Millions of drivers have delayed having their car fixed and then seen the problem escalate into a major and expensive repair.
As we have reported before here at The Car Expert, putting off repairs to your car is not only a bad idea in terms of safety but it rarely gives you the money you think you’ve saved by ignoring the fix.
Now a new survey out today shows that millions of motorists are still turning a blind eye to damage even though it will come back and bite them harder in the future.
More than 19 million drivers have not repaired damage to their vehicles for more than a month, reveals the research from Churchill Insurance. And it’s not just cosmetic damage such as bodywork dents – the survey shows that six million motorists have put off having repairs done to their brakes.
Two-thirds of car mechanics questioned in the research said they see cars every week where repairs have been left too long. And yet ignoring minor issues could cost drivers up to £5,000.
For most motorists, the main reason for driving with damage is that they believe the issue is only cosmetic, while a fifth ignore these issues because they know they can get away with it. Around 20% say they can’t afford repairs, while lockdown during the recent pandemic and a lack of time were also contributing factors.
A third of drivers (13 million) admitted to leaving damage to bodywork for more than a month, with five million not repairing it for more than a year.
Top five reasons for driving with damage or a fault
Reason
%
The problem was only cosmetic
33%
I knew I could get away with driving it despite the damage
20%
I couldn’t afford to fix it
19%
I’ve not been using my car as much during lockdown
14%
I didn’t have time to get the problem fixed
14%
Source: Churchill Motor Insurance 2021
“We understand the reasons drivers do not immediately get bumps and scrapes to bodywork repaired as they are probably seen as minor issues and can be expensive to repair,” says Nicholas Mantel, head of motor insurance for Churchill.
“However, minor issues can quickly become major if they are not dealt with. Engine noises which could be sorted out with a £10 oil replacement, for example, could amount to needing a new engine, costing thousands if ignored for too long.
How bad could it get?
Type of repair
Potential cost straight away
Potential cost if delayed
Hand brake sticking
£100
£324
Paint damage
£15
£102
Engine noises
£10
£5,000
Windscreen crack
£189
£250
Wheel bearing
£300
£800
Brake pads
£252
£450
Overheating
£60
£1,000
Low tyre pressure
£2
£100
Slow punctures
£100
£900
Source: Churchill Motor Insurance 2021
“The research also highlights how drivers are not taking problems with car brakes seriously. Brake failure can lead to road traffic accidents and drivers are putting themselves and the public at high risk,” says Nicholas Mantel.
“While we sympathise with car owners, we recommend tending to even the small issues as quickly as possible, not only to save money and avoid a bigger bill in the future, but also to avoid road accidents or injury.”
If you’re worried about shelling out for repairs on your car, you might want to consider a used car warranty to protect you from the largest expenses.
Here at The Car Expert, we have some fantastic warranty offers for our readers provided by our commercial partners. If you’re interested in a used car warranty, you should check these out:
Volkswagen is adding a performance-pitched GTX variant to its ID.4 electric car range.
On sale in the summer of 2021, the Volkswagen ID 4 GTX will become the ID range flagship model and the first to be fitted with a pair of electric motors, one each on the front and rear axles and able to work together to offer all-wheel drive.
The effectiveness of this AWD system was demonstrated during the digital unveiling of the car at Berlin’s Templehof airport during which it climbed a 37.5% ramp.
Volkswagen quotes a total power figure for the ID 4 GTX of 299hp and says it will be capable of a 0 to 62mph sprint of 6.2 seconds, with a limited top speed of 112mph.
The ID 4 GTX will be fitted with the model line’s largest battery, a 24-cell 77kWh lithium-ion unit, and performance will not come at the expense of efficiency with a range of 298 miles between charges quoted.
Volkswagen intends the GTX line to sit alongside its existing GTI performance brand – GTX models are distinguished from other ID cars by bespoke styling details. These include more sporty daytime running lights, redesigned bumpers withe the rear housing a 3D lighting cluster forming an X design, and more dominant colour schemes. The bespoke interior includes leatherette inserts in a new colour dubbed X Blue.
Volkswagen CEO Ralf Brandstätter describes the GTX as the most emotional member of the ID family to date and a car that shows that electric mobility and top sporty performance are not mutually exclusive.
“Electric driving is simply great fun – and with the ID 4 GTX we are adding a new dimension of sportiness and dynamics,” Brandstätter added.
Volkswagen has set itself a target of purely electric vehicles forming 70% of the brand’s sales in Europe by 2030 – under its Accelerate strategy the German manufacturer aims ‘to become the most coveted sustainable mobility brand.’
The Mazda 6 (styled as Mazda6) was a large family car, offered in both saloon and estate (known as Tourer) body styles. After nine years on sale, this model was removed from sale towards the end of 2022.
Despite being older than most of its rivals, the Mazda 6 was still competitive in the family car segment against rivals like the Volkswagen Passat, Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Insignia. Petrol and diesel models were available – There was no hybrid or electric option, which is not surprising for a vehicle that was launched nearly a decade ago.
The Mazda 6 was warmly praised for its driving dynamics, styling (both inside and out) and comfort. However, rear headroom was not as good as some rivals, which may be important if you regularly carry adult passengers in the back seats. Running costs were also higher than average for the class.
No longer on sale, the Mazda 6 holds a Used Car Expert Rating of D, with a score of 59%. It scores top marks for its low CO2 emissions, while running costs are also strong. However, its safety rating is no longer comparable with newer cars and its reliability record is poor.
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 Mazda 6 is a viable option to the Ford Mondeo, Vauxhall Insignia and Volkswagen Passat, and exceeds those rivals in some areas – such as its particularly impressive safety package.” Read review
Auto Express
Model reviewed: Saloon range Score: 8 / 10 “The Mazda 6 has long been an Auto Express favourite, winning the Best Family Car category in our 2013 and 2014 New Car Awards. The fact that it’s still one of the best in its class after this length of time shows just how good it is.” Read review
Model reviewed: Tourer (estate) range Score: 8 / 10 “The Mazda 6 Tourer is a spacious, economical and well-made estate that rivals the Ford Mondeo.” Read review
Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Saloon range Score: 8 / 10 “The Mazda 6 brings above-average levels of style and driving appeal to the big family car class. It’s also classy and very well equipped, but running costs are on the high side and it’s starting to show its age in a couple of areas.” Read review
Model reviewed: Tourer (estate) range Score: 8 / 10 “The Mazda 6 Tourer is classy, practical and unusually good to drive for an estate car. It’s very well equipped too, but running costs are higher than average and it’s starting to show its age in some key areas.” Read review
Business Car
Model reviewed: 2.2-litre diesel manual SE-L Nav Score: 8 / 10 “Stylish, smooth and exceptionally comfortable, the ‘tweaked’ Mazda 6 doesn’t move the game forwards but maintains its appeal.” Read review
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “Some welcome tweaks should put the Mazda 6 on more choice lists.” Read review
Car
Model reviewed: Saloon range Score: 8 / 10 “A new petrol engine and posher interior, plus even tidier road manners make the Mazda 6 an even better cut-price BMW 3 Series and a far better prospect than the underwhelming Jaguar XE – courtesy of its sharp drive and better quality cabin.” Read review
Car Keys
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “Mazda has done a seriously impressive job of updating the 6 to keep it competitive. Few estates and saloons at this price point can deliver such a rewarding drive. With superb equipment levels, excellent practicality and handsome looks, it’s one of the best-value packages in today’s market.” Read review
Model reviewed: Saloon range Score: 8 / 10 “The fact that there’s no hatchback version of the Mazda 6 is disappointing, and while the diesels make more economic sense if you plan to rack up a high mileage, we’d for a petrol model every time on the basis of their superior driving experience.” Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Saloon range Score: 7.4 / 10 “The Mazda6 saloon is one of our favourite family cars, with sharp looks, precise handling and fuel-efficient engines.” Author: Richard Ingram Read review
Model reviewed: Tourer (estate) range Score: 7.4 / 10 “The Mazda6 Tourer is a fun-to-drive and good-looking estate, but some will miss the now-deleted diesel options.” Author: Ben Custard Read review
Carwow
Model reviewed: Tourer estate range Score: 7 / 10 “The Mazda 6 Tourer is a smart estate car that comes packed with standard equipment and safety kit, but alternatives can carry a lot more in their boots.” Read review
Model reviewed: Saloon range Score: 7 / 10 “The Mazda 6 is a smart saloon car that comes packed with standard equipment and safety kit, but there are roomier alternatives and engine choice is a little limited.” Read review
Company Car Today
Model reviewed: 2.5-litre petrol automatic GT Sport Nav saloon “Improved quality and more safety equipment in particular than ever before on the 6, although possibly not quite as cost-competitive.” Read review
Eurekar
Model reviewed: 2.2-litre diesel manual SE-L Lux Nav+ saloon “The Mazda 6 sits low to the ground and boasts sweeping lines and a raking roofline that give it genuinely appealing coupe looks – but which also help it stay glued to the road and deliver sharp, nimble handling and sure-footed, flat cornering.” Read review
Model reviewed: 2.5-litre petrol automatic GT Sport Nav+ Tourer “The Mazda6 has always been a bit of a looker and the latest model is no exception, with new grille with redesigned headlights, LED running lights, smart new alloy wheels and new rear light clusters. The interior too, is smart, chic and functional, with plenty of space for five passengers.” Read review
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol manual Sport Nav+ Tourer “The new Mazda6 is radically different and upgraded both outside and in, and the emphasis has been to ramp up driving enjoyment and safety technology with more features as standard. It’s an impressive package for a mainstream model and offers better value for money eye-appeal.” Read review
Evo
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “Forget about SUVs. The Mazda 6, particularly in estate form, is proof that brilliant mainstream family cars still exist.” Read review
Green Car Guide
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic GT Sport Nav+ Tourer Score: 8 / 10 “Perhaps the thing that impressed us most with this latest Mazda 6 was the refinement; it really is a much quieter place to be on motorway journeys than previous models, and when it can also return decent fuel economy.” Read review
Honest John
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The Mazda 6 puts the Japanese firmly among the frontrunners in the family car class. Thanks to Mazda’s attention to detail and commitment to weight reduction in order to improve economy and emissions, the 6 is good to drive and easy on the wallet.” Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: saloon range Score: 8.6 / 10 “Stylish, sharp driving, well-equipped Mondeo alternative” Read review
Model reviewed: estate range Score: 8 / 10 “Expect reliability, on top of a full complement of safety systems and the 64mpg claimed average fuel economy from one of the diesel choices will no doubt be a draw, too.” Read review
The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: 2.5-litre petrol automatic GT Sport Nav+ Score: 6 / 10 “Well-equipped and fun to drive family car.” Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: 2.2-litre diesel manual GT Sport Nav+ Score: 6 / 10 “Mazda has pitched the 6 upmarket with some success, and it’s still as enjoyable to drive as it ever was. So despite feeling a little dated in some areas, it remains a worthwhile alternative to the usual suspects (ie – the Germans). Just don’t bother with the top-of-the-range versions.” Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview (saloon and estate) Score: 7 / 10 “Another good Mazda from one of the very few car companies – any company, come to that – which simply doesn’t make a bad product.” Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
As of April 2025 (our most recent data point), the Mazda 6 has a very poor reliability rating of 23%, according to extended warranty data provided by our commercial partner, MotorEasy. This covers both this model shown here and previous generation models.
The average repair cost is more than £1,000, which is obviously a lot higher than the cost of a used car warranty. So that’s worth keeping in mind if you own or are looking at a used Mazda 6.
The most common warranty claims relate to engine issues, which are also the most expensive with an average repair bill to date approaching £2,000. Braking issues are also common, although they are much cheaper to repair with an average bill of less than £200.
If you’re buying a used car warranty for a Mazda 6, make sure it covers all of the potential problem areas shown above.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Mazda 6 has received
2018
Auto Express Driver Power Awards – Gold Award, Family Car class
2015
Northern Ireland Car of the Year Awards – Best Executive Car
2014
Auto Express Awards – Best Family Car
Carbuyer Awards – Best Large Family Car
2013
Auto Express Awards – Best Family Car
Scottish Car of the Year Awards – Best Eco Car
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Mazda 6, you might also be interested in these alternatives
The BMW iX3 was an electric version of the contemporary BMW X3 SUV. It arrived in the UK in 2021 to join the regular X3 models, and was on sale until 2025 when it was replaced by the all-new, second-generation iX3.
The iX3 received positive feedback from the UK motoring media during its production life. It was particularly praised for its quiet and refined drivetrain, even compared to other electric cars, and for its better-than-average handling. The main criticisms were that performance was not as sharp as some rivals, and that the iX3 was expensive compared to regular X3 models in the same family.
In what must have been some kind of record, a facelifted version of the BMW iX3 was announced in late summer 2021, almost before the first original cars even started arriving in the UK. The updated models began to arrive in December and offered the usual mid-life updates of revised styling both inside and out, as well as an upgraded mapping system for improved traffic and charging point information.
As of February 2026, the BMW iX3 holds a Used Car Expert Rating of B, with a score of 65%. It scores top marks for its zero tailpipe emissions and BMW’s new EV warranty, while also getting good grades for its positive media reviews and low running costs. However, its safety rating (based on the last-generation X3 from 2017) has now expired, which negatively impacts the overall rating.
Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10 “The all-electric BMW iX3 does a convincing job of pitching itself as a fantastic family car. It’s a little stiff, but it drives well, charges quickly and comes loaded with kit. We’d like a bit more flair for the cabin, but for those wanting their EV to keep its credentials quiet, the BMW nails its brief.” Read review
Auto Trader
Score: 9 / 10 “As an all-electric version of one of its most popular SUVs, the iX3 looks like an automatic smash hit for BMW. Its range between charges is impressive, but its performance is only middling when compared to other expensive electric SUVs, even if the electric X3’s refinement is superb.” Read review
Car
Score: 8 / 10 “Too expensive and not exactly a street-cred front-runner, the BMW iX3 is remarkably efficient and dynamically up to scratch. Three assets stand out proud: superb handling (plenty of old-school emotions), long range (peace of mind) and low cost of ownership (no hefty penalty for saving the world). Read review
Car Keys
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 9 / 10 “The flexibility, speedy charging and long range offered by its powertrain get it off to a great start, while also offering a roomy interior and impressive build quality. So the iX3, along with BMW’s other upcoming EVs, show that there is plenty to be optimistic about.” Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10 “The BMW iX3 is an electric variant of the popular X3 SUV, with a 279-mile range.” Read review
Company Car Today
Model reviewed: Premier Edition “The new all-electric BMW iX3 is likely to be one of the plug-in hits of 2021, but it certainly has a hefty price tag.” Read review
Daily Mail
Model reviewed: “The BMW iX3 is pretty brisk, sporty and engaging. Many may be relieved that the iX3 looks so normal. It lacks the much-debated massive cartoonish grille on recent BMWs which have divided opinion.” Read review
Daily Mirror
Model reviewed: 80kWh Premium Edition Pro Score: 6 / 10 “Serial BMW owners, especially X3 owners, will feel entirely at home in the iX3. The interior space is exactly the same as the X3’s even down to the boot, which holds 510 litres. A long range and fast charging are due to it being able to accept 150kW. The car isn’t as high performance as you’d expect from a BMW, but that’s no problem as it’s plenty quick enough.” Read review
Driving Electric
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “Refined, spacious and good to drive, the BMW iX3 makes sense as an electric family SUV – but some rivals feel more special.” Author: Richard Ingram Read review
Electrifying.com
Model reviewed: Score: 9 / 10 “It would be very easy to dismiss the BMW iX3 as an expensive step up from its plug-in hybrid alternative. But we applaud that BMW is offering another electrified choice to X3 customers and that 285-mile range makes it pretty usable as an everyday car.” Read review
Green Car Guide
Model reviewed: iX3 Premier Edition Pro 80kWh battery Score: 10 / 10 “The BMW iX3 combines a high quality, rewarding and very comfortable BMW driving experience with an all-electric powertrain.” Read review
Model reviewed: Score: 9 / 10 “The iX3 isn’t cheap, but it’s a very impressive car with some very impressive technology.” Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10 “The BMW iX3 is a superbly well-rounded electric SUV. It’s just as practical as a standard X3, while its interior is exceptionally well-finished and it’s a lot of fun to drive. It’s cheap to run, too, even if the £60,000-plus price tag might initially be hard to stomach.” Read review
Honest John
Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10 “The BMW iX3’s brilliance is its simplicity. It takes a gimmick-free approach, providing a decent range and enough space for all the family. The interior really is superb, with fine materials and BMW’s excellent latest media system.” Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “BMW’s first electric SUV is refined, good to drive and lovely inside” Read review
The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10 “The BMW iX3 delivers electric engineering excellence – at a price.” Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Score: 7 / 10 “BMW’s second full-electric car is a little more ‘normal’, a pragmatic EV that can go a long way on a charge.” Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Notes on safety rating
The BMW X3 was originally tested by Euro NCAP back in 2017 and awarded a five-star rating. The iX3 shares the same rating as the combustion-powered X3 models, as Euro NCAP determined that it is structurally identical and would perform similarly in emergency situations.
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 iX3 to vehicles of similar age, whose ratings will have probably also expired, its safety rating score is still useful.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
The BMW iX3 was not assessed by Green NCAP during its production life.
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 iX3 would certainly have scored very highly in Green NCAP testing if it had ever taken 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
290 miles
B
Electrical efficiency
Average
Score
Variation
Score
EV models
3.6 m/KWh
D
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
44
E
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£334
D
Year 2
£581
C
Year 3
£845
B
Year 4
£1,105
C
Year 5
£1,382
B
Overall
£4,247
C
Running costs for the BMW iX3 are much cheaper than its ICE-powered X3 counterpart, according to numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
The SUV has an average battery range of 290 miles (which varies from 282 miles to 286 miles, depending on which model you choose) according to official UK/EU government lab tests. That’s more than enough for most household needs, so you shouldn’t need to worry about running out of charge in normal day-to-day driving. The car’s service and running costs are good for the first year, and excellent from the second year onwards.
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 BMW iX3 to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively for us using warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the iX3 we’ll publish the score here.
Warranty rating
New car warranty information for the BMW iX3
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
BMW’s standard new car warranty is worse than average, and not as good as some other brands in a similar price bracket as the iX3.
The duration is 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 BMW iX3
The first BMW iX3 vehicles started arriving in the UK in late 2021, meaning they would have reached the end of their new car warranty at the end of 2024. Cars first registered in late 2025 will still be under new car warranty until late 2028.
If you are buying an ‘Approved Used’ BMW iX3 from an official BMW dealership, you will get a minimum 12-month warranty included.
If you are buying a used BMW iX3 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 BMW iX3 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.
Date: August 2023 Recall number: R/2023/235 Model types: All Build dates: 08/2022 only Number of vehicles affected: 27 Defect: On affected vehicles due to a supplier component production process error a damaged Combined Charging Unit may have been installed. Remedy: Replace the Combined Charging Unit.
Date: May 2023 Recall number: R/2023/133 Model types: All Build dates: 11/2021 to 03/2023 Number of vehicles affected: 28 Defect: A cable bridge connection connecting two circuit boards within the cell supervision circuit (CSC) might not have been installed properly. Remedy: On the affected vehicles the cell supervision circuit (CSC) inside the high-voltage battery will be replaced.
Date: October 2021 Recall number: R/2021/361 Model types: All Build dates: 06/2020 to 05/2021 Number of vehicles affected: 384 Defect: In rare cases due to a software error the fast intermediate circuit discharge is triggered late. Remedy: On the affected vehicles software in the Battery Management Unit (BMU) will be updated by reprogramming.
As of September 2024 (our most recent data point), there have been three DVSA vehicle safety recalls on the iX3 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 iX3, you should insist that any outstanding recall work is completed before you take delivery of the vehicle.
Significant changes to the front-end lighting and partly-autonomous driving top a list of newly unveiled updates to the Volkswagen Polo.
The revamped version of the supermini, which will go on UK sale in the Autumn of 2021, gets the family look of its larger sister the Golf and Volkswagen’s ID.3 electric car, in the form of an LED lighting strip running right across the front end, just below the upper grille.
All Polos also now have LED front and tail-lights as standard, and the front ones can be specified with interactive matrix technology. And of course the Polo refresh features the favourite update move, subtle styling tweaks in the form of redesigned front and rear bumpers.
Inside the cabin, updates include VW’s ‘Digital Cockpit’ – a new infotainment system that comes as standard with a six-inch touchscreen, while a nine-inch version is on the options list. The driver’s display is now an eight-inch digital unit instead of traditional analogue dials and the steering wheel has been redesigned.
Lane-keeping assist is also standard on all models but significantly VW’s IQ.Drive Travel Assist, which debuted on the Passat, can now be ordered on the Polo. In this system, the lane-keeping works with the adaptive cruise control to provide partly autonomous driving, at speeds up to 130mph. It’s the first time that such advanced driver assistance technology has appeared in a supermini-sized small car.
Where there are no changes are to engines and transmissions – the existing line-up of three-cylinder petrol units with power outputs from 80hp to 110hp has been carried over, with the diesel units being quietly ditched a while ago now. No sign, however, of any electric Polo on the way.
Volkswagen has sold more than 18 million Polos globally in the 45 years since the Mk1 version was launched.
Another effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the motor industry has been revealed in a report showing that annual insurance premiums have fallen to their lowest average since 2015.
There is usually a slight dip in insurance prices at the start of any year but for 2021 it was a completely new story. In the last year, the government’s travel restrictions have resulted in fewer cars on the road, which has led to a 19% decline in car insurance claims.
The insurance firms have passed on some of those savings to motorists through lower premiums. Some insurers, such as Direct Line, Admiral and Esure, have also been giving refunds to customers for miles they thought they were going to do, but weren’t allowed to.
Average premiums plummet
The average car insurance premium fell by £55 in the first quarter (Q1) of 2021, compared with the previous quarter, according to areport from insurance comparison site comparethemarket.com. It’s the steepest fall in premiums over a three-month period since their research began in 2012, and means the average premium in Q1 2021 (December 2020 – February 2021) dropped to £652.
This represents the lowest quarterly average for car insurance premiums since Q3 2015, when a typical premium cost £606.
Premiums have also declined by an average £103 year-on-year, as the pandemic has caused a sharp drop in the cost of insurance. This also represents the largest 12-month decline on record.
The cheapest premium typically available at the start of 2021 also tumbled by £68 year-on-year to £560. The drop means there are still significant savings available to drivers who shop around for the best deal when their policy comes to an end.
Inexperienced motorists
A drop in the number of inexperienced drivers on the road might also have contributed to the decline in car insurance claims and subsequent fall in premiums. Latest DVLA figures show a 48% drop in the number of people passing their practical driving test in 2020, compared with the previous year, as the pandemic prevented or discouraged L-drivers to hit the road.
Young motorists though, have seen the greatest financial benefit from the fall in premiums. The average cost of car insurance for drivers aged under 25 has dropped to £1,097, down from £1,282 in the same quarter in 2020.
“Motorists will be thrilled that the cost of car insurance has nosedived in the first quarter of this year,” says Dan Hutson, head of motor insurance at comparethemarket.com.
“The drop in insurance claims seems to be trickling through to the cost of premiums. This fall will be particularly good news for young drivers who typically face the highest premiums.”
Keep your insurer updated with your details
Although some car insurance providers have been actively offering customers refunds, it’s important to remember that the vast majority of insurers won’t be so helpful. It’s up to you as the policyholder to make sure that your policy details are all correct and up to date at all times.
There’s no guarantee that lower mileage will translate to significantly lower insurance premiums, as there are many other factors that contribute to your overall premium. For example, if the insurer considers that the greatest risk to your policy is your car being stolen from your driveway, then having it parked there far more often may increase that risk rather than decreasing it.
As part of your annual insurance renewal, you should always shop around. Whether it’s using a comparison site or by calling insurers directly, you will almost certainly get a better price than if you simply accept the renewal quote your insurer sends you each year.
The Toyota bZ4X concept, unveiled at the Shanghai motor show this week, previews the Japanese brand’s first new model range specifically designed as electric cars.
When the production version of the bZ4X launches in mid 2022, it will be the first of seven bZ models which will form the core of the 15 new battery-electric vehicles Toyota intends to put on sale by 2025.
The bZ moniker stands for ‘Beyond Zero’, Toyota saying it is transitioning from a pure car company to a business developing better mobility generally, and bZ shows that it is going beyond the much vaunted principle of zero-emissions cars.
Toyota is following the lead of other brands in giving their electric models their own identity – think Volkswagen ID, Hyundai Ioniq, Mercedes EQ. So the new cars will sit alongside existing Toyota models rather than simply replace them – the bZ4X is a mid-sized SUV targeted at those who might buy the similar-sized but hybrid-powered RAV4.
The bZ models will have their own styling treatments to distinguish them from other Toyotas – a notable element of the bZ4X is the lack of a front grille, not needed for EVs, and instead a combination of sensors, lights and aerodynamics in what the designers describe as a ‘hammerhead style.’
The concept is more evidence of Toyota’s growing association with Subaru, a joint design from the two manufacturers and built on a new platform specifically designed for EVs.
Occupants are promised lots of space while the driver has their own ‘module’ with the controls designed around them – the controls are low set to improve visibility, above the steering wheel is a digital instrument display while the steering wheel itself becomes a more oblong-shaped ‘yoke’ operating an electronic ‘steer by wire’ system.
Other notable features on the concept include a solar-charging system, which puts more power back into the battery and increases the range – though of course what we don’t know yet is just how much of this technology will make it into the production model.
According to Toyota the Beyond Zero programme is built on four aspects, topped by ‘You and the environment’ focusing on not just the energy the car needs but what it can generate.
‘You and your car’ emphasises the technology in bZ models to provide peace of mind and enjoyable driving. Then ‘You and others’ emphasises a specious, quiet environment that occupants can share and interact with each other.
Finally ‘You and Society’ considers the car’s impact on others and the environment.
Have you recently been caught out by a speed camera? This article provides an easy-to-understand guide on what to expect, what to do and when to do it.
It happens to most of us eventually. You’re driving along, minding your own business and not really aware of how fast you’re travelling. All of a sudden, there’s a flash in your rear-view mirror and you realise that you’ve been busted by a speed camera.
The UK is filled with speed cameras these days as a substitute for actual policing; from the traditional yellow Gatso devices to more advanced units, and now an ever-increasing number of average speed cameras that monitor your speed over a distance of several miles. They first started sppearing at major roadworks sites, but now they seem to be popping up all over the country.
What many drivers don’t realise is that there is a formal process that the police must follow when you are flashed by a speed camera. This process is both to maintain your rights and to minimise errors by the police in making a valid prosecution if you have been speeding.
One of your first concerns after triggering the dreaded speed camera flash is probably the cost of any fine. Don’t worry about that for now.
Firstly, the police have 14 days in which to serve the registered keeper of the vehicle with a ‘notice of intended prosecution’ (NIP), which sets out the details of the alleged offence. Study the NIP closely and make sure you abide by any conditions and timescales given. If the police haven’t sent you a NIP within 14 days, you may have escaped prosecution. However…
If you are running a leased car, you are not the registered keeper. The penalty notice will be sent to the leasing company, who will then have to advise the police that you were in posession of the car. That means it could take a few weeks for the NIP to reach you.
Along with the NIP, you will receive a form called a Section 172 notice that asks for confirmation of who was driving the car. You need to complete this by declaring that you were the driver of the car at the time of the offence, or you dob in whoever was driving. You have 28 days to fill in the form and return it.
Assuming that you have confirmed that it was you who was speeding, you will probably receive a fixed penalty notice (FPN) unless you were driving well in excess of the speed limit. The FPN gives you a choice of pleading guilty or not guilty. If you plead guilty, you’ll to pay the fine. If you plead not guilty, your case will usually proceed to a court hearing.
If you’re going to court, you should seek legal advice. We’re not qualified to help you with that.
Cost: How much will your fine be?
The minimum penalty for a speed camera offence is £100 and three points on your licence. But that’s only the minimum.
Updated laws came into effect in April 2017 that have made things a lot more complicated over the last four years. Fines are now graded according to both the level of speeding and your weekly salary. These fines were bumped up again in 2021.
Speeding penalties are now classified into three bands:
Band A for minor excesses (for example, up to 40mph in a 30mph zone)
Band B for moderate excesses (for example, up to 50mph in a 30mph zone)
Band C for major excesses (for example, more than 50mph in a 30mph zone)
Instead of fixed penalties based on your speed, the system now also takes your earnings into account, using the following formula:
Band A: 50% of your weekly salary, plus 3 penalty points
Band B: 150% of your weekly salary, plus 4-6 penalty points or disqualification for up to 28 days
Band C: 150% of your weekly salary, plus 6 penalty points or disqualification for up to 56 days
There is also some flexibility (plus or minus 25%) in the fine, based on other circumstances. Speeding around a school or busy pedestrian area will probably get your fine bumped up, whereas a similar speed on a deserted road in the middle of nowhere may get you a bit of leniency.
Points: Speed camera offences and penalty points
In addition to the cash penalty, you will normally receive between three and six penalty points, depending on the offence (see above). Anything above six penalty points will almost certainly be heard in court, due to the severity of the offence.
Penalty points are valid on your licence for three years from the date of the offence, or if your case is heard in court, from the date of your conviction. However, you may only apply for the endorsement to be removed from your licence completely after four years.
Most insurers don’t penalise for three penalty points. However, if you receive further endorsements within three years, you’re likely to see a significant rise in your car insurance premium.
The Peugeot 108 was a small, city-class, five-door hatchback. It was also available as a cabriolet version, which features a full-length fabric sunroof in a similar vein to the Fiat 500. The current model was launched in 2014, replacing the previous Peugeot 107, and was discontinued in 2022.
The 108 was essentially identical to the Citroën C1 and Toyota Aygo, with the three models developed together and built at the same factory in the Czech Republic. The 108 underwent its most recent update in 2021, adding new trim and colour options but also dropping the three-door variants.
Toyota took full ownership of the factory for the production of its new Aygo X and the 108 was discontinued in Spring 2022. With Peugeot’s parent company Stellantis now also owning Fiat, it is likely that any future Peugeot city car will be based on the new, all-electric Fiat 500.
Reviewers generally considered the 108 a distinct improvement on its predecessor the 107, although the overall media review scores were still very poor. Parkers noted the way it looks like its bigger sister the 208, and more importantly how the ‘wheel on corners’ design produces surprising interior space in a small car.
Originally there were 1.0 and 1.2-litre engine options (as well as a cabriolet model) but this range was reduced to just a three-cylinder 1-litre 73hp petrol engine with emissions of 110-111g/km. Testers liked this unit, typical of the comments being from the Sunday Times, “adequate in its power and easy on the fuel.” But Auto Express regretted the demise of the 1.2, “which gave the car an extra little punch.”
While more recent small cars have dulled the appeal of the 108, reviewers did like the range of personalisation options available on the Peugeot, which Auto Express added; “will certainly attract younger buyers.”
As of September 2025, the Peugeot 108 holds a Used Car Expert Rating A, with a score of 72%. It scores top marks for its low running costs and CO2 emissions, and its excellent running costs. However, its media review scores were very poor and its safety rating has long since expired.
“The Peugeot 108 is easy to drive and park and has a tiny footprint ideal for crowded cities; but it feels unpolished and crude, and tiring at high speeds.”
Model reviewed: Score: 6 / 10 “The Peugeot 108 is a likeable machine thanks to its chic styling and plentiful spec options. It’s got a strong reliability record and a decent amount of interior space for a city car, and it’s also easy to drive around town.” Read review
Business Car
Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol manual Allure Score: 8 / 10 “To drive, the Peugeot 108 is reasonable, without maybe being up with the VW Up/SEAT Mii/Skoda Citigo trio of rivals. The cabin quality is varied, with some nice materials augmented by large amounts of harder plastics.” Read review
Car
Model reviewed: PureTech 82 (2017) Score: 6 / 10 “The PureTech engine does just manage to pull the skin off a rice pudding and makes the 108 capable enough for motorway travel, but the jiggly ride and vague gearbox make it irritating at speed.” Read review
Car Keys
Model reviewed: Score: 7 / 10 “The 108 is a charming, well-equipped and surprisingly fun city car that would make a superb first car or a town runabout.” Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7.2 / 10 “The Peugeot 108 looks good and costs little to buy or run, but it’s starting to show its age in a competitive class.” Read review
Carwow
Model reviewed: 108 TOP Cabriolet range Score: 6 / 10 “The Peugeot 108 TOP is one of the smallest and cheapest convertibles on sale but there’s very little space in the back seats and it’s not particularly comfortable to drive.” Read review
Model reviewed: Hatchback range Score: 6 / 10 “Parachuted into one of the most competitive classes in the automotive world, the Peugeot 108 city car has quite a challenge on its hands if it plans to steal sales from the class-leading Volkswagen Up and its sister cars, the SEAT Mii and the Skoda Citigo.” Read review
Green Car Guide
Model reviewed: Score: 7 / 10 “The new Peugeot 108 looks classier than the previous 107, it’s fun to drive, economical, relatively affordable, and in ‘TOP!’ form it even offers open air motoring.” Read review
Honest John
Model reviewed: 2014 Score: 6 / 10 “With good standard specification for a low price, the Peugeot 108 is cheap to run and cheap to insure, offering a surprisingly mature driving experience and capable out of town too.” Read review
Motors
Model reviewed: Score: 6 / 10 “The Peugeot 108 is cheap to run and has stylish looks to go with surprisingly good equipment levels; bu it’s a bit cramped for space and not the most refined.”
Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “The Peugeot 108 is lightweight and economical but the engines are noisy.” Read review
The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: 2014 Score: 8 / 10 “Small but packing a great deal of punch, the 108 proves Peugeot is once again producing cars with flair.” Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 6 / 10 “The Peugeot 108 is cheap to buy and run, plus most versions come with plenty of big-car luxuries. However, the Hyundai i10 offers you a lot more space for similar money, while the VW Up is classier inside and better to drive.” Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 6 / 10 “Well rounded, but short on personality and doesn’t go far enough.” Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
The Peugeot 108 was awarded a four-star safety rating from Euro NCAP back in 2015. However, this rating expired in January 2021 as the 108 no longer met the requirements for a five-star car. This is normal practice, as Euro NCAP reviews its ratings on most cars annually with most ratings expiring after about six or seven years.
However, if you are comparing a used Peugeot 108 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 Peugeot 108 was not lab tested by Green NCAP during its production life.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
Total claims: 13 Average repair cost: £152.74 Last updated: April 2025
As of April 2025 (our most recent data point), the Peugeot 108 has an excellent reliability record according to workshop and extended warranty data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our partner, MotorEasy.
The average repair cost is very low at just £150, and the cost of repairs in each category is also low. In short, a used Peugeot 108 should provide cheap and reliable transport for many years if you take care of it.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
CO₂ output
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Petrol models
111 g/km
A
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
8
A
Due to its age, we only have a limited amount of running cost data for the Peugeot 108. However, it should be very cheap to insure, and its low CO2 emissions are also likely to equate to decent fuel consumption.
Warranty rating
New car warranty information for the Peugeot 108
Overall rating
E
17%
New car warranty duration
3 years
New car warranty mileage
60,000 miles
Peugeot’s new car warranty is pretty much the bare minimum offered in the UK, with a duration of three years and a limit of 60,000 miles. Other rivals in the price bracket do better (and in some cases, much better).
As a result, only the very last 108s sold might still be under the last months of their new car warranty. On the vast majority of 108s sold, the warranty will have already expired.
Warranty on a used Peugeot 108
If you are purchasing an ‘Approved Used’ 108 from an official Peugeot dealership, you will get a minimum six-month warranty included.
If you are buying a used 108 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 108 from a private seller, there are no warranty protections.
If you’re looking to buy a used car that is approaching the end of its warranty period, a used car warranty is usually a worthwhile investment. Check out The Car Expert’s guide to the best used car warranty providers, which will probably be cheaper than a warranty sold by a dealer.
Date: December 2020 Recall number: R/2020/354 Model types: All Build dates: 08/2020 to 10/2020 Number of vehicles affected: 121 Defect: Some rear seat belts may have incorrect stitching on the belt material to connect the buckle to the anchor plate. Remedy: Check seat belts and relace if necessary.
Date: June 2016 Recall number: R/2016/137 Model types: All Build dates: 09/2014 to 10/2014 Number of vehicles affected: 985 Defect: A component of the steering column may not be to specification and could fail. If this occurs, there would be a loss of directional control. Remedy: The manufacturer will contact keepers of affected vehicles and advise not to use the vehicle. Examine vehicles and, on those with the affected component, replace the steering column.
Date: January 2015 Recall number: R/2015/023 Model types: All Build dates: 11/2014 Number of vehicles affected: 1 Defect: There may be a small defect in the front bumper frame, which may affect its impact absorption in a collision. Remedy: Replace front bumper frame.
As of September 2024 (our most recent data point), there have been three DVSA vehicle safety recalls on the Peugeot 108 to address 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 Peugeot 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 Peugeot 108, you should insist that any outstanding recall work is completed before you take delivery of the vehicle.
The obvious rivals to the Peugeot 108 are its siblings with different badges, the Citroën C1 and Toyota Aygo, but they really are so similar you will only be looking for which is offered to you for the lowest price.
More recent small cars have to a degree left the 108 in their wake, particularly the Hyundai i10, which offers much more interior space.
There are very few new petrol-powered city cars still on sale in the UK, with all of the latest models being electric vehicles.
The Hyundai i20 is a small, supermini-class, five-door hatchback. The current model was launched in early 2020, arriving in the UK late in the year.
Unlike some rivals, the i20 is only available in one body style (five-door hatch) and with one engine (a 1.0-litre mild hybrid petrol unit). A high-performance model called the i20 N arrived in 2021 and we have a separate page here for that model.
The i20 has received praise for being a significant improvement over the previous model. Reviewers have particularly noted its styling and interior quality, although it’s still not considered to be on a par with rivals like the SEAT Ibiza and Volkswagen Polo.
As of March 2026, the Hyundai i20 holds a New Car Expert Rating of B, with a score of 68%. It scores highly for running costs and low CO2 emissions, while its safety reliability and reliability record are also good.
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The new Hyundai i20 is a serious contender like never before. The cabin is disappointingly dull but this is also a car with an entertaining, accomplished chassis, a smooth and efficient powertrain, solid in-car tech and some appealing finance offers.” Read review
Auto Trader
Score: 7 / 10 “Hyundai has improved the quality for this new i20 and it is very well equipped with plenty of tech, which offsets the relatively high purchase price.” Read review
Car
Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual Score: 8 / 10 “Cash prices look scary but keen finance deals and predicted rock-solid residuals mean the monthlies aren’t too bad. Add the tech experience, the best-in-class safety systems and five-year warranty, and the Hyundai i20 is a hugely appealing supermini for very sensible people.” Read review
Car Keys
Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual Score: 8 / 10 “The third-generation Hyundai i20 is another hit from Hyundai, bringing a great combination of efficiency, a good driving experience and impressive interior. It doesn’t quite wipe the floor with its rivals and go to the top of this class, but it’s a solid all-rounder that doesn’t really disappoint in any area.” Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The latest i20 is well-equipped, stylish and is worth considering for supermini buyers.” (Ben Custard) Read review
Company Car Today
Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual SE Connect “Improved and more striking looks, decent interior space and good emissions all count in the i20’s favour, although a surprisingly harsh ride quality is a negative point.” Read review
Daily Mirror
Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual SE Connect Score: 8 / 10 “The Hyundai i20 is one of the surprise cars of the year, a car that turned out to be far better than expected.” Read review
Fleetworld
Score: 8 / 10 “There is no doubt the new Hyundai i20 is up against tough opposition in the supermini class, but the car is talented enough to stand out.” Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 6 / 10 “Ten years is a long time in the car world and the Hyundai i20 is a small car that shows you just how far things have come, thanks to an equipment list that would match a top-of-the-range saloon from a decade ago.” Read review
Honest John
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 6 / 10 “There’s nothing massively wrong with how the Hyundai i20 goes about its business but then, aside from its rear-seat space, there’s nothing astonishingly good either, making it hard to recommend against near-perfect rivals like the Volkswagen Polo.” Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “Small Hyundai crammed with tech” Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol (mild hybrid) manual SE Connect Score: 6 / 10 “While the Hyundai i20 has been given some eye-catching new looks, beneath the skin it remains somewhat middle-of-the-road; decent in some areas, but a bit disappointing in others. In the face of plush-feeling rivals such as the Renault Clio, SEAT Ibiza and Volkswagen Polo, that’s a hard sell.” Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “A big improvement over the old car, in that you might actually remember it. The new Hyundai i20 looks the part and drives nicely. Moreover, the n1.0-litre engine and high-tech manual transmission are impressive and the level of kit on offer is very good.” Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
The Hyundai i20 has not specifically been assessed by Euro NCAP, but has been awarded a four-star safety rating based on the test results of the similar Bayon SUV/crossover.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
The Hyundai i20 family has a good reliability record, according to workshop and warranty data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our partner, MotorEasy. This score applies to all i20 models from the current generation, as well as previous models (before 2020).
The most common problem are reported by workshops for the i20 is the braking system. Fortunately, the average repair price is about £200. Gearbox repairs have been the most expensive to date, averaging nearly £800 to fix, but these are thankfully rare.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
Fuel consumption
Average
Score
Petrol models
52 mpg
B
CO₂ output
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Petrol models
124 g/km
B
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
13
A
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£176
B
Year 2
£475
B
Year 3
£764
B
Year 4
£964
B
Year 5
£1,259
B
Overall
£3,638
B
The Hyundai i20 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.
Servicing and insurance bills should be cheap, while fuel consumption is also very good for day-to-day driving.
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Hyundai i20, you might also be interested in these alternatives
The Audi Q4 e-tron has been unveiled as the entry-level member of the German brand’s now four-strong electric range.
The Q4 e-tron will arrive in showrooms in the second half of 2021 and will be available as a standard SUV and a more aerodynamic Sportback version.
Audi’s first model to use parent company Volkswagen’s MEB electric vehicle platform, the Q4 e-tron has a WLTP-certified driving range of up to 316 miles between charges. Owners with access to 125kW rapid chargers will be able to put 80 miles of range into the battery pack in only ten minutes.
Three powertrain options will be available. The Q4 35 e-tron has one electric motor producing 170hp driving the rear wheels and its 52kWh battery pack offering a maximum range of 208 miles (in SUV form). 0-62mph takes nine seconds.
The Q4 40 e-tron is also rear-wheel drive but with power increased to 204hp. A larger battery capacity boosts the potential range to 316 miles, again in SUV form, with an 8.5-second 0-62mph time.
Range-topper is the Q4 e-tron quattro, with separate motors driving the front and rear wheels and power totalling 300hp. Range is quoted at 295 miles for both versions of the car which both produce a 0-62mph time of 6.2 seconds.
Rear-seat passengers will enjoy a commanding view in the Q4, their seats mounted 7cm higher than the front seats in order to accommodate the battery pack.
The car is also the first Audi to offer new head-up display technology. Augmented reality information such as moving navigation instructions are projected onto the windscreen, in two fields. The largest version of Audi’s well-known MMI digital dash display will be available some time after the car’s launch.
Prices for the Q4 e-tron range from £40,750 for the 35 Sport to £65,070 for the 50 quattro Vorsprung. First deliveries of the SUV will be in June, the Sportback following in September.
The latest round of crash tests by safety body Euro NCAP have seen the new Skoda Enyaq and Volkswagen ID.4 electric cars earn top five-star ratings – but the Dacia Sandero Stepway SUV and Logan saloon have earned ratings of just two stars.
The reason, according to the testers, is the slim accident avoidance specification on the budget brand’s two models (the Logan is effectively a saloon version of the Sandero but it’s not currently sold in the UK). While both are fitted with autonomous emergency braking, it is radar rather than camera controlled. Dacia’s basic system will not detect pedestrians or cyclists, only reacting to other vehicles which will soon be a legal requirement on all cars.
In addition, neither of the two cars is available with the lane-keeping technology which has become the norm in car safety packages in recent years, which Euro NCAP noted was disappointing as in other areas (adult occupant protection and child occupant protection) the two cars had scored well. With a better active safety package they could have secured a four-star safety rating.
In essence, the new Dacia Sandero will protect you reasonably well if you have an accident, but it doesn’t do enough to help you avoid that accident in the first place.
“Safety has moved on,” said Euro NCAP secretary general Michel van Ratingen. “The biggest strides forward are now being made by using high-tech to prevent accidents from happening.
“Dacia have found their market and they are sticking to it, but a two-star rating shows little ambition, even for a low-cost product. Their decision not to offer a camera clearly is out of step with the market and disappointing as Dacia are aware that their cars will soon have to comply with the general safety regulation.”
The Skoda Enyaq earned praise from testers for its wide-ranging safety systems.
The Enyaq, Skoda’s first production model designed specifically as an electric car, and the ID.4, a bigger version of VW’s previously launched ID.3, produced very similar points scores, with Euro NCAP praising their extensive safety systems. With front, centre and curtain airbags fitted as standard, both cars scored over 90% for adult occupant protection.
You’re an employer providing a great service and you want top people alongside you to achieve your goals. But how do you attract them?
A decent salary of course, and perhaps some eye-catching add-ons. For many prospective employees, an essential part of any offer is a company car scheme of some sort. It’s well-known that, after a house purchase, a car is usually the biggest acquisition anyone will make, so to get one as part of an employment package is a real bonus. Some might say it’s the deal-clincher.
Company car schemes are probably the most popular of all employee benefits to be offered, and that’s good news for the car industry too – around half of all new cars sold go to company fleets.
Being able to offer a car as part of a job package not only says a lot about you as a company, but it opens up a wider pool of good people to draw from. Because for many potential employees, it’s a case of: ‘No car? No thanks.’
And company car packages are not just the domain of big businesses. Smaller companies and even start-ups can just as easily throw company wheels on to their benefits list in the bid to attract the right people.
It’s fairly easy today to organise a company car fleet for any size of business. The most difficult part is deciding which type of company car scheme is right for you, as the employer, to offer.
There are basically three ways forward on the road to a good company car scheme:
company-owned vehicle
employee car allowance
employee salary sacrifice scheme
They’re all quite different and each option offers its own pros and cons.
Company-owned vehicle scheme
Running a straight company car scheme has many advantages over and above creating an attractive rewards package for staff. It’s a controllable scheme as you can choose which cars are offered and therefore their cost.
Cars with low or no CO2 emissions can be specified, thereby lowering the carbon footprint of your business. Servicing and maintenance can be organised as a ‘job lot’ to reduce costs and you can even incorporate some small signwriting on the cars to advertise your company and its business.
On the downside, there could be a large ‘start-up’ cost to get your fleet bought, taxed and insured and ultimately, you as the employer, are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of a fleet of vehicles – and that doesn’t come cheap.
There are also tax and national insurance contributions (NICs) to consider. Employers will pay NICs based on the value of a car and the fuel that it uses. And employees will pay too – cars are taxed according to their value and the type of fuel that they use, so the more emissions (CO2) the car emits, the greater the banding figure, while diesel cars carry an extra 4% on top of their banding rates.
And with benefit-in-kind (BiK) tax being levied on fuel used for private use too, it is important to choose cars that represent reasonable tax value for the employee, or the benefit of having the car will be lost.
Company car allowance
This is a straight cash allowance which is added to your employee’s salary, enabling him or her to put it towards the car of their choice, either buying or leasing it. One immediate benefit is that neither the employer nor the employee has to worry about paying company car tax. The employee will, however, pay income tax on the extra money they’re being paid.
Another benefit for the employer is that you are not responsible for the upkeep, maintenance or insurance of the vehicle because it’s not yours. And the employee will have to keep their own records of business mileage versus private mileage, not you.
Your employee doesn’t have to use all of their allowance on the car, so they could buy or lease a cheaper vehicle and pocket the extra cash. They also get to keep the vehicle if they leave your company, which means that you don’t have to worry about continuing to pay for an idle vehicle while you’re recruiting a replacement staff member.
The potential downside is that you’re not in control of the car your employee buys. If your business is trying to project a clean and green image, for example, you don’t want your employee turning up to meet clients in a ten-year-old V8 barge that emits more pollution than a small town. Or they buy something hideously unreliable that breaks down halfway to a crucial meeting…
Salary sacrifice
Salary sacrifice schemes are business contract hire arrangements which allow employees to take a new car – helped by their employer – and in return sacrifice part of their gross salary to pay for it. That means they don’t pay income tax or national insurance contributions on the portion of their salary they have ‘sacrificed’.
This was a popular way to get a company car up until 2017, when the government changed the tax laws to make drivers pay income tax on the value of the car or the amount of money they were giving up to get one. So the attraction waned.
However, with electric cars, the opportunity to save that tax and NIC is still there and, even though from this month (April 2021) employees have to pay 1% of the value of the car in BiK, it’s still an appealing proposition for many.
For the employer, salary sacrifice is still a worthwhile consideration. It adds no more cost to you, while providing a tax-effective way for employees to drive a new car that usually leaves them with extra money in their wallet each month.
It encourages everyone to opt for clean, low emissions cars that attract lower company car tax, and it also means lower national insurance bills for the employer because the worker’s gross salary has been reduced.
It doesn’t suit every business though. Companies with lower-paid staff might find that the scheme is not worth it to them as there is little room to ‘sacrifice’ salary. Also, firms with a high turnover of staff could find themselves with unwanted returned vehicles that they have to pay early termination fees on.
Sometimes employers will choose to offer multiple options for employees to take a company car. So, for example, an employee could use their car allowance cash to take a vehicle on a salary sacrifice programme. Depending on the circumstances, this could offer your staff the best of both worlds.
Fed up UK drivers are spending their extra savings, gained from the Covid lockdown period, on the car of their dreams – and SUVs are topping the choice lists.
A new survey shows that the big family cars and other premium brand vehicles were the used cars of choice last month (March), as buyers dipped into some of the unspent restaurant, cinema and holiday money that they’ve saved over the last 12 months.
March 2021 Motors.co.uk. Top 10 Fastest Selling Used Cars (minimum of 100 models)
Ford was the most searched-for brand among used car buyers, accounting for almost 13% of all views on eBay’s Motors.co.uk site in March, increasing its year-on-year share from 11%.
Volkswagen was the second most viewed brand with just under a 9% share, followed in third place by Vauxhall (8%).
Premium brands also performed strongly in the top ten including BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi all seeing about 7% of total page views, and Land Rover in ninth place with just under 4%.
March 2021 Motors.co.uk. Top 10 Most Viewed Manufacturers
“For some used car buyers the long months of lockdown, missed holidays and unexpected financial savings, have prompted aspirational purchases of premium brand family-size SUVs,” says Dermot Kelleher, head of marketing and research at eBay Motors Group.
“With the UK in lockdown throughout March, the used car market continued to show remarkable resilience with franchised dealers achieving their fastest stock turns so far this year on the back of high levels of online consumer activity.
“Overall, our March analysis reflects a strong desire among buyers to research and complete purchases as the UK prepares to move out of lockdown.”
When it comes to buying a car, even the most sensible and organised people can go into a complete panic. They make stupid decisions and ignore their instincts because they are suddenly put under pressure in an uncomfortable environment.
The complete guide to getting a great deal on buying a car would fill a whole book. But since you’re probably here looking for immediate answers and advice on buying your next car, here are The Car Expert’s Ten Golden Rules for buying a new or used car.
There’s nothing in here that is complicated or difficult, and we will show you how anyone can get a great deal on a car. You don’t have to know anything about cars or car finance; you just have to trust your own judgment and ask questions whenever you don’t understand something.
Follow our golden rules and you are far more likely to end up with a decent car – and get a decent deal on it, too.
Rule 1. Don’t sign anything unless you are 100% committed to buying the car
Signing a form indicates you are committing to what that form says. In a car showroom, signing a form generally means you’re agreeing to buy a car – and it’s usually a legally-binding commitment.
You don’t need to sign anything for a quote, whether it’s a price for the car or a quotation on car finance. Any dealer telling you that you need to sign something “to hold the price until you make up your mind” is lying. You don’t need to do that. You are probably signing a contract to buy a car.
You may have to sign a test drive form to make sure you are covered for insurance purposes, but you don’t have to sign a vehicle order. If a dealer won’t let you test drive a car without signing an order “subject to a satisfactory test drive” beforehand, walk away.
If you’re not 100% sure that this car is the one you want, or whether your significant other will like it, or if you haven’t got an insurance quote yet, or if you’re not sure it will fit in the garage, or for any other reason at all, don’t sign the form.
Do your homework first and make sure you have all your ducks lined up in a row before committing yourself. Don’t be pressured into signing anything (see Rule 4 and Rule 9) by anyone. Only sign when you are good and ready.
Once you sign a contract to buy a car in a car showroom, you have legally committed yourself to it and you can be held to it.
Changing your mind after you sign on the dotted line is much harder than beforehand, and usually much more expensive.
The Aston Martin DBX is a large luxury SUV and the first model of this kind from Aston Martin. It was launched in 2019, with first cars hitting UK streets in the first few months of 2020. It is built in a new factory in St Athans, Wales.
Like other SUVs from luxury and performance car manufacturers, the DBX aims to broaden the Aston Martin model range and appeal to a wider range of new customers, or existing customers who already have an Aston Martin sports car in their garage. It is currently only available with a petrol V8 engine, although other engine options are apparently under development.
Most reviewers have praised the DBX’s styling, driving dynamics and comfort. Criticisms are few, but are mainly directed at it being somewhat less practical than other large SUVs and lacking in interior technology found in many other (much cheaper) cars.
A more powerful model, called the DBX 707, joined the range in Spring 2022. It boasts 707hp, hence the name. On top of this, an even more powerful DBX S was announced in the summer of 2025, with 727hp on tap.
As of July 2025, the Aston Martin DBX holds a New Car Expert Rating of D, with a score of 54%. Although it has received very positive media reviews, the DBX’s score is weighed down heavily by its enormous running costs and high emissions output.
Score: 9 / 10 “The Aston Martin DBX is a little late to the super-SUV party but, if you’ve been waiting for a luxurious, ultra-exclusive off-roader that really does handle as well as a sports car, look no further. We know, we couldn’t believe it, either.” Read review
Car
Model reviewed: DBX 707 Score: 10 / 10 “Is there a better SUV at this lofty level? We’re not sure there is. The DBX and 707 models are right up there with the best Porsche SUVs and far more involving than a BMW X6 M or Audi RS Q8. Only Jaguar’s F-Pace SVR and Alfa’s Stelvio Quadrifoglio come close for enjoyment.” Read review
Model reviewed: Score: 10 / 10 “The Aston Martin DBX is a modern masterpiece that’s somehow both a consummate family car and absolutely an Aston Martin. Full of character and more engaging to drive than we ever dared dream, rather than tainting the badge it wears the DBX actually makes it shine all the brighter.” Read review
Carbuyer
Score: 7.8 / 10 “The first Aston Martin SUV is a joy to drive, and can carry four adults and their luggage across almost any terrain in style” Read review
Daily Mail
“While many of the DBX’s biggest rival 4X4s are real beasts, the Aston Martin DBX is – both on the road and in its handling – a real beauty that will appeal as much to women as to men.” Read review
Daily Mirror
Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10 “The DBX is crucial to Aston Martin’s future so it’s great news that the car is so good and capable. However, the job’s not done yet because this motor is old school – in other words, the range is lacking a hybrid or electrified powertrain.” Read review
Eurekar
“The Aston Martin DBX is a comfortable and capable SUV with sports car handling underneath whether in normal or sporting modes.” Read review
Evo
Model reviewed: Score: 9 / 10 “Aston Martin’s first SUV is more than a good SUV, the DBX is the best car the British firm makes.” Read review
Honest John
Model reviewed: “Adaptive triple volume air suspension has been combined with the latest 48v electric anti-roll control system and electronic adaptive dampers to provide the Aston Martin DBX with a huge breadth of ability.” Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Score: 9 / 10 “Aston Martin’s most family-friendly model to date.” Read review
The Sun
Model reviewed: “The Aston Martin DBX is pretty and brilliant at the things you’ll want it for 5% of the time: Going fast or going down a forest track. But it’s rubbish at the things you’ll want it for 95% of the time: Simple tech for day-to-day living.” Read review
The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: “The Aston Martin DBX begins to make sense when you compare it to its rivals. Until you remember the Range Rover, which is the original and best.” (Jeremy Clarkson) Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: 4.0-litre petrol automatic Score: 8 / 10 “The Aston Martin DBX is swift and it rides beautifully (as long as you choose the right tyres) and it’s right up there with the best in its handling. There are a few faults and it cannot hide its Mercedes-AMG drivetrain, but for those with the wherewithal it’s a contender.” Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: DBX 707 Score: 8 / 10 “There are drawbacks that will irritate buyers everywhere though. Not the £189,000 sticker price (£30k up on standard) – that just helps ensure exclusively. There’s still no touchscreen.” Read review
Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10 “Aston’s first ever SUV is an interesting, exciting thing. Little late to the party, but feels different, and like an Aston.” Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
No safety rating
As of July 2025, the Aston Martin DBX has not been assessed by Euro NCAP. Given its price and exclusivity, we’re not expecting that it will ever be tested.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of July 2025, the Aston Martin DBX has not been assessed by Green NCAP. Once again, we’re not holding our breath waiting for it to happen.
It’s a massive SUV powered by a petrol V8 engine, so it’s pretty safe to assume that it wouldn’t score highly if it was ever tested by Green NCAP…
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of January 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Aston Martin DBX 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 DBX, we’ll publish the results here.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
Fuel consumption
Average
Score
Petrol models
20 mpg
E
CO₂ output
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Petrol models
323 g/km
D
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
50
F
The Aston Martin DBX is a very expensive car to own, which is hardly a revelation for any potential customers.
In summary, the DBX will cost you a lot to tax, to fuel, to insure and (probably) to service – we don’t have servicing data at the moment, but it’s likely to be pricey.
Date: April 2024 Model types: All Build dates: 09/2022 to 07/2023 Number of vehicles affected: 319 Defect: On affected vehicles oil cooler hoses may be prone to leak resulting in loss of oil and oil pressure Remedy: On affected vehicles oil cooler hoses will be replaced.
As of August 2024 (our most recent data point), there has been one DVSA vehicle safety recall on the Aston Martin DBX, specifically the DBX 707 version. It covers a potentially leaking oil cooler system.
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 Aston Martin 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 DBX, you should insist that any outstanding recall work is completed before you take delivery of the vehicle.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Aston Martin DBX has received
2020
GQ Car Awards – Best Luxury SUV
Sunday Times Motor Awards – Best-Designed Car
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The Vauxhall Mokka is a small SUV/crossover that is slightly larger than the Vauxhall Crossland (formerly Crossland X) and smaller than the Grandland (nee Grandland X). The current model was launched in late 2020, with first customers taking delivery of their cars in early 2021.
This generation of Mokka replaces the previous Mokka X and is the first model to feature Vauxhall and Opel’s latest design language. The Mokka is available with both petrol and diesel engines, while an all-electric Mokka-e is also available. We have a separate page for the Mokka Electric here.
The Mokka has received praise for its fuel-efficient engines and bold styling, although criticisms have been made about its lack of practicality compared to rivals, particularly its small boot. Its four-star Euro NCAP safety rating is also not as good as the five-star score awarded to several of its rivals.
As of March 2026, the Vauxhall Mokka has a New Car Expert Rating of C, with a score of 61%. It scores highly for its low CO2 emissions and its running costs are also good. Reliability is average, however, and its safety rating is sub-par.
Body style: Small SUV/crossover Engines: petrol (and previously diesel) Price: From £26,685 on-road
Launched: Autumn 2020 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 (including EV) Score: 7 / 10 “The Vauxhall Mokka looks sharp and has an engine to suit most needs. However, rivals are better to drive.” Author: Richard Ingram Read review
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “It may have a bold new look but the new Vauxhall Mokka has kept many of the qualities that made its predecessor such a strange sales sensation. It’s not as good to drive as some key rivals, and it’s far from the most practical of small SUVs.” Read review
Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “Stylish, well-equipped and affordable, the new Vauxhall Mokka is an attractive option in the competitive small crossover segment.” Read review
Business Car
Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol/electric with mild hybrid assistance, GS Score: 7 / 10 “Lots of Vauxhall’s fellow Stellantis brands, including Citroen, Jeep, and Peugeot, also offer 48V hybrid small SUVs. Compared to these, the Vauxhall Mokka stacks up well on a cost-per-mile basis. However, we should note that despite being a full hybrid, an equivalent Renault Captur is actually cheaper to buy, as well as more fuel efficient and more powerful.” Author: Sean Keywood Read review
Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol automatic SRi Score: 8 / 10 “Fundamentally it is a great car. It carries off Vauxhall’s new design language very well, with great kerbside appeal. The Mokka is also reasonably spacious and comfortable, and has a smooth and willing engine in the 1.2-litre petrol version we tried.” Read review
Car
Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol automatic SRi Nav Score: 8 / 10 “While this new Vauxhall Mokka isn’t perfect – particularly in terms of practicality – we can comfortably say it’s now a small crossover worth looking at.” Read review
Car Keys
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “Bringing a well-rounded driving experience, style and quality to the crossover segment, this new Vauxhall Mokka is leaps and bounds better than its predecessor.” Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “The Vauxhall Mokka has a sharp design and low running costs, but it’s not especially practical for an SUV.” (Andy Goodwin) Read review
Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview “The Vauxhall Mokka is a small SUV with efficient engines and plenty of kit. But the boot is smaller than the one in the car it replaces.” Read review
Company Car Today
Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol automatic Launch Edition “A stylish and well-honed option, but it’s the EV that really appeals, offering something that isn’t available elsewhere.” Read review
Daily Mail
Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol automatic SRi Nav Premium “Powered by a feisty turbo-charged 1.2-litre 3-cylinder 130 hp petrol engine linked to an agile eight-speed automatic gear-box, it feels taut and nippy around town and cruises nicely on motorways, accelerating from rest to 60mph in 9.2 seconds up to a top speed of 124mph.” Read review
Eurekar
Model reviewed: Range overview “The new Vauxhall Mokka takes a huge step forward from the first generation model.” Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “Finally, the latest Vauxhall Mokka is a genuinely interesting small SUV. Its sharp looks will turn heads of Volkswagen T-Roc and Ford Puma buyers, while its affordable running costs and tempting finance deals mean it won’t break the bank, either.” Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “New Vauxhall Mokka sets out to banish memories of what came before.” Read review
The Sun
Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol automatic SRi “The Vauxhall Mokka looks ace and gives you choice – a cause of concern for the rival Ford Puma.” Read review
The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: Mokka and Mokka-e Score: 8 / 10 “The new Vauxhall Mokka is impressive, and not just because we had low expectations. It looks great, drives well and is a match for any other compact crossover in terms of practicality. It’s the first Vauxhall for a long time that I’d consider buying myself, and that is probably all you need to know.” Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol automatic SRi Nav Score: 8 / 10 “With a sparkling design and a whole lot better to drive than its predecessor, the new Vauxhall Mokka has a comprehensive drivetrain range with a very good battery choice, which will be a superb urban runaround.” 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
The Vauxhall Mokka has a reliability score that’s better than average, according to exclusive extended warranty data provided by our partners at MotorEasy. This score covers both the current-generation Mokka and the original (pre-2020) version.
More than a third of all reported problems with the Mokka relate to its engine, with an average repair bill of about £700. Other areas to look out for are the suspension and electrical systems, although the average bills for these are fairly low. Be aware of gearbox problems, however, – although rare, they are expensive with an average repair bill of more than £1,500.
If you’re looking at a used Vauxhall Mokka, 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
52 mpg
B
CO₂ output
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Petrol models
125 g/km
B
Diesel models
115 g/km
B
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
20
B
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£170
B
Year 2
£480
B
Year 3
£770
B
Year 4
£1,028
B
Year 5
£1,414
B
Overall
£3,862
B
The Vauxhall Mokka 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. It is, however, more expensive to run than the equivalent Mokka Electric.
We don’t have independently verified fuel consumption figures, but the CO2 emissions (which are closely related to fuel economy) are very good for both the petrol and the (now discontinued) diesel engines.
Insurance prices should be very good, while servicing and maintenance costs should be excellent for at least the first five years.
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If you’re looking at the Vauxhall Mokka, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Buying a car is a big deal, regardless of whether it’s brand new or a few years old. It’s the second biggest purchase of your life, after buying a home, so it’s only natural you’d want to protect that investment as well as you can.
It might only be a machine but a car needs looking after, especially if you want to keep some value in it, so keeping it clean, in good working order and regularly serviced is a good start. But what else?
Here are seven ways you can protect your new car so that, when the time comes to sell it on, you are more likely to get back some of the time and money you have invested in it. Plus, we also have some special offers from our commercial partners that can help you save even more money.
1. Special Edition spec
Optional extras are one of the biggest traps in buying a new car. It’s very easy to spend thousands of pounds over and above the base cost of your car without increasing its real value. Or to put it another way, a £20,000 car with £10,000 of additional options is not the same thing as a £30,000 car. Therefore, you need to be judicious in your choices of any extra-cost features.
Which brings us to ‘special edition’ models. Generally, you get a bundle of extra kit and maybe some specific features or paint colours that are not available on ‘regular’ versions. The additional cost is generally much less than those extras would cost separately, so you can enjoy those extra bells and whistles at a much more sensible price.
If you’re buying a used car, a special edition often won’t cost any more than a regular version, which means you’re effectively getting those extra niceties for free.
2. Minimise unnecessary mileage
For most of us, this hasn’t been too hard to achieve during more than a year of national lockdowns, but mileage always affects how desirable your car is on the second-hand market.
While there’s no point buying a car and then not driving it, it’s also important to bear in mind that higher mileage will certainly affect your car’s value when you want to sell it. So not only are you spending money on petrol or diesel to do all those miles, it’s also devaluing your car at the same time.
Higher-mileage cars tend to get punished more heavily in their used values than lower-mileage cars get rewarded, so it pays to keep an eye on your mileage.
3. Mind the GAP
While a lot of the suggestions in this list will save you a few pounds, or maybe a few hundred pounds, GAP insurance can literally save you thousands of pounds in the event of your car being stolen or written off in an accident.
If you’ve bought your car using a finance product like a PCP, you will quite probably be in a sitation where your debt to the finance company is greater than the value of your car. If your car is written off, the cheque from your car insurance provider almost certainly won’t cover what you owe the finance company. In fact, you may be thousands of pounds short.
GAP insurance will cover that difference (or the ‘gap’) to make sure you can clear your car finance debt, so you don’t have to find that amount from your own pocket. Similarly, if you’re leasing your car then you can be covered for whatever you still owe the leasing company.
The used car market is a place where scruffy motors, dinged panels and scuffed alloys do not fare well. Taking care and being cautious when parking and manouevring your car can actually earn you a few quid more than you realise.
Sometimes a thorough polish and valet can be enough to smoth out light imperfections in your paintwork, but even minor scratches can dig through your paint to the metal below. That can then expose the raw material to sunlight, rain and oxygen, which is a perfect environment for rust to develop. It can be well worth considering a scratch and dent insurance policy to address small scratches before they become bigger problems.
The same applies to alloy wheels. Scuffed-up wheels will hurt your car’s value and can also cause oxidation issues. An alloy wheel insurance policy provides for on-site wheel repairs at your home or work to keep your wheels looking sharp and in good condition.
Much like keeping the outside of your car tidy, looking after the interior is also a sure-fire way to protect the value of your car when the time comes to sell it or return it to the finance company.
Non-smoking car buyers (which is now most of them) aren’t interested in a 1980s pub experience when they’re buying their next vehicle, so smoking in your car is guaranteed to hurt its resale value. As well as being bad for your health, cigarette smoke gets into your upholstery very easily and is almost impossible to remove. Driving with the window down and tapping your ash out onto the street won’t help, by the way (and it’s disgusting).
The same goes for pet hair and food. There’s no making a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, so if you want to cash in a few years’ down the line, keep it clean and tidy as you go. If you take dogs in the car, vacuum and air it out after every trip. Clean up spills and marks immediately rather than leaving it until you get home, so your upholstery doesn’t get permanently stained.
6. Used car warranty
Once your car falls outside its manufacturer new car warranty, the responsibility for any expensive failures falls on you. This can cost you hundreds, or even thousands, of pounds if and when something goes wrong. As such, you may want to consider a used car warranty to protect your wallet against future breakdowns.
A used car warranty provides an extra level of consumer protection, which means that if something happens in the normal course of driving and you’ve maintained all the recommended servicing, you’ll have an extra pot of cash to rely on should your car stop working for any reason.
There are different types of warranty that provide different levels of cover, so you’ll need to look carefully at how much you want to spend and how much cover you’d like. Like GAP insurance, you may not ever need it. But if you do, it could save you thousands of pounds.
Here at The Car Expert, we have some fantastic warranty offers for our readers provided by our commercial partners. If you’re interested in a used car warranty, you should check these out:
ALA Insurance has a special car warranty offer for our readers
Warrantywise has a special car warranty offer for our readers
MotorEasy has a special car warranty offer for our readers
One of the biggest bugbears for car owners is the cost of annual servicing. A major service can cost hundreds of pounds, yet there’s little to show for it except maybe a vacuum and a little air freshener hanging from your rear view mirror.
The reality, of course, is that servicing is an essential part of keeping your car running smoothly. Cars are complicated mechanical devices and need regular maintenance. Failing to do so can lead to catastrophic – and expensive – failures, and if you don’t have your car serviced on time, every time, any new or used car warranty will probably be invalidated.
It’s always been the biggest month of the year for new car sales, and March this year saw better-than-expected results as we marked a year of coronavirus disrupting the new car market.
However, better-than-expected was still far-worse-than-average for March, with registration results that were massively down on the heady days of the middle of the last decade.
All of the improvement came from the fleet sector, which seemed to bounce back by quite a lot after a year of companies avoiding any new car investment. Private new car sales were still down on the same month last year, which was not that surprising given that showrooms remained closed all month.
So, ahead of showrooms reopening in England in April, we look at which cars topped the tables in March.
The UK’s best-selling cars, March 2021
1. Vauxhall Corsa
The battle for top spot has certainly started out well for 2021. The Vauxhall Corsa was best of all in January, then fell behind the Ford Fiesta in February, but returned to the top of the charts once again in March. As a result, it extended its slender lead in year-to-date sales at the end of the first quarter.
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%.
Second in January, first in February and back to second in March. The Ford Fiesta-Vauxhall Corsa battle is carrying on. This year looks like it will be the toughest one yet for the best-selling car of the last decade. For the rest of us, it’s shaping up to be a fascinating battle.
The good news for car buyers is that sales battles between manufacturers usually lead to some excellent deals for car buyers.
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.
The Mercedes-Benz A-Class keeps on selling up a storm, third this month and the country’s best-selling family-sized car. It remains in fourth place in year-to-date sales at the end of the first quarter, but it’s closing in on the Nissan Qashqai.
The A-Class has an Expert Rating of 76% in The Car Expert’s unique aggregated Expert Rating index, based on 47 UK reviews. That score has slipped a point in the last month, as some sources have recently updated their ratings. It ranks highly for safety, winning awards from Euro NCAP and Thatcham in previous years for its protective qualities.
The Tesla Model 3 continues to be the country’s best-selling purely electric car, although recent changes to the plug-in car grant may affect that in coming months as the Model 3 effectively became £3,000 more expensive in March.
The Tesla Model 3 currently holds an Expert Rating of 86% in our New Car Ratings database, which is very high. It has dropped a point in the last few months, but it’s still very highly regarded by the motoring media.
It may be weeks from retirement, but the ageing Nissan Qashqai keeps on racking up sales ahead of its imminent replacement by an all-new model. Fifth in March means that it is still the top-selling British-built car, and at the end of the first quarter it holds third place in year-to-date sales.
The Qashqai holds an overall rating of 74% in our unique Expert Rating index, which is in the midfield of the compact crossover segment and in the bottom half of scores for a top ten-selling car. The replacement should arrive on UK streets this summer, but the new car will have a tough job in living up to the sales success of the current model over its seven-year run.
It might be the traditional flag-bear for the compact executive car segment, but it’s been a while since we’ve seen the BMW 3 Series in the top ten. The huge increase in fleet registrations, and slight fall in private sale, will almost have a fair amount to do with that.
The 3 Series rates a couple of points better than the electric Tesla Model 3 in our Expert Rating index, and a long way ahead of other petrol/diesel/plug-in rivals from Audi, Mercedes and others. As of April 2021, it has an overall score of 88%, which is exceptionally high.
Based on the last few years, it may seem surprising to see the Volkswagen Golf down in seventh place. However, this month is an improvement for the Golf, which didn’t even make the top ten last month. Year-to-date, it also ends the first quarter in seventh place.
This is probably the last generation of the Golf as we know it, as the world moves to electric vehicles. The new Volkswagen ID.3 represents VW’s future as we progress through a decade where petrol and diesel cars will be progressively replaced by electric models.
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 disastrous news for Volkswagen, but it’s interesting to see review scores that are consistently below the previous model’s results.
The new Toyota Yaris made its debut in the best-sellers list in March, the third of four small hatchbacks to feature in the top ten this month.
In a great month for the new Yaris, it also won the European Car of the Year award, which is one of the most presitigious new car awards in the world. Here in the UK, it has also picked up a few class awards since it was launched, but its overall score of 76% on our Expert Rating index is several points behind the class leaders.
After getting comfortable in the top ten, the Ford Puma dropped out of the best-sellers list in February. However, it returned in March to take ninth place, which is the same position it holds in year-to-date sales.
The bug-eyed small SUV has been popular with critics, currently holding a rating of 82% on our unique Expert Rating index. This remains a best-in-class result, 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.
It was the seventh best-selling car of 2020, but March was the first time that the Mini hatch has made the top ten in 2021, creeping into tenth place. It’s still outside the top ten in year-to-date sales, however.
Bring a new registration plate month, March is normally one of the most successful months of the year for the Mini hatch. But this year private sales were down while fleet registrations were well up, which has probably prevented the Mini from finishing more highly in the results.
The Mini hatch holds a very solid score of 80% in our Expert Ratings aggregator, which is better than most cars in its class despite being much older than many of its rivals. We’ve now indexed the new Mini Electric model as well, and interestingly its score is currently only 73% – although this may change by a few points (either up or down) as more reviews are published.
New car showrooms reopen in mid-April for England, so we could see a significant improvement in overall results next month, particularly from private buyers. We’ll be back in a few weeks with the results.
New car registrations were better than expected in March, as dealerships prepare to reopen their showrooms in England next week.
According to data published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), nearly 284,000 new cars were registered in March, which is 11% better than the same month last year. Fleet registrations were responsible for the lion’s share of this improvement, up 29% on last March, while private new car sales were down 4%.
However, traditional year-on-year analysis for registrations is now essentially pointless, a situation that won’t improve anytime soon as we mark a full year since the first Covid-19 lockdown started and 2020 new car sales degenerated into a complete mess. Showrooms in England closed in late March 2020 and the rest is history…
If we look back at the month of March in previous years, 2021’s performance is still well off every year from the previous decade, where new car registrations were usually north of 400,000 and as high as 550,000. While not all of this loss is necessarily purely down to Covid, it does show the scale of how far new car sales have fallen.
The most notable point from the March 2021 data was the strong performance of the fleet sector. There are probably a few factors contributing to this: preparations for a hopeful resumption of normal business activities in coming weeks; an degree of catching up, since fleet sector car buying dropped more than the private sector for most of the last year; and Brexit finally now put behind us.
Fleet market finally abandoning diesel
The other interesting point about such a fleet-heavy month of registrations is that it didn’t help boost sales of new diesel cars. Traditionally, fleet buyers have bought more diesel cars than private buyers but it seems that increasing numbers of fleets are shifting to plug-in vehicles, with continued strong growth for electric and – particularly – plug-in hybrid vehicles.
A close look at the data table below shows that almost half of diesel car sales, and almost a quarter of petrol car sales, are now mild hybrid versions. This means that they have a small electric motor that can boost the combustion engine but can’t drive the car on electric power alone. Within the next year or so, almost all petrol and diesel cars will be so equipped to hit increasingly tough emissions targets.
Good month, bad month
Even with an overall market up by more than 11%, some brands still did a lot better than others.
The tussle for top spot in the best-sellers list continues to be closely fought between the Vauxhall Corsa and Ford Fiesta as the first quarter of 2021 comes to a close. The Corsa was back on top in March, outselling the Fiesta by about 500 units, which helped to extend its narrow lead in year-to-date sales.
The BMW 3 Series popped up in the top ten for the first time in a long time, while the Tesla Model 3 and Toyota Yaris also reappeared. The biggest surprise was the absence of the Ford Focus, which leaves it out of the top ten in year-to-date sales for the first time in about a hundred years.
We’ll have our usual monthly analysis of the top ten in coming days.
MG has unveiled an electric concept car that signals a clear intention of the now Chinese-owned brand to recall its roots as a British manufacturer of small sports cars.
The MG Cyberster concept, which makes its public debut at the Shanghai Auto Show later this month, is a convertible with styling including a number of cues taken from the classic MGB roadster.
These are combined with a bang up-to-date electric powertrain which MG says will offer a range of 500 miles and a sub three-second 0-62mph time.
The car’s styling includes circular headlamps inspired directly by 1960s and ’70s MG sports cars, and fitted with ‘Magic Eye’ lenses that open when switched on.
Styling of the tail lamps incorporates elements of the Union Flag and the lamps are integrated into the rear of the car in classic MG form. Other styling cues include a slim grille, a ‘laser-belt’ LED strip down the car’s side with the door outline following it, and a flattened rear.
The car’s design was created at SAIC Design London, the UK studio of MG’s parent company, and according to the studio’s director Carl Gotham the bold concept firmly previews the brand’s future, “touching on our heritage but more importantly building on our cutting-edge technology and advanced design.”
“Sports cars are the lifeblood of the MG DNA and Cyberstar is a hugely exciting concept for us,” Gotham adds.
Further technical details of the car are expected to be announced at the Shanghai show but there is no indication yet as to when the brand may launch a production sports car. MG currently offers three electric cars in its UK range, led by the ZS SUV.
Toyota has revealed the GR 86 coupé, a two-door four-seater that will succeed the GT 86.
Like its predecessor the GR 86 has been developed jointly with Subaru, which will again be marketing the car as the BRZ. However while the BRZ will not be offered for sale in Europe, the GR 86 will eventually reach European dealers some time after Japanese sales start in the Autumn of 2021.
The major change over the previous GT 86, which launched in 2012 and eventually sold more than 200,000 worldwide, is the choice of powertrain. While still rear-wheel drive, the new car replaces the 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine of its predecessor with a larger 2.4-litre four-cylinder unit, manufactured by Subaru.
The GR 86 (the GR stands for the brand’s in-house motorsport department Gazoo Racing while the 86 recalls a performance Corolla marketed in the mid 1980s) will according to Toyota be the lightest four-seater coupe in its class. It weighs in at 1,270kg thanks to weight-saving measures including the use of aluminium in the roof structure and body panels.
In size the GR 86 virtually matches the dimensions of its predecessor but is stated to be offer an almost 50% improvement in torsional rigidity thanks to the use of modern manufacturing techniques.
Toyota is yet to release any performance figures for the GR 86 – these are expected to be revealed when the brand announces an intended European on-sale date, at which point the car will join the GR Supra and GR Yaris in Toyota’s portfolio of performance road cars.
Kia has started taking pre-orders for its new EV6 SUV, and revealed that the range will include a flagship GT model with a sub four-second 0-62mph time.
The EV6 is the South Korean brand’s first production car designed exclusively as an electric vehicle, and will be one of 11 new BEV vehicles Kia intends to launch by 2026. Seven will be built on the new E-GMP electric platform shared with sister brand Hyundai, and the other four electric versions of existing models.
The EV6 is expected to appear on UK roads from October 2021 at prices starting from £40,895 for the base model, while £43,895 will buy the EV6 GT-line with a sports-look trim. The GT version will follow in 2022, at prices from £58,295.
Details of the Kia EV6 specification will not be released until May but buyers will be able to choose their car with an emphasis on performance or range. The base model will be available in rear-wheel-drive form with a long-range (77.4kWh) battery pack quoted at a WLTP combined cycle range of 316 miles.
A four-wheel-drive variant is also expected to be available with a smaller battery pack, likely to give a range of around 250 miles. The dual-motor GT, meanwhile, will boast a 0-62mph time of 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 162mph – the fastest car Kia has produced.
Rapid charging will also be a feature of the EV6, the 800V charging capability allowing battery replenishment from 10% to 80% in 18 minutes.
Potential buyers who put down a £100 refundable deposit will be invited to place their order two weeks ahead of the car going on general sale in May, and will gain charging benefits including a free one-year subscription to the KiaChargePlus programme.
Kia plans for battery-electric (BEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and hybrid electric (HEV) vehicles to make up 40% of the brand’s total sales by 2030.
Well before we were grounded by lockdowns, the number of times a car buyers would visit a physical dealership before choosing a new or used car had been decreasing.
New car buyers were only visiting an average of 1.2 dealerships prior to the coronavirus pandemic, having digested all the online road tests, compared prices and used the specification configurator to select the perfect piping for the carpet mats.
There will always be those who find this a pleasure, but more and more customers are getting used to the idea of foregoing the traditional dealership altogether. Covid-19 has enforced contactless handovers for traditional dealerships, but most car buyers have still ended up at a showroom to test drive or collect their new car. Some brands are now offering home delivery, however, and it’s been well received by customers.
But it’s not just new cars. There’s been an explosion in fixed-priced online used car buying as well. The entire process can now take place without ever having to leave your home.
There are differences between these new companies offering used car delivery to your door, but aspects common to all are:
A stock of used cars from different brands, which are refurbished and checked to set quality standards
Online listing with numerous exterior and interior photos and in some cases indications of blemishes above normal wear and tear
Details of the car’s service history online
A fixed price, with the ability to add finance and extras, and reserve with a small deposit
A part exchange valuation tool
Delivery to your home or office by an operator who will give a detailed handover
A ‘no quibble’ returns policy for seven or 14 days after delivery
Pros of buying a used car online
Buying a used car online is potentially as easy as buying anything else online, like a new mattress or a fridge. The ability to compare and research as much as you want, securing exactly the car that you want and not having to sell your old car separately. You know exactly what you are buying. There should be a good standard of customer service coupled to a delivery slot to suit you and a handover which should feel as special as having a new car arrive.
Various types of finance, such as a hire purchase (HP) or personal contract purchase (PCP) will be offered alongside your used car as is common practice on manufacturer websites but don’t forget to compare the interest rate with a bank loan, as it can be very high on used car finance.
Some suppliers offer a panel of lenders, while many will also be able to offer an extended warranty, servicing and breakdown cover for an additional monthly fee.
It doesn’t have to be done entirely online. Car supermarket Carshop offers both home delivery and the chance to compare cars in one of eleven locations and to test drive. Cazoo has 17 locations across the UK where you can collect the car in person and some also have servicing attached.
Cons of online used car buying
A used car site or supermarket’s stock will tend to reflect the preferences of the company car market of two or three years ago, because a lot of the cars will be returned lease vehicles. That can mean less choice. For example, selecting petrol rather than diesel can narrow your choice because, three years ago, fleets still bought a lot more diesel cars than petrol ones.
A manufacturer’s approved used car site usually allows you to get down to a specification which can be much more precise than the generic tick boxes of a mixed car used car supplier – for example, a used Mini with a specific option pack or colour combination.
The price is fixed with an online used retailer. This can be either a pro or a con, depending on how you look at it. The companies maintain that their prices are lower in any case because of reduced overheads. However, don’t assume that it will always be less than a manufacturer’s approved used price. It’s usually easy to cross compare any chosen car of the same specification and some approved used and big dealer chain sites have a ‘make an offer’ or ‘make a bid’ option.
Manufacturers’ approved used car schemes tend to offer a minimum 12-month warranty, whereas 90 days is the norm for a used car retailer. Again, look at your end price – there may be spare cash to add an extended warranty.
The mixed brand online used car retailers won’t usually offer test drives, so you need to be sure that the car will suit you. Don’t forget the simple things such as checking the dimensions to make sure you’re not going to be hitting the gatepost or scraping the raised garage door!
What about my part exchange?
Like new and approved used car sites, you can the enter your current car’s registration number and mileage for what is usually called a ‘no obligation’ part exchange valuation. Although you’ll be asked to provide as much detail as possible, the final decision won’t be until the company has inspected your old car in person when the new one is delivered
The company will reserve the right not to accept the part exchange – for example if it is damaged, won’t start or is unroadworthy – and cancel the order. These will be listed on the terms and conditions.
Alternatively, there are equally simple ways to sell your car online without part-exchanging it to the dealership. For example, The Car Expert has partnered with online selling agency Motorway to allow you to sell your car to the trade quickly and easily.
If you can’t take a test drive, what if it becomes clear that you soon find the seats make your back hurt, the engine seems too weedy or it’s too big or too small? Luckily, you have clear consumer rights when buying a used car online.
The new online used car retailers all have returns policies with no need to provide a reason but you have a limit of seven or 14 days to request a return. This is unlike manufacturer approved used car schemes which have 30-day exchange policies based on a fault being developed or not needing to specify a reason. However, you are locked into an exchange with the same dealer, not getting your money back.
All of the new breed of online used car suppliers provide details of their return/cancellation policies on their websites, where they must explain any extra charges. A common condition for accepting a car back is not having covered more than 250 miles. Fair wear and tear is accepted but you’ll have to pay for any damage. However, one major deterrent to sending your car back is that you won’t get your part exchange returned, although you’ll get the cash equivalent or be offered help to find a replacement.
In a nutshell, you have the legal right to cancel your purchase from the moment an order is placed until 14 days after taking delivery of the car. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a new or used car, the law is the same.
To conclude; buying a used car online may not be as cheap as it may appear and you still need to do your research to find a car you’re not likely to return, but the simplicity and the convenience will win out for many.
The Citroën C4 is a medium-sized family car, which was unveiled in late 2020 and arrived in the UK in early 2021. It’s similar in size to a Volkswagen Golf or Ford Focus, although it’s more a liftback than a regular hatchback, and rides a bit higher like an SUV/crossover. So it’s certainly a bit different to its competitors.
Unusually, the C4 is available with a choice of petrol, diesel or electric power. This page only covers the conventional fossil-fuel models, and we have a separate page for the electric ë-C4 version.
The initial reviews for the C4 range have been generally positive, although not quite as strong as for the leading rivals in its class. It has been praised for its comfort and distinctive design, which is notably different from anything else in the mid-size family car sector.
An updated C4 family was announced in Autumn 2024, with the first cars expected to reach UK showrooms in Spring 2025. There will be the usual minor styling revisions and trim level tweaks, but they’re fundamentally the same cars.
As of February 2026, the Citroën C4 holds a New Car Expert Rating of C, with a score of 59%. It achieves top marks for its low CO2 emissions and its running costs are relatively low, but its safety rating is merely average and its reliability record is poor.
Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol automatic 155 Shine Plus Score: 7 / 10 “While the e-C4 grabs headlines, this new petrol unit shows lots of appeal, too. The power boost makes the Citroën C4 a lively option that gives a little flexibility to those looking for a comfortable family hatchback. It’s just a shame that one or two negatives take the shine off the overall package.” Read review
Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol automatic 130hp Shine Plus Score: 7 / 10 “Our rating reflects the fact that the higher-end, automatic car we’ve driven here isn’t likely to be the sweet spot in the new Citroën C4 range; for that, you’d save the cash and stick to a manual gearbox, or choose the electric version as a company car and revel in the tax breaks.” Read review
Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Hatchback Score: 7 / 10 “With new trim options, and Citroën’s continued focus on comfort, the new C4 is a big improvement over its predecessor.” Read review
Business Car
Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol automatic Shine Plus Score: 7 / 10 “In summary, the new Citroen C4 is a good replacement for the old C4 and Cactus. For those who need to travel reasonably long distances on a regular basis – but still frequent towns and cities – the petrol C4 range is a compelling choice.” Read review
Car
Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol automatic Score: 8 / 10 “The new Citroën C4 is as supple as a Pilates teacher, refreshingly putting comfort above all else. It’s nicely equipped and competitively priced.” Read review
Car Keys
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “To those that criticise cars for being too similar these days, the Citroen C4 exists to prove this is definitely not the case. It really is a breath of fresh air in the crossover and hatchback segments, with its bold design, pleasing interior and impressive levels of comfort.” Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8.2 / 10 “The Citroen C4 is a comfortable family hatchback with modern, fashionable styling.” (Ben Custard) Read review
Company Car Today
Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol manual Shine Score: 8 / 10 “A striking and distinctive new take on the regular lower medium hatchback, the Citroën C4 is comfortable and practical, as well as offering a good range of powertrains.” Read review
Daily Mail
Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol automatic Shine Plus “The new Citroen C4 certainly looks the part and should give the rival VW Golf and Ford Focus a run for their money.” Read review
Daily Mirror
Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol automatic Shine Plus Score: 10 / 10 “The new Citroen C4 ticks a lot of boxes and looks refreshingly different. It works particularly well as an electric car but is still a great choice in petrol. And diesel offers a possible 70mpg. Whatever the powertrain, the new C4 marks another step forward for Citroen.” Read review
Eurekar
“The new Citroen C4 is a very smooth operator.”
Read review
Fleetworld
Score: 8 / 10 “Nothing like as conventional as rivals such as Ford’s Focus and Vauxhall’s Astra. However, if you value comfort then the C4 is definitely worthy of keen consideration.” Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “Citroen doesn’t really sell a conventional rival to the likes of the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf. The dull-as-dishwater Citroen C4 was axed in 2018, leaving the quirky C4 Cactus to cater for that market. But now, the C4 returned for 2021 and it’s certainly very different to its staid predecessor. “ Read review
Honest John
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8 / 10 “If you’re looking for a car that’ll turn heads in the Tesco car park, the Citroen C4 is a much better choice than more conventional alternatives. It’s not much of a compromise, either, with a decent cabin and frugal petrol and diesel engines.” Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 8.2 / 10 “Distinctive hatchback majors on comfort.” Read review
The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: Petrol C4 and electric ë-C4 combined review Score: 6 / 10 “The petrol Citroën C4 is a little floaty over bumpier roads, and our test car revealed vibrations on some country lanes that become really quite unpleasant, to the extent that it felt like there was a flat spot on a tyre. The ë-C4 on the other hand, had no such issues.” Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview Score: 7 / 10 “Citroen C4 hatch isn’t like all the rest and plays big on comfort. Plus, it’s not a crossover.” Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
The Citroën C4 was crash-tested by Euro NCAP in May 2021 and awarded a four-star safety rating. In most areas the car performed well, although not as well in every test as the best performers, hence the four-star rating. The main concern of testers was that the autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system did not recognise pedestrians well enough in all scenarios.
This rating score also applies to the ë-C4 electric model.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of February 2026, the Citroën C4 has not been tested by Green NCAP.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
Total claims: 155 Average repair cost: £418.74 Last updated: October 2024
The Citroën C4 has a poor reliability record, according to workshop and warranty data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our partners at MotorEasy. This score applies to both the current model C4 and to previous (pre-2021) generations.
The most commonly reported problems relate to the engine, with an average repair bill of more than £500. Gearbox repairs are considerably more expensive, with an average bill of £1,200, but thankfully these have been quite rare to date.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
Fuel consumption
Average
Score
Petrol models
53 mpg
B
Diesel models
61 mpg
A
CO₂ output
Average
Score
Variation
Score
Petrol models
126 g/km
B
Diesel models
129 g/km
B
Insurance group
Average
Score
Variation
Score
All models
19
A
Service and maintenance
Cost
Score
Year 1
£171
B
Year 2
£493
B
Year 3
£778
B
Year 4
£1,022
B
Year 5
£1,396
B
Overall
£3,860
B
The Citroën C5 X should be a very affordable car to own and run, according to whole-life cost data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our technical partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
Fuel economy is good on petrol models and even better on diesel-engined versions. Insurance costs are excellent, as are servicing and maintenance costs over the first five years.
For a car this size, you’ll struggle to find any petrol or diesel car that’s cheaper to live with than a Citroën C4.
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