether it’s a suitable alternative to a petrol car. If you’re interested in a car subscription, The Car Expert’s partners can help. (PS: What’s a car subscription?)
The Smart #3 is an all-electric five-door crossover that arrived in the UK in Autumn 2024. It’s basically the sleeker sibling of the Smart #1 that was launched a year previously.
The #3 (pronounced “Hashtag Three”, not “Number Three”) is the second model in Smart’s resurrection after the #1. No, we don’t know what happened to the #2. The next model to be launched will be called the #5, so maybe Smart just doesn’t like even numbers.
There are four trim levels – Pro, Pro+, Premium and the top-spec Brabus model, which produces about 430hp from two electric motors and will hit 62mph from a standing start in less than four seconds.
Media reviews for the #3 have been mixed. John Redfern from Motoring Research says it’s “more convincing than the smaller #1”, while Darren Cassey at Carwow praises the “offers impressive interior space for a sleek SUV” and Jake Grovers at Parkers claims that the “interior quality really impresses”.
However, as with the #1, the touchscreen control unit has brought much criticism from critics. Honest John describes it as a “counter-intuitive infotainment system”, while Redfern agrees that the “multi-layered and confusing touchscreen media system lets the side down.”
Car summarises the #3 as “a perfectly-fine-if-not-amazing-in-any-area kind of car hampered by clunky tech”, while Sam Burnett at Top Gear concludes that “it’s all rather style led without being at all distinctive”.
As of August 2025, the Smart #3 holds a New Car Expert Rating of A with a score of 76%. It scores top marks for its excellent safety rating and zero tailpipe emissions, while running costs are also low and warranty coverage is good. However, media review scores have been poor, which stops the #3 from rivalling the very top-rated cars in the Expert Rating Index.
Body style: Medium coupé-SUV/crossover Engines:electric, battery-powered Price:From £32,950 on-road
Launched: Spring 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 Smart #3 is an interesting new choice in the electric car market. It stands out visually, the driving experience is a treat and it should cater to most families’ needs.”
Model reviewed: #3 Brabus Score: 7 / 10 “The high performance Brabus version of the Smart #3 delivers a level of pace that was once alien to compact SUV drivers but is becoming par for the course.” Author: Alastair Crooks Read review
Auto Trader
Score: 6 / 10 “The Smart #3 is the second vehicle in a wholesale re-invention for the brand. It’s moving away from ultra-compact city cars such as the old ForTwo, and into the heavily contested waters of the medium-sized electric crossover market. With big rivals, the #3 has some serious work to do if it’s to convince buyers that this is still a brand worth buying into.” Read review
Car
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 6 / 10 “For the most part, the Smart #3 is perfectly reasonable. Smooth, quiet, calm and collected to drive – albeit when you’re not being irritated by the sometimes-infuriating safety tech screaming at you for one reason or another. The interior is well built, it’s remarkably quiet even on the motorway, and it’s very roomy in the cabin. The #3 is still a perfectly-fine-if-not-amazing-in-any-area kind of car hampered by clunky tech.” Author: Jake Groves Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7.6 / 10 “With its own unique style, the Smart #3 cuts a dash amongst EV crossover rivals, and it’s affordable and fully loaded.”
Author: Andy Goodwin, Alastair Crooks Read review
Driving Electric
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “The Smart #3 is a stylish and likeable EV for the most part, but its technology and build-quality leave a lot to be desired.” Author: Shane Wilkinson Read review
Electrifying.com
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “But it feels like a sort of fun Mercedes – with a lower price tag. Think sort of like SEAT was to VW. Or Mini to BMW. It’s got as much practicality as a small family would need, great quality and a surprising – and perhaps unnecessary – amount of power.” Author: Tom Barnard Read review
Green Car Guide
Model reviewed: #3 Brabus Score: 10 / 10 “The smart #3 BRABUS is fast and fun. The driving experience is made more engaging by the virtual engine sound, its steering is responsive, handling is agile, grip is good thanks to all-wheel drive, and ride quality is comfortable on most road surfaces.” Author: Paul Clarke Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “Smart has come up with a strong contender with the #3 when you look at it on paper and in the metal. On the road, it’s not quite so impressive when you have to deal with its poor infotainment and snatchy regenerative braking systems.” Author: Al Suttie Read review
Honest John
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 6 / 10 “Good looking, practical and well-priced, the Smart #3 — on paper ticks all the right boxes but if you can live with the counter-intuitive infotainment system you’re a saint.” Read review
Motoring Research
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “More convincing than the smaller #1, the Smart #3 is an easy car to drive and live with – bolstered by punchy electric performance and attractive prices. Only its multi-layered and confusing touchscreen media system lets the side down.” Author: John Redfern Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7.4 / 10 “Interior quality really impresses, making it feel like a more premium product than direct rivals such as the Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia Niro Electric.” Author: Jake Groves Read review
The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 6 / 10 “What it lacks is a true sense of purpose, of something that allows it to yell “look at me!” louder than the morass of other electric crossovers that will surround it — aside from perhaps its eye-catching entry-level price tag.” Author: Neil Briscoe Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “If you need a car to transport your brood but still want to be project a youthful aura, this EV is a little more extrovert than the norm.” Author: Alex Robbins Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 5 / 10 “Don’t get us wrong, the #3 has its charms, and no doubt you could be swayed by the tech focus and distinctive interior. But it’s all rather style led without being at all distinctive.” Author: Sam Burnett 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 August 2025, the Smart #3 has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.
The Green NCAP programme measures exhaust pollution (which is zero for an electric car) and energy efficiency. Electric cars are much more energy-efficient than combustion cars, so the #3 is likely to score very highly in Green NCAP testing whenever it ever 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
259 miles
B
Electrical efficiency
Average
Score
Variation
Score
EV models
4.1 m/KWh
C
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£303
D
Year 2
£623
C
Year 3
£988
C
Year 4
£1,251
C
Year 5
£1,568
C
Overall
£4,733
C
The Smart #1 should be a fairly cheap car to own and run, according to exclusive data provided to The Car Expert by our technical partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
Electrical efficiency (the EV equivalent of miles per gallon in a petrol or diesel car) is only average, but a decent-sized battery provides plenty of range for local driving.
Insurance premiums and initial servicing costs are also fairly middling, but servicing should improve relative to other cars after the first year.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of August 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Smart #3 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 #3, we’ll publish the results here.
Warranty rating
New car warranty information for the Smart #3
Overall rating
A
82%
New car warranty duration
3 years
New car warranty mileage
Unlimited miles
Battery warranty duration
8 years
Battery warranty mileage
100,000 miles
Smart’s overall new car warranty is worse than average, and worse than rival brands in a similar price bracket as the #3.
The duration is only three years, which is pretty much the bare minimum offered in the UK, albeit with no limit on mileage.
In addition to the standard new car warranty, there is also an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty for the battery components.
Buying a used Smart #3
As of August 2025, any used Smart #3 should still be under its new car warranty, which trumps any used car warranty offering. The earliest models will still be under warranty until 2027.
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.
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Smart #3, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Find your next new or used car with Auto Trader. Find out more
Find your next new or used car with Carwow. Find out more
Lease a Smart #3
If you’re looking to lease a new Smart #3, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal.
Personal contract hire deals from Leasing.com. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Carwow. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Select Car Leasing. Find out more
Car subscriptions
Subscriptions are becoming a very popular way for consumers to try an electric car for a few weeks or months to help decide whether it’s a suitable alternative to a petrol car. If you’re interested in a car subscription, The Car Expert’s partners can help. (PS: What’s a car subscription?)
The BMW X2 is a coupé-styled version of the mechanically identical X1 SUV, which became available to order in Spring 2024.
Available only with BMW’s ‘M Sport’ package in the UK, the X2 is sportier than the standard X1 SUV – the key difference being its sloping rear roofline. It’s also notably more expensive than its more practical sibling.
The petrol X2 is considered a significant improvement on its predecessor, although not as good as the electric iX2. CJ Hubbard from Car says that it’s “spacious, well equipped, comes with lots of the latest tech and doesn’t even look that bad by modern BMW standards,” although Tim Wiltshire at Carwow points out that “it’s not cheap and you don’t get much choice in the model range”.
However, it’s the driving experience that has left journalists disappointed. Charlie Harvey at Carbuyer says that the X2 “misses the mark for driving feel – an area where a BMW should excel”, while Hubbard writes that “the suspension is so firm it tends to make the rest of the car feel clumsy”.
Top Gear’s Jason Barlow is unimpressed: “It seems impossible to believe that a company with [BMW’s] track record could fumble the ball, but nobody’s perfect.”
As of January 2026, the BMW X2 holds a New Car Expert Rating of B, with a score of 64%. It scores top marks for its excellent safety testing results, but all its other scores are average to poor.
Body style: Small coupé-SUV Engines:petrol Price:From £42,470 on-road
Launched: Spring 2024 Last updated: N/A Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Reviews, road tests and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Featured reviews
“The BMW X2 M35i is certainly fast, but its taller body means that it isn’t the last word in involvement. So if you expect this rapid BMW to be a jacked-up but super-stylish alternative to a regular hot hatchback, you’re probably going to be disappointed.”
Score: 6 / 10 “The second-generation BMW X2 is a likeable machine, but one that’s tough to love – at least in M35i guise. It’s spacious, well equipped, comes with lots of the latest tech and doesn’t even look that bad by modern BMW standards (the back end’s a touch weird, but still). Performance is strong, if somehow unsatisfying. The ride, however, is too much. And perhaps so is the price.” Author: CJ Hubbard Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7.8 / 10 “The BMW X2 is stylish and fairly practical, but misses the mark for driving feel – an area where a BMW should excel.” Author: Charlie Harvey Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “There are very few areas where the new X2 doesn’t improve on its predecessor, from more individual styling, to a surprising increase in practicality, to a keen and confident drive.” Author: Antony Ingram Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: X2 M35i Score: 6 / 10 “The suspension is so firm it tends to make the rest of the car feel clumsy, and although this M35i variant we’ve been testing can be driven quickly, there’s not much satisfaction to be derived from this.” Author: CJ Hubbard Read review
Regit
Score: 7 / 10 “The new BMW X2 is a significant departure from its predecessor, bringing big advances when it comes to design, technology and electrification.” Author: Jack Evans Read review
The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: Range overview (includes electric iX2) Score: 8 / 10 “Electric power trumps potent petrol in X2 family” Author: Matt Robinson Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 6 / 10 “It seems impossible to believe that a company with its track record could fumble the ball, but nobody’s perfect.”
Author: Jason Barlow Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
The BMW X2’s Euro NCAP results are largely based on the mechanically identical X1 compact SUV. Additional tests were performed where required based on any significant differences between the two models.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
Model tested: sDrive20i M Sport petrol FWD automatic
Clean Air Index: 6.6 / 10 Energy Efficiency Index: 5.2 / 10 Greenhouse Gas Index: 3.1 / 10
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
Fuel consumption
Average
Score
Petrol models
42 mpg
C
CO₂ output
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Petrol models
157 g/km
C
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
30
C
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£304
D
Year 2
£672
D
Year 3
£1,098
D
Year 4
£1,463
D
Year 5
£1,905
D
Overall
£5,442
D
The BMW iX2 is an expensive car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
Average fuel economy is poor, especially compared to other small SUVs. Given that this is likely to be your biggest single running cost, it’s worth bearing in mind.
Insurance premiums sit around the market average, as do scheduled servicing costs over the first five years of ownership.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of January 2026, we don’t have enough reliability data on the BMW X2 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 X2, we’ll publish the results here.
Date: July 2024 Recall number: R/2022/277 Model types: All Build dates: 04/2024 to 05/2024 Number of vehicles affected: 4 Defect: The welding of the recliner adjustment on the backrest of the left front seat may not have been performed to specification, potentially resulting in insufficient locking of the backrest. Remedy: On affected vehicles, the left-front seat backrest will be replaced.
As of September 2024 (our most recent data point), there has been one DVSA vehicle safety recall on the current-generation BMW X2, although only four cars are affected.
Not all vehicles are affected by recalls. You can check to see if your car is included in any of the above recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local BMW dealer.
If your car is affected by a recall, the vehicle must be repaired and you should not be charged for any work required. If you are buying a used X2, you should insist that any outstanding recall work is completed before you take delivery of the vehicle.
The MG ZS is a small budget SUV/crossover and MG’s cheapest SUV offering. This is the second-generation model, which is currently only available as a petrol-electric hybrid and arrived in the UK in the second half of 2024.
As well as its value-for-money pricing, Carbuyer’s Charlie Harvey adds that the SUV’s “hybrid system makes it very economical to run, too, and although rivals offer a more fun driving experience.”
James Fossdyke of The Sunday Times concludes that the MG’s “handling may not be great, and the tech may not be brilliant”, but that the ZS is “otherwise a wholly competent package.” Parker’s Alan Taylor-Jones agrees, but adds that the hybrid is “not particularly comfortable on poorly surfaced roads at low speed.”
As of April 2025, the second-generation MG ZS holds a New Car Expert Rating of B with a score of 68%. While this score doesn’t make the SUV a leader in its class, it is an improvement over the previous generation’s E rating.
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “While the MG ZS is good enough to drive, spacious and economical, the real selling point is its low list price, which allows it to undercut rivals by several thousand pounds.” Author: Alex Ingram Read review
Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 9 / 10 “The design of the MG ZS may still not be the most striking, but the balance of functionality and price make it a compelling choice.” Author: Catherine King Read review
Car
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The ZS is yet another impressive MG that punches above its price, rather than feeling like its built to it. That’s not to say it’s perfect or that there’s no evidence of its affordability.” Author: Alan Taylor-Jones Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8.2 / 10 “You get so much for the money because the MG ZS is the size of cars from the class above at the same price as smaller SUVs. Its hybrid system makes it very economical to run, too, and although rivals offer a more fun driving experience, it’s perfectly good enough for most buyers’ needs.” Author: Charlie Harvey Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “”The basic appeal of the MG ZS SUV is the same as it ever was: it provides generous space, lots of standard equipment and a long warranty for a very tempting price.” Author: Ivan Aistrop Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7.4 / 10 “If your priorities are value, space and economy, then the MG ZS is worth considering. Despite being one of the bigger cars in its class – it’s only 5cm shorter than a Skoda Karoq – it’s also one of the cheapest and comes well equipped.” Author: Alan Taylor-Jones Read review
Regit
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The second-generation MG ZS Hybrid+ is a superb all-rounder and a great contender for sales in the B-SUV sector.” Author: Maxine Ashford Read review
The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “While the handling may not be great, and the tech may not be brilliant, they are really the only shortcomings in what is otherwise a wholly competent package. SUVs of this size are really about space, efficiency and equipment, all of which the ZS has in abundance.” Author: James Fossdyke Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of April 2025, the MG ZS has not been lab tested 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
Variation
Score
Hybrid models
55 mpg
B
55 – 55 mpg
B – B
CO₂ output
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Hybrid models
115 g/km
A
115 – 115 g/km
A – A
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£151
A
Year 2
£457
A
Year 3
£731
A
Year 4
£907
A
Year 5
£1,233
A
Overall
£3,479
A
The MG ZS 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.
Only available as a petrol-electric hybrid, the SUV’s fuel consumption is better than the average car, and its servicing and maintenance costs are predicted to be excellent over the first five years of ownership.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of April 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the MG ZS 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 MG, we’ll publish the results here.
As of April 2025, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the MG ZS. However, this information is updated very regularly so this may have changed.
You can check to see if your car has any outstanding recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local MG dealer.
The Maserati GranCabrio is a luxurious two-door, four-seat convertible. Launched in 2023 and arriving in the UK in early 2024, it’s the second generation to carry the GranCabrio name.
It’s powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine, although an all-electric version called the GranCabrio Folgore will join the range soon. We’re building a separate Expert Rating for this model, so check back soon.
Media reviewers have tempered their enjoyment of driving the GranCabrio with the realities of living with one. Piers Ward of Car says: “As a thing of beauty to absorb some vitamin D in, it’s up there with the very best,” while Jason Barlow of Top Gear feels the GranCabrio gains “extra cachet as a drop-top” compared to its GranTurismo sibling.
As of March 2026, the Maserati GranCabrio holds a New CarExpert Rating of E with a score of 52%. Although its media review scores are generally good, the overall rating is dragged down by high CO2 emissions and very high running costs.
Score: 10 / 10 “Forget sweaty-palmed gambles on dodgy Italian supercars with unreliable electronics, skittish chassis and duff entertainment systems: the new breed of Maseratis offer precision-guided build quality, astonishing performance and crystal-clear technology waters.” Author: Erin Baker Read review
Car
Model reviewed: Trofeo Score: 8 / 10 “Another hit from Maserati, managing to blend the style and comfort of a long-legged cabriolet GT with the handling balance to keep things interesting in the corners. The Maserati GranCabrio is not an out-and-out sports car – you’ll want a Porsche 911 for that – but as a thing of beauty to absorb some vitamin D in, it’s up there with the very best.” Author: Seth Walton Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “Another hit from Maserati, managing to blend the style and comfort of a long-legged cabriolet GT with the handling balance to keep things exciting in the corners.” Author: Piers Ward Read review
The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: Range overview (including electric Folgore) Score: 7 / 10 “Good looks, a quality cabin and a decent soundtrack? Yep, the GranCabrio Trofeo ticks all of those boxes… and a few more besides.” Author: Matt Robinson Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “Just as engaging and well-engineered as its coupe sibling, but gains extra cachet as a drop-top.”
Author: Jason Barlow Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
No safety rating
As of March 2026, the Maserati GranCabrio has not been tested by Euro NCAP.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of March 2026, the Maserati GranCabrio has not been tested 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
27 mpg
E
CO₂ output
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Petrol models
238 g/km
E
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
50
F
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£642
E
Year 2
£1,552
E
Year 3
£2,302
E
Year 4
£2,670
E
Year 5
£3,664
E
Overall
£10,830
E
The Maserati GranCabrio is an expensive car to run, according to five-year ownership information provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our technical partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
Fuel economy is unsurprisingly poor, as are CO2 emissions. Servicing costs are expensive and car insurance premiums are in the highest bracket.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of March 2026, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Maserati GranCabrio 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 GranCabrio, we’ll publish the results here.
Recalls
Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Maserati GranCabrio
As of March 2026, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the Maserati GranCabrio. 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 Maserati dealer.
The Peugeot 3008 is a petrol/electric hybrid mid-sized family SUV/crossover vehicle. It arrived in the UK in early 2024, with a longer-range version joining the line-up later in the year.
The 3008 is available with either a plug-in hybrid or basic hybrid (no plug) powertrain. There’s also a fully electric version called the E-3008, which isn’t included here. We have a separate Expert Rating page for that car.
As with the electric E-3008, reviewers have liked the 3008’s style but have been critical of its substance. Carwow commends the “upmarket interior” and Paul Barker agrees that it’s “stunning”, while Ted Welford at Car laments that “it’s simply not as roomy or flexible as a vehicle in this class should be”
As of September 2025, the Peugeot 3008 holds a New Car Expert Rating of B, with a score of 68%. It scores top marks for its five-star Euro NCAP safety rating and low CO2 emissions, while overall running costs are also good. However, Peugeot’s new car warranty coverage is only average and the 3008’s media review scores have been poor.
Body style: Medium SUV/crossover Motor:regular hybrid, plug-in hybrid Price:From £35,035
Launched: Winter 2023/24 Last updated: Autumn 2024 Next update due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Featured reviews
“The cabin is stunning and dominated by the huge 21-inch infotainment screen, although that does have usability issues. To drive, the hybrid also feels more comfortable than the E-3008 over bumps, but it’s still not the most cosseting of SUVs, and the powertrain could be quicker to respond.”
“Peugeot’s stylish new 3008 comes with hybrid power and an upmarket interior, but although it’s cheaper than the electric E-3008, there are more affordable hybrid alternatives out there.”
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 6 / 10 “Ultimately, the Peugeot 3008 falls behind the best family crossovers owing to the fact its simply not as roomy or flexible as a vehicle in this class should be. The interior and general design are all just a lesson in style over substance. Peugeot can do better.” Author: Ted Welford Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7.8 / 10 “The Peugeot 3008 now gets mild and plug-in hybrid options bringing down the price, but this stylish SUV could still be a family SUV you buy with your heart instead of your head.”
Author: Paul Barker Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “The latest third-generation version of the Peugeot 3008 feels like a very logical evolution of Peugeot’s popular midsize family SUV. If we’re honest, it’s taken something of a backwards step compared to its predecessor when it comes to driving dynamics, but in pretty much every other area, it’s seen improvements, and big ones in some of them.” Author: Ivan Aistrop Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 6.4 / 10 “The interior is also among the best in this class in terms of look and feel. The rear seats have a disappointing lack of space and it generally lacks the flexibility of the best family SUVs. It all just feels like a case of style over substance.” Author: Ted Welford Read review
Regit
Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol/electric hybrid GT Score: 8 / 10 “It’s not easy designing an SUV that is both practical and easy on the eye, but Peugeot has achieved that with the 3008.” Author: Maxine Ashford Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 6 / 10 “Much better than the electric version but reservations remain.” Author: Andrew English Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “The third gen 3008 doesn’t feel like a revolution. For many, that’ll be a win. Refined hybrid powertrain, but ride could be better.” 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 Peugeot 3008 has not been lab tested 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
Hybrid models
48 mpg
C
Plug-in hybrid models
313 mpg
A
CO₂ output
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Petrol models
124 g/km
B
Hybrid models
133 g/km
B
Plug-in hybrid models
20 g/km
A
Battery range
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Plug-in hybrid models
53 miles
D
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
23
B
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£235
C
Year 2
£615
C
Year 3
£961
C
Year 4
£1,167
C
Year 5
£1,550
C
Overall
£4,528
C
The Peugeot 3008 is a reasonably 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. However, it does depend on which model you choose.
The plug-in hybrid inevitably provides much better fuel economy than the basic hybrid, as you can do much more driving on electric power with less need to engage the petrol engine. However, that does require plugging the car in regularly to make sure the battery is fully charged before each journey.
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 Peugeot 3008 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 3008, we’ll publish the results here.
Warranty rating
New car warranty information for the Peugeot 3008
Overall rating
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
Peugeot’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, battery components of the 308 (all models are hybrid or plug-in hybrid) have an eight-year/100,000-mile warrantys.
Warranty on a used Peugeot 3008
The Peugeot 3008 arrived in the UK in the middle of 2024. That means the first cars won’t be out of new car warranty until the middle of 2027 (unless they hit the 60,000-mile limit before then).
If you’re looking to buy a used car that is approaching the end of its warranty period, a used car warranty is usually a worthwhile investment. Check out The Car Expert’s guide to the best used car warranty providers, which will probably be cheaper than a warranty sold by a dealer.
As of September 2025, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the Peugeot 3008. However, this information is updated very regularly so may have changed.
You can check to see if your car has any outstanding recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local Peugeot dealer.
The Peugeot E-3008 is an all-electric, mid-sized family SUV/crossover vehicle. It arrived in the UK in early 2024, with a longer-range version joining the line-up later in the year.
There is a petrol/electric hybrid version called the 3008, which isn’t included here. We have a separate Expert Rating page for that car.
Reviewers have liked the E-3008’s design, both inside and out, but have been critical of its price and general lack of performance or value for money compared to other cars in its segment. Alan Taylor-Jones of Parkers sums it up as a “striking SUV” that “offers more style than substance”.
As of September 2025, the Peugeot E-3008 holds a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 70%. It scores top marks for its low running costs, zero tailpipe emissions and five-star Euro NCAP safety rating. However, Peugeot’s new car warranty offering is only average and the E-3008’s media review scores to date have been generally poor.
“The stylish Peugeot E-3008 looks and feels like a proper premium car inside and out, but you will have to wait a while for the longest range version.”
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The all-new Peugeot e-3008 is an electric reimagining of the popular 3008 small SUV. Its unique styling makes it an intriguing option.” Author: Catherine King Read review
Business Car
Model reviewed: 73kWh 157kW GT Score: 8 / 10 “The new Peugeot e-3008 looks great inside and out but is expensive. After the international launch drive, it impressed more on UK roads. We wondered if Peugeot had changed the performance and handling settings following launch feedback – although we were told not.” Author: Martyn Collins Read review
Car
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 6 / 10 “On a purely aesthetic level, the Peugeot e-3008 ticks every box. It looks stunning, and genuinely stands out in a market that tend to all look very same-y. But aside from this, it doesn’t represent a significant leap in Peugeot’s electric journey. It’s a bit disappointing that the e-3008 is off the mark when it comes to the way it drives and its rear-seat space, and doesn’t even have attractive pricing on its side. There are better electric SUVs on the market.” Author: Ted Welford Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The Peugeot E-3008 is a good car, but it’s expensive and doesn’t move the game on enough.” Author: Charlie Harvey, Alex Ingram Read review
Driving Electric
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “Peugeot’s latest electric SUV boasts a strikingly futuristic interior and promises class-leading range, but many rivals offer better value-for-money.” Author: Shane Wilkinson Read review
Electrifying.com
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “What the Peugeot E-3008 lacks dynamically, it makes up for in being hushed and quiet to drive – characteristics that will be appreciated more by families, no doubt. It’s a smartly designed electric SUV that feels very plush and upmarket inside, it’s just a shame that it’s slightly dull to drive and isn’t a cheap proposition.” Author: James Batchelor Read review
Green Car Guide
Model reviewed: 73kWh 210hp Allure Score: 9 / 10 “The new Peugeot E-3008 gains a fastback crossover body style rather than the SUV shape of the previous model, along with striking looks and a long electric range.” Author: Paul Clarke Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “The outgoing Peugeot 3008 is a hard act to follow, so the brand’s taken a slightly different approach with its replacement. It’s now an electric SUV, with a coupe-like “fastback” design and an upmarket interior. It has a long range, too, but that comes with a premium price tag that pitches it against some fierce competition.” Author: Andrew Brady Read review
Honest John
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 6 / 10 “Looking for a stylish electric SUV that can travel a long way between charges? The Peugeot e-3008 could be the car for you. However, it’s expensive and we think families will miss the practicality of the old model.” Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 5.8 / 10 “Striking SUV offers more style than substance” Author: Alan Taylor-Jones Read review
Regit
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “The Peugeot e-3008 has striking, personality-laden looks, a nice interior, a respectable range, and a reasonably impressive charging speed.” Author: Tim Barnes-Clay Read review
The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: GT Score: 7 / 10 “Good, but we were hoping for better.” Author: Matt Robinson Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: Standard Range GT Score: 6 / 10 “The third generation Peugeot E-3008 is pleasant enough to drive, but the use of the same platform that underpins the larger 5008 means that it’s heavy. While fleet buyers and those who run their cars through the books will find the tax advantages of the electric battery well-nigh irresistible, private buyers might be tempted to save a lot of money and opt for the much cheaper hybrid version. I, for one, wouldn’t blame them.” Author: Andrew English Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “The Peugeot e-3008 isn’t a revolution, but the design and interior have both improved over the old petrol car. Pity it’s not more spacious.” Read review
Which EV?
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7.1 / 10 “The Peugeot e-3008 is a big step forward in capabilities and quality for Stellantis EVs, with a much more respectable range than previous models, very practical space for passengers and cargo, and improved infotainment.” Author: James Morris Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
No safety rating
As of September 2025, the Peugeot e-3008 has not been tested by Euro NCAP.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of September 2025, the Peugeot e-3008 has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.
The Green NCAP programme measures exhaust pollution (which is zero for an electric car) and energy efficiency. Electric cars are much more energy-efficient than combustion cars, so the E-3008 is likely to score very highly in Green NCAP testing whenever it ever 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
326 miles
A
Electrical efficiency
Average
Score
Variation
Score
EV models
4.4 m/KWh
B
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
33
D
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£222
C
Year 2
£501
B
Year 3
£815
B
Year 4
£981
B
Year 5
£1,314
B
Overall
£3,833
B
The Peugeot E-3008 is a very affordable car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
Electrical efficiency (the EV equivalent of miles per gallon for a petrol or diesel car) is good, which helps to give the e-3008 a strong battery range. Servicing costs should also be very competitive, while insurance is about average for the new car market.
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 Peugeot E-3008 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 E-3008, we’ll publish the results here.
Warranty rating
New car warranty information for the Peugeot E-3008
Overall rating
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
Peugeot’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 3-5008 has an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty for the battery components.
Warranty on a used Peugeot E-3008
The Peugeot E-3008 arrived in the UK in the middle of 2024. That means the first cars won’t be out of new car warranty until the middle of 2027 (unless they hit the 60,000-mile limit before then).
If you’re looking to buy a used car that is approaching the end of its warranty period, a used car warranty is usually a worthwhile investment. Check out The Car Expert’s guide to the best used car warranty providers, which will probably be cheaper than a warranty sold by a dealer.
As of September 2025, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the Peugeot E-3008. 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 Peugeot dealer.
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Subscribe to a Peugeot E-3008
Subscriptions are becoming a very popular way for consumers to try an electric car for a few weeks or months to help decide whether it’s a suitable alternative to a petrol car. If you’re interested in a car subscription, The Car Expert’s partners can help. (PS: What’s a car subscription?)
Make and model: MG ZS Description: Small SUV/crossover Price range: from £21,995
MG says: “At the heart of the new MG ZS is an advanced hybrid powertrain. Unique to MG, Hybrid+ lifts performance, smoothness and usability while delivering excellent economy and low emissions.”
We say: The latest ZS generation benefits from updates throughout and a new hybrid system to offer an extremely good value for money SUV.
The MG ZS launched in the UK in 2017 and is now in its second generation. In 2019, MG unveiled an all-electric version of the ZS which is also heading into its second generation soon. Since its launch, more than 100,000 ZS models have been sold in the UK.
While the MG name might be familiar, the brand is now owned by the Chinese carmaker, SAIC Motor. Its models are built in China which gives the company a competitive pricing advantage over European-made models. MG’s range features a mix of hybrid, electric and petrol vehicles for the UK market with almost all its cars starting from under £35,000.
What is the MG ZS?
The MG ZS is an SUV that sits just under the MG HS, which is the largest SUV MG currently offers. The ZS version we’re looking at here is the Hybrid+ model which features a basic hybrid system (it can’t be plugged in). In mid-2025, the ZS is expected to be available with a petrol engine minus the hybrid system.
Competitors for the ZS include the Dacia Duster, Jeep Renegade, Nissan Juke and Renault Captur. Given its low price point, it can also be compared to used cars such as the Ford EcoSport, Honda HR-V and the Volkswagen T-Cross.
First impressions
The ZS has been completely redesigned, which is most obvious with its new front end to modernise the overall look. The MG badge has made its way onto the bodywork now instead of being mounted on the grille like the previous generation. The rear end has also been tweaked, resulting in a flatter surface which makes the rear window more upright. Elsewhere, much of the exterior design remains consistent with the previous generation, retaining the size and shape of the vehicle.
The interior also had a makeover with a new touchscreen, centre console and gearstick. This generation receives a digital dashboard display and despite the low price point, it feels well equipped inside. There’s no plug-in hybrid option in the ZS range but if you’re ready to go electric, an all-electric version will be updated for this generation soon.
We like: Digital dash display and new touchscreen We don’t like: No plug-in hybrid option
What do you get for your money?
SE and Trophy trim levels are the two choices available for the ZS Hybrid+.
SE starts from £22K and includes a 12-inch central touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a seven-inch digital driver’s display, phone connectivity, and rear camera with parking sensors. MG Pilot is also included, which covers MG’s safety features such as active emergency braking, lane-keep assist with lane departure warning, intelligent speed limit assist and adaptive cruise control.
At £24.5K, Trophy trim adds a 360-degree camera, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, black leather style upholstery and rear privacy glass.
All versions of the ZS Hybrid+ come with a seven-year/80,000-mile warranty.
We like: Simple affordable trim range We don’t like: Colours other than white cost extra
What’s the MG ZS like inside?
The interior has been updated for this generation with a 12-inch touchscreen mounted in the dash. There’s a column of shortcut buttons along the right side of the screen but if you’re a shorter driver and have to sit closer to the dash, when your hand is on the steering wheel it might block your view of these shortcuts.
Below the screen, there’s a row of real buttons including an on/off climate button and shortcuts to clear the front and rear screens. Apart from these functions, the main climate controls are housed within the touchscreen. There are three USB ports in the front, two for phones or handheld devices and one in the rearview mirror for dashcams, the rear passengers also get a USB charging port.
In the back, there’s plenty of legroom and the floor is nearly flat. Unlike competitors, there’s no central armrest in the middle seat back. The central seat is slightly higher than the outer seats but headroom in all three positions is good. With the seats folded down the boot floor slopes upwards. The boot is a good size and comes with a height-adjustable floor.
We like: Lots of head and legroom in the back seats We don’t like: Climate controls housed in the touchscreen
What’s under the bonnet?
The hybrid powertrain uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine, 2kWh battery and a 135hp electric motor. The system combines to produce 195hp and 465Nm of torque with fuel economy rated at 55mpg. Driving modes include eco, normal and sport to alter the driving experience to suit the scenario.
Depending on the requirements of the vehicle, the hybrid system can operate in a number of different ways. The car can run on electric power from the battery, but since the ZS does not feature a plug-in hybrid option, this range is limited. Series mode sees the vehicle driven by the electric motor while the engine powers the generator to create electricity. This function can combine with charging to replenish the battery on the go. Drive and charge mode uses the engine to drive the wheels and charges the battery, while running in parallel means the engine and electric motor both drive the wheels.
For an SUV the ZS has a fairly low towing capacity at just 500kg for braked and unbraked trailers on both trim levels.
What’s the MG ZS like to drive?
It’s easy to get acquainted with the size of the MG ZS and place it on the road with no issues. The hybrid system makes it feel reasonably quick when you need the power to pull away quickly. Under harder acceleration, the engine can be a bit noisy. The cabin is not as well insulated as rivals like the Dacia Duster so there’s a constant soundtrack of road noise and increasing wind noise as the speed increases.
The ZS has three levels of regenerative braking to slow the car and direct some juice back into the battery. In its highest setting, the regenerative braking creates a one-pedal driving effect, which is useful in traffic or driving around town.
Other SUVs in this category offer softer suspension that can even out potholes more deftly than the ZS. Over particularly uneven patches of road, it can make the ride a bit bumpy instead of absorbing the effect of the surface. At higher speeds, the effect of this lessens and the ride feels a bit smoother.
We like: Regenerative braking control for one-pedal driving We don’t like: Noticeable road noise
Verdict
MG has done an impressive job of creating a highly functional and spacious SUV from £22K. For most buyers, it will be worth forking out the extra money to go for the top specification Trophy trim to benefit from features like the 360-degree camera and heated seats. The ZS is competitively priced given the space and seven-year warranty on offer.
The hybrid system makes the model economical and helps to make the car feel reasonably quick. The ride and road noise mean it’s less refined than rivals so we always recommend going for a test drive to see if these are factors you’d be happy to live with. The MG ZS is designed to offer great value for money, and its interior upgrades and new exterior styling make it a much more attractive proposition compared to the previous generation.
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the MG ZS, you might also be interested in these alternatives
The name Renault Scenic will spark memories for some – before everyone had their heads turned by SUVs, they bought MPVs – otherwise known as people carriers – and the Scenic was one of the more successful, surviving until 2019.
Now the Scenic is back, but the only thing you might recognise is the name. The new model is a family-sized electric vehicle (EV) and, on first evidence, it’s a pretty effective one.
What is it?
Actually, the new Scenic does have another connection with its MPV predecessor. That car was a people-carrier built on the underpinnings of the Megane family hatch, and this new one uses the same EV platform as the current Megane E-Tech. Effectively it ticks the boxes that those who were attracted to the Megane weren’t able to tick, such as enough space in the rear seats and a more versatile range between battery charges.
Officially the new Scenic is a crossover – that strange class of vehicles which are designed to be more prominent than conventional cars but not quite as bulbous or boxy as the average SUV. But in terms of visuals it sits far closer to ‘normal’ cars than SUVs.
There are three trim levels and two drivetrain options for the Scenic, both based around a single motor driving the front wheels. The combination of 170hp motor and 60kWh battery, known as Comfort Range, is only available in the base Techno trim. The ‘Long Range’, joining a 220hp motor to a 87kWh battery, is on offer in all three trim levels.
Who is this car aimed at?
The Scenic will likely be on the shopping list of any family seeking an EV, especially those with older children who will appreciate the space in the rear. The range of the more powerful version will also appeal to those doing significant mileage and Renault expects the Scenic to make a splash in the company car market – almost 60% of customers are predicted to be fleet buyers.
The sustainability of the car is also being heavily promoted – Renault tells us that up to 24% of the materials used in the new Scenic are finding a second employment and 90% of its mass, including the battery, will be recyclable. You won’t find any leather in the car and even the clever sunroof – more on which shortly – can be partially recycled.
Who won’t like it?
The Scenic does most of what it is designed to do but without really making a distinctive statement. If you are looking for as much excitement in your drive as efficiency you won’t find it here, but then again if an exciting drive is a priority you should be looking elsewhere anyway.
First impressions
On initial viewing, the Scenic strikes a confident pose. Crossovers are often close to SUVs in their proportions but this one really does look more like a large family car. The exterior profile does not immediately suggest the commodious surroundings within.
Sharp creases do a good job of breaking up the exterior surfaces, and the front-end treatment is a highlight. So many EV designers struggle to get right the bit where traditional cars have their grilles, many simply settling for bluff lumps of panel, but the Scenic offers a natty ‘faux grille’ design which looks rather attractive.
What do you get for your money?
One generally pleasing recent development in the automotive retail industry is the general demise of extensive options lists, though on the flipside this has probably contributed to cars being generally more expensive to buy. Certainly the Scenic follows the trend – what you get depends on which trim you choose and effectively the only option is metallic paint.
There are three trim levels, dubbed Techno, Esprit Alpine and Iconic. The entry-level Techno is very well specified, with yet another growing trend evident – what were once considered expensively desirable extras are now standard equipment. Notable examples in this case include wireless smartphone charging, an electric tailgate, heated seats and steering wheel and automatic just about everything.
So is it worth paying £2,500 more for an Esprit Alpine or a further £2,000 on top of that for the Iconic? The former is mostly about styling – bigger 20-inch alloy wheels and lots of blue detailing.
The Iconic, meanwhile, chucks in some notable extras, a more upmarket nine-speaker audio system, a massage function on the driver’s seat, 360-degree view camera, hands-free parking and the innovative ‘Solarbay’ panoramic sunroof. This is divided into sections and one can choose how many sections to have opaque or clear at a time. There are four settings and rear-seat passengers can have their section different to the driver’s.
What’s the Renault Scenic like inside?
Slip into the Scenic and the immediate impression is of light and airy surroundings, especially with the Solarbay sunroof fitted to the cars on the launch event. The car scores on its space – headroom is adequate even for the tallest occupants, while rear-seat passengers will feel the benefit of a wheelbase stretched by 10cm over the Megane.
Three adults will fit comfortably in the back, but if you only seat two they can make use of a clever central armrest that folds down to reveal individual cupholders, USB-C sockets and tablet/phone holders that can be swivelled for joint or individual visual entertainment.
The boot offers 545 litres, which is comparable with rivals, and folding the rear seats down boosts this to 1,670 litres. That fold-down central armrest also includes a hidden trap door, traditionally known as a ski-hatch but more likely to be used for carrying long lengths of wood or items from the garden centre.
Up front, two 12-inch digital displays dominate the scene. The central vertical one forms the infotainment screen and its multimedia system is matched to Google products – some 50 Google apps are available and some, such as Google Maps, can be cast onto the driver’s display.
Now, about this display… Renault tells us that instead of traditional dial shapes, we have ‘speed lines’. At 28 degrees, they match the angle of the Renault logo and divide the screen vertically into three. It’s just that the left line cuts directly into the bottom right corner of the large digital speed readout – it’s not enough to make it hard to read, just slightly visually jarring…
What’s the Renault Scenic like to drive?
The cars at the launch event were all to the top Iconic specification with the more powerful motor and battery combination. On getting comfortable in the driver’s seat, vision all around is reasonable, except to the rear where the view is a bit letterbox-like.
As ever in an EV, setting off is a very unflustered process. At slow speeds, the car emits a low tone to alert pedestrians to its otherwise silent presence – this tone, along with the ‘welcome sounds’ one gets on entering the car, was apparently created by electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre, though sadly it’s a lot less earworm-inducing than ‘Oxygene’…
The car accelerates smoothly, another EV trait, with the lower-power version cresting 62mph in 8.6 seconds, the more potent variant shaving this to just under eight seconds. Remarkably, some have criticised this as a bit pedestrian – not so long ago, with a petrol-engined car it would have been considered fairly swift.
At speed, the Scenic rides well and the suspension does a good job of smothering bumps and potholes. There are four driving modes available and the standard Comfort one is adequate, if a little soft and bouncy when pushed on. Choosing Sport suitably firms things up, but you won’t get much excitement out of driving this car – which is no real surprise for a family SUV.
Four levels of battery regeneration are available to help stretch the potential range, which are selected by paddles behind the steering wheel. Once familiar with these, it’s easy to drive the Scenic as a one-pedal car.
How safe is the Renault Scenic?
Here the Scenic ticks all the boxes – as is the norm these days the safety package extends to a host of autonomous driving aids, and as is also increasingly a norm, all of them come fitted to every model, even the cheapest.
The Scenic was tested by Euro NCAP in May 2024 and scored a top five-star rating. Depending on spec, it offers up to 30 driving assistance functions including lane departure warning, cross-traffic alerts and the like, plus a couple of new ones.
Active Driver Assist combines adaptive cruise control, Stop & Go and lane-centring functions depending on speed. At low speeds, such as in a traffic jam, the lane centring system can be adjusted by the driver to keep the vehicle to one side of the road to make room for emergency vehicles.
The Adaptive Cruise Control is clever too, apparently ‘Intelligent Contextual’. It works with a map and can adapt to the road ahead, planning for upcoming roundabouts, turns and speed limit changes.
Renault Scenic economy, battery range and charging
One of the other complaints levelled at the smaller Megane has been a fairly unimpressive battery range, so the Scenic addresses this with its two drivetrain choices.
The ‘comfort range’ setup offers an official UK/EU government lab test range of 260 miles between charges, and in the ‘long range’ variant you get a maximum of 379 miles.
A heat pump is standard, helping to recover energy and maximise range, especially in winter temperatures. It works with the journey planner to automatically pre-condition the battery as the car nears a scheduled charging stop, ensuring it is at the optimal temperature on arrival and helping to cut charge times.
Both drivetrains will charge on 22kW AC units and the 60kW battery on a 130kW DC charger. If you can find one, the 87kWh battery can be plugged into a 150kW DC charger, which means a 30-minute replenish will give you more than 200 miles further at the wheel.
With a 7kW charger (like a home wallbox), a full charge takes just under 13 hours with the larger battery and a bit over nine hours with the larger one.
Verdict
The latest Renault Scenic is a thoroughly capable family EV with a competitive range and a stylish, quality build. It’s not the most exciting vehicle to drive in the market but few potential buyers in this sector will be prioritising performance.
One is left wondering why they chose to re-use the Scenic name, however. Anyone who recalls previous versions of what was a highly popular people carrier will find nothing in this car that they recognise.
Model tested: Renault Scenic E-Tech Iconic long-range 220hp Price (as tested): £45,495 (range starts £37,495) Motor: Single electric motor Gearbox: Single-speed auto
Electric range: 369 miles (WLTP combined) CO2 emissions: 0g/km Euro NCAP safety rating: Five stars (May 2024) TCE Expert rating: A, 84% (November 2024)
Buy a Renault Scenic E-Tech
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Trying to pick the best new car of the year causes endless arguments among motoring journalists – every single year. Every automotive title has its own ideas about how such a title should be awarded, based on their own criteria.
Every car reviewer is a human being with their own ideas and their own preferences. Every car review is one person’s (or one group of people’s) opinion of how good or bad a car is. If you’re only relying on one source, you’re not getting the full picture.
Our approach at The Car Expert is simple. Using the power of our exclusive Expert Rating Index, we’ve tracked new car reviews from 35 of the UK’s leading motoring websites over the last 12 months and compiled all of the scores awarded to each new model. All of those scores are fed into our sophisticated algorithm that accounts for the various different scoring system that the different websites and magazines use. And we’ll use that data to produce our awards for the very best new cars you can buy.
Unlike our full Expert Ratings, which include safety data from Euro NCAP, running cost data from Clear Vehicle Data, and reliability data from MotorEasy, we only use the media review scores for the awards. This is because we often don’t get a full suite of other data for brand-new cars for months (or even years) after they’re launched.
We’ve tweaked the award categories for this year to reflect the changing new car market. The old industry definitions of ‘car’ and ‘SUV’ are no longer really relevant, so we’ve had a rethink.
We still differentiate between ‘best small car’ and ‘best small crossover’, as there is a clear distinction between small hatchbacks and taller SUV-style vehicles. But for medium and large vehicles, the lines have become so blurred that it is better to group all different car types together. Instead, we’ve added ‘premium’ categories for small and large cars, as it tends to better reflect how buyers look for cars.
We’ll reveal the winners, including our overall Car of the Year 2025, at 10am on Tuesday 3 December.
Award categories
With our revised award categories, there are 12 awards on offer this year.
Best Small Car 2025
Best Small Crossover 2025
Best Medium Car 2025
Best Premium Medium Car 2025
Best Large Car 2025
Best Premium Large Car 2025
Best Coupé 2025
Best Convertible 2025
Best Performance Car 2025
Best Luxury Sports Car 2025
Best Estate 2025
And, of course, Car of the Year 2025
Best new cars and class champions
The new models certainly grab all of the attention from the motoring media, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re better than what’s already available.
In each of our award categories, we recognise not just the best model launched in the last 12 months but also the top-ranked cars overall. In some cases, a new model has jumped straight to the top of the pile while, in others, an existing car is still top dog.
To help our readers appreciate the relative quality of the best newcomers, we have Best New Models and Class Champions for each category. And, recognising the rapid growth of electric cars against the steady decline of petrol and diesel versions, we have separate class champion recognition for the very best electric and internal combustion cars.
Eligibility
A new model is a car that has been launched and comprehensively reviewed by the UK motoring media over the last 12 months. Most will already be on local roads by now, although some models may not yet be available in showrooms just yet. UK pricing and specifications for all contenders will have been set, however.
Last year, we removed the requirement for our winners to have a current, valid Euro NCAP safety rating of at least four stars because there simply hadn’t been enough new cars rated by Euro NCAP during the year. That’s the same this year, so again we’ve had to waive the Euro NCAP safety requirements.
The class of 2024
Here, in alphabetical order, are all the cars eligible for The Car Expert Awards 2025. Some were launched late in 2023, so they missed the cut-off date for last year’s awards. Overall, we have about 30% more new cars for this year’s awards than last year, as it’s been a bumper year for new model launches.
*Cars with an asterisk are EVs, while the rest are petrol and/or diesel and/or hybrid
Nearly every new car on sale in the UK can be optioned with larger alloy wheels than the standard size, for an additional cost. Mostly it’s a cosmetic choice, but larger wheels can also alter how a car drives.
Whether you’re running through the options list when ordering a new car or buying a set of aftermarket wheels, increasing a car’s alloy wheel size has both positives and negatives. Here’s what you need to know.
What exactly is an alloy wheel?
An ‘alloy’ refers to the chemical composition of a metal. An ‘alloy wheel’ is usually a composite of aluminium or magnesium with other metallic elements, as opposed to a traditional steel wheel (ironically, steel is also an alloy but we’ll ignore that here).
Most ‘alloy wheels’ today are primarily made of aluminium mixed with other metals, which makes them both lighter and stronger than steel wheels. This, in turn, can improve handling and fuel consumption. A lighter wheel will change direction more easily when turning, so the steering feels sharper and more responsive.
The reduced weight helps a car to use a bit less fuel, while also making the job of the car’s suspension much easier as there’s less weight bouncing around at each corner of the car.
Alloy wheels have almost universally replaced steel wheels on new cars today. Only some budget models still run steel wheels, often with a plastic cover over the bare wheel. Since alloy wheels are much stronger, they can be styled with any number of spokes for cosmetic reasons, and polished or painted rather than hidden under a cover.
Alloy wheels are often larger
Alloy wheels are inherently lighter than steel wheels, so you can make the wheels larger without increasing weight too much. Car manufacturers usually offer different wheel sizes and styles (usually at extra cost) to give customers more personalisation choices when choosing the specs for their new car.
For example, the entry-level BMW 3 Series saloon is currently equipped in the UK with 17-inch alloy wheels as standard. But you can also choose from two different 18-inch designs or a lightweight 19-inch option.
Alloy wheel size is measured in inches and refers to the wheel’s diameter. If you’re buying aftermarket alloy wheels, you can also specify different wheel widths, which allows the fitting of wider tyres.
Are bigger wheels better?
This depends on your driving preferences. Generally speaking, you can’t alter the overall height of the combined wheel and tyre package on a car, because they still need to fit inside the car’s wheel arches and because the rolling height of the combined wheel and tyre is used by the car to calculate speed and distance.
So if you want larger-diameter wheels, you need different tyres to maintain the same overall height. The image below illustrates what this looks like – a larger wheel requires a tyre with a thinner sidewall (usually called low-profile tyres).
The combination of a larger wheel and a thinner sidewall on the tyre affects how a car rides and handles. The tyre sidewall acts like a shock absorber for every bump, pothole or speed hump the car hits, a bit like the sole of your shoes. If you reduce the height of the sidewall, you reduce the amount of absorption that the tyre can provide – like wearing thinner-soles shoes compared to thicker-soled shoes.
Conversely, a wheel made from alloy is very strong and rigid, with less flex than a steel wheel, so the effect of a larger wheel and reduced tyre sidewall means you feel a lot more bumping coming through to the cabin.
A smaller alloy wheel has taller tyre sidewalls (high-profile tyres), which better absorb the blows of potholes and other road imperfections, delivering a more comfortable ride.
When it comes to handling, however, larger alloy wheels with low-profile tyres generally offer better cornering grip. With a larger and stiffer wheel, combined with a thinner sidewall, the rubber tyre has less flex to move around so it stays in contact with the road better. That means the car can grip the tarmac better at higher speeds, which makes it feel more stable through corners.
In addition to simple wheel diameter and width, there are various other measurements that any replacement wheels need to match. For example, the spacing of the wheel nuts varies from car to car, while there’s also something called offset, which determines how much of the wheel sticks out from the car. That means you can’t just throw any set of wheels on any car – they have to meet a number of very specific measurements.
Tyres also have a complicated set of measurements that have to all be correct to be fitted to a specific car. We have a separate feature on those numbers to help you understand those.
Do larger alloy wheels improve performance?
The size of a wheel is only one factor in improving a car’s handling or ride characteristics. There’s also the material composition of the wheel (certain alloy compositions offer more strength but potentially also more weight), the style of the wheel (thin spokes weigh less but lack rigidity compared to thicker spokes or more spokes).
It’s worth bearing in mind that larger wheels can also be more prone to cracking from impacts on potholes, kerbs or speed bumps. Because there is less impact absorption from the tyre, more shock is transmitted through to the wheel which makes it more likely to crack.
For more advice on tyre types and fitting aftermarket alloy wheels, as well as some great deals, visit our partners below.
Learn about tyre types and browse a wide array of tyre brands with Tyre Shopper. Find out more
Find a great deal for your next set of alloy wheels and tyres with Tyres.Net. Find out more
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First unveiled at the Paris motor show earlier this year, the BYD Sealion 7 coupé-SUV will become available to order in the UK before the end of this year.
The Sealion 7 will bolster BYD’s UK range as its largest offering, and now joins a whole host of brand-new electric coupé-SUVs – including the Cupra Tavascan, Ford Capri, Audi Q6 e-tron Sportback and the new Peugeot E-3008 – vying to challenge the sales of established best-sellers like the Tesla Model Y.
The family car will be available with the choice of three powertrains. The first will be the ‘Comfort’, which pairs a 308hp electric motor with an 83kWh battery pack, providing a reported battery range of 298 miles and a 0-62mph sprint time of 6.7 seconds.
The mid-range choice will be the ‘Design AWD’ – an all-wheel drive model with an additional electric motor that increases power output to 522hp and drops the car’s 0-62mph sprint time to 4.5 seconds. The faster pace is at the expense of battery range, which is a slightly reduced 282 miles.
The range-topper will be the ‘Excellence AWD’ variant, which makes use of a larger 91kWh battery. It’s just as quick as the ‘Design AWD’ but can reportedly travel up to 311 miles on a single charge.
A new ‘Intelligent Torque Adaption Control’ system has also been developed for the SUV. BYD says this will be available with the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive models and will distribute torque between the front and back wheels to minimise skidding and improve safety. The Chinese manufacturer adds that the suspension is “tailored for excellent handling” and “secure vehicle control”.
Inside, the Sealion 7 has a similar interior layout to that of BYD’s Seal U SUV, with a larger 15-inch infotainment screen floating above the nautically-themed dashboard, alongside a ten-inch digital instrument cluster behind the newly-designed steering wheel.
That just about sums up the new Sealion 7. More details, including UK pricing and further specification details, will arrive in the next few weeks in the lead up to the car’s UK arrival.
Renault spin-off brand Mobilize has announced that its urban-friendly electric Duo and Bento quadricycles will become available to order in the UK in Spring 2025.
These aren’t cars to be exact – quadricycles (the same designation given to a quad bike), have to conform to far fewer safety regulations than most other four-wheeled vehicles. That said, these Mobilize models will be the only quadricycles that come with airbags in the UK – a basic safety feature not included with rivals like the Citroën Ami.
The Duo is a two-seater with a top speed of 50mph and a reported range of 100 miles on a single charge, while the Bento is a commercial version ideal for inner-city deliveries, with an added 649-litre cargo box and a reduced battery range of 87 miles.
Mobilize says both models are designed to be “eco-responsible”, 40% of the build components are made from recycled materials and “at least” 95% of the quadricycles are recyclable. The Duo and Bento use five times fewer parts than a conventional car and have interchangeable side skirts that can be replaced.
Both models have gull-wing doors that open upwards for easy entry and exit, and make use of a 48V electric motor also found in the Renault Austral SUV that the manufacturer says “delivers strong acceleration for urban environments.”
Pricing is yet to be confirmed for the new quadricycle range, but Mobilize has released some ‘expected’ pricing, with the prices starting at a few hundred over £9k.
Mazda has given its large CX-60 SUV a minor facelift, which includes some interior changes and a suspension upgrade.
Coming three years after the model’s initial UK arrival, this small refresh will become available to order next Summer. Interior changes are limited to the ‘Homura’ trim, these changes bringing the mid-range trim closer to the spec of the equivalent ‘Homura’ trim in the bigger CX-80 SUV range.
This isn’t an interior overhaul – Mazda calls them “small refinements”. The 2025 ‘Homura’ includes new black Nappa leather seat upholstery, a revised dashboard, black lining for the roof and pillars and a metal-like finish for some cabin panels.
The entire CX-60 range will receive a suspension upgrade, with Mazda’s engineers making the rear springs slightly softer and making the car’s shock absorbers slightly firmer to “improve overall handling and comfort balance.”
That sums up this minor facelift. UK pricing is yet to be confirmed, and will be announced closer to the refreshed CX-60’s arrival next year.
As of November 2024, the Mazda CX-60 currently holds a New CarExpert Rating of A with a score of 71%. The SUV has been praised by the UK media for its high-quality interior and extensive standard equipment list, but criticised for its rather noisy engine options.
The Ferrari 12Cilindri (“DOE-dee-chee chil-IN-dree”) is a large, V12-powered grand tourer and the latest in a long line of such vehicles from Ferrari. It was unveiled in summer 2024, with the first vehicles arriving in the UK later in the year.
The 12Cilindri is available as either a coupé or open-top Spider. It replaces the Ferrari 812 series in the company’s line-up, with styling that evokes the famous Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona model from the 1960s and 1970s.
Initial reviews for the 12Cilindri coupé have been overwhelmingly positive, with almost unanimous consensus that Ferrari has raised the bar over the already-excellent 812 Superfast. Jason Barlow of Top Gear summed it up as “hugely charismatic, beautifully made, and a design and tech leader”.
The inevitable downsides are price (starts at £336K, and there are plenty of very expensive options) and limited availability, neither of which are unusual in a new Ferrari model.
As of March 2026, the Ferrari 12Cilindri holds a New Car Expert Rating of D, with a score of 58%. It has scored top marks from motoring journalists for its outstanding driving dynamics, while it also gets good grades for Ferrari’s new car warranty. But its rating is inevitably dragged down by high ownership costs and poor CO2 emissions – which are unlikely to bother any potential customers.
Body style: Two-seat, front-engined coupé and roadster Engines:petrol Price:From £336,500 on-road
Launched: Summer 2024 Last updated: N/A Next update due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Featured reviews
“The 12 Cilindri is an intriguing car with a unique personality; quite unlike any other current Ferrari, or any other GT car or front-engined supercar, in fact. It wears its name well.”
Model reviewed: Spider Score: 9 / 10 “The new Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider combines sensational performance and superb handling.” Author: Alex Ingram Read review
Car
Model reviewed: 12Cilindri Spider Score: 10 / 10 “The 12Cilindri Spider is a car you drive hard with a steely look and clenched teeth – not qualities you’d usually identify when driving the greatest grand tourers. What it will do, though is make your eyes pop out of your sockets, and your jaw hit the floor. Frame it as an all-rounder supercar with one of the greatest engine configurations in the world right now, and it makes much more sense.” Author: Jake Groves Read review
Score: 10 / 10 “The very act of hauling the naturally aspirated V12 back for another generation of Ferrari’s flagship GT is reason enough to celebrate. The Ferrari 12Cilindri is every bit as good as you’d hope it would be and more. That Maranello has been able to augment the experience over the 812 Superfast with improved usability, a better cabin and greater handling should be seen as a magical bonus.” Author: James Dennison Read review
Daily Mail
Model reviewed: Spider “The Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider is an engaging delight to drive – whether flying up twisty alpine roads like a mountain goat or enjoying a loud burst of instant acceleration along the ocean front and motorways. With the top in place, it’s as snug inside as the coupe – and from the outside the pair are hard to tell apart. So given the choice, for me the Spider wins. By a hair’s breadth.” Author: Ray Massey Read review
“From the second you spy its gorgeous looks from afar to the moment you experience its scintillating on-road performance, one thing is clear about the superb new Ferrari 12Cilindri grand tourer – it’s a cruiser not a bruiser.” Author: Ray Massey Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: Spider Score: 8 / 10 “This convertible offers the best of both worlds and beats the coupé, though its space-age roof is rather strange.” Author: Andrew English Read review
Model reviewed: Coupe Score: 8 / 10 “The Ferrari 12Cilindri Berlinetta is about the experience rather than the ultimate, the journey rather than the getting there. In the past, this has been an excuse for poor engineering and wacky design, but with the 12Cilindri I reckon Ferrari has just about hit the right note. And if this really is the last one, perhaps we should celebrate it.” Author: Andrew English Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 9 / 10 “The 12Cilindri feels like a summation of everything Ferrari does so well in 2024 with a few unexpected twists.”
Author: Jason Barlow Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
No safety rating
As of March 2026, the Ferrari 12Cilindri has not been tested by Euro NCAP. Don’t hold your breath waiting – Euro NCAP has never put a Ferrari through its crash-testing protocol and is unlikely to start now.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of March 2026, the Ferrari 12Cilindri 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
18 mpg
E
CO₂ output
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Petrol models
353 g/km
E
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
50
F
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£1
A
Year 2
£1
A
Year 3
£1
A
Year 4
£1
A
Year 5
£1
A
Overall
£5
A
The Ferrari 12Cilindri is an unsurprisingly 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. Fuel economy, CO2 emissions and insurance premiums are all as expensive as you’re likely to find anywhere.
The good news is that scheduled servicing costs are exceptionally cheap, as all new Ferrari models come with a complimentary seven-year maintenance program, which covers the cost of scheduled maintenance and parts for the first seven years of the car’s life. We have listed these costs as £1 a year here because our system doesn’t currently recognise a zero figure for this category.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of March 2026, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Ferrari 12Cilindri 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 12Cilindri, we’ll publish the results here.
Warranty Rating
New car warranty information for the Ferrari 12Cilindri
Overall rating
C
55%
New car warranty duration
4 years
New car warranty mileage
Unlimited miles
Battery warranty duration
0 years
Battery warranty mileage
0 miles
Ferrari’s new car warranty is better than average, and comparable to other manufacturers operating in the same stratospheric levels of the new car market.
The duration is four years, with no limit on mileage – although, in reality, the mileage numbers are likely to be fairly irrelevant as most Ferraris cover far fewer miles per year than the average family car.
The 12Cilindri is a purely petrol-powered Ferrari, so it doesn’t get the enhanced new car warranty that plug-in hybrid models like the 296 and SF90 get.
Recalls
Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Ferrari 12Cilindri
As of March 2026, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the Ferrari 12Cilindri. 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 Ferrari dealer.
