Estate

Hatchback

Audi is a brand that sets the standard for interior quality, and this, combined with its vast and ever-growing model line-up, has helped it become one of the ‘big three’ German prestige car makers, along with BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The A3 hatchback, A4 executive saloon and Q7 SUV are all common - yet upmarket - sights on UK roads.

At least some of Audi's success over the past 30 years can be attributed to the growth in sales of vehicles with four-wheel drive; the company arguably led the way in bringing 4x4 technology into the mainstream, with its Quattro coupé in the early 1980s.

Today, most Audis are available with at least the option of four-wheel drive, while the list of SUVs from the brand includes the Q2, Q3, Q5 and Q7.

AUDI

Buyers seeking value for money should have Kia towards the top of their shopping list.

Although once a niche brand in the UK, today Kia outsells many more established brands, helped by its market-leading seven-year warranty and a strong reputation for reliability; in fact, Kia regularly finishes towards the top of our reliability surveys.

There are plenty of models to choose from, too, ranging from the small Picanto city car to the Ceed family hatchback and the Sorento large SUV. The Picanto was the first Kia to win its class at the What Car? Car of the Year awards.

One of the greatest success stories in the car world of recent decades is Skoda’s rise to become a hugely credible mainstream maker of good-value, good-sense cars.

Central to that success has been its place within the VW Group, alongside the Volkswagen brand itself, plus the likes of Seat and Audi. That has given it access to exactly the same underpinnings for its cars as the other brands, and it has complemented this by adding its own developments, from the way the cars drive and ride through to the features they have and the pricing.

The result is a range that extends from a city car to a large executive saloon, with family and large seven-seat SUVs too. There’s a wide variety of petrol and diesel engines, all of which are competitive for the class.

As a result, Skoda has a range of cars that is almost entirely class-leading or among the class leaders, and it has enjoyed long-time success at the What Car? Awards as a result.

SKODA

Tesla is a US brand&nbsp;that revolutionised&nbsp;the car industry, putting <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-electric-cars-2022/n17000">electric cars</a> in the limelight&nbsp;for the first time – helped by the personality and profile of boss Elon Musk.

Today, Tesla has a broader&nbsp;line-up than ever, with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-3/saloon/review/n19010">Tesla Model 3</a> saloon&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-y/hatchback/review/n23624">Tesla Model Y</a> SUV the company's cheapest models. For those with bigger budgets or a need for more space, there's the larger <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-s/hatchback/review/n150">Tesla Model S</a> saloon and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-x/hatchback/review/n161">Tesla&nbsp;Model X</a> SUV.&nbsp;A&nbsp;new Roadster, complete with supercar-beating acceleration, is also in the works.

&nbsp;

TESLA

Toyota is a company undergoing a quiet revolution, as it works hard to replace its sensible but somewhat bland reputation with one for being a bit more daring, in areas such as the styling of its cars and its enthusiastic leadership of cutting-edge technology, such as hybrid systems.

That process seems to be working for buyers, with the hugely popular and striking-looking C-HR SUV in particular attracting a great deal of interest. The latest version of the hybrid Prius is also rated highly by What Car?; it’s the first Prius to go on sale that our testers have felt can truly compete all round with existing petrol or diesel rivals.

However, it’s worth noting that this period of transition is also a work in progress, and that many of the firm’s cars are still rated as being no more than average among class rivals by our testers.

TOYOTA

Vauxhall has an incredibly diverse range of cars on sale, a few of which stand out above the class average. Add in the fact that it still offers some of the largest Target Price discounts in the market (something it is trying, without huge success, to cut back on), and there are very good reasons to consider buying one of its better models.

However, you need to choose carefully, because it is also a brand in transition. It has a newish parent company – the same one that owns Citroën, DS and Peugeot. And while Vauxhall’s newer models tend to be competitive, some of the others feel dated; a quick check of our star ratings will reveal which is which.

Still, given the recent success of sister brands Citroën and especially Peugeot, each new launch should make its range more appealing to buyers.

VAUXHALL

Volvo is now a true rival to the likes of Audi, BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz, offering an alternative take on premium executive cars to a rapidly growing fanbase.

After a string of strong launches – notably with the Mk2 XC90 and XC60 SUVs – it struck gold in early 2018 when it launched its smallest SUV, the XC40. When our testers compared the car with its rivals, they concluded that it was the best launch of the previous 12 months, earning it our coveted overall Car of the Year Award.

The good news is that, like many car makers, Volvo now uses the same structure underneath most of its cars – so if they get it right on one model, it usually bodes well for the rest. That’s the case here, with Volvo’s subsequent saloon and estate launches complementing the SUVs and making for a generally extremely appealing line-up.

VOLVO

ASTRA

CITIGO

MODEL 3

OCTAVIA

PICANTO

RAV4

XC40

the-10-cheapest-new-cars-you-can-buy-reviewed-and-rated

Dacia

Sandero

Citroën

Fiat

Panda

Sandero Stepway

Hyundai

Toyota

AYGO X

Suzuki

Ignis

Version&nbsp;1.0 1 [4 seats]&nbsp;|&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£13,705&nbsp;|&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£13,387

The cheapest new car you can&nbsp;buy in the UK&nbsp;is the Kia Picanto, and it's a&nbsp;fine&nbsp;car for the money.&nbsp;

It's good to drive, with tidy handling and a comfortable driving position, while the interior is&nbsp;smart to look at. As you might expect, the equipment&nbsp;list is fairly sparse (the entry-level&nbsp;trim doesn't even come with&nbsp;air conditioning). You do, however, get automatic lights, remote central locking and electric front windows as standard.

Despite being quite&nbsp;underpowered, the entry-level 66bhp 1.0-litre engine is&nbsp;compelling&nbsp;thanks to its economical nature. But if your budget can stretch to it, we'd recommend going for the turbocharged 99bhp unit; it's noticeably quicker and much more flexible at low revs.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/picanto/hatchback/review/n58">Kia Picanto&nbsp;review</a>

Kia Picanto

Version&nbsp;1.0 TCe Bi-Fuel Essential&nbsp;|&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£13,795&nbsp;|&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£13,569

The position of Britain's cheapest new car is constantly changing, and the Dacia Sandero is a car that's often found in the top spot. However, in this instance, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/picanto/hatchback/review/n58">Kia Picanto</a> has just topped it.

But what's the Sandero like? Well, it's actually a&nbsp;better car than the Picanto. It's more practical and&nbsp;more comfortable, while the entry-level trim is better&nbsp;equipped;&nbsp;Essential trim comes with&nbsp;cruise control, front electric windows and air conditioning.

This&nbsp;Bi-Fuel version can run also&nbsp;on cheaper liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)&nbsp;as well as regular unleaded, which means it should also be very cheap to run if you live near a petrol station that stocks it. It's worth noting&nbsp;that <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n19724">Euro NCAP</a>&nbsp;gave the Sandero just two stars for safety.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/dacia/sandero/hatchback/review/n55">Dacia Sandero review</a>

Dacia Sandero

Version&nbsp;1.2 PureTech&nbsp;You |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£14,150&nbsp;|&nbsp;Target Price £14,150

Citroën recently added the&nbsp;entry-level You trim to the C3 range, and for the money, you get a stylish car inside and out.

However, because it's a stripped out version of the regular&nbsp;C3, the You version&nbsp;comes with very little&nbsp;equipment as standard. The only 'luxuries' you get are&nbsp;cruise control, manual air-conditioning and heated side mirrors. The Dacia Sandero is far better value.

In other areas, the C3 is poor to drive, the entry-level engine is underpowered, and it's&nbsp;not very practical. You also have to pay extra for some important safety kit, including&nbsp;automatic emergency braking (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">AEB</a>).

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/c3/hatchback/review/n17364">Citroën C3&nbsp;review</a>

Citroën C3

Version&nbsp;1.5 VTi-Tech Excite&nbsp;|&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£13,820&nbsp;|&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£13,326

The MG3 is very keenly priced – so much so that it's the cheapest car on this list with our Target Price discount factored in. Despite that, it's&nbsp;very well equipped for the money;&nbsp;Excite trim includes&nbsp;an 8.0in touchscreen, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a> and rear parking sensors as standard.

Mind you, the MG3 is&nbsp;heavily compromised in&nbsp;many&nbsp;other areas. For instance, the ride is bumpy and uncomfortable, while this entry-level engine is wheezy and not very economical. It also has a poor safety rating, having&nbsp;scored just three stars&nbsp;all the way back in 2014 when&nbsp;Euro NCAP safety tests where less stringent than today. It's worth noting that it's soon to be replaced by an all-new <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/new-mg-3-hybrid-revealed-hybrid-power-for-budget-small-car/n26588">MG3 Hybrid</a>.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg3/hatchback/review/n17867">MG3&nbsp;review</a>

Version&nbsp;1.0 Mild Hybrid Panda [Touchscreen] |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£14,775&nbsp;|&nbsp;Target Price £14,123

The Panda has charming&nbsp;looks and a low price, but it's very disappointing to drive. The mild hybrid engine is slow and unrefined, plus the bouncy and fidgety suspension means&nbsp;it's quite&nbsp;wearing to drive on longer journeys.

Despite it's boxy shape, it's also not very practical. Okay, there's a good amount of head room for front and rear passengers, but leg room and boot space is pretty poor.&nbsp;The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/i10/hatchback/review/n49">Hyundai i10</a> is more practical.

The worst thing about the Panda, though, is its abysmal safety rating; it was&nbsp;given&nbsp;zero stars out of five&nbsp;by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n19724">Euro NCAP</a>&nbsp;in 2018. So,&nbsp;overall we'd recommend&nbsp;you stay well clear of it.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/panda/hatchback/review/n128">Fiat Panda&nbsp;review</a>

Fiat Panda

Version&nbsp;1.0 TCe Essential |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£15,295&nbsp;|&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£15,007

The Sandero Stepway is essentially a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/dacia/sandero/hatchback/review/n55">Dacia Sandero</a>&nbsp;but with some extra ruggedness, including a more&nbsp;heavily sculpted bonnet, roof rails, chunky plastic wheel arch extensions and&nbsp;an increased ride height.

Like the Sandero, it's a brilliant <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">small car</a> with a&nbsp;spacious interior for its size, a big boot and a comfortable ride. It also comes with a similar line-up or engines and trim levels. The version quoted here features an 89bhp 1.0-litre petrol engine, which offers&nbsp;acceptable performance for the class&nbsp;with a decent amount of low-end punch.

Essential trim offers the same amount of kit as the regular Sandero, which means you get&nbsp;cruise control, front electric windows and air conditioning as standard.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/dacia/sandero-stepway/hatchback/review/n17269">Dacia Sandero Stepway&nbsp;review</a>

Dacia Sandero Stepway

Version&nbsp;1.0&nbsp;Advance |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£15,530&nbsp;|&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£14,767

The Hyundai i10 is one of the best <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">small cars</a> you can buy on a budget. No matter which version you go for, you get a relatively spacious and&nbsp;smart-looking interior&nbsp;and a comfortable ride.

It's also very practical for its size, with a good amount of leg room for rear passengers. The boot is a good size, too, although&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/picanto/hatchback/review/n58">Kia Picanto</a>'s is ever so slightly bigger.&nbsp;

The entry-level 1.0-litre&nbsp;three-cylinder petrol engine is strong enough in town and is efficient.&nbsp;Advance&nbsp;trim comes with automatic lights, air conditioning,&nbsp;electric door-mirror adjustment&nbsp;and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearlever as standard.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/i10/hatchback/review/n49">Hyundai i10 review</a>

Hyundai i10

Version&nbsp;1.0 VVT-i Pure |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£16,140&nbsp;|&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£15,003

From the pictures, it can be easy to mistake the Toyota Aygo X for a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-suvs/n17050">small SUV</a>. However, in reality it's actually a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">small car</a> in terms of its size.

Having been launched in 2022, the Aygo X is one of the newest small cars. As such, it comes with&nbsp;loads of safety kit as standard, including&nbsp;automatic emergency braking (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">AEB</a>), lane-keep&nbsp;assist and six airbags. The entry-level Pure trim is also&nbsp;well equipped, and comes with&nbsp;automatic headlights, air conditioning and 7.0in touchscreen infotainment.

On the whole, the Aygo X is good to drive, with a tight turning circle and tidy handling. However, the 71bhp 1.0-litre engine is&nbsp;slow and unrefined.&nbsp;

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/aygo-x/hatchback/review/n24132">Toyota Aygo X review</a>

Toyota Aygo X

Version&nbsp;1.0 Mild Hybrid 500 |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£16,800&nbsp;|&nbsp;Target Price £15,932

The petrol-powered&nbsp;Fiat 500 has been around for some time now, and it continues to be a stylish and economical <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">small car</a>.

However, it is starting to feel its age. On faster roads, for instance, the 500 feels very much out of its depth&nbsp;with its roly-poly handling and an unsettled ride. The 1.0-litre <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-is-a-mild-hybrid-and-should-you-buy-one/n22776">mild hybrid</a> engine also needs working hard to keep up with faster traffic.

In town,&nbsp;it's a different story. The 500 is very easy to drive, with the&nbsp;light steering and small dimensions making it&nbsp;nice and easy to manoeuvre. No matter the environment, though, the 500 is uncomfortable&nbsp;(thanks to its awkward driving position) and not very practical.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/review/n22352">Fiat 500 Hybrid&nbsp;review</a>

Fiat 500 Hybrid

Version&nbsp;1.2 Dualjet 12V Hybrid SZ-T&nbsp;|&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£17,949&nbsp;|&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£17,518

If you're looking for a cheap <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-suvs/n17050">small SUV</a>, then the Suzuki Ignis is a great option. It's pretty tiny, but that doesn't mean it's cramped inside or poorly built. Indeed, the Ignis is surprisingly spacious for its size, plus it feels&nbsp;solidly built – even if&nbsp;the interior materials are hard&nbsp;and scratchy.

The version quoted here is the entry-level car, which means it has&nbsp;an 82bhp&nbsp;1.2-litre&nbsp;petrol engine. Despite its modest power, it doesn't feel as slow as you might&nbsp;think&nbsp;thanks to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-is-a-mild-hybrid-and-should-you-buy-one/n22776">mild hybrid</a>&nbsp;system, which uses a small electric motor to help boost&nbsp;the&nbsp;engine at low revs.

SZ-T is our recommended trim,&nbsp;which includes a 7.0in&nbsp;touchscreen infotainment system, 16in alloy wheels, sliding rear seats and air-con. It's not&nbsp;that well&nbsp;equipped, but it does make the most of the Ignis's keen pricing.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/suzuki/ignis/hatchback/review/n17225">Suzuki Ignis&nbsp;review</a>

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter&nbsp;<a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a>

Suzuki Ignis

Buying a new car can be one of life's biggest investments, and these days a lot of models come with so much technology that the price can be eye-watering.However, there is still a selection of models that offer a lot of car for the money, with some being particularly capable in the areas that count, including practicality, comfort and style. So, here we name the 10 cheapest new cars you can buy in the UK. If you simply want to know what is the cheapest new car is, that would be the Kia Picanto. It currently starts from just £13,705, but thanks to our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-target-price/n1433">Target Price</a> discounts, you can have it for even less than that.Indeed, many of the cars quoted here have some big discounts available, so it's worth checking our free <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Deals</a> service to see our latest deals. If any of the cars do take your liking, you can also follow the review links to find out more about each car.

The 10 cheapest new cars you can buy - reviewed and rated

what-is-a-mild-hybrid-car-and-should-you-buy-one

what-is-a-mild-hybrid-and-should-you-buy-one

Ford

Puma

Honda

CR-V

Corolla

Hybrid cars – combining an engine and an electric motor to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions – have been a familiar concept since the launch of the Toyota Prius.In recent years, we've seen the arrival of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), which can be plugged in and charged up. And another variation on the theme is the mild hybrid (MHEV).Many car makers now offer models fitted with MHEV (or mHEV) technology. But what is an MHEV, how does it work and should you buy one? Read on to find out more...<h2 dir="ltr">What is a mild-hybrid car?</h2>MHEVs are more common than you might expect, because mild-hybrid tech is relatively inexpensive to fit, and reduces the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of both petrol and diesel-engined cars.It might not be immediately obvious from a model's name that it's an MHEV. For example, the mild-hybrid <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">VW Golf</a> is badged the eTSI, while the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/review/n22352">Fiat 500 Hybrid</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/suzuki/swift/hatchback/review/n54">Suzuki Swift Hybrid</a> are MHEVs rather than regular hybrids.Generally, a mild hybrid has a small electric generator instead of a traditional starter motor and alternator (the device that keeps the 12-volt battery charged), plus a lithium-ion battery.Most mild hybrids run on a 48-volt electrical system – a higher voltage than the electrical systems of traditional combustion engines use. The 48V system powers components that would have previously been powered by the engine, enabling it to operate more efficiently.

<h2>How do mild-hybrid cars work?</h2>As the name suggests, a mild-hybrid car provides only gentle electrical assistance to the engine. While regular hybrids (also known as full hybrids) and plug-in hybrids can be driven on electric power alone, an MHEV cannot.Mild-hybrid systems work in slightly different ways depending on which car manufacturer has developed them. In general they assist the engine under hard acceleration and help make the car's stop-start system operate more smoothly.MHEVs also use <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-regenerative-braking-and-how-does-it-work/n25212" target="_blank">regenerative braking</a> to harvest energy when the brakes are applied or when the car is coasting. That energy is converted into electricity that's fed into a lithium-ion battery and stored until it's needed to provide extra assistance. On average, a car with mild-hybrid technology can be around 15% more efficient than its conventional counterpart.<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/hybrid-cars/n17013">Read more: The best full hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars</a>One prime example of mild-hybrid tech being used to enhance the economy and performance of a car is the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/puma/hatchback/review/n20838">Ford Puma</a>.Most versions of the model come with Ford’s 1.0-litre three-cylinder mild-hybrid petrol engine, which is also used in versions of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/focus/hatchback/review/n37">Ford Focus</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/kuga/4x4/review/n57">Ford Kuga</a>. Ford says the system continuously monitors how the car is being driven to determine how intensively to charge the battery and when to assist the engine.The system on the Puma can give the engine an extra 15lb ft of pulling power, so it doesn’t have to work as hard under normal loads, and can deliver a 10% improvement in fuel economy. The same boost can be applied when the engine is under heavy load to improve performance, delivering up to 20% faster acceleration.<h2>Are all mild-hybrid systems the same?</h2>No. There's a wide range of mild-hybrid systems, and some are more sophisticated than others. One of the cleverest is in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q8/4x4/review/n17559">Audi Q8</a> luxury SUV.It goes to even greater lengths to improve economy by working with the car’s adaptive cruise control system to slow it down as it approaches corners and roundabouts, reaping the energy from the regenerative braking. It can even deactivate the engine and let the car coast for up to 40 seconds at a time to save fuel.

<h2>Are mild hybrids the same as hybrids?</h2>Mild hybrids are the same as other hybrids in the sense that they use a combination of a petrol or diesel engine alongside some electrical assistance. But unlike full hybrids, they’re not able to run on electric power alone because the assistance the motor provides is, as their name suggests, mild.<h2 dir="ltr">Do mild hybrids need charging?</h2>No – in fact, you can’t plug in a mild-hybrid car. Because the batteries are small, electricity is generated as you drive along, rather than relying on a mains power supply as you would with a plug-in hybrid. Indeed, for those without easy access to a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-home-ev-chargers/n25830">home EV charger</a> who are looking to minimise their fuel bills, a mild hybrid could be a sound choice.<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/hybrid-cars-you-dont-have-to-plug-in/n17700">Read more: The best hybrid cars you don't have to plug in</a><h2 dir="ltr">Are mild hybrid cars cheaper to tax?</h2>Mild hybrids aren’t as economical as many full hybrid cars and PHEVs, and they don’t benefit from the lowest rates of <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/class/company-cars">company car tax</a>.However, for private buyers, the mild-hybrid <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/how-much-is-car-tax-ved-rates-explained/n1153">road tax rate</a> is a little cheaper than for a pure petrol or diesel, because most are termed as "alternative fuel", so they get the same £10 annual discount enjoyed by owners of full and plug-in hybrid cars in the 2023-24 tax year.

<h2 dir="ltr">Why should you consider a mild-hybrid car?</h2>For a start, they’re less complex than other hybrids, so in many cases they’re cheaper to buy. They’re also easier to live with than PHEVs, which need to be plugged in regularly to get the best efficiency.If a PHEV is too expensive or you don’t have access to a charger, a mild hybrid is a cleaner option than a conventional petrol or diesel. They’re also no different to drive than conventional models and work with cars with manual gearboxes, so they’re a good option for those who want to stick with a more traditional driving experience.Still not sure whether to buy a mild hybrid? These pros and cons should help you decide:<h2>The benefits of driving a mild-hybrid car</h2>– No different to drive than a regular petrol or diesel-powered car – They don’t need to be plugged in to save fuel, as is the case with plug-in hybrid models – They’re generally cheaper to buy than a full hybrid or plug-in hybrid car – Fuel economy and CO2 emissions are improved, reducing bill bills and VED tax – The technology works with manual and automatic, and petrol and diesel models<h2 dir="ltr">The drawbacks of mild hybrids</h2>– They can’t run on electricity alone – They produce more tailpipe emissions than other kinds of hybrids – Full and plug-in hybrids are more economical

<h2>What cars are available as mild hybrids (MHEVs)?</h2>Many of the most popular cars on sale are available with mild-hybrid technology. In many cases "mild hybrid" or "MHEV" does not feature on any badging to advertise the tech is fitted, so they often fly under the radar.Models available with mild-hybrid technology in the UK include:<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a3/hatchback/review/n77">Audi A3</a> <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/1-series/hatchback/review/n26">BMW 1 Series</a> <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/dacia/jogger/mpv/review/n24141">Dacia Jogger</a> <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/review/n22352">Fiat 500 Hybrid</a> <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/puma/hatchback/review/n20838">Ford Puma</a>  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jaguar/e-pace/estate/review/n17378">Jaguar E-Pace</a> <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jaguar/f-pace/estate/review/n17356">Jaguar F-Pace</a> <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sportage/4x4/review/n17352">Kia Sportage</a> <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/defender/4x4/review/n21198">Land Rover Defender</a> <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/a-class/hatchback/review/n88">Mercedes A-Class</a> <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/qashqai/hatchback/review/n7">Nissan Qashqai</a> <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover-sport/4x4/review/n74">Range Rover Sport</a> <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/suzuki/swift/hatchback/review/n54">Suzuki Swift Hybrid</a> <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">VW Golf</a> <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc40/estate/review/n119">Volvo XC40</a>(Click on the links to be taken to our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/reviews">new car reviews</a> of each model.)

<h2>What are the other types of hybrids? </h2>All hybrids have a conventional engine, an electric motor and a battery, although the size and capacity of these varies. As well as mild hybrids, there are three other types of hybrids, and each works in a different way. They are:Parallel hybrids This is where the hybrid story started, and the (now off-sale) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/prius/hatchback/used-review/n17569">Toyota Prius</a> is the most widely known example of a parallel hybrid.The car’s wheels can be powered directly by the engine, by the electric motor alone, or by both power sources working together. When pulling away and at speeds of up to 15mph, it uses only the electric motor for power, making it very frugal in city driving. The petrol engine cuts in as speed increases and under hard acceleration.Whenever you decelerate or use the brakes, the regenerative braking system harvests electricity and stores it in the battery for use later on, but the car can run solely on electricity for only up to 1.25 miles. The system is also used in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/yaris/hatchback/review/n31">Toyota Yaris</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/corolla/hatchback/review/n18901">Toyota Corolla</a> hatchbacks. Models from premium sister brand Lexus work on the same basis.

Range-extender hybridsRange-extender hybrids – also known as serial hybrids – differ from regular hybrids in that their combustion engines are there mainly to act as generators, producing electricity to power the electric motors, which drive the wheels. The latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/jazz/hatchback/review/n17343">Honda Jazz</a> is one popular example. It uses two electric motors, powered by a compact battery, working alongside a frugal 1.5-litre petrol engine. The wheels are almost exclusively driven by the electric motors, and the only time the wheels are actually driven by the engine is at higher speeds when it is directly connected to the wheels.The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/cr-v/estate/review/n44">Honda CR-V e:HEV</a>, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n82">Honda Civic</a>, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/mx-30/hatchback/review/n22066">Mazda MX-30 R-EV</a> plus the E-Power versions of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/qashqai/hatchback/review/n7">Nissan Qashqai</a> are range-extender hybrids too. According to Nissan, the range-extender system gives the Qashqai better performance than you’d get from an equivalent parallel hybrid.

Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs)These are a halfway house between regular hybrids and full <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric cars</a>, and are being offered by a growing number of brands. As the name implies, they can be plugged into an electrical outlet to recharge their batteries. Although PHEVs have conventional engines, they also have larger batteries than regular hybrids and can go further on electric power alone, greatly reducing running costs if they’re charged regularly.One of our favourite PHEVs is the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lexus/nx/estate/review/n132">Lexus NX</a> 450h, which has an official electric range of 43 miles – 13 miles longer than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x3/4x4/review/n42">BMW X3</a> xDrive30e. According to our testers, if you can plug the NX in regularly and mostly do short journeys, you could achieve as much as 313mpg. When the batteries have run out, it still has fuel economy of close to 40mpg.<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">Read more: The best plug-in hybrid cars</a><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/real-mpg-most-efficient-cars/n14356">Read more: The most fuel-efficient cars in the UK</a><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-cheapest-cars-from-every-brand/n22971">Read more: Every brand's cheapest new car</a><hr />For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="http://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a>

What is a mild hybrid car and should you buy one?

What is a mild hybrid and should you buy one? 

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Running costs that won’t break the bank </li> <li>Generous kit</li> <li>Pokey engine and tidy handling</li> <li>Spacious interior</li> <li>Boot big enough to cope with family life</li></ul>

The car-buying public has fallen in love with small SUVs, or crossovers as they’re often called, with thousands turning away from conventional hatchbacks in favour of something that rides that little bit higher.

Small SUV

vauxhall-astra-gets-frugal-mild-hybrid-option-for-2024

Vauxhall

Astra

Peugeot

Whether it's switching to a cheaper energy tariff or cancelling a rarely-used subscription service, lots of us are looking to <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/class/cost-of-living-car-advice">save money</a> at the moment. And while the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/astra/hatchback/review/n17347">Vauxhall Astra</a> can already help lower your costs if you can charge up at home, because it's available in fully <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">plug-in hybrid</a> forms, now there's a green option for drivers who can't plug in.That's because both the regular Astra family car and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/astra/estate/review/n17161">Astra Sports Tourer</a> estate can now be had with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-is-a-mild-hybrid-and-should-you-buy-one/n22776">mild hybrid</a> technology. This takes the form of a small electric motor which is housed within the eight-speed automatic gearbox of each car, and works with the regular 1.2-litre petrol engine to deliver short bursts of electric power. And thanks to that extra assistance, the official fuel economy for mild hybrid models is up to 60.1mpg and 58.9mpg for the Astra hatch and Astra Sports Tourer respectively. Vauxhall says this represents an economy boost of up to 19% compared with non-electrified versions of the Astra.

Unlike some other mild hybrids, the setup fitted to the Astra can allow the car to move for short distances on electric power alone, but only at speeds of up to 18mph. Indeed, the car only has a small 0.89kWh – far smaller than the full hybrid setup of our reigning <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/car-of-the-year-awards-family-car-of-the-year/n25357">Family Car of the Year</a>, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/corolla/hatchback/review/n18901">Toyota Corolla</a>, which has a 1.3kWh battery. Like other electrified models, regenerative braking harvests energy as you slow down to feed back into the car's battery.The combined power output of the Astra's 1.2-litre petrol engine and electric motor is 134bhp, resulting in a relatively nippy 0-62mph sprint time of 9.0sec for the Astra hatch, and 9.3sec for the Astra Sports Tourer.As well as savings in terms of fuel economy, these mild hybrid models should also be cheap to tax, with C02 emissions starting from 106g/km for the hatchback, and 108g/km for the estate. That means both cars will cost you slightly less in first-year tax rates than their non-electrified siblings, with both cars costing £185 in the first year, then £180 annually thereafter.

The new mild hybrid versions of the Astra are avaible aross Design, GS and Ultimate trims. It's mid-range GS trim which we recommend, since this comes with useful luxuries including adaptive cruise control, keyless entry and heated front seats.Prices for mild-hybrid versions of the Astra hatch start from £30,025, and from £32,225 for the Astra Sports Tourer. In both cases, that's a reasonable hike over the price of a non-electrified model, but, as we've outlined above, the long-term savings could be significant.Because Vauxhall is part of a wider group of car brands which includes Peugeot, it's likely that mild hybrid technology will also come to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/308/hatchback/review/n17380">Peugeot 308</a> before long.<hr />For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a><h2>Read more:<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000"> The best electric cars</a> &gt;&gt;</h2>

Vauxhall Astra gets frugal mild hybrid option for 2024

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of practical space </li> <li>Low running costs </li> <li>A comfortable ride </li> <li>A healthy equipment list </li> <li>Quality materials and thoughtful touches inside </li> <li>Rock-solid reliability</li></ul>

Family cars arguably have the toughest brief of all: they have to be good at pretty much everything. They’re used as the daily drive, on the school run or work commute (often both), and have to be able to cope with a family’s clutter on weekends and holidays.

Family

13-ways-to-cut-down-on-your-driving-costs

As pop singer Yazz once sang, the only way is up, and&nbsp;the same seems to apply to the general costs of living in the UK. From groceries to electricity bills, all of us are being hit by the rise in living costs. Drivers especially are facing the crunch, so to help, we’ve compiled a list of 13 straightforward things you can do to lower your <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/class/cost-of-living-car-advice">driving costs.</a>

13 ways to cut down on your driving costs

The cheapest fuel prices are typically found on supermarket forecourts. Some newer cars allow you to see the price of petrol on your infotainment screen, but you can also find out which petrol stations offer the cheapest fuel by using websites such as <a href="https://www.petrolprices.com/">petrolprices.com</a>.&nbsp;

You’ll need to create an account (this can be done very easily) and once you’ve entered your location, you'll have access to the prices of all the nearest petrol stations near you.&nbsp;

Companies such as Esso also work in partnership with supermarkets such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s. You can scan your ClubCard or Nectar card at the till while at an Esso-branded service station and collect ClubCard or Nectar points while filling up. By collecting ClubCard points, you can build them up and convert them into vouchers that you can eventually use on fuel. You can also spend Nectar points for a 5p per litre discount.

1. Shop around for the best fuel prices

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/car-leasing/">Leasing</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/car-leasing/leasing-guide/what-is-hire-purchase/">hiring</a> a car in the short term is a cost-effective approach to getting behind the wheel without having to spend a lot of money.

Leasing is an affordable way to access a new car. You pay via fixed monthly payments and can lease a car for as short a time&nbsp;as three months. The main difference between <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/personal-contract-purchase-pcp-explained-car-finance-guide/n19714">personal contract purchase (PCP) finance</a> and leasing is that you are essentially renting the car&nbsp;and therefore don't have the option of owning the car outright after you have finished your contract.

Specialists say that leasing works out to be 35-55% cheaper than if you were to buy one with a loan.&nbsp;

Some leasing dealers also offer service and maintenance packages such as MOT, servicing and tyre replacements and breakdown and roadside assistance – potentially saving you more money compared with buying these services separately.&nbsp;

2. Consider leasing or hiring a car in the short term 

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/how-to-save-money-on-your-car-insurance/n1117">Car insurance</a>, particularly for younger drivers, can be one of the biggest costs when it comes to driving. When receiving a quote, try to haggle with your provider to reduce your overall costs.&nbsp;

You can tweak certain information, too. If you aren’t hitting your usual mileage goal, lower it;&nbsp;if you cover fewer miles each year, you pose less of a risk. You can also increase your voluntary excess, at least to an amount you can afford if you do make a claim.&nbsp;

You can also alter your job description, because this can lower your quote. Don’t lie about what you do for your job, but if there are a number of ways you can describe your role,&nbsp;pick the closest titles that reflect it.

When receiving your auto-renewal quote, try giving&nbsp;your insurance company a ring to haggle and lower the price you pay. Have a look around at other comparison sites while you're at it, because they might be able to offer you a cheaper deal, in which case, make the switch. Try to secure the policy quickly, because some companies offer these prices only for a short while.

3. Shopping around for your car insurance

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/pothole-damage-to-cars-in-record-rise/n22950">Potholes</a> are one of the most common reasons for damage to a car’s wheels and tyres.

A recent What Car? investigation revealed that more than 145,000 claims for vehicle damage due to potholes were lodged between 2018 and 2021. More than £12 million in compensation was paid out as a result of this.&nbsp;

If your car becomes damaged due to a pothole, you might be able to claim compensation. You’ll need to report the pothole to the relevant council. If it believes you have a valid claim, it will send you a damage report form. You’ll need to provide copies of estimated invoices for the repairs to your vehicle, a current MOT certificate and photos of the damage. You should also take photos of the pothole, showing its rough size, shape and depth.&nbsp;

To report a pothole, you can find the council responsible for the road using the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/report-pothole">gov.uk</a> website. If it’s on a major A-road or motorway in England, contact Highways England. For potholes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, you can find the relevant contact on the Transport Scotland website, Traffic Wales or the Department for Infrastructure for Northern Ireland.&nbsp;

4. Claim for any pothole damage from your local council 

While it's&nbsp;convenient to find the closest parking spot to your destination, parking fees can be costly. To help with this, there are certain apps such as Parkopedia and JustPark that&nbsp;allow you to check if there are any cheaper parking spots nearby.&nbsp;

You might be able to&nbsp;save some money by parking a little farther away than you usually would.&nbsp;

5. Use smartphone apps to find the cheapest parking spots

It’s worth adding an experienced driver to your insurance policy&nbsp;(particularly if you’re a new or young driver), because this can significantly reduce&nbsp;your premium.&nbsp;

You can also add a partner or other family member. However, it’s worth noting that the main driver is not the same as a named driver. The main driver is the person doing most of the driving, while a named driver is someone else who might drive your car from time to time.&nbsp;

Doing this&nbsp;balances the risk between you and the named driver, because it is likely that you will spend less time driving due to the car being shared, placing you in a lower-risk category.&nbsp;

You can add a named driver when you apply for a new policy, or you can simply contact your insurance provider. It's likely you'll be asked about the named driver’s driving history, and you might be&nbsp;charged a small fee to add someone else to your policy, but your overall insurance quote should be lower.

6. Add a named driver to your insurance policy

According to the Driving &amp; Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), almost half of all MOT test failures that occur could&nbsp;be avoided if the owner carried out regular maintenance checks.&nbsp;

Simple things such as checking oil and coolant levels, ensuring lights are working and carrying out tyre pressure and tread depth checks are all fairly straightforward things you can do easily at home to ensure that your car doesn’t fail on minor issues that could have been prevented.&nbsp;

7. Do preventative maintenance at home

Taking your car through a car wash or paying someone to do it for you may be easy, but the average cost of a basic car wash in the UK is £6.50. If you calculate the annual cost if you were to get your car washed fortnightly, that would total £156.&nbsp;

Instead, why not roll up your sleeves, grab your sponge and wash it yourself? Luckily for you, we’ve got the perfect guide on <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-secrets-of-washing-your-car-to-perfection/n21653#1">how to wash your car</a>, as well as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-car-shampoos-2022/n24633">best car shampoos </a>to use.

8. Wash your car yourself

If you notice you’ve got a dodgy tyre or a windscreen chip, you’re better off getting it sorted early rather than delaying it, because it could get worse and turn a simple repair into a more extensive (and costly) one.

The tyre could end up having to be replaced with a new one, for example, when it could have been repaired, or the windscreen chip could form into a larger crack, resulting in you having to pay to have the whole thing repaired.

9. Do any repairs early

Driving gently reduces your fuel consumption by around 15%. There are some simple ways you can <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-hypermiling/n24451">adapt your driving</a>, such as pre-planning journeys&nbsp;to <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/top-10-ways-to-improve-fuel-efficiency/n24213">improve your fuel efficiency</a> and get as many miles as possible from each tank of fuel.

10. Drive gently to improve fuel efficiency

If you plan to drive into central London, you’ll need to pay the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/london-congestion-charge-everything-you-need-to-know/n23042">London Congestion Charge, </a>which is £15 per day, but you could park outside the zone and take public transport into it, saving you from having to pay the charge.&nbsp;

The expansion of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/londons-ultra-low-emission-zone-everything-you-need-to-know/n15049">Ultra Low Emission Zone</a> (ULEZ) also means that you could end up paying a charge if you enter the zone in a&nbsp;car that doesn’t meet ULEZ standards. This is a daily fee of £12.50, so it’s worth checking that the area you’re travelling into doesn’t count as a ULEZ.&nbsp;

Although this covers London now, other cities such as Manchester and Aberdeen are looking at bringing in cleaner air zones later this year.

11. Avoid congestion charges or toll roads 

Premium fuel has a higher octane rating than&nbsp;regular petrol&nbsp;and is claimed to offer better performance for your car, as well as engine protection and cleaning qualities.

However, for most of us, the reality is that&nbsp;you’re unlikely&nbsp;to see much of a difference.&nbsp;Instead, you’ll be paying around 10p per litre more, and considering the already sky-high fuel prices, you’re better off sticking with regular fuel.

Research does suggest&nbsp;that high-octane fuel might be beneficial once in a while, but it's worth&nbsp;checking your manufacturer's&nbsp;handbook to see what it suggests.&nbsp;

12. Don’t use premium fuel

If you find that you don’t drive on a regular basis, perhaps consider sharing a car with someone in your family. You’d be saving a significant amount of money on car insurance, road tax, fuel and maintenance, as well as the car itself.&nbsp;

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="http://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a>

<h3><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/class/cost-of-living-car-advice">Read more: See our latest cost of living car advice &gt;&gt;</a></h3>

<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>

13. Car share if you don’t drive regularly 

most-common-car-scams-and-how-to-avoid-them

Fiesta

1 Series

Volkswagen

Transporter

In the first half of 2023, criminals stole £580 million from consumers through scams and fraud, and a growing number of those fraudulent transactions were for used cars or car parts.There's a huge number of automotive scams that are proving highly lucrative for fraudsters. And, the worrying news for car owners, is that automotive scams increased by 74% between January and June 2023, compared with the same period previous year, according to data released by the Lloyds Banking Group*. The most costly vehicle scams are ones where criminals advertise <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/fake-car-dealer-website-scam/n25138">fake cars for sale</a> at temptingly low prices, and get buyers to pay for them up front, and then disappear with the money. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/fiesta/hatchback/used-review/n952">used Ford Fiesta</a> is the model most commonly reported as being in a car scam, followed by secondhand examples of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/1-series/hatchback/review/n26">BMW 1 Series</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/transporter/van/review/n18205">Volkswagen Transporter</a> van. Indeed, the Fiesta is also the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-most-stolen-cars-in-the-uk/n21162">UK's most stolen car</a>. However, there’s also a thriving trade in fake ads for car parts and accessories, and the average loss to consumers for vehicle-related scams is £998. Here we round up the latest car scams and provide tips to help you avoid them.  <hr /><h2 dir="ltr">Fake car sales websites</h2>What is it? Online scammers set up fake car sales websites for dealerships that don’t exist, and populate them with extremely cheap cars to lure buyers into paying for cars thinking they’re getting a bargain.

How does it work? Criminals create car sales portals, often with names that are similar to genuine used car dealerships, and fill them with photos and information of real cars that are for sale elsewhere, offering them at big discounts, sometimes half the price they would usually cost. When buyers phone or email to get more information about the vehicles, they are encouraged to pay for them in advance of seeing them to secure the deal. The criminals promise to deliver the car once payment has been made, but the cars are not delivered and once the fake dealer has the money, he becomes uncontactable. What Car? And Car Dealer Magazine found one <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/fake-car-dealer-website-scam/n25138">fake dealership</a> in Scotland that had 79 vehicles for sale. It advertised them to buyers in the south of England, knowing that few would travel hundreds of miles to view cars, and would be tempted to pay online and then be duped. How to avoid being scammed The old adage that if a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is, is appropriate here. If cars are being advertised for far less than the going rate, be wary, and investigate the seller before getting involved with them. Only pay a small holding deposit up front, and whenever possible make sure you see the car in the flesh before you pay in full. If you are interested in a vehicle, but not sure about the legitimacy of the seller, ask them to send you a photograph of the car's V5 registration document as proof they have the vehicle and are entitled to sell it. It’s also worth checking for online reviews of the company to see if any mention scams. <hr /><h2 dir="ltr">Fake car ads on social media</h2>What is it? There has been a big increase in criminals using social media platforms and marketplaces to sell fake goods, and many of them are cars or car parts. According to Lloyds Banking Group’s data, most of the car sales scams reported to them started on Facebook, Facebook Marketplace and Instagram. How does it work? Similar to the fake dealer websites, fraudsters create fake ads for cars for sale at rock-bottom prices and post them onto the sites. They may use photos of genuine vehicles that are advertised elsewhere online and may create fake addresses and other information to make the ad and themselves seem genuine. When potential buyers get in touch they’re given excuses as to why they can’t collect the car, but the seller offers to deliver it once payment has been made. Of course, this never happens. These online fraudsters will interact with buyers and even sometimes provide fake documents and information in order to get people to part with their cash.

How to avoid being scammed If you’re interested in a car, but the seller isn’t keen on you visiting them to see it, be suspicious. Don’t pay for a car up front, insist on seeing it first. If it’s too far away for you to check it out in person, ask the seller to make a video of the car so you can see that they do have it. You can also check that the car’s registration number tallies with the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/get-vehicle-information-from-dvla">DVLA’s vehicle information service</a>.If you think you’ve spotted a fake ad on Facebook you can report it to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/FVSA.Group">Facebook vehicle scam alerts</a> group. It has more than 5500 members, all sharing information about vehicle scams they’ve spotted on the platform. <hr /><h2 dir="ltr">Fake car buyers </h2>What is it? When you advertise your car for sale you may be contacted by a foreign buyer offering the full asking price or even more than that. How does it work? The scammers lure car sellers in by offering unrealistically high prices for cars. They may ask you to contact a shipping agent on their behalf and may offer to pay by banker’s draft, which can be forged and, if so, may be rejected by a bank, potentially leaving you thousands of pounds out of pocket. Once the criminals have your car, they disappear without paying. How to avoid being scammed If you’re contacted by a buyer who is abroad, or someone who’s offering more than the asking price for your car, think carefully about accepting their offer. If you think the potential buyer is a criminal, don't reply to them, but do advise the administrator of the website your car was advertised on.Never hand over your car or any paperwork until you have been paid the full agreed price. Only accept payment via CHAPS/BACS electronic payments or direct money transfers, such as Paypal, as these are quick and safe and you can see the money as soon as it's in your account.

Be wary of anyone who wants to pay for an expensive car (over £10k) in cash, as they may be trying to launder money.<hr /><h2 dir="ltr">Car tax scam emails</h2>What is it? The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has been battling scam messages pretending to be from the department for years. At the end of 2020, it released a number of examples of phishing emails after a 531% increase in reports of email scams. But this type of scam remains persistent due to its simplicity: fraudsters often send text-based emails in the style of genuine DVLA letters, duping people into thinking the payment for their car tax has failed or that the car is no longer taxed. There have also been a spate of text message based car tax scams. How does it work? The scam relies on people not checking the validity of the email or text carefully and not checking that the payment from their bank account has actually failed, and instead hurriedly making payment. The scammers give the emails convincing titles and can alter the sending address so it looks like the email has come from the DVLA, and has gov.uk at the end.

The email or text has a link to the criminal's bank account so you end up inadvertently paying them instead of the DVLA. Some scams also collect bank account and card details and use them to extract more money from the victims. How not to be scammed The DVLA states that it will never send emails or that ask you to confirm your personal details or payment information, so you can ignore any emails or texts you get that purport to be from them. Fake emails that pretend to be from any government department can be reported to the National Cyber Security Centre on <a href="mailto:report@phishing.gov.uk">report@phishing.gov.uk</a>. The fake websites they link to can then be investigated and removed to help prevent anyone from falling victim to them.<hr /><h2 dir="ltr">Car tax subscription scam websites</h2>What is it? Fake government websites that charge consumers for services that are usually free, or sign people up to fee-based subscription services when they’re trying to do things, such as renew their car tax or register themselves as the new owner of a car. How does it work? Con artists set up websites with names that are very similar to official Government ones for car tax and other services, so they appear next to the real ones in online searches. This means it’s an easy mistake to click on the fake website instead, and then you could end up paying them for a service you don’t want or need. We’ve recently found car tax websites that ask for your vehicle’s details and then instead of letting you buy your car tax, sign you up to a monthly subscription for car information costing up to £10 a month. Websites like this are offering completely unnecessary services and are charging for things the official sites offer for free.How not to be scammed Make sure you only use the official gov.uk websites whenever you want to do anything via the DVLA online. The website for car tax is <a href="https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax">https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax</a>. Double-check that the website you’ve chosen ends in gov.uk every time you visit it as there are many misleading third-party websites that charge extra fees in order to ‘help’ you apply for a driving licence or tax your vehicle. <hr /><h2 dir="ltr">Car park QR code scam</h2>What is it? Scammers stick their own QR codes onto car park pay machines, tricking drivers into sending them their bank details while they think they’re paying for parking. Around 1,200 scams relating to fake quick response (QR) codes have been investigated by Action Fraud in the last three years.How does it work? QR codes are used to enable people to pay for parking in many locations including train station car parks. Criminals create their own QR codes and stick these over the legitimate ones on car park payment boards. When people scan the fake code with their mobile phone they are directed to a website where they can enter their card details to pay for parking. The details are then used to take up to thousands of pounds from the bank account. One lady in Teesside lost thousands to QR code scammers. Although her bank initially blocked the payment to the scammers, they phoned her, posing as bank staff and took £13,000 from her account.

How not to be scammed A growing number of railway car park operators are removing QR codes from their payment machines to protect people from this type of fraud. If you do find a site with a QR code, and it looks like it may have been tampered with, see if there is another way to pay. The design of the QR code should match the business’s branding. If the branding or logo appears to be different, be suspicious. If you can peel a QR code sticker off, be wary as this may suggest it is fake. If the QR code is located somewhere other than on the actual metre or machine, it may also indicate it is fake.If you do use a QR code to pay for parking, ensure it takes you to a legitimate website. Check the website address (often called a URL) and ensure it matches the name of the car park operator. Also check that the website's URL starts with https:// because the 's' in that part of the address means it’s a secure site.If the car park provides payment via a specific parking payment app, download this from your app store and pay via this instead as it is far more secure.<hr /><h2 dir="ltr">Crash for cash</h2>What is it? This type of scam has been prevalent for some years. In its most common form, it involves criminals causing an accident, usually by crashing their vehicle into another one, in order to make a fraudulent insurance claim.  How does it work? The fraudster creates a scenario that will cause an accident, such as slamming on the brakes on their car unexpectedly to make the car behind drive into it, or flashing their headlights to let your vehicle pass them and then driving into it. Sometimes they use two vehicles, with the one in front driving erratically so the driver of the one behind it can blame the first driver for causing the crash. Another crash for cash tactic is for two criminals to stage a crash for their own cars, enabling them to make fraudulent claims for each vehicle.

There is also a variant of this scam known as clip for cash, in which the criminal will create a fake smashing sound and then claim that your car has damaged their vehicle, for example by knocking off a wing mirror, and demand money and intimidate the victim if they refuse to pay. As well as the trauma of being involved in one of these incidents, the victims are likely to have increased insurance premiums as a result of the claim against them. How not to be scammed Keep a good distance between your car and the one in front, and if the driver starts driving erratically increase this distance or consider taking a different route to get away from them. Also be wary at junctions and when someone flashes their lights to let your car go. If you do think you’ve been the victim of a crash for cash scam, don’t confront the criminals there and then. Act as you would in a real accident, gathering the other party’s details, taking photos and getting statements from any witnesses. Then report the incident to the police and your insurer, stating that you think it was a staged accident. You can also call the <a href="https://insurancefraudbureau.org/cheatline/">Insurance Fraud Bureau’s Cheatline on</a> 0800 422 0421.  <hr /><h2 dir="ltr">Ghost brokers</h2>What is it? Ghost car insurance brokers sell invalid car insurance policies to drivers at unrealistically low prices. The victims only discover they’ve been scammed when they try to make a claim on the policy. How does it work? The City of London Police have recently issued a warning to young drivers about the danger of being conned by a ghost insurance broker.

The scammers search for victims via social media or word of mouth, offering fake car insurance deals that are far cheaper than legitimate policies. After making a sale, the scammers send their victims fake insurance documents, or take out a real policy but falsify important details, such as the driver’s age, address, and driving history, to bring down the premium. How not to be scammed Only buy car insurance via bonafide companies, not via social media sites. Use online comparison websites to see which providers are offering the cheapest cover, and try some of  our money saving car insurance tips, such as buying cover up to three weeks before you need it, in order to make big savings. * Source: <a href="https://www.lloydsbankinggroup.com/media/press-releases/2023/lloyds-bank-2023/fraudsters-in-high-gear-as-number-of-vehicle-scams-soar.html">Lloyds Banking Group</a><hr />For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a><h2>Read more: <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/how-to-save-money-on-your-car-insurance/n1117">How to save money on your car insurance</a> &gt;&gt;</h2>

Most common car scams and how to avoid them

Cost of living car advice

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Sufficient range between charges to fit in with most people’s lifestyles – and in the real world, not on some far-fetched official test </li> <li>Quick charging times and compatibility with the most ubiquitous types of public charging points </li> <li>Priced to be within the grasp of more than just the privileged few </li> <li>As with any car, ride comfort, practicality and ownership costs can’t be ignored</li></ul>

We define an electric car as one that runs purely on battery power and has no tailpipe to puff out nasty chemicals.

The best of the breed offer sufficient range between charges to fit in with most people’s lifestyles – and in the real world, not on some far-fetched official test cycle.

Electric

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Low running costs compared with solely petrol or diesel equivalents</li> <li>Very low official CO2 emissions to benefit company car drivers</li> <li>The same usability as a regular car</li> <li>Smooth transition between electric and engine power</li> <li>Small practicality compromise over conventional models</li></ul>

Not so long ago, hybrids were the preserve of Hollywood stars, environmentally conscious 'early adopters' and the odd&nbsp;minicab driver looking to save a bit of money on fuel.

Since the collapse in demand for diesel, however, they have become&nbsp;much more popular, and it's easy to see why, with&nbsp;low tax bills and&nbsp;impressive MPG figures&nbsp;just a couple of the perks they offer.

There are two types of hybrid: 'self-charging'&nbsp;models, which mix petrol&nbsp;and electric power in an effort to maximise&nbsp;efficiency, and&nbsp;plug-in hybrids that can travel many miles purely on electricity before their engines need to cut in. This category is for the former type of cars.

Hybrid

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Usefully long electric-only range</li> <li>Exceedingly frugal</li> <li>Cheap company car tax rates</li> <li>Smooth switching between electric and petrol power</li></ul>

If you're not ready to commit to a fully electric vehicle&nbsp;but have the capacity to charge your car at home or at work, a plug-in hybrid could be the perfect compromise. Electric batteries paired with a petrol or diesel&nbsp;engine means you'll never be left short of charge&nbsp;but can capitalise on cheap running costs, thanks to a surprisingly long electric-only range.

There's plenty of choice, too, whether you're after a sporty saloon like the BMW 3 Series, the 330e variant of which providing up to 36 miles of electric-only driving on a full charge, or a large load-lugging large SUV, including the Volvo XC90 T8, which claims an extraordinary&nbsp;113mpg.

Throw in competent handling and driving prowess, despite the added weight of the electric batteries, and a plug-in hybrid&nbsp;makes a compelling case for frugal buyers.&nbsp;

Plug-in hybrid

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Spacious enough for four adults to sit comfortably</li> <li>Logically laid-out interior that doesn’t</li> <li>feel too cheap</li> <li>Mature driving manners </li> <li>Decent-sized boot</li> <li>Competitive buying and running costs</li></ul>

Small cars, or superminis as they’re also known, used to be bought almost exclusively as first cars or by people with no children – but the likes of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/fiesta/hatchback/review/n106">Ford Fiesta</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ibiza/hatchback/review/n17359">Seat Ibiza</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/polo/hatchback/review/n83">Volkswagen Polo</a> have grown to the point where they can be considered all-round family transport, albeit with the odd compromise.

Small

<h2>What we're looking for </h2><ul><li>Generous enough real-world range to fit most lifestyles</li> <li>Plenty of charging options and quick top-up times </li> <li>Usable space and strong practicality</li> <li>Comfortable ride that isn’t hindered by a heavy battery</li></ul>

With so many electric cars now on offer, we've split the smaller models from the larger ones to ensure that we're able to compare direct rivals.

As well as being adept at coping with city life, small electric cars need to be roomy enough for a couple of adults and able to drive a decent amount of miles between charges.&nbsp;

There are some great small electric cars to choose from. The affordable Seat Mii Electric proves you don't have to have break the bank to go green, the Renault Zoe has been improved in every area, making it a great small EV prospect, and the Kia e-Niro was named our overall 2019 Car of the Year.

Small Electric

<h2>What we're looking for </h2><ul><li>Long range and ultra-fast charging capability</li> <li>Luxurious and comfortable interior</li> <li>Smooth ride and capable handling</li> <li>Lots of high-tech driver aids</li> <li>Strong performance and great refinement</li></ul>

Large Electric

This class is all about SUVs that run purely on electricity. No petrol, no diesel and not even any hybrid technology.

Relatively low-cost options include the MG ZS EV, but you can easily spend three times as much on more luxurious alternatives, such as the BMW iX.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Electric SUV

With fuel prices rising across the country, we've gathered everything you need to know about saving money on running costs into one place

Saving money

A former motorsport team and independent tuning company, Abarth has long&nbsp;produced high performance versions of Fiat's cars.

In recent years, Abarth has been established&nbsp;as a standalone brand – in the same way that Citroën split off its DS luxury division several years ago. However, the major difference is that DS cars look completely different from the Citroëns on which they’re based, whereas Abarths rely on bodykits and big wheels to mark them out.

The Abarth 500e is a sporty version of the Fiat 500 Electric, whilst the Abarth 595 is a beefed-up version of the older Fiat 500 hatchback.

ABARTH

Munich-based BMW is most famous for its sports saloons, in particular the 3 Series and 5 Series. However, it actually builds almost every type of car imaginable: everything from two-seat convertibles to seven-seat MPVs.

The cheapest model in the BMW range is the 1 Series hatchback, which is a rival to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf. Meanwhile, at the other extreme is the M8&nbsp;grand tourer, which costs more than £120,000.

BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has ten in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7 and XM, plus the electric iX3 and iX.

All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

BYD is one of the biggest names in electric cars globally, but only launched in the UK recently.

Even so, it has a fast-growing dealer network, and it's models - most notably the Tesla Model 3-rivalling Seal - are gaining attention for impressive tech and good driving ranges.

Other BYDs include the MG4-sized Dolphin and Nissan Qashqai-sized Atto 3.

Citroën is probably most famous for its quirky design, and the latest cars from the brand live up to this tradition. In fact, it&nbsp;tends to keep away from sportiness altogether and instead tries to put comfort first.

Value (but not cheapness) is also key to the appeal of most Citroëns. And the company’s range includes everything from a tiny EV (the Ami) through to the C3 small hatchback and&nbsp;the large van-based&nbsp;Spacetourer MPV.

Its range of SUVs are all badged Aircross, and like the rest of its range place emphasis on comfort, not speed.

CITROEN

The sportiest Seats have long used the&nbsp;Cupra name, but it's now been turned into a standalone sub-brand, in much the same way as Fiat's sportiest models are badged as Abarths.

Like Abarth, some of Cupra's models including the Ateca and Leon are extensively reworked Seats, but models such as the Born and Formentor are exclusive to Cupra.

Whilst Cupras are closely related to equivalent models from Seat and Volkswagen, they are generally tuned to provide a more engaging driving experience.

CUPRA

If you want a new car but would rather not spend much, Dacia is a great place to start your search.

This budget brand builds some of Britain’s cheapest new cars, including the Sandero hatchback. And don’t think cheap automatically means corners have been cut, because the Sandero has been commended at the annual What Car? Car of the Year awards on numerous occasions.

Other Dacia models include the&nbsp;higher-riding Sandero Stepway, seven-seat Jogger, and rugged Duster SUV. And while these cost slightly more than the Sandero, they’re still priced aggressively enough that they’re really only competing directly with used cars.

Dacia manages this by borrowing mechanicals and technology from its owner, Renault, to minimise development costs.

DACIA

DS has only existed as a standalone manufacturer since 2015&nbsp;(prior to that the badge was used on upmarket&nbsp;Citroëns), but it is now the premium brand in the Stellantis group, which also includes&nbsp;Citroën, Peugeot and Vauxhall.

The first DS models were essentially rebadged Citroëns, but more recently its cars are now standalone models in their own right. Yet under the skin, they're still very closely related.

Its models are&nbsp;influenced by the French fashion industry and are designed&nbsp;to take on the ubiquitous offerings of Audi, BMW and Mercedes.

Modern Fiats fall into two categories: the retro models and those with more functional designs.

Cars in the first camp appeal to the heart and include the 124 Spider sports car and the 500 series: a hatchback, a convertible, an SUV and two MPVs.

By contrast, the remaining models rely on their practicality and attractive pricing, with the Panda city car, Tipo hatchback and Fullback pick-up truck all prime examples.

Fiat can trace its roots back to the 19th century but is now part of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles group, along with Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Jeep and Maserati.

FIAT

Ford builds some of the most popular cars in the UK, including the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks.

This success is partly down to longevity and the fact that there’s a Ford dealer around every corner. However, it’s also because Fords tend to offer good value and be among the best cars in their respective classes to drive.

The company’s huge range also helps; it offers everything from the small – but surprisingly practical – Ka+ to the large and lavishly equipped Edge SUV.

Meanwhile, other highlights of the range include the S-Max and Galaxy people carriers, the Mondeo executive car and the Ranger pick-up.

FORD

GENESIS

GWM ORA

Honda is a company that doesn’t like to follow the crowd. So, while it competes in most of the traditional sectors of the car market, in each case it does something a little bit different.

The Jazz, for example, might look like just another rival to Britain’s best-selling car, the Ford Fiesta, but it’s actually much more practical than its rivals, with a flexible boot and Tardis-like interior.

The bigger Civic is also a practical choice, but it’s mainly distinguished by having eye-catching, love-it-or-hate-it styling, despite competing in a sector of the market that’s usually more conservative than a blue rosette.

And while it may not seem so radical now, Honda’s large SUV, the CR-V, was one of the first to forego any pretence of being an off-roader and instead focus on on-road driving dynamics.

HONDA

Hyundai has transformed itself from a maker of oddball hatchbacks that sold in small numbers in the UK, to a major rival to the likes of Ford, Vauxhall and Volkswagen.

The Korean firm’s Ioniq Hybrid is particularly impressive, having beaten the trend-setting Toyota Prius when we tested the cars back to back.

Meanwhile, at the extremes of the Hyundai range you find the tiny i10 city car – a four-time What Car? award winner – and the stylish yet family-friendly Santa Fe SUV.

As a bonus, all of these cars come with the reassurance of a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, whereas most of Hyundai’s rivals offer only three years and 60,000 miles of cover.

HYUNDAI

Jaguars are consistently among the best-handling cars of their kind, with the firm’s model range encompassing the XE, XF and XJ saloons, the F-Type sports cars and multiple SUVs.

Jaguar was actually relatively late to launch its first SUV, the F-Pace, but it quickly followed it up with the smaller E-Pace and the all-electric I-Pace.

That SUV range will keep growing, too, with larger and more luxurious SUVs planned to take on the Porsche Cayenne and the Range Rover from sister brand Land Rover.

JAGUAR

Jeep only makes SUVs, but it has plenty of them for you to choose from. So, whether you want something rugged enough to ford streams and climb mountains, or a more luxurious and family-friendly car, it has something to suit you.

Despite its all-American image, Jeep is actually owned by Fiat, meaning Jeeps often share parts with cars from the Italian giant; the entry-level Renegade, for example, has plenty in common with Fiat’s 500X.

However, perhaps the most widely recognised Jeep is the Wrangler, a model that has a dedicated fan base and which closely resembles the original Jeep which saw service in World War 2.

The brand’s future plans include new small and large SUVs, plus the introduction of fully electric models.

JEEP

In the same way that Infiniti acts as Nissan’s premium arm, Lexus has a similar tie-in with Toyota. And since most of Toyota’s models are offered as hybrids, it’s no surprise to see the same from Lexus, although there are some traditional petrol engines, too.

The brand focuses heavily on SUVs – namely the NX and RX – but also has the CT hatchback, ES executive saloon and LS luxury car among its portfolio. More small and large SUVs are expected in the future.

Like Toyota, Lexus has built a very strong reputation for reliability and regularly finishes very close to the top of our annual Reliability Survey.

LEXUS

Fancy something small, lightweight and fast? Then Lotus possibly has the right car for you. In fact ‘simplify then add lightness’ was the mantra of company founder Colin Chapman as far back as 1952.

These days, Lotus sells four models, with the core of the range being the Elise. Then there’s the more hardcore 3-Eleven, the sporty Exige and the Evora – which is pitched as a rival to the Porsche Cayman.

Big changes are afoot, though, because Lotus plans to build its own SUV in the near future, with the hope of broadening the brand’s appeal to families. The planned car will use Volvo underpinnings and will tackle rivals such as the Porsche Macan and Maserati Levante.

LOTUS

Mazda can be summed up in a single word: bold. Not only do its cars generally look like nothing else on the market, but it’s also invested heavily in innovative engine technology.

So, while many car makers have moved to smaller turbocharged engines, Mazda instead offers larger motors that are still efficient. For example, the entry-level petrol option in the Mazda 3 is a 2.0-litre unit –&nbsp;far larger than what you’ll find in most rivals – but it remains very clean.

Highlights of Mazda’s line-up include the MX-5 sports car, which has won our Convertible of the Year Award multiple times, and the CX-5 large SUV, which was named as our inaugural best car for dog owners.

MAZDA

Mercedes’ line-up is vast – ranging from the A-Class family hatchback through to staple saloons such as the C-Class and E-Class, and onwards towards multiple SUVs, luxury saloons and even sports cars. Coupés and convertibles are thrown into the mix as well.

As one of the ‘big three’ German brands, Mercedes most often finds itself competing with Audi and BMW but more recently has found itself fending off Jaguar and Volvo, too.

Mercedes models are known for comfort. One example of this is the E-Class, because while the Audi A6 has a plusher interior and the BMW 5 Series handles better, the E-Class is probably the most comfortable for a long motorway journey.

MERCEDES-BENZ

MG has a long heritage in the UK, and while these days it is owned by Chinese firm SAIC, it is slowly but surely beefing up its model range.

Kicking things off is the MG 3, a rival for affordable hatchbacks such as the Dacia Sandero and Skoda Fabia. Then there’s the ZS small SUV, which faces off against the likes of the Renault Captur and Seat Arona. And at the top of the range is the GS, which goes up against Dacia’s Duster and the Ssangyong Tivoli.

While any future MG products are likely to be introduced in China before coming to the UK, design work is still undertaken in the UK. MG’s design studio is based at Longbridge, where the brand made its name with models such as the MGB GT.

MG MOTOR UK

Talk about taking an idea and running with it. The big-selling Mini hatchback is still at the core of the firm’s range, but its cute styling and relatively compact dimensions have been spun off into an estate (the Clubman) and an SUV (the Countryman), as well as a convertible.

Despite its small size, the Mini is a firmly premium product, and the three-door hatchback counts the Audi A1 and Volkswagen Polo among its key rivals.

The fact that Mini is owned by BMW brings some big advantages –&nbsp;not least the fact that its infotainment system is based on BMW’s industry-leading iDrive.

MINI

Nissan turned up early to the SUV party, with its Qashqai paving the way for the countless models we see today. The Qashqai continues to sell in big numbers in the UK, too, and was also our overall Car of the Year in 2014.

Don’t think Nissan is just about SUVs, though. As well as the Qashqai, the smaller Juke and the larger X-Trail, the Japanese brand has the Micra hatchback, GT-R sports car and Navara pick-up truck.

Nissan was also one of the first big car makers to launch a fully electric car, with its latest Leaf being one of the best on the market.

Despite being based in Japan, Nissan has long committed to building cars in the UK, making several of its best-selling models at a huge factory in Sunderland.

NISSAN

Peugeot has its strongest model line-up for some years, with some of its cars now rated by our testers as being among the very best available.

Highlights focus around the firm’s newest SUVs, the 3008 and 5008. The 5008 was named Large SUV of the Year at the 2018 What Car? Awards, thanks to its appealing blend of space, interior quality and low running costs.

That bodes well for future launches, too, because many of the learnings from these cars will be passed on as new versions of existing cars are launched – something that could take many years, because the Peugeot range is so big, ranging from an entry-level supermini with the 108 to an executive saloon with the 508, up into the SUV range and also vans.

Buyers should evaluate some of the lower-rated cars in the range more carefully, though. Some are now quite old, and are subsequently left behind in terms of quality when compared with the opposition, making them below-average buys, in our estimation.

PEUGEOT

Polestar is a relative newcomer to the new car market, having been born as a motorsport team later bought by Volvo. Today it produces a range of upmarket, fully-electric vehicles and as a brand now sits independently of Volvo.

Its models are given numerical names, and unusually these don’t denote the size of the model, rather they indicate the order in which they’re launched. The now-discontinued Polestar 1 was the firm’s first model and the Polestar 2 is an executive hatchback which is a direct rival for the Tesla Model 3. The Polestar 3 is an electric SUV, Polestar 4 a coupé and Polestar 5 a performance car.

Polestar has a focus on sustainability: in 2020 was the first car maker to release a study to show the carbon footprint of its cars, and in 2021 it started a project to ensure rare-Earth materials such as cobalt – used in many electric car batteries – are sourced responsibly.

POLESTAR

Porsche is best known as the quintessential sports car maker, but its line-up is increasingly diverse, interesting and successful, from its SUV family to the Panamera hatchback and shooting brake and, in time, a planned family of electric vehicles.

Whatever your choice, What Car?’s testers rate the cars highly; Porsche has an unusually high percentage of five and four-star cars.

Without exception, its sports cars are class leaders or among the class leaders, standing out for combining driving thrills with surprising luxury and comfort. Likewise, its SUVs are among the sharpest handling, as well as offering high levels of practicality and quality. Meanwhile, the Panamera is a true rival to the very best large executive saloons.

Porsche also sees itself as an electric car pioneer and has already enjoyed sales success with its plug-in hybrid range. Its first all-electric sports car is imminent, signalling the firm’s intent to stay relevant for many years to come.

PORSCHE

Hatchbacks, SUVs, hybrids, electric cars: Renault makes them all, in a variety of shapes and sizes, meaning&nbsp;it has a line-up designed to tempt pretty much everyone.

From the roadside, the standout feature of all its cars is design, with them instantly recognisable as members of the Renault family, without being so similar that they fall&nbsp;into the Russian doll trap. However, in terms of ability they're a mixed bag,&nbsp;ranging&nbsp;from very good to no better than average.

Models that fall into the former camp include the Clio small hatchback and Megane E-Tech electric car, while the smaller Zoe electric car is also impressive in most respects; it's just a pity Renault omits key safety kit.

On the other hand, the Captur, Arkana and Austral SUVs are all outclassed by several rivals.

Renault has some exciting new models planned, including a new Scenic (this time it will be an electric SUV instead of a conventionally powered MPV) and two cars that reimagine classic Renaults: the 4 and 5.

RENAULT

Today, the resurgent Seat brand is selling better cars than at any time in its history.

In large part, that’s because it is one of the brands owned by the VW Group. Underneath, all of the cars it sells are strongly related to similar models sold by Volkswagen itself, or the likes of Skoda and even Audi. If you are buying a Leon, for example, the hardware will be similar to that of the Golf, Octavia and A3.

But while Seat makes the most of this tie-up to offer everything from city, small and family cars, including estates, through to a full range of SUVs, it also adds in its own slice of character, both with its distinctive styling approach and because its engineers generally tune the cars to deliver sportier handling.

While all of its cars are decent, it is the SUVs that stand out. The Arona and Ateca are among the class leaders and have enjoyed triumphs at the What Car? Awards.

SEAT

Owned by Mercedes-Benz and with a reputation for making small, clever cars, Smart offers a striking, upmarket alternative to more conventional rivals.

It currently has a two-car line-up, the smaller of the two being the distinctive Fortwo, which, as its name suggests, is an ultra-short two-seater that uses an unusual rear-engined configuration to deliver the sort of turning circle that even London taxis can only dream of. It's a doddle to park in small spaces, too.

Smart's 'family car' is the Forfour, which is little more than a stretched version of the Fortwo, with a second row of seats and a larger boot. It's more of a natural rival for cars like the Hyundai i10 or Kia Picanto.

On paper, both cars come at a considerable price premium when compared with rivals, something it says is justified by its badge appeal and the technology in the cars.&nbsp;However, sales have been slow and there are often keen Target Price deals to be found.

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