Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2025 i What Car?

American author Robert A Heinlein famously said:“Ability is a wonderful thing, but it’s greatly enhanced by dependability.” And while he was referring to people, the sentiment applies equally to cars, making this issue of What Car? one of the year’s most important. You see, the results of our 2025 Reliability Survey (revealed from page 36) show that the gap between the most and least dependable choices is bigger than ever; some models suffered no faults at all, but at the other end of the scale, one of the UK’s best sellers let down more than four-fifths of owners. Survey respondents didn’t just tell us about the number of faults their cars suffered, either. They also revealed the cost of the repairs and the time it took to make them. So,…

LOVE AND MARRIAGE, someone once sang, go together like a horse and carriage. It has always seemed like the Mercedes-AMG GT and muscular V8 power were a similar match made in heaven, and a pairing not to be tinkered with. To that end, it might seem odd that the brand has also decided to offer its brawny flagship sports car with the same engine that you’ll find in the A45 hot hatchback. In place of the usual 4.0-litre V8 (which continues in the GT 55 and above) is a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with mild hybrid electrical assistance. But although it’s small, it sure is mighty. With 429bhp on tap, 0-62mph is over in 4.6sec; you’re pushed back in you seat with some force, even if the GT 43 isn’t…

FITTINGLY, THE NEW Hyundai Concept Three previews the future of Hyundai on three levels. First, this sleek electric hatchback gives us a good idea of what the brand’s answer to the Cupra Born and Volkswagen ID 3 will look like when it goes on sale next year. Second, while it was rumoured that the production car in question was going to be called the Ioniq 2, it’s now safe to assume it will actually be the Ioniq 3. And third, the Concept Three tells us about the future look of Hyundais more generally, because it’s the first car to feature the brand’s new ‘Art of Steel’ design language. Now, of course, the bodies of most cars are made from steel; this isn’t something that’s unique to Hyundai. But what is…

YOU COULD ARGUE that a Jeep without four-wheel drive is like a Bond film that lacks any lavish locations, shaken (not stirred) vodka martinis or “Bond, James Bond” introductions. It’s an inherent part of Jeep’s off-road image, yet one that’s been missing from its smallest model, the Avenger, until now. In the Avenger 4xe, a 1.2-litre petrol engine and an electric motor drive the front wheels just like in the regular version. A second electric motor – powered by the car’s 48-volt mild hybrid electrical system – drives the rear wheels when required. Unlike in most Jeeps, there’s no driveshaft connecting the front and rear axles. You can feel the rear motor providing extra traction as you accelerate off the line, but because it produces only 28bhp, that feeling is…

THE PHRASE ‘CHEAP and cheerful’ means something that’s inexpensive but still good, and it’s one that comes to mind at the mention of the new Chery Tiggo 7, which aims to put buyers into a cheery mood with its keen pricing. So much so that ‘cheery’ is literally where the brand name is derived from. We’ve seen several Chinese brands barrel onto the scene in recent times, but what sets Chery apart is that it isn’t arriving with limited prior experience. You see, while you might not have heard the name before, Chery is China’s second-oldest car maker, one of the world’s biggest car companies and the owner of two other Chinese brands that have recently arrived in the UK: Jaecoo and Omoda. There are two versions of the Tiggo…

1035 The power output in bhp of the new 849 Testarossa – the most powerful production Ferrari yet. With 49bhp more than its SF90 Stradale predecessor, the 849 Testarossa can slingshot from 0-62mph in just 2.35sec. 68 The percentage of UK drivers who admit neglecting routine car maintenance, according to a poll by Uswitch. Of those drivers, 41% cited a lack of time as the reason for putting off tasks such as servicing and tyre checks. 749 The distance in miles covered by a Mercedes-Benz EQS without stopping to recharge in a test of new prototype ‘solid state’ battery tech. The electric saloon’s current official range is up to 481 miles. The EQS reportedly had 85 miles of range left after driving from Stuttgart in Germany to Malmö, Sweden.…

THE USED CAR market is at its most buoyant since before the Covid pandemic, with more than four million second-hand vehicles snapped up in the first half of this year. Alongside this, there’s been an increase in the number of electric and hybrid cars available, giving buyers more options than ever. That’s reflected in the fact that our 2025 What Car? Reliability Survey has given us data on a record 227 models – up 12% on last year – from 30 brands. This survey – conducted in association with MotorEasy – isn’t just useful if you’re buying used, though. It reports on the experiences of 32,493 owners over the past 24 months, with many of these people telling us about current-generation models. So, whether you’re buying new or used, we…

YOU WANT TO FEEL virtuous, right? To join the electric bandwagon and feel like you’re doing the right thing for our planet, but… and the ‘but’ in this case is that dreaded word ‘range’. It’s less worrisome these days because many affordable electric vehicles (EV) can do many more miles between charges than once was the case. So, your day-to-day needs – getting to work and back or weekend trips – are, generally, a breeze. But what about those occasions outside of the norm, such as a family holiday to Cornwall? Well, that’s what this test is all about. Here are three electric family SUVs with an official range of at least 300 miles, ready to simulate a summer road trip from Twickenham – where the What Car? office is…

Mileage 4656 List price £26,995 Best Price £24,985 Price as tested £27,395 Test range 204 miles SOME OF MY colleagues were shocked when I said I was going to drive to Belgium in my Renault 5. After all, it’s not exactly a luxury car that feels designed to eat up motorway miles. However, the R5 proved extremely comfortable, thanks to its supportive front seats. What’s more, it has good acceleration and can cruise without straining at 80mph on European motorways. A 200-mile range at motorway speeds did mean I had to stop twice to charge up on my 230-mile journey to Belgium – once in Calais and then just outside Antwerp. But while the car’s peak charging rate of 100kW is nothing special, the fact that its battery isn’t huge…

Mileage 3021  List price £43,215 Best price £43,215 Price as tested £47,310 Test economy 34.0mpg I THINK MY Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport was partially inspired by the Robert Louis Stevenson novel about Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. You see, this is a car with two very distinct characters. On one hand, it’s a sensible family hatchback. And on the other, it can transform into something altogether darker and more exciting. As an example, one weekend recently I was driving from London up to where my partner lives in Stoke-on-Trent, and this being a lovely summer’s evening when the sun was shining and the traffic was clearing, I decided to exit the motorway early and round off the journey on some of Staffordshire’s country roads. Like Dr Jekyll glugging down his…

Mileage 1894 List price £38,660 Best price £33,840 Price as tested £44,485 Test range 293 miles SINCE MY PREVIOUS update, I’ve covered more than 1000 miles in my Skoda Elroq electric SUV, which is the equivalent of driving from London to Madrid. True, I can’t say I’ve completed this specific journey (as much as I would like to). Instead, my four-figure total has been largely made up of driving long journeys around the UK, as well as shorter daily trips. This has been a good test, not just for the car, but also – rather selfishly – for me. You see, as I mentioned last time, I’ve never owned an electric car before and was intrigued to see how the Elroq fits into my lifestyle. So far, I can say…

IF THE LATEST Nissan Micra were a person, it would be the performer who had to go on after rock’n’ roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis had just set fire to his piano. Such is the tough act the Micra has to follow, its close relative, the Renault 5 (R5) having well and truly stolen the limelight. Indeed, the Micra shares its underpinnings, batteries and motors with the R5, a car that – quite rightly – has received a lot of plaudits, including being named What Car? Car of the Year in 2025. Other rivals include the Fiat 500e and Mini Cooper Electric. And like those models (and indeed the R5), the Micra looks to the past for its design inspiration; its elliptical headlights and round tail-lights are a nod to…

THE SMALL ELECTRIC SUV party is in full swing, with more revellers joining all the time, and the upcoming Volkswagen ID Cross is unlikely to have trouble getting past the bouncers. What’s more, following the unveiling of the all-new ID Cross concept, we already have a very good idea of how it’ll be dressed for the occasion. After VW’s recent decision to name models in its electric ID range after their corresponding combustion-engined stablemates, the ID Cross aligns with the VW T-Cross small SUV, making it a rival to the Citroën e-C3 Aircross, Ford Puma Gen-E and Smart #1. The ID Cross was initially envisaged as an SUV version of the ID 2all concept, which will be called ID Polo in production form. No battery capacities have been revealed for…

THE ADVENT OF the sports SUV turned the game of going fast into one the whole family could enjoy, and there are options to suit most tastes and budgets. To access the upper echelons, though, you need to patronise one of the ultra-luxury premium brands. Aston Martin is one such name, and the storied British marque just happens to offer the most powerful non-electrified SUV on the market, the DBX S. Borrowing technology from the brand’s upcoming Valhalla supercar, the DBX S’s twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine has 20bhp more than the previous top-dog DBX, the 707, for a total of 717bhp. That’s 2bhp more than the 6.5-litre V12 Ferrari Purosangue can muster, and quite a lot more than the 4.0-litre V8 Lamborghini Urus Performante’s 657bhp. While the DBX S’s…

WE EUROPEANS LOVE estate cars. Sure, the global demand for them has dwindled against the increasing popularity of SUVs, but – of the wagons still on the market – almost two in three are bought in our neck of the woods. The Chinese aren’t so fussed; they buy barely a tenth of the number sold in Europe. However, that nation’s BYD is looking to continue its European charm offensive with this: the Seal 6. It’s available as a saloon or a Touring estate; the latter is expected to be more popular, and it’s this version we’re focusing on here. Unlike most BYD models, the Seal 6 isn’t a fully electric car. It’s a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and closely related to the Seal U SUV. In terms of competition, the PHEV…

WITH THE EXCEPTION of“Going anywhere nice on your holidays?”, perhaps the most commonly heard phrase in hairdressers and barbers is“Just the usual, please”. People typically expect to come out with a fresh version of the same hairstyle they’re known for. The same can be said for Mercedes-Benz. For more than a century, all Mercedes models have been fitted with a large and rather stately rectangular grille. Even so, everyone likes to try out a new quiff or colour every now and then, and Mercedes has done exactly that for its latest model: the GLC with EQ Technology. In plain English, this is the first electric version of Mercedes’ best-selling SUV. Built from the ground up as an fully electric model, it will rival the Audi Q6 e-tron, upcoming second-generation BMW…

JLR feeling the effects of cyber attack Jaguar Land Rover factories were shut down and dealers are struggling to source parts for servicing and repairs JAGUAR LAND ROVER (JLR) dealerships are unable to order in new car parts as a result of a cyber attack that hit the company in September. That means full servicing and repairs can’t be carried out on customers’ cars. Dealerships are still able to conduct services to update a car’s digital records if it’s due for its annual check. However, they are currently relying on the parts they already have in stock. Therefore, repairs and changes can be carried out only when they have the correct parts on site, or can borrow the parts from other dealerships. It’s unclear when dealerships will be able to…

THERE’S BEEN A big shake-up in the brands at the top of the reliability league table this year. Honda has toppled Mini and taken pole position for the first time in seven years; strong performances from the latest Civic, HR-V and Jazz all helped to tip the scales in the brand’s favour. Mini still did well, though, taking second position; its secret weapon this year was the hatchback, which bagged an impressive score of 99.1%. Suzuki takes third place, bolstered by strong showings from the latest S-Cross and the 2017-2024 Swift. Toyota, meanwhile, has moved up from fifth to fourth, but its premium sister brand, Lexus, has dropped to ninth, due to battery issues that have plagued the LBX. There are also three new entrants to the top 10. Vauxhall…

OVER THE SUMMER, it was nearly impossible to ignore KPop Demon Hunters’ meteoric rise in popularity to become the most-watched film of all time on Netflix, with more than 200 million streams. As a result, it didn’t take long for social media to be flooded with covers of the catchy songs. Of course, the quality of those covers varied greatly, but the key to success was knowing exactly how much to edit something that was already considered brilliant. It’s a similar issue faced by car makers when they facelift models that are already outstanding; they run the risk of spoiling a good thing in the pursuit of the latest design and tech. Kia, though, appears to have erred on the side of caution with the latest Sportage. A facelift for…

THE IDEA THAT space is the ultimate luxury has been expressed by philosophers, architects and even a pastry chef. And if it’s a sentiment you agree with, chances are you’ll love my new Mazda CX-80, given that this seven-seat SUV is about as roomy as the average airship hangar. But, at the same time, if you think luxury has more to do with craftsmanship and material quality, this car’s interior should still win you over, because the standard of assembly is exceptional, and all of the major surfaces are made from swish plastics or covered in leather. True, Mazda’s quality has long been good, so this isn’t surprising. However, I find it refreshing that it’s maintaining its standards at a time when a lot of premium brands aren’t; for example,…

WILL THE TESLA Model 3 open electric vehicle (EV) ownership to the masses or prove to be an over-hyped fad? That was the big question posed by What Car? in 2016 as we eagerly awaited the arrival of this futuristic American import that promised to save the planet – and look cool doing it. For a while, catching sight of a Tesla was a real ‘Wow!’ moment, like spotting a Ferrari F40 or Jaguar E-Type. Today, though, you can’t cross the street (or order an Uber) without tripping over a Model 3. One of the millions of cars to have rolled off a Tesla production line is my new, used car: a 2019 Performance version with around 40,000 all-electric miles on the clock. Almost as astonishing as the fact that…

ON SALE FROM 2016-present PRICE FROM £8000 OUR FAVOURITE VERSION 2.0T 280 Veloce THESE DAYS, CAR parks all over the country are awash with SUVs and executive cars from the big German premium brands. So, what do you choose if you want something a little different? Enter the Italian Alfa Romeo Giulia. First launched in the UK in 2016, its exotic styling still catches the eye, and it’s earned a reputation as a real driver’s car. It’s particularly fruity in Quadrifoglio (QV) form, with power from a 2.9-litre V6 with engineering links to Ferrari, but all Giulias handle well. There are 2.2-litre diesels in either 148bhp or 177bhp guises, as well as 2.0-litre petrols with 197bhp and 276bhp. All engines are paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. From 2020, the…

Jeep Wrangler 2018-present GENERAL PURPOSE. Common belief has it that those two words, when abbreviated to GP and then further shortened, brought the Jeep moniker into the world. Willys Overland’s World War II wonder fitted just that description; it was a car, a delivery vehicle, a gun platform and much more, with four-wheel drive and a ‘bring it on’ attitude to crawling through mud. When the war came to an end, demand for the Jeep didn’t. Its maker rightly saw potential in a civilian Jeep (or CJ), and full production of a slightly less utilitarian version began in 1945. The rest is history. Jeep evolved from a model to a marque, and the name soon became synonymous with off-road vehicles and SUVs, to the possible chagrin of other popular brands.…

WHEN MARVEL’S IRON Man film came out in 2008, it reset the bar for what a superhero film could be. In the same vein, the new, second-generation BMW iX3 is intended to not only showcase the best technology that the German brand can offer, but also set the template for a new generation of models. And straight out of the gate, the iX3 delivers a sucker punch to its electric SUV rivals, with an official electric range of 500 miles for the 50 xDrive – the sole variant available at launch. That figure is a huge improvement on the original iX3’s official range of up to 292 miles and makes the new model the longest-range electric vehicle (EV) available in the UK. It’s more than 100 miles farther than the…

A POLE STAR is crucial in celestial navigation; it’s a fixed reference point near the Earth’s north or south pole. And the new Polestar 5 performance car lives up to the brand’s name in being a guiding model in the Swedish firm’s line-up; it ushers in new tech and pushes Polestar farther upmarket. Indeed, the 5 is the first model to be based on a fresh set of underpinnings that are exclusive to Polestar; they won’t be shared with Volvo, Polestar’s sister brand, or Lotus, another company owned by Polestar’s parent, Chinese giant Geely. Fully developed here in the UK, that tech will support the Polestar 5 in its two guises: Dual Motor and Performance. For the longest range, you’ll want to opt for the former, which can officially travel…

JUST AS JEANS are a staple item of clothing in many people’s wardrobes, the Audi A6 is a long-established choice among executive car buyers. But while denim never seems to go out of fashion, the new A6 has arrived at a moment when the latest BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class have been trending for a while. To help it compete with its perennial rivals, the A6 line-up is simple but comprehensive, giving you the option of petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) power. We’ve yet to try the petrol, but the 201bhp diesel has plenty of low-down grunt and is slightly punchier than the equivalent Mercedes E220d (0-62mph officially takes 0.7sec less). It’ll be more than nippy enough for most. The 295bhp e-Hybrid PHEV, though, will be the pick…

THE RENAULT CLIO is a household name. It’s the best-selling car in Europe, and we reckon its popularity is justified. Indeed, we named the current Clio the best small car you can buy at the 2025 What Car? Awards. That means this new, sixth-generation model has a lot to live up to. Whereas the outgoing car’s styling was a subtle evolution of the model that went before it, the new model is a marked departure. Slightly longer, taller and wider, it trades curves for sharp edges, with a bigger, more aggressive front grille and a coupé-style sloping roofline. Peel off the striking new skin and you’ll find a revision of the same underpinnings as the outgoing car. However, there are some notable upgrades. The previous entry-level 1.2-litre TCe 90 (89bhp)…

SKODA HAS UNVEILED a brand new concept car, called Vision O, and – as its name subtly hints – it gives us a glimpse into the Skoda Octavia Estate’s electric future. Having been first introduced back in 1998, the Octavia will be the first of Skoda’s legacy models to make the switch to electric power. Currently, Skoda’s only pure electric models are the Elroq and Enyaq SUVs – designed as electric vehicles (EVs) from the outset. Technical details have yet to be confirmed, but we expect the Vision O to be based on the VW Group’s new SSP underpinnings. Those initials stand for Scalable Systems Platform, meaning the technology can be adapted to suit various vehicle sizes – including the eventual Elroq and Enyaq replacements. In fact, the same technology…

Would you like to be part of a future Reader Test Team? Email us with your details at readertestteam@whatcar.com Check out other electric cars in our buyer’s guide on p108 THE NISSAN LEAF family hatchback is one of the most important models for the Japanese brand. Credited with helping to bring electric vehicles (EVs) into the mainstream, two generations of Leaf have won a loyal following, despite the advent of newer rivals that could go farther on a charge. With such capable models as the recently launched Kia EV3 and Skoda Elroq to contend with, the third-generation Leaf needs to impress with its range, practicality, style – and pricing. On the latter front, the Leaf is expected to start at around £32,000 and qualify for the Government’s full £3750 Electric Car…

‘A GAME Of two halves’ is a concept familiar to any football fan: one team dominates the first 45 minutes, while the other becomes top dog in the second. And in a way, that sums up what it’s been like to live with my Audi Q6 e-tron. At times it’s felt like a high-flying Liverpool; on other occasions it’s been more Accrington Stanley. Who are they? Exactly. The first few months were marred by frequent bongs and error messages, which really undermined my confidence in the car. These were reduced in number by a physical software update, while incremental over-the-air updates improved the situation further. However, on a recent visit to Audi’s factory to drive the Q6 Sportback, an engineer told me a further software update due later this year…

Mileage 1095 List price £53,845 Best price £47,845 Price as tested £56,175 Test range 262 miles THE CHAIN CAME off my e-bike the other day, and I was mortified to discover that getting it back in place – a task that should have been simple – proved beyond my capabilities. With the bike being unrideable, I had little choice but to load it into the back of my Cupra Tavascan and take it to a cycle shop for some expert help. I was confident the bike would fit into the boot without any difficulties. After all, I’d previously managed to squeeze the same bike into the back of a Mazda MX-30 – a significantly smaller car – and the Tavascan’s boot is large and quite tall, despite the sloping rear…

Mileage 3410 List price £84,470 Best price na Price as tested £96,033 Test economy 28.3mpg THE LAND ROVER Defender has one of the broadest price ranges of any car currently on sale. You can buy an entry-level Defender 90 for £57,135, a more practical and better-specified 110 D350 like my car for around £96,000, or really push the boat out and spend £150,000 on the range-topping Octa version. So, does the Octa really justify its huge premium over my car? Well, visually you might think the changes aren’t dramatic enough. Although the Octa has flared wheel arches and a 28mm increase in ground clearance, not many people gave it a second glance on the Defender-infested roads around London and Surrey. That’s despite our test car being fitted with diamond-turned 20in…

HAVING STRUCK GOLD with a hybrid-powered family car recipe, in the Prius, as well as seeing big success with hybrid versions of the RAV4 family SUV, it was only logical that Toyota should apply the same thinking to a small SUV. And, in 2022, just that happened, with the release of the Yaris Cross. Meanwhile, despite the all-electric Leaf family car cementing Nissan as a leader in electrification, that brand was caught napping by its Japanese compatriots; its own small SUV, the distinctive Juke, didn’t get hybrid power for another six months. Today, having been on sale for a few years, both cars make tempting used buys. They’re closely matched for performance and practicality, but how do they compare in terms of efficiency, build quality and reliability? We’re testing them…