The Car Expert

Fiat Tipo (2016 to 2024)

Stuart Masson

-

12 August 2022

Summary

The Fiat Tipo was a medium-sized family hatchback and estate sold in the UK from 2016 until production ended in early 2024. It was positioned as a straightforward, affordable alternative to more established family cars, with an emphasis on space and low purchase costs rather than driving appeal.

Throughout its life, the Fiat Tipo was consistently praised for keen pricing, generous equipment levels and a roomy cabin. It offered good value for money when new, particularly for buyers prioritising space and low running costs.

However, media reviews were generally poor. The Fiat Tipo was widely criticised for uninspiring handling, modest performance and interior materials that did not match leading rivals. Safety performance was a particular weakness, with a three-star Euro NCAP rating at a time when most competitors achieved five stars. That rating has now expired due to age.

Now available only on the used market, the Fiat Tipo presents a clear trade-off. Running costs are competitive and environmental performance is respectable, but its media reputation and safety record remain significant drawbacks.

The Fiat Tipo currently holds a Used Car Expert Rating of D, with a score of 59%. Strong running cost and eco scores are outweighed by very weak media reception, a poor safety score and limited original warranty cover.

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

Tipo highlights

Affordable purchase prices
Spacious interior for the class
Competitive running costs
Respectable fuel efficiency
Simple and easy to operate

Tipo lowlights

Very poor media review scores
Weak safety performance
Uninspiring driving experience
Interior materials below class standards
Original warranty cover was short

Key specifications

Body style: Five-door hatch and estate
Engines: petrol (with or without mild hybrid assistance)
Price when new: From £22,245 on-road

Launched: Spring 2016
Last updated: Spring 2022
End of production: Autumn 2023

Image gallery

Media reviews

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

Featured reviews

“If you need a car to ensure you get from A to B with little fuss, the Fiat Tipo could be a good option. But please ensure you pay an extra £500 for the safety pack…”

Score: 6.2 / 10

Read full review

Andrew Charman

“The spacious, relatively economical Fiat Tipo five-door hatchback marks the Italian brand’s return to the small family car market where it faces stiff competition from the likes of the SEAT Ibiza and Kia Ceed.”

Model reviewed: Hatchback range

Score: 4 / 10

Read full review

Carwow

More reviews

Auto Express

Model reviewed: (range review)
Score: 6 / 10
“The Fiat Tipo comes as a compact hatch or SW estate, and it’s easy to drive, offers decent space and is good value for money.”
Read review

Car

Model reviewed: 1.6-litre MultiJet 120 Lounge
Score: 6 / 10
“The Fiat Tipo pulls the same car-for-the-class-above trick that Dacia applies to its range – this is a Ford Focus for the price of a Fiesta – yet there’s no waft of ‘eau-de-cheapskate’ when you open the door.”
Read review

Carbuyer

Model reviewed: Hatchback range
Score: 7.2 / 10
“If you’re after a small family hatchback that’s strong on value, practicality and standard equipment, then the Fiat Tipo could well be for you.”
Read review

Model reviewed: Estate range
Score: 7.2 / 10
“The Fiat Tipo Station Wagon is a practical, spacious and generously equipped family estate car, let down by an uninspiring engine range and dull driving experience.”
Read review

Carwow

Model reviewed: Station Wagon estate range
Score: 5 / 10
“The Fiat Tipo Station Wagon is an affordable small estate car with a big boot and a decent amount of equipment but it doesn’t drive as well as more upmarket alternatives.”
Read review

Heycar

Model reviewed: Hatchback range
Score: 5 / 10
“They say that ‘you pays your money and you takes your choice’. The thing is, what if your priority is to pay as little money as possible, and you don’t give a flying Fiat about the quality of what that money gets you? Well, dear friends, that’s where the Tipo comes in.”
Read review

Model reviewed: Station Wagon range
Score: 6 / 10
“There are several things that the Fiat Tipo Station Wagon has going for it, namely its ability to carry passengers and luggage with relative ease, the good specification levels and the competitive pricing. It should be relatively cheap to run too, but it’s not great to drive, particularly comfortable or of high quality.”
Read review

Honest John

Model reviewed: Hatchback range
Score: 6 / 10
“The Fiat Tipo doesn’t stand out as a particularly remarkable family car, but it feels sturdily made, it’s practical and it is very competitively priced.”
Read review

Model reviewed: Estate range
Score: 6 / 10
“There’s nothing outstanding or exciting about the Fiat Tipo Station Wagon, but equally there’s not a lot wrong with it. There is one issue that stands out, though – the active safety tech comes in optional packs instead of as standard, and without it the car only gets a three-star safety rating.”
Read review

Parkers

Model reviewed: SW estate range
Score: 6 / 10
“Practical estate car majoring in value-for-money”
Read review

Model reviewed: Hatchback range
Score: 6.4 / 10
“The Fiat Tipo is a sensible, good-value family hatch”
Read review

The Sunday Times

Model reviewed: 1.6-litre diesel manual Lounge MultiJet 120
Score: 6 / 10
“Vaguely forgettable hatch but its thriftiness is appealing.”
Read review

The Telegraph

Model reviewed: Hatchback range
Score: 6 / 10
“The Fiat Tipo doesn’t excel in any particular area, and in a lot of ways it falls far behind the market leaders. But the flexibility of the pricing structure and a very low starting figure means that the Tipo could still prove tempting.”
Read review

Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range overview (hatchback and estate)
Score: 6 / 10
“Probably Fiat’s least interesting car, but that doesn’t mean it’s worth ignoring if you love a bargain.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 3 stars
Date tested: October 2016
Date expired: January 2023
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 82%
Child protection: 60%
Vulnerable road users: 62%
Safety assist: 25%

Notes on safety rating

The Fiat Tipo was originally tested by Euro NCAP back in 2016 and awarded a three-star rating. However, this rating expired in January 2023 and is no longer valid as the car no longer meets the standards required for such a rating. This is normal practice, as Euro NCAP reviews its ratings on most cars annually with most ratings expiring after about six or seven years.

However, if you are comparing a used Tipo to vehicles of similar age, whose ratings will have probably also expired, its safety rating score is still useful.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

The Fiat Tipo was not assessed by Green NCAP during its production life.

Running cost rating

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

Fuel consumption	Average	Score
Petrol models	41 mpg	C
Diesel models	57 mpg	B
Hybrid models	53 mpg	B

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	125 g/km	B
Diesel models	133 g/km	B
Hybrid models	119 g/km	B

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	11	A

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£131	A
Year 2	£406	A
Year 3	£655	A
Year 4	£858	A
Year 5	£1,180	A
Overall	£3,230	A

The Fiat Tipo 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.

Fuel economy scores range from good to poor, depending on your choice of engine. However, it’s fair to say that there are plenty of more economical alternatives available to choose from.

Other than that, everything else about owning and running a Fiat Tipo looks to be excellent – servicing and maintenance, insurance, and road tax (which is based on CO₂ emissions) scores are all outstanding.

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 Fiat Tipo to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Tipo, we’ll publish the score here.

Warranty rating

New car warranty information for the Fiat Tipo

Overall ratingE15%
New car warranty duration3 years
New car warranty mileage100,000 miles
Battery warranty duration0 years
Battery warranty mileage0 miles

Fiat’s new car warranty is below average, and off the pace of many other car brands. The duration is three years, with a limit of 100,000 miles, which means that most Tipos sold in the UK will now be out of warranty.

Warranty on a used Fiat Tipo

If you are buying an ‘Approved Used’ Fiat Tipo from an official Fiat dealership, you will get a minimum six-month warranty included.
If you are buying a used Fiat Tipo from an independent dealership, any warranty offered will vary and will probably be managed by a third-party warranty company.
If you are buying a used Fiat Tipo from a private seller, there are no warranty protections beyond any remaining portion of the original new car warranty.

If you’re looking to buy any used car that is approaching the end of its warranty period, a used car warranty is usually a worthwhile investment. Check out The Car Expert’s guide to the best used car warranty providers, which will probably be cheaper than a warranty sold by a dealer.

Recalls

Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Fiat Tipo

2024

2023

2021

2017

2016

Date: May 2024
Recall number: R/2024/182
Model types: All
Build dates: 04/2021 to 11/2023
Number of vehicles affected: 23
Defect: Affected vehicles may display incorrect tyre size information on the Certificate of Conformity (CoC).
Remedy: The CoC must be replaced.

Date: July 2023
Recall number: R/2023/168
Model types: All
Build dates: 03/2023 to 04/2023
Number of vehicles affected: 68
Defect: Affected vehicles may have been fitted with a faulty 48-volt battery. This may lead to a loss of the functionality of the battery. This may result in a risk of thermal runaway in the case of water infiltration.
Remedy: The repair is a check of the PBU valve code and replacement of the 48-volt battery if necessary.ill reintroduce the display of the speed unit when using Track Mode.

Date: April 2021
Recall number: R/2021/093
Model types: All
Build dates: 10/2020 to 03/2021
Number of vehicles affected: 620
Defect: Due to a fault in the airbag control module software the airbag system may fail to be active without this being indicated on the instrument panel.
Remedy: Carry out an update to the airbag control module and instrument panel software.

Date: June 2017
Recall number: R/2017/164
Model types: All
Build dates: 11/2016 to 04/2017
Number of vehicles affected: 11
Defect: The driver’s airbag was manufactured with an incorrectly manufactured airbag inflator initiator that may not ignite when a deployment voltage is provided to the initiator. As a result, vehicles may experience a ‘non-deployment’ of the driver airbag during a crash event warranting an airbag deployment, which could increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and replace the driver airbag unit (initiator included) with a quality-assured unit.

Date: December 2016
Recall number: R/2016/262
Model types: All
Build dates: 09/2015 to 11/2016
Number of vehicles affected: 25
Defect: Due to the non-conforming layout of the airbag wiring and missing cut-proof protection, the airbag wiring may interfere with the steering wheel wiring terminal. This can cause the abrasion of the wiring itself. This abrasion may cause a short-circuit and consequent inadvertent deployment of the steering wheel airbag.
Remedy: Recall all affected vehicles to inspect the airbag wiring and apply cut-proof padded tape.

As of September 2024 (our most recent data point), there have been five DVSA vehicle safety recalls on the Fiat Tipo to address different issues. However, recall information is updated regularly, so this may have changed.

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 Fiat 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 Tipo, you should insist that any outstanding recall work is completed before you take delivery of the vehicle.

Everything you need to know about UK vehicle recalls

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Buy a Fiat Tipo

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Pricing revealed for revamped Kia XCeed

Model update

Sean Rees

-

11 August 2022

0

Kia has announced the UK pricing and specifications for its facelifted XCeed crossover, with two engine options on offer and a revised trim line-up.

As The Car Expert reported last month, this minor model refresh consists of revised exterior styling, suspension improvements and changes to the range of trim grades available.

The update slims down the range of engine options too – the entry-level 1.0-litre petrol is no more, and diesel options have been scrapped as well. The only choices now available are a 160hp 1.5 litre petrol engine, and a 140hp 1.6-litre plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model. The former is only available as a six-speed manual, while the latter is fitted with a six-speed automatic gearbox.

Once you have chosen your engine, there are three trim levels on offer. The range starts with the lead-in ‘2’ trim, followed by the mid-range ‘3’ trim. The range-topping grade, which used to be called ‘4’, has been renamed ‘GT-Line S’.

Apart from this marketing revamp, the equipment list is nearly the same as before, apart from a few tweaks. The entry-level ‘2’ trim no longer has heated wing mirrors like the more expensive models, but does now come with an extra USB port in the back.

While collision avoidance safety technology used to be optional on entry-level models, this software is now included with the ‘2’ package as well.

Aside from their exterior design tweaks, the ‘3’ and sporty ‘GT-Line S’ spec sheets remain the same. Please note that the PHEV version is only available with the ‘3’ trim (there used to be a ‘4’ PHEV model before the update), and has a few features not included with the petrol-powered ‘3’ package, including smart cruise control.

Lane-keeping assistance used to come with ‘3’ PHEV models before the update, but that feature is currently missing from the facelift specifications list.

Key trim level features

Entry-level ‘2’ (from £22,995)

16-inch alloy wheels
LED headlights
Eight-inch infotainment screen
Seven-speaker audio system
Rear parking camera
USB ports in the front and back of the cabin
Collision avoidance tech that can recognise pedestrians and cyclists
Cruise control and a speed limiter
Leather-trimmed steering wheel and faux leather-trimmed gearshift
Black cloth upholstery

Mid-range ‘3’ (from £25,495)

All features included with the ‘2’ if they are not replaced
18-inch alloy wheels (unique 16-inch alloys on the PHEV)
Ten-inch infotainment screen
Privacy glass
Rain-sensing front wipers
Electrically folding, adjustable and heated door mirrors with integrated LED indicators
Black cloth and faux leather upholstery
Heated front seats
Dual-zone automatic air conditioning
Automatic defog system
Auto-dimming rear mirror
Smart key with engine start/stop button
Rear parking sensors
Smart cruise control (PHEV only)

Range-topping ‘GT-Line S’ (from £29,995)

All features included with the ‘2’ and ‘3’ if they are not replaced
GT-Line body kit
Panoramic sunroof
Black leather with suede seat upholstery
Memory driver’s seat with power height adjustment
Heated outer rear seats
Electronically-operated tailgate
Eight-speaker audio system
12-inch digital instrument cluster
Wireless smartphone charger
Front parking sensors
Blind-spot monitoring
Speed limit warning feature

Prices for the new range kick off at £23k, rising to £30k for the top-spec ‘GT-Line S’ before optional extras are considered, including roof racks, tow bars, interior lighting, mud guards and even a Kia-branded watch.

The XCeed ‘3’ PHEV variant is the most expensive option available – priced at over £32k. This is only £1k less than the brand-new and slightly larger Kia Niro PHEV.

As the most prevalent criticism of the XCeed has been that it has rather cramped rear seating, this minor facelift is not likely to significantly improve its current Expert Rating of 67% in coming months.

Things you need to declare to your insurance provider

Tom Johnston

-

11 August 2022

0

Things you need to declare to your insurance provider

When you first arrange insurance for your car you know what to expect. You’ll have to give personal details, along with information about your new car. It’s all straightforward stuff and completed quite quickly. So that’s it, is it?

Well not quite, because there are plenty of things that you need to keep in contact with your insurer about during and at the end of your policy year. During the course of a 12-month contract you take out with an insurance company, there could be any number of changes to your circumstances. And insurance companies like to know about these things – no matter how insignificant they might seem to you.

Moving house, modifying your car, allowing other people to get behind the wheel – these are all important notifications, and not keeping your insurer up to date with events could have a serious impact on your policy. That can result in you not getting the level of compensation you were expecting if anything was to go wrong.

Here is our list of things you should tell your insurer – and when. The cover provider will get all the initial information they need at the time the new policy begins, but these are factors you should share with your underwriter during the policy’s term or, in some cases, at the end when you come to renew.

Whatever happens, being completely transparent and upfront with your insurer is the best way forward. It means everyone knows what’s happening and it ensures you get the right level of cover, should you ever need it.

Notify your insurer as soon as possible about any of these:

1. You’ve been involved in an accident. No matter how big or small or whoever’s fault it was, let the insurer know. You might not even want to claim, but someone else could be planning to do so against you, and your insurer needs to be forewarned. Damage, or repairs to damage, could also affect your car’s value.

2. You sell your car. Hundreds of cars are sold every day and telling your insurer is easily forgotten because you have moved on to new wheels. But you need to sever insurance ties with the old car to avoid being liable for anything that could happen to it later.

3. You’re moving to a new house. This doesn’t appear important at first sight, but different postcodes attract different premiums depending on how much of a risk their area is considered to be, so it’s important to alert your insurer immediately when you move. You never know… your premium might go down. Additionally, the insurer also needs to be able to contact you, so the same goes if you alter your email address or phone number.

4. You change where you park the car at night. Insurers always ask where the car will be left overnight: in a garage, on a driveway or out on the street. There are varying costs for this as the risks are different. But if the insurer thinks your car is safely locked up in a garage and it gets damaged during the night while parked on the road, they won’t look too kindly on that.

5. Your annual mileage changes. More miles means a higher likelihood of an accident or damage so if you find yourself suddenly well up on the miles you agreed with your cover provider, best to let them know. If you don’t, it could nullify your policy and any cover you thought you had.

6. You change your name. It’s simple really. If your name has changed, due to marriage, divorce or any other reason, let the insurer know so that your documents can identify you properly and easily.

7. You change your job. Just like mileage, parking places and what you use your car for, your occupation will attract its own premium. Nurses or midwives for example, historically attracted higher premiums because it was considered their car would be left all day in a hospital car park or out on the road while they were visiting patients. Computer programmers and web designers attract some of the lowest premiums. Insurers put occupation high up the list of details they want to know.

Inform your insurance company before you do any of these:

1. Modify your car. Thinking of adding alloy wheels or a spoiler to your car to improve its looks? Tell your insurer first – you could invalidate your cover if you don’t. The same goes for a respray, an engine power boost or alterations to the car’s suspension set-up. The insurer might not even cover these latest additions but, in any case, a modification could mean an increase in premium.

2. Change your car. It’s the car that’s being insured, so if you change your motor it’s just like starting all over again. Inform the cover provider and negotiate a new price. It might be cheaper than the one you already have.

3. Change the use. If your premium is based on general social use and the commute to work and back, you’ll have to let the insurer know if you suddenly start using your car for deliveries or as a taxi. Some insurers don’t cover all professions, so it’s worth telling them exactly what you do.

4. Let someone else drive. It’s fine to add people as named drivers to your car, but do make sure you do it. Regular users need to be added to the policy or you might not be covered.

5. Change the registration plate. The registration or number plate is the car’s identity. If you are thinking of changing the original marking for a personal one, tell your cover provider.

6. Drive abroad. Motoring in another country can be stressful and can take time to get used to, especially when you’re swapping to the right hand side of the road. You need to make sure you are fully covered for this so let your provider know where you’re going.

Declare these at renewal time:

1. Penalty points. Your driving history has a bearing on the premium you pay – or even whether or not a provider is prepared to insure you at all. If you have received penalty points, you should declare this usually at renewal, although some insurers want to know immediately. And in the rarer event that you have been banned from driving, your insurance will become invalid anyway, so let your provider have the bad news.

2. Claims. Insurers like to know about any claims made for accidents, loss or damage, whether it was your fault or not, and even if the claim was made through a different insurance company. Let them know so it can be recorded.

Read more:

Alfa Romeo Tonale now available to order

New model

Sean Rees

-

11 August 2022

0

Alfa Romeo Tonale now available to order

Following its global launch in February, the Alfa Romeo Tonale compact SUV is now available to order in the UK.

The Tonale, which is set to challenge rivals like the Audi Q3 and BMW X1, will be the entry-level SUV in the Alfa Romeo family, sitting below the larger Stelvio. It also effectively replaces the Giulietta hatchback, which finally disappeared from sale last year after 11 years in production.

For the UK launch, there will only be one powertrain available, which is Alfa Romeo’s first electrified model. It consists of a 1.5-litre petrol-electric mild hybrid driving the front wheels through a seven-speed automatic gearbox. Unlike most mild hybrid powertrains, the Tonale will be able to travel very short distances (such as creeping along in stop-start traffic) on electrical power alone, but the petrol engine will kick in as soon as you need to move at anything more than crawling pace.

Other engine choices announced at the Tonale’s launch in February and available in other markets include a lower-output 130hp version as well as a more powerful 275hp plug-in hybrid model. These will presumably make their way to the UK at some point in the future, although nothing has yet been announced.

In terms of trims, UK buyers will have a choice of entry-level ‘Ti’ and top-spec ‘Veloce’, as well as a limited-production launch edition trim called ‘Speciale’.

The three trim levels only offer minor variations, with the standard equipment offered on the entry-level Ti trim appearing quite comprehensive.

Every Tonale comes with adaptive LED headlights in the front, and an electrically-powered tailgate in the rear, with folding and heated wing mirrors. Windscreen wipers and headlights (including high beam) offer automatic activation.

The infotainment system comprises a ten-inch touchscreen to control most of the car’s functions, including DAB digital radio and navigation. There’s also a wireless charging pad, although you’ll still have to plug in for Apple CarPlay or Andoid Auto (both of which are included as standard). Sensibly, the dual-zone climate control is not operated from the touchscreen, instead operated by a row of physical buttons underneath the central air vents.

Front and rear parking sensors are also included as standard, as well as a rear view parking camera. Safety assistance features include adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition and lane-keeping assistance. The Tonale has not yet been put through Euro NCAP’s safety testing regime, but we’ll report the results as soon as that happens.

Alfa Romeo Tonale – standard equipment

Exterior

Adaptive Matrix LED headlights
LED tail lights
Heated wing mirrors
Electrically-powered tailgate
Automatic windscreen wipers
10-inch infotainment console
12-inch digital instrument cluster
Adaptive cruise control
Traffic sign recognition

Interior

Wireless smartphone charging
Dual-zone climate control
Leather steering wheel
Electrically-adjustable driver’s seat
Gear paddle shifters

Comfort and convenience

Front and rear parking sensors
Parking camera
Keyless entry
10-inch infotainment console
12-inch digital instrument cluster
Adaptive cruise control
Traffic sign recognition
Lane-keeping assistance

Stepping up to the top-spec Veloce trim adds a extra £2,500 over the Ti spec. For that, you get 19-inch alloy wheels instead of 18-inch versions, as well as upgraded ‘Dual Stage Valve Suspension’ which apparently improves the ride. You also get privacy glass and gearshift paddles on the stering column. Other changes are cosmetic, such as red brake calipers and dark trim instead of satin chrome.

The Speciale launch edition version looks to be good value, being the cheapest model on offer but offering everything on the Veloce version except the trick suspension. It also gets even larger 20-inch alloy wheels.

Prices for the Alfa Romeo Tonale start at around £38.5k for the Speciale, £40K for the Ti and £42.5K for the Veloce, which means that the Alfa undercuts the electrified versions of upmarket rivals like the Volvo XC40 and Range Rover Evoque by a few thousand pounds.

The new SUV is available to order now from Alfa Romeo dealers, although the company has not indicated when first deliveries are expected to arrive in the UK.

More Alfa Romeo news, reviews, ratings and features

Beware of finance payments quoted in news stories

Alfa Romeo is quoting PCP finance payments “from £429/month” for the new Tonale, but this is based around a very specific combination of model/specification/deposit/term/mileage. You should ignore these promoted prices and crunch numbers based on your own circumstances.

For what it’s worth, the APR of 7.9% on this offer is nothing special, and there’s no deposit contribution (a discount for taking the finance offer) available either.

There is a growing problem of car companies putting selected finance information into press releases, and we’ll have more to say about this in the next week or so.
Stuart Masson, editor

Audi RS Q3

Sean Rees

-

10 August 2022

0

Summary

The Audi RS Q3 was the sporty performance-enhanced version of the regular Q3 range, available in regular SUV and ‘Sportback’ coupé SUV body styles.

This ‘hot’ SUV slotted into the market above cheaper performance SUVs like the Cupra Ateca and below luxury options like the Lamborghini Urus, and directly rivalled the BMW X2 M35i, Mercedes-AMG GLA 45, and Porsche Macan S. With stiff competition like this, a few reviewers found the RS Q3 hard to recommend.

While it was slightly slower overall than hot hatch cousins like the RS 3, Carbuyer says that it was still very quick in a straight line, with more composed handling in the corners than the standard Q3. Beyond the SUV practicality it offered, Carwow added that its soundtrack made it a stand-out choice. “That characterful five-cylinder engine. It just sounds better than the competition.”

Drawbacks aside, the RS Q3’s well-equipped interior, sporty exterior and engine soundtrack were appealing to any Audi owner looking for a performance-tuned model upgrade, but for some this was not enough. “For proper driving enthusiasts”, Honest John concludes, “the Macan wins every time, even if the RS Q3 makes all the right noises.”

The Audi RS Q3 was sold in the UK from 2019 until early 2024. No replacement model has been announced for the current-generation Audi Q3 family, and none is currently expected.

As of February 2026, the Audi RS Q3 holds a Used Car Expert Rating of E with a score of 52%.

RS Q3 highlights

Straight-line speed
Well-equipped as standard
More practical than RS hot hatches
Great engine soundtrack

RS Q3 lowlights

Thirsty engines
Some cheap interior plastics
Rivals are more fun to drive
Stiff suspension

Key specifications

Body style: Medium SUV and coupé-SUV
Engines: petrol
Price: From £57,185 on-road

Launched: Autumn 2019
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 review
Score: 8 / 10
“If a rapid, small SUV is a niche you crave, then the Audi RS Q3 is all you’re being served right now at this sort of price point.”
Read review

Car

Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 6 / 10
“The RS Q3 has plenty going for it, specifically that fantastic five-pot motor.”
Read review

Carbuyer

Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 7.8 / 10
“The Audi RS Q3 adds a much more powerful engine to the Q3 recipe, which already includes a great interior and a large boot.”
Read review

Carwow

Model reviewed: Sportback
Score: 6 / 10
“The Audi RS Q3 Sportback is a fast SUV with a distinctive five-cylinder petrol engine and a lovely interior. The lower, lighter hatchback RS 3 will be even more fun to drive, mind you.”
Read review

Model reviewed: SUV
Score: 7 / 10
“The Audi RS Q3 is a fast SUV with a distinctive five-cylinder petrol engine and a lovely interior. The lower, lighter Audi RS 3 will be even more fun to drive, mind you.”
Read review

Evo

Model reviewed:
Score: 9 / 10
“Anti-ageing treatment keeps Audi’s RS Q3 dark horse on the pace.”
Read review

Model reviewed: Sportback
Score: 6 / 10
“Contrary to expectations, the Audi RSQ3 Sportback hits back against its flaws with a charismatic demeanor unusual in the class.”
Read review

Heycar

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The Q3 is Audi’s second-smallest SUV, now into its second generation. And the cult success of a leftfield sporty version of the original, the RS Q3, has encouraged the marque to quickly launch a follow-up. Wisely, Audi has stuck to the original template, which proved such a guilty pleasure.”
Read review

Honest John

Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“For proper driving enthusiasts, the Macan wins every time, even if the RS Q3 makes all the right noises.”
Read review

Top Gear

Score: 6 / 10
“Something of an oddity, but not without charm.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: December 2018
Date expired: January 2025
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 95%
Child protection: 86%
Vulnerable road users: 76%
Safety assist: 85%

The Audi RS Q3 has not specifically been assessed by Euro NCAP, but it shares its safety score with the regular Audi Q3 range which was awarded a five-star rating in 2018. However, this rating expired in January 2025 and is no longer valid as the car no longer meets the standards required for such a rating. This is normal practice, as Euro NCAP reviews its ratings on most cars annually with most ratings expiring after about six or seven years.

Although the rating has now expired, the score is still useful if you are comparing a used RS Q3 to vehicles of similar age – whose ratings will have probably also expired.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of February 2026, the Audi RS Q3 has not been assessed by Green NCAP.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

Total claims: 119
Average repair cost: £396.86
Last updated: April 2025

Reliability score

All data based on MotorEasy average workshop costs for extended car warranty claims

As of January 2025, the Audi Q3 range (including the RS Q3) has an excellent reliability score, according to workshop data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our partners at MotorEasy. This score covers both the current version of the Q3 and the previous (pre-2018) generation.

To date, average repair bills for the Q3 have been relatively low, at about £400. Suspension problems are the most common faults, although they’re relatively inexpensive with an average repair bill of about £250. Engine problems are also reasonably common and are inevitably more expensive to fix, with an average repair bill of about £850. Gearbox bills have been very expensive, but seem to be rare.

If you’re looking at a used Audi RS Q3, make sure any extended warranty cover you purchase covers all of these potential problem areas.

Running cost rating

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

Fuel consumption	Average	Score
Petrol models	29 mpg	E

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	223 g/km	D

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	41	D

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£508	E
Year 2	£1,186	E
Year 3	£1,893	E
Year 4	£2,149	E
Year 5	£2,930	E
Overall	£8,666	E

The running costs for the Audi RS Q3 can get quite expensive, according to full-life costings provided by our commercial partner Clear Vehicle Data.

Fuel consumption is poor and insurance costs can get quite expensive. Finally, scheduled servicing and maintenance costs over the first five years are predicted to be more expensive than the average car.

Similar cars

If you’re looking at the Audi RS Q3, you might also be interested in these alternatives

Buy an Audi RS Q3

If you’re looking to buy a new or used Audi RS Q3, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car

Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more

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

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

Lease an Audi RS Q3

If you’re looking to lease a new Audi RS Q3, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal

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

Personal contract hire deals from Carparison Leasing. Find out more

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

Skoda Fabia

Sean Rees

-

9 August 2022

0

Summary

The Skoda Fabia is a small five-door supermini-class hatchback, with the current model launched in the UK in late 2021. Like prior generations of the hatchback, the Fabia Monte Carlo trim sits at the top of the range, which offers sportier exterior styling.

The previous generation also included an estate version of the Fabia, called the Fabia Combi, but Skoda decided to scrap plans to renew the estate version due to concerns that it would not pass European emissions standards.

For this current generation of Fabia, Skoda has updated the exterior design to match its line-up of newer models, extended the wheelbase to allow for more legroom in the cabin, and has updated the interior with more practical features and updated on-board tech.

The Skoda Fabia shares parts with other similarly-sized hatchbacks in the Volkswagen group family, including its range of engine options which are also found fitted to the SEAT Ibiza and Volkswagen Polo.

“It’s a shame there’s no electric version”, says Carwow. The Skoda Fabia has a petrol-only range, with no hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric models.

However, if electrification is not a necessity for your next hatchback, it is hard to ignore the value-for-money that the Fabia offers. Car concludes: “The latest Fabia is another Skoda which beats its Volkswagen and SEAT stablemates at their own game. It’s roomy, handsome, well-built, easy to use and should be cheap to run.”

Despite their structural and mechanical similarities, the entry-level Fabia starts around £3,000 cheaper than either the Ibiza or Polo.

With these prices, an improved practical interior, good levels of on-board tech available as standard and more boot space, Auto Express affirms that the fourth generation of Skoda Fabia “has all the credentials to challenge the very best in the supermini class.”

As of August 2025, the Skoda Fabia holds a New Car Expert Rating of B, with a score of 69%. It scores top marks for its media review scores, while it also gets good grades for its safety rating, low CO₂ emissions and running costs. However, Skoda’s new car warranty coverage is poor.

Fabia highlights

Impressive levels of standard equipment
Spacious and practical cabin
Plenty of boot space
Good fuel economy
Cheaper than supermini rivals

Fabia lowlights

Interior cheap in places
No electrification across range
Rather buggy infotainment
Rivals are more fun to drive
Road noise at higher speeds

Key specifications

Body style: Small five-door hatchback
Engines: petrol
Price: From £17,990 on-road

Launched: Winter 2021/22
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

“If you’re after an affordable supermini that delivers plenty of space, comfort and on-board technology, the Skoda Fabia won’t disappoint”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 8 / 10

Read full review

Auto Express

Ellis Hyde, Paul Adam

“As small hatchbacks go, the Skoda Fabia is a very solid option. But it doesn’t feel as nice as alternatives, or offer an electric version.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 9 / 10

Read full review

Carwow

More reviews

The Car Expert

Model reviewed: 1.0-litre (110hp) petrol manual Monte Carlo
“The Skoda Fabia has broad appeal, though solos and couples will find it easier to live with than small families – unless it’s just you and the dog. In that case, it’s perfect.”
Author: Cat Dow
Read review

Auto Express

Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol automatic Monte Carlo
Score: 8 / 10
“In all forms, the latest Skoda Fabia is a challenger to the very best superminis. Some will certainly see a benefit to the extra power of this 1.5-litre engine over the existing 1.0-litre unit, but don’t let the looks of the Monte Carlo fool you; this is not a remotely sporty hatchback.” (Alex Ingram)
Read review

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“If you’re after an affordable supermini that delivers plenty of space, comfort and on-board technology, then the Skoda Fabia won’t disappoint.”
Read review

Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual SE L hatch
Score: 9 / 10
“The new Skoda Fabia has all the credentials to challenge the very best in the supermini class.”
Read review

Auto Trader

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Design changes are minimal but it offers the most space inside, clever storage solutions and a quiet drive. There are four trim levels and five petrol engines on offer.”
Read review

Car

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The latest Fabia is another Skoda which beats its VW and SEAT stablemates at their own game. It’s roomy, handsome, well-built, easy to use and should be cheap to run. Your trade-off is ho-hum dynamics. But that last part isn’t really the point, is it?”
Read review

Car Keys

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The Skoda Fabia is just about everything expected from a modern-day supermini. It’s pleasant and easy to drive, decently equipped and has a well-built interior. It’s also smart to look at, while impressively practical for a small car. It’s largely very good value for money, too, providing you don’t go too wild with additional extras.”
Read review

Carbuyer

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.8 / 10
“A size increase serves the Skoda Fabia well, making it an ideal supermini for families.”
Read review

Daily Mail

Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol automatic SEL
“For a brand that has built its name on value for money, the Skoda Fabia is getting proper posh, and is not always that cheap.”
Read review

Daily Mirror

Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual SE L
Score: 8 / 10
“The Skoda Fabia SE-L five-door hatchback has more legroom in the back, the boot can now hold 380 litres of luggage, it has USB sockets in clever places and the quality of the interior materials has been improved.”
Read review

Eurekar

Model reviewed: Fabia SE L
“Where the new Fabia has moved on considerably is with its build quality and finish and the cockpit is smart, well designed and very comfortable.”
Read review

Heycar

Model reviewed: Fabia Monte Carlo
“What the Fabia Monte Carlo does do very well is offer a polished and relaxed driving experience. You might not be able to attack bends as you would do in a proper hot hatch, but the Fabia Monte Carlo is assured through corners and the steering nicely weighted. It’s comfortable too, while motorway driving is nice and refined.”
Read review

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The Skoda Fabia has ditched its boxy appearance in favour of a far more sleek and stylish look. Yet it’s as practical and comfortable as ever. Good to drive and with a quality interior, we think it’s one of the best small hatchbacks around. Still want that Volkswagen Polo?”
Read review

Honest John

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 10 / 10
“The latest Skoda Fabia is a perfect example of how to make the ideal small hatchback. It does everything incredibly well, is cheap to run and even looks good. With cheaper prices than a Volkswagen Polo, this is where the smart money goes.”
Read review

Parkers

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.4 / 10
“It’s bigger, more refined and still up there with the best.”
Read review

The Telegraph

Model reviewed: Fabia Monte Carlo
Score: 8 / 10
“It looks the business but underneath there aren’t enough changes from the likeable standard Fabia to make it involving.”
Read review

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“Soft and spacious with much-improved cabin quality and an economical, if rather plodding, range of engines. Skoda’s smallest car is a big step up, but adding options and more powerful engines will likely cost a lot and that roly-poly handling might put a few off.”
Read review

Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“If you’re not quite ready to go electric yet then you could do a lot worse than the baby Skoda.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: December 2021
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 85%
Child protection: 81%
Vulnerable road users: 70%
Safety assist: 71%

The Skoda Fabia was crash tested by Euro NCAP at the end of 2021, achieving a five-star rating. Its list of standard safety equipment includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, and lane-keeping assistance.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

Model tested: 1.0-litre MPI Petrol FWD Manual

Overall score: 3 stars
Date tested: October 2022
Read the full Green NCAP review

Clean Air Index: 5.8 / 10
Energy Efficiency Index: 6 / 10
Greenhouse Gas Index: 4.9 / 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	54 mpg	B

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	118 g/km	B

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	14	A

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£142	A
Year 2	£409	A
Year 3	£660	A
Year 4	£878	A
Year 5	£1,181	A
Overall	£3,270	A

The Skoda Fabia is a very affordable car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

The Fabia is one of the most economical models in the small hatchback class, and its insurance premiums are low too. When it comes to service costs, the Skoda is predicted to be cheap to maintain over five years of ownership.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

Total claims: 128
Average repair cost: £625.96
Last updated: April 2025

Reliability score

All data based on MotorEasy average workshop costs for extended car warranty claims

The Skoda Fabia has a reliability rating of 61%, which is about average. This covers both the current model and older (pre-2022) generations.

The average repair cost of just over £600 is fairly high for this segment of car, and certainly more than the cost of a used car warranty. The most common problems relate to the engine, which are also the most expensive with an average repair bill of £1,200.

Warranty rating

New car warranty information for the Skoda Fabia

Overall ratingE17%
New car warranty duration3 years
New car warranty mileage60,000 miles

Skoda’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).

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.

Buying a used Skoda Fabia

If you are purchasing an ‘Approved Used’ Skoda Fabia from an official Skoda dealership, you will get a minimum 12-month warranty included.
If you are buying a used Skoda Fabia from an independent dealership, any warranty offered will vary and will probably be managed by a third-party warranty company.
If you are buying a used Skoda Fabia from a private seller, there are no warranty protections beyond any remaining portion of the original new car warranty.

If you’re looking to buy a used car that is approaching the end of its warranty period, a used car warranty is usually a worthwhile investment. Check out The Car Expert’s guide to the best used car warranty providers, which will probably be cheaper than a warranty sold by a dealer.

Awards

Trophies, prizes and awards that the Skoda Fabia has received

2022

Carbuyer Awards – Best Small Car

2022

UK Car of the Year Awards – Best Supermini
Scottish Car of the Year Awards – Best Small Car
Carbuyer Awards – Best Small Car
Parkers New Car Awards – Best First Car

2021

The Car Expert Awards – Best New Small Car
Top Gear Awards – All The Car You Need… of the Year

Similar cars

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

More news, reviews and information about the Skoda Fabia at The Car Expert

Everything you need to know about Skoda

Five of the safest new small cars on sale in 2024

Range revisions for Skoda Fabia and Karoq

Skoda Fabia test drive

Five of the safest new small cars on sale in 2023

The UK’s most underappreciated small cars

The best new family cars for every budget in 2022

Skoda unveils new Fabia Monte Carlo

The five safest cars of 2021

Best small cars of 2021

Five-star safety for seven new cars – but none for Renault

Skoda announces pricing and specs for all-new Fabia

Buy a Skoda Fabia

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

Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more

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

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

Lease a Skoda Fabia

If you’re looking to lease a new Skoda Fabia, 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 Skoda Fabia

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

Car subscriptions from SelfDrive.
Find out more

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Car subscriptions from Cocoon.
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Toyota Land Cruiser (2018 to 2023)

Sean Rees

-

8 August 2022

0

Summary

The twice-facelifted Toyota Land Cruiser was a large seven-seat 4×4 that was on sale for over a decade in the UK, and was essentially Toyota’s answer to upmarket off-roaders like the Land Rover Discovery. With a new Land Cruiser model announced for 2024, this Land Cruiser range was removed from sale in 2023.

The Land Cruiser had its last major update in 2017, and a large majority of the reviews below assess that version of the SUV, though some of these reviews do cover pre-facelift models.

The Land Cruiser received a mixed bag of review scores from its 2010 launch, highlighted for its impressive off-road ability, practicality, and excellent reliability track record, and criticised for its expensive running costs and price tag.

Parkers said the Land Cruiser had the off-road talents to match any model in the more expensive Land Rover range. That said, if you are looking for a seven-seat family runaround, it’s harder to recommend.

“While it’s large and practical for a family it’s also bulky, expensive, unsophisticated”, Parkers explained, adding that “it’s not quite as good to drive on tarmac” as its rivals either.

Carbuyer commented that the Land Cruiser, with its noisy combustion-powered engine options and dated interior, “feels a little like a dinosaur in today’s increasingly electrified car market”, particularly as the more road-focused Toyota Highlander is now available as a hybrid. Nevertheless, as Motoring Research concluded, for “all-weather talents and a never-say-die attitude, the Land Cruiser is still top of its class.”

As of March 2026, the Toyota Land Cruiser holds a Used Car Expert Rating of E with a score of 49%.

More Toyota ratings, reviews, news and features

Land Cruiser highlights

Tough and dependable
Impressive off-roader with a big tow capacity
Cabin space for seven adults
Well-built interior
Long ten-year warranty

Land Cruiser lowlights

Top-spec models get pretty expensive
High running costs
Noisy range of engines
SUV rivals are more comfortable on tarmac
Rather small boot with seven seats up

Key specifications

Body style: Large SUV
Engines: petrol, diesel
Price when new: From £46,235

Launched: Spring 2010
Last updated: Autumn 2017
Replacement due: 2024

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:
Score: 6 / 10
“The Toyota Land Cruiser is a very capable and reliable 4×4, but in spite of its legendary strengths, most drivers will find it simply too agricultural compared to contemporary rivals like the Land Rover Discovery.”
Read review

Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“If you’re away from asphalt a lot of the time then the Toyota Land Cruiser is one of the best things to take you there. But if your motoring life is mostly on roads, then there are better ways to spend your money.”
Read review

Model reviewed:
Score: 4 / 10
“Toyota’s giant Land Cruiser offroader gets another round of nips and tucks. While it’s great off-road, the car’s unrefined on tarmac. Throw in a dated cabin and challenging styling, and most will opt for a Discovery.”
Read review

Auto Trader

Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“All Land Cruisers are powered by a four-cylinder 2.8-litre diesel engine with 177 horsepower. It has a decent amount of pulling power, so it doesn’t take too much effort to get this enormous car rolling at a meaningful rate, but it’s also true that it feels pretty slow when compared with the six-cylinder versions of rivals.”
Read review

Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“The Toyota Land Cruiser is unstoppable off-road and hugely practical.”
Read review

Business Car

Model reviewed: Invincible 3.0 D-4D auto 7-seat
“It may not be as classy, either inside or out, but the Land Cruiser is the sensible fleet option in this class.”
Read review

Car

Model reviewed: Land Cruiser Prado
Score: 8 / 10
“If you do opt for the Land Cruiser, you’ll be investing in a car that will probably outlast you – and provide stellar service while doing so.”
Read review

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The facelifted and more powerful Toyota Land Cruiser is unstoppable, unkillable, Invincible.”
Read review

Model reviewed: Utility
Score: 8 / 10
“Where the Land Cruiser really comes into its own is if you have a job that involves actual building sites, quarries, farms etc. In those circumstances, this is a fantastic way to cope with just about any surface, in any weather, while hauling a considerable load, and it’s a lot of fun on your way to and from the job.”
Read review

Model reviewed: 3.0 D-4D Icon (2015)
Score: 8 / 10
“Priced from £34,995 the Land Cruiser is actually something of a bargain (although if you get carried away you can end up spending £64k). We love its tough-as-nails ambience, go-anywhere pluck and vast practicality.”
Read review

Car Keys

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“From the driving seat, the Land Cruiser is an extremely able car on and off the road. It also carries a deal of authentic mud-plugging kudos from its 50-plus year history.”
Read review

Carbuyer

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 5.6 / 10
“The Toyota Land Cruiser is mighty off-road and boasts bulletproof reliability. It’s luxurious, but it’s expensive to buy and run”
Read review

Carwow

Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“Few SUVs can keep up with the Toyota Land Cruiser on a tricky off-road trail, but it’s noisy on a smooth tarmac road and expensive to run.”
Read review

Eurekar

Model reviewed: SWB
“The Land Cruiser SWB is over 1.8 metres tall so it has a presence and with its comparatively short wheelbase of 2.45 metres it is fairly agile but at times bumpy due to this length and the necessarily stiff springing, wide wheels and tyres.”
Read review

Model reviewed: Utility 2.8 Diesel
“The latest Land Cruiser boasts a more robust exterior and improved quality within the car. It also features this back-to-basics model aimed at commercial customers that is stripped of many luxuries and creature comforts.”
Read review

Model reviewed: Invincible 2.8 D-4D
“For those who love their full-fat in-your-face seven-seat off-roaders, the Land Cruiser certainly doesn’t disappoint.”
Read review

Model reviewed:
“The £56,000 D-4D auto Invincible; beautifully appointed, indefatigable off-road and a fair bit better at economics than some rivals.”
Read review

Model reviewed: Invincible
“There is a saying in the off-road fraternity that if you want to go anywhere you get a Land Rover, but if you want to get back you take a Toyota Land Cruiser.”
Read review

Model reviewed:
“The Land Cruiser was given a facelift for 2015 but still remains essentially a hard as nails old-style off-roader, a Mogadishu taxi and likely to turn up on the telly wherever the UN is doing a bit of light peace keeping.”
Read review

Honest John

Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
The Toyota Land Cruiser makes you feel invincible.”
Read review

Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“The Toyota Land Cruiser is unstoppable off-road; very highly kitted out as standard; and superbly engineered and robust.”
Read review

Motoring Research

Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“If you’re after practicality, all-weather talents and a never-say-die attitude, the Land Cruiser is top of its class.”
Read review

Motors

Model reviewed:
“The Toyota Land Cruiser is very capable off-road and boasts a roomy interior and great build quality.”
Read review

Parkers

Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“The Toyota Land Cruiser is amazingly capable in difficult terrain, but poor on the road.”
Read review

The Sun

Model reviewed:
“The Toyota Land Cruiser is the perfect post-apocalyptic car.”
Read review

Model reviewed:
“The Toyota Land Cruiser is massive and a good choice for a big family.”
Read review

The Sunday Times

Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“The Toyota Land Cruiser is the car that farmers buy when they secretly hope that fellow farmers will get stuck in their Land Rover Discovery, and phone them for help. The last action hero, if you like. And long may it continue, warts and all.”
Read review

Model reviewed: (2014)
Score: 2 / 10
“It’ll carry your machinegun but you won’t get to the war on time.”
Read review

Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 5 / 10
“Short of something armoured, nothing will get you as far into, and more importantly out of, a hostile place than a Toyota 4×4.”
Read review

Model reviewed:
Score: 5 / 10
“If you live in the desert, the Land Cruiser is as good as it gets. But seeing as we don’t, the Discovery is a much better bet.”
Read review

Model reviewed:
“The Toyota Land Cruiser eschews nattier styling and plusher interiors to ensure your money is spent on the mechanically good stuff. It may not please the masses, but if you’re into cars – whatever their shape and form – the approach that ought to please you.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

No safety rating

Despite being on sale in the UK for over a decade, the Toyota Land Cruiser was never crash tested by Euro NCAP.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

The Toyota Land Cruiser was never lab tested by Green NCAP.

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 Toyota Land Cruiser to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively for us using warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the new Land Cruiser, we’ll publish the score here.

Running cost rating

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

Fuel consumption	Average	Score
Diesel models	30 mpg	D

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Diesel models	247 g/km	E

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	38	D

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£255	C
Year 2	£656	D
Year 3	£1,044	C
Year 4	£1,270	C
Year 5	£1,606	C
Overall	£4,831	C

Unsurprisingly, a big, heavy 4×4 like the Toyota Land Cruiser will cost you quite a chunk of change to run, according to whole-life cost data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

Fuel consumption is very poor, so you’ll be stopping for diesel on a regular basis. The good news is that servicing and insurance costs are reasonable for such a big vehicle.

Awards

Trophies, prizes and awards that the Toyota Land Cruiser has received

2021

4×4 of the Year Awards – Most Sustainable SUV

Similar cars

If you’re looking at the Toyota Land Cruiser, you might also be interested in these alternatives

More Toyota ratings, reviews, news and features

Buy a Toyota Land Cruiser

If you’re looking to buy a used Toyota Land Cruiser, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car

Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more

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

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

Skoda rolls out minor Enyaq update

Model update

Sean Rees

-

8 August 2022

0

The Skoda Enyaq has been updated with a few software upgrades, and Skoda has re-organised the SUV’s optional extra list into four packages, all of which are included as standard on top-spec models.

Like the Enyaq’s last update in December last year, which added rapid charging capabilities of up to 125kW for new models, this minor refresh focuses on software upgrades once again, with a particular focus on improving the car’s infotainment and battery efficiency.

The revised models introduce over-the-air updates for the Enyaq range – a feature that rivals like the Volvo XC40 Recharge have had for several months now, and Tesla has offered for years.

This means that new Enyaq models do not have to be taken to a dealer for tech updates, as they can download future software updates from the manufacturer’s cloud-based server while sitting on the driveway.

Skoda says that the car’s navigation software (accessed through the infotainment console) has been upgraded, and also says it has made revisions to the SUV’s head-up display (only included with range-topping ‘SportLine Plus’ trim) which displays travel information on to the windscreen, but the brand hasn’t exactly explained what these upgrades entail.

Graphical changes have also been made to the heating and ventilation settings screens on the infotainment console, in an effort to make them more user-friendly.

Every model in the updated range comes with a free three-year subscription to the Skoda Connect app’s ‘Remote Access’ bundle, allowing the driver to control the car’s charging, climate control and route planning remotely from their smartphone.

This app and this feature bundle were available before the update, but buyers had to pay an annual subcription fee to use these app features from the get go. Once the free three-years are up, customers will have to start paying to continue using it.

Moving from tech to performance, the manufacturer says that its engineers have tweaked the SUV’s battery to ‘reduce electrical losses’, so in theory drivers will benefit from having a slightly longer battery range between charges.

Finally, Skoda says it has ‘simplified’ the Enyaq’s optional extras list by sorting it into four different packages that customers can add to their order on top of the trim that they choose. If you opt for the range-topping ‘SportLine Plus’ grade, all of these features will already be included.

Each package builds on the features of the cheaper package below it, meaning that the most expensive ‘Maxx’ package includes all the optional features available.

Optional package	Can be added to	Price	Key features
Clever	The ’60’ and ’80’ trims	£2,755	Keyless entry Wireless phone charging Rear privacy glass Tow bar Driver seat armrest Three-zone climate control Heated front seats Leather steering wheel Adaptive cruise control Blind spot monitoring
Plus	The ’60’ and ’80’ trims	£4,830	All features above Electric tailgate LED Matrix headlights Headlight washers LED rear lights Electrically-adjustable driver’s seat Lane-keeping assistance
Advanced	The ’80’ trim	£6,980	All features above Head-up display Heated rear seats Heated windscreen Upgraded Canton sound system
Maxx	The ’80’ trim	£9,375	All features above Electrically-adjustable passenger’s seat Parking camera Semi-autonomous parking assistance Rear side airbags

Please note that the features listed above are not new – Skoda has decided to package existing optional extras into a tiered package system.

Originally launched at £35k and up (a price that once qualified the Enyaq for the now discontinued government plug-in grant), Skoda has been gradually hiking the price of its flagship EV over the past year. Prices for the new range now start at over £38k.

Regarded as one of the best all-electric SUV options on the market at the moment, the Skoda Enyaq currently holds an Expert Rating of 83% – praised for its competitive battery range and easy driving experience.

Cupra Born

Sean Rees

-

8 August 2022

0

Summary

The Cupra Born is an all-electric family-sized hatchback based on the Volkswagen ID.3, and the first EV to go on sale from SEAT’s performance-focused spin-off brand, Cupra.

With two different powertrains available – an entry-level 58kWh version and a top-spec 77kWh model – the Born’s review scores have improved markedly since its UK arrival, after initial reviews questioned the car’s credentials as a performance package.

Some titles like Top Gear maintain that Cupra’s performance-orientated ethos is not too present in its first electric model, while Carwow praises the hatchback for its “strong performance”, and Honest John comments that the Born’s fun driving experience makes it one of the best choices across all the models in the Volkswagen Group family.

“The Born must be one of the most fun-to-drive EVs around, with a sophisticated, sporty feel that the ID.3 doesn’t get near to”, Business Car says – one of the many publications to praise the hatchback for its well-built and practical interior. Like its ID.3 stablemate, however, the Born has collected some criticism directed at its infotainment system, which reviewers have described as very distracting to use while driving.

Dismissing the Cupra Born’s ID.3 roots, The Sun points out out that this five-door hatchback offers a much cheaper all-electric alternative to the popular Tesla Model 3, and The Sunday Times concludes that, should you not be too bothered by performance, the Cupra Born is a “superb electric car with a useful real-world driving range”.

Reviewers collectively agree that the all-electric Born is an impressive family car, but for drivers expecting hot hatch performance rivalling the similarly-priced Cupra Leon, it is likely to disappoint.

As of January 2026, the Cupra Born holds a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 81%. It has excellent results in every category, with A grades for every score apart from new car warranty, which scores a B, and reliability because it’s still too new to have enough data.

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

Born highlights

Competitive battery range
Spacious and practical interior
Attractive exterior looks
Low running costs
Good levels of equipment as standard

Born lowlights

Performance does not match the sporty looks
Fiddly touch-sensitive buttons
No four-wheel drive models
Not as fun to drive as the Cupra Leon
Hard to recommend over the Volkswagen ID.3

Key specifications

Body style: Medium hatchback
Engines: electric motor, battery-powered
Price: From £36,475 on-road

Launched: Spring 2022
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

“Sporty Cupra Born electric hatch looks the part, and delivers a decent mix of abilities.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 8 / 10

Read full review

Auto Express

Alex Ingram

“The Cupra Born is a spacious electric hatchback with a practical interior and strong electric performance. For a supposedly sporty car it isn’t a huge amount of fun to drive, though.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 8 / 10

Read full review

Carwow

More reviews

Auto Express

Model reviewed: V1 (2023)
Score: 8 / 10
“The V1 is the cheapest version of the Cupra Born, but it certainly doesn’t scrimp on quality.”
Read review

Auto Trader

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The Cupra Born takes Seat’s sporting brand into the electric age in fine style while being a sharper drive than the VW ID.3 on which it is based.”

Business Car

Model reviewed: 79kWh VZ
Score: 8 / 10
“The VZ is the best Cupra Born, and one of the best performance EVs available. It justifies its extra cost with the added performance and keener drive – but is still usable on a day-to-day basis.”
Author: Martyn Collins
Read review

Model reviewed: 77kWh
Score: 8 / 10
“The Cupra Born 77kWH V3’s extra range has come at the expense of some of the keen drive.” (Martyn Collins)
Read review

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The brakes could do with more feel and modulation. Plus, although improved, the Volkswagen infotainment system is harder work than it should be to operate. Despite this, the Born must be one of the most fun-to-drive EVs around, with a sophisticated, sporty feel that the ID3 doesn’t get near to.”
Read review

Car

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“In isolation, the Cupra Born is an impressive bit of kit. Stylish, with more than enough power for urban environments, it also feels a touch sporty when you get past the city limits. The interior is solid too, and it’s competitive on paper too. But in standard 45kWh or 58kWh trims, it’s hard to justify buying it over the VW ID.3.”
Read review

Car Keys

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The Born is a seriously likeable EV that should help Cupra grow its sales significantly. Its only real weakness is the firm ride, but if you can live with that for the sportier driving experience, it’s well worth considering.”
Read review

Carbuyer

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.6 / 10
“The Cupra Born is effectively a sportier, more distinctive version of the Volkswagen ID.3.” (Ben Custard)
Read review

Discover EV

Model reviewed: 77 kWh V3
Score: 8 / 10
“As the company’s first electric vehicle, the Cupra Born has kick-started the brand’s electric journey in style, offering a sporty edge over its rivals. We think the entry-level 58kWh version is the one to go for (unless you travel long distances regularly, of course) because it is probably one of the most attractive EVs at that price point.”
Read review

Driving Electric

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“More adventurous styling and a better-quality interior help set the Spanish brand’s first electric car apart from the Volkswagen ID.3 it’s based on.”
Read review

Electrifying.com

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“We’ve been waiting for a compact family electric car with a sporting twist and finally we have it. I really like Cupra’s design direction and I can see this appealing to GTI drivers looking to switch to electric. The interior has some nice touches too, which lift it above the ID.3 in my opinion.” (Ginny Buckley)
Read review

Evo

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Of all the MEB models we have driven, from Audi’s Q4 e-tron, Skoda’s Enyaq and VW’s ID.3 and 4, the Cupra Born is the most interesting to drive. The one with a small dusting personality and character that elevates it from its family members from being merely an automotive white good to a car.”
Read review

Green Car Guide

Model reviewed: VZ 79kWh 326hp
Score: 9 / 10
“The Cupra Born VZ is now available which means a larger battery, a longer range, and more power, along with an excellent driving experience.”
Author: Paul Clarke
Read review

Model reviewed: 58kWh V3
Score: 10 / 10
“The electric Cupra Born is basically a Volkswagen ID.3 with a few engineering and cosmetic tweaks; there’s no real difference compared to the ID.3 in terms of performance, but the small changes have resulted in an excellent all-round car.”
Read review

Heycar

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Cupra Born is, for all intents and purposes, a Volkswagen ID.3 with a racier look inside and out, plus more of a focus on sportiness in the driving experience. That means the Born still retains the largely excellent all-round qualities of its sibling, yet adds a bit of character that the VW is sorely lacking.”
Author: Antony Ingram
Read review

Honest John

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 10 / 10
“The Cupra Born is essentially a Volkswagen ID.3 that’s had a sharp haircut and been spending some time down the gym. It’s fun to drive, sufficiently quick and has a pretty impressive interior – it could be our pick of the VW Group.”
Read review

Motoring Research

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The electric Cupra Born is a sportier take on the Volkswagen ID.3, with stylish looks, nimble handling and an infuriating infotainment system.”
Read review

Parkers

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.6 / 10
“Pricing is in line with key rivals and even entry-level models get plenty of equipment. Unsurprisingly, it shares most of its plus points with the VW ID.3 but with a more distinctive and sporty flavour that we suspect will appeal to many buyers.”
Read review

The Sun

Model reviewed: Born 58kWh V2
“If you don’t want to stab the accelerator mid-apex to look like a hooligan, then the Born darts from corner to corner with composure, and before you know it, you’re having fun in an electric car which isn’t made by Tesla or costs £60,000-plus.”
Read review

The Sunday Times

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Combined with a more striking design and quality of interior finish, it has an edge over its closest rival, the Volkswagen ID.3. Even if you aren’t fussed by its on-road performance capabilities the Born is a superb electric car with a useful real-world driving range, and a modern and roomy interior.”
Read review

The Telegraph

Model reviewed: 77kWh
Score: 8 / 10
“Still not a hot hatchback, the top model Cupra Born is, nevertheless, great fun and reasonably efficient. Outside of a rear-wheel-drive Porsche Taycan, this is the best-handling performance battery car you can currently buy. “
Read review

Model reviewed: 58kWh 204hp
Score: 6 / 10
“As a mildly entertaining ID.3, the Cupra Born just about passes muster. As a hot hatchback, however, it really doesn’t cut the mustard. There’s too much weight and size here to qualify, the steering isn’t as sharp as you’d want it and the damping feels clumsy and not at all like SEAT’s go-faster team’s normal efforts.”
Read review

Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“A very competent electric hatchback, but not quite the EV hot hatch we expected from Cupra.”
Read review

Which EV?

Model reviewed:
Score: 8.8 / 10
“The Cupra Born is essentially a Volkswagen ID.3 with a little more design flair and better infotainment. But once the e-Boost versions arrive it will have a little more performance too. It’s worth considering now if you like the styling, but e-Boost will make the Born live up more to the Cupra brand’s sporty image. It won’t quite be a GTI-killer, but it will provide plenty of fun to go with the style.” (James Morris)
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

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

Adult protection: 93%
Child protection: 89%
Vulnerable road users: 73%
Safety assist: 80%

The Cupra Born was tested by Euro NCAP in Summer 2022. Its collision tests resulted in impressive adult and child occupant protection scores when compared to the rest of the compact hatchback class.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

Model tested: 60/63 E-BOOST 170 KW ELECTRIC RWD AUTOMATIC

Overall score: 4.5 stars
Date tested: December 2025
Read the full Green NCAP review

Clean Air Index: 8.9 / 10
Energy Efficiency Index: 7.7 / 10
Greenhouse Gas Index: 9.2 / 10

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	285 miles	B

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

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	27	C

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£288	D
Year 2	£535	C
Year 3	£856	B
Year 4	£1,047	B
Year 5	£1,361	B
Overall	£4,087	B

The Cupra Born is a relatively cheap car to run, according to data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our partners at Clear Vehicle Data.

Electrical efficiency (the EV equivalent of miles per gallon for petrol and diesel cars) is very good, which helps the Born to achieve a very good driving range of 285 miles, according to the official government lab tests. This varies from 261 miles to 341 miles, depending on which model you choose.

Insurance costs should also be good, while scheduled servicing and maintenance costs are generally good for the car’s first five years.

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 Cupra Born to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Born, we’ll publish the score here.

Warranty rating

New car warranty information for the Cupra Born

Overall ratingB78%
New car warranty duration5 years
New car warranty mileage90,000 miles
Battery warranty duration8 years
Battery warranty mileage100,000 miles

Cupra’s new car warranty is better than average, and better than some other brands in a similar price bracket as the Born.

The duration is five years, with a limit of 90,000 miles. Interestingly, that’s significantly better than the Volkswagen ID.3 on which the Born is based, which only gets a three-year/60,000-mile warranty.

In addition to the overall warranty, the Born has an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty for the battery components.

If you are purchasing an ‘Approved Used’ Cupra Born from an official Cupra dealership, you should get a minimum 12-month/20,000-mile warranty included. If you are buying a used Born from an independent dealership, any warranty offered will probably be managed by a third-party warranty company and the terms may vary. If you are buying a used Born from a private seller, there are no warranty protections beyond anything that may be left on the original new car warranty.

If you’re looking to buy a used car that is approaching the end of its warranty period, a used car warranty is usually a worthwhile investment. Check out The Car Expert’s guide to the best used car warranty providers, which will probably be cheaper than a warranty sold by a dealer.

Awards

Trophies, prizes and awards that the Cupra Born has received

Cupra Born – Best Small Car | The Car Expert Awards 2022

2025

Business Car Awards – Best Family Car

2024

Carbuyer Awards – Best Small Company Car

2023

Carbuyer Awards – Best Small Company Car
EcoCar Electrified Top 50 – Best Electric Hot Hatch

2022

The Car Expert Awards – Best Small Car + Best Hot Hatch
Carbuyer Awards – Best Small Company Car
DrivingElectric Awards – Best Electric Hot Hatch

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Buy a Cupra Born

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

Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more

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Lease a Cupra Born

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

EV leasing deals from Octopus Electric Vehicles. Find out more

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

Personal contract hire deals from Carwow. Find out more

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?)

Car subscriptions from SelfDrive.
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Car subscriptions from Cocoon.
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Car subscriptions from Just Vehicle Solutions.
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MG 4 EV pricing and specs revealed

New model

Sean Rees

-

5 August 2022

0

Ahead of the family hatchback’s official UK launch in September, MG Motors has released pricing and trim level specification details for its brand-new MG 4 EV.

As The Car Expert reported back in July, customers interested in the new MG 4 EV range will have two different powertrain options to choose from – an entry-level 51kWh battery pack and a more powerful 64kWh unit, which MG says have a range of 218 and 281 miles respectively.

The manufacturer has since announced that this entry-level ‘Standard’ powertrain will only be available with lead-in ‘SE’ trim grade (sold as the ‘SE Standard’). The larger ‘Long Range’ battery pack option will be available with both the ‘SE’ trim (‘SE Long Range’) and the top-spec ‘Trophy’ trim (‘Trophy Long Range’).

Despite using the larger battery pack, this top-spec ‘Trophy Long Range’ model has a shorter official all-electric range of 270 miles – something that MG is yet to properly explain. We will have to wait until September for the new EV’s performance figures too.

The brand says that the battery technology the MG 4 uses is just 11cm thick in either configuration, which increases boot space in the rear, as well as improving the car’s grip on the road.

Designed on a new platform, the MG 4 looks like nothing else in MG’s current arsenal, and with its grille-less front end and SUV-style bumper cladding, it marks a turning point for the brand’s design ethos. Six different exterior colours will be available from launch.

The MG 4 EV comes with LED headlights and 17-inch alloy wheels as standard, and stepping inside, every model is fitted with a seven-inch driver’s display behind the steering wheel, and a ten-inch ‘floating’ infotainment screen that is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Every car also comes with a seven-year warranty.

‘SE’ models also come with rear parking sensors, and a rather rudimentary version of the Brand’s ‘MG Pilot’ tech bundle, which includes an adaptive cruise control function.

We now know that the initial render art of the MG 4 EV released a few months ago was of the top-spec ‘Trophy’ trim – distinguished from standard models by its two-tone roof and rear spoiler. The trim also comes with a number of added interior features, including a heated and electrically-adjustable driver’s seat trimmed in leather, wireless phone charging, and the brand’s own navigation software that provides live traffic updates while on the move.

Key trim level features

Entry-level ‘SE’ (from £25,995)

Automatic LED headlights
17-inch alloy wheels
Seven-inch driver’s display
Ten-inch infotainment screen
Automatic climate control
Rear parking sensors
Adaptive cruise control
Seven-year warranty

Top-spec ‘Trophy’ (from £31,495)

Two-tone roof
Rear spoiler
Rear window privacy glass
Leather interior trim
Wireless phone charging
Electrically-adjustable driver’s seat
Heated front seats
Heated steering wheel
Live infotainment navigation software
360-degree parking camera
Blind spot detection
Lane keeping assistance
Rear traffic alert

With pricing starting at £26K, the new MG 4 EV is set to become one of the cheapest new electric cars on the market, undercutting family car rivals like the Volkswagen ID.3 by over £10K. MG says it has more details to follow in September, before the car’s official launch event.

More MG Motors news, reviews, ratings and features

Do electric cars need special tyres?

Car tyres

Andrew Charman

-

5 August 2022

0

There are many things to learn about living with an electric car, but surely that doesn’t extend to the tyres? Shouldn’t the round black lumps of rubber be the same whether fitted to a petrol/diesel car or an electric vehicle (EV)?

Well, there is nothing legally that states you have to use specific tyres on an electric car compared to an equivalent combustion-engined car. But there are practical reasons to choose tyres designed with an electric car in mind.

In recent times tyre manufacturers have started producing such rubber, though they don’t generally like to state they are only for EVs, and car manufacturers are not keen to suggest you should use EV-specific tyres either.

What’s different about tyres for EVs?

Tyres fitted to both fully-electric cars and plug-in hybrids (and even regular hybrids) have to cope with a range of different forces compared to those of a combustion car. The most obvious is weight – EVs carry around heavy battery packs, so significantly more weight bears on each tyre.

The new breed of EV-friendly tyres are constructed in a way, in particular with stiffer sidewalls, to better cope with this weight, which in simple terms means they won’t wear so quickly and there will be less risk of punctures and all the cost and inconvenience such failures cause.

There is evidence that suggests using tyres not specifically designed to carry the weight of an electric car could be asking for trouble. In December 2021, recovery specialist Britannia Rescue claimed that more than a third of the EV breakdown calls it attends are for wheel and tyre issues – double the percentage of petrol or diesel cars suffering similar problems.

Quoting data collected over three years, Britannia added that EV drivers were three times more likely to suffer a tyre issue than be stranded by a lack of battery power. However, it did qualify its findings by stating that tyre issues would generate a higher percentage of EV issues because there are not as many other things to go wrong on an electric car than on a combustion-engined car.

It’s not just about more weight, however. The manner in which EVs deliver their power also affects the tyres. An electric motor offers up all its available torque – ‘pulling power’ – instantly, rather than building it up as engine speed rises, so the tyres have to cope with all this power being put through them at once.

At the other end of the scale is deceleration, which again, EVs like to do differently – a traditional car is typically significantly slowed by pressing the brake pedal, whereas EVs benefit from consistent slowing allowing plenty of ‘regeneration’, passing kinetic energy back into the battery, especially if one drives the car to encourage this as described in our ‘how to drive an electric car‘ feature. And all that extra weight also means more inertia to arrest, so under deceleration there is again more demand on the tyres.

Even the basic compounds, the mix of rubber and silica, of tyres aimed at being EV-friendly is different to those on combustion vehicles. All tyres have to overcome a certain ‘pull’ from the ground they are travelling over, known as ‘rolling resistance’, and the compounds of tyres recommended for electric cars are designed to minimise this rolling resistance as much as possible, in order to increase the car’s range between battery charges.

Several tyre manufacturers also claim that their products designed for electric vehicles are specially ‘low noise’ items. With EVs not making much in the way of other sounds, tyre noise can become more noticeable and even irritating to the car’s occupants.

Why don’t car manufacturers tell you this?

So bespoke EV tyres sound like a good idea but it’s not one that is heavily promoted by either car or tyre manufacturers.

Looking at the spec sheets of mainstream cars available in both combustion and electric form – to give just three examples, the Vauxhall Corsa, the Peugeot 2008 and MG ZS – shows quoted tyre size and ratings the same no matter which form of propulsion. And a spokesman for Hyundai told The Car Expert that the electric versions of the brand’s Kona use the same tyres as do the petrol models, though the Ioniq 5, which is an electric-only car, does come with tyres described as particularly suitable for EVs, in this case the Michelin Pilot Sport EV.

At the upper end of the market, the Pilot Sport is rare amongst tyres in that it is blatantly described as being for EVs. Michelin states that it has been “specifically developed to meet the technical demands of electric cars and is tailor-made for each electrical vehicle to reach car enthusiast expectations,” adding that the EV tyres offer the attributes we’ve described above – low rolling resistance, grip levels to cope with the immediate electrical torque and low noise levels.

Michelin also, however, offers the e-Primacy range, which it describes as “an eco-designed tyre, made to last” and states that it is suitable for “fuel, hybrid and electric vehicles.” It’s also substantially cheaper to buy than the Pilot Sport EV equivalents.

Other manufacturers are similarly unspecific. A spokesperson for Continental Tyres told The Car Expert that “Continental does not have a dedicated EV tyre range. We have developed our range of tyres in conjunction with OEMs to meet their specific requirements for electric but also combustion engine vehicles.”

Continental says that its EcoContact 6 range offers all the attributes that EV users need – but adds that “our other premium tyre lines with their state-of-the-art tyre technologies already meet the tyre requirements that arise for today’s electric vehicles.”

So there are tyres suited to, but not necessarily exclusively for, electric cars, and there are good reasons to fit them. Are there any drawbacks?

Cost could be one, and difficult to quantify – the tyre market is immensely complex with every outlet, from franchised dealer to the big independents such as Kwik-Fit and smaller retailers seemingly offering different prices to one another.

Browsing online price lists suggests, however, that an EV-suitable tyre will routinely cost more than a ‘normal’ one. But not by that much, unless one goes for upmarket items such as the Michelin Pilot Sport EV. And of course some of this cost will be recovered by the tyres likely lasting longer before needing replacement, as well as the noise and range-enhancing qualities.

There could be other implications too – electric-pitched car tyres are still a minority in the market, so when you need new tyres and go to your local supplier, you may find they won’t simply be able to pull your required rubber off the racks and fit it to your car, they may well have to order the tyres in, adding at the least an irritating delay.

So summing up? You don’t need to fit specific electric-friendly tyres to your EV, and choosing them may require spending a bit more and having to order ahead. But they do offer qualities that make them well worth considering.

More car ownership information and advice at The Car Expert

BMW 4 Series Convertible (2014 to 2020)

Sean Rees

-

5 August 2022

0

Summary

The BMW 4 Series Convertible was the drop-top version of the 4 Series Coupé. This was the first-generation model, which first arrived in the UK in early 2014 to replace previous models badged 3 Series Convertible, and ended production when the latest iteration of the 4 Series launched in 2020.

Reviewers agreed that the 4 Series Convertible was a capable top-down cruiser that could provide a quiet and relaxing driving experience, as well as high-speed wind-in-the-hair thrills on request.

“It’s a quick and comfortable luxury car for rolling up a sun-drenched coast”, Auto Trader concluded, after praising the drop-top for its metal folding roof, which takes around 20 seconds to raise or lower. Incidentally, the latest 4 Series has ditched the folding hard top in favour of a traditional soft top.

However, the addition of this roof mechanism adds weight to the car, which in turn affects the convertible’s performance and driving dynamics. “It feels heavier than the coupé”, Parkers says, also commenting that the roof reduces the boot space. Carwow argues that, due to this added weight, the convertible is slower than its coupé counterpart, as well as being more expensive.

The 4 Series was well-equipped as standard and compared very favourably against its major rival, the original Audi A5 Cabriolet. However, later in its life, the 4 Series Convertible had to face against much tougher competition in the form of the second-generation A5 and also the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet.

As of February 2026, the first-generation BMW 4 Series Convertible holds a Used Car Expert Rating of D, with a score of 58%.

4 Series Convertible highlights

Comfortable and well-built interior
Well-equipped
Nicely-insulated metal roof
Punchy performance

4 Series Convertible lowlights

On-board tech is now rather dated
Cramped rear seats
Roof makes it heavier than the Coupé
Small boot

Key specifications

Body style: Convertible
Engines: petrol, diesel
Price when new: From £34,030 on-road

Launched: Spring 2014
Last updated: Summer 2017
Replaced: Autumn 2020

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:
Score: 8 / 10
“The facelifted BMW 4 Series Convertible has upped its game in terms of driving dynamics but it’s still a great cruiser.”
Read review

Model reviewed: 420d
Score: 8 / 10
“The BMW 4 Series Convertible offers a relaxed drive and great engines.”
Read review

Auto Trader

Model reviewed: (2017-20)
Score: 7.4 / 10
“The 4 Series Convertible is pretty much as stylish and refined as the coupe with the roof up but just as exciting and fun when you drop it for sunny days.”
Read review

“The BMW 4 Series Convertible is a cruiser, a quick and comfortable luxury car for rolling up a sun-drenched coast.”
Read review

Business Car

“The BMW 4 Series Convertible’a cabin offers excellent build quality, and the responsive steering and agile handling are there too, although they’re blunted by the extra weight of the folding hard top, which makes its presence apparent on faster roads.”
Read review

Car

Score: 6 / 10
“When you’re cruising in BMW 4 Series Convertible, there’s excellent refinement with the roof up.”
Read review

Model reviewed: 435i Convertible (2014)
Score: 6 / 10
“This is a quick convertible, but it’s not a serious performance car.”
Read review

Car Keys

Score: 8 / 10
“The BMW 3 Series Convertible replacement is a step up from its predecessor, offering a comfortable, stylish and accomplished cruiser that suits everyday use as well as longer leisure jaunts.”
Read review

Carbuyer

Model reviewed:
Score: 6.6 / 10
“The BMW 4 Series Convertible is nearly as practical as the coupe on which it’s based, yet provides the bonus of wind-in-the-hair thrills.”
Read review

Carwow

Model reviewed: (2017-20)
Score: 7 / 10
“The BMW 4 Series Convertible is a well-equipped alternative to the Audi A5 Cabriolet and Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet, even though its cramped rear seats and compromised storage space with the roof down can limit its practicality.”
Read review

Eurekar

Model reviewed: 435i M
“With the hard-top roof up, the 4 Series Convertible looks like a normal sports coupe but within seconds that folding top packs away neatly into the boot and it’s converted into an open-top that oozes class, finesse, elegance and style.”
Read review

Model reviewed: 420d SE
“Design-wise the 4-Series Convertible is spot on. The convertible doesn’t look all that different to the hard-topped coupe with the roof up and it also looks great with the roof down.”
Read review

Evo

Score: 7 / 10
“Drop-top version of 4-series gains another dimension – at a dynamic price.”
Read review

Heycar

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“There is a lot to like about the BMW 4 Series Convertible. Handsome looks, the benefits of a folding metal roof, agile dynamics and a premium badge all make it an attractive package.”
Read review

Honest John

Score: 8 / 10
“The BMW 4 Series Convertible is something of an anomaly with its folding metal roof. Yet this adds a lot to the overall package, as do the premium badge and impressive dynamics.”
Read review

Parkers

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The BMW 4 Series Converibel is a front runner of the endangered folding hardtop species.”
Read review

The Sunday Times

Score: 6 / 10
“Take the roof down and the BMW 4 Series Convertible is half the car it should be.”
Read review

Top Gear

Model reviewed: 2017
Score: 8 / 10
“Four-seat cabrios don’t get much better than the BMW 4 Series Convertible.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

No safety rating

The first-generation BMW 4 Series Convertible was not tested by Euro NCAP during its production life.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

The first-generation BMW 4 Series Convertible was not tested by Green NCAP during its production life.

Running cost rating

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

Fuel consumption	Average	Score
Petrol models	37 mpg
Diesel models	47 mpg

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	175 g/km
Diesel models	160 g/km

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	35

The BMW 4 Series Convertible is a relatively expensive car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

Fuel consumption for petrol models is fairly poor, while diesels are only average. Other similarly sized cars are better. Insurance costs should be about average for the overall market, which is quite good for a convertible.

Due to the model’s age, we don’t have five-year servicing and maintenance costs. By now, these will vary significantly from car to car depending on age, condition and mileage.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

Total claims: 336
Average repair cost: £861.23
Last updated: April 2025

Reliability score

All data based on MotorEasy average workshop costs for extended car warranty claims

The BMW 4 Series has a reliability score that’s about average, according to exclusive extended warranty data provided by our partners at MotorEasy. This score covers coupé models as well as convertibles – from this generation (pre-2020) version as well as the current (2021 onwards) version.

Almost a quarter of all reported problems with the 4 Series relate to its engine, with an average bill to date of an eye-watering £2,000. Gearbox problems are even more expensive, although they seem to be less common to date. Suspension and braking problems are also common, although the repair bills are much more reasonable.

If you’re looking at a used BMW 4 Series, make sure any extended warranty cover you purchase covers all of these potential problem areas shown above.

Awards

Trophies, prizes and awards that the BMW 4 Series Convertible has received

2019

Honest John Awards – Best Convertible

2014

Red Dot Awards – Red Dot Design Award

Similar cars

If you’re looking at the BMW 4 Series Convertible, you might also be interested in these alternatives

Audi A5 Cabriolet | Ford Mustang convertible | Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet | Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet

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

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Updated BMW 4 Series range unveiled

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BMW 4 Series Convertible

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BMW unveils new 4 Series Convertible

BMW unveils eye-catching new 4 Series Coupé

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Vauxhall Astra

Sean Rees

-

4 August 2022

0

Summary

Now in its eighth generation, the Vauxhall Astra is a family-sized hatchback and estate car that poses direct competition to the likes of the Ford Focus, SEAT Leon, and Volkswagen Golf.

The Astra hatchback range became available for order in late Autumn 2021 while the estate version, named the Astra Sports Tourer, joined the range in Summer 2022. The whole range was updated in early 2026 with a mid-life facelift.

As well as being completely redesigned, the new Astra is larger than the old model and is closely related to the Peugeot 308, with the same range of petrol and diesel engine options and a range-topping plug-in hybrid. Both manual and automatic transmissions are available across the range. An all-electric version was released in 2023.

Plenty of reviewers have expressed their enthusiasm after their test drive in the Astra, first and foremost due to the car’s bold exterior styling that Car Keys calls “properly eye-catching”. Motoring Research comments, “this new Astra makes the anonymous old car seem like something from another era. It looks fantastic.”

Many journalists have made similar comparisons to the last-generation Astra in their reviews, but not all are favourable. While some argue that the latest Astra iteration has sharper driving dynamics, they add that the Astra models of old had more rear headroom and legroom, and were notably cheaper when new.

That said, most motoring outlets praise the Vauxhall Astra for its competitive pricing, particularly as the family car is available with a generous list of on-board tech as standard. Parkers points out that “performance is good without being great” however, and that if you are after a family car with particularly punchy acceleration, it is best to look elsewhere.

As Top Gear concludes, “the Astra is not a car to set your heart on fire, or your pants, but it feels satisfyingly well sorted.”

As of March 2026, the eighth-generation Vauxhall Astra holds a New Car Expert Rating of B, with a score of 65%. It scores highly for its low running costs and low average CO₂ emissions (both helped by having a plug-in hybrid model), while questionable reliability stops the Astra from scoring an A.

Vauxhall Astra highlights

Stylish exterior looks
Competitive battery range
Relaxing driving experience
Generous equipment list as standard
Refined and efficient powertrain line-up

Vauxhall Astra lowlights

Rivals are more spacious in the rear
Interior trim cheap in places
Class leaders offer more powerful performance
Plug-in hybrid’s brakes are rather stiff
Question marks over reliability

Key specifications

Body style: Five-door hatch and estate
Engines: petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid
Price: From £26,610 on-road

Launched: Spring 2022
Last updated: Spring 2026
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

“Stylish looks, impressive technology, and a wide variety of engines make the Vauxhall Astra a convincingly good family hatchback.”

Model reviewed: Hatchback range

Score: 8 / 10

Read full review

Auto Express

Max Adams, Ellis Hyde

“The Vauxhall Astra is a good family hatchback that has a great boot and looks snazzy. It’s not got the most spacious rear seats though.”

Model reviewed: Hatchback range

Score: 7 / 10

Read full review

Carwow

Jack Healy

More reviews

Auto Express

Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid Sports Tourer (estate) GS
Score: 8 / 10
“Stylish looks, impressive technology, and various engine options make the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer a fine estate car choice.”
Author: Tom Gumbrell
Read review

Model reviewed: Electric (2023)
Score: 8 / 10
“The Vauxhall Astra Electric is a well judged product. Nicely tuned, intuitive to operate and easy to drive for its class, the Electric sticks close to the Astra recipe.” (Robin Hornig)
Read review

Model reviewed: GSe (2023)
Score: 7 / 10
“The Astra GSe makes some pragmatic sense as a company car, but even if judged as a ‘warm’ hatch, it falls far short of expectations, because of laggy, underwhelming power delivery and less-than-thrilling handling.” (Matt Robinson)
Read review

Model reviewed: Sports Tourer GSe (2023)
Score: 7 / 10
“The estate version of Vauxhall’s new Astra GSe offers more boot space than the hatchback, but is stifled by a higher BiK tax rate.”
Read review

Model reviewed: 1.5-litre diesel automatic GS Line
Score: 8 / 10
“In diesel form, the Vauxhall Astra lacks its petrol counterpart’s refinement, but it has lots of easily accessible performance and huge cruising potential. Whether this will be worth the extra outlay is up to you; it’s a sensible five-door hatch offering plenty of practicality and tech, and the diesel is a decent choice, but we think the Astra is best in petrol or plug-in form.” (Sean Carson)
Read review

Model reviewed: Astra 1.2-litre petrol manual GS Line
Score: 8 / 10
“The boot is big, the tech is strong and as a value proposition the Astra is appealing, also helped by its strong list of standard kit and smart styling. Despite more pressure than ever on the family hatchback sector from the ever-expanding crops of SUVs, the Astra offering is stronger than ever.” (Sean Carson)
Read review

Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol automatic GS Line estate
Score: 7 / 10
“This new generation of Vauxhall Astra is the most convincing we’ve known – but it doesn’t really stand out in any particular area. There are rivals with higher quality interiors, more boot space and better driving dynamics, so yet again the new Astra’s success lies in how generous Vauxhall wants to be when it comes to finance deals.”
Read review

Model reviewed: Astra 1.6-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid GS Line
Score: 7 / 10
“The latest version of the big-selling Vauxhall Astra hatch stands out from its rivals in plug-in hybrid form. This early taste of the Mk8 Astra suggests that it is a proper, individual offering that should stand out – and as far as Vauxhall is concerned, that’s probably an achievement in itself.”
Read review

Auto Trader

Model reviewed: Astra Hatchback range
Score: 8 / 10
“Smart looks, a simplified model range and plug-in hybrid option make the next-gen Vauxhall Astra a real player in the hatchback field.” (Dan Trent)
Read review

Business Car

Model reviewed: GSe
Score: 8 / 10
“This must be the most appealing Vauxhall Astra available, but without the GSe performance additions, the standard Ultimate PHEV model does largely the same job for a bit less cash.” (Martyn Collins)
Read review

Model reviewed: Astra Hatchback range
Score: 7 / 10
“An attractive and capable car, at a generally affordable price.”
Read review

Car

Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid Sports Tourer (estate)
Score: 8 / 10
“While the old Vauxhall Astra was something of an appliance, the latest version replaces dreary with a shot of desirability. It’s a handsome thing in the metal while the interior cleverly blends modern tech and traditional physical controls in an appealing fashion. It’s a strong – if not quite class-leading – compact estate, and generally one that should make most journeys more of a pleasure than a pain.”
Author: Alan Taylor-Jones
Read review

Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid GSe
Score: 6 / 10
“Should you shun the hot Octavia and Golf plug-ins for the high-voltage Vauxhall Astra GSe? On first acquaintance, it’s a yes from us, albeit with a couple of chunky caveats. While those cars can’t disguise their bulk as effectively, in our experience the VAG hybrid system is smoother, more efficient with a flat battery and much less raucous.” (Alan Taylor-Jones)
Read review

Model reviewed: Astra Hatchback range
Score: 8 / 10
“Based on looks alone, it’s a much better bet than the old Astra – and dare we say it, quite desirable. Beyond that, it’s well-priced, packed with equipment, and proves to be an impressively refined steer. Vauxhall is on a bit of a roll with its latest models, and the Astra continues the upward trend.”
Read review

Car Keys

Model reviewed: Astra Hatchback range
Score: 8 / 10
“Vauxhall has a hit on its hands with the Astra, with its sleek design likely to tempt both current owners and those from other brands. It’s a properly eye-catching hatchback, particularly in high-spec trims and, when combined with its comfortable refined and generous equipment, there are plenty of reasons to choose it.”
Read review

Carbuyer

Model reviewed: Astra hatchback range
Score: 8.2 / 10
“The latest Vauxhall Astra gets a striking look and the latest tech to better compete with rivals.”
Author: Andy Goodwin, Alastair Crooks
Read review

Model reviewed: Sports Tourer estate
Score: 8 / 10
“More spacious than the Astra hatchback, the Sports Tourer ends up being a jack-of-all-trades, master of none.”
Author: Andy Goodwin, Alastair Crooks
Read review

Carwow

Model reviewed: Estate range
Score: 8 / 10
“The Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer is a smart-looking estate that’s fantastic for chewing up motorway miles. It’s not got the most exciting interior design, though.”
Read review

Driving Electric

Model reviewed: Astra plug-in hybrid
Score: 7 / 10
“A harsh ride and high price tag count against the plug-in Astra, but it look great and makes a lot of sense for company-car users.”
Read review

Electrifying.com

Model reviewed: Astra plug-in hybrid
Score: 7 / 10
“The Vauxhall Astra seems to do everything well and the figures stack up, but there’s nothing revolutionary about this car at all – expect those funky looks.” (Nicky Shields)
Read review

Heycar

Model reviewed: Astra Hatchback range
Score: 7 / 10
“Brown bread. Milky tea. Hollyoaks. The Vauxhall Astra is a household name synonymous with the humdrum. But not anymore. It’s been zhuzhed up under the watch of new owner Stellantis, including a new platform shared with the Peugeot 308 and a bold front-end similar to that on the latest Vauxhall Mokka.”
Read review

Honest John

Model reviewed: Estate (Sports Tourer) range
Score: 8 / 10
“The Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer shows that estate cars can still be cool. It looks great inside and out, and boasts plenty of practical space. There are superb plug-in hybrid versions, plus an all-electric model on the way.”
Read review

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Latest Vauxhall Astra represents excellent value for money yet has more character than ever before. A wide range of petrol, diesel and hybrid engines means it’ll be cheap to run, too, while an all-electric version is on its way.”
Read review

Model reviewed: Astra Hatchback range
Score: 8 / 10
“Latest Vauxhall Astra represents excellent value for money yet has more character than ever before. A wide range of petrol, diesel and hybrid engines means it’ll be cheap to run, too, while an all-electric version is on its way.”
Read review

Motoring Research

Model reviewed: Astra Hatchback range
Score: 8 / 10
“Vauxhall is on a roll at the moment. The latest Corsa has become Britain’s best-selling car. The Mokka is one of the most distinctive small crossovers. And this new Astra makes the anonymous old car seem like something from another era. It looks fantastic.”
Read review

Parkers

Model reviewed: Astra Hatchback range
Score: 7.6 / 10
“Stand-out factors for us are the way it drives and the smoothness of the engines available. Performance is good without being great, but if you want a family hatchback that you intend to cover long distances in, this should have your needs covered.”
Read review

Model reviewed: Astra Sports Tourer range
“It’s a bolder-looking car than its forgettable predecessor, so it features the company’s trademark ‘Vizor’ front end design, which in GS Line models, is blacked out for a sleek look. Under the skin, it’s closely based on the Peugeot 308, where it shares its underpinnings, petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid drivetrains, and much of its interior and safety technology.”
Read review

The Sun

Model reviewed: Astra Hatchback range
“The Vauxhall Astra is part of the fabric of Britain – we’ve bought 3.2million in 41 years – and this eighth-gen version was designed by Brit Mark Adams. Astra it is, then.”
Read review

The Sunday Times

Model reviewed: Astra Sports Tourer range
Score: 8 / 10
“Its spacious interior and ability to carry a lot of luggage makes it a great alternative to often-compromised crossovers and SUVs, and many will see it as a more socially acceptable car for driving in urban areas. Decent refinement and a simplified product range makes this an easier consideration for many buyers than ever before.”
Read review

Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid Ultimate hatchback
Score: 8 / 10
“After years of being there or thereabouts in the hatchback segment the Vauxhall Astra makes an impressive return with a package that is suitably modern and decently equipped. Choosing the right powertrain and spec level is key, and though expensive, the plug-in hybrid proves to be the best of the bunch. That is until the electric version arrives.”
Read review

The Telegraph

Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid GSe
Score: 6 / 10
“Vauxhall’s commitment to providing value-priced motoring to the British public with the Aatra has to be admired. While the GSe is the top model, so you’d expect it to be relatively expensive, it simply costs too much – as are the compromises you have to make for the PHEV drivetrain.” (Andrew English)
Read review

Model reviewed: Astra Sports Tourer range
Score: 8 / 10
“With a large, versatile load area and great styling, this new mid-size estate takes the fight to fashionable SUV rivals.”
Read review

Top Gear

Model reviewed: Astra Hatchback range
Score: 7 / 10
“There’s nothing eccentric about the Astra formula. It competes in one of the most rigidly-defined parts of the car market, and it pretty much matches all the benchmarks, even if it busts through none. It’s decent to drive, smart looking and well finished. The Astra’s not a car to set your heart on fire, or your pants, but it feels satisfyingly well sorted.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 4 stars
Date tested: May 2022
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 80%
Child protection: 82%
Vulnerable road users: 67%
Safety assist: 66%

The Vauxhall Astra has been given a four-star rating from Euro NCAP.

Shy of a full five-star rating, Euro NCAP comments that the Astra has “plenty of crash avoidance technology, but does not have some of the latest advancements introduced in the market”, and that the car was not “equipped with a centre airbag for far-side crash protection, a countermeasure which is increasingly common on modern cars”.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

Model tested: 1.5-litre diesel automatic

Overall score: 3 stars
Date tested: March 2024
Read the full Green NCAP review

Clean Air Index: 7.9 / 10
Energy Efficiency Index: 4.6 / 10
Greenhouse Gas Index: 2.9 / 10

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

Total claims: 1050
Average repair cost: £628.04
Last updated: March 2026

Reliability score

All data based on MotorEasy average workshop costs for extended car warranty claims

The Vauxhall Astra has a below-average reliability score of 40% as of March 2026, according to workshop and warranty data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our partners at MotorEasy. This applies to both the current model Astra (2022 onwards) and previous models.

The most common faults with the Astra have been engine-related. Unfortunately, these have also been the most expensive, with an average repair bill of more than £1,000. Gearbox faults are almost as expensive to fix, although not as common.

Running cost rating

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

Fuel consumption	Average	Score
Plug-in hybrid models	223 mpg	A

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	122 g/km	B
Diesel models	122 g/km	B
Plug-in hybrid models	29 g/km	A

Battery range	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Plug-in hybrid models	35 miles	E

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	24	B

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£184	B
Year 2	£521	B
Year 3	£794	B
Year 4	£1,074	C
Year 5	£1,464	C
Overall	£4,037	B

The Vauxhall Astra 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.

We don’t have independently verified fuel economy figures for the petrol and diesel models, but the CO2 emissions (which are closely related) are excellent, so they should be good. The plug-in hybrid model looks fantastic on paper, but this is largely a result of the poorly designed EU/UK government lab testing process, which is completely useless for measuring plug-in hybrids.

The battery range on the plug-in hybrid may only score a D, but this is actually a good result for a plug-in hybrid. If you can charge the battery each day, you could easily do most or all of your day-to-day driving on electric power only.

Insurance and servicing costs are also very competitive, so overall the Astra is likely to be one of the cheapest cars in its class to own.

Awards

Trophies, prizes and awards that the Vauxhall Astra has received

2022

Top Gear Awards – Best Family Hatch

Similar cars

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More news, reviews and information about the Vauxhall Astra at The Car Expert

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Everything you need to know about Vauxhall

Vauxhall Astra range now includes mild-hybrid option

Full Vauxhall Astra Electric range now on sale

Vauxhall Astra Electric

Electrified Vauxhall GSe range now available to order

New Vauxhall Astra Electric to go on sale in 2023

Vauxhall Astra range first to get GSe treatment

Top marks for four brands in latest Euro NCAP tests

Buy a Vauxhall Astra

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Qashqai and Mini hatch fly the flag in July sales

Car industry news

Stuart Masson

-

4 August 2022

0

Qashqai and Mini hatch fly the flag in July sales

The UK’s two best-selling new cars for July were both built in Britain, as the Nissan Qashqai topped the new car registration charts ahead of the Mini hatch.

Private new car sales were steady in July, according to monthly registration data published this morning by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), although overall results were down 9% thanks to continuing poor results for fleet registrations.

The ongoing downturn in new car registrations is still largely due to global supply problems, although there have been various reports to suggest that things are now starting to improve for several car companies. The SMMT has revised its overall 2022 forecast down, which was expected after a slow first half of the year, but predicts that the last few months could see better news.

Plug-in hybrids falling flat

While fully electric cars and regular hybrids continue to grow their market share, sales of plug-in hybrids were off the pace again in July. This has been an emerging trend of 2022, as market share of plug-in hybrids has fallen drastically.

Regular hybrids (which can’t be plugged in) and full EVs continue to be in high demand, which suggests that customers want to either go all-in on electric power or they want some electrification benefits without having to change their driving habits at all. So it appears that the halfway-house option of a plug-in hybrid is being left behind.

It’s also worth pointing out that while EV market share continues to grow every month, there are considerable fluctuations in results because the largest EV car company operates very differently to every other car company. Tesla doesn’t have normal dealerships for selling cars to consumers, so it has months of huge sales (like March, where it claimed about 13,000 sales), whereas in July it officially registered… three cars.

As you can imagine, this makes it impossible to read too much into month-by-month results. However, at least it is becoming more transparent as the SMMT finally now appears to be publishing Tesla’s complete registration data.

Good month, bad month

Despite the ongoing challenges facing the car companies and a market that was down 9% overall, there are always some companies performing better than others.

Volkswagen topped the overall sales charts in July, ahead of Audi, Toyota, BMW, Ford, Kia, Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz.

Relative to the overall market, it was a good month for Alfa Romeo, Alpine, Bentley, Cupra, Dacia, DS Automobiles, Genesis, Hyundai, Land Rover, MG, Nissan, Porsche and Renault – all of these brands outperformed the overall market by at least 10%

Meanwhile, it wasn’t quite as exciting for Abarth, Citroën, Honda, Jeep, Lexus, Mazda, Polestar, SEAT, Skoda, Smart, Subaru, Suzuki, Vauxhall, Volkswagen and Volvo – all of these underperformed against the overal market by at least 10%.

Qashqai qashes in

For the second time this year, the British-built Nissan Qashqai topped the monthly sales charts in July, beating the venerable Mini hatch by about 100 units. Great news for all of the workers in Sunderland and Oxford, as well as for all of the companies that supply those two factories.

Despite it being one of the oldest models on sale (the current model was launched way back in 2014), the Mini shows no sign of slowing down as it heads towards its expected replacement next year sometime.

The rest of the top ten was yet another mixed bunch as car companies struggle to maintain supply of vehicles. Interestingly, it was probably the most evenly distributed top ten we’ve seen in a long time, with small margins between almost every position on the leaderboard. There were two debutants this month, with both the Audi A1 and new Toyota Aygo X appearing for the first time.

In terms of year-to-date sales, the Vauxhall Corsa remains on top and actually increased its lead over the second-placed Ford Puma, which was absent from the top ten after a solid few months. It looks like the Corsa is well on its way to successfully defending its 2021 sales crown.

We’ll update our running top ten report in the next day or so. Next month will inevitably be a quiet one, as August is one of the two slowest months of the year ahead of the bi-annual number plate change in September.

More industry news and analysis at The Car Expert

Retail car sales and EV demand hold firm despite economic headwinds

Press release

The Car Expert staff

-

4 August 2022

0

4 August 2022

Private new car sales remain static in July versus the same month in 2021
Rise in interest rates to 1.75% could increase the cost of car finance
Two best selling cars in July, the Nissan Qashqai and Mini hatch, both built in Britain
Demand for EVs unaffected despite withdrawal of the electric car grant
Sales of plug-in hybrid vehicles suffering as buyers opt for fully electric vehicles or stick with familiar petrol models
Trend for cheaper, greener and smaller vehicles continues with strong demand for Dacia and MG

Private new car sales remained robust in July despite economic headwinds says The Car Expert following the publication of the latest market data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers (SMMT).

While retail sales have held up relatively well throughout the year, the interest rate hike announced today jumping to 1.75% is likely to impact the cost of car finance deals.

The data reveals that homegrown vehicles are proving popular, with the top two best selling vehicles, Nissan Qashqai and Mini hatch, built in Sunderland and Oxford respectively.

Strong results for British brands in July also saw Land Rover and MG log impressive figures, with year-to-date sales data showing 49% and 28% improvements respectively compared to the same month last year.

The challenging economic environment and withdrawal of the plug-in grant have not dented demand for electric vehicles, after recording a 50% year-to-date improvement compared to 2021.

However, sales of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) are suffering as buyers embrace fully electric vehicles or stick with more familiar internal combustion engine models. Registrations for PHEVs are down 15% so far this year compared to 2021.

Stuart Masson, Editorial Director at The Car Expert, the UK’s most comprehensive automotive consumer advice site, said: “We’ve seen a solid enough year so far in terms of retail sales; it is a brighter picture than some might suggest despite the fleet market taking a bit of a hit this year as car companies focus on private sales.

“It is great to see British built vehicles performing so well. Whether this is a patriotic impulse or just a coincidence is hard to say, but elsewhere British brands are doing well too, with both MG and Land Rover recording excellent results in July.

It is also interesting to note that the trend for smaller, cheaper and greener cars generally is still very much present. We expect this shift will continue while consumers have to tighten their belts. This pattern could be exacerbated by the news of today’s interest rate hike, forcing buyers to choose more affordable options as finance deals get pricier.”

ENDS

The Car Expert

Founded in 2011, The Car Expert is the UK’s most comprehensive automotive consumer advice site. With an audience of over two million readers a year, The Car Expert provides independent and impartial advice on every aspect of buying, financing, owning, and selling new or used vehicles.

The Rotten Tomatoes equivalent for the automotive world, The Car Expert consolidates reviews from 30 of the UK’s top automotive websites to create the Expert Rating Index. Bringing together science and data analysis, the index calculates a weighted average to give an aggregated score – Expert Rating – that is comparable across different brands and models.

The Expert Rating Index factors in the age of each review, so that newer reviews carry more weight than older reviews. It also breaks down the complex web of different scoring systems that various websites use in their reviews.

The Car Expert has logged over 13,000 reviews covering more than 400 cars and over 50 manufacturers, with its Expert Rating Index now trusted as the gold standard for rating and ranking new cars in the UK.

For media enquiries, please contact Performance Communications:

Melissa Lodge: melissa@performancecomms.com
Richard Tanner: richard@performancecomms.com

New Jeep Grand Cherokee available to order

New model

Sean Rees

-

2 August 2022

0

New Jeep Grand Cherokee available to order

The fifth-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV is now available to order in the UK – with four trim grades to choose from, the first models will arrive in British showrooms at the start of next year.

As The Car Expert reported back in February, this latest iteration of the Grand Cherokee will only be available as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). Officially known as the ‘Grand Cherokee 4xe’, the SUV is powered by a 2.0-litre petrol engine with two electric motors, one on each axle, which produces a total power output of 380hp.

A 17kWh battery can provide up to 31 miles of electric range according to official lab tests, and all models come with an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

Jeep says that its new SUV is designed to “deliver unmatched off-road capability”. The two electric motors provide near-instantaneous torque, and a rear-mounted limited slip differential (‘Trailhawk’ models and up) works to prevent slippage and spinouts when the engine is being strained.

When off the beaten track, the Grand Cherokee can make use of technology that can automatically shift power to the wheel with the most traction, so that the driver does not have to rely on the brakes to tackle wheel-slip. For added traction, this fifth-generation model is slightly wider than its predecessor too.

The SUV’s suspension can also raise or lower automatically on the move to match the terrain ahead, and the car has different driving settings that can be selected that optimise driving in snowy, muddy or sandy conditions. For trailer or caravan owners, the Grand Cherokee can tow up to 2,300kg.

Moving off the trail and on to the open road, Jeep promises that this new plug-in hybrid can complete a 0-62mph sprint in 6.3 seconds, made possible by a number of weight reductions across the SUV, and the car’s “aerodynamic body style” which displays a fresh approach to Jeep’s familiar design language.

Jeep’s approach to this SUV’s interior layout and design is a first for the brand too. Besides the leather trimming and ambient lighting, Jeep has stated its upmarket intentions by fitting the dash with three separate screens. The ten-inch digital instrument cluster and ten-inch central infotainment screen come as standard, while an additional ten-inch interactive display for the front passenger is included with the top-spec ‘Summit Reserve’ trim.

The Grand Cherokee can also be specced with interactive displays for the rear passengers too, but Jeep does not specify whether this feature is part of a trim package or an optional extra.

Four different trim grades are available, starting with the lead-in ‘Limited’ model. Next in the price list is the mid-range ‘Trailhawk’, which Jeep says is designed for “uncompromised off-road capability”.

The range is topped by the ‘Summit Reserve’ model, which the manufacturer says “offers unmatched comfort”, while the slightly cheaper ‘Overland’ trim is said to offer the best of both worlds.

Key trim level features

Entry-level ‘Limited’ (from £69,900)

20-inch alloy wheels
LED headlights and tail lights
10-inch digital instrument cluster
10-inch central infotainment console with wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay connectivity
4G hotspot for eight devices
Ventilated front and rear seats that are 16-way adjustable
Traffic sign recognition
Adaptive cruise control with lane keeping assistance
Blind spot monitoring
Rear view parking camera

Mid-range ‘Trailhawk’ (from £73,900)

All prior trim features that are not replaced
18-inch alloy wheels with all-terrain tyres
Electronic limited slip differential
Front disconnect anti-roll bar
Black roof
Suede upholstery with blue stitching

High-spec ‘Overland’ (from £75,900)

All prior trim features that are not replaced
20-inch alloy wheels
Dual exhaust system
Panoramic sunroof
Five-colour ambient lighting
Nappa leather upholstery

Range-topping ‘Summit Reserve’ (from £82,900)

All prior trim features that are not replaced
21-inch alloy wheels
Wooden interior accents
19-speaker McIntosh sound system
10-inch passenger display screen
Palermo leather upholstery and door panels

In addition to the safety features the Grand Cherokee gets as standard – a list that includes traffic sign recognition, blind spot monitoring and lane keeping assistance – the SUV can specced with a few optional assistance features, such as a 360-degree parking camera which is available with night vision for pedestrian and animal detection when it is dark.

The Car Expert reported in February that the price list for the new Jeep Grand Cherokee was expected to start at around the £50k mark, challenging plug-in hybrid versions of such rivals as the BMW X3 and Land Rover Discovery Sport.

Instead, Jeep has decided to price the SUV at £70k, in the same price range as PHEV versions of the Land Rover Defender 110 and Mercedes-Benz GLE. UK buyers can now order from the new range, which is manufactured in Detroit, USA.

More Jeep news, reviews, ratings and features

BMW M8

Sean Rees

-

2 August 2022

0

Summary

The BMW M8 is the performance-enhanced version of the 8 Series, available as a two-door coupé or convertible and powered by a 617hp twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine. There is also a four-door executive car variant, called the M8 Gran Coupé, but we will have a separate page for this model, coming soon.

The M8 range is limited to one engine/trim choice here in the UK, as only the top-spec M8 Competition is available. While there is not much choice on offer, the M8 has been warmly received by the British motoring media – described by Auto Express as “a deeply effective car that delivers monstrous performance allied to a depth of sophistication that’s hard not to be impressed by.”

Carwow states its enthusiasm for the car’s “great looks”, and calls the M8 Competition “the absolute peak of BMW M engineering”.

Advantages aside, the car comes with a steep price tag. Reviewers question if it is really worth paying £130k for the M8 Competition when the BMW M850i model at the top of the 8 Series range is almost as quick and just as luxurious for £25k less.

As of February 2026, the BMW M8 holds a lowly New Car Expert Rating of E, with a score of 48%. It gets poor scores in every category we currently have data for, especially its running costs. We don’t have reliability data yet, nor safety data (which we’re not likely to ever get, as the M8 is unlikely to be assessed by Euro NCAP).

M8 highlights

Impressive performance and handling
Refined and well-built interior
Attractive exterior styling
Packed with useful on-board tech

M8 lowlights

Cramped rear seats
911 and DB11 are more engaging on the road
S-Class Coupé is more comfortable
Very expensive to buy and own

Key specifications

Body style: Coupé and convertible
Engines: petrol
Price: From £133,020 on-road

Launched: Autumn 2019
Last updated: Spring 2022
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.

Auto Express

Model reviewed: Competition (2023)
Score: 7 / 10
“The BMW M8 Competition is still an event to drive, but while it has all the potency and technical prowess you’d expect of an M car, it’s lacking in terms of traditional sports car driver engagement. New infotainment upgrades and a smart cabin help it in the luxury grand tourer stakes.”
Read review

Model reviewed: M850i xDrive (2023)
Score: 8 / 10
“BMW’s facelift of the M850i might be minimal, but it’s still a well-rounded grand tourer.”
Read review

Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 7 / 10
“The new BMW M8 is a deeply effective car that delivers monstrous performance allied to a depth of sophistication that’s hard not to be impressed by.”
Read review

Auto Trader

Model reviewed:
Score: 8.4 / 10
“The BMW M8 Competition is the most powerful, fastest and most luxurious car in the range and delivers an incredible driving experience – albeit at a cost.”
Read review

Car

Model reviewed: Competition
Score: 6 / 10
“It may sound like we’re being quite harsh on this car, and we’re not – in isolation, this M6 replacement is a fine fast cruiser that can be fun to drive.”
Read review

Model reviewed: Competition
Score: 6 / 10
“Whizzing in 3.3sec from 0 to 62mph and in 10.8sec from 0-125mph feels and is jolly quick.”
Read review

Carbuyer

Model reviewed:
Score: 7.2 / 10
“The BMW M8 Competition Convertible is a heavyweight grand tourer with a price tag to match.”
Read review

Carwow

Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“The BMW M8 is supercar quick, easy to drive for long periods and looks great.”
Read review

Evo

Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“The BMW M8 is comfortable, quick and capable.”
Read review

Parkers

Model reviewed:
Score: 8.8 / 10
“The BMW M8 is a large and luxurious grand tourer, but it’s pricey.”
Read review

The Sunday Times

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The BMW M8 is the everyday performance GT.”
Read review

Top Gear

Model reviewed: Competition
Score: 7 / 10
“The M8 is a really grand, grand tourer. It looks and operates as you’d expect of a peak BMW.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

No safety rating

As of February 2026, the BMW M8 has not been assessed by Euro NCAP. Due to its price and exclusivity, it is unlikely to be tested in the future.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of February 2026, the BMW M8 has not been assessed by Green NCAP.

Due to its price and exclusivity, it is unlikely to have its emissions tested in the future.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

Total claims: 14
Average repair cost: £1087.62
Last updated: April 2025

Reliability score

All data based on MotorEasy average workshop costs for extended car warranty claims

As of April 2025 (our most recent data point), the BMW 8 Series family – which includes the M8 – has a poor reliability score of 41%, according to workshop and extended warranty data provided by our partner, MotorEasy.

However, it must be noted that this score is currently based on a relatively small number of vehicle records, so this score may fluctuate more than normal as more data becomes available.

Similar cars

If you’re looking at the BMW M8, you might also be interested in these alternatives

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If you’re looking to buy a BMW M8, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car

Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more

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

Lease a BMW M8

If you’re looking to lease a new BMW M8, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal

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

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BMW 4 Series Coupé (2013 to 2020)

Sean Rees

-

2 August 2022

0

Summary

The first-generation BMW 4 Series Coupé was a compact executive car – essentially the two-door coupé version of the previous-generation BMW 3 Series saloon.

The 4 Series joined the German upmarket brand’s range for the first time in 2013, – except that it didn’t really. Before then, the two-door version of the mass-selling 3 Series was called the 3 Series Coupé. Now it’s the 4 Series Coupé – and just to confuse matters there was a four-door 4 Series called the Gran Coupé, but that is not covered here.

A car widely praised for its attractive exterior styling, The Sunday Times said that the first iteration of the 4 Series was “a coupé that’s as good to drive as it looks”, with a wide range of strong engine options and driving dynamics that Parkers explained offered “fun and frugality in equal measure”.

Reviewers also approved of the car’s interior technology and ambience. That said, the infotainment and other on-board tech features are now rather dated when compared to more modern alternatives, including the current-generation 4 Series model.

Being a coupé, reviewers also frequently commented that the car was not very spacious in the rear, and that customers looking for family-car practicality should consider the cheaper 3 Series instead.

As of February 2026, the BMW 4 Series Coupé holds a Used Car Expert Rating of C, with a score of 61%.

4 Series Coupé highlights

Attractive exterior styling
Wide range of strong engines on offer
Comfortable and well-built interior
Sharp driving dynamics

4 Series Coupé lowlights

Not as practical as a 3 Series
On-board tech is now rather dated
Can be pricey on the used market
M Sport models have firm suspension

Key specifications

Body style: 2+2 coupé
Engines: petrol, diesel
Price when new: From £29,280 on-road

Launched: Winter 2013
Last updated: Summer 2017
Replaced: Autumn 2020

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:
Score: 8 / 10
“The BMW 4 Series Coupe is a great four-seater coupe.”

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The BMW 4 Series Coupe was updated in 2017, and remains a great four-seater coupe.”
Read review

Model reviewed: 440i (2017)
Score: 8 / 10
“The BMW 4 Series remains one of the best four-seat premium coupes around, and in 440i form it’s also genuinely fast. The 435d is a better all-round choice for those looking for pace, grace and low running costs, however.”
Read review

Model reviewed: 435i petrol
Score: 8 / 10
“The BMW 4 Series Coupe is very well balanced, darting into bends with an eagerness many cars this size can’t recreate; and the six-cylinder petrol is very smooth.”
Read review

Auto Trader

Model reviewed: (2017-20)
Score: 7.4 / 10
“BMW has a long tradition of building stylish, sporting coupes that look good and drive brilliantly, the 4 Series honouring this legacy in typical style.”
Read review

Business Car

Model reviewed: 420d xDrive
Score: 8 / 10
The 2017 BMW 4 Series Coupé 420d xDrive comes with a sophisticated interior and great handling but pricey upgrades and no wholesale changes.”
Read review

Car

Model reviewed: 440i (2017)
Score: 8 / 10
“If you value a smooth power delivery and hair-raising soundtrack, don’t hesitate to go for the 440i petrol version of the BMW 4 Series Coupé.”
Read review

Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“This ‘head-over-heart’ 420d is a fine companion fit for British roads, and just as importantly, British fuel prices – getting your hands on this much handling alacrity and still scoring more than 50mpg can’t fail to bring a grin to your face.”
Read review

Model reviewed: 435i
Score: 8 / 10
“The 4 Series Coupé 435i is sporty and enjoyable to drive; lighter, nimbler, more agile and quicker overall than its key rivals.”
Read review

Model reviewed: 435d xDrive M Sport
Score: 8 / 10
“Price notwithstanding, the 4 Series 435d xDrive M Sport is the king of the diesel coupes. It’s a great performer, but the petrol version is a better drivers’ car, and the 420d annihilates it for fuel consumption.”
Read review

Car Keys

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Whether you want tremendous performance or impressive fuel economy, there’s a car here for you, and up to a point you can have as much practicality as you want or as little as you need. And if you want this car in saloon or estate form, you can. Just buy a 3-Series and there you are.”
Read review

Carbuyer

Model reviewed:
“Best-selling version of the BMW 4 Series offers fun and frugality in equal measure.”
Read review

Evo

Model reviewed: (2017)
Score: 8 / 10
“Despite their superb cabins and handsome exterior looks, the 4 Series models still struggle to reach the dynamic heights that BMW has long been fabled for. The facelifted version does improve upon the original in terms of handling ability, but this is still a car that’s more about comfort than outright speed.”
Read review

Model reviewed: 435d xDrive M Sport Coupe
Score: 8 / 10
“Packing 309bhp, this is the most powerful 4 Series yet, and it comes complete with four-wheel drive.”
Read review

Green Car Guide

Model reviewed: 420d Sport Automatic
“The BMW 4 Series Coupé offers a driver-focused set up, with rear-wheel drive, excellent material quality and some of the best drivetrains around.”
Read review

Heycar

Model reviewed: (2014-20)
Score: 8 / 10
“BMW surprised a few people when it decided to rename coupe versions of its popular 3 Series as ‘4 Series’; but buyers have come to realise just how good this even-numbered BMW is.”
Read review

Honest John

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“BMW created a winner with the 4 Series Coupe. Stylish looks, a quality interior and a refined but enjoyable driving experience all make for a comprehensive package.”
Read review

Motoring Research

Model reviewed:
“BMW’s long-awaited alternative to the Audi A5 Sportback is predictably impressive.”
Read review

Motors

Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“The 4 Series is a sleeker and sportier-looking alternative to the saloon, as it is roughly the same size but is arguably more attractive.”

Parkers

Model reviewed:
Score: 8.4 / 10
“The BMW 4 Series Coupé is the benchmark four-seat sports coupe.”
Read review

The Sunday Times

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The BMW 4 Series Coupé is a coupé that’s as good to drive as it looks.”
Read review

Model reviewed: 435i M Sport (2014)
Score: 8 / 10
“I loved driving this car. I loved being in it as well.”
Read review

The Telegraph

Model reviewed: (2017)
Score: 8 / 10
“On paper this 4-series is just a coupé version of the ubiquitous 3-series. But it’s more than that, mainly because of the superb straight-six engine and fine balance.”
Read review

Model reviewed: (2017)
Score: 8 / 10
“The BMW 4-series Coupé is a fine all-rounder that is able to waft its occupants in comfort over long distances or be great fun on your favourite country road.”
Read review

Model reviewed: (2013-20)
Score: 8 / 10
“Responsive, accurate steering means the nose is easy to point in whichever direction you might desire; what’s more, rear-wheel drive means the 4 Series has a sense of balance that few coupés can replicate.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

No safety rating

The BMW 4 Series Coupé was not tested by Euro NCAP during its production life.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

The BMW 4 Series Coupé was not assessed by Green NCAP during its production life.

Running cost rating

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

Fuel consumption	Average	Score
Petrol models	37 mpg
Diesel models	46 mpg

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	176 g/km
Diesel models	163 g/km

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	33

The first-generation BMW 4 Series is a relatively expensive car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

Average fuel consumption for the petrol models was poor and only average for the diesel-engined versions. Insurance premiums should also be about average for the overall car market.

We don’t have servicing and maintenance cost data for this version of the 4 Series due to its age. By now, average servicing costs will vary significantly from car to car depending on age, condition and mileage.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

Total claims: 336
Average repair cost: £861.23
Last updated: April 2025

Reliability score

All data based on MotorEasy average workshop costs for extended car warranty claims

As of April 2025 (our most reecent data point), the BMW 4 Series has a reliability score that’s about average, according to exclusive extended warranty data provided by our partners at MotorEasy. This score covers coupé models as well as convertibles – from this generation (pre-2020) version as well as the current (2021 onwards) version.

Almost a quarter of all reported problems with the 4 Series relate to its engine. The average bill for these to date is an eye-watering £2,000. Gearbox problems are similarly expensive, although they seem to less common to date. Suspension and braking problems are also common, although the repair bills are much more reasonable.

If you’re looking at a used BMW 4 Series, make sure any extended warranty cover you purchase covers all of these potential problem areas shown above.

Similar cars

If you’re looking at the BMW 4 Series Coupé, you might also be interested in these alternatives

Audi A5 | Ford Mustang | Lexus RC | Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupé

Buy a BMW 4 Series Coupé

If you’re looking to buy a used BMW 4 Series Coupé, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car

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Car subscriptions from Cocoon.
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Trim level upgrades for Peugeot 208 and 2008

Model update

Sean Rees

-

1 August 2022

0

Trim level upgrades for Peugeot 208 and 2008

Peugeot has rolled out some minor updates to its its 208 hatchback and 2008 SUV model lines, including electric e-208 and e-2008 models. Essentially, entry-level and mid-range models receive a few additional features.

This small update brings changes to the entry-level ‘Active Premium’ and mid-range ‘Allure Premium’ trim grades, which are now called ‘Active Premium+’ and ‘Allure Premium+’.

The introduction of ‘Active Premium+’ means that 208 models now come with dark tinted rear and rear side windows, automatic air conditioning and automatic windscreen wipers as standard. The 2008 ‘Active Premium+’ SUV now comes with gloss black roof rails.

The updated mid-range trim gets the same infotainment console on the dashboard as cheaper models, but with Peugeot’s 3D navigation software, which offers live traffic updates as well as fuel station and parking space information, and can be controlled by giving voice commands.

The ‘Allure Premium+’ trim also includes the brand’s ‘Aluminium Pack’ – a subtle set of interior styling changes that adds an aluminium finish to the front door sills and the foot pedals.

That sums up this minor model refresh – there are no exterior styling or powertrain changes, and top-spec ‘GT’ and ‘GT Premium’ models remain the same.

Peugeot says this update is now live, and customers can now order the ‘Active Premium+’ or ‘Allure Premium+’ at UK dealerships or online using its website. Entry-level 208 models cost just over £19k, while the cheapest all-electric e-208 model is priced at just over £30k. A lead-in 2008 model will set you back around £23k, while opting for the electric version of the SUV will cost close to £34k.

Praised for its design inside and out, the Peugeot 208 currently holds an Expert Rating of 72% – a score hindered by the hatchback’s firm ride comfort. Its e-208 twin has received the same plaudits, but with its lower running costs it holds a higher Expert Rating of 76%.

The Peugoet 2008 has received similar parise for its interior and exterior styling, and holds an Expert Rating of 72%. The all-electric e-2008 holds the exact same Expert Rating score as its combustion-powered twin, with reviewers commenting that the e-SUV can’t match the battery range of class leaders.

The Car Expert scoops ‘Best Automotive Website’ honour at annual Newspress Awards

Press release

The Car Expert staff

-

29 July 2022

0

The Car Expert scoops ‘Best Automotive Website’ honour at annual Newspress Awards

28 July 2022

‘Best Automotive Website’ award for UK’s most comprehensive consumer advice site
Awards held at Bicester Heritage covered twenty-two categories across automotive journalism and PR
The Car Expert was recognised for its comprehensive consumer advice and innovative Expert Rating Index

Newspress Awards 2022 – Best automotive website winner

The Car Expert has taken home the ‘Best Automotive Website’ prize at the annual Newspress Awards.

Twenty-two winners from automotive journalism and PR were announced at the sixth Newspress Awards, held this year at Bicester Heritage.

The awards, now established as among the most coveted and competitive in the industry, were held at the popular Oxfordshire automotive campus and hosted by the voice of the National Lottery, Alan Dedicoat.

Voted as the UK’s ‘Best Automotive Website’, The Car Expert was recognised for its comprehensive consumer advice and innovative Expert Rating Index.

The judging panel commented: “The Car Expert, with its informative and factual offering, did the business this year. Its extremely comprehensive menu covers all the bases, is easy to search and is bang up to date, particularly on electrification.

“The Expert Rating Index is that rarest of things – a good new idea that has genuine potential. The website is easy on the eye and user-friendly and that’s what tipped the balance.”

The latest honour helps The Car Expert to deliver even more value for its commercial partners, providing a platform to give consumers access to offers and savings to reduce the cost of motoring.

Stuart Masson, Editorial Director at The Car Expert, said: “It’s a great honour to be recognised as the UK’s best automotive website, and a fantastic reward for all of the work the team has put in to develop our unique Expert Rating Index.

“The last two years have been a period of great growth for us. We’re still working hard on future developments, with even more additions to the Expert Rating Index coming this year to further enhance its value to car buyers. We’re also in the process of bringing the same high-quality advice and rating data to our sister site, The Van Expert, to provide crucial guidance for SMEs running vans and pick-ups.

“Many thanks to the judging panel for their recognition and to Newspress for supporting the automotive media with these awards.”

ENDS

The Car Expert
Founded in 2011, The Car Expert is the UK’s most comprehensive automotive consumer advice site. With an audience of over two million readers a year, The Car Expert provides independent and impartial advice on every aspect of buying, financing, owning, and selling new or used vehicles.

The Rotten Tomatoes equivalent for the automotive world, The Car Expert consolidates reviews from 30 of the UK’s top automotive websites to create the Expert Rating Index. Bringing together science and data analysis, the index calculates a weighted average to give an aggregated score – Expert Rating – that is comparable across different brands and models.

Winner of the ‘Best Automotive Website’ at the 2022 Newspress Awards, The Expert Rating Index factors in the age of each review, so that newer reviews carry more weight than older reviews. It also breaks down the complex web of different scoring systems that various websites use in their reviews.

The Car Expert has logged over 13,000 reviews covering more than 400 cars and over 50 manufacturers, with its Expert Rating Index now trusted as the gold standard for rating and ranking new cars in the UK.

For media enquiries, please contact Performance Communications:
Melissa Lodge: melissa@performancecomms.com
Richard Tanner: richard@performancecomms.com

15% of UK road deaths caused by drunk drivers

News

Sean Rees

-

29 July 2022

0

15% of UK road deaths caused by drunk drivers

A Department for Transport (DfT) report says that drunk drivers are responsible for 15% of road deaths in the UK, and there are suggestions that this figure could in fact be even higher.

This government report of road casualties in 2020 (the latest data available) estimates that road deaths and injuries caused by drink-driving incidents reached a total of 6,480, with between 200 and 240 of these being fatal.

While this indicates that drink driving is still clearly an issue in Britain, the report concludes that these statistics are broadly in line with the last few years.

Fatalities in reported drink-drive collisions, 2010 to 2020

Source: UK Department for Transport (DfT)

The 2020 data display a 17% reduction in drunk-driving injury and death when compared to the 2019 stats, although this is not surprising.

“The fall in overall drink drive casualties needs to be viewed in the context of Covid”, comments Hunter Abbott, managing director of breathalyser firm AlcoSense. The Coronavirus pandemic caused traffic levels to shrink by around a quarter in 2020, perhaps explaining the decrease in fatalities.

While the latest government figures indicate that 15% of UK road deaths are caused by drunk drivers according to the road laws, Abbott suggests that this percentage could be higher in real terms.

“What these figures don’t tell you is how many more casualties were caused by ‘lethal but legal’ drivers – those who were above the point of intoxication where effects on cognitive function occur, but below the official drink-drive limit.”

While European countries such as Ireland, Germany and Spain have a drink drive limit of 0.05% blood alcohol limit (BAC) in place, the limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 0.08% BAC, which is the highest in Europe – and one of the highest in the world.

Percentage of casualties occurring in drink-drive collisions by country and English region, 2020

The report also breaks down these drink-drive collision casualties by region, displaying that Wales has the highest frequency of drunk driving casualties when compared to other home nations. Scotland conversely has the lowest percentage of drunk driving injury and death – where the limit is a stricter 0.05% BAC.

In England, the East Midlands has the highest percentage of casualties, while Greater London has the lowest.

Casualties in drink-drive collisions and all reported collisions by age group, 2020

Looking at the age of offending drink-drivers, the report concludes that 65% of the drunk drivers that caused road injuries and deaths in 2020 were aged between 25 and 59 years old, while underage illegal drivers who were 15 years old or younger accounted for 4% of these casualties.

The 2020 figures also report that 78% of these drunk drivers were male.

While these figures do make for grim reading, and highlight that drink driving is still an issue, these types of collisions are down 79% compared to 1979 – suggesting that some government drink-drive initiatives have been effective over the years.

Four money-saving electric car lease tips

Carparison

-

29 July 2022

0

Four money-saving electric car lease tips

This article is brought to you by

As fuel prices continue to rise and the cost of living continues to skyrocket, we are all looking at ways to tighten the purse strings as we head into the summer.

Motorists are among those feeling the pinch, with pump prices reaching dizzying heights in recent months.

While fuel prices rise, electric cars continue to cement themselves as a more efficient and cost-effective form of motoring.

If you’re considering an electric car lease deal, here are four money-saving tips to make your cash work harder.

Consider monthly charger subscription services

It is no secret that the cost of charging can be hugely advantageous when compared to pump prices. However, something that can be overlooked are the huge upfront fees for the home chargers themselves.

The average cost of a home charger is believed to be over £1,000 once you factor in the installation fees.

There are now a number of subscription-based electric car charger providers, which allow you to include the overall cost of your charger into your monthly outgoings. The drastically reduced rate allows for greater flexibility as you spread the cost over your car lease term.

Forget badge snobbery

With so many incredibly efficient electric cars now on the market, you don’t need to pursue a premium German brand to experience some of the best EVs.

A Mercedes-Benz EQC lease comes with a whole of host of benefits and perks, but also a substantial monthly cost.

Tempting offers like an MG ZS EV lease deal can offer you a competitive claimed range of up to 273 miles, or even a Nissan Leaf, which will give you up to 239 miles.

Alternative manufacturers allow you to get some serious bang for buck in the EV world, with frugal models creating huge potential to save month on month as you charge.

Shop around for free-charging stations

Although electric prices have risen over recent months, there are still plenty of opportunities to take advantage of free charging stations.

These can often be found in supermarkets, park and rides and other local amenities. Use electric charger apps like Zap Map to filter through free charging stations in your local area.

While demand for these free chargers is always likely to be high, you can make a huge saving if you do have them nearby.

Change energy tariffs

Your current energy provider might not be the most cost-effective option for charging an electric car at home.

More and more energy suppliers are creating bespoke packages and offers aimed at electric car drivers, which often including reduced overnight rates.

Two-rate tariffs – as the name suggests – create two different energy rates. Your standard day-time running chargers, but also a reduced overnight rate. It has been well documented that charging an electric vehicle overnight can often be the best way to make your money work harder, but as more energy suppliers adapt to the growing demand for EVs, this is another area for huge potential savings.

Carparison’s best car lease deals can suit your every need. Contact their leasing specialists at www.carparisonleasing.co.uk for more information.

More car leasing information

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Your 3-minute guide to car leasing

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The best websites for short-term car leasing

Mercedes-Benz SLC (2011 to 2020)

Sean Rees

-

27 July 2022

0

Summary

The Mercedes-Benz SLC (originally known as the SLK) was a two-door retractable hard-top roadster that rivalled the likes of the Audi TT and BMW Z4.

The third-generation SLK was launched in 2011, before being renamed as the SLC as part of its mid-life facelift in 2016. The car ended production in 2020 and has not been replaced in the Mercedes-Benz range.

As part of the mid-lift update and name change, the SLC gained some exterior styling tweaks, a new nine-speed automatic transmission, updated interior tech and a few mechanical additions.

“The standard nine-speed automatic gearbox ensures smooth and effortless acceleration”, Carwow explained, while also pointing out that the SLC had sharper steering than the outgoing SLK “thanks to adaptive dampers with selectable settings.”

While the majority of reviewers agreed that the SLC was an improvement over its predecessor, several outlets found it hard to recommend the Mercedes-Benz over its rivals. While the interior was well-built – a hallmark of Mercedes-Benz models – many reviewers also commented that the design and tech was quite dated inside, even at launch.

It might have not been all that engaging on the road, nor all that practical day-to-day, but as Top Gear concluded, “the SLC works well as an easy-going 24/7 roadster.”

No longer on sale, the Mercedes-Benz SLC and SLK hold a Used Car Expert Rating of D, with a score of 56%. Its CO₂ emissions are average, but high running costs and poor media review scores drag the overall rating down.

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

SLC highlights

Attractive exterior looks
Well-built inside and out
Efficient diesel engine
Capable long-distance cruiser

SLC lowlights

Rivals are more engaging on the road
Small boot
Dated interior
SLK’s top-spec V8 engine not available

Key specifications

Body style: Two-seat roadster
Engines: petrol, diesel
Price when new: From £31,170 on-road

Launched: Summer 2011
Last updated: Winter 2019/2020
Replaced: Spring 2020

Image gallery

Media reviews

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

Featured reviews

“While an Audi TT Roadster might feel more modern inside and a Porsche 718 Boxster might be more fun to drive on the limit, the Mercedes SLC retains its proven formula of a sporty drive and a secure metal folding roof. It’s now also better kitted out, sharper to drive and more refined than ever before.”

Model reviewed: SLC

Score: 6 / 10

Read full review

Carwow

More reviews

Auto Express

Model reviewed: SLK/SLC Mk3 (2011-)
“While the first version was a decent effort and the second take was much better, this third generation featured improved build quality, dynamics and design.”
Read review

Model reviewed: 2018
Score: 5 / 10
“The SLC is now available with a decent spread of engines and is more economical.”
Read review

Model reviewed: Diesel roadster (2016)
Score: 6 / 10
“The diesel version of the Mercedes SLC is the pick of the range. It is refined at speed and impressively frugal.”
Read review

Model reviewed: SLK 2011
Score: 6 / 10
“The Mercedes SLK was the first car to feature a folding-metal roof and the latest model has aggressive looks and a sharper drive.”
Read review

Model reviewed: SLK-Class Convertible (2011)
Score: 8 / 10
“Very good to drive and improves on its predecessor’s extensive list of attributes with a roomier and more luxurious cabin, more efficient engines and even better build quality.”
Read review

Auto Trader

Model reviewed: SLC Convertible (2016)
Score: 6 / 10
“An evolution of the popular SLK of a few years back, the SLC’s combination of a prestige badge, sporty looks and a folding metal hardtop are appealing in isolation but there’s no escaping it’s feeling that the BMW Z4 and Porsche 718 Boxster are fresher and faster.”
Read review

Business Car

Model reviewed: SLK 250 CDI
Score: 8 / 10
“Diesel engine makes the Mercedes SLK the best premium, two-seat convertible for fleets.”
Read review

Car

Model reviewed: SLK 250 (2011)
Score: 8 / 10
“It’s mission accomplished for the SLK: both chassis dynamics and refinement have improved. The target female demographic won’t be offended, but men who enjoy driving fast for fun will find something to like to.”
Read review

Car Keys

Model reviewed: SLK Cabriolet 250d (2015)
Score: 8 / 10
“The SLK Convertible covers the ground at an impressive pace and majors on comfort and refinement instead of outright driving fun.”
Read review

Carbuyer

Model reviewed: (2016)
Score: 5.8 / 10
“The Mercedes SLC is a competent cruiser with a folding metal roof, but its rivals are more exciting to drive.”
Read review

Daily Mirror

Model reviewed: Final Edition
“Still king of the roadsters. The SLC 300 provides the perfect balance of power and economy.”
Read review

Model reviewed: SLK Convertible (2011)
Score: 6 / 10
“The third generation Mercedes-Benz SLK Roadster is the sportiest and most engaging version yet.”
Read review

Model reviewed:
“There’s no doubt the 2143cc diesel engine in this SLK 250 CDI roadster is a bit noisier than the equivalent petrol engine, but that’s made up for by the number that keeps popping up on the fuel computer.”
Read review

Fleetworld

Model reviewed: 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY
“The SLK is an excellent cruiser which rides rough surfaces impeccably even on large wheels, and it’s still sharp enough to be entertaining when the mood takes you.”
Read review

Green Car Guide

Model reviewed: SLK 250 CDI (2012)
Score: 8 / 10
“If you’re looking for a two-seater convertible that majors more on luxury rather than sportiness, whilst also combining efficiency, then the SLK 250 CDI could be the answer.”
Read review

Heycar

Model reviewed: SLC range
Score: 7 / 10
“The Mercedes-Benz SLC offers a rare combination of compact size, reasonably affordable price and a folding metal roof. A strong range of engines, along with the excellent nine-speed automatic gearbox, add to the overall package. However, a dated interior design and small boot hold the SLC back against other rivals.”
Read review

Honest John

Model reviewed: SLC (2016)
Score: 6 / 10
“Folding metal hard-top roof offers security and refinement and the optional Airscarf allows open-top motoring even when temperature drops.”
Read review

Model reviewed: SLK (2011)
“The SLK has a high-quality interior but it’s not as good to drive as competition.”
Read review

Motoring Research

Model reviewed: SLC
Score: 6 / 10
“Central to the Mercedes-Benz SLC’s appeal is an electric metal roof, which delivers all-weather practicality and enhanced security when parking the car outside.”
Read review

Parkers

Model reviewed: SLK Roadster (2011-2016)
Score: 8 / 10
“The SLK has always been one of the most interesting cars when it comes to new technology.”
Read review

The Sun

Model reviewed:
“If driven correctly, it’s nearly as much fun as any other low-powered roadster on the market.”
Read review

The Sunday Times

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“Facelift gives SLC roadster a few more years but time is catching up.”
Read review

Model reviewed: SLK (2011-2016)
Score: 8 / 10
“Still one of the most desirable roadsters available, with heaps of class, excellent build quality and a strong selection of engines.”
Read review

Model reviewed: SLK roadster 2011
Score: 8 / 10
“Still one of the most desirable roadsters available, with heaps of class, excellent build quality and a strong selection of engines.”
Read review

The Telegraph

Model reviewed: (2016)
Score: 7 / 10
“If what you’re looking for is a comfortable cruiser that looks great and makes you feel special, the SLC fits the bill.”
Read review

Model reviewed:
“The SLK is by no means the sharpest two-seater in the toy box, but it vies for the title of best all-rounder.”
Read review

Top Gear

Model reviewed: SLC
Score: 6 / 10
“Ultimately uninspiring to drive, but works well as an easy-going 24/7 roadster.”
Read review

Model reviewed: SLK 250 CDI 2dr Tip Auto
Score: 6 / 10
“Mercedes has dropped a 2.1-litre diesel into the SLK, so genteel lunch parties up and down the land will now start with a bit more rattle than before.”
Read review

Model reviewed: SLK 250 2dr Tip Auto (2011)
Score: 6 / 10
“This Mercedes SLK is better-looking and economy and emissions figures are impressive for a sports car.’
Read review

Model reviewed: SLK 250 2dr Tip Auto
Score: 6 / 10
“This all-new SLK is a car for optimists, because if Mercedes can build a sports car that returns 39.8mpg and 167g/km from a V6, then we’ll all be driving fun cars for years to come.”
Read review

Safety rating

No safety rating

The Mercedes-Benz SLC was not crash tested by Euro NCAP during its production life.

Eco rating

No eco rating

The Mercedes-Benz SLC was not lab tested by Green NCAP during its production life.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

Total claims: 10
Average repair cost: £435.29
Last updated: April 2025

Reliability score

All data based on MotorEasy average workshop costs for extended car warranty claims

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Kia Niro

Sean Rees

-

27 July 2022

0

Summary

The Kia Niro is a compact hybrid crossover/SUV that sits between the smaller Stonic and larger Sportage in the Kia family. This is the second-generation Niro, which arrived in the UK in the middle of 2022.

The Niro family includes hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric models, but the electric variant has its own separate Expert Rating, called the Niro EV. Some of the reviews below group all of these Niro models together, but most outlets have reviewed the Niro EV separately.

Built from the ground up on a new platform, the latest iteration of the Niro has received a warm reception from the British motoring media, who regard the SUV as an improvement over the first-generation – with stand-out exterior styling that Parkers calls “stylish”, and an interior that looks quite similar to the inside of the highly-regarded Kia EV6 crossover.

“It feels fairly upmarket and infinitely more interesting than before”, Heycar comments, while also praising the Niro for its “exceptionally low running costs”.

That said, Heycar also concludes that the Niro is unfortuately no longer “a true budget option”, referencing the noticable price hike from the old generation to the new, and several journalists reported feeling rather underwhelmed by the SUV’s performance.

Both the standard petrol-hybrid and the more expensive plug-in hybrid models use the same 1.6-litre petrol engine, which Parkers says has a pretty “raucous” soundtrack under acceleration, and a few reviewers argue that there are better compact SUV options on the market that have sharper handling and punchier performance.

As of July 2025, the Kia Niro holds a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 74%. That’s a few points short of its all-electric twin – the Kia Niro EV. It scores tyop marks for its low CO₂ emissions, competitive running costs and seven-year new car warranty, while its safety rating is also good.

Niro highlights

Attractive exterior looks
Improved practicality
Plenty of impressive on-board tech
Spacious and well-built interior
Low running costs

Niro lowlights

Model line-up gets expensive
PHEV version has smaller boot
Underwhelming performance
Rivals have sharper handling
Noisy petrol engine

Key specifications

Body style: Compact SUV/crossover
Engines: hybrid, plug-in hybrid
Price: From £27,745 on-road

Launched: Summer 2022
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 Kia Niro is a sensible and practical family car in either hybrid or plug-in hybrid form, but its new higher quality is accompanied by a higher price.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 7 / 10

Read full review

Carwow

“Efficient, practical and boasting excellent onboard technology, the Kia Niro is a family SUV that offers great value for money.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 8 / 10

Read full review

Auto Express

Ellis Hyde

More reviews

Auto Express

Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol/electric hybrid
Score: 8 / 10
“Some might expect that a dual-purpose EV and combustion-engined platform would compromise the new Kia Niro, but it’s worked wonders for the hybrid version. Featuring the same mature drive, versatility and excellent interior tech as the pricier pure-electric version, it’s great value. It’s efficiency is also a plus, but we’d appreciate a quieter and more effortless powertrain.”
Read review

Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid 4
Score: 8 / 10
“The new Kia Niro works best as an EV, but the plug-in hybrid version offers a taste of electric car ownership in a comfortable, tech-laden package. It’s a shame that the car’s battery eats into boot space, but the Niro PHEV’s civilised dynamics and spacious cabin make it a front-running family crossover.”
Read review

Auto Trader

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 10 / 10
“Thanks to its bold styling this Niro stands out from both its predecessor and immediate rivals, reflecting Kia’s growing confidence and status.”
Read review

Business Car

Model reviewed: Range overview
“Its steering is well-balanced, the ride is smooth – even with 18in alloys fitted – and it feels nimble enough on twisty country roads. Calm and collected is not necessarily a bad thing for a family SUV.”
Read review

Car

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“This is a really difficult car to love. The PHEV is more relaxed than the HEV but neither have the sort of effortless, easy driving manners that we’d like from a modern hybrid. It’s nowhere near as bad as the worst – the dreadful Renault Arkana or woeful Suzuki Vitara Hybrid share that crown, and are orders of magnitude less appealing than the Niro.”
Read review

Car Keys

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The latest Kia Niro arrived with a lot of expectations on its shoulders. After all, this is a car that acts as a replacement for a model that was hugely popular, both with buyers who were focused on an electrified vehicle as well as those who simply wanted an affordable yet practical hatchback.” (Ted Welford)
Read review

Carbuyer

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.6 / 10
“The new Kia Niro has more space, tech and performance than ever, but it’s more expensive than before too.” (Sam Naylor)
Read review

Driving Electric

Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol/electric hybrid
Score: 8 / 10
“The latest Kia Niro’s technology, styling and practicality set it apart from the rest of the hybrid family cars on the market.” (Ellis Hyde)
Read review

Electrifying.com

Model reviewed: petrol/electric plug-in hybrid
Score: 8 / 10
“We are always going to champion the full electric version of the Kia Niro, especially as it is now better to drive and more practical. But the plug-in hybrid gets many of the same improvements and the tax is usefully low.” (Ginny Buckley)
Read review

Heycar

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Kia Niro’s cabin bears more than a passing resemblance to the electric Kia EV6, which is a good thing. A very good thing. It feels fairly upmarket and infinitely more interesting than before.”
Read review

Honest John

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The new Kia Niro manages to be both rational and likeable. The looks may divide opinion but it’s certainly more characterful than the old one, while it’s decent (if unexciting) to drive, offers very low running costs and a spacious and high-tech cabin.”
Read review

Parkers

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.4 / 10
“The new Kia Niro is striking to look at and practical but if you’re a keen driver we think there are better options available. The Niro falls down as soon as you start moving, with a raucous engine note and poor on-road dynamics compared with the best compact SUVs.”
Read review

The Telegraph

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“No, the Kia Niro isn’t going to challenge the Ford Puma for get up and go and can’t rival the Renault Arkana’s 480-litre load space, or the sheer technical efficiency of the Honda HR-V, but if you try to keep a lid on the spending it provides safe, economical transport for a family of four.”
Read review

Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“Underneath the Niro is as strong as ever in this second-generation. It’s still not the most exciting thing in the world and the EV is the better car to drive thanks to its super smooth power delivery and pleasant silence inside.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 4 stars
Date tested: September 2022
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 91%
Child protection: 84%
Vulnerable road users: 75%
Safety assist: 60%

The current-generation Kia Niro was assessed by Euro NCAP in October 2022, achieving a four-star safety rating. This rating stands for the hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants of the SUV, as well as the all-electric Kia Niro EV.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of July 2025, the second-generation Kia Niro has not been assessed by Green NCAP.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

As of July 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the latest iteration of the Kia Niro to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the second-generation Niro, we’ll publish the score here.

Running cost rating

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

Fuel consumption	Average	Score
Hybrid models	62 mpg	A
Plug-in hybrid models	317 mpg	A

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Hybrid models	104 g/km	A
Plug-in hybrid models	20 g/km	A

Battery range	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Plug-in hybrid models	38 miles	D

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	22	A

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£190	A
Year 2	£492	A
Year 3	£788	A
Year 4	£990	A
Year 5	£1,303	A
Overall	£3,763	A

The Kia Niro is a very cheap car to run, according to data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our partner, Clear Vehicle Data. The Niro scores an A in every category – fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions (which determines your road tax), insurance group and servicing costs.

It’s important to note that the fuel consumption figures for the plug-in hybrid Niro’s are completely unrealistic, but that’s a fault of the EU/UK testing requirements, rather than Kia being misleading. The battery range of the plug-in hybrid also looks poor, but it’s about average for a plug-in hybrid vehicle compared to a fully electric car (the all-electric Kia Niro EV has a battery range of 285 miles, for comparison).

Whichever model you choose, you can be confident that the Kia Niro will be cheaper to run than most similar vehicles.

Warranty rating

New car warranty information for the Kia Niro

Overall ratingA91%
Petrol or diesel modelsA85%
Electric or hybrid modelsA99%
New car warranty duration7 years
New car warranty mileage100,000 miles
Battery warranty duration8 years
Battery warranty mileage100,000 miles

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

The duration is seven years, with a limit of 100,000 miles. This is good news for both new and used car buyers, as it helps the residual value of the Niro for new car buyers when they come to sell the car, and it gives near-new car buyers confidence that they are covered for years to come.

In addition to the overall new car warranty, battery components on the hybrid and plug-in hybrid models benefit from an additional eight-year/100,000-mile warranty, which is why they get a better score than the standard petrol and diesel models.

If you’re looking to buy a used car that is approaching the end of its warranty period, a used car warranty is usually a worthwhile investment. Check out The Car Expert’s guide to the best used car warranty providers, which will probably be cheaper than a warranty sold by a dealer.

Awards

Significant UK trophies and awards that the Kia Niro has received

2024

Business Motoring Awards – Best Small Car + Best Hybrid
Fleet News Awards – Best Lower Medium Car

2023

EcoCar Electrified Top 50 – Electrified Car of the Year + Best Hybrid Medium SUV and Best Plug-In Hybrid Medium SUV
Fleet World Awards – Best Fleet Small SUV
UK Car of the Year Awards – Best Crossover

2022

Auto Express Awards – Best Small SUV
Carbuyer Awards – Car of the Year + Best Small Family Car + Best Hybrid
DrivingElectric Awards – Best Hybrid Family Car
News UK Motor Awards – The Sun Car of the Year

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Buy a Kia Niro

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

Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more

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Lease a Kia Niro

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

Personal contract hire deals from Carwow. Find out more

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

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

Subscribe to a Kia Niro

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

Car subscriptions from SelfDrive.
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Car subscriptions from Cocoon.
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All-new Honda Civic Type R unveiled

New model

Sean Rees

-

26 July 2022

0

Following the launch of the 11th-generation Honda Civic, the next iteration of the hot hatch Civic Type R has been revealed, which the manufacturer says will be the most powerful Type R model it has ever produced.

This new model has been unveiled to celebrate 25 years of Civic Type R hot hatches – set to arrive in the UK in early 2023 with sportier exterior styling, unique interior touches and some mechanical upgrades over the standard Civic range.

While its predecessor had pretty polarising dramatic exterior looks, Honda has decided on a slightly more conservative approach this time around. Besides sporty front and rear bumpers, a large rear wing features once again to provide more downforce on the road, but sits lower but wider than the previous model.

While the standard Civic comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, larger 19-inch alloy wheels feature on the new Civic Type R, fitted with track-focused Michelin tyres.

Honda says that improving aerodynamics has been a key focus – redesigned rear doors and wheel arches are reported to bring aerodynamic benefits, and a larger lower front grille works in tandem with a bonnet vent to improve airflow, and provide more cool air to the engine.

Speaking of the engine, the new Honda Civic Type R is not a petrol-electric hybrid like the latest version of the standard Civic range. Instead, the hot hatch is fitted with a conventional turbocharged petrol engine – a revised version of the 2.0-litre unit found in the old Type R model.

As most of Honda’s European model range has become electrified as standard, this could be the last combustion-powered Honda to ever launch in the UK.

While the previous generation could muster 306hp and a top speed of 169mph, Honda says that turbocharger tweaks and reduced curb weight makes this new model the most powerful Type R to ever go into production. However, the company has not released any detailed performance stats just yet, so we’ll have to wait a bit longer to find out exactly how much power the new model has.

The car’s brakes and exhaust system have also been upgraded. Like its predecessor, it comes with a six-speed manual gearbox.

The interior will be a familiar sight if you have seen pictures of the inside of the standard Civic, but the Civic Type R comes with a few unique design elements – most notably the suede-like upholstery and floor mats trimmed in a rich red, the same red that features on the Honda badge on the car’s exterior and steering wheel.

The seats themselves are designed to hold occupants tighter in high-speed corners, and sit lower than those found in the previous Type R model, which Honda says improves visibility of the bonnet and minimises blind spots.

The driver can switch through various performance settings and drive modes using a bespoke digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel, and like the last generation, the car comes with a data logger feature than can be accessed through the ten-inch infotainment screen or your smartphone to provide detailed performance stats and tips for how to improve your lap times.

The new Civic Type R will go on sale next year, with first deliveries to customers beginning in Europe from early 2023. The outgoing model it replaces ended production in 2021, but is still regarded as one of the best performance packages on the used market. According to our award-winning Expert Rating Index, it currently holds an impressive Expert Rating of 88%.

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