Citroën has started taking orders for the facelifted version of its C5 Aircross SUV, which arrives in UK showrooms this spring.
Launched in 2018, the model has undergone a series of mild visual changes. The main area of attention has been the car’s front end which is now more vertical – paradoxically improving the car’s aerodynamics, according to its creators.
The grille is restyled in similar form to Citroën’s C4 and soon-to-launch C5 X models, with the chevron logo now more cleaarly separated from the grille decoration.
The major specification change is the availability of Citroën’s ‘Advanced Comfort’ suspension and seating system, which uses hydraulic cushions to improve the ride quality for occupants.
Trim levels have been revised too. The range starts with ‘Sense Plus’, replacing the previous ‘Sense’ and adding 18-inch alloy wheels alongside a reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, keyless entry/engine starting and electric folding exterior mirrors.
The entry-level Sense Plus gets basic autonomous emergency braking (which is a minimum legal requirement as of March 2022), while the mid-range ‘Shine’ spec gets a more advanced version with radar assistance that is better at detecting pedestrians and cyclists.
Shine versions also add adaptive cruise control, upgraded seats with Alcantara upholstery and ‘Urban Black’ interior styling.
Range-topping ‘C-Series Edition’ versions add two-tone roof styling with an Anodised Bronze colour pack, an opening panoramic glass sunroof, wireless charging and a motorised tailgate with hands-free access.
C5 Aircross models are available with either petrol or diesel engines, both producing 130hp, while Shine and C-Series Edition versions can also be had with a plug-in-hybrid powertrain combining a 180hp petrol engine with an 80kW electric motor.
On sale since the end of 2018, the Citroën C5 Aircross has received consistently good reviews from the UK media for the last three years and currently holds an Expert Rating of 71% in our Expert Rating Index.
The facelifted Citroën C5 Aircross is expected in showrooms in the spring of 2022 ,with prices starting at just over £25.5K.
Porsche has applied its ‘T’ designation to a new and ‘more agile and responsive’ version of the Macan SUV.
The Macan is the first four-door Porsche to be given the T moniker, which stands for Touring. Previously it has only been applied to the two-door 911 Carrera and 718 Cayman / Boxster sports cars.
The new model will sit between the stock Macan and the Macan S in the model line-up and is intended to offer improved driving dynamics over the Macan S.
This is achieved principally by a new engine, a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo at 265hp which according to Porsche saves almost 59kg of weight over the front axle compared to the 2.9-litre 354hp twin-turbo V8 of the Macan S. As a result acceleration off the line and cornering ability are improved.
The Macan T won’t be as fast as the Macan S – it returns a 0-62mph time of 6.2 seconds, compared to the 4.6 seconds of its sister. Combined cycle fuel consumption is quoted at 26-28mpg and CO2 emissions at 229-242g/km.
The engine is mated as standard to a seven-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive system – this is retuned to suit the car with a bias towards the rear axle.
Also standard is the Sport Chrono package, which includes selectable driving modes and a launch control button on the steering wheel for fine control of swift getaways.
The Macan T chassis is lowered slightly over the standard car and employs steel-sprung suspension with the electronically controlled Porsche Active Suspension Management. Further changes intended to improve handling include stiffer front anti-rollbars, while the optional air suspension will lower the body a further centimetre.
Dealers are taking orders for the Macan T at prices starting from £53,970. First deliveries are expected in spring 2022 and all buyers will be invited to a driving day at the Porsche Experience Centre experience centre at the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit.
If you’ve got a second car which you’re not really using and you’re debating whether to sell it, now could be a great time to do so. The value of used cars increased in 2021 due to the holdups in new car supplies.
According to experts, values are not going to fall suddenly in 2022. “We’re seeing absolutely no evidence of that being the case,” says Richard Walker, Auto Trader’s director of data and insights.
“The new and used car supply constraints will last for much of the year, and with the economy set to grow, we can expect to see the very robust levels of consumer demand continue. Simple economics therefore point to a continuation of very strong price growth well into 2022.”
Its research found that the average price of a used car had grown by more than 30% from December 2020 to 2021. Also, for a third (33%) of people it asked in a survey, owning a car was more important for them now than it was pre-pandemic.
However, the flipside of this is that the value of any replacement car you buy will also have gone up. Then again, you won’t have a depreciating asset.
There used to be some seasonal price variations for selling certain types of car: convertibles went better in summer and four-wheel drives in winter, but these no longer really apply.
There’s been a noticeable increase in people treating themselves to the type or car they’ve always wanted with money saved, so demand for sports cars, prestige brands and SUVs is strong all-year round. In the event that your second car is electric and you’re wanting to sell, they are top of the most wanted list.
If your second car will be coming to the end of a personal contract purchase (PCP) agreement this year, you could be in a unique position because of the way these are structured.
Once you have completed all the regular monthly payments on a PCP, you choose whether or not to make the final balloon payment to own the car outright, or hand it back. Because current used car values are running significantly higher than what was expected three or four years ago when your balloon was set, there’s a good chance that your car may be worth more than the balloon payment.
Here’s an example. In October 2019 a typical PCP quote used by a car magazine for a BMW 118i Sport run over a three years and 36,000 mile contract came with an optional final balloon payment of £10,458.
In January 2022, however, the lowest value given in a price guide for the same car was still £16,175 in poor condition for private sale, £18,215 good condition. The part exchange value was £17,220
Even if used car prices fell by only a little this year, if in October 2022 you paid off the BMW’s balloon payment set in 2019, you could potentially make several thousand by selling the car straight on, or if you kept it, still make money some time ahead.
You’ll obviously need to check your own numbers and you’ll also need to check what requirements the finance company has for you to be able to sell the car while it’s still under finance, but it’s certainly worth investigating.
Once you’ve sold your second car (hopefully for a decent price), as an alternative to committing to buying or financing another second car right now, you could bank the capital and think about having a car subscription. Insurance, road tax and maintenance are usually included.
You can have an initial contract as low as six months, then rolling on a one-month basis when you can just hand the car back if you no longer need it or want a change.
If you’re thinking about an electric car as your second car, a subscription is a good way to try one out without having to commit. The Car Expert has several commercial partners offering subscriptions. Monthly costs can be as low as £239 for a small car. A number of manufacturers, such as Volvo and Hyundai, also offer subscriptions.
You may have heard of scrappage schemes. These are incentives for people to trade in older more polluting cars (which then have to be scrapped) in return for a government grant or a discount off a new car by a manufacturer. The boom year for these was 2009 when car sales were sluggish.
There are no more government handouts, but a number of manufacturers were running scrappage schemes in 2021. There are fewer so far for 2022. As of early 2022, Kia was offering £1,750 off a new Picanto or Rio, or £2,250 off a Kia Stonic against cars seven years or more old. Lexus up to £4,000 for vehicles registered before 1 October 2012.
If you live in a UK city which already has a clean air zone, or is planning to have one, this may affect your decision to sell either your older diesel or petrol carl. You also may want to factor this in if you are moving home to a new city. We look at whether to keep or sell diesel here.
As they bring in clean air zones, some councils have also introduced incentives to scrap older petrol and diesel vehicles. It’s gone now, but in 2019 London offered £1,000 – £2,000 grants to scrap non-compliant cars and motorcycles.
However, right now, if you have a ten-year old car, it may still be better to sell it than go in for a scrappage scheme. The increase in used car values is across the board. According to Auto Trader’s data, the average price of a five to ten year-old car increased by 62% in 2021.
* The Car Expert has commercial partnerships with Auto Trader, Cazoo, Motorway, Mycardirect and Wagonex. If you click through to their websites, we may receive a small commission.
New premium brand Genesis has confirmed that the GV60, its first model designed solely as an electric vehicle (EV), will go on sale across Europe from summer 2022.
The Hyundai sister brand first unveiled the GV60 in 2021 and also announced that the existing G80 large saloon and GV70 medium SUV will be offered as EVs.
But the GV60, built on a platform that also underpins the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5, is the brand’s first ‘proper’ EV as Genesis moves towards a stated aim of by 2025 only launching electric cars.
The GV60 will be offered in three versions – the Premium will use a 168kW single motor and will be sold for its range capability of up to 321 miles between charges.
Sport versions will be all-wheel-drive with two motors of 160kW and 74kW, while range-topper will be the Sport Plus. This has a pair of 160kW motors and features a ‘drift mode’ and a ‘boost mode’ in which each motor adds an extra 20kW of power.
Genesis is yet to give full specification details for the GV60, but states that it will be “packed with next-generation technology”. Standard features will include a range of active safety systems, a 12-inch dual infotainment screen and wireless phone charging, while the options list will include a panoramic sunroof and digital rear-view mirrors.
When the GV60 goes on sale it will be the sixth Genesis model and the star of the brand’s first full year of UK sales. Genesis launched into Europe in the summer of 2021 with the G70 and G80 saloons and the GV70 and GV80 SUVs, while a Shooting Brake version of the G70 was added in November.
Prices of the GV60 models are yet to be released along with an on-sale date, Genesis only stating that the car will be on sale later in 2022.
They may be ‘smart’ but the majority of UK drivers don’t think our high-tech motorways are safe. Only 5% of British drivers think the new motorway scheme, in which the conventional ‘hard shoulder’ is opened to free-flowing traffic, is as safe as using traditional motorways. And more than a third (36%) think hard shoulders should be reinstated as soon as possible.
The Government has recently announced a pause in the introduction of more smart motorways while they assess their safety. It follows a number of high-profile deaths of car users who were stranded in a live motorway lane.
The new research, from automotive repair company Kwik-Fit, has revealed that an increasing number of drivers are taking their own precautionary measures when using smart stretches that are already in operation.
It found that 73% of British drivers say they don’t drive on the hard shoulder of a smart motorway, even though the signs show that it is open for traffic. This number has increased from 56% of drivers when the company asked the same question in 2019.
Concerns that there may be a stationary vehicle ahead is the most common reason (31%) given by drivers who said they avoided the hard shoulder. Just behind that (30%) of drivers said they simply did not think that smart motorways are safe and therefore drive as if it’s a normal motorway.
While only 22% of drivers said they did not understand the signage – compared with 29% in 2019 – it still means that one in five drivers who don’t use the hard shoulder say they are still not confident with the current gantry signs.
Approximately the same number of hard shoulder avoiders (19%) say they are concerned about having no escape route to their left hand side if they have to change lanes quickly, 17% say they don’t like driving so close to the verge, and 15% are worried about damage from debris on the hard shoulder.
More than one in three drivers (36%) believe smart motorways are more dangerous and, rather than any Government pause in their further introduction, they want permanent hard shoulders reinstated as soon as possible.
Six per cent of people believe that smart motorways are more dangerous but that any increase in risk is justified if they reduce congestion, but 12% said congestion problems should be tackled in a different way.
“Smart motorways have been a huge topic of debate and it is absolutely correct for the government to pause their development to both gather data and ensure that the UK’s motorways are as safe as possible,” said Roger Griggs, Kwik-Fit communications director.
“In the meantime, drivers must ensure they stay protected. Punctures and other tyre problems are a common cause of motorway emergency. Checking tyre pressures and condition, ensuring they have enough fuel for the trip, and topping up their oil to the correct level will all help in avoiding an emergency on their journey.”
The two new models join the existing mild hybrid versions of the Panda and (old) 500 city cars in the Fiat line-up. However, only the all-new Fiat 500e (which is completely unrelated to the old 500) is available as a fully electric model.
The new mild hybrids combine the existing four-cylinder 1.5-litre 130hp petrol engine with a 15kW electric motor (equivalent to 20hp). A new seven-speed automatic transmission is standard on both models.
The setup is slightly more useful than a regular mild hybrid installation as it can provide a limited amount of power to the vehicle using just the electric motor, which most mild hybrids can’t do. However, this is limited to start-up, creeping in stop-start traffic and some parking manoeuvres. When you actually want to drive at more than a few mph, the petrol engine will immediately kick in.
Most of the time, the electric motor works like any other mild hybrid to support the petrol engine. It provides additional performance to minimise turbo lag, and it can also warm up the catalytic converter in cold weather to reduce pollution on short journeys. Overall, official CO2 emissions are improved by up to 11%.
In addition to the mild hybrid engines, the 500X will continue to be available with a 1.0-litre 120hp petrol engine, and the Tipo with a 1.0-litre 100hp petrol unit.
As with the 500 and Panda, the mild hybrid models will be distinguished by a Hyrbid logo on the tailgate depicting two leaves with blue dew drops. They will be specified in similar fashion to their petrol equivalents, with both models available in three trim levels and the 500X with both hard and soft-top options.
Optional on both models will be Fiat’s driver assistance package – among its features are autonomous emergency braking, a driver drowsiness alert, traffic sign recognition, lane control, blind-spot warning and auto high-beam headlamps.
Fiat dealers start taking orders for the new versions this month, the 500X Hybrid priced from £27,585 and the Tipo Hybrid from £27,595. First deliveries are expected in the spring.
Launched back in 2014, the first-generation BMW 2 Series Active Tourer was the German brand’s first people carrier model. Now off sale, the second generation of this MPV is set to arrive in 2022.
Available as a petrol or diesel model, entry-level versions of the 2 Series Active Tourer did provide direct competition to the Volkswagen Touran MPV, while higher-spec variants, including a range-topping plug-in hybrid model, rivalled more premium alternatives like the Mercedes-Benz B-Class.
While the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer was strictly a five-seater, a seven-seat extended version, called the 2 Series Gran Tourer, arrived in 2015. Both models were updated in 2018 with improved infotainment systems and other enhancements.
The Active Tourer was highly regarded by the British media during its seven-year tenure, Car Keys summarising in its review that this MPV continued “to prove that committing to an MPV doesn’t have to sacrifice a good driving experience, a premium image and a high-quality interior.”
While providing one of the most premium offerings in the MPV segment, the 2 Series Active Tourer was, as Auto Trader describes “undeniably pricey”, particularly towards the top end of the range.
The ride comfort of the Active Tourer was also criticised by a number of UK reviewers, as well as the fuel economy of the plug-in hybrid version.
As of February 2026, the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer holds a Used Car Expert Rating of B, with a score of 65%.
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
The Car Expert
Model reviewed: “The Active Tourer was highly regarded by the British media during its seven-year tenure.” Read review
“This car rides like a BMW, performs like a BMW and can be specified with all the technology familiar to BMW owners, right up to such niceties as a head-up display. It is just a BMW with rather a lot of practicality.” Read review
Auto Express
Score: 7 / 10 “The Active Tourer’s handling lacks the ultimate engagement for sporty drivers, but it’s still significantly better to drive than most rivals.” Read review
Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Score: 6.8 / 10 “It’s reasonably practical, good to drive, high in quality, and its desirability and efficiency helps makes it a sound financial proposition, despite being undeniably pricey. A worthy contender for your money if you don’t want to follow the crowd into SUV ownership.” Read review
Business Car
Model reviewed: “BMW’s decision to introduce front-wheel drive variants has not been popular with purists, but the 2 Series Active Tourer is surprisingly sharp and the steering offers sufficient feedback.” Read review
Car
Model reviewed: 220d xDrive (2015) Score: 8 / 10 “The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer’s only direct rival on paper is the Mercedes B-Class 4MATIC, and it’s a darn sight more desirable than that.” Read review
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 6 / 10 “The Active Tourer’s nip-and-tuck isn’t going to make national newspaper headlines. The tweaks are minor really, aimed at broadening the AT’s already strong appeal rather than changing the game in any demonstrable way. It’s still a highly practical, cleverly designed product, though.” Read review
Model reviewed: Active Tourer 225xe (2016) Score: 8 / 10 “As a technical exercise the 225xe is incredibly impressive and the integration and packaging of the drivetrain in particular is very neat. For many of us, this BMW could offer all the benefits of an electric car, with none of the drawbacks.” Read review
Score: 8 / 10 “With the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, it looks as if BMW has not only managed to reinvent the minivan, but also lifted it to a more upscale and profitable basis.” Read review
Car Keys
Model reviewed: 2021 Score: 8 / 10 “The 2 Series Active Tourer continues to prove that committing to an MPV doesn’t have to sacrifice a good driving experience, a premium image and a high-quality interior.” Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 6.8 / 10 “Once the Active Tourer’s many attributes are counted, its higher price starts to look more reasonable. Ultimately, less stylish rivals such as the Citroen e-Berlingo and Peugeot e-Rifter do offer more for your money, but they lack the premium image and driving experience of the BMW.” Read review
Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 6 / 10 “The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer has (just about) room for five people and a high quality interior. You’ll pay for that premium feel, though.” Read review
Driving Electric
Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10 “One of the very few hybrid MPVs, the first-generation 2 Series Active Tourer plug-in is worth a look.” Read review
Green Car Guide
Model reviewed: 225xe M Sport Score: 8 / 10 “The BMW 225xe M Sport Active Tourer makes sense for mainly short family journeys, when you could save decent amounts of money on running costs if the car was driven primarily on electric power.” Read review
Model reviewed: 220i Active Tourer Score: 8 / 10 “It is almost certainly the most premium offering in this segment with styling that does its best with the MPV brief, good driving dynamics, excellent build quality and a fantastic new engine.” Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “Yet this BMW isn’t just a one trick pony. It’s also spacious enough for families, practical with a big boot and comfortable too. A pretty attractive package then. Apart from the looks that is.” Read review
Honest John
Score: 8 / 10 “The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer feels every bit as plush as a larger car like the 3 Series, plus it offers great driving dynamics and plenty of technology.” Read review
Motoring Research
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 6 / 10 “A charmless people carrier that’s not a true BMW, although it is roomy, practical and reasonably entertaining to drive.” Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7.6 / 10 “Don’t overlook this excellent small MPV – it’s a good steer…” Read review
The Sun
“For families who cannot bear an MPV with an ordinary badge who are prepared to sacrifice ultimate versatility then it’s a fine choice.” Read review
The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: PHEV (2016) Score: 8 / 10 “The 2 Series Active Tourer PHEV is a smart family car offering significant savings.” Read review
Score: 8 / 10 “I came down from the mountain a converted man. The BMW 2-series Active Tourer gets my vote.” Read review
The Telegraph
Score: 8 / 10 “The BMW 2-series Active Tourer is perhaps its most useful. The car’s high-quality feel, excellent fuel economy and versatile interior make it easy to recommend.” Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview (Active and Grand Tourer models) Score: 6 / 10 “Cosier and more expensive than rivals, but appealing badge and quality.” Read review
“The BMW 2-series Active Tourer closely approaches the dynamics of an actual car.” Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
The BMW 2 Series Acrtive Tourer was awarded a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP back when this model was launched in 2014. However, this rating expired in January 2021 as the 2 Series no longer met the requirements for a five-star car. 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 BMW 2 Series 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 BMW 2 Series Active Tourer 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
45 mpg
C
Diesel models
56 mpg
B
Plug-in hybrid models
171 mpg
A
CO₂ output
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Petrol models
144 g/km
C
Diesel models
132 g/km
B
Plug-in hybrid models
38 g/km
A
Battery range
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Plug-in hybrid models
32 miles
E
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
18
A
The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer 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 is only average for the petrol models but better for the diesels. If you buy a plug-in hybrid model and are able to keep the battery charged regularly, economy will be very good. If you’re using the battery, fuel economy is likely to be worse than the standard petrol model.
Insurance costs should be very competitive. We don’t have servicing and maintenance costs as this model is now too old, but costs are likely to vary significantly from car to car due to age and mileage factors rather than the scheduled BMW service plan.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
Total claims: 279 Average repair cost: £601.49 Last updated: April 2025
As of October 2024, the overall BMW 2 Series family has a fairly average reliability rating of 64%, based on warranty claims data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our commercial partner, MotorEasy. This score applies to all the various iterations of the 2 Series (Active Tourer, Gran Tourer, Gran Coupé, coupé and convertible), and both current and previous models, so it’s a very wide net of quite different vehicles.
Based on quite a large number of claims, the average repair cost for a 2 Series to date is £600 – which is obviously more than the cost of a used car warranty so that’s certainly worth considering.
Most of the repair bills to date have been reasonably average, but the overall numbers are skewed by a small number of very expensive fuel system repairs, which averaged nearly £1,200 each. Gearbox repair bills have also been expensive at about £1,800, so make sure that any used car warranty you purchase covers these particular areas.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer has received
2018
Honest John Awards – Best MPV
2015
Red Dot Awards – Red Dot Design Award
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Mercedes-Benz’s answer to the Audi R8 and Porsche 911, the Mercedes-AMG GT Coupé was a luxury sports car that went on sale in the UK in 2015. It was discontinued in 2023 ahead of an all-new model arriving in the UK in 2024.
The AMG GT was the second sports car that the Mercedes-AMG team developed entirely in-house, after the AMG SLS supercar – both of these performance models shared many exterior design traits.
However, Mercedes-AMG designed the GT with slightly more affordability and practicality in mind, in hope of reaching a wider audience. The unique but very expensive gullwing doors of the SLS were replaced by conventional doors, and the GT Coupé had a rather large boot for its class, totalling 350 litres.
Performance was still the key focus, however. The AMG GT used a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine – the entry-level model producing an impressive 469hp. A high-performance variant, the GT R, arrived in 2017 with an improved power output of 577hp, and the ultimate iteration, the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series, was tuned to provide a whopping 720hp to compete with more exclusive hypercars like the Porsche 911 GT2 RS.
There was also a convertible version of this sports car, called the Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster. Meanwhile, AMG also produces the GT 4 Door Coupé, which is aimed at buyers who would like the coupé but need rear seats. However, this model is actually based on the completely separate Mercedes-Benz CLS saloon.
This engine performance, which culminated in the standard GT being able to accelerate from 0-62mph in four seconds flat, certainly impressed reviewers, as did the sound of its twin-turbo V8 engine – a noise that Heycar called “sensational” and Carwow “amazing”.
Reviewers also commonly agreed that there was a lot to like about the GT’s distinctive muscle car looks and sophisticated interior.
Consumer-focused titles also commented on the GT’s high running costs, which Car Keys called “ludicrous”. This sports car was still very expensive, every variant costing more than £100,000, while an entry-level Porsche 911 was priced at about £87,000 at the same time.
No longer on sale, the Mercedes-AMG GT Coupé holds a Used Car Expert Rating of E, with a score of 51%. Despite its excellent media reviews, the AMG GT’s overall score is dragged down by its high running costs and poor CO2 emissions. It’s also worth pointing out that we don’t have safety data or reliability data at this time.
Body style: Two-seat coupé Engines: petrol Price when new: From £108,390
Launched: Autumn 2014 Last updated: Winter 2019/20 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: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The Mercedes AMG GT is undoubtedly one of Porsche’s biggest headaches. It’s one of the most expensive and powerful Mercedes you can buy; and, its two-door, two-seater layout, coupled with sharp, engaging handling and a thundering V8 engine, put it firmly in 911 territory.” Read review
Model reviewed: GT R Pro Score: 9 / 10 “The Mercedes-AMG GT R, particularly in Pro form, remains a real event to drive, and something completely different from the competition at this price point.” Read review
Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8.4 / 10 “The Mercedes-AMG AMG GT Coupé’s combination of muscle car driving style with classic Mercedes sophistication is attractive and the sound of that mighty V8 engine will be enough to sell it to many enthusiasts. It’s also a more distinctive and unusual choice.” Read review
Car Keys
Model reviewed: GT C Edition 50 Score: 10 / 10 “Despite the long name, cramped interior and ludicrous running costs, there is a lot to like about the Mercedes-AMG GT C Coupe. It has the performance to take your breath away and a character that you may really fall for.” Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Coupé Score: 8 / 10 “The Mercedes-AMG GT is a sports car designed to rival the Porsche 911. It’s stunning to look at and has a superb engine.” Read review
Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 10 / 10 “The Mercedes-AMG GT may look like a muscle car – and yes, it’s quick and sounds amazing – but it’s much more than that. However, that blend of talents doesn’t come cheap.”
Evo
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 9 / 10 “In the Mercedes-AMG GT Coupé, the engine dominates what is a captivating and distinctive performance car awash with character.” Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “A muscular sports car that’s rippling with emotive appeal, the Mercedes-AMG GT looks great, sounds sensational but is let down slightly by a haphazard and cramped interior and a drive that, while entertaining, just isn’t able to offer quite the polish of many of its rivals. An entry-level GT is worthwhile, but it gets more difficult a purchase to justify the more you spend.” Read review
Honest John
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “An exciting alternative to its more common rivals the Mercedes-AMG GT is fast and capable, good looking and a relatively rare sight, too, which means it’s certain to turn heads.” Read review
Motoring Research
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The Mercedes-AMG GT offers explosive performance and precision handling. It’s expensive to buy and run, but for a select few, it’s worth it.” Read review
Motors
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The AMG GT is arguably the best-looking Mercedes currently on sale, with its swopping great bonnet and muscular rear wheel arches. It really does stand out on the road, and for the right reasons. Mercedes has a strong brand image, and with the AMG GT being at the top of the ladder in the Mercedes-AMG range, it is one of the most desirable cars you can buy at this price point.” Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8.2 / 10 “Sizzling sports car with searing speed and sensational sound” Read review
The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10 “The Mustang that Waitrose would sell you.” (Jeremy Clarkson) Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: GT R “The Mercedes-AMG GT R is a car of immense ability and considerable charm: one that’s a treat for the eye and ear, and offers a driving experience that’s always challenging but no longer disconcerting. A flawed diamond for sure, but a diamond nonetheless.” Read review
Model reviewed: GT coupé Score: 8 / 10 “In the finest traditions of its predecessors, the Mercedes-AMG GT is a big, noisy muscle car that provides a hit of adrenaline at a moment’s notice. Go into it with that in mind, and you’ll love it, but if you’re after an everyday proposition, the Porsche 911 is a better buy.” Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Coupé range Score: 8 / 10 “Dramatic, fast and useable, with Mercedes’ thoroughness and AMG’s sporting genes.” Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
No safety rating
The Mercedes-AMG GT Coupé was not crash tested by Euro NCAP during its production life.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
The Mercedes-AMG GT Coupé was not lab tested by Green NCAP during its production life.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of March 2026, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Mercedes-AMG GT to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.
As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the GT, we’ll publish the results here.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
Fuel consumption
Average
Score
Petrol models
22 mpg
E
CO₂ output
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Petrol models
288 g/km
E
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
50
F
The Mercedes-AMG GT is a very expensive car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
We don’t currently have servicing and maintenance costs, but fuel consumption is very poor and insurance costs are in the highest group.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Mercedes-AMG GT Coupé has received
2020
Top Gear Awards – Best Track Weapon
2015
Red Dot Design Awards – Best of the Best Award
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The BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer was a premium seven-seat people carrier – a larger version of the 2 Series Active Tourer MPV.
This is the original version of the 2 Series Gran Tourer, which was launched in the UK in 2015 and ended production in 2021. As of late 2022, there has been no replacement model forthcoming from BMW.
The Gran Tourer was the largest model in the 2 Series range, with a longer and slightly taller cabin than the Active Tourer. That extra cabin space allows for an extra third row of seats in the rear, although the extra two seats are really only suitable for children.
Price was generally a sticking point for Car and a few other UK reviewers, particularly for the range-topping all-wheel drive ‘xDrive’ models. The Telegraph agreed with this sentiment, commenting that opting for a 2 Series Gran Tourer means paying a premium for the BMW badge, while there are much cheaper people carriers on the market with more practical space.
That said, the Gran Tourer was still a very appealing package for those looking for MPV practicality without wanting to compromise on driving dynamics and interior quality. Carbuyer described the rang of petrol and diesel engines offered as “smooth and quiet – and more fuel-efficient to boot”, while Honest John labelled the Gran Tourer as “the best people carrier to drive”.
Heycar added that “there is no such thing as no such thing as a poorly-equipped BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer”, as the standard models came with an impressive haul of on-board tech, and almost every reviewer was enthused by the MPV’s well-built and refined cabin interior.
As of February 2026, the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer holds a Used Car Expert Rating of C, with a score of 62%.
Body style: Seven-seater MPV Engines: petrol, diesel Price when new: From £27,835 on-road
Launched: Spring 2015 Last updated: Autumn 2018 Replaced: Summer 2021
Image gallery
Media reviews
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
The Car Expert
Model reviewed: “The Gran Tourer was still a very appealing package for those looking for MPV practicality without wanting to compromise on driving dynamics and interior quality.” Read review
Auto Express
Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10 “The BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer is a 7 seat MPV with an upmarket feel, and it’s reasonably fun to drive too.” Read review
Score: 8 / 10 “Seven-seater BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer is practical and good to drive.” Read review
Auto Trader
Score: 7.2 / 10 “The 2 Series Gran Tourer is BMW’s first seven-seat MPV, a more prestigious alternative to the likes of the Ford Grand C-Max and Peugeot 5008.” Read review
Business Car
Score: 8 / 10 “The most practical small family BMW yet, but the 2 Series Gran Tourer is not the most spacious small seven-seater.” Read review
Car
Model reviewed: 220d Gran Tourer xDrive M Sport Score: 8 / 10 “Its relatively compact dimensions don’t make the Gran Tourer the most spacious seven-seater in the world. Nor is it the cheapest – all in, the optioned-up 220d xDrive M Sport we drove veered close to £40k. Absurd money for an MPV, whichever way you slice it. But it does at least feel expensive, and handles better than any other seven-seater I’ve driven.” Read review
Car Keys
Score: 8 / 10 “The BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer is predictably very good.” Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer is for big families who think its rivals from Ford, Citroen and Volkswagen are too mainstream.” Read review
Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “If you need seven seats but also value a premium interior then the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer offers both. However, its sixth and seventh seats are best reserved for children.” Read review
Daily Mirror
“The BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer isn’t fun to drive but the handling is tidy and there’s not much body roll. The ride is comfortable, which is the most important thing.” Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “It might not be the first choice of MPV and BMW purists may shudder at the thought, but for those who need a seven-seat people carrier and don’t want to compromise on behind-the-wheel enjoyment, we’d certainly recommend checking out the 2 Series Gran Tourer.” Read review
Honest John
Score: 8 / 10 “People carriers aren’t thrill-a-minute machines, but the 2 Series Gran Tourer done a better job than any rival in appealing to those for whom driving is more than merely getting from A to B.” Read review
Motoring Research
Model reviewed: “BMW’s first seven-seat MPV is class-leading; but class-leading doesn’t come cheap.” Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “Seven seats on my wagon, and still good to drive and sit in” Read review
The Sun
“The BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer offers room for kids and vroom for grown-ups.” Read review
The Sunday Times
Score: 8 / 10 “Not the most spacious MPV but the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer is one of the best to drive.” Read review
The Telegraph
Score: 7 / 10 “The Gran Tourer isn’t without merit, but unless you really want your seven-seater to wear a BMW badge there are more practical options that will cost you far less.” Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview (Active and Gran Tourer models) Score: 6 / 10 “Cosier and more expensive than rivals, but appealing badge and quality.” Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
No safety rating
The BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer 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 2 Series Gran Tourer 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
43 mpg
C
Diesel models
54 mpg
B
CO₂ output
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Petrol models
149 g/km
C
Diesel models
137 g/km
C
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
16
A
The BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer 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 consumption is average for petrol-engined models and better for diesels, while insurance costs should be very competitive. We don’t have servicing and maintenance costs due to the model’s age, as this will now largely be determined by mileage and condition, and could vary significantly from car to car.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
Total claims: 279 Average repair cost: £601.49 Last updated: April 2025
As of April 2025 (our most recent data point), the overall BMW 2 Series family has a fairly average reliability rating of 66%, based on warranty claims data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our commercial partner, MotorEasy. This score applies to all the various iterations of the 2 Series (Active Tourer, Gran Tourer, Gran Coupé, coupé and convertible), and both current and previous models, so it’s a very wide net of quite different vehicles.
Based on quite a large number of claims, the average repair cost for a 2 Series to date is £600 – which is obviously more than the cost of a used car warranty so that’s certainly worth considering.
Most of the repair bills to date have been reasonably average, but the overall numbers are skewed by a small number of very expensive fuel system repairs, which averaged nearly £1,200 each. Gearbox repair bills have also been expensive at about £1,800, so make sure that any used car warranty you purchase covers these particular areas.
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Vauxhall has revealed prices for the Sports Tourer (estate) version of its all-new Astra family car, due on UK roads in late summer.
The large-booted version of the Astra will start at £25K, which will buy the version with a 1.2 turbo petrol engine producing 110hp, in the lower of the two trim levels dubbed Design and GS-Line.
Powertrain choices across the Sports Tourer line-up include a 130hp version of the petrol engine and a diesel also with 130hp, but most interest is likely to surround the first plug-in hybrid Astra.
Based around a 1.6-litre petrol engine and with 180hp, the Astra Hybrid-e model will start from just over £33K and will only be sold in GS-Line specification. All-electric range is quoted at up to 42 miles.
Traditionally a popular model in the Astra line-up particularly with business users, the new Sports Tourer promises 608 litres of boot space, a significant increase over the 540 litres of its predecessor and rising to 1,634 litres with the seats folded flat. Plug-in hybrid versions sacrifice some space to accommodate the battery under the boot floor.
The extra space is released despite the new model being 6cm shorter than the outgoing Sports Tourer. Much of the reduction is at the front end, the new Astra having a noticeably shorter front overhang than its predecessor. The wheelbase section between the front and rear wheels is actually about 6cm longer than the previous model.
The new Astra also adopts Vauxhall’s latest styling language seen previously on the Mokka, Crossland and Grandland SUVs.
All versions of the Sports Tourer will be fitted with a range of active safety systems, including automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning and a driver drowsiness alert. Active cruise control is on the options list, with cars with auto transmissions (available on all but the entry-level petrol engine) able to stop and start automatically in queuing traffic.
A new interior layout includes both a ten-inch digital panel for the driver’s instruments and a ten-inch colour central touchscreen, which will also be standard across all versions of the Astra Sports Tourer.
Skoda has revealed UK pricing and specifications for the Enyaq Coupé iV vRS – the first EV to wear the brand’s performance vRS badge.
Starting at just under £52,000, the Enyaq Coupé iV vRS will be the most expensive model in the Skoda range and the first Skoda to be priced at more than £50K.
It is closely related to the Volkswagen ID.4 GTX, the range-topping model in the new Enyaq Coupé range carries a 82kWh battery pack powering two electric motors, one in each axle. Total power is equivalent to 299hp, producing a 0-62mph time of 6.5 seconds and a top speed of 111mph.
Skoda quotes an official battery range of 309 miles for the vRS. It can benefit from DC rapid charging through a 150kW charger, allowing it to regain 80% of battery capacity in less than 40 minutes. A full at-home charge using a standard 7.2kW wall box takes up to 13 hours.
Chassis upgrades to reflect the power output include slightly lowered ride height and a revised power steering system.
Befitting its sporting image, the Enyaq Coupé iV vRS gains styling changes that include deeper front and rear bumpers, along with extensive black detailing and the vRS signature element of a full-width red reflector on the rear bumper.
The car sits on 20-inch black alloy wheels as standard, while 21-inch versions are available on the options list. Both versions include plastic rims that improve aerodynamics, helping the car’s range. Matrix LED headlamps and a 131-LED ‘crystal face’ are also part of the exterior package.
A bespoke styling package is also added to the interior, including perforated leather seats and a matching leather-effect dash both with contrasting stitching, more leather on the steering wheel and carbon-effect and aluminium inserts.
LED ambient lighting is fitted and an electrically-opening boot, while all versions also include a full-length panoramic sunroof.
Dealers will start taking orders for the Enyaq Coupé iV vRS this month, with first UK deliveries expected in July.
Alfa Romeo has premiered a new small SUV that will arrive in the UK before summer – the Tonale, which will be available in mild hybrid, regular hybrid and plug-in hybrid forms.
The Tonale, which is set to challenge rivals like the Audi Q3and 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.
Exterior styling
The new model inherits many exterior styling traits from the rest of the Alfa Romeo range, with narrow LED headlights either side of the traditional Alfa Romeo heart-shaped grille, sitting above a lower air intake that spans almost the full width of the front bumper.
Extended curves, which Alfa Romeo calls ‘GT lines’, run from the headlights to the tail lights at waist height to give the sides of the Tonale more definition.
At the rear, the Tonale gets a full-width red LED light that runs across the boot lid, mirroring the U-shape design of the headlights in the front. The alloy wheels, in Alfa Romeo’s readitional ‘telephone dial’ style, can be ordered as 19-inch or 20-inch units.
Interior trim and tech
Inside, the Alfa Romeo Tonale mixes new components with some borrowed from the larger Stelvio, including its three-spoke steering wheel with aluminium shift paddles and air conditioning vents. The centre console has a similar layout, too.
The most notable edition to the Tonale’s interior is the new ten-inch infotainment console. which is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It uses Amazon Alexa for voice commands and also allows customers to select their Tonale as the delivery point for Amazon orders. This new infotainment system can be updated over the air while your car is parked in your driveway.
The instrument panel behind the steering wheel is also a fully digital 12-inch display, while a wireless charging pad for your smartphone now sits in front of the gear shifter.
The seat upholstery has also received a stylish upmarket finish, trimmed with Alcantara and vegan leather, and the front seats having a heating function. Ambient lights are dotted around the cabin, and the dashboard has a multicoloured backlight to illuminate the controls as you prepare to set off.
The Tonale comes with a number of safety and autonomous driving features, such as adaptive cruise control with a function that automatically centres the car on motorway lanes and adjusts speed while monitoring the car in front. Traffic sign recognition is also present, as well as a semi-automatic parking assist feature, which can complete entry and exit manoeuvres on its own.
Range of powertrain options
At launch, there will be three engine options available to UK customers. Kicking things off is the entry-level 130hp petrol-electric hybrid, followed by a 160hp hybrid. Both are front-wheel drive and use the combination of a four-cylinder 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine and a 15kWh battery.
A 275hp 1.3-litre plug-in hybrid version of the Tonale sites at the top of the range, which Alfa Romeo says can travel up to 50 miles just using its battery from full charge. This top-of-the-range model is all-wheel drive, with the front wheels powered by the petrol engine and the rear wheels by the electric motor.
All variants come with automatic transmission, with manual gearboxes not available on any models.
The Tonale will be built at Alfa Romeo’s recently upgraded Pomigliano d’Arco factory near Naples in Italy, and will be the first car to go on sale with its own non-fungible token (NFT). This is a unique digital asset that will be used to certify the car’s mileage and record other data, in an effort to boost residual values down the line.
Alfa Romeo has announced that the Tonale will have two trim levels to choose from, the ‘Super’ and the ‘Ti’, but not much is known about the specifications for these yet.
Further information, with full UK specification and pricing, will be released closer to the Tonale’s expected arrival in April.
If you’re looking to sell a modified car the rules of the game are different to ordinary cars. We’ve come up with a few pointers whether you’re selling to a dealer or privately.
What do we mean by a modified car?
A modified car is classed – certainly by insurers – as having had any changes made to its original specification after it left the factory. So, if you had a particular performance or handling pack option fitted when the car was ordered new, this doesn’t count as modified.
However, many car enthusiasts want to personalise their cars – usually bought used – with performance upgrades fitted by specialist companies such as larger turbochargers, changes to the engine management system to increase power, sports exhaust systems and bigger brakes. These are classed as modifications.
Then there are changes to the suspension to lower/stiffen it, larger wheels, body kits (spoilers, wheel arch extensions) and special paintwork. Many enthusiasts fit parts from the performance versions of cars in the same range onto mainstream versions (for example Ford Focus RS onto a regular Focus).
Some modifications are illegal. These are easy to look up online but they include changes to the catalytic converter, neon lights, and tinted side and rear windows are only legal behind the front windows.
How do you set a price on a modified car?
Because the scope of modifications can be so wide, traditional price guides will only give you a price based on a standard car, with the choice to add some common factory fitted objects. These can only be a baseline. “The best way to put a price on a modified car is to start with owners’ groups and dedicated clubs,” says Jamie King, editor of Fast Ford magazine.
“There are hundreds available, catering for almost every model of car you could every think of, and in some cases even specific colour versions of just one model too (in the case of the Electric Orange ST Owner’s Club). These groups of dedicated enthusiasts will not only be able to advise best prices but are also often the best places to find serious buyers for modified cars too.”
Although your modified car may be your pride and joy, you may not necessarily get back all that you put into it, so be realistic. Most classic car restorations never get the money back.
Regular dealers will have mixed attitudes to a modified car. They may not want to accept one unless they are sure to find a buyer, and it may just look out of place on a forecourt filled with standard cars. However, if you are part-exchanging and they don’t want to lose the deal, they’ll likely say yes, but don’t expect to get the best price for it.
Some car buying services will accept modified cars while others won’t. Motorway, one of our commercial partners here at The Car Expert, says that it looks at modified cars on a case-by-case basis. Cazoo, on the other hand (and another of our partners), won’t buy modified cars.
Some modifications, such as performance engine parts, can be removed by the companies which fitted them, returning the car to standard specification. This may be worth your while if your car is relatively young and high value. There is a second-hand market to sell the performance parts onwards.
You can advertise your on regular outlets such as eBay Motors, Gumtree or Auto Trader (search ‘modified’) but the best place is direct to buyers who know what they want.
“It makes sense to advertise a modified car in specialists magazines or on specialists websites. Joining owners’ groups is a good place to sell (and buy) modified cars privately too,” says King. “Or, selling to a specialist dealer can provide the easiest, most hassle-free transaction (especially if there’s outstanding finance to clear first), but as with any trade sale prices tend not to be as high as with a private sale.”
Serious buyers looking for modified cars will want to know as much detail as possible, so any advertisement will need to describe fully the changes made to the car, names of the firms supplying the parts and any specialist garage which will have fitted them.
You’ll need to be ready to answer questions, so get together all the usual paperwork – MOT certificates, registration documents and regular servicing – but also all receipts for the new parts fitted and work carried out. If you are claiming a power boost, a dyno graph print-out from a rolling road is good. It’s a bonus if a buyer has the option to call the company which modified or serviced the car.
“It’s worth pointing out that buyers are looking for branded parts fitted by reputable companies,” King says, “and not DIY-upgrades which they will run a mile from. It’s best to think of modifications as another level of servicing/maintenance, in the same way a car with full main dealer service history is more saleable, so too is a car with receipts for work carried out a reputable specialists.”
Buyers will also ask if the car has been used for shows, or had a harder life being used for track days.
As with selling any used car privately, you’ll need to present it well in photos (use as many as you can, including receipts for work done minus your personal details). It should be very clean inside and out – consider a full valet. Unless they want a project, modified car buyers are more likely to be picky about small scratches and damage to any (expensive) alloy wheels, so consider getting them refurbished if need be.
If your car is near its MOT test it’s a good idea to put it through to pass so you can sell with a full year, equally if it’s just about to have a service.
If you use a specialist insurer for the car you are selling and are happy with them, you may like to suggest buyers call for a quote, which may help them decide, hopefully in your favour. Your insurer can also help with an agreed valuation. As with any private sale, you’ll want to see proof of insurance before allowing test drives. Many performance-modified cars are tricky to drive until you’re used to them, so you may find it’s best to let the buyer be a passenger while you talk them through a test drive.
Drivers planning to switch to an electric car are being urged to get things moving as the end date for a grant to help install a home charging point gets ever closer. And separately, the grants available to assist motorists in purchasing a new electric vehicle (EV) are slowly reducing in value and could possibly end altogether in the future.
There are currently grants of up to £1,850 available for electric car customers, and they’re administered by the government’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV). Up to £1,500 to help buy a new electric vehicle, and up to £350 assistance with the charging box, are both on the table.
However, the grant for the charger, the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), ends on 31 March, by which time the equipment must be fitted, with all claims submitted to the government by 30 April. This applies to anyone owning a property such as a house or bungalow, although it does not affect people living in a flat or rented property.
Reductions, or even terminations, of these grants should come as no surprise: the government said when it launched its first EV grant scheme – a £5,000 incentive back in 2011 – that it would not sustain the levels forever, and especially once the electric car movement took off.
EV demand up
We are clearly seeing the popularity of, and demand for, battery-powered transport go through the sunroof. Last year marked the largest ever annual increase in sales of EVs with 305,000 leaving showroom forecourts: that’s up nearly 75% on 2020’s figures.
A decade ago, motorists needed sizeable subsidies to make them even consider an EV. Today, however, that couldn’t be further from the truth. The original grants were put in place to encourage the EV movement, making it more viable to buy an electric car and start the push towards a cleaner environment.
But with no deceleration in sight for the electric vehicle progression, and car manufacturers actually lowering the list prices of much of their EV ranges – incentives and inducements to move over to electric, to ensure drivers are still making the switch.
Big car makers such as Vauxhall, Ford and Volkswagen have dropped the prices of their electric cars; partly because demand is rising and partly, for some models, to bring their list price down below the government’s threshold for the Plug-in Car Grant, or PiCG, which currently stands at £32,000.
Leasing is an option
If you opt for a car on salary sacrifice or lease a car, there’s no concern about having to cover the full price in one go. The PiCG applies to cars on salary sacrifice as well as bought ones, so the benefit is the same – not just to you, but to the environment too.
That’s why car benefit companies such as Tusker are happy to help you find an EV which meets your needs as a driver, particularly if you are looking for one which attracts the Government funding, because you are playing your part in lowering vehicle emissions in the UK.
Tusker actively promotes electric motoring and says that, by choosing one, you help the environment and yourself, with real financial advantages. Charging an electric car is significantly cheaper than filling up with petrol or diesel with savings of around £1,000 per year in fuel, and if you select a car that qualifies for a grant, that’s another big saving.
Benefit in Kind or company car tax on EVs is very low – just 2% from April – to support the green agenda. Using one of Tusker’s salary sacrifice schemes allows you to gain from income tax and National Insurance savings too. Savings are guaranteed until at least 2025 so even with reductions in the grants available, there are still incentives for those driving on a salary sacrifice scheme.
With an official battery range of 198 miles, the new MG ZS EV Standard Range is now available to order, with the first deliveries expected in February 2022.
Replacing the old entry-level model simply referred to as the ‘ZS EV’, the ZS EV Standard Range can travel a further 35 miles than its predecessor, according to the manufacturer, and provides a cheaper alternative to the ZS EV Long Range models which arrived in the UK in late 2021.
Like the Long Range model line, the MG EV Standard Range line-up consists of the entry-level ‘SE’ trim, mid-range ‘Trophy’ trim and the range-topping ‘Trophy Connect’ trim. All are powered by the same 176hp 51kWh battery, and are compatible with 100kW rapid charging stations – MG claiming that the EV can charge from 10% to 80% battery power in 36 minutes.
All Standard Range versions are eligible for the UK government’s plug-in car grant, with prices starting at £27,495. At this price, the MG ZS EV is one of the cheapest all-electric SUVs currently on sale, challenging the likes of the Hyundai Kona Electric and Mazda MX-30.
Prices for the MG ZS EV Long Range models start at £29,495, as they use a larger 73kWh battery to produce a longer official battery range of 273 miles.
Like the other electrified models in the MG range, such as the MG 5 EV estate car and the MG HS plug-in hybrid SUV, all MG ZS EV models come with the brand’s seven-year warranty.
The recipient of a 2021 facelift, the MG ZS EV has been praised by the UK media for its affordability and ride comfort, and currently holds an Expert Rating of 61% in our Expert Rating Index – a middling score in a increasingly competitive all-electric SUV market led by the highly-regarded Kia e-Niro.
TheSubaru Forester e-Boxer hybrid SUV will be receiving a facelift this year, featuring on-board tech additions and new safety features.
This minor update, marking the 25th anniversary of the Forester SUV, is planned exclusively for the e-Boxer hybrid variants – the only Forester models currently available at Subaru dealerships in the UK.
The most notable aspect of the Forester’s update is its redesigned headlights, presenting quite a different face to the car. The grille pattern and air intakes have also been revised.
The 2022 Forester retains the same 2.0-litre petrol engine and 12kWh electric motor pairing. Subaru’s hybrid system remains unique among car manufacturers in that it is much smaller and lighter than most hybrid offerings, but offers considerably less battery range as a result.
The Forester also gets Subaru’s ‘EyeSight’ driver assistance package, which includes adaptive cruise control with an auto-steering function that keeps the car in the centre of motorway lanes, a lane departure warning system which can recognise the edge of the road, and improvements to the SUV’s collision avoidance feature.
Mechanically, Subaru says improvements have been made to the Forster’s driving dynamics, thanks to upgraded suspension coil springs and dampers
In the cabin, facial recognition technology will be able to spot and warn the driver when it spots that they are distracted or sleepy, and will automatically adjust the seating position and door mirror angles depending on the driver.
A new gesture control function will also feature, allowing the driver to set the climate control temperature by raising or lowering their hand.
Prices for the facelifted Subaru Forester e-Boxer will be announced closer to its 2022 arrival.
Already well-regarded for its safety features but criticised for its so-so comfort and performance, the pre-facelift model has received mixed reviews from the UK motoring media, and currently holds an Expert Rating of 52% – a score that means it is tied for bottom place in the Medium SUV category of our Expert Rating Index.
The Mazda CX-5 compact SUV is one of the Japanese brand’s most popular cars. Globally, it’s the brand’s best-seller, while it accounts for a quarter of all Mazdas sold in the UK – only the CX-30 is more popular.
So it’s perhaps not overly surprising that this mid-life refresh of the CX-5 is not exactly dramatic, centring on styling tweaks, a bit of extra tech in the driving modes and revised trim levels.
Mazda clearly hopes that the subtle changes will maintain the model’s popularity. As of February 2022, the CX-5 has an Expert Rating of 75% in our industry-leading Expert Rating Index, which analyses more than 10,000 new car reviews from 30 different UK motoring sites. The CX-5 has earned praise for its powerful engines, spacious interior and quality engineering, though reviewers are split on the driving experience.
One item that remains missing from the CX-5 range is any electricity in the powertrains. Mazda, long an advocate of improved internal combustion engines, has revised upward its plans for introducing battery-powered electric vehicles, but for now the CX-5 engine choice remains simply petrol or diesel.
In short, not a lot. With the CX-5 already so popular, Mazda clearly feels that major updates and radical changes are not necessary for this mid-life refresh, instead applying the usual diet of gentle massaging to the styling. So we get revised front and rear bumper designs and new headlight and taillight clusters.
Anyone who already drives a Mazda CX-5 will notice no changes at all to the car’s performance on the road – the only addition to the car’s technical specification is to the petrol automatic models which come with Mazda’s ‘I-Drive’ switchable driving modes. You have always had the option of ‘normal’ and ‘sport’, now on the top all-wheel-drive variants there is also an ‘off road’ mode – this sets the car up better for coping with the likes of rough, muddy tracks.
Mazda does add that many changes have been applied to the CX-5 in areas one can’t see – the body shell, suspension and seats have been worked on for better ride comfort to reduce fatigue while road noise has also been greatly reduced, particularly when driving on rough surfaces such as gravel. The safety specification has been upgraded, too.
How does it look?
Actually, not bad at all. The CX-5 has always been one of the better-looking SUVs and the updates to the styling actually add to this image, giving it a bit of a sharper presence.
These updates include a front grille made to look more prominent (as is the current industry trend) and more three-dimensional. The trim on the wings no longer merges into the lamp cluster, while at the rear the light design is changed and a new-shaped bumper fitted.
The changes do their job – the elements of the front in particular look rather more joined up and complimentary to each other than on some rivals, and viewed form outside the car has a pleasing, purposeful stance.
What’s the spec like?
It’s all change where CX-5 trim levels are concerned – or at least the names of them. The offerings have been restructured into five levels at prices ranging from £28,145 up to £39,385, with distinct styling differences to make it easier to tell them apart. In all there are 20 different versions to choose from.
Things start, as before, with the SE-L trim. This is available with both the lesser-powered diesel and petrol engines, and only with front-wheel-drive.
Brand new is a trim called ‘Newground’ and only offered with the less powerful 165hp petrol engine – it’s designed to give the car a more rugged look with front and rear silver underguard trims, silver lower body trim, black door mirrors and 19-inch alloy wheels. More controversial, perhaps, will be the colour of the accent detailing. Trim elements in the grille, on the interior air vent surrounds and seat piping are all in a bright lime green…
Most buyers are expected to go for the Sport, which you can have with the 165hp petrol engine or both of the diesels. Choose the more powerful diesel, which only comes with an automatic gearbox, and you can also have all-wheel-drive.
Sport Black is another new trim, which is basically a sportier-looking version of the Newground but with black leather instead of half leather seats. Gloss black features a lot on the styling, and those colour accents remain – but, thankfully, the lime green is replaced by a rather less gaudy red.
The CX-5 range-topper is the GT Sport, which also offers three engine options – both petrols and the more powerful diesel. It gets the most technology as standard, plus bespoke interior woodgrain trim which looks and feels of good quality. But, at close to £40,000, it is quite expensive compared to some rivals.
Safety specification has been improved as part of this update as well. There was already a full suite of active safety across the range and the model holds a five-star Euro NCAP rating, dating from 2017. The safety kit has been updated in some areas, including the addition of ‘Cruise & Traffic Support’ – this assists with the accelerator, brake pedal and steering when in traffic jams.
What’s the Mazda CX-5 like inside?
A lot of the Mazda CX-5’s popularity comes from its interior, which is both quite roomy for a model competing at the smaller end of the SUV market and very well put together. Not only are the materials good, they combine with an effective chassis to provide a very comfortable ride.
The boot is a reasonable size, at 522 litres expanding to 1,638 litres with the seats folded (though slightly less on diesel models due to the need to fit in a tank for the AdBlue engine additive). It’s easily accessed too, especially if you go for Sport models or above which include a powered tailgate.
One welcome change on the latest model is that you now load straight onto a flat boot floor without a sill in the way. On Newground versions the floorboard is reversible with a water- and scratch-proof covering on one side, suiting owners with ‘active lifestyles’.
The front-seat environment is both practical and well-designed. The big ten-inch central infotainment screen was made standard across the range for 2021 and its position atop the centre console, rather than in it, means that viewing is easy without one’s eyes straying too far form the road. It offers all the usual Smartphone compatibility and also can be matched to a Mazda app with features including vehicle location, navigation loading and service notifications through one’s phone.
The top three trim levels also provide digital displays in the driver’s controls and a windscreen-projected head-up display which works very well.
What’s under the bonnet?
Engine choices for the Mazda CX-5 remain familiar – because they have not changed at all. Basically, you are choosing between two petrol engines (a 2.0-litre 165hp unit and a 2.5-litre 194 hp unit), and two 2.0-litre diesels of 150hp and 184hp. Which engine you choose will govern your trim level, and also whether the front or all wheels are driven – you can only get the 165hp petrol in front-wheel-drive format, for example.
What you cannot get with a Mazda CX-5 is any powertrain with a hint of electricity. Mazda still bangs the drum for improved internal combustion engines, putting investment into synthetic fuel research, but is belatedly following the trend to electric having revised upwards its part EVs will play in its range by 2030 from 12% to 25%. There is no indication of any electric addition to the CX-5 range, but the forthcoming CX-60 will include a plug-in hybrid option.
What’s the Mazda CX-5 like to drive?
A great deal of driving in the Scottish Highlands on the 2022 CX-5 launch event saw us able to test three of the four engine combinations, only the 184hp diesel not coming under our gaze. All three of the engines tested were enthusiastic in their application – if anything, the petrols outshine the diesel. They were also suitably refined – the Mazda CX-5 is one of the quietest mainstream internal combustion SUVs around.
The choice of drive route certainly gave the chassis a good workout, demonstrating that the CX-5 is confident through corners, precise in its turn-in and holding its poise well through the bend. General ride comfort is good too, the chassis smothering most of the potholes brought on by a typical Scottish winter.
The all-wheel-drive model included the I-Drive system, allowing the driver to select different drive modes. We didn’t have an opportunity to try out the off-road mode but switching out of Normal into Sport certainly made a difference beyond the speed dial changing to a red display. The mode holds a gear longer and provides sprightly acceleration – swift overtaking manoeuvres are easily accomplished as a result. The auto transmission impresses too – its changes swift, smooth and barely noticeable, with no irritating hunting between ratios.
Verdict
The 2022 update to the Mazda CX-5 is not exactly headline-grabbing but then it doesn’t really need to be – the model’s big slice of Mazda’s sales show that it already resonates with buyers. The changes are for the most part evolutionary, with the possible exception of some of the trim detailing choices.
We are sure that the CX-5 will continue to sell well as it offers most things the buyer of a mid-sized SUV is looking for, and it does all it needs to rather well. However, by the time this car comes up for its next update, that will need to include some form of electrification.
The Lexus NX is a mid-sized upmarket SUV positioned between the compact UX and slightly larger RX in the Lexus SUV family.
Now in its second generation, the NX is the first model available as a plug-in hybrid in the Lexus range. The NX line-up consists of the entry-level NX 350h regular hybrid models, which can travel around a mile just using its battery, and the range-topping NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid, which the brand says can cover up to 47 miles on electric power before the petrol engine needs to kick in.
Rivalling other premium SUVs like the Audi Q5 and BMW X3, the Lexus NX has been warmly received by members of the motoring media.
British reviewers have commended the NX for its comfortable and functional interior, which includes a generous specification of on-board technology as standard, along with a massively improved infotainment sytem. In addition, the battery range and low emissions of the NX 450h+ are particularly highly rated. Lexus is also known for the reliability of its models, and the brand is backing that up by offering the newest NX with a very generous ten-year warranty.
“Regardless of how good it is, however”, explains The Telegraph, “the plug-in hybrid only really makes sense if you finance it through a company – and there are equally good alternatives for a lot less money.” Many outlets agree with this sentiment, as the plug-in hybrid 450h costs over £10,000 more than the entry-level 350h hybrid models.
Carbuyer and Carwow also conclude that the 2.5-litre petrol engine found in all NX models is not very smooth and is loud under acceleration, while Parkers and Top Gear add that the SUV is not very exciting to drive overall, and considering its premium rivals, there is more fun to be found elsewhere.
As of March 2026, the Lexus NX holds a New CarExpert Rating of A, with a score of 70%. It scores top marks for its low CO2 emissions, while its safety rating and media review scores are also good. However, the Lexus new car warranty cover is only average, and the NX’s running costs are high.
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of March 2026, the Lexus NX has not been 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 Lexus NX 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 NX, 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
42 mpg
C
Plug-in hybrid models
267 mpg
A
CO₂ output
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Hybrid models
136 g/km
C
Plug-in hybrid models
24 g/km
A
Battery range
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Plug-in hybrid models
44 miles
D
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
36
D
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£308
D
Year 2
£764
D
Year 3
£1,239
D
Year 4
£1,495
D
Year 5
£1,867
D
Overall
£5,673
D
The Lexus NX is pretty middling in costs to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
The plug-in hybrid model looks amazingly cheap in terms of fuel consumption and road tax (CO2 emissions), but this is largely because the EU/UK government lab test are useless at measuring plug-in hybrids. There is no real-world scenario where you will travel 270 miles on one gallon (4.5 litres) and a bit of electricity.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Lexus NX has received
2024
Carbuyer Awards – Best Large Plug-in Hybrid
2023
Auto Express Awards – Best Mid-Size Premium SUV
Carbuyer Awards – Best Large Plug-in Hybrid
Company Car & Van Awards – Best Premium Car
2022
Carbuyer Awards – Best Large Plug-In Hybrid
Similar cars
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Featuring new sporty exterior touches and interior details, Maserati has announced that a new MC Edition trim will soon be added to its Ghibli, Levante, and Quattroporte model lines.
This new MC Edition trim, ‘MC’ standing for ‘Maserati Corse’, essentially builds on the V8 Trofeo trim – the most expensive variant in the Ghibli and Quattroporte saloon ranges, as well as the Levante SUV model line-up.
Unveiled as a celebration of the Italian brand’s birthplace of Modena and its motorsport roots that stretch back to 1926, this new trim adds two new exterior colours, ‘Giallo Corse’ yellow and ‘Vittoria’ blue, which contrast black frontal fascia, wing mirrors, and alloy wheels.
2022 Maserati Ghibli MC Edition in ‘Giallo Corse’ yellow
2022 Maserati Quattroporte MC Edition in ‘Vittoria’ blue
The sporty detailing continues inside the cabin, which is trimmed in the same ‘Nero’ black leather as the Trofeo versions. A blue carbon-fibre finish features on the centre console and the door panels, and yellow and blue seat stitching sits below leather headrests adorned with the MC Edition logo.
The MC Edition variants also come equipped with around £6,000 worth of added features that are usually optional extras, such as the Bowers and Wilkins sound system, an electronic sunroof, and Maserati’s ‘Driver Assistance’ package, which includes adaptive cruise control, a blind spot alert function and traffic sign recognition.
Inside the 2022 Maserati Levante MC Edition
The MC Editions of the Maserati Ghibli, Levante and Quattroporte will be available to order in February 2022, with pricing yet to be announced.
Maserati’s range of models that are available in the UK have received mixed reviews from the motoring media since their arrival, the brand being frequently commended for its sporty image, but often criticised for not matching the level of comfort and quality displayed by its luxury rivals.
The Maserati Levante currently sits towards the bottom of the Large SUV class, with an Expert Rating of 63% in our Expert Ratings Index, and the Ghibli and Quattroporte saloons have not fared any better, with scores of 49% and 55% respectively.
The UK new car market is changing almost every month, as car companies introduce more and more electrified models while, at the same time, battle production difficulties across their product lines.
The shift away from petrol and diesel to electric power is accelerating as both consumer demand and available vehicle supply ramp up rapidly.
At the end of 2020, electric vehicles represented just under 7% of the market, whereas a year later this had mushroomed to close to 12% and was by far the fastest-growing sector of the market. In December 2021, the Tesla Model 3 dominated the new car sales marketplace with a record number of registrations. And in 2022, this growth is set to continue.
Powering this rise are a host of new electric cars from manufacturers. The industry is rushing to electrification even faster than buyers, with many manufacturers planning to offer an all-electric line-up within just a few years.
So if you are wondering if your favourite badge now sits on an electric car, our guide tells you what’s already available and what’s coming in the next year.
Abarth
Abarth is best known for making go-fast versions of the Fiat 500, but there’s been no indication of if or when it will release an Abarth version of the latest electric Fiat 500e.
You won’t find anything electric in the Alfa Romeo model range, and the company’s first EV isn’t expected to be launched before 2024. This is likely to be an SUV and part of an overall revival of the Italian brand.
Alfa has committed to being fully electric by 2027. While most of the new cars will be SUVs following the success of the Stelvio, the company says that an electric next-generation Giulia saloon is also under development. There could also be high-performance Quadrifoglio versions as well.
According to Aston Martin’s owner, Lawrence Stroll, the brand will be ‘fully electrified’ by 2026, but this is widely thought to be a mix of hybrid and BEVs. The first electric Aston Martin is expected in 2025 but, unlike rivals, the brand has not set a date for giving up completely on combustion engines.
Audi was an early-adopter of EVs amongst the premium brands, and now offers three different electric models. Confusingly, Audi refers to its electric models with the ‘e-tron’ brand, which is also the name of a particular model, which is unhelpful for customers.
The Audi e-tron and Q4 e-tron SUVs are also available in Sportback versions with more steeply raked tailgates, while the e-tron GT is also available in a high-performance RS version.
An updated Audi e-tron is on the way in 2022 with a larger battery which could add more than 120 miles to the range.
Nothing electric on the 2022 horizon for Bentley, which recently announced that its first electric car won’t be seen until 2025. However, it will then be launching one new EV each year for five years, which should essentially replace the entire current model range with fully electric models by 2029.
BMW’s i range of plug-in cars has been building for several years. It kicked off with the i3 city car and i8 plug-in hybrid back in 2014 – the i8 is (sadly) no more, but a new generation of EVs is now joining the family.
As well as the still-advanced i3 hatch, there is the iX3 SUV sister (essentially an electric version of the regular X3) and the iX, a huge electric SUV with controversial styling.
On the regular car front, the new BMW i4 has received high praise, while an all-new i7 luxury saloon is set to launch this year to take on the Mercedes-Benz EQS. We may also see the i5, an electric alternative to the existing 5 Series.
Citroën is a brand slowly heading in the direction of EVs. Currently it offers electric versions of the C4 mid-sized hatch, the van-based SpaceTourer MPV and the (also van-based) Berlingo MPV. Given that sister brands Peugeot and Vauxhall have electric small hatchbacks and SUVs in the range already, we can expect the next-generation Citroën C3 and C3 Aircross to offer electric versions whenever they arrive.
One Citroën EV that will face few rivals in 2022 is the Ami, a tiny two-seater aimed at urban buyers. However, its range is less than 30 miles and it’s technically a quadricycle rather than a car (like the Renault Twizy), so it doesn’t have to meet all the usual safety requirements of a new car.
SEAT’s performance spin-off Cupra will launch its first electric car in 2022, called the Born. It’s basically a reworked Volkswagen ID.3 with a bit more power.
It was originally going to wear SEAT badges, but Cupra seems to have nicked it off its parent brand instead.
The Dacia Spring is a small electric SUV sold in Europe, which may make its way over to the UK either this year or next. If it happens, it will likely become one of the UK’s cheapest EVs. However, it only has a one-star Euro NCAP safety rating so probably best not to hit anything in it.
The UK’s favourite budget brand doesn’t have any electric cars on sale at the moment, and apparently has no firm plans to launch any in the next 12 months.
Fiat currently only offers one electric car, but it’s a popular one – the new Fiat 500e supermini, which is available with a choice of two battery sizes.
The brand is said to be planning an electric offensive focused on affordability, centring on the 500 but also including an SUV version of the next-generation Panda. However, that won’t appear this year.
Despite being one of the largest car brands in the world, Ford only currently offers one electric model – the Mustang Mach-E. Despite carrying one of the most famous muscle-car names in motoring, the Mach-E is not a sports car but a mid-sized electric SUV. There is, however, a high-performance GT version that pushes out nearly 500hp.
Ford is expected to reveal a new electric SUV later in 2022 that will go on sale in 2023. We don’t know its name yet but it is believed to be built on Volkswagen’s ID electric platform.
New brand Genesis has attracted criticism for the lack of electric options, having launched a new brand into Europe in 2021 with only petrol and diesel models. Hyundai’s upmarket label intends to put that right in 2022 with electric versions of its G80 large saloon and GV70 mid-size SUV.
We will also see the arrivial of the brand’s first bespoke EV, the GV60 crossover. This will essentially be a Genesis remix of the critically acclaimed Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6.
Honda has long been an industry pioneer in hybrid models, but has been rather behind the game with all-electric options.
The only model currently offered is the attractive but range-shy and expensive Honda e city car, with no news of any new electric models joining it in the family.
Hyundai went electric early with its Ioniq range, – the original Ioniq five-door hatch launched in 2017 was offered in hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric versions. The Kona small SUV also offers an electric model, which is well regarded.
The company’s flagship EV model is the all-new Ioniq 5 crossover, which we awarded it our Best Medium Car in our 2021 Car of the Year awards. In the latter half of 2022, a larger Ioniq 6 model will join the range.
In addition to its battery EVs, Hyundai also has the Nexo, which is an EV powered by a hydrogen fuel cell (FCEV). But only selected fleet partners currently able to lease them from Hyundai.
Jaguar’s current range remains devoid of electric options with one notable exception – the I-Pace – which was designed from the start as an EV and is described by its makers as a ‘performance SUV.’
An all-new electric Jaguar XJ flagship was supposed to have been launched last year and be on sale by now, but it was scrapped at the last minute (presumably at eye-watering expense). Jaguar is set to vastly ramp up its EV offerings, with a new platform that will underpin its entire model range, but we’re unlikely to see the first model before 2025.
There appears to be little coming down the line to suit Jeep fans wanting to go electric. Currently, plug-in hybrid models are the order of the day. We’ll keep you posted, but don’t hold your breath.
Kia has one of the most impressive electric model portfolios in the industry with the EV6, e-Niro and Soul models all highly regarded by journalists and with outstanding scores in our Expert Rating Index.
2022 will see the arrival of an all-new Niro, which as before will be available in regular hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully-electric forms. A higher-performance GT version of the new EV6 is also likely to reach the UK this year.
Land Rover’s electric plans are underway, using a platform being developed with sister company Jaguar, but we won’t see any EVs in showrooms until at least 2024. For now, most Land Rover models are available with plug-in hybrid options.
Lexus, like sister brand Toyota, has long been an advocate of hybrids rather than all-electric models, and these drivetrains are available across the entire model range. Much more recent is the UX 300e five-door SUV, the first all-electric Lexus with a range of around 190 miles.
The first Lexus EV was an electric version of the UX small SUV, which was launched in 2019. We anticipate a dedicated EV model called the RZ to be launched this year, although it may not reach showrooms until 2023. It’s built on the same dedicated EV platform as the new Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra (see below).
Lotus recently retired its long-standing model range of Elise, Exige and Evora models. For 2022, the all-electric Evija (pronounced ‘E-vie-ya’) hypercar will bring 2,000hp (not a typo) of electric power to UK roads.
Unveiled back in 2019, the Evija will lead a new wave of Lotus models over the next few years. First will be the Type 132, an electric SUV that is expected to be revealed later this year, while three more EVs are said to be following.
Maserati is another brand with nothing on the books now but plans for a range of new EVs in coming years.
The company is apparently going to use the name ‘Folgore (Italian for ‘lightning’) on all its electric models, and the first of these to be revealed will be the next-generation Granturismo coupe. This is expected to be launched this year, although won’t hit showrooms until 2023.
The drop-top equivalent, called Grancabrio, will probably launch a few months later, while an electric version of the new Maserati MC20 supercar is also expected to arrive in 2023.
Mazda has long been an advocate of improving combustion engines rather than investing in electric car technology, but it finally joined the EV ranks with the MX-30 crossover in 2020. However, its battery range did not impress customers so an additional version is coming in 2022 with a petrol engine added…
Mercedes-Benz has moved to electric power with enthusiasm. The German brand’s ‘EQ’ electric range includes EVs in the EQA small crossover, EQC mid-size SUV, the van-based EQV people carrier and the EQS luxury saloon, which won our inaugural Car of the Year Award just before Christmas.
Joining the growing line-up of electric model for Mercedes-Benz in 2022 will be the EQE saloon (size-wise equivalent to the conventional E-Class saloon) and EQB seven-seat SUV, which is an EV version of the GLB. There may also be a production version of the EQG off-road concept previewed last year and another electric SUV of some sort.
For one of the smaller manufacturers, MG is working hard on its electric credentials. The brand already sells its MG 5 estate only as an EV, with two battery range options, while the ZS small SUV is also available with two electric drivetrains alongside the combustion engines – and a new entry-level specification will make the ZS EV even more affordable when it joins the range in coming weeks.
An all-electric family hatch called the MG 4 will be unveiled later this year, although we probably won’t see it on UK roads until 2023.
You can buy an electric version of the famous Mini hatch, but it’s not a stand-out model in either performance or range. An all-new version of the Mini hatch is expected in 2023, which should see an EV model far more integrated than the current model.
For a different sort of audience, Mini has recently announced a programme to sell restored classic Mini Coopers fitted with an electric motor and battery in place of the old petrol engine and fuel tank.
Nissan was one of the first to embrace the electric age with its Leaf, now in its second generation. Now the brand needs to claw back some fans lost to other makes and it hopes to do this with the Ariya, a new electric SUV on sale in 2022.
The awful e-NV200 Combi, a van-based people carrier, will finally die a long-overdue death very soon, to be replaced by an all-new model called the Nissan Townstar. Still van-based, but hopefully a lot better than the old one.
Further down the track, Nissan has announced that the current Micra small hatchback will be replaced by an EV in 2024, while the Nissan Leaf may be replaced by a crossover-style vehicle before then.
If you’d like a Peugeot and are looking to go electric, you have a few options to choose from. There is the e-208, and electric versions of the 208 small hatch, and its small SUV equivalent, the e-2008. There are also two van-based electric MPVs, the smaller e-Rifter and larger e-Traveller.
An all-new Peugeot 308 family car arrives this year in both hatch and estate variants, but an electric e-308 version is not expected until 2023.
Volvo’s performance EV spinoff brand, Polestar, has already built some fans with its first two models. The Polestar 1 was a limited-production coupe plug-in hybrid, while the Polestar 2 five-door hatch is the first regular production model, which is fully electric and available with two battery ranges. At the end of 2022 a second, larger electric SUV is set to join the range, not surprisingly called the Polestar 3.
Further along the space-time continuum, a production version of the striking Polestar Precept saloon concept car is expected in 2024.
Porsche already has one highly-rated EV in its line-up with the Taycan, originally launched as a saloon but now available in estate (Sport Turismo) and slightly off-roadish estate (Cross Turismo) versions.
The next electric model for Porsche is likely to be the all-new Macan SUV, which may be revealed later this year. An electric 911 is on the cards, as is an electric Cayman based on the recent Mission R racing concept, but these may not appear for a few years.
Ignoring the quirky Twizy single-seater quadricycle, Renault was early to offer a full EV with the Zoe small family car, on sale since 2012 and substantially updated in 2019. Unfortunately, Renault also took out the head airbags at the same time, resulting in the Zoe scoring a woeful zero-star safety rating from Euro NCAP. In other words, if you like your internal organs the way they are now, don’t crash a Zoe…
The French brand’s latest move is to attach the name of its long-serving family car, the Megane, to a new electric crossover model. It’s called the Renault Megane E-Tech Electric and is due on sale towards the end of 2022.
Electric cars are almost always smooth, whisper-quiet and full of low-end torque, which all sounds perfect for a high-end luxury saloon. But given that the average Rolls-Royce already weighs about three tonnes, an even heavier battery version would struggle to reach the end of your presumably very posh driveway before running out of juice.
Not to be deterred, Rolls-Royce has announced that its first electric car will launch in 2023 with perfectly acceptable driving range. Called the Spectre, it will replace the current Wraith. And in a move aimed to help the battery range of a car with the dimensions and aerodynamics of an oil taker, Rolls-Royce has decided to make its famous mascot slightly smaller and more aerodynamic…
SEAT recently dropped its small electric car that had almost been forgotten, the Mii, which was a version of sister brand Volkswagen’s e-Up. It was originally supposed to have its own version of the Volkswagen ID.3 hatch, but that was passed across to performance sub-brand Cupra instead.
Skoda’s first dedicated EV was the Enyaq SUV, although it also used to sell an electric version of the Citigo, which was itself a rebadged Volkswagen Up.
In 2022, the Enyaq range will be expanded with a new Enyaq Coupe model with a sloping rear roof, and a performance vRS variant.
The battery version of Smart’s distinctive Fortwo two-seater is a very pricey city car, at around £21,000. It’s also offered as a cabriolet, although the larger four-seater Forfour model appears to have vanished from showrooms.
Smart is planning to launch an electric SUV called the #1 in coming months, which will be by far its biggest car yet, but this won’t go on sale until at least 2023.
SsangYong will join the EV ranks in 2022 with a new version of its popular budget SUV, the Korando. Targeting the likes of MG’s ZS, the Korando E-Motion is not expected on sale until right at the end of the year.
Better late than never, Subaru will launch its first EV in 2022. The Solterra is a mid-size electric SUV that promises proper off-load capability comparable to Subaru’s regular petrol models. It’s a joint project with Toyota, sharing its platform with the Toyota bZ4X.
For many people, Tesla remains the standard-bearer of electric power. Its range includes the Model S large car, Model 3 mid-sizecar and Model X large SUV.
The brand will add a smaller SUV to its line-up early in 2022 – the Model Y is basically a reworked Model 3.
Toyota has long waved the flag for hybrid engines, most famously with the Prius, but only now are we set to see the first proper EV from the Japanese giant. The bZ4X is a RAV4-sized electric SUV, built as a joint effort with Subaru, which calls its version the Solterra.
Like Hyundai, Toyota is also pushing ahead with hydrogen fuel cells (FCEV) as well as batteries. The second-generation Mirai is theoretically available, but you can’t pop into your local Toyota dealer and buy one so it’s not included here.
Looking further ahead, Toyota will be accelerating its electric plans with 15 new EVs due by 2025. This presumably includes Lexus models.
Vauxhall has enjoyed success with the electric version of its best-selling Corsa small car, but customers wanting a larger EV will need to be patient. An all-new Astra arrives this year and will include a PHEV version, but a full EV won’t join the range until 2023.
The Mokka SUV can also be had as an all-electric Mokka-e version, which is far superior to the petrol version according to our own Expert Rating Index. It also won the ‘Best New Small SUV‘ category at our recent Car of the Year Awards.
Volkswagen’s ID electric range will continue to expand this year. Currently consisting of the ID.3 mid-size hatchback and ID.4 crossover, the family will be joined in 2022 by the ID.5, effectively a coupe version of the ID.4. But perhaps the most anticipated new electric VW is the long-awaited ID.Buzz, a modern electric version of the brand’s iconic Microbus. There is also set to be an EV replacement for the VW Passat, but not until 2023 at the earliest.
The arrival of the ID models killed off Volkswagen’s earlier e-Golf, although the small e-Up continues for now.
To date, Volvo’s only electric model has been a version of the popular XC40 small SUV, called the XC40 Recharge. Confusingly, Volvo also uses the ‘XC40 Recharge’ label for its plug-in hybrid versions.
A sportier, more car-like version called the C40 will be launched in the UK soon, which will be EV-only unlike the XC40 range. Beyond that, we expect the rest of Volvo’s model range to transition to full EV power in the next few years.
One of Kia’s best-selling models since the original version first appeared in 1993, the mid-sized Sportage SUV has reached its fifth generation with this model. The current model arrived in the UK in early 2022, and received a mid-life upgrade in the autumn of 2025.
With a comprehensive model range consisting of petrol, diesel (deleted as part of the 2025 update), hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions, the Sportage is closely related to the Hyundai Tucson. Both mid-sized SUVs have received plenty of praise from the UK media for their well-equipped and high-quality interior trims and their boot space. The Telegraph is also impressed by the generous seven-year warranty standard on all new Kia models, while Driving Electric admires the Sportage’s bold exterior styling.
While entry-level models of the Kia Sportage are praised for their value, the top-spec plug-in hybrid models are much more expensive, and many reviews conclude that, while it has less overall polish than the Sportage, the very similar Hyundai Tucson is a more affordable route into hybrid SUV ownership.
An updated Kia Sportage arrived in the UK in the autumn of 2025. This is a facelift to the existing model, rather than an all-new car. We will continue updating all our data as updated media reviews are published and revised running costs are confirmed.
As of October 2025, the fifth-generation Kia Sportage holds an Expert Rating of A, with a score of 72%. It achieves top marks for its low CO2 emissions and seven-year new car warranty, while it also gets good grades for its safety rating, media review scores and reliability record. However, its running costs are only average.
Model reviewed: 2025 facelift range “The driving might feel the same, but there are plenty of useful updates in the new Kia Sportage that should help it maintain its enormous popularity in the UK.” Author: Stuart Masson Read review
Auto Express
Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol/electric hybrid GT-Line S AWD Score: 8 / 10 “This is the best Kia Sportage yet. It looks sensational inside and out and does the family-friendly stuff really well. But can it beat the all-conquering Tucson? There are some areas where it’s better, others where it’s not. But Kia needs to sharpen its pencil on prices and deals.” Read review
Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The Kia Sportage combines bold eye-catching looks with plenty of engine options, trim levels and technology. Closely related to the Hyundai Tucson, the Sportage is a little more affordable to get into with a broader engine range and Kia’s signature seven-year warranty.” Read review
Business Car
Model reviewed: PHEV (2023) Score: 8 / 10 “In 3-spec PHEV form, the Kia Sportage is good to drive, with interesting styling inside and out and low running costs.” (Martyn Collins) Read review
Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol/electric hybrid GT-Line Score: 8 / 10 “The Mk5 Kia Sportage offers impressive refinement, is a decent drive and looks interesting.” Read review
Car
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 6 / 10 “There’s no mistaking that the Kia Sportage is now appealingly upmarket in its appearance, powertrain, tech and perceived quality. The problem is that its price has gone up, too. You can get a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid for less than a Sportage HEV, and the PHEV makes the Ford Kuga and VW Tiguan equivalents look cheap.” Read review
Car Keys
Model reviewed: 1.6-litre perol/electric hybrid Score: 9 / 10 “As a family SUV, the Kia Sportage ticks all the right boxes. It’s roomy, well-made, impressively equipped, and efficient in the case of the hybrids. Avoid the really expensive versions and you’ll be left with a seriously appealing crossover.” Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8.4 / 10 “The bold new Kia Sportage offers a high-tech interior and plenty of hybrid options.” (Miles Goodson) Read review
Daily Mirror
Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid GT-Line “The Kia Sportage PHEV is hugely attractive as a company car thanks to a seriously low BIK tax rate of 8%. Very few rivals can match that and although the Kia looks a bit dear compared to rivals, the actual outlay when it’s used as a company car will be considerably lower.” Read review
Driving Electric
Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol/electric hybrid Score: 8 / 10 “The fifth generation of Kia’s mid-size family SUV is a refined cruiser with an impressive infotainment setup, although the ride may be on the firm side for some.” Read review
Electrifying.com
Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid Score: 8 / 10 “Until Kia launches a pure-electric Sportage, this is as good as it gets. Well equipped with impressive credentials, company car drivers will love it.” Read review
Green Car Guide
Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid GT-Line S Score: 8 / 10 “The Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid has certainly progressed compared to previous models. The new Sportage has more dynamic styling, the interior which is similar to the EV6 is well designed and it works really well, and the overall driving experience is very good.” (Paul Clarke) Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “You’ll love or hate the way the new Kia Sportage looks, but there’s very little else to dislike about it. It’s comfortable, practical and extremely well-equipped, while there’s an extensive engine line-up to suit every buyer.” Read review
Honest John
Model reviewed: Range overview “Striking looks. Infotainment heavy cabin. Hybrid engines.” Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “Now one of the classiest and comfiest options, but not the cheapest” Read review
The Sun
Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol/electric hybrid GT-Line S “The new Kia Sportage SUV could be the Nissan Qashqai’s worst nightmare.” Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol/electric hybrid GT-Line Score: 8 / 10 “Rather than bringers of joy, family SUVs are carriers of joy and in that respect the Kia Sportage will do very nicely. While its fuel consumption might not be the best, the long warranty is and that’s reflected in the PCP leasing rates.” Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
The Kia Sportage shares its foundations and safety tech with the Hyundai Tucson, tested last year. Where necessary, Euro NCAP has carried out tests on the Sportage but, for others, the results of the Tucson are used.
Therefore, the Sportage acheived a full five-star rating after its crash tests like the Tucson, with both SUVs being awarded the exact same adult and child occupant crash safety scores. That said, the Sportage received a slightly better safety assistance technology score, indicating that it is slightly better at preventing an accident in the first place.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
Model tested: 1.6-litre T-GDI 48V Petrol AWD Automatic
The Kia Sportage has a better-than-average overall reliability rating of 76%, according to warranty data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our partner, MotorEasy. This score covers both the current model as well as previous (pre-2021) models.
To date, the average repair cost for the Sportage is just over £600, and the most common problem area is also the most expensive – engine issues, with an average repair bill of over £1,000. That’s obviously a lot more than a used car warranty, which is worth keeping in mind if you own a Sportage or are considering a used car.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
Fuel consumption
Average
Score
Petrol models
44 mpg
C
Diesel models
50 mpg
C
Hybrid models
48 mpg
C
Plug-in hybrid models
236 mpg
A
CO₂ output
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Petrol models
146 g/km
C
Diesel models
150 g/km
C
Hybrid models
133 g/km
B
Plug-in hybrid models
27 g/km
A
Battery range
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Plug-in hybrid models
40 miles
D
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
23
B
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£229
C
Year 2
£566
C
Year 3
£926
C
Year 4
£1,148
C
Year 5
£1,516
C
Overall
£4,385
C
Running costs for the Kia Sportage are generally average overall, according to comprehensive five-year ownership data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our technical partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
While the plug-in hybrid models may look economical on paper, that’s really just the result of the EU/UK government lab tests not being fit for purpose when it comes to measuring plug-in hybrids.
Servicing costs are also average, while insurance premiums should be pretty good for this class of car.
Warranty rating
New car warranty information for the Kia Sportage
Overall rating
A
88%
Petrol or diesel models
A
81%
Electric or hybrid models
A
98%
New car warranty duration
7 years
New car warranty mileage
100,000 miles
Battery warranty duration
8 years
Battery warranty mileage
100,000 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 Sportage.
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 Sportage 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.
Date: July 2023 Recall number: R/2023/211 Model types: All Build dates: 08/2022 to 03/2023 Number of vehicles affected: 6,996 Defect: A combination of the instrument cluster software and electrical noise while the vehicle is starting may result in cluster booting errors. Remedy: The software of the digital instrument cluster of your vehicle must be upgraded.
As of September 2024 (our most recent data point), there has been one DVSA vehicle safety recalls on this generation of the Kia Sportage to address a software issue.
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 Kia 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 Sportage, you should insist that any outstanding recall work is completed before you take delivery of the vehicle.
The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé is a five-door version of the 4 Series Coupé, which is, in turn, based on the BMW 3 Series saloon.
The range of engines available for the Gran Coupé is identical to the 4 Series Coupé and Convertible, with customers able to choose between turbocharged petrol and diesel units. All models are fitted with an eight-speed automatic gearbox, while all-wheel drive is available on selected models.
Attempting to offer the practicality of a family car while providing the styling and performance of a sporty coupé, many UK reviewers commend the 4 Series Gran Coupé for its easy-to-load hatchback tailgate instead of a saloon bootlid, while Car Keys also praises the car for its high-quality interior and “engaging and involving” driving dynamics.
If you need four doors but the idea of a regular 3 Series saloon is not especially appealing, the 4 Series Gran Coupé could be an appealing option. Not all agree that the Gran Coupé offers the best of both worlds, however. “Foot room is good”, Company Car Today says, “but anyone approaching or over six feet tall will struggle for headroom in the back thanks to the lower roofline.”
In concluding its review, Carwow explains that the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé doesn’t match the practicality of the BMW 3 Series, and isn’t as “sleek” as the 4 Series Coupé. Therefore, you may be better off with one or the other, particularly if practicality is more important to you, as the 4 Series Gran Coupé costs almost £8,000 more than the entry-level 3 Series saloon.
As of February 2026, the BMW 4 Series Coupé holds an Expert Rating of C, with a score of 63% in both new and used car calculations. It has an excellent safety score and low CO2 emissions, although running costs are high.
Body style: Medium five-door hatchback Engines: petrol, diesel Price: From £45,380 on-road
Launched: Autumn 2021 Last updated: N/A Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Reviews, road tests and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “Refresh brings styling and tech updates to stylish four-door BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe.” Read review
Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “While it’s undoubtedly an indulgent purchase it’s also one you can make with your heart and head in agreement, given it can play modern, connected commuter Monday to Friday, sensible family car at the weekends and – should opportunity arise – act like a proper sporting coupe as well.” Read review
Car
Model reviewed: M440i xDrive Score: 8 / 10 “Although its star attraction is its dynamics, the 4 Series Gran Coupe scores for being such a good all-rounder and making you feel great about driving it, it quietly gets on with dealing with the day-to-day stuff impressively well.” Read review
Car Keys
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 10 / 10 “The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe is a truly excellent model. Combining sportiness with everyday usability, it’s undoubtedly the pick of the 4 Series line-up. Though the styling won’t suit all, if you can live with the looks, it’s without question the leader of this class due to its sheer breadth of talents.” Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7.8 / 10 “The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe is a stylish alternative to the 3 Series and has a more practical boot.” Read review
Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 6 / 10 “The comfortably cruising 4 Series Gran Coupe tries to combine sporty design with a practical layout. It isn’t quite the best in either respect.” Read review
Company Car Today
Model reviewed: Range overview “More practical boot and imposing looks mean that if you don’t need rear-seat headroom, this could be the one to pick over a four-door 3-Series.” Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 9 / 10 “In this BMW 4 Series Coupe review, we look at yet another example of BMW ensuring that no niche is left unfilled. However unnecessary it might seem given the all-round excellence of the cheaper 3 Series on which it is based, the reality is that, in its second generation, the Gran Coupe is a mature and desirable five-door coupe that offers a little something extra over the regular saloon.” Author: Andrew Brady Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8.2 / 10 “Brilliant handling, refinement and practicality for the new BMW 4 Series” Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “Nothing in the BMW range – nor any rival factory – stretches a band across the three legs of drivability, style and practicality like the 4 Series Gran Coupe.” Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
No safety rating
As of February 2026, the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé has not been assessed by Euro NCAP.
This is something of a surprise since both the coupé and convertible versions of the 4 Series have been tested (both scoring a top five-star rating), along with the electric i4 – essentially an EV version of the fossil-fuel Gran Coupé – which scores four stars. The 3 Series saloon, which the 4 Series is based on, has also been assessed and holds a five-star rating.
Because there are structural differences between the 3 Series and various 4 Series models, and because the electric i4’s electric motor and battery may perform differently in an accident to a conventional engine/gearbox and fuel system, we can’t assume that the 4 Series Gran Coupé would have a similar score to any other models.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco ratingg
As of February 2026, the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé has not been tested by Green NCAP.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
Total claims: 336 Average repair cost: £861.23 Last updated: April 2025
The BMW 4 Series family has an average reputation for reliability, according to workshop and warranty data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our partners at MotorEasy. This score covers all versions of the current-generation 4 Series (Convertible, Coupé and Gran Coupé) as well as the original (pre-2020) models.
The average repair bill to date has been just under £850, which is obviously a lot more than a used car warranty – so bear that in mind if you already own a BMW 4 Series or are looking at buying a used 4 Series.
The most common faults with 4 Series models to date have been engine-related. These are also the most expensive to repair, with an average bill of £2,000. Gearbox repairs are even more expensive, averaging more than £2,600, but are thankfully not as common. Other faults – like suspension, fuel system, electrics and brakes – have much lower repair bills.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
Fuel consumption
Average
Score
Petrol models
40 mpg
D
Diesel models
51 mpg
C
CO₂ output
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Petrol models
161 g/km
C
Diesel models
146 g/km
C
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
32
C
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£254
C
Year 2
£632
C
Year 3
£1,046
C
Year 4
£1,382
D
Year 5
£1,805
D
Overall
£5,119
D
Running costs for the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé are a bit of a mixed bag, according to numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
Petrol models offer a below-par fuel consumption of 40 mpg on average, while diesel models are much more efficient, offering 55 mpg. Insurance is neither expensive nor cheap, and service and maintenance costs are fairly average, too, when compared to the rest of the market.
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Consumers have kicked off 2022 with a splurge on new cars, according to industry data published this morning, with results up more than 60% on the same month last year.
January’s new car registration results, released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), show that the number of private new cars sold was much higher than the same month last year – when many dealerships were closed during a Covid lockdown – and similar to 2020’s results. However, that’s still about 13% down on 2019.
Fleet registrations were flat, meaning that total new car registrations were up about 28% on last January. Overall, the data shows that the new car market is more or less continuing its gradual slide since peaking in 2016/17.
Shortages of crucial electronic chips continue to hamper supply, meaning that although the overall results are broadly in line with expectations, the make-up of those numbers continues to be as tumultuous as it was throughout most of last year.
Strong start for plug-in cars
Electric and plug-in hybrid cars had a better start to 2022 than they did last year, although not quite as strong as they ended 2021. It was a good month for regular hybrid cars, though, taking nearly 12% of the overall market – helped by a fantastic debut for the new Kia Sportage, plus a very good month for the Kia Niro and Toyota Corolla.
Electric cars continue to outsell diesel cars, even without a boatload of Teslas influencing the new car market as we saw last month. Overall, one in five new cars are plug-in models, which will continue to increase during the year.
Good month, bad month
As has been the case for almost a year now, the market has been heavily disrupted by production delays and parts shortages. Each car manufacturer has been dealing with problems for some or all of its models, while some models have been less affected.
Kia was comfortably the UK’s best-performing car company in January, thanks to a chart-topping performance for the new Sportage and a third place for the Niro. Audi took second place, edging parent company (and 2021 market leader) Volkswagen.
As well as leading the overall new car market, Kia topped the sales charts for individual models with the Sportage comfortably on top in January (presumably a mix of old and new models), while the Niro placed third.
The Ford Puma had its best market performance in many months to finish second, while the Mini hatch continued its renaissance after its most recent facelift in fourth place – just ahead of the 2021 sales champion, the Vauxhall Corsa.
The Ford Fiesta continues to be plagued by delays, with reports of seven-month waits for many models, while the Volkswagen Golf and Polo are also nowhere to be seen once again.
Expect this rocky road for new car supply to continue until at least Summer and possibly throughout the rest of the year.
Aston Martin has added a new model to the top of its DBX SUV range, featuring several performance upgrades and revised exterior styling.
The DBX 707, which Aston Martin remarks is ‘the world’s most powerful luxury SUV’, is fitted with the same 4.0-litre petrol V8 as the standard DBX range, but an uprated version – the engineers over at Aston Martin managing to squeeze a further 157hp out of the twin-turbocharged unit, for a total output of 707hp.
This means that the Aston Martin DBX 707 can complete a 0-62 mph sprint in just 3.3 seconds, also thanks to the new nine-speed ‘wet clutch’ transmission, which allows for faster gear changes.
Further upgrades include a strengthened limited-slip differential, needed to counter the extra wheelspin that a more powerful engine brings, and recalibrations to the suspension and power steering to increase handling agility and grip through high-speed corners.
The 2022 DBX 707 also features several exterior styling tweaks that distinguish it from regular DBX models – most notably a larger chrome front grille, which Aston Martin says needed to be enlarged to increase airflow to the uprated V8 engine.
A new gloss black front splitter is mirrored by an enlarged diffuser on the rear bumper, and a larger spoiler is fitted above the rear window to improve stability at high speeds.
Opening the new soft-close doors, the DBX 707 also has its own set of distinct interior trim designs, featuring leather sports seats and a chrome-finished switchgear. The dashboard also includes new buttons explicitly for the control of the suspension mode, manual gear selection and exhaust system settings.
Arriving in Summer 2022 with prices starting at £189,000, The DBX 707 is likely to add further shine to the DBX range, which has already received a very positive reception from the UK media since its Spring 2020 arrival.
Currently holding an Expert Rating of 81% in our Expert Rating Index, the Aston Martin DBX has been highlighted for its styling, driving dynamics and comfort, despite not being the most practical high-end SUV in its class.
The value of a used car can be just as variable as house prices. Here are a few pointers on how to get close to knowing how much your car is worth.
There are two different ways of producing used car values; sold prices and retail advertised prices.
How values are set
There are two different ways of producing used car values; sold prices and retail advertised prices.
Car dealers use price data compiled by their own organisation if they are part of a large chain and/or a company such as CAP-HPI which sets prices from daily data from trade sales, auctions, rental and leasing companies and specialist remarketing companies.
CAP-HPI data is also used by many consumer websites offering online valuations. Parkers sets its valuations based both on CAP-HPI and by monitoring a claimed 4,000-odd sales on its website a day. Auto Trader analyses a claimed 900,000 daily prices to offer its valuations.
Used car values can change daily, and these are then used by the motor trade as a starting point for part exchange and to set selling prices. They then adjust them depending on their own business needs and targets.
Different types of values
If you look at any consumer used car price guide it will give you a value for your car under set headings: original price; franchised dealer; independent dealer; private good; private poor and part exchange. For a free valuation on these websites, you don’t get all of these categories, or the ability to adjust, but you can have these functions for a small subscription.
The first two are what can expect to pay for a car. The franchised dealer price is top dollar and usually the value for a car in the manufacturer’s approved used scheme. You get at least 12 months’ warranty to the original specification plus breakdown cover and the car will be immaculately presented.
An independent dealer is not tied to the manufacturer, cars tend to be older or with higher miles but because the dealer won’t have the same overheads as a franchise, costs will be lower. Warranties are shorter but can be extended.
Now we come to the value of your car if you want to sell it yourself or exchange it for another from a dealer. A private poor car will have some mechanical or bodywork problems, no service history and need work to make good. A private good car will have service history, possibly a full MOT and be smartly presented.
A part exchange value, also called a trade-in, is what you could expect to get for your car if you want to exchange it against another used or a new car. Traditionally this is the lowest value around, but it can be difficult to tell precisely because the dealer has a profit margin in the new car that they can potentially use to help boost the offer for your part-exchange vehicle.
In theory, a trade price is also what you’d expect to get from a car buying service. Via various methods, these sites will make money from the dealer that ultimately buys the car to sell it on to the next customer. However, the prices paid have tended to be better than what dealers are offering for part exchanges, so it’s always worth getting a quote before selling your car to the car dealer. We work with the four companies shown below, who are some of the largest car-buying services in the UK and all highly respected, but other companies are obviously also available.
What can this mean in practice? In January 2022 we picked out a used Vauxhall Corsa advertised at a Vauxhall main dealer (therefore franchised) as an example of a popular used car.
It was a 2018 three-door 1.4-litre petrol ‘Energy’ model with air conditioning and a 75hp petrol engine. With 59,640 miles this was a little higher than the average 10,000-miles a year which car price guides work to. The asking price was £7,255. We then paid for price check at a well-known website.
With 40,000 miles and no options able to be applied, the Corsa showed as £6,175 as private poor, £7,025 as private good, £6,575 as a part exchange. Adjusted for 59,000 miles those figures changed to £5,485, £6,290 and £5,840.
What makes a difference?
Mileage
If correctly serviced, most cars can cover high mileages with ease. However, a lower mileage than the average (which was taken as 10,000 a year pre-pandemic) increases the value of a used car. Buyers tend to think this means a car has had less wear and tear, so is a better bet for the future. True to some extent, but a car only driven for short journeys around time gives the clutch, gears, brakes and battery more of a pummelling than one which has cruised along motorways most days, its engine fully warmed up and without much gear-changing.
Either way, if the car you want to value is above or below the average mileage which free price checks supply, then pay to fine tune it to your car.
Options
Some optional extras fitted from new will make a difference to a car’s worth, but not all. An automatic gearbox option over a manual always changes the value, and to a lesser extent things like optional parking sensor packs, cruise control, upgraded wheels, panoramic roofs and metallic paint. Again, when using a price guide pay the fee to tick relevant option boxes which are offered to you. If they are there, they will change the value.
However, if you have owned your car from new and put lots of extras on it, some of that value will now be lost. “There’s a bit of a limit,” says Derren Martin, head of valuations at CAP-HPI. “You can’t put loads of options on your vehicle and charge for all of them, you might not get value for all of them. Once you get past a certain age people won’t necessarily pay.”
The other thing which can improve the amount you may get for your car will be evidence of a full service history (if it’s a prestige or sports car better still from a dealer for that brand or a specialist). However, price guides don’t put a set value on this – it’s just a factor which may persuade a buyer to choose your car over another.
Don’t get stressed!
If you’ve done your homework, adjusted the online valuation as close as you can get to your car and the way in which you want to sell it, had a look at what’s being asked for identical cars then you’ve got a great start. But don’t get too hung up on that value.
Private buyers will want to haggle, so set either set the selling price a little above what you’d like or at the lowest you will accept to sell quickly and see if ‘no offers’ brings results.
The value to a dealer of your car – either to buy and sell on, or as a part exchange is more fluid. Depending on the amount of profit the dealer has allowed in the asking price of the car you want, that can come down or the part exchange value can go up.
Your car’s value can also be influenced on how many of that type of car the dealer chain has in stock, how quickly yours can be sold on with very little preparation, or just because the car you’re looking at has been in stock for too long (dealers have set numbers of days, then the price reduces).
They key here is what is your maximum cost to change – how much you are willing to pay to secure a particular car.
* The Car Expert has commercial partnerships with Auto Trader, Carwow, and Motorway. If you sell your car to any of these companies, we may receive a small commission.
