If you’re in the market for a new set of wheels, whether it’s a used car or something brand-spanking new, you may also be in the market for GAP insurance.
Here at The Car Expert, we’ve pulled together some handy tips with help from our friends at ALA Insurance to make sure you can save money on your GAP insurance policy.
Just to recap: GAP insurance (Guaranteed Asset Protection) covers you for any shortfall on your car insurance payout if your car is stolen or written-off during the life of the policy.
Your car insurance policy pays out on the market value of the vehicle at the time of the incident, not the amount you paid for the car or how much you still owe the finance company. If you end up having to paying thousands of pounds to make up that difference, you’ll be left in a right pickle – without a car and a potentially massive debt.
Taking the stress out of that eventuality is GAP insurance, which will cover the extra needed after your motor policy has paid out. It can be particularly useful if you’ve taken finance to buy the car, since the car’s depreciation value could leave you well short of what you need to repay the finance company.
So how can you save money and get the best possible value from your GAP insurance policy?
1. Don’t buy from the dealership
A dealership is usually the first place most people hear about GAP insurance, and not coincidentally, it’s the place you’ll most definitely be quoted the dearest policy.
Changes in the law gives car buyers a couple of extra days to hunt out the best GAP insurance policy. So if you’ve found this article by researching exactly what GAP is and whether you should have it, congratulations! You’ve now discovered the gateway to a much cheaper and/or better GAP policy.
2. Consider buying a longer (or shorter) policy
As well as outrageously expensive, dealership GAP policies tend to be pretty rigid. It’s usually a one-size-fits-all policy, which may not suit your needs very well.
If you’re taking out a four-year car finance agreement, a three-year GAP policy means you won’t be covered for that last year, which is when the market value of your car is going to be at its lowest and GAP is potentially most valuable.
The reverse is also true: if you change your car every two years, why would you want to pay for a three-year GAP policy?
Specialist GAP insurance providers have a much wider range of offers than car dealers, so you’ve got a much better chance of finding a specific policy that covers exactly what you need (and nothing that you don’t) for the best possible price.
3. Scrutinise the terms and conditions
It’s a well-known fact that not all insurance policies are created equally. Here, we compare the different insurance providers for the general policy differences.
It matters if you’re a commercial vehicle driver, drive on the continent or outside the UK and how many miles your car has done when you’re taking the policy out.
Some GAP policies will have a cap on the maximum amount they pay out, so it’s important that you undertand exactly how much you’re covered for and how the payment process will work when you make a claim.
4. Can the policy be transferred?
So you’ve decided to purchase a GAP insurance policy for, let’s say, a four-year period. But what happens if your circumstances change 18 months later, and you have to sell your car and buy a new one?
Some insurers will allow you to transfer your GAP policy across to your next car. Not all providers do, so you should check this before taking out a policy, but this simple action could save you shelling out all over again.
The original Porsche Cayenne SUV was first launched in 2002 and shocked many as Porsche in those days was only known for various versions of the 911 sports car – but very soon it was selling more Cayennes than anything else.
The third generation was launched in late 2017 before arriving in the UK in Spring 2018. It was a total redesign that includes a body that looks a bit more related to the 911. The Cayenne has maintained its popularity, Evo stating in 2021 “if you’ve got to go SUV, this is the one.” Many testers see the car as defining the premium SUV.
In 2019 the Cayenne range gained a coupe sister with a more rakish roofline. Some reviewers struggle to see the point of this version, while others rate it more highly than the original version. Also added in recent times have been hybrid models, again to mixed reviews, Auto Express finding such versions “hard to justify”, inferior to both Porsche’s combustion-engined and fully electric cars. Car also said, “If you value the U in SUV, steer clear of the coupé – even if it is a great steer.”
Cayenne engines are all petrol – diesel offerings were dropped with the third generation, as the Volkswagen Group continues to hope that you’ve all forgotten its Dieselgate disgrace. The three options are a 3.0-litre V6, a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 and a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, the first and last also available with hybrids. Power and resultant pace ranges from 340 to a remarkable 680hp.
Petrol models earn praise for their on-road refinement, typical of the comments “it’s not just good to drive for an SUV, it’s good to drive full stop.” But compared to their petrol siblings, the heavier hybrids feel more cumbersome.
The interior is adapted from the latest Panamera saloon and reviewers love its combination of technology and exceptional build. “The materials, quality and attention to detail are almost beyond reproach,” says Top Gear. Technology available impresses but choosing much of it adds quite a lot to the purchase bill.
The Porsche Cayenne range received a substantial mid-life update in the spring of 2023. The media reviews reflect a mix of pre-facelift and current cars.
As of March 2026, the Porsche Cayenne holds a New Car Expert Rating of E, with a score of 54%. Although it has received good review scores from motoring journalists, the Cayenne’s overall rating is let down by ownership scores. Its safety rating from Euro NCAP has now expired due to age, while its CO2 emissions are only average (and that score is helped considerably by the plug-in hybrid models). Reliability and running costs are both poor, which further drags its score down.
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
The Car Expert
Model reviewed: 3.0-litre petrol/electric hybrid E-Hybrid Coupé “The Porsche Cayenne Coupé is a stunning car to look at. The E-Hybrid itself is a mixed bag, though. The increased weight of the batteries numbs the driving experience somewhat, and while still impressing, driven back-to-back with a regular Cayenne Coupé you’ll soon feel the difference.” Read review
Auto Express
Model reviewed: 4.0-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid Cayenne Coupé Turbo E-Hybrid with GT Package Score: 8 / 10 “What was previously the peak of the Porsche Cayenne range is still an undoubtedly impressive machine, but it’s also one that has lost its edge. Few cars at any price will deliver the performance and roadholding on show here, but the addition of a plug-in hybrid powertrain takes away from the experience more than it adds for the keen driver. If you want the sharpest Cayenne on sale, save yourself more than £50k and buy the GTS instead.” Author: Alex Ingram Read review
Model reviewed: SUV range Score: 8 / 10 “After a sporty, premium large SUV? The Porsche Cayenne should fit the bill. It’s engaging to drive, offers impressive levels of comfort and refinement, plus its excellent build quality only adds to the upmarket feel. Throw in the kudos of the Porsche badge, and you have a prestige set of wheels that covers every base – including being able to put your family in it.” Author: Max Adams, John McIlroy Read review
Model reviewed: E-Hybrid (2023 facelift) Score: 9 / 10 “With more electric range than its predecessor, solid but not stunning performance, greater comfort and yet also a sportier, more engaging drive, the latest Cayenne E-Hybrid should continue the nameplate’s legacy as a Porsche best-seller.” Read review
Model reviewed: Turbo S E-Hybrid Coupe 2021 Score: 7 / 10 “As polished as the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid Coupe is, the standard Cayennes are even sharper to drive, and those who care about the clean air or financial benefits of a PHEV are unlikely to be the same people willing to sink £125,000-plus into one of the fastest large SUVs on the market.” Read review
Model reviewed: 4.0-litre petrol automatic GTS Coupé Score: 9 / 10 “A huge SUV may seem an odd thing to recommend these days, but if you’re in the market for a non-electrified Porsche Cayenne, this is the one we’d go for. It has that great duality that you find in the best performance SUVs, being able to perform as a comfortable cruiser and an entertainer.” Read review
Model reviewed: 3.0-litre petrol automatic V6 Coupe Score: 6 / 10 “The base-spec Porsche Cayenne Coupe lacks character in a way the top-spec Turbo does not. It gets the same luxurious cabin, refined ride and sharp steering, but it feels heavy and short on sparkle. The Turbo offers a sense of occasion that cars such as this simply can’t do without.” Read review
Model reviewed: Coupe 4.0 V8 Turbo Score: 8 / 10 “It remains one of the sharpest SUVs on sale, and now comes in a package some customers will find impossible to resist.” Read review
Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The Porsche Cayenne has always been the car every manufacturer of large, luxury SUVs has tried to emulate. Lighter, leaner and faster, with a posher cabin that’s been stuffed with the latest driving, safety, and infotainment tech, the latest model has simply blown the opposition clean out of the water.” Read review
Car
Model reviewed: 2025 E-Hybrid range Score: 8 / 10 “Just as rivals may have been sensing blood at the apparent ageing of the Mk3 Cayenne, Porsche went and delivered a significant makeover that sent its halo SUV back to the top of the pile. As is often the way, Stuttgart has ruthlessly identified areas for improvement and – by facelift standards – thrown the kitchen sink at them.” Author: CJ Hubbard, James Dennison Read review
Model reviewed: Turbo S E-Hybrid Score: 8 / 10 “The V8 is good for 542bhp, the battery 14.1kWh and the e-motor 128bhp, giving an unholy combined output of 670bhp and 664lb ft.” Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: SUV range Score: 7.8 / 10 “The Porsche Cayenne offers the brand’s expected driving appeal, packaged as a practical, comfortable SUV.” Read review
Model reviewed: Coupé range Score: 7.6 / 10 “The Porsche Cayenne Coupe is more stylish than the standard car but slightly less practical too.” Read review
Model reviewed: E-Hybrid SUV Score: 8.4 / 10 “The Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid is almost the perfect package for luxury SUV buyers who want performance as well as space, practicality and reasonable economy” Read review
Carwow
Model reviewed: Coupé range Score: 8 / 10 “The Porsche Cayenne Coupe is fantastic to drive, has a high-quality interior and a surprising amount of space and practicality. A standard Cayenne is cheaper and even more spacious, though.” Read review
Model reviewed: SUV range Score: 8 / 10 “The Porsche Cayenne offers powerful engines, keen handling and spacious, luxurious cabin. It’s five-seat only, though, you can’t have a diesel engine and Android Auto doesn’t feature.” Read review
Discover EV
Model reviewed: 3.0-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid Score: 8.4 / 10 “With significantly enhanced performance and increased electric range, Porsche’s new hybrid Cayenne is no longer a compromise.” Read review
Eurekar
Model reviewed: 2.9-litre petrol automatic Cayenne S SUV “On the road, the Porsche Cayenne S handles beautifully, especially when you slip it into sport mode, one of three options available, and adjust the suspension. There’s surprisingly little wallowing on corners and occupants as well protected from road, wind and engine noise intrusion.” Read review
Evo
Model reviewed: SUV range Score: 8 / 10 “The third-generation Porsche Cayenne has the goods as an SUV, but talent is not spread evenly across the range.” (Jordan Katsianis) Read review
Model reviewed: Turbo S E-Hybrid Score: 6 / 10 “The Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid combines both the 4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine from the current Turbo model with a small electric motor and battery pack to create the most powerful Cayenne yet.” Read review
Model reviewed: Coupe range review Score: 8 / 10 “Two-ton ‘coupe’ SUVs are difficult to like, but there’s little faulting the Cayenne Coupe’s performance or dynamics.” Read review
Honest John
Model reviewed: Coupé range Score: 10 / 10 “The Porsche Cayenne Coupe is great to drive and has a beautiful interior.” Read review
Model reviewed: SUV range Score: 8 / 10 “The Cayenne is arguably a bit too big for Britain’s congested city streets and narrow country lanes, but this hasn’t stopped it from being a huge success for Porsche. It helps that it’s brilliant to drive.” Read review
Motoring Research
Model reviewed: 4.0-litre petrol automatic Turbo GT Score: 8 / 10 “The ultimate Porsche Cayenne and the fastest SUV around the Nurburgring, the new Turbo GT puts even the Lamborghini Urus in its place.” Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Coupé range Score: 8.6 / 10 “One of the more successful coupe-shaped SUVs” Read review
Model reviewed: SUV range Score: 8.4 / 10 “Third-generation Porsche Cayenne SUV moves the game on” Read review
The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: E-Hybrid Score: 8 / 10 “The ‘everything’ eco-Porsche … just don’t expect the taxman to care” Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: Turbo GT Score: 8 / 10 “If all you’re ever going to do is mooch around town, you might as well save your money and buy a normal Cayenne. But as these hyper-luxury performance SUVs go, the Turbo GT is one of the best.” Read review
Model reviewed: 3.0-litre petrol V6 automatic Score: 6 / 10 “If you like this sort of thing, you’ll love the Porsche Cayenne Coupé. It does a better job of being a sports car and an SUV at the same time than any of its rivals – though it still does neither job as well as a dedicated example of each type of car, of course.” Read review
Model reviewed: Turbo S E-Hybrid Score: 6 / 10 “A mass of contradictions, the Turbo S E-Hybrid powers its way to the top of the Cayenne range with plug-in power, yet its towering performance robs it of some poise. There are more sensible options available, but sense rarely drives purchases like this, even ones where there’s a plug involved.” Read review
Model reviewed: 3.0-litre petrol automatic Cayenne S Score: 8 / 10 “What at first glance seems a subtle makeover for Porsche’s big SUV turns out to be a comprehensive revisit to the concept, with tangible improvements in terms of interior quality and refinement.” Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: SUV range Score: 8 / 10 “The Porsche Cayenne remains the king of driver-friendly SUVs. A very complete machine.” Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
The Porsche Cayenne was originally crash tested by Euro NCAP back in 2017 and awarded a five-star rating. However, this rating expired in January 2024 and is no longer valid as the car no longer meets the standards required for such a rating. This is normal practice, as Euro NCAP reviews its ratings on most cars annually with most ratings expiring after about six or seven years.
However, if you are comparing a used Cayenne to vehicles of similar age, whose ratings will have probably also expired, its safety rating score is still useful.
In addition, the Cayenne’s safety rating does not apply to the Cayenne Coupé. The Coupé version was launched more than a year after the original Cayenne SUV was tested, and the rating was not automatically extended. Either the Cayenne Coupé would have to be tested separately or Porsche would have to supply proof to Euro NCAP that shows the Coupé would behave identically to the original SUV in the same situations.
As of March 2026, it appears that neither of these things have happened. So while the Cayenne Coupé is probably just as safe as the Cayenne SUV, it hasn’t been confirmed.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of March 2026, the Porsche Cayenne has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.
Given that we’re talking about a high-performance, petrol-engined SUV that weighs in excess of two tonnes before adding any passengers or luggage, it’s pretty safe to assume that it won’t be winning any environmental awards…
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
Total claims: 254 Average repair cost: £845.82 Last updated: April 2025
As of April 2025 (our most recent data point), the Porsche Cayenne has a poor reliability score of 42%, according to workshop and warranty data provided exclusively to The Car Expert from our commercial partner MotorEasy. This score applies to both the current model (2018 onwards) and previous-generation Cayennes.
More than a third of all reported problems with the Cayenne relate to electrical issues. Of more concern, nearly a quarter of all problems relate to engine issues, which have an average repair cost of more than £1,500. Gearbox faults are very expensive, at an average of £3,000 to fix, but these are relatively rare.
So if you own or are considering buying a used Porsche Cayenne, it’s certainly worth considering a used car warranty that covers all of the potential trouble spots shown in the charts above.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
Fuel consumption
Average
Score
Petrol models
24 mpg
E
CO₂ output
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Petrol models
272 g/km
E
Plug-in hybrid models
36 g/km
A
Battery range
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Plug-in hybrid models
19 miles
E
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
49
E
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£654
E
Year 2
£1,415
E
Year 3
£2,150
E
Year 4
£2,605
E
Year 5
£3,307
E
Overall
£10,131
E
Unsurprisingly, the Porsche Cayenne is a very expensive car to 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 fuel consumption data, but CO2 emissions are very poor (only the petrol models are shown here as the diesels were discontinued a few years ago). The plug-in hybrid stats look good on paper, but this is largely a function of misleading EU/UK government lab tests that make every plug-in hybrid look amazing.
Battery range on the plug-in hybrid is also poor, with a claimed 19 miles meaning you won’t get very far in real-world conditions – especially if you put your foot down more than a fraction. Even if you charge it every day, you’ll still run out of charge fairly quickly.
Finally, insurance and scheduled servicing costs for the Cayenne are very high, which is to be expected from a car this expensive and powerful.
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Porsche Cayenne, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Road safety leaders have been left feeling restless, after 10% motorists in a new survey admitted they have fallen asleep while driving.
With more than 40 million licence holders registered in the UK, this works out to four million drivers who have potentially nodded off behind the wheel.
And while drivers motorists said they had only dropped off momentarily the shock news, in a survey from independent road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, will set alarm bells ringing among road welfare campaigners.
Even the briefest lapse in concentration when driving can have devastating consequences: at 70mph, a car travels more than 100 feet every second.
Some motorists went further, to paint a worrying picture, as one in ten of those surveyed admitted to actually briefly closing their eyes because they were so tired. And more than half of drivers questioned said they were very concerned about fatigue when doing long distances. That equates to more than 20 million motorists who are worried about momentary driving dozes.
“Fatigue behind the wheel is a very serious problem, perhaps more concerning than previously thought,” says Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart director of policy & research.
“It is shocking to think a potential four million drivers have closed their eyes behind the wheel because they were so tired, even if it was just for a short time. The potential carnage that could result from even one accident doesn’t bear thinking about.”
Further results from the research highlighted that millions of drivers have succumbed to tiredness when driving, with one in ten admitting they had hit a rumble strip, while a further four in ten had turned down the heating, rolled down the windows or turned up the radio in a bid to keep them wide awake on the wide open road.
On a positive note, a quarter said they had pulled over to have a rest and a coffee.
“Driving a long distance needs pre-planning to ensure there are plenty of available rest places and to make sure there’s enough time to complete the journey if delays are encountered,” added Neil Greig.
“Never drive for longer than two hours without a break and take particular care if driving when you would normally be asleep. This is even more important as the country re-opens after the pandemic and not all facilities are available yet.
“Drivers can then concentrate on staying alert behind the wheel rather than staving off tiredness by trying to reach their end destination without adequate rest breaks.”
Launched in 2019, the Mercedes-Benz EQC was the first ‘proper’ production EV of any sort from the three-pointed star brand. It was discontinued in 2023.
Reviewers pointed out that the car was a late arrival to a class already boasting the Audi Q8 e-tron, Jaguar I-Pace and Tesla Model X. But some, such as Honest John, dubbed the Mercedes “a worthy adversary to any of them.”
The EQC also lost out on practicality, being slightly smaller than its main rivals – opinions were divided over the rear-seat head and legroom, though most agreed the small rear door aperture didn’t make it easy to get into the car.
The interior enjoyed much praise – “it looks and feels a quality bit of kit” said the Sunday Times. Reviewers particularly liked the high-tech infotainment system, though its full capabilities were only available on higher-spec versions.
The EQC’s performance impressed. Each axle had its own electric motor, producing all-wheel-drive, total power of 408hp and a huge 760Nm of torque – 0-62mph time is a shade over five seconds. As well as being fast, the EQC was refined – “beautifully smooth” according to the Sunday Times though hard cornering highlighted its weight with notable body roll.
No longer on sale, the Mercedes-Benz EQC holds a Used Car Expert Rating of C, with a score of 62%. Although it gets points for having no tailpipe emissions, it’s an expensive car to live with.
Body style: Medium SUV/crossover Powertrain: electric motor, battery-powered Price when new: From £74,330 on-road
Launched: Summer 2019 Last updated: N/A Discontinued: Summer 2023
Image gallery
Media reviews
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Featured reviews
“The Mercedes EQC is an upmarket electric car that’s very comfortable to drive and comes with a spacious, well-built cabin but alternative SUVs have greater ranges and bigger boots.”
“The Mercedes EQC luxury SUV delivers good electric range and superb levels of comfort and refinement, but it’s expensive and a little uninspiring to drive.”
Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10 “The Mercedes-Benz EQC isn’t as boldly innovative as a Jaguar i-Pace or Tesla Model X but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a very good car. What’s more, it feels tailor-made for buyers keen to go electric but worried about the switchover.” Read review
Car Keys
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “With its brilliant refinement, great performance and focus on quality, the Mercedes-Benz EQC is a well-rounded electric car that fits the bill nicely if you’re looking for something a little more premium.” Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10 “The Mercedes EQC gives EV buyers a luxurious and comfortable option that’s incredibly refined.” Read review
Company Car Today
Model reviewed: AMG Line Premium Plus Score: 8.2 / 10 “The first EQ-branded model is a good one, and is another compelling argument for making the switch from internal combustion engine to electric power.” Read review
Driving Electric
Score: 6 / 10 “A decent all-round premium electric SUV, the Mercedes EQC has become overshadowed by more up-to-date arrivals in the class.” Author: Richard Ingram Read review
Evo
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 6 / 10 “The Mercedes-Benz EQC feels fast-tracked and undercooked.” Read review
Green Car Guide
Score: 9 / 10 “The all-electric Mercedes-Benz EQC is excellent to drive, it looks good, it has a very upmarket interior and lots of space. It could just do with a bit more range…” Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “The Mercedes-Benz EQC does a very solid job in every area, so it’s a good all-rounder. And, if tech is your thing, then it has the wow factor to steal your heart, and more importantly for Mercedes, your custom. Not quite one of the best electric cars, but well worth considering.” Read review
Honest John
Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10 “The Mercedes-Benz EQC does a very solid job in every area, so it’s a good all-rounder. And, if tech is your thing, then it has the wow-factor to steal your heart, and more importantly for Mercedes, your custom. Well worth considering.” Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10 “Electric SUV with added lustre of the three-pointed star.” Read review
The Sunday Times
Score: 8 / 10 “The Mercedes-Benz EQC is refined, comfortable, solid and rapid, and surprisingly nimble for a lump of metal that weighs two and a half tons, too.” Read review
The Telegraph
Score: 8 / 10 “Basing its new battery-electric vehicle on an existing conventional chassis means this volt powered Merc SUV is heavy and occasionally lumbering, but it drives well, is very comfortable and is somehow more than the sum of its parts. Expensive and it’s not going to save the planet, but it’s a strong contender in this rarefied class of vehicles.” Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Score: 6 / 10 “Comfy, refined and reassuringly normal car-ish. But it’s also hamstrung by not being a bespoke EV.” Read review
Which EV?
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7.5 / 10 “The powerful motor and AWD give the Mercedes-Benz EQC fantastic acceleration from the lights and, in performance terms, it will keep pace with the Polestar 2. It’s slower than almost all Teslas but it’s faster than an Audi e-tron. Climbing in and out of the driver’s seat feels more awkward than for the e-tron, but the EQC’s boot is a better shape and the vehicle has much better battery life.” Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
The Mercedes-Benz EQC gained a top five-star rating when tested by Euro NCAP in 2019, including scoring maximum points in the side-barrier impact test and the standard-fit active safety, including autonomous emergency braking, praised for its response in a wide range of situations.
Eco rating
No eco rating
The Mercedes-Benz EQC was not lab 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
Battery range
Average
Score
Variation
Score
EV models
254 miles
B
Electrical efficiency
Average
Score
Variation
Score
EV models
3.2 m/KWh
E
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
50
F
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£423
D
Year 2
£874
D
Year 3
£1,301
D
Year 4
£1,433
D
Year 5
£1,940
D
Overall
£5,971
D
The Mercedes-Benz EQC is not the most cost-effective electric vehicle you can buy, according to numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
Electrical efficiency (the EV equivalent of miles per gallon in a petrol or diesel car) is poor compared to other EVs, meaning that you don’t go as far on a full battery charge as you’d expect.
Insurance costs are likely to be high, as the EQC is ranked in the top group as set by the UK’s insurance assessor, Thatcham Research. Servicing costs are average for a car of this price and sophistication, but other EVs will be cheaper.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
As of December 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Mercedes-Benz EQC 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 EQC, we’ll publish the score here.
Warranty rating
New car warranty information for the Mercedes-Benz EQC
Overall rating
B
76%
New car warranty duration
3 years
New car warranty mileage
Unlimited miles
Battery warranty duration
8 years
Battery warranty mileage
100,000 miles
Mercedes’ new car warranty is fairly average, and worse than rival brands in a similar price bracket as a used EQC. From new, the duration was three years, with no limit on mileage.
In addition, there’s an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty for the battery components.
Warranty on a used Mercedes-Benz EQC
If you are buying an ‘Approved Used’ Mercedes-Benz EQC from an official Mercedes-Benz dealership, you will get a minimum 12-month warranty included.
If you are buying a used Mercedes-Benz EQC from an independent dealership, any warranty offered will vary and will probably be managed by a third-party warranty company.
If you are buying a used Mercedes-Benz EQC from a private seller, there are no warranty protections beyond any remaining portion of the original new car warranty.
If you’re looking to buy any used car that is approaching the end of its warranty period, a used car warranty is usually a worthwhile investment. Check out The Car Expert’s guide to the best used car warranty providers, which will probably be cheaper than a warranty sold by a dealer.
Recalls
Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Mercedes-Benz EQC
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
Date: November 2023 Recall number: R/2023/300 Model types: All Build dates: 02/2022 to 05/2022 Number of vehicles affected: 312 Defect: The adjustment of the headlamps might not meet specifications, and blinding of oncoming traffic may not be ruled out. Remedy: Check the adjustment and correct, if necessary.
Date: June 2022 Recall number: R/2022/135 Model types: All Build dates: 06/2021 Number of vehicles affected: 3 Defect: The electrical plug connection of the headlights might not be watertight. Remedy: Check the plug connection and headlights on the affected vehicles, and replace them if necessary.
Date: November 2021 Recall number: R/2021/376 Model types: All Build dates: 01/2016 to 01/2021 Number of vehicles affected: 50,390 Defect: The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications. Remedy: Update the software of the communication module for the emergency call system.
Date: November 2021 Recall number: R/2021/341 Model types: All Build dates: 05/2019 to 12/2020 Number of vehicles affected: 3,445 Defect: The wiring harness of the electrical steering might have been damaged during the assembly process. Remedy: Check the wiring harness on the affected vehicles and perform the required repair measures, if necessary.
Date: September 2021 Recall number: R/2021/286 Model types: All Build dates: 08/2020 to 09/2020 Number of vehicles affected: 129 Defect: The locking mechanism for the electrical connector of the side crash sensors might not meet specifications. Remedy: Check the side crash sensors in the doors on the affected vehicles and replace them, if necessary.
Date: July 2021 Recall number: R/2021/264 Model types: All Build dates: 05/2019 to 10/2019 Number of vehicles affected: 42 Defect: The corrosion protection of the high-voltage battery housing in the area of the connections may not be ensured over the lifetime of the vehicle. Remedy: Rework the sealing of the high-voltage battery on the affected vehicles.
Date: May 2021 Recall number: R/2021/134 Model types: All Build dates: 01/2016 to 01/2021 Number of vehicles affected: 663,406 Defect: The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet specifications. Remedy: Update the software of the communication module for the emergency call system.
Date: December 2020 Recall number: R/2020/333 Model types: All Build dates: 12/2019 to 03/2020 Number of vehicles affected: 3,029 Defect: The wiring harness of the steering control unit might not have been manufactured according to specification. Remedy: Check the wiring harness of the steering control unit on the affected vehicles and replace it if necessary.
Date: August 2020 Recall number: R/2020/197 Model types: All Build dates: 01/2020 to 03/2020 Number of vehicles affected: 1,179 Defect: The left rear seat backrest lock might not meet the specifications. Remedy: Replace the left rear seat backrest lock on the affected vehicles.
Date: January 2020 Recall number: R/2019/355 Model types: All Build dates: 02/2019 to 10/2019 Number of vehicles affected: 150 Defect: The bolt in the front axle differential transmission might not meet durability specifications. Remedy: Replace the electric powertrain of the front axle on the affected vehicles.
Date: November 2019 Recall number: R/2019/337 Model types: All Build dates: 08/2018 to 09/2019 Number of vehicles affected: 2,345 Defect: Certain driver airbag modules might not be bolted onto the base plate. Remedy: Check the driver’s airbag on the affected vehicles and replace it if necessary.
As of September 2024 (our most recent data point), there have been 11 DVSA vehicle safety recalls on the Mercedes-Benz EQC to address different issues. However, recall information is updated very regularly, so this may have changed.
Not all vehicles are affected by recalls. You can check to see if your car is included in any of the above recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local Mercedes-Benz 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 EQC, you should insist that any outstanding recall work is completed before you take delivery of the vehicle.
On sale from 2017 to 2024, the Lexus LC certainly made headlines. Top Gear described the coupe as “the most outrageous thing to come from the maker of posh Toyotas since the LFA supercar in 2010.”
The LC was launched as a 2+2 coupe, very mildly refreshed in 2020 with a convertible joining the range at the same time.
There were two powertrain options for the coupé – the LC 500, as its name suggests, boasted a 5.0-litre V8 of 464hp. Being a Lexus, the other option had to be a hybrid, and the LC 500h mated a 3.5-litre petrol engine to an electric motor for 359hp. Naturally, this car was slower to 62mph, taking five seconds compared to the 4.7 seconds of the V8. The convertible was only available with the petrol V8.
The Lexus LC was designed for those who wanted something different to the standard-bearing Porsche 911, though reviewers believed it rivalled everything from the BMW 8 Series to the Aston Martin DB11.
Reviewers were unanimously positive about the 5.0-litre LC 500, with Evo describing it as “a fantastic coupe”. The hybrid earned mixed reviews, however – Evo, once again, describing it as “not inherently bad, but more a calmer GT cruiser”. Top Gear called the hybrid “clever but flawed” whereas the V8 offered lots of character and performance, with a much more effective automatic gearbox.
Testers also preferred the LC 500 V8’s handling, saying that the additional weight of the hybrid model, especially in top spec Luxury trim, made it more cumbersome in corners.
The interior layout also earned praise – despite having very many buttons and switches. Reviewers liked the way the driver’s surroundings were laid out, but added that the rear seats were effectively nothing more than luggage racks.
As of March 2026, the Lexus LC holds a Used Car Expert Rating of E, with a score of 49%. It gets good media review scores, but its ownership costs are inevitably high.
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Auto Express
Model reviewed: LC 500 Convertible Score: 9 / 10 “The Lexus LC 500 Convertible proves that as well as rock-solid reliability and an outstanding dealer network, Lexus has finally learned how to deliver a car that can stir emotions. That achievement might well mean that the LC Convertible has significance way beyond its sales figures.” Read review
Model reviewed: 5.0-litre petrol automatic LC 500 Limited Edition Score: 8 / 10 “The Lexus LC is overlooked as a two-door sports car. It may not have the Porsche 911’s precision, but its 5.0-litre V8 is one of the finest engines on the road, and the car looks like nothing else – especially in this Limited Edition spec.” Read review
Model reviewed: Coupé range Score: 8 / 10 “Hi-tech Lexus luxury coupe piles on the style to take on the Mercedes SL and BMW 8 Series” Read review
Auto Trader
Model reviewed: 5.0-litre petrol automatic LC 500 coupé Score: 8.6 / 10 “The Lexus LC is an eye-catching, beautifully made coupe that has different characters depending on which version you go for. The hybrid is a great cruiser but is not particularly engaging to drive. The V8 model, though, is a really solid touring sports car, with great performance and handling.” Read review
Car
Model reviewed: LC 500 Convertible Score: 8 / 10 “Taken on its own merits, the Lexus LC Convertible is a wonderful achievement. It’s a Lexus worth getting excited about, with a glorious engine, stunning styling and all the hallmarks unique to Lexus ownership.” Read review
Model reviewed: 5.0-litre petrol automatic LC 500 coupé Score: 8 / 10 “By offering the hybrid LC 500h for the same money as the V8, Lexus is polarising its customers. The hybrid will appeal to early adopters and those who like the idea of a relatively environmentally friendly GT car that’ll cover serious mileage in comfort. The V8 is the better drive.” Read review
Car Keys
Model reviewed: 3.5-litre petrol/electric hybrid LC 500h coupé Score: 8 / 10 “The Lexus LC 500h is a car that is hard not to love. It looks incredible, is exceptionally comfortable and would make a fantastic grand touring car. While those wanting a sportier drive are better suited with the V8, if you choose either we’re sure you won’t be disappointed.” Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: LC 500 Convertible Score: 8 / 10 “The Lexus LC Convertible is a cultured open-top tourer with a fantastic V8 engine” Read review
Model reviewed: Coupé range Score: 8 / 10 “The Lexus LC isn’t the ultimate drivers’ car, but it is a powerful, comfortable and well-built GT.” Read review
Carwow
Model reviewed: LC 500 Convertible Score: 9 / 10 “The Lexus LC Convertible is a gorgeous looking car, with a fabulous interior. It’s not the fastest convertible, though and the infotainment system isn’t at all easy to use.” Read review
Model reviewed: Coupé range Score: 8 / 10 “The Lexus LC’s styling is so jaw-dropping – and the V8 model’s performance is so invigorating – you may be willing to accept that it isn’t that practical, even for a coupe.” Read review
Eurekar
“The Lexus LC 500 Convertible Sport Plus is absolutely stunning.” Read review
Evo
Model reviewed: 5.0-litre petrol automatic LC 500 coupé Score: 9 / 10 “Charismatic, challenging, distinctive and above all fun to drive, the Lexus LC 500 might be the most underrated new car on sale.” Read review
Honest John
Model reviewed: Coupé range Score: 10 / 10 “where does the LC sit amongst the competition? Well for similar money you can get a BMW M6 or a Jaguar F-Type with the supercharged V6 engine. To be fair, you wouldn’t say no to either of those given the opportunity, but the LC just has that something extra that makes it feel that bit more special.” Read review
Motors
Model reviewed: Coupé range Score: 8 / 10 “The LC is Lexus’s range-topping coupe, and it feels just that, with its stunning exterior design and high-quality and classy interior. Luxurious elements such as a standard glass roof and full leather interior cabin are also a key attraction to the cabin.” Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Coupé range Score: 8.2 / 10 “High-tech four-seat GT looks like the future.” Read review
The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: LC 500 Convertible “A ten-gear tornado that refines the art of overtaking.” (Jeremy Clarkson) Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: LC Convertible Score: 8 / 10 “This is an exquisite grand-tourer, backed up by the sanity of Lexus’s build quality and a fabulous warranty. It’s a pity more people who are in the market for such a thing won’t buy one. Frankly, they don’t know what they’re missing.” Read review
Model reviewed: LC 500 coupé Limited Edition Score: 8 / 10 “There are few cars that can turn heads quite as well; few that offer such a dramatic switch in character from laid-back grand tourer to whip-crack sports car. If you’re lucky enough to be in a position to buy a car like this, you may well want to pop into your Lexus dealer next time around.” Read review
Model reviewed: Coupé range Score: 8 / 10 “In terms of styling, the Lexus LC has to be one of the most desirable GTs on sale today. If you can live with rear seats that are barely useable, and a boot smaller than you’d need for proper touring, it delivers a compelling level of performance, particularly with the V8 under the bonnet.” Read review
Model reviewed: LC 500h coupé Score: 8 / 10 “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but under the skin this is an old-school GT; refined and comfortable, with good handling, but even greater comfort.” Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Coupé range Score: 8 / 10 “Quite simply the Lexus LC is the boldest, most outrageous thing to come from the maker of posh Toyotas since they turned our knees to jelly with the LFA supercar in 2010.” Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
No safety rating
The Lexus LC was not assessed by Euro NCAP during its production life.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
The Lexus LC was not assessed 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 Lexus LC to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the LC, 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
Petrol models
24 mpg
E
Hybrid models
35 mpg
D
CO₂ output
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Petrol models
265 g/km
E
Hybrid models
184 g/km
D
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
49
E
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£533
E
Year 2
£1,217
E
Year 3
£1,826
E
Year 4
£2,106
E
Year 5
£2,644
E
Overall
£8,326
E
Unsurprisingly, the Lexus LC is not just an expensive car to buy but also an expensive car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
Fuel consumption for the 5.0-litre LC 500 is among the worst new cars in the UK, while the hybrid LC 500h is not massively better. Obviously, road tax will also be high as CO2 emissions are very much linked to fuel consumption.
Insurance and servicing costs will also be very high, which is not surprising for a £100K sports car.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Lexus LC has received
2021
UK Car of the Year Awards – Best Open Top Car
Women’s World Car of the Year Awards – Best Luxury Car
Carwow Awards – Best Convertible
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Lexus LC, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Kia has unveiled the look of the fifth-generation Sportage SUV, and revealed that the new model will include the first version specifically designed for Europe.
The official pictures of the latest Sportage show the global version – details of the European-pitched variant, the first in the 28 years the model has been on sale, will be revealed in September but the car is expected to be close to the version already unveiled.
The new visual treatment is closely related to the recently unveiled Kia EV 6 flagship electric car – the Sportage is the second model to be created under the Korean brand’s latest ‘Opposites United’ styling language. Signature elements include the large boomerang-style headlamps pointing sharply into the central grille area, a recessed bonnet and a large spoiler atop the rear screen.
The cabin of the new Sportage is equally striking, built around a panoramic curved display panel – Kia dubs the car’s interior ‘bold but sophisticated.’ Features include a slim touchscreen pad and integrated controller for the driver.
Kia will also offer an even bolder version of the Sportage for the first time. Dubbed the X-Line, it will be fitted with a bespoke bumper and side sills, together with a curved roof rack. Inside buyers will have a choice of two striking trim finishes.
“Reinventing the Sportage gave our talented design teams a tremendous opportunity to do something new; to take inspiration from the recent brand relaunch and introduction of EV6 to inspire customers through modern and innovative SUV design,” said Kia’s design head Karim Habib.
No mechanical details of the new Sportage have yet been revealed but industry sources suggest the car will follow the example of sister brand Hyundai’s Tucson. This has a powertrain line-up based around a 1.6-litre petrol engine, with mild, full and plug-in hybrid options all in the range. The car is expected on sale at the end of 2021.
The Ford Galaxy was a large seven-seat people carrier, which was sold in the UK from 2015 to 2024. This was the third and final generation for the Galaxy model, not replaced after production ended due to falling demand for MPV-style vehicles.
Large seven-seat people carriers have largely been superseded by SUVs, but the Galaxy soldiered on long after most similar vehicles had been retired, with strong loyalty from large families and commercial users such as airport transfer operators.
Several powertrain options were offered over the decade-long production run, with petrol, diesel and hybrid versions. There was even an all-wheel-drive model available. Reviews tended to favour the diesel engine with an auto gearbox for smooth progress with no hassle.
Ford cars are usually praised for their chassis and the Galaxy maintained this trend, built on the underpinnings of the Mondeo. Most reviewers praised both the ride quality and handling, finding it surprisingly agile for something so big. Parkers commented: “This is an MPV which can seat seven comfortably without resorting to commercial vehicle handling or refinement.”
The space and flexibility of the interior also scored with the testers – the Titanium trim level ticked most boxes, especially with a ‘Family Pack’ option which featured electric folding of the big seats.
Ford kept pace with evolving technology over the Galaxy’s production run, with regular upgrades in terms of infotainment and such. However, most reviewers tended to compare the Galaxy with its slightly smaller sibling, the Ford S-Max, and sided with the smaller MPV as a better-value option that was more engaging to drive. They also highlighted the Galaxy’s image, wondering if private owners really wanted to look as if they were doing an airport taxi run…
As of February 2026, the Ford Galaxy has a Used Car Expert Rating of E, with a score of 54%. Despite positive media reviews and low CO2 emissions, the Galaxy scores poorly for reliability and is only average on running costs, which are weighted more heavily in our used car ratings.
Body style: Large seven-seat MPV Engines: diesel, petrol-electric hybrid Price when new: From £40,725 on-road
Launched: Summer 2015 Last updated: Spring 2021 Ended production: Spring 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: 6 / 10 “The Ford Galaxy offers acres of space for seven, and loads of tech on top models.” Read review
Model reviewed: All-wheel drive Score: 6 / 10 “Very few cars in this class have four-wheel drive, so the Galaxy fills a niche where Ford clearly sees potential – but for most people we’d recommend the standard front-wheel-drive model, and we’d push those who do want to head off-road in the direction of a Land Rover Discovery Sport.” Read review
Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “Take our advice and ignore the slightly tarnished taxi airport run image, because the Ford Galaxy is one of the best full-sized seven-seat MPVs money can buy. Although it’s a big old bus, it never feels like it from behind the wheel.” Read review
Business Car
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel manual Score: 8 / 10 “At the right points in the range, the Galaxy is hard to beat if you need the largest of MPVs.” Read review
Car
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel manual Score: 8 / 10 “The Mk3 Ford Galaxy is an impressively well-executed large people carrier. It’s seriously spacious inside, even in the third row, there are acres of cubby storage, and it handles far more tidily than a people carrier of this size really should.” Read review
Car Keys
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 9 / 10 “You will have to pay a premium to have the Ford Galaxy on your driveway, even more than the prestige-badged Volkswagen Sharan in fact. But whereas most of its competition merely ticks boxes, the Galaxy goes above and beyond and offers a plethora of features that really make it stand out.” Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7.8 / 10 “The Ford Galaxy is a seriously practical MPV that finds favour with families and chauffeurs and drives well.” Read review
Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “The Ford Galaxy isn’t the most exciting seven-seater out there, but it’s affordable, very practical and even pretty good to drive.” Read review
Daily Mirror
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel manual Titanium “The Ford Galaxy is expensive and as the sales figures show, not popular with the private punter. However, if the money doesn’t put you off and you’ve never fallen out of love with the MPV concept, the Galaxy is one of the best people carriers out there.” Read review
Eurekar
Model reviewed: Range overview “Admittedly, it’s not going to be on every motorist’s wish-list, but for anyone looking for an accomplished people mover that still offers plenty of techno treats and creature comforts along the way, the Ford Galaxy has proved its years of experience really do count.” Read review
Fleetworld
Model reviewed: Range overview “A backbone of business travel in the UK, the Ford Galaxy is perfectly tailored to a segment defined by practicality and comfort, and hard to beat.” Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “Judged on being a seven-seater, the Ford Galaxy would get close to top marks. The flexible seating arrangement is superb, while there’s enough space for seven adults to sit in comfort. It’s also reasonably good to drive, with enough toys to make life as a ‘mum or dad taxi driver’ a more pleasurable experience.” Read review
Motors
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The Ford Galaxy is truly one of the best driving MPVs currently on sale. For such a tall car, it handles corners extremely well and feels really quite agile. With regards to the ride, it’s very smooth. Bumps are dealt with well — the suspension absorbs even the harshest of uneven road surfaces fantastically.” Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “Class-leading, but increasingly in a class of its own.” Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “A big step up from the old one, but still overshadowed by the brilliant S-Max. The Ford MPV to have if absolute space is all. if it’s not, then eyes left…” Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
The Ford Galaxy was originally tested by Euro NCAP back in 2015 and awarded a five-star rating. However, this rating expired in January 2022 and is no longer valid as the car no longer meets the standards required for such a rating. This is normal practice, as Euro NCAP reviews its ratings on most cars annually with most ratings expiring after about six or seven years.
However, if you are comparing a used Galaxy 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 Ford Galaxy was not tested by Green NCAP during its production life.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
Total claims: 260 Average repair cost: £883.56 Last updated: April 2025
The Ford Galaxy has a poor reliability score of just 16% as of April 2025 (our most recent data point), according to exclusive workshop and warranty data provided by our partner, MotorEasy.
In addition, the average repair bill is almost £900, which is a lot more than the cost of a used car warranty. Certainly worth keeping in mind if you own a Galaxy or are looking at buying a used one.
The problems are spread across all car systems. Most concerning is that many claims relate to gearbox problems, which have an average repair bill of almost £2,600.
Given the below-average reliability score and potentially expensive bills, make sure any extended warranty cover you purchase for a Ford Galaxy covers all of these potential problem areas. Also worth remembering is that many warranties are for personal use of a vehicle only, so if you’re running a Galaxy for your business (and, let’s face it, most of them are used as taxis), make sure you have a warranty that covers business use.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Ford Galaxy has received
2015
Scottish Car of the Year Awards – Best MPV
Similar cars
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It was a relatively positive month for new car registrations in May, at least compared to the most of the last year. Looking at the bigger picture, however, sales were still some way off pre-pandemic results. But it was nice to see things returning to some kind of normality.
Strong fleet purchasing relative to private sales meant more registrations of economical medium-sized cars, which overtook sales of SUVs for the first time in a long time. Small cars still dominated, as always, but the fight was broader than the usual Ford Fiesta/Vauxhall Corsa stoush.
We’ve covered the detail of the monthly registration results already this week, so let’s look at the top-selling cars of the month.
The Volkswagen Golf topped the charts for the first time this year in May, with a strong result that also lifted it above the Nissan Qashqai into fourth place in year-to-date sales. After a slow start to the year, the Golf now appears to be delivering far more consistent sales for Volkswagen.
As more local reviews of different UK-spec Golf models have been published in the media, the Golf’s initial stellar Expert Rating slipped from a high of 85% to its current level of 80%. The much-vaunted ‘all-digital’ interior has drawn criticism from reviewers, who have found it inferior to the more conventional cabin of the previous-generation model. It’s not exactly a disaster for Volkswagen, but it’s interesting to see review scores that are consistently below the previous model’s results.
Despite slipping off the top of the charts in May, the Vauxhall Corsa extended its lead at the top of the charts over the Ford Fiesta. With the Ford having a very difficult month, it means that the Vauxhall now holds a sales lead of more than 2,000 units after only five months of the year. The chances of the Corsa finally snatching the best-selling car crown away from its arch rival after about a decade on top for the Fiesta are looking better each month.
The petrol and diesel versions of the new Corsa currently hold an Expert Rating of 72% on our unique aggregator scale, based on 26 reviews we have gathered so far. That puts it in the bottom half of the supermini class, although the all-electric Corsa-e does score slightly better with an Expert Rating of 74%.
After returning to the top ten charts in April, the Volkswagen Polo jumped all the way up to third in May. This strong performance also lifted it back into the top ten for year-to-date registrations, deposing the Ford Kuga from tenth place.
The success of the Polo and Golf in May also helped Volkswagen to comfortably top the charts for best-selling manufacturers, with sister brand Audi taking second place and shoving eternal market leader Ford down to third.
The Polo holds an Expert Rating of 80% in The Car Expert’s New Car Ratings calculator, which is good but still a few points behind its Spanish cousin, the SEAT Ibiza. A facelifted model has just been announced, which is expected to arrive here in the UK by the end of summer.
Fourth place in the charts is actually the worst result we’ve seen for a few months for the Mercedes-Benz A-Class. It remains in thid place for year-to-date registrations, but it has been reeling in the Ford Fiesta over the last couple of months. Could it seriously overhaul the perennial champ in the second half of this year?
The A-Class has an Expert Rating of 76% in The Car Expert’s unique aggregated Expert Rating index, based on 47 UK reviews. It ranks highly for safety, winning awards from Euro NCAP and Thatcham in previous years for its protective qualities.
The top-selling Ford this month was neither the Fiesta nor the Focus (which failed to make the top ten yet again), but the talented little Puma SUV.
Ford’s junior crossover has been popular with critics, currently holding a rating of 82% on our unique Expert Rating index. This remains a best-in-class score for supermini SUVs, but it has slipped a few points in the last few months as we’ve added some new reviews and other sources have revised their initial opinions.
The current Kia Sportage seems determined to go out with a bang, with its second strong sales performance in as many months. An all-new model is set to be unveiled later this month, which is likely to arrive in the UK by the end of the year.
The Sportage currently holds an Expert Rating of 72% in our aggregated Expert Ratings index, which is midfield for medium SUVs but a couple of points behind the best-selling Nissan Qashqai and quite a margin behind the top cars in the mid-size SUV segment. It’s due for replacement soon, which is worth bearing in mind if you’re tempted by current offers.
By the Fiesta’s lofty standards, 2021 is proving to be a tough year and May was a particularly challenging month. Seventh in the sales charts means it’s now 2,300 units behind the Vauxhall Corsa in year-to-date registrations, with no indication that anything is likely to shift the balance back in Ford’s favour anytime soon.
With the Fiesta languishing in seventh and the Focus out of the top ten altogether (both in May and year-to-date figures), it was a slow month for the brand that usually dominates the UK new car market. Ford’s best-selling vehicle in May was actually the Transit Custom van.
The Fiesta currently holds an Expert Rating of 81% in The Car Expert’s unique Expert Rating index, which aggregates reviews from 25 of the UK’s top motoring websites. That’s some 9% better than the Corsa, so the motoring media still clearly prefers the Ford even if customers currently say otherwise.
After making its debut in the best-sellers list back in March, the Toyota Yaris returned – again in eighth place – in May.
The Yaris currently holds an overall score of 76% on our Expert Rating index, which is several points behind the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo, although about four points ahead of the Vauxhall Corsa. It has received a number of awards in recent months, including European Car of the Year 2021, so it may be that the Yaris is going to become a far more regular sight in the top ten than its unloved predecessor.
May was only the second time this year that the Mini hatch has made an appearance in the top ten list. It finished seventh in overall sales in 2020, but sits outside the top ten so far this year.
A facelifted Mini range is due to hit showrooms over the summer, which may help stimulate sales in the second half of the year.
Despite being the oldest car in the top ten, the Mini hatch still holds a very solid score of 80% in our Expert Ratings aggregator, which is better than most cars in its class. The new Mini Electric model dosn’t score so well, with an Expert Rating of only 73% – although this may change by a few points (either up or down) once the facelifted version is reviewed.
Making its second appearance in a row in the lower reaches of the top ten is the Audi A3. Available as both a five-door hatchback and a saloon, the new A3 appeared in the top ten a couple times at the end of 2020, but it seems to becoming more popular of late.
It was a great month for Audi overall, rising to second place in overall manufacturer registrations behind its Volkswagen overlord. Not only was it considerably better than eternal rivals Mercedes-Benz and BMW, but more Audis were registered in May than Fords, which is something I don’t think we’ve ever said before.
The Audi A3 has received generally good reviews from the UK media since it was launched, with an Expert Rating of 78% that puts it a few points behind the BMW 1 Series (81%) and a couple of points ahead of the Mercedes A-Class (76%).
The third-generation Citroën Berlingo launched in 2018 as a no-nonsense small people carrier based on a van. This is Citroën’s second-biggest global seller after the C3, but was discontinued in early 2022 in favour of the all-electric ë-Berlingo people carrier.
The MPV is also part of one of those manufacturer alliances – the Peugeot Rifter and Vauxhall Combo Life are effectively the same car, with the main distinction of the Citroën some slightly quirky styling panels which give it a little more presence than its siblings.
The car was offered in two varieties – a standard five-seater and a 35cm longer XL version with seven seats. Engine choices were between two petrol and two diesel – most reviewers favoured the diesels for their combination of performance and economy.
All versions were marketed on what you got on a budget, and reviews emphasised this. Auto Express called the Berlingo “one of the best-value ways to transport a growing family and all that goes with it,” while Top Gear dubbed it “epic value”.
Reviewers highlighted the space – basing the car on a van profile meant loads of room for both people and their belongings. The interior was still somewhat basic, with no posh digital touchscreens and the like, but despite the hard plastics several testers noted that the quality of the fit and finish had stepped up significantly over the previous version.
On the road, reviewers found the Berlingo “surprisingly good”, with smooth, refined progress. However, at high speeds the wind noise became intrusive while big bumps could crash their way around the cabin.
The petrol-powered Berlingo is now no longer in production as Citroën shifts its focus to electric models. As such, the conventional Berlingo has been replaced by the all-electric version called the ë-Berlingo.
As of February 2026, the Citroën Berlingo holds a Used Car Expert Rating of C, with a score of 64%. It gets good grades for its low running costs, while CO2 emissions and media review scores are also good. However, both reliability and safety scores are only average.
Body style: Small MPV Engines: petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid Price when new: From £22,135 on-road
Launched: Summer 2018 Last updated: Winter 2020/21 Discontinued: Winter 2021/22
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 Citroen Berlingo has always been a great MPV and an ideal family car thanks to the generous passenger and boot space, low running costs and great value it offers. The latest iteration improves on each of those areas even further, plus it’s much better to drive, reasonably comfortable and certain versions can seat seven.” Author: Ellis Hyde Read review
Model reviewed: XL Flair BlueHDi 130 Score: 8 / 10 “Inner peace is difficult to find on today’s hectic roads, but the Citroen Berlingo instantly brings about a sense of calm, relaxation and equilibrium.” Read review
Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Score: 7 / 10 “The Citroen Berlingo provides a gargantuan amount of space for a very affordable price. It’s reasonably comfortable and quiet to drive, too, and it’s packed with some really clever storage solutions.” Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7.4 / 10 “The Citroen Berlingo MPV was very ‘no-frills’ before, but now has a surprisingly nice interior, lots of kit and Citroen’s latest safety features.” Author: Andy Goodwin Read review
Carwow
Model reviewed: Score: 7 / 10 “The Citroen Berlingo majors on space and practicality, but it’s comfortable too.” Read review
Company Car Today
Model reviewed: 1.5-litre diesel manual Flair Score: 7.7 / 10 “It does what you’d expect, and well. Sensible family choices don’t come in a more sensible package, including space, kit and efficiency. But not much raw excitement.” Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The Citroen Berlingo is well worth considering if you’re looking for plenty of space and couldn’t give a monkey’s about style. It’s not even that unstylish so long as you go for a Flair model with alloy wheels, you could even say that the Berlingo has a fun, just-back-from-the-beach look.” Author: Ivan Aistrop Read review
Honest John
Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10 “The Citroën Berlingo MPV has exceptional leg room and loadspace, a high level of standard equipment, and affordable running costs.” Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10 “As a pragmatic choice, the Berlingo bristles with appeal for those who value spaciousness, comfort, practicality and low running costs.” Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: 1.5-litre diesel manual Flair Score: 10 / 10 “A refreshingly honest and practical family car that’s a genuine breath of fresh air. But there’s craft and substance beneath the commercial vehicle underpinnings – and it’s great value, too.” Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Score: 6 / 10 “Epic value. The Berlingo majors on comfort, economical diesels and an enormous interior.” Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
The Citroën Berlingo’s safety rating was based on Euro NCAP’s testing of the almost-identical Peugeot Rifter. The only real differences are some cosmetic body panels in the nose section, and Citroën would have been required to demonstrate that those differences would not affect the Berlingo’s performance in a crash.
However, this rating expired in January 2025 and is no longer valid as the car no longer meets the standards required for such a rating. This is normal practice, as Euro NCAP reviews its ratings on most cars annually with most ratings expiring after about six or seven years.
Although the rating has now expired, the score is still useful if you are comparing a used Berlingo to vehicles of similar age – whose ratings will have probably also expired.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
The Citroën Berlingo was not tested by Green NCAP during its production life.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
Total claims: 66 Average repair cost: £555.77 Last updated: April 2025
As of April 2025 (our most recent data point), the Citroën Berlingo has a better-than-average reliability rating of 75%, according to workshop and extended warranty data provided by our commercial partner, MotorEasy. This covers both this version of the Berlingo as well as both older (pre-2018) models.
Average repair cost to data has been just under £600. However, the most commonly reported issues have been engine problems, which are also the most expensive at nearly £1,200 on average.
If you own a Berlingo or are considering a used Berlingo, make sure that any used car warranty you purchase covers all the potential problem areas shown above.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Citroën Berlingo has received
2022
Company Car Today CCT100 Awards – Best MPV
2021
Company Car Today CCT100 Awards – Best MPV
DieselCar & EcoCar Top 50 – Best Utility Vehicle
2020
Parkers New Car Awards – Best Medium Family Car
2019
Auto Express Awards – Best MPV
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Citroën Berlingo, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Fiat Doblò Passenger | Ford Tourneo Connect | Peugeot Rifter | Vauxhall Combo Life | Volkswagen Caddy Life
The BMW X4 is effectively the X3 SUV in a less boxy shape – most obviously a strongly raked rear end with a liftback tailgate, plus more sporty touches such as bespoke lights.
Of course, such a shape means less interior room. So while the X4 has five doors and a tailgate like the X3, reviewers point out the tighter rear-seat space – even in the latest Mk2 version, which launched in 2018 and is very slightly longer than its predecessor.
Highlighted are the tighter headroom, a feeling of being more ‘hunkered down’ in the car and far less visibility through the rear screen.
The interior, effectively the same as the X3’s, comes in for much praise. Testers like its quality of technology, the materials and how they are fitted. However some describe the mix of finishes as over-fussy.
Reviews of the BMW X4 reserve most praise for its on-the-road performance, described as both comfortable and with excellent handling, though some describe the ride as a little firm.
As of February 2026, the BMW X4 holds a New Car Expert Rating of E, with a score of 52%. Its best grades are only average, for media review scores and CO2 emissions, while reliability is below average and running costs are very high. Its safety rating has also expired due to age.
“It may not quite match rivals for rear-seat space, but the X4 does deliver a surprisingly dynamic drive – one which you wouldn’t quite expect from a car in this segment.” Read review
Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10 “The X4 looks sharp, is sporty to drive, and more practical than you might think from the coupe-like profile.” Read review
Business Car
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic xDrive20d M Sport Score: 8 / 10 “The BMW X4 is undoubtedly an engaging car to drive and own but whether you should be considering one will probably hinge on how you perceive its appearance. If you’re a fan, then its extra costs and smaller boot are probably a price worth paying.” Read review
Car
Model reviewed: M40d Score: 8 / 10 “The BMW X4 M40d is frugal, practical yet aesthetically stylish.” Read review
Car Keys
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic xDrive20d M Sport Score: 8 / 10 “Although it may not be the best-looking SUV around, the BMW X4 certainly has its merits and offers customers another option in a different niche. The driving setup is surprisingly both sporty and comfortable. Just be careful not to add too many expensive options to it.” Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7.2 / 10 “The rakish BMW X4 is great to drive, but style compromises its usefulness” Read review
Eurekar
Model reviewed: 3.0-litre diesel automatic M Sport “You can’t get away from the fact that the BMW X4 is less practical than its boxy brother, the X3, with which it shares much of its parts and engineering. The semi-coupe styling means less luggage room and the lower ground clearance limits its off-road ability. But so what?” Read review
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic xDrive20d M Sport X “The second generation of the BMW X4 has taken on a radical new macho image, dramatically putting its much softer predecessor in the shade.” Read review
Evo
Model reviewed: “BMW’s niche-busting X4 is objectively a good car, but compared to an estate, just too compromised.” Read review
Green Car Guide
Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10 “Fashionable body style, great engine, and overall the X4 offers a quality BMW driving experience.” Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “If you love the idea of the BMW X3, but wish it was just a little more stylish, the BMW X4 is for you. Combining fine driving dynamics with a high-end interior, plus a generous standard specification, there is a lot to like about it.” Author: Richard Aucock Read review
Honest John
Model reviewed: Range overview “Larger, lighter and more powerful, the 2018 BMW X4 is wider and longer than the outgoing model, but weighs 50kg less thanks to the extensive use of aluminium and ultra-high-strength grades of steel.” Read review
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic xDrive20d M Sport X “Once you get over the monstrous appearance (some may like it), the BMW X4 is essentially a slightly sportier X3. That means it gets an upmarket interior, although BMW is persevering with button overload and a variety of clashing materials competing for the driver’s attention.” Read review
Motoring Research
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “The X4 is less practical than the X3 and only marginally better to drive, yet it costs more to buy new.” Read review
Motors
Model reviewed: Score: 6 / 10 “As SUVs go for, the X4 represents reasonable value for money.” Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8.4 / 10 “The BMW X4 is very fashionable, but slightly less rounded than X3.” Read review
The Sun
Model reviewed: 3.0-litre diesel automatic M40d “The new BMW X4 is practical, genuinely fun to drive and not as enormous or obnoxious as the larger X6.” Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: M40d Score: 8 / 10 “Argue against their presence in the market all you want, but the fact of the matter is that, with the new X4, BMW has created a truly sporty SUV to drive, that manages to blend some decent practicality with rather appealing looks. The coupé-SUV might finally have arrived…” Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Score: 7 / 10 “Getting noticed is part of the BMW X4’s job and the new X4 sure does that. It’s certainly quick and grippy but it feels humourless.” Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
The BMW X4 was originally assessed by Euro NCAP back in 2017 and awarded a five-star rating. However, this rating expired in January 2020 and is no longer valid as the car no longer meets the standards required for such a rating. This is normal practice, as Euro NCAP reviews its ratings on most cars annually with most ratings expiring after about six or seven years.
However, if you are comparing a used X4 to vehicles of similar age, whose ratings will have probably also expired, its safety rating score is still useful.
The BMW X4 shares its (now expired) safety rating with the almost-identical X3. Rather than physically crashing several X4s, Euro NCAP would have required BMW to submit specific data to show that the changes made to the X4’s roofline would not affect how it performs in an accident.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of February 2026, the BMW X4 has not been tested by Green NCAP.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
Total claims: 35 Average repair cost: £1000.51 Last updated: April 2025
The BMW X4 has a poor reliability score of 54%, according to workshop and warranty data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our partner, MotorEasy. This score applies to the current (2018 onwards) X4 as well as to older models.
The biggest concern for X4 owners is the engine. Although there have only been a few warranty claims, the average repair bill is more than £3,700. Other repairs, for suspension, electrics and braking, have been quite cheap.
If you own a BMW X4 or are interested in buying a used X4, you’d do well to make sure that any used car warranty you buy has adequate cover for engine failures and faults.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
Fuel consumption
Average
Score
Petrol models
26 mpg
E
CO₂ output
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Petrol models
245 g/km
E
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
48
E
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£755
E
Year 2
£1,679
E
Year 3
£2,591
E
Year 4
£2,811
E
Year 5
£3,679
E
Overall
£11,515
E
The BMW X4 has quite high running costs, according to running cost data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our technical partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
Its petrol engine is very thirsty and has higher emissions than the market average, and its service and maintenance costs are higher than average over the course of five years of ownership.
We don’t currently have equivalent data for diesel X4 models. Check back again soon.
Date: December 2023 Recall number: R/2023/355 Model types: All Build dates: 08/2023 to 09/2023 Number of vehicles affected: 46 Defect: On affected vehicles the three screws connecting the electric motor to the steering gear are potentially not fastened correctly. Remedy: On affected vehicles the steering gear will be replaced.
Date: December 2023 Recall number: R/2023/354 Model types: All Build dates: 03/2023 only Number of vehicles affected: 26 Defect: On affected vehicles ingress of transmission fluid may occur to the integrated transmission control unit within the mechatronic module. Remedy: On affected vehicles the transmission mechatronic module will be replaced.
Date: October 2023 Recall number: R/2024/156 Model types: All Build dates: 08/2023 only Number of vehicles affected: 33 Defect: On affected vehicles risk of potential flooding could have occurred leading to salt water ingress whilst parked in port awaiting shipping. Remedy: The affected vehicles will be thoroughly checked cleaned and reworked as required.
Date: August 2022 Recall number: R/2022/255 Model types: All (including other BMW models) Build dates: 10/2017 to 10/2021 Number of vehicles affected: 322,745 Defect: Undetected EGR System leaks may cause thermal activity in the intake manifold. Remedy: The engine management control unit (DDE) will be programmed with improved software incorporating the latest OBD functionality.
Date: August 2022 Recall number: R/2022/206 Model types: All (including other BMW models) Build dates: 09/2018 only Number of vehicles affected: 319,399 Defect: The Exhaust Gas Recirculation cooler may leak over time and cause thermal incident. Remedy: On the affected vehicles the EGR cooler module will be replaced.
Date: March 2022 Recall number: R/2022/084 Model types: All Build dates: 04/2018 to 03/2019 Number of vehicles affected: 6,401 Defect: During a service visit the affected vehicles have been updated with software that could misinterpret certain input parameters for the engine management system. Remedy: The control units will be reprogrammed with an improved version of software.
Date: January 2021 Recall number: R/2021/015 Model types: All Build dates: 06/2020 to 11/2020 Number of vehicles affected: 388 Defect: The battery cables on the 48V starter generator may not have been sufficiently secured during the production process. Remedy: Check the screw connection of the 48V positive / negative battery cables on the starter generator and rework if necessary.
Date: April 2020 Recall number: R/2020/120 Model types: All Build dates: 01/2020 to 02/2020 Number of vehicles affected: 326 Defect: The cable lengths for the electric connection of the hall sensor integrated inside the seatbelt buckle could be too short. Remedy: The front seat belt buckles will be checked and replaced if they are found to be faulty.
Date: October 2019 Recall number: R/2019/377 Model types: All Build dates: 08/2019 to 09/2019 Number of vehicles affected: 13 Defect: The swivel bearing/s on the front axle of the affected vehicles may not have been produced to specification. Remedy: The swivel bearing/s on the affected vehicles will be replaced.
Date: August 2018 Recall number: R/2018/220 Model types: All Build dates: 04/2018 to 06/2018 Number of vehicles affected: 1,032 Defect: The fault affects the brake system in particular the brake calipers on the rear axle. Because of a faulty coating hydrogen gas (approximately 10 ml) could be created in the coating of the piston of the brake caliper. This will be completely outgassed during the first 2 months after the production process causing longer brake pedal travel. Under certain circumstances the relevant brake pressure cannot be build up in the rear brake circuit. As a result the brake force of the system may be reduced by up to 30%. The driver may feel a soft brake pedal and a reduction of the brake performance. In certain cases the rear brake circuit could fail leading to increased risk of an accident. Remedy: On the affected vehicles the brake system will be bled.
Date: April 2018 Recall number: R/2018/099 Model types: All Build dates: 08/2017 to 01/2018 Number of vehicles affected: 1,752 Defect: The sealing cap of the pressure-limiting valve in the fuel tank delivery module may be damaged. This concern could lead to a reduction in fuel transfer from the left side to the right side of the fuel tank. Therefore it is possible for the engine to stall even though the fuel gauge would show fuel present. Remedy: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and check the fuel pressure of the delivery module and the distance of the cap on the pressure-limiting valve. Where necessary the delivery module will be replaced.
As of September 2024 (our most recent data point), there have been 11 DVSA vehicle safety recalls on the BMW X4 addressing various different issues.
Not all vehicles are affected by recalls. You can check to see if your car is included in any of the above recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local BMW dealer.
If your car is affected by a recall, the vehicle must be repaired and you should not be charged for any work required. If you are buying a used X4, you should insist that any outstanding recall work is completed before you take delivery of the vehicle.
Is your car running like a well-oiled machine? Probably not, if you’re among the incredible one in five motorists who never check their engine oil level.
The findings come from a new survey by automotive part and repair specialist Kwik Fit.
Although most car makers recommend you look at your oil level once a week as part of your vehicle safety checks, that advice is largely ignored. Even if that time scale was doubled to a fortnight, only 8% of drivers would meet the recommendation.
Of the 19% who never check their oil, 8% (which would equate to three million drivers across the UK) say they don’t know how to do it, while the remaining 11% say they know where the dipstick is, but never bother to use it.
More than three-fifths of drivers (62%) say that at least three months go by between their oil checks, while a shocking 8% let at least a year pass before inspecting their levels again.
While drivers might have lost the habit of making maintenance checks during the recent Covid pandemic as they used their car less, Kwik Fit is encouraging owners to get back in the routine, as checking and topping up a vehicle’s oil is important in helping prevent excess engine wear and damage.
“Good quality oil is vital for maintaining a smooth running car, and regularly checking the oil level is a very easy way of monitoring an engine’s health,” says Roger Griggs, Kwik Fit communications director.
“If the oil level drops from the highest to lowest mark on the dipstick in less than 1,000 miles, we would recommend getting the engine checked over.”
Checking your oil – four easy steps
Still not sure what to do? Follow these simple steps:
1 Park on a level surface, switch off the engine and wait about five minutes for all the oil to drain to the bottom of the engine.
2 Once the engine is cool, pull out the dipstick, wipe the oil off with a clean cloth then push the dipstick fully back into its tube.
3 Remove the dipstick once more and check the oil level. It should be between the upper and lower marks – if it is closer to the lower one the oil will need topping up.
4 If more oil is needed, it must be the right type for the vehicle. Consult the handbook or ask an expert if you’re not sure. Replace the dipstick and remove the oil filler cap. Add a small amount of oil at a time rather than risk overfilling, then check the level again. Add further oil if needed and replace the oil filler cap.
New car registrations enjoyed the most ‘normal’ month they’ve had all year in May, with showrooms actually open for the whole month and businesses starting to ramp up operations as the UK slowly unlocks.
More than 156,000 new cars were registered in May according to figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which was a significant improvement on April. Once again, it was the fleet sector leading the way, taking more than half of the total market.
Fleet registrations have traditionally made up 50-55% of the new car market, but over the last year this fell sharply as thousands of UK companies simply stopped buying or leasing new cars unless it was absolutely necessary.
Are we seeing a fundamental shift in new car buying habits?
The normal year-on-year comparisons are pretty pointless, since May 2020 was a disastrous month for the UK car industry, but it’s worth noting that May 2021 was still down nearly 15% on May 2019’s results, and about 13% down on a ten-year average for the month of May.
This is not that surprising, and in fact it rather fits in with the bigger picture of a steady long-term decline in the new car market – a problem that had largely been of the industry’s own making. It also fits in with what we’ve been saying at The Car Expert for a few years now – that the rate of growth in people buying ever-more expensive new cars every three years was a bubble that had to burst at some point.
It’s too early to see how this will play out over the next year, but the pandemic may well have made a lot of people realise that their car-buying habits of the last decade were simply unsustainable.
There has also been a shift from new cars to used cars, driven partly by customers’ desires to reduce cost and lengthy waitin times on many new cars. The current shortage of crucial memory chips that power the on-board computers that run modern cars has caused huge production headaches around the world, and is set to cause delays on new car deliveries for months to come.
New car buying trends continue in powertrains
May was also a fairly normal month when it came to the sort of cars that were being registered. Diesel sales continue to fall as expected, petrol remains static at about 60% of all new cars, while electric, plug-in hybrid and regular hybrid sales all continue to increase.
The figures appear distorted by two factors: Firstly, May 2020 was a highly unusual month, with most showrooms closed for most of the month and very few dealers/manufacturers offering online sales. This helped brands that specialise in online sales and home delivery – like Tesla, which did outstandingly well under the circumstances. This makes backwards comparisons basically pointless.
Secondly, the SMMT figures now split mild hybrid petrol and diesel engines out from other petrol and diesel engines. This might suit political agendas but makes analysis of the data more difficult, especially since mild hybrid engines are rapidly replacing unassisted engines in almost every new model launched onto the market.
Our usual analysis of which brands have outperformed the market and which have fallen behind is rather pointless this month, as everyone improved their results by at least 200% on the same months last year. The overall market was up by 674% and there was enormous variation across all of the car companies.
One thing we can say with certainty is that it was a good month for both Volkswagen and Audi, which stormed to the top two places in overall new car registrations. Perennnial market leader Ford fell to third, just ahead of BMW.
This is going to be pretty topsy-turvy for a while as, on one hand, the market returns to life as the country returns to normal, but on the other hand, production problems will affect some brands more than others in coming months. It’s going to be a roller coaster ride for some car companies for the second half of this year.
Golf to the fore as Fiesta takes a siesta
OK, apologies for two bad puns in one headline. But it was a good month for the Volkswagen Golf, which drove to the top of the charts in May, and a poor month for the Ford Fiesta, which fell to seventh place.
This was good news for the Vauxhall Corsa, which has now extended its year-to-date sales lead over the Fiesta to more than 2,000 units. It might be to early to declare that the king is dead, but he’s certainly not looking too healthy.
Increasing fleet registrations have almost certainly helped the Golf, and are also likely to be a factor in the market share of ‘dual-purpose vehicles’ (SUVs and crossovers) falling overall, being overtaken by ‘lower medium cars’ (Golf, Mercedes A-Class, Ford Focus, etc.) that are favoured by fleets for their lower prices and better fuel economy.
We’ll publish our usual breakdown of the month’s top ten in the next day or so.
The Audi A7 Sportback aims to fill the needs of those who want sleek looks in their car but also want to carry adults in the rear seats, and it meets the brief very well.
With its swooping rear this is one of the distinctive cars in the Audi range yet it is also practical – behind the plentiful rear-seat space there is a tailgate on a car whose silhouette suggests a boot lid. The A7 is based on the Audi A6 saloon, so it’s definitely a large car that runs to almost five metres length.
The Audi A7 Sportback comes with a choice of petrol and diesel engines. Depending on which you go for, the power will go to either the front or all four wheels. Common to all are mild hybrid systems that allow the car to coast at above 35mph, improving fuel economy. Or you can go the full hog with the TSFI e plug-in hybrid.
Top of the regular Audi A7 range is the S7, which is powered by a 344hp diesel engine. There is also seriously high-performance RS 7 model, which has its own Expert Rating page.
Reviewers like the refinement of the A7, especially under electric power, but less so its ride quality, which with the big wheels most suited to the looks makes for rather firm progress. The car is marked down for feeling less connected behind the wheel compared to rivals such as the Porsche Panamera.
When the current Audi A7 arrived in 2018, it brought with it significant technology. Niceties such as the digital touchscreens earn praise, as does the fit and finish of the interior, dubbed luxurious by many testers.
However, making full use of the tech means much dipping into the options list and the car quickly becomes very expensive – especially as Audi’s equivalent saloon, the A6, offers much of what the A7 does with more practicality and for nearly £10K less money.
As of February 2026, the Audi A7 Sportback range holds a New Car Expert Rating of D, with a score of 56%. It scores top marks for its low CO2 emissions (thanks to the plug-in hybrid version), but running costs are high and its reliability record is poor, which drags its score down to an E (46%) as a used car.
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 Audi A7 Sportback blends style with substance, and takes a big leap forward in terms of technology.” Read review
Model reviewed: S7 Score: 6 / 10 “Performance is strong, it corners well, and it’s exceptionally capable on a long-distance run.” Read review
Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The Audi A7 Sportback is a very well-made, comfortable and technology-festooned car that has plenty of appeal thanks to its sharp-but-understated looks. It’s a very attractive luxury machine.” Read review
Business Car
Model reviewed: 3.0-litre diesel automatic 50 TDI S line Score: 8 / 10 “The second-generation executive coupe is a sleek and refined cruising machine.” Read review
Car Keys
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “With the vast majority of buyers expected to opt for diesel it’s perhaps a shame the 3.0-litre unit doesn’t feel quite as refined as you might hope, but it’s by no means a deal-breaker – and the lower running costs should offset any qualms about the gruff noise. The petrol feels like the true A7 Sportback experience, though.” Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10 “The sleek A7 Sportback is good to drive, bristling with tech, and reasonably practical too.” (Andy Goodwin) Read review
Model reviewed: S& Sportback hatchback Score: 7 / 10 “The Audi S7 Sportback offers huge performance in a practical hatchback package, but the cheaper S6 is just as good.” Read review
Carwow
Model reviewed: S7 Score: 8 / 10 “The Audi S7 Sportback is a premium four-door coupe with the performance to match its slick looks but alternatives are more fun to drive and come with more exciting petrol engines.” Read review
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “The Audi A7 Sportback trades some practicality for good looks. It’s a great car for long distances with a choice of powerful engines including a frugal diesel.” Read review
Company Car Today
Model reviewed: 3.0-litre diesel automatic 50 TDI S line quattro Score: 7.9 / 10 “It’s an imposing car, and comfort and refinement are the Audi A7 Sportback’s strongest suits. However, residual values in this sector aren’t the strongest, and it’s not cheap.” Read review
Daily Mirror
Model reviewed: 3.0-litre diesel automatic 50 TDI S line “The Audi A7 Sportback takes the old school approach of a sporty luxury grand tourer but with razor-sharp tech and performance for the 21st century.” Read review
Eurekar
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid 55 TFSI e quattro Competition “The Audi A7 Sportback is an absolute dream to drive as it glides through long sweeping bends with as much power as you dare make use of. The road-holding is confident and assured with accurate steering that offers plenty of feedback. Then on motorways, it cruises effortlessly at the national speed limit.” Read review
Model reviewed: 3.0-litre diesel automatic 50 TDI S line “Sleek, roomy enough for five and designed with a sporting edge, the Audi A7 has engaged with families, business people and outdoor types alike – all won over by the versatility and blend of luxury with a sort of everyday practicality.” Read review
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic 45 TFSI S line “The 2.0-litre turbocharged unit fitted to this model proved a most able performer and at the same time will deliver the sort of economy that won’t leave you wishing you’s plumped for diesel instead. For a large car it handles sublimely, the whole process aided by the four-wheel-drive system. It makes for a vehicle that is composed, assured and genuinely fun to drive.” Read review
Evo
Model reviewed: S7 TDI Score: 8 / 10 “S7 is the best new A7 yet – potent, refined and good to drive.” Read review
Fleetworld
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid 55 TFSI e S line Score: 8 / 10 “You know you’re in a plug-in hybrid Audi when you set off. Instead of the muted 2.0-litre petrol tones, this A7 starts almost silently. Progress from the electric motor is so energetic, this Audi confuses you into you thinking you’re still petrol-powered.” Read review
Model reviewed: 3.0-litre diesel automatic 50 TDI S line “The impressive A7 ticks a lot of boxes for the high-mileage executive driver – but the optional air suspension is a must-have for best-selling S line versions.” Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “Just because you’re a successful businessperson or captain of industry, it doesn’t mean you necessarily want to look like one. They might, however, want attention of a different sort. And that’s where the Audi A7 Sportback comes in.” Read review
Honest John
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “If you want the kind of attributes that a luxury saloon gives you but a more affordable version, then go for the Audi A7.” Read review
Motoring Research
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “The Audi A7 Sportback is a more practical hatchback version of the A6 saloon, with the tech and wizardry of the flagship A8.” Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8.6 / 10 “Sleek, tech-heavy luxurious five-door coupe.” Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: 3.0-litre diesel automatic 50 TDI S line Score: 8 / 10 “Like its predecessor, this new Audi A7 Sportback is a composed and powerful car that can cover huge distances with ease. It is also bursting at the seams with technology, from its mild hybrid drivetrain to its safety features and slick interior execution. Just remember that the forthcoming A6 will do all of this without being quite so expensive.” Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “The Audi A7 isn’t a luxury sports saloon – it’s a luxury limousine dressed in a rakish, designer suit.” Read review
Model reviewed: S7 Score: 7 / 10 “There are new bumpers front and back, a new diffuser, extra-wide sills. Purposeful but not OTT.” Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
The Audi A7 shares its safety rating with the A6 saloon upon which it’s based. The A6 was tested by Euro NCAP and awarded a five-star rating in 2018, and Audi was required to provide additional evidence to show that the A7 would behave the same way in an emergency to be awarded the same rating. The A6’s five-star rating was subsequently extended to cover all A7 models in 2019.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
Clean Air Index: 7.3 / 10 Energy Efficiency Index: 2.5 / 10
Notes on eco rating
The Green NCAP rating above only applies to the 3.0-litre diesel automatic 50 TDI version of the Audi A7, as Green NCAP ratings are specific to engine/gearbox/drivetrain.
If any other versions of the A7 are put through the Green NCAP lab testing programme, we will publish the results here.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
Total claims: 229 Average repair cost: £1313.04 Last updated: April 2025
The Audi A7 has a very poor reliability score as of April 2025 (our most recent data point), according to exclusive extended warranty data provided by our partners at MotorEasy. This score covers both the current-generation A7 and the original (pre-2018) version.
Around a quarter of all reported problems with the A7 relate to its engine, and repairs of this nature have an average repair bill of about £1,400. Even more expensive are gearbox issues, with an average repair bill of more than £3,100.
If you’re looking at a used Audi A7, make sure any extended warranty cover you purchase covers all of these potential problem areas.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
Fuel consumption
Average
Score
Petrol models
35 mpg
D
Diesel models
45 mpg
C
Plug-in hybrid models
189 mpg
A
CO₂ output
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Petrol models
183 g/km
D
Diesel models
165 g/km
D
Plug-in hybrid models
34 g/km
A
Battery range
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Plug-in hybrid models
40 miles
D
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
47
E
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£333
D
Year 2
£843
D
Year 3
£1,396
D
Year 4
£1,706
D
Year 5
£2,167
D
Overall
£6,445
D
Running costs for the Audi A7 range are a mixed bag, according to data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our commercial partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
Fuel economy is disappointing for petrol models but decent for diesel-engined versions. The plug-in hybrid models look amazing on paper, but this is largely thanks to ridiculous EU/UK government lab tests that are completely inadequate for plug-in hybrids. There is no way you will ever travel for 191 miles on a single gallon (4.5 litres) of fuel and some electricity…
The battery range of the plug-in hybrid model is decent compared to most rivals, providing 41 miles of electric-only range. It means that most households could some most of their weekly driving without using any petrol, but not all without consistent recharging.
Compared to the rest of the large saloon sector, the car’s service and maintenance costs are pretty average. Insurance costs likely to be high, though, based on data from the UK’s insurance group assessor, Thatcham Research.
Date: October 2023 Recall number: R/2023/317 Model types: All Build dates: 07/2023 Number of vehicles affected: 5 Defect: On certain vehicles, an incorrect bracket for the side airbag was fitted in the left front seat. Remedy: Replace the side airbag and bracket.
Date: January 2023 Recall number: R/2023/027 Model types: All Build dates: 04/2018 to 10/2021 Number of vehicles affected: 5,487 Defect: The fuel gauge may not show the drop in fuel level correctly during vehicle operation. Remedy: The tank level sender must be replaced on the affected vehicles.
Date: June 2022 Recall number: R/2022/169 Model types: All Build dates: 01/2022 to 02/2022 Number of vehicles affected: 109 Defect: It is possible that the engine control units were fitted with semiconductor components which do not meet the specifications. Remedy: The engine control unit must be replaced on the affected vehicles.
Date: June 2021 Recall number: R/2021/204 Model types: All Build dates: 12/2015 to 12/2018 Number of vehicles affected: 263 Defect: Vehicles may have been fitted with a hinged towing bracket on which the locking mechanism in the hinge module could be faulty. Remedy: The hinge module for the towing bracket must be checked and where necessary replaced on the vehicles affected.
Date: March 2021 Recall number: R/2021/117 Model types: All Build dates: 02/2018 to 12/2020 Number of vehicles affected: 1,298 Defect: In the event of an accident requiring the vehicle’s front passenger airbag to be activated the airbag might not inflate fully. Remedy: The dash panel must be checked on the affected vehicles and repaired or replaced if required.
Date: June 2020 Recall number: R/2020/138 Model types: All Build dates: 06/2017 to 03/2020 Number of vehicles affected: 1,298 Defect: It is possible that moisture may enter the belt-driven starter-alternator. Remedy: The starter-alternator must be replaced on the affected vehicles.
Date: June 2019 Recall number: R/2019/175 Model types: All Build dates: 12/2015 to 12/2018 Number of vehicles affected: 135 Defect: Hinged towing bracket on which the locking mechanism in the hinge module could be faulty. Remedy: The hinge module for the towing bracket must be checked and replaced if required.
As of September 2024 (our most recent data point), there have been seven DVSA vehicle safety recalls on the Audi A7. These cover sunroof motors, tyre size data, software and different battery issues.
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 Audi 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 A7, you should insist that any outstanding recall work is completed before you take delivery of the vehicle.
BMW has unveiled the iX, a high-tech electric SUV will become the brand’s flagship model when it goes on sale in November.
Likely to attract most comment for its bold styling – including an enormous front ‘kidney grille’ – the iX will be available in two versions. Prices will start at just under £70K.
Both models will use the same combination of all-wheel-drive powertrain from two motors, one driving each axle, but with different power ratings. BMW describes the iX as the brand’s first all-wheel-drive pure electric vehicle.
The entry-level xDrive 40 model will produce 326hp giving it a 0-62mph time of 6.1 seconds, BMW claiming an official laboratory battery range of about 250 miles from its 70kWh battery pack. It will be compatible with 150kW DC charging allowing battery replenishment from 10% to 80% in half an hour.
The xDrive 50 variant, priced from £92K, will be rated at 523hp and compete the 62mph sprint in just 4.6 seconds. Its range is quoted at 373 miles due to a larger 100kWh battery pack. This allows even faster 195kW charging, achieving an 80% charge in 35 minutes despite having more battery to charge.
The iX is built on a brand-new modular platform designed specifically for electric vehicles. BMW says the new design will be the basis of the group’s future, both in terms of electric mobility and sustainable manufacturing techniques.
The car is being heavily promoted on its safety package, BMW promising the most extensive set of driver-assistance systems ever seen on one of the brand’s cars. Existing technologies have had their capabilities extended while new systems include an interior camera and an exit warning function that alerts occupants to pedestrians or cyclists close-by before the doors are opened.
The iX also debuts an all-new operating system, which is said to make interaction between the driver and car more intuitive.
BMW will later extend the iX range with an even more powerful xDrive 60 model, offering more than 600hp. A launch date and price for this version is yet to be announced.
Most drivers have experienced it: you look in your mirror and there’s a car sitting just feet behind you at speed, usually trying to get you to move over and let them pass.
The practice, known as tailgating, is not only intimidating and aggressive, but dangerous too – last year it was listed as the cause in almost 600 serious accidents, 28 of which resulted in someone being killed.
Now almost 90% of motorists have said they support plans to fine fellow drivers for tailgating on the motorway, according to a new poll by independent car retailer Motorpoint.
The company’s online survey revealed that 87% of more than 1,600 drivers questioned, backed proposals for drivers to be fined £100 and given three points on their driving licence if convicted of tailgating on the motorway.
The government has recently been trialling new technology on parts of the M1 motorway in Northamptonshire that detects whether drivers are maintaining a minimum of a two-second safety gap between them and the vehicle in front. During the tests late last year, more than 26,000 people were found to be inside this margin.
“Tailgating has become commonplace on our roads in recent years and we are delighted to see the government finally taking action to address something that can quite literally cost people their lives,” says Mark Carpenter, chief executive officer of Motorpoint.
“The issue of tailgating extends far beyond just motorways, and this step won’t solve the problem overnight, but at least it is a move in the right direction.”
As the unstoppable SUV juggernaut continues on its path, demolishing every kind of regular car in its path, car companies are slicing the market for SUV-style vehicles into ever finer slices. So as well as every size from XS to XXL, it seems that “coupé SUVs” are now a thing.
Audi is already an expert at niche marketing, so it’s only natural that it has an offering here. If you’d like a medium-ish vehicle, Audi can already offer you an A4 saloon or Avant (estate), A5 coupé or cabriolet, A5 Sportback (five-door liftback) and the Q5 SUV. So if the Q5 is basically a butched-up A4 Avant on stilts, the Q5 Sportback is the equivalent of a high-riding A5 Sportback.
Like most modern SUVs, the Q5 Sportback is very much an on-road vehicle designed to look like it wants to go off-road. It also has four doors plus a rear tailgate, so this coupé SUV is neither a coupé nor an SUV. But is it actually any good, and why would you buy one over a regular Audi Q5 (or A5 Sportback, for that matter)?
From the front doors forward, the Q5 Sportback is almost identical to the regular Q5, both inside and out. From the rear doors backward, however, the roofline has been flattened down to create a liftback-style tailgate. That liftback shape reduces rear headroom as well as boot space above the window line, but other dimensions are pretty much unchanged.
These are fine margins in design. The original Q5 is hardly a squared-off brick-shaped thing in the first place, so the difference between traditional SUV and Sportback is not really that great.
Audi expects the Sportback to make up about a quarter of all Q5 sales, so it’s certainly a niche offering. And with many, many configuration options to choose from, good luck finding one in stock that precisely matches what you want…
How does it look?
Predictably, and apologies for repeating myself, the front half looks pretty much like any other Q5. There are some minor differences in the grille patterning and other plastic trim pieces, but you’d really need to look at a Q5 and Q5 Sportback side by side to tell.
At the back, the liftback styling looks slightly awkward compared to the more conventional proportions of a regular SUV. To be fair, you could say much the same about any ‘coupé SUV’. It certainly looks much better resolved than the BMW X4, but that’s not exactly a high bar to clear…
What’s the spec like?
The Q5 Sportback will be available with a choice of one petrol engine, one diesel engine and a pair of plug-in hybrids. There will be the usual bewildering array of six trim levels, although not every trim is available with every engine option. Finally, there’s a range-topping SQ5 diesel (also available in two trim levels) that is rather different in overall specification so we’re not going to talk about it here.
Like most Audis, the standard wheels do tend to look a bit small. The entry-level spec (Sport) comes with 18-inch alloys and the S line has 19-inch alloys. Our test model was an S line with optional 20-inch wheels, and they look much better. The bigger wheels do make the ride firmer, but Audi knows full well that most of its customers will accept that compromise and happily pay for the upgraded alloys.
In terms of safety, the Q5 Sportback continues Audi’s form in providing good levels of accident avoidance technology and also protecting you in the event that a crash does occur.
Independent safety authority Euro NCAP has recently confirmed that the Q5 Sportback inherits the Q5’s five-star safety rating from when it was tested back in 2017. This may seem obvious, but car manufacturers are required to show proof that any body style variants will perform similarly to the originally tested version, which Audi has now done.
What’s the Audi Q5 Sportback like inside?
Up front, it’s all very familiar – not just from the Q5, but also the A4 and A5 models. The basic dashboard layout has been around since the current A4 was launched back in 2015 and although it works perfectly well, it’s now looking a bit last-generation.
The chief culprit here is the central ten-inch infotainment screen, which looks like a cheap Android tablet glued onto the top of the dashboard. Given that everything else in the cabin lives up to Audi’s reputation for high-quality interiors, the touchscreen is disappointing. It works OK, although it’s a bit sluggish and the graphics look quite dated compared to some of the latest systems from rival brands.
As part of Audi’s latest round of updates to the A4/A5/Q5 family, the traditional (and excellent) Audi control dial has been discarded in favour of a touchscreen. This is presumably great when sitting in an Audi showroom, but it’s rubbish when you’re bouncing along bumpy British roads and just want to change the radio station. Yes, there are steering wheel controls that you can use and yes, every other manufacturer is doing the same thing, but it’s still a backwards step in terms of user experience and safety. At least the air-conditioning controls still use physical buttons.
On the other hand, Audi’s digital driver display remains the best in the business. The shift from analogue dials to digital screens has been hit-and-miss across the car industry with some manufactures over-styling their graphics at the expense of clarity, but Audi’s display is exemplary in both its presentation and ease of use.
Unsurprisingly, it’s in the back seats and boot where things have changed as a result of the sloping roofline. Rear headroom is tight – I’m 180cm tall (5’11” in old money) and I think I’d be bumping my head on the roof over speed bumps.
Similarly, you lose the ability to load much stuff above the window line in the boot of the Q5 Sportback. Below the window line, it’s all much the same as the regular Q5. Audi claims you lose ten litres of boot space (510 vs 520 litres), and optimistically describes this as “enough for 12 carry-on suitcases”. Quite why you’d want 12 carry-on suitcases for a maximum of five passengers isn’t explained, however. The seats fold 40/20/40 so you can still get some oversize baggage in the boot if you don’t have a full complement of passengers.
What’s under the bonnet?
With the latest Q5 and Q5 Sportback range, you get a choice of a 265hp petrol engine, a 204hp diesel engine or a 300hp plug-in hybrid combination of a petrol engine with an electric motor. However, if you want the very top-spec Competition Vorsprung model, that comes with a 367hp plug-in hybrid unit instead. Both the petrol and diesel engines come with mild hybrid assistance to improve fuel economy.
As with all new Audi engines, the power units are branded with the most confusing naming system ever devised so we’ll just ignore it.
Regardless of fuel type, all Q5s come with a seven-speed automatic gearbox and Audi’s latest variable all-wheel drive system to ensure each wheel gets the right level of traction for the conditions.
Worth noting is that the CO2 emissions on the petrol unit are quite high, at 202g/km (192g/km if you don’t have the big wheels). This means that first-year road tax on our test car worked out to an eye-watering £1,345. It then drops to £490/year for the next four years, based on current tax rates.
Directly connected to high emissions is unimpressive fuel economy, so Audi expects the 2.0-litre diesel engine to be more popular – despite the overall new car market abandoning diesel in droves. We’d still caution against buying any diesel car unless you do a lot of long-distance driving.
What’s the Audi Q5 Sportback like to drive?
We drove the petrol-engined Q5 Sportback in S line trim with the optional 20-inch wheels. If you’ve read any reviews of pretty much any Audi model from over the last decade, then none of what comes below is going to come as a surprise.
Firstly, the 20-inch wheels make the ride quite bouncy. It’s not a dealbreaker, but the Sport model on standard 18-inch wheels would be much better. Audi knows that you’ll all ignore this and buy the S line model with big wheels anyway, but it’s still worth mentioning.
Performance from the 2.0-litre petrol engine is decent enough without blowing your socks off. It can be a bit laggy under acceleration and doesn’t feel as responsive as you might expect for a 265hp power output – other mid-size SUVs with similar spec feel more rapid in real-world driving – but overall performance is good enough for most needs.
The seven-speed transmission is a dual-clutch gearbox, which Audi has been using for more than a decade now with continual improvements. It’s very smooth and, importantly, it can switch between first and reverse quite quickly when you’re exiting a parking space or attempting a three-point turn. This was a bugbear of double-clutch gearboxes in the past where you’d be waiting ages for the gearbox to sort itself out while you blocked traffic in every direction…
Touring is quiet and refined, apart from the constant jiggling of the sports suspension and big wheels on every bump or ripple in the road. Like most cars, the power steering is electric and feels quite detached from the front wheels. You turn the wheel and the car goes where it’s told, but you don’t really feel anything. The turning circle for quick U-turns is surprisingly good, as I tested at least four times by repeatedly missing the designated turn-offs on the drive route.
Verdict
A verdict in two parts, then. On its own, the Audi Q5 Sportback is a good car that offers a good blend of performance, comfort and safety. Build quality seems to be excellent, although Audi’s reliability record has been a bit iffy over recent years according to various ownership surveys. Compared to a BMW X4, Mercedes GLC Coupé, or other sporty SUVs like the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, it’s easy enough to recommend.
But the question becomes trickier when you ask the obvious question: Why would you choose a Q5 Sportback over a regular Q5? You’re paying an extra £2.5K or so for the privilege of less read headroom, less boot space and slightly questionable rear window styling. If you like the way it looks then fill your boots, but the regular Q5 SUV is both cheaper and an objectively better car.
Model tested: Audi Q5 Sportback 45 TFSI quattro S line Price (as tested): £55,235 Engine: 2.0-litre petrol Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 265 hp Torque: 370 Nm Top speed: 149 mph 0-60 mph: 6.1 seconds
Fuel economy (combined): 33.6 mpg CO2 emissions: 202 g/km Euro NCAP safety rating:Five stars (2017) TCE Expert Rating:80% (Overall Q5 range, as of June 2021)
The Volvo EX40 is Volvo’s first fully electric car and as its name suggests, an electric version of the Swedish brand’s mid-sized XC40 crossover. However underneath, its electric drivetrain is similar to that of the Polestar 2 from the Volvo spin-off brand.
Initially launched as the XC40 Recharge, the model was renamed in 2024 to match the naming strategy deployed with the brand’s newer electric EX30 and EX90 models.
The initial model on sale is the range-topper – this uses two 204hp electric motors, one on each axle to give it full all-wheel-drive capability, and a 78kWh battery pack. Front-wheel-drive variants will be added to the line-up later in 2021.
It’s a fast EV this one, hitting 62mph from rest in under five seconds. Official WLTP range is close to 250 miles, and using a 150kWh fast charger the battery can be replenished to 80% capacity in 40 minutes.
General equipment levels are extensive too, which they should be for the price. Most of the Volvo options list is supplied on the car including a powered tailgate, panoramic sunroof, a 360-degree camera and wireless phone chargers.
The EX40 also debuts Volvo’s new Android-based infotainment system which makes use of such apps as Google maps – reviewers are split on the system’s effectiveness compared to conventional rivals.
As of March 2026, the Volvo EX40 has an Expert Rating of B, with a score of 68%.
Some loss of boot space + cable take up a lot of room
Key specifications
Body style: Compact SUV/crossover Powertrain: electric motor, battery-powered Price: From £43,860 on-road
Launched: Winter 2020/21 Last updated: N/A Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “A new name has had little effect on the capability of the Volvo EX40 premium SUV.” Author: Dean Gibson, Richard Ingram Read review
Model reviewed: AWD Twin Ultimate (2023 facelift) Score: 7 / 10 “It’s a shame you can’t option this car’s bigger battery with the single-motor powertrain. Few will regularly utilise the Twin’s sledgehammer straight-line speed, and while this version may offer a slightly longer range and faster charging, you’ll pay a hefty premium for the privilege. We’d still recommend the Volvo XC40 over the less practical C40, but a rear-driven Recharge is a better bet.” Author: Richard Ingram Read review
Model reviewed: Single Motor Score: 7 / 10 “There’s no aspect of the XC40 which is terribly bad, but at this price it should have a better range and more accomplished driving dynamics. The XC40 remains a good option in internal-combustion engine form, but so far it’s struggling to make the transition to full electrification.” Read review
Score: 8 / 10 “The Volvo XC40 EV is a beautifully engineered creation with excellent performance, decent range, exceptional refinement and no compromise on practicality compared with regular versions. But, if anything, the P8 feels a little too potent and pricey for this size of vehicle.” Read review
Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Score: 9 / 10 “The XC40 Recharge Twin is Volvo’s first fully electric car. The standard XC40 comes with petrol and diesel powertrains. There’s also an XC40 Recharge plug-in hybrid model, but the Recharge Twin badge denotes pure electric power.” Read review
Business Car
Model reviewed: P8 First Edition Score: 6 / 10 “Perhaps the XC40 is a car more for Volvo’s early adopters and tech lovers. The C40, announced recently and due in showrooms by the end of the year, will be more affordable. Sadly, it will still have the Google infotainment platform, but perhaps we will have got used to it by then.” Read review
Car
Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10 “This is a very accomplished EV debut, achieving Volvo’s aim of making the transition simple and painless. It’s clearly aimed at early adopters, and it should do a good marketing job, in that the first XC40 P8 that anyone sees will be a quick, well equipped one, driven by someone smart and wealthy.” (Colin Overland) Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Score: 8.4 / 10 “The Volvo XC40 Recharge is a comfortable and spacious electric SUV, although it’s quite a bit more expensive than the petrol model.” (Richard Ingram) Read review
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8.4 / 10 “The Volvo XC40 Recharge is a comfortable and spacious electric SUV, although rivals offer better range” (Ben Custard) Read review
Company Car Today
Model reviewed: “Very rapid yet very sensible in every other way, it’s just a shame that we have to wait for the more affordable versions of Volvo’s pricey but otherwise very impressive first electric vehicle.” Read review
Daily Mail
Model reviewed: P8 First Edition “As is the sweeping generalisation about Scandinavian folk, the XC40 P8 is very polite and charming, though a little reserved at first. But then once you get comfortable and have spent a bit of time together, you suddenly discover a rather fun-loving and raucous side as the ‘inner Viking’ emerges.” Read review
Daily Mirror
Model reviewed: First Edition Score: 8 / 10 “This Volvo is one of the finest electric cars on the market but in First Edition spec it’s simply too expensive, unless you really do want all that performance. I suspect that the less powerful models which will be sold at a more reasonable price will be extremely popular.” Read review
Discover EV
Model reviewed: Twin Pro Score: 8 / 10 “The Volvo XC40 Recharge isn’t cheap for a small SUV but it does offer a dynamic drive, fairly decent range and beautiful design.” Read review
Green Car Guide
Model reviewed: Score: 9 / 10 “The Volvo XC40 Recharge Twin AWD looks like an SUV, however under this boxy exterior lies a party trick: an all-electric powertrain with very rapid acceleration.” Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “Volvo has made headlines for its drive to have a purely electric car range and the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric is the first step. However, it’s very expensive even when compared to other electric cars, some with better ranges.” Read review
Honest John
Model reviewed: “The electric XC40 offers 413 litres of boot space, which is less than the 460 litres of the regular model. Although, due to the space saved by the absence of an engine, it gains a 31-litre ‘frunk’ storage area underneath the bonnet.” Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Score: 8.6 / 10 “Volvo’s first EV sets a new standard in ease of use.” Read review
The Sun
Model reviewed: First Edition “The Volvo XC40 Recharge First Edition is the same as its petrol twin, but way too expensive.” Read review
The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: Score: 9 / 10 “The Volvo XC40 Pure Electric P8 is undeniably a fabulous machine. It’s great to look at, sit in and drive, and the creature comforts (even rear passengers get heated seats) and technology are really first-rate. Still, you can’t ignore the high price of the First Edition.” Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: Twin Motor Ultimate Score: 8 / 10 “It’s difficult to see why Volvo UK isn’t bringing the best example of this new EV to the UK, in high-output, rear-wheel drive form. It’s also sad to see the sheer charm and loveliness of the first-generation interior fading a little, but the XC40 is still a good car, and in battery-electric form (at least in 4×4 trim) it’s at the forefront of range and power in the class.” (Andrew English) Read review
Model reviewed: 78kWh Score: 4 / 10 “There’s lots to like about this battery-electric Volvo SUV; it’s fast, refined, comfortable and quirky, and also quite nice to drive once learned. But it’s too heavy and that means its efficiency at 3.46 miles per kWh is poor. It’s also, in this form, staggeringly expensive.” Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10 “What we have here is nothing less than the most dynamically capable Volvo ever. Seriously.” Read review
Which EV?
Model reviewed: Score: 8.5 / 10 “The Volvo XC40 Recharge Twin AWD is not likely to be the volume seller of its cheaper petrol and diesel siblings, and it doesn’t match the Volkswagen ID.4 on value either, with middling range. However, it is effortlessly quick, supremely comfortable and, particularly in Pro form, comprehensively equipped. If you want a fully loaded, super-fast, well-constructed luxury electric SUV, the XC40 is a great choice.” (James Morris) Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of March 2026, the Volvo EX40 has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.
The Green NCAP programme measures exhaust pollution (which is zero for an electric car) and energy efficiency. Electric cars are much more energy-efficient than combustion cars, so the EX40 is likely to score very highly in Green NCAP testing whenever it ever takes place. Check back again soon.
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 Volvo EX40 to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us from workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the EX40, we’ll publish the score here.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
Battery range
Average
Score
Variation
Score
EV models
325 miles
A
Electrical efficiency
Average
Score
Variation
Score
EV models
4.2 m/KWh
C
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
30
C
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£260
C
Year 2
£567
C
Year 3
£912
C
Year 4
£917
B
Year 5
£1,187
A
Overall
£3,843
B
Running costs for the Volvo EX40 range are a mixed bag, according to data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our commercial partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
It’s electrical efficiency (the EV equivalent of miles per gallon for a petrol or diesel car) is neither great nor poor, while insurance premiums are in the most expensive bracket. Just as well then that the Recharge’s scheduled servicing costs are excellent of the course of the first five years of ownership.
In addition, an official battery range of 308 miles (which varies from 249 miles to 334 miles, depending on which model you choose) competitive at the top of its class. So you shouldn’t need to worry about running out of charge in normal day-to-day driving.
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Cupra has unveiled its first electric vehicle, a mid-sized hatchback called Born that is based on the Volkswagen ID.3.
For those unfamiliar with Cupra, it’s a performance spin-off of the Spanish SEAT brand, which itself is a subsidiary of the giant Volkswagen Group. Previously used as a name for SEAT’s performance models, Cupra became its own brand in 2018 – although most of its cars are still basically hotted-up SEATs.
The Cupra Born is effectively a reworked version of the Volkswagen ID.3, with the new Cupra being technically identical to the Volkswagen original. So, much as the ID.3 is an electric alternative to the Volkswagen Golf, the Born could be considered an electric alternative to the new (Golf-based) Cupra Leon.
However, Cupra’s designers insist that the Born has been specifically tuned – with the assistance of various electronic driving aids – to offer a different driving experience to its Volkswagen sister model.
The Born identity
It’s been a somewhat circuitous route to launch for the Cupra Born. Originally previewed in 2019 as a SEAT concept car called the el-Born, Volkswagen bigwigs then decided that it would be better suited to the fledgling Cupra spin-off brand. A revised Cupra el-Born was then announced last summer, before being renamed for this final production version as the Cupra Born.
The car will go on UK sale with four battery choices – ranging from a 110kW/150hp entry-level model with a 45Wh battery giving an official WLTP range of 211 miles and a 8.9-second 0-62mph time.
A 150kW/204hp version uses a 58kWh battery extending range to 260 miles and cutting the 0-62mph time to 7.3 seconds. This powertrain is also available with an e-boost feature, pushing power to 170kW/231hp with a 6.6-second 0-62mph time.
The range-topping version will combine the 170kW/231hp motor with a larger 77kWh battery. This extends range further still to 335 miles at the expense of a slightly slower 62mph sprint of seven seconds.
Cupra adds that the range-topping model will include a rapid recharging facility allowing 62 miles range to be added in only seven minutes using a 125kWh charging point.
SEAT and Cupra president, Wayne Griffiths, has suggested that the Cupra Born will be sold in a different way to the usual dealers to specifically target younger buyers. This is likely to mean a focus on online sales, and probably a few pop-up displays at shopping centres and other high-traffic locations.
“We want the next generation of young challengers to be part of this transformation,” says Griffiths. “That’s why Cupra will use unconventional sales models to reach new people and take the Cupra brand beyond the traditional.”
Production of the Cupra Born starts in Germany in September, and prices will be announced at around the same time. First cars are expected on UK roads early in 2022.
The Volkswagen e-Up (styled as e-up!) had been around in the UK since 2014, undergoing a major update in 2019, before it was discontinued in 2022. It was developed from the mainstream Up range which is still available – regarded by many reviewers as the best small car on the market.
The e-Up arrived in early 2014, two years after the original petrol Up. Facelifted versions had a far more efficient drivetrain than earlier models. An 82hp motor was paired a 32kWh battery to produce an official range of 161 miles – further than the more recent Mini Electric and Honda e, both of which cost rather more than the Volkswagen.
Plus points included a charging socket where the fuel filler cap would normally be, a full recharge from a 7kW home wallbox taking around four hours. Reviewers pointed out the flaw in Volkswagen’s much trumpeted claim that a fast charger will add 80% to the battery in under an hour, as most rapid chargers are at motorway service areas and the e-Up was more likely to be employed around town than eating up motorway miles.
The e-Up was like many EVs; quiet and refined on the road, but for a small car its handling was considered ponderous. Reviewers did like the extensive regenerative braking options though, helping to put charge back into the battery.
Despite equipment including two-zone air-conditioning, heated seats and a rear-view camera, the £24K starting price of the e-Up! earned criticism. The fit and finish was highlighted as tired compared to more recent rivals. Instead of a proper infotainment system, drivers were expected to plug in their phone – the interior was not significantly updated in the decade the car was on sale.
After production stopped and started during 2020 and 2021 thanks to Covid-19 factory shutdowns and then supply shortages, the Volkswagen e-Up finally ended production in 2022.
No longer on sale, the Volkswagen e-Up has a Used Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 72%. That’s the same rating, although a point behind, the petrol version of the Up.
Reviews, road tests and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range review Score: 7 / 10 “The Volkswagen e-up! is certainly more appealing given its vastly extended range.” Read review
Model reviewed: Score: 6 / 10 “it won’t cost much to run, and makes sense for those who can charge it at home and at work. However, there’s little reason to buy one, simply because it’s extortionately expensive and has a frustratingly short range.” Read review
Business Car
Model reviewed: Score: 7 / 10 “Usual EV flaws but a good all-round, alternative fuel city car.” Read review
Car
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “Its dimensions and electric powertrain make it useful around town and it’s not out of its depth on the motorway, either.” Read review
Car Keys
Model reviewed: Score: 6 / 10 “When you compare it to cars that are on par price-wise, the Volkswagen e-up! doesn’t quite stack up. There are more practical offerings available and the range isn’t as good as other electric cars on offer. It’s a good effort, but there are areas for improvement in upcoming versions.” Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “The Volkswagen e-up! is a well equipped and quick electric city car, but the price tag will put many people off.” Read review
Carwow
Score: 8 / 10 “The Volkswagen e-Up is an all-electric version of the standard Up. It costs buttons to run and has decent performance in town. Alternatives have longer ranges, though.” Read review
Daily Mirror
Model reviewed: “The Volkswagen e-Up electric hatchback is expensive but may suit short-distance urban commuters.” Read review
Discover EV
Model reviewed: Score: 7 / 10 “The Volkswagen e-Up is one of the cars with the lowest cost of ownership in the market, but at the end of the day it’s based on a design from 2011. So your best bet is to spend an extra £4 to £6k and look at buying either the MG ZS EV, Mini Electric, Renault Zoe or Honda e, depending on your preference for handling, space, styling and range.” Read review
Green Car Guide
Score: 7 / 10 “The Volkswagen e-up! is primarily designed as a city car and the electric range of this new model has proven to be completely sufficient for a week of city driving. It’s better to drive in a city than a petrol-engined equivalent, both for the driver, and for anyone breathing in emissions of passing cars.” Read review
Honest John
Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10 “It’s easy to see why the Volkswagen Up works so well as an electric car. This is, after all, a car designed for city and urban use.” Read review
Motors
Model reviewed: Score: 6 / 10 “The Volkswagen e-Up! is pricey for what it is, and for most people, justifying the purchase of the electric version over its petrol counterpart is incredibly difficult. Even with the government’s electric car grant, you are looking at spending almost double what you would for a base petrol engine.” Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Score: 9 / 10 “Appealing electric city car now has a longer range.” Read review
The Sun
Model reviewed: “Great car, but faces a stiff challenge being so much more expensive than the Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe.” Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10 “Wonderful fun to drive and very well packaged, but too expensive and still not a viable only car for most people.” Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10 “The Volkswagen e-Up! is a superb, gimmick-free electric car. Try this before you go for that ID3.” Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
The Volkswagen e-Up shares its safety rating with the rest of the Up range, which is not always the case for an electric model. The Up was initially given a five-star safety rating by Euro NCAP when it was first assessed, which was way back in 2011. However, it was reassessed in 2019 and downgraded to a three-star rating. Testers highlighted marginal chest protection in some tests, and that autonomous emergency braking was not a standard feature on the Up!
In summary, the e-Up still provides competitive protection in the event of an accident, but it no longer meets the highest standards for avoiding an accident in the first place.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
The Volkswagen e-Up 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 February 2026, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Volkswagen e-Up to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.
As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the e-Up, we’ll publish the score here.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
Battery range
Average
Score
Variation
Score
EV models
159 miles
C
Electrical efficiency
Average
Score
Variation
Score
EV models
6.3 m/KWh
A
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
10
A
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Volkswagen e-Up has received
2016
Next Green Car Awards – Best City Car
2013
Next Green Car Awards – Next Generation Award
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Volkswagen e-Up, you might also be interested in these alternatives
The rapidly expanding electric car market is changing almost monthly, but is still relatively small compared to the number of petrol and diesel models available. That means that there are fewer direct competitors but a variety of different cars for a given price point. Of the cars listed above, few are genuinely similar to the Volkswagen e-Up in terms of size and specification, but all are trying to fill a similar role for urban driving.
Formerly known as the ‘Mokka-e’, the Vauxhall Mokka Electric is Vauxhall’s first mainstream electric compact SUV and evolved from the latest generation of the mainstream Mokka range – this launched in 2021 with bolder styling than its predecessor.
This electric Mokka is front-wheel-drive and powered by a 136 hp drivetrain. Three driving modes are available, Normal, Eco and Sport, and in Normal mode Vauxhall claims a battery range of 201 miles. The car also includes as standard a 100kW fast-charging system to allow battery replenishment to 80% in 30 minutes.
The mainstream Mokka receives generally average reviews, some media expressing surprise that it sells so well despite it being less practical and not as fun to drive as rivals. However the electric version produces more positive responses, the Daily Mirror dubbing it Vauxhall’s best car in years and Carbuyer stating that “it looks great and is designed to feel like a petrol car.”
The electric drivetrain is quiet and refined at higher speeds, while ride quality is highlighted, even on rougher surfaces. However the car’s acceleration is eclipsed by many rivals and its handling considered distinctly average.
The styling also earns praise – the electric model has a slightly changed front-end over the petrol version, to cut drag and increase battery range, and reviewers particularly like the bold treatment.
Minus points include practicality – the Mokka range offers less interior space than rivals and accommodating batteries cuts another 40 litres from the boot.
As of August 2025, the Vauxhall Mokka Electric holds a New Car Expert Rating of B, with a score of 68%. It scores top marks for its low running costs and for having zero tailpipe emissions, but Vauxhall’s new car warranty offering is only average and the Mokka’s safety score is poor.
Body style: Small SUV/crossover Powertrain: electric motor, battery-powered Price: From £32,505 on-road
Launched: Winter 2020/21 Last updated: Winter 2024/25 Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Featured reviews
“The Vauxhall Mokka Electric looks a little pricey when compared with the petrol versions, not to mention a number of more affordable EVs that have arrived on the market.”
Model reviewed: Range overview (including petrol models)
Model reviewed: Score: 7 / 10 “The new Vauxhall Mokka-e is a well-judged creation that could well tempt a few regular Mokka customers over to electric motoring, thanks to its respectable range, sensible price and a driving experience that feels altogether conventional.” Read review
Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10 “The all-electric version of the new Vauxhall Mokka is a stylish and appealing entry to the EV market.” Read review
Business Car
Model reviewed: SRi Nav Premium Score: 9 / 10 “The Mokka-E is the most impressive Vauxhall in many years, and bodes well for the next key models on the horizon.” Read review
Car
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “A design revolution outside and an attractive proposition now, too. Granted, it’s not the most practical of small crossovers but, if you’re after a stylish electric runabout for you and your small family, you can now look beyond just Peugeot’s e-2008.” Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7.6 / 10 “The new electric Vauxhall Mokka-e looks great and is designed to feel like a petrol car.” Read review
Company Car Today
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8.1 / 10 “The new Mokka-e’s looks steal the headlines, but behind that is a decent all-rounder with good equipment levels, although it’s smaller than rivals so practicality suffers.” Read review
Daily Mail
Model reviewed: Mokka and Mokka-e “Apart from the silent running, and having to charge-up rather than fill-up, the driving experience from behind the wheel of the Vauxhall Mokka-e is pretty much the same as the petrol Mokka.” Read review
Daily Mirror
Model reviewed: Ultimate Score: 8 / 10 “The Vauxhall Mokka Electric is a world apart from its uninspiring predecessor.” Author: Gareth Butterfield Read review
Model reviewed: SRi Nav Premium Score: 10 / 10 “The restyled Mokka-e crossover is the best Vauxhall for years.” Author: Colin Goodwin Read review
Discover EV
Model reviewed: SRi Nav Premium Score: 6 / 10 “It may not be the EV that ticks every box but it is good enough at all the everyday stuff and if you’re after a stylish electric runabout for you and your small family, then the Vauxhall Mokka-e should be on your list of worthy contenders.” Read review
Eurekar
Model reviewed: Mokka and Mokka-e “The new Mokka is very well equipped on the technology front. The electric Mokka is equally refreshing – almost identical on every front except the instrumentation where it comes with its own displays for EV operation.” Read review
Green Car Guide
Model reviewed: 50kWh SRi Nav Premium Score: 9 / 10 “The Vauxhall Mokka-e is a car that we like, primarily because it’s fun to drive and it’s relatively affordable compared to some EVs. It looks more modern and characterful than the previous Mokka, and although it’s a small car, it’s still reasonably practical.” (Paul Clarke) Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “The Vauxhall Mokka-e is a strong introduction to electric motoring. It doesn’t look or feel much different to a petrol Mokka, while its 201-mile range means it could realistically fit into your life without a great deal of effort.” Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10 “Vauxhall has reinvented the Mokka SUV as a desirable electric car.” Read review
The Sun
Model reviewed: Mokka and Mokka-e “Electric cars are smooth and quiet and easy but have a wicked streak — instant torque — which means they can charge off into the distance with a dab of the right foot. I actually preferred the EV to the petrol Mokka, which felt a little crashy on big 18in wheels but otherwise is decent.” Read review
The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: Mokka and Mokka-e Score: 8 / 10 “Based on comfort and performance, the Mokka-e would be my preference over the regular Mokka. It’s quieter and more refined, and fuel costs would be much lower, too, though insurance is likely to be higher. But you’re looking at a £5,500 premium (approximately) for the electric version.” Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: Mokka and Mokka-e Score: 8 / 10 “With a sparkling design and a whole lot better to drive than its predecessor, the new Vauxhall Mokka-e has a very good battery choice, which will be a superb urban runaround. The interior is well equipped, the dashboard is a breath of fresh air and although the rear seats are cramped you’d squeeze in there just to be on board.” Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Mokka and Mokka-e Score: 7 / 10 “A cracking piece of design and good enough at all the everyday stuff. At last, Vauxhall has a properly sorted crossover.” Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of August 2025, the Vauxhall Mokka Electric has not yet been lab tested by Green NCAP.
The Green NCAP programme measures exhaust pollution (which is zero for an electric car) and energy efficiency. Electric cars are much more energy-efficient than combustion cars, so the Mokka Electric is likely to score very highly in Green NCAP testing if and when it takes place. Check back again soon.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
Battery range
Average
Score
Variation
Score
EV models
226 miles
C
Electrical efficiency
Average
Score
Variation
Score
EV models
4.4 m/KWh
B
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
22
B
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£128
A
Year 2
£338
A
Year 3
£531
A
Year 4
£727
A
Year 5
£998
A
Overall
£2,722
A
The Vauxhall Mokka Electric is a very affordable car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
Electrical efficiency (the EV equivalent of miles per gallon for a petrol or diesel car) is good, which helps the Mokka to achieve a 200+ mile range despite a modest battery size. In real-world driving, this should still exceed 150-odd miles so is plenty for everyday needs – although you’ll be stopping fairly frequently on long road trips.
Insurance costs should be affordable, thanks to very low insurance group ratings, while servicing and maintenance costs for the first five years are excellent.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of August 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Vauxhall Mokka Electric to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.
As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Mokka Electric, we’ll publish the results here.
Warranty rating
New car warranty information for the Vauxhall Mokka Electric
Overall rating
C
56%
New car warranty duration
3 years
New car warranty mileage
60,000 miles
Battery warranty duration
8 years
Battery warranty mileage
100,000 miles
Vauxhall’s new car warranty is pretty much the bare minimum offered in the UK, with a duration of three years and a limit of 60,000 miles. Other rivals in the price bracket do better (and in some cases, much better).
In addition to the standard new car warranty, the Mokka Electric has an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty for the battery components.
Warranty on a used Vauxhall Mokka Electric
If you are buying an ‘Approved Used’ Mokka from an official Vauxhall dealership, you will get a minimum six-month warranty included.
If you are buying a used Mokka from an independent dealership, any warranty offered will vary and will probably be managed by a third-party warranty company.
If you are buying a used Mokka from a private seller, there are no warranty protections beyond any remaining portion of the original new car warranty.
If you’re looking to buy a used car that is approaching the end of its warranty period, a used car warranty is usually a worthwhile investment. Check out The Car Expert’s guide to the best used car warranty providers, which will probably be cheaper than a warranty sold by a dealer.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Vauxhall Mokka Electric has received
Find your next new or used car with Auto Trader. Find out more
Find your next new or used car with Carwow. Find out more
Lease a Vauxhall Mokka Electric
If you’re looking to lease a new Vauxhall Mokka Electric, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal
Personal contract hire deals from Leasing.com. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Carwow. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Select Car Leasing. Find out more
Subscribe to a Vauxhall Mokka Electric
Subscriptions are becoming a very popular way for consumers to try an electric car for a few weeks or months to help decide whether it’s a suitable alternative to a petrol car. If you’re interested in a car subscription, The Car Expert’s partners can help. (PS: What’s a car subscription?)
The Audi A5 was – more or less – a sleeker and more attractive coupé version of the Audi A4 saloon. This model is the second generation, which was launched at the end of 2016, received a mild update in 2019 and ended its production life in early 2024.
Declining sales of coupé and convertible models mean that this model will not be replaced. However, there will be a new Audi A5 – according to the company’s new naming structure, the next-generation A5 will replace the previous Audi A4 range, so the next A5s will be saloons and estates rather than coupés, convertibles and liftbacks.
This A5 range consisted of the A5 Coupé shown here, as well as the A5 Cabriolet and A5 Sportback, which was a five-door liftback. The higher-performance S5 Coupé is included here, but the even-faster RS 5 Coupé was a substantially different vehicle so has its own page.
The consensus from reviewers was that the Audi A5 was more of a comfortable grand tourer and less of a sporting vehicle than the rival BMW 4 Series. As with most Audis, the interior was a comfortable and high-quality environment from which to pilot the vehicle, but the driving experience was rather uneventful.
As of January 2025, the A5 has a Used Car Expert Rating score of E, with a score of just 55%. It gets good grades for decent CO2 emissions, but its reliability record is poor and its running costs are high.
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
The Car Expert
+
Score: 8.2 / 10 “The second generation of the A5 builds on the success of the first model, evolved in all areas without losing the original appeal.” Read review
Auto Express
+
Model reviewed: Coupé range Score: 8 / 10 “While it’s a handsome and desirable machine, it’s not one of the most thrilling to drive. Combine that with the less than dramatic design, and the Audi A5 Coupé faces stiff competition.” Read review
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic 40 TFSI S line Score: 7 / 10 “The Audi A5 oozes premium appeal and is packed with tech. It’s surefooted and composed on the road, too, but this isn’t a two-door coupé that has driver appeal at its core; it’s not all that exciting to drive, and the large wheels on this S line model have a negative impact on comfort on British roads.” Read review
Auto Trader
+
Model reviewed: Coupé range Score: 8 / 10 “The Audi A5 coupe certainly looks the business, but it’s far more than just a pretty face. A spacious, stylish and beautifully built interior is augmented by reassuring handling, excellent refinement and impressive comfort.” Read review
Model reviewed: 3.0-litre petrol automatic S5 Coupé “The Audi S5 is a beautifully built luxury coupe that looks understated, offers lots of hi-tech equipment and practicality, and provides strong pace in easy-going comfort.” Read review
Car
+
Model reviewed: 3.0-litre petrol automatic S5 Coupé Score: 8 / 10 “The Audi S5 is certainly fast enough and under the right conditions can deliver some laughs but, on the whole, it delivers a very usable and easy-to-access experience rather than an adrenaline-charged one.” Read review
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic S line Score: 8 / 10 “The new Audi A5 doesn’t quite look or drive like a full-blooded coupe, but many will find its reassuring manners appealing, and feel its array of gadgetry will help present themselves to others as thoroughly modern without being nerdy or unchic.” Read review
Car Keys
+
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic S line Coupé Score: 8 / 10 “The Audi A5 is a very competent premium coupe that builds upon the main characteristics of its predecessor. If you feel Audis such as this one lack a fun factor and find offerings from BMW and Mercedes more compelling, this latest A5 is unlikely to change your mind.” Read review
Model reviewed: 3.0-litre petrol automatic S5 Coupé Score: 9 / 10 “The Audi S5 is better than ever before and makes a strong case as a coupe that can deliver both classy, luxury transport and more aggressive, sporty driving. The powertrain is a delight, the cabin is very luxurious and the car has no trouble acting in a civilised manner when the situation suits.” Read review
Carbuyer
+
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The Audi A5 Coupe is sleek, stylish and luxurious, but its driving dynamics are likely to leave the enthusiast a little cold.” Read review
Model reviewed: S5 coupé Score: 7.6 / 10 “The Audi S5 Coupe may lack the steering feel favoured by keen drivers, but it’s a deeply impressive car nonetheless.” Read review
Carwow
+
Model reviewed: S5 coupé Score: 7 / 10 “High-performance version of the elegant and classy A5 coupe is very quick and sure-footed, but not particularly engaging to drive.” Read review
Model reviewed: Coupé range Score: 7 / 10 “The Audi A5 is a stylish premium coupe that feels very well made and comes with a good selection of engines. Some alternatives look more exciting inside, though.” Read review
Heycar
+
Model reviewed: Coupé range Score: 8 / 10 “The Audi A5 is a bit like being a contestant on Bear Grylls’ survival TV show The Island – like being trapped on a tropical paradise for weeks on end, the Audi looks like a lot of fun but is actually pretty boring.” Read review
Honest John
+
Model reviewed: Coupé range Score: 10 / 10 “What the Audi A5 does so well is get the key elements right. The driving position is spot on, all the buttons and switches are wonderfully tactile and there’s high-quality leather on all the key points you come into contact with.” Read review
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic “The BMW 4 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupé are mightily good but for those who demand the best refinement and quality, the Audi A5 is hard to beat. Read review
Motoring Research
+
Model reviewed: Range overview (coupé, cabriolet, Sportback) Score: 8 / 10 “If you’re prepared to sacrifice a little practicality in return for improved styling – and a higher price – the Audi A5 is one of the best looking cars in its class.” Read review
Parkers
+
Model reviewed: Coupé range Score: 8.8 / 10 “Stylish, sought-after two-door is bristling with feelgood factor.” Read review
The Sunday Times
+
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic S line Score: 6 / 10 “Style to spare but where’s the excitement?” Read review
The Telegraph
+
Model reviewed: Coupé range Score: 7 / 10 “The Audi A5 is a very desirable car, but given its sleek styling and powerful engines we can’t help but wish it was slightly more fun to drive. And while the interior is classy, you have to spend a lot on optional extras to get the best from it.” Read review
Top Gear
+
Model reviewed: Coupé range Score: 7 / 10 “Superb design and refinement cloak a nondescript driving experience. Again.” Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
The Audi A5 was originally assessed by Euro NCAP back in 2016 and awarded a five-star rating. The Audi A5 Coupé and A5 Sportback share their safety rating with the Audi A4 range. The A5 Cabriolet does not have a safety rating as a result of the significant differences in its structure.
However, this rating expired in January 2022 and is no longer valid as the car no longer meets the standards required for such a rating. This is normal practice, as Euro NCAP reviews its ratings on most cars annually with most ratings expiring after about six or seven years.
However, if you are comparing a used A5 Coupé 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 Audi A5 coupé was not tested by Green NCAP during its production life.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
Total claims: 555 Average repair cost: £950.84 Last updated: October 2024
The Audi A5 family has a below reliability score of 40%, according to workshop data provided by our commercial partner, MotorEasy. This applies to all versions of the Audi A5 (cabriolet, coupé, Sportback) and to both generations (2007–2016 and 2017 onwards).
The big thing to look for is suspension trouble. As the MotorEasy data above shows, this is the most common issue found on Audi A5 models, usually costing around £500 to correct. Engine issues are almost as common and a lot more expensive, with the average repair cost clocking in at more than £1,200.
Gearbox problems have also been known to crop up and are by far the most expensive faults, costing around the £3,000 mark. Bear all of this in mind if you’re looking at a used Audi A5.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
Fuel consumption
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Petrol models
41 mpg
D
35 – 53 mpg
B – D
Diesel models
50 mpg
B
39 – 59 mpg
A – D
CO₂ output
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Petrol models
158 g/km
C
140 – 184 g/km
B – C
Diesel models
150 g/km
B
125 – 188 g/km
A – C
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
34
C
26 – 47
B – D
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£283
C
Year 2
£743
C
Year 3
£1,235
C
Year 4
£1,513
C
Year 5
£2,041
C
Overall
£5,815
C
The Audi A5 Coupé has high average running costs, according to data exclusively provided by our commercial partner Clear Vehicle Data.
Petrol models offer 41 mpg on average, making the coupé more efficient than petrol versions of the A5 Cabriolet and four-door A5 Sportback. As you might expect, diesel models are the more fuel-efficient choice. Insurance premiums and maintenance costs are pretty average compared to its coupé rivals.
Date: February 2022 Recall number: R/2022/036 Model types: All Build dates: 11/2019 to 02/2021 Number of vehicles affected: 5,327 Defect: Following a previous campaign, the toe and/or camber values on the rear axle may, in certain circumstances, incorrectly be changed without this being noticed. Remedy: The wheel alignment must be checked and, if necessary, the suspension must be serviced on the affected vehicles.
Date: June 2021 Recall number: R/2021/236 Model types: All Build dates: 11/2019 to 02/2021 Number of vehicles affected: 10,089 Defect: One or more nuts which do not meet the specifications may have been fitted on the rear axle suspension links. Remedy: The affected nuts on the rear axle will be replaced on affected vehicles.
Date: June 2021 Recall number: R/2021/204 Model types: All Build dates: 12/2015 to 12/2018 Number of vehicles affected: 263 Defect: Vehicles may have been fitted with a hinged towing bracket on which the locking mechanism in the hinge module could be faulty. Remedy: The hinge module for the towing bracket must be checked and, where necessary, replaced on the vehicles affected.
Date: October 2020 Recall number: R/2020/302 Model types: All Build dates: 07/2020 Number of vehicles affected: 8 Defect: The seat frame may not have been bolted correctly to the seat rail on the driver and/or front passenger side. Remedy: Check the affected seat frame connection and replace the frame if required.
Date: June 2020 Recall number: R/2020/138 Model types: All Build dates: 06/2017 to 03/2020 Number of vehicles affected: 34,982 Defect: It is possible that moisture may enter the belt-driven starter-alternator. Remedy: The starter-alternator must be replaced on the affected vehicles.
Date: June 2019 Recall number: R/2019/175 Model types: All Build dates: 12/2015 to 12/2018 Number of vehicles affected: 135 Defect: Hinged towing bracket on which the locking mechanism in the hinge module could be faulty. Remedy: The hinge module for the towing bracket must be checked and replaced if required.
Date: May 2019 Recall number: R/2019/149 Model types: All Build dates: 02/2019 to 03/2019 Number of vehicles affected: 85 Defect: An error in the casting process may affect the rigidity of the shock absorber fork. Remedy: The corresponding shock absorber forks must be replaced on the affected vehicles.
Date: December 2018 Recall number: R/2018/365 Model types: All Build dates: 02/2017 to 07/2017 Number of vehicles affected: 8 Defect: Airbag securing bolts may not be to the correct torque. Remedy: Check and replace bolts as required.
Date: February 2017 Recall number: R/2017/078 Model types: All Build dates: 05/2016 to 10/2016 Number of vehicles affected: 2,622 Defect: Due to an error in the manufacturing process, the airbag and/or seat belt pretensioner may not trigger in the event of a collision. Remedy: On affected vehicles, replace airbag assembly and seat belt pretensioner where necessary.
As of September 2024, there have been nine DVSA vehicle safety recalls on the Audi A5 range covering various different issues.
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 Audi 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 A5, you should insist that any outstanding recall work is completed before you take delivery of the vehicle.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Audi A5 has received
2020
DieselCar & EcoCar Top 50 – Best Coupé
2019
DieselCar & EcoCar Top 50 – Best Coupé
2018
DieselCar & EcoCar Top 50 – Best Coupé
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Audi A5, you might also be interested in these alternatives
The junior executive coupé market has never been that heavily populated. The big three German rivals all maintain a presence, but no-one else has really shown much interest for a while. Lexus joined in for a while with the RC but that is no longer available, while Infiniti had its Q60 coupé a few years ago when the brand was still selling cars in Europe. The Ford Mustang is a similar size but appeals to a rather different demographic, and that’s basically your lot.
UK energy regulator Ofgem has announced a £300 million investment that will see 3,550 new charging points added to the UK’s electric vehicle network.
Of these, 1,800 will be ultra-rapid chargers. They will be installed at motorway service areas, according to Ofgem, tripling the size of the current network.
A further 1,750 charge points will be installed in towns and cities, such as at railway stations, with the entire programme delivered within the next two years.
The investment is part of a £40 billion programme to improve Britain’s energy network, that was approved in 2020. The funding will pay for the cables, substations and electric infrastructure that will be needed to support the charge points.
The UK’s charging network has been mushrooming in recent times – currently there are close to 24,000 chargers installed across the country, more than double those available three years ago.
But evidence suggests that ‘range anxiety’ fuelled by concerns over the availability of recharging points is still preventing a mass switchover to EVs. Ofgem’s own research revealed that 36% of those households not intending to buy an electric car were put off by the lack of charging facilities near their home.
Recent figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) stated that while increasing electric take-up now accounts for one in ten of new car sales, it is being driven by fleets – less than 5% of new EV sales are to private buyers.
The SMMT claims that if the Government is to meet its declared aim of banning sales of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, some 2.7 million charging points will be needed.
Recently a commission in Northern Ireland was told drivers who have bought electric are reverting to petrol and diesel due to the lack of a viable charging network in the country. And Ford’s UK boss Lisa Brankin told the BBC that drivers remain very sceptical about switching to electric.
More industry news and information at The Car Expert
Not heard of the Suzuki Swace? Well you probably have – sort of – as this family estate was basically a Toyota Corolla estate with Suzuki badges. It was sold in the UK from 2020 to 2025.
The Swace was part of a collaboration between the two Japanese brands – using Toyota’s established hybrid technology was an economical way for Suzuki to meet increasingly stringent European emissions regulations, and the Suzuki Across was a similar project (being a rebadged Toyota RAV4).
What you got was a practical, spacious hatchback with a 120hp petrol-electric drivetrain, which meant official CO2 emissions of 103g/km and 60+ mpg fuel economy – good news for tax-challenged company car drivers.
However, reviewers noted that the car returned its best figures on urban routes with lots of speed changes – at motorway speeds, the engine struggled and economy suffered. Also, those choosing Suzuki over Toyota didn’t get the 180hp hybrid option that Corolla buyers did.
Paradoxically, motorway driving was best for comfort – the Swace offered refined progress with excellent ride quality. More challenging roads, on the other hand, exposed the insipid steering and the strangled performance of the engine.
Reviewers also highlighted the decent specification of the Suzuki. There were only two trim levels to choose from, but even the base model included an eight-inch touchscreen, rear parking camera, dual-zone climate control, and heated front seats and steering wheel.
As of March, the Suzuki Swace holds a Used CarExpert Rating of B with a score of 67%. Surprisingly, that score is a huge nine points behind the Corolla on which the Swace is based.
Comfortable and refined, especially in electric mode
Proven Toyota reliability
Swace lowlights
Insipid petrol engine performance
Poor motorway economy
Lacklustre steering
Transmission whines under hard acceleration
Toyota’s own version offers much more choice
Key specifications
Body style: Mid-sized estate Powertrain: petrol/electric hybrid Price: From £24,499 on-road
Launched: Winter 2020/21 Last updated: N/A Update due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Featured reviews
“In a competitive estate market, the Suzuki Swace struggles to stand out – especially against the Toyota Corolla it was cloned from – but it’s still a well-equipped pick.”
Model reviewed: 1.8-litre petrol/electric hybrid Ultra
Model reviewed: (2023) Score: 8 / 10 “The Corolla-based Suzuki Swace still isn’t brimming with character, but these mid-life updates are a welcome improvement. For a small price increase over the old model, there’s more performance and technology, making it a competitive entrant to the estate car sector.” Read review
Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Score: 7 / 10 “The Suzuki Swace is a practical, comfortable and competitively priced hybrid estate car perfect for families who don’t want a crossover or SUV.” Read review
Business Car
Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10 “The Suzuki Swace comes with a less impressive infotainment set-up than the Corolla Touring Sports, but there’s little to separate them otherwise, and given the financial saving on offer we expect a decent number of drivers will consider that a sacrifice worth making.” Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8.2 / 10 “The Suzuki Swace is a practical and affordable family estate but it’s hard to see why you would buy one over the Corolla on which it’s based.” (Tom Jervis) Read review
Carwow
Model reviewed: “The Suzuki Swace is efficient and just about spacious enough.” Read review
Company Car Today
Model reviewed: 1.8-litre petrol/electric hybrid SZ5 “The most fleet-friendly Suzuki ever, with emissions of just over 100g/km, plus good practicality and kit.” Read review
Eurekar
Model reviewed: 1.8-litre petrol/electric hybrid SZ5 “The Suzuki Swace is a great addition to the popular car maker’s line-up. And when you factor in the low CO2 figure with its great tax breaks to the fleet driver, along with excellent fuel economy, the Swace has plenty of all-round appeal for business and private owners alike.” Read review
Honest John
Model reviewed: Range overview “The Suzuki Swace is the second vehicle to be supplied (following the Across) by Toyota under a collaborative business agreement between the two companies. Highlights include a 596-litre luggage compartment and a hybrid powertrain consisting of a 1.8-litre petrol engine with an electric motor.” Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Score: 7.8 / 10 “Suzuki’s Swace looks good for company car drivers.” Read review
The Sun
Model reviewed: “The Suzuki Swace is a smart and functional hybrid estate.” Read review
Top Gear
Score: 7 / 10 “The Suzuki Swace is sensible and affordable.” Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
No safety rating
In theory, the Suzuki Swace should carry a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP as it’s simply a rebadged Toyota Corolla, which scored a five-star rating back in 2019. However, Euro NCAP’s rating does not currently apply to the Swace.
This may be an administrative delay, or it may be that Suzuki has not provided evidence to Euro NCAP to show that the changes made from the original Corolla design would make no difference to its rating. If Euro NCAP issues a safety rating for the Swace, we will publish the results here.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
The Suzuki Swace was not assessed by Green NCAP during its production life, and the equivalent Toyota Corolla model has not been tested, either.
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 Suzuki Swace to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Swace, 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
63 mpg
A
CO₂ output
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Hybrid models
102 g/km
A
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
18
A
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£174
B
Year 2
£489
B
Year 3
£812
B
Year 4
£977
B
Year 5
£1,296
B
Overall
£3,748
B
The Suzuki Swace is a rather mixed bag when it comes to running costs, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
The car is quite efficient, and with a average of 64 mpg it is likely to save you a few pounds at the pumps. The car’s predicted servicing and maintenance costs are pretty manageable too, but its insurance premiums are surprisingly high.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Suzuki Swace has received
2021
Scottish Car of the Year Awards – Best Hybrid
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Suzuki Swace, you might also be interested in these alternatives
The Swace faces many big-name rivals, not least its inspiration, the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports. The Ford Focus Estate is perhaps the top choice, but Kia’s Ceed Sportswagon and the Hyundai i30 Tourer score highly, as does the larger Skoda Octavia Estate.
The popularity of PCP car finance has allowed car manufacturers to be rather sneaky when it comes to forcing you to have your car maintained by their dealer service network, something that many car buyers are unaware of.
Today’s article comes after we received a question from a reader via Twitter: “I have a car on PCP, do I have to use the dealer service centre for all services or can I use an independent garage?”
We have previously discussed your car servicing rights, which allow you to have your car serviced outside the manufacturer dealer network without losing your warranty, but there is another issue to consider if your car is financed using a PCP.
Part of the attraction of PCP car finance is that the finance company will guarantee that the value of the car at the end of the term will at least cover the outstanding settlement figure. This is called the Guaranteed (Minimum) Future Value (GFV or GMFV) and it means that your worst-case scenario should be that you can simply give the car back with nothing more to pay.
However, the GFV is dependent on three requirements that you must meet:
You must not exceed your agreed mileage over the duration of the term
The car must not require any repairs beyond normal wear and tear
You must have the car serviced in accordance with your contract
It’s the last item that we are concerned with today. The GFV is a value based on a car with no damage, limited mileage and a full service history. In most cases, this specifically means a full manufacturer service history – although you need to check the wording of your contract to be certain.
In most cases, if you do not have a FULL manufacturer service history (on time, every time, by an official dealership), then the finance company can either refuse to honour the GFV or charge you a hefty penalty fee.
What is a dealer service history worth?
Their argument is simple: the GFV is based on a car with a perfect service history, and a car with a full manufacturer service history is worth more than one with an incomplete history, or with services done elsewhere. To some extent, this is true. However, the penalties that finance companies are able to apply seem excessively harsh, especially since a dealer service is not necessarily a better service than one performed by a good independent garage.
Some manufacturer finance companies will charge you more than £1,000 if even one service is not in accordance with the official requirements (even if it is done by the dealer but not done on time), with the charges ratcheting up quickly if multiple services are not done by the book. This seems disproportionate to the real effect on a used car’s value, especially if servicing is done by a qualified garage but not strictly by the wording of the PCP agreement.
What if I don’t want to give the car back at the end of the term?
If you are not claiming the GFV at the end of the agreement (ie – if you are not giving the car back to the finance company), then you don’t have to worry about where you have it serviced. So if you want to settle the outstanding finance and keep the car, or sell it privately, or part-exchange it for something else, you can have your car serviced wherever you like and the only downside will be a slightly diminished resale value.
However, if your car is worth less than its settlement figure (negative equity), you won’t have the security of the GFV to cover you. This means that you will have to pay the negative equity out of your own pocket. With national used car values continually sliding downwards each year, you run the very real risk of having to cough up thousands of pounds to clear your finance because you have invalidated your GFV.
This scenario is cropping up more and more around the country, and part of the problem is that the terms and conditions have not been explained by the dealer at the point of sale.
The other problem, as we have alluded to in previous articles, is that buyers are notoriously lazy when it comes to reading contracts before signing them. The result is that a customer is not aware that they can no longer claim their GFV, and it ends up costing them dearly.
As research and development increases, quality continues to improve and manufacturing techniques advance, cars are becoming more and more reliable. So that should mean everyone can enjoy years of trouble-free motoring, right?
Not necessarily, according to new survey just out. The findings from automotive service and repair company Kwik Fit, shows that only three out of ten UK motorists have never had a car breakdown or failure.
The new research reveals that over a third of drivers (36%) have broken down in their current car, while a further 34% have had a breakdown in a previous car. All of which means that only 30% of drivers have never suffered a vehicle failure.
And for a quarter of those questioned during the survey the despair of grinding to a halt on a busy road must still have been fresh in their minds – 26% who broke down in their current car did so in the last six months – which would work out to 3.8 million drivers across the UK.
It’s a timely warning for motorists returning to work, with the easing of lockdown restrictions. The Kwik Fit research showed that almost a third of drivers (31%) experienced their most recent breakdown on a journey relating to work – either driving to or from workplace (22%) or travelling as part of their job (9%).
What are drivers’ greatest concerns?
The greatest concern to drivers, however, is not about being stranded but being out of pocket. This was top worry for 43% of women and 35% of men. However, the research shows that it is male drivers who should be most concerned about a potential repair bill as on average they paid £304.90 for their most recent repair, nearly £20 more than the £285.40 paid by the average female driver.
The biggest cause of drivers’ most recent breakdowns was battery failure (17%), yet only 4% of those questioned were most worried about their own battery failing. Conversely, the component most car owners are concerned about is their brakes (15%), yet brake failure was the cause of only 3% of drivers’ most recent breakdowns.
“Although some breakdowns cannot be foreseen, regular maintenance, servicing and health checks can identify potential problems in advance and keep a car running smoothly and safely, as well as avoiding costly bills,” says Roger Griggs, Kwik Fit communications director.
“As people start to head out further afield as restrictions ease, we encourage all drivers to ensure their cars are in peak condition after months of little use.”
