Hatchback

<p dir="ltr">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.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The A3 hatchback, A4 executive saloon and Q7 SUV have all won their classes at the What Car? Car of the Year Awards in recent years, while the TT coupé is the most decorated car in the history of the ceremony.</p>

<p dir="ltr">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.</p>

<p dir="ltr">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.</p>


AUDI

<p dir="ltr">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.</p>

<p dir="ltr">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 i8 plug-in hybrid sports car, which costs more than £100,000.</p>

<p dir="ltr">BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has six in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and X6.</p>

<p dir="ltr">All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.</p>


<p dir="ltr">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 PSA Group, which also includes&nbsp;Citroën, Peugeot and Vauxhall.</p>

<p dir="ltr">In 2018, DS stated that it planned to launch a new model every year, with all of these influenced by the French fashion industry and&nbsp;designed&nbsp;to take on the ubiquitous offerings of Audi, BMW and Mercedes.</p>

<p dir="ltr">First to arrive (that same year) was the&nbsp;DS 7 Crossback – a large SUV that competes with the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC. Then in 2019 this was followed by the smaller DS3 Crossback SUV, which is not only available&nbsp;with petrol and diesel engines, but also in fully electric E-Tense form.</p>

<p dir="ltr">More recently, DS&nbsp;unveiled its answer to the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class luxury saloons. And while this DS 9 won't now go on sale until 2021, when it does arrive it will be offered with a choice of petrol, hybrid and fully electric power.</p>


<p dir="ltr">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.</p>

<p dir="ltr">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.</p>

<p dir="ltr">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.</p>


JAGUAR

<p dir="ltr">Buyers seeking value for money should have Kia towards the top of their shopping list.</p>

<p dir="ltr">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.</p>

<p dir="ltr">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.</p>


<p dir="ltr">Land Rover is synonymous with SUVs, and especially with the Defender – the rugged runabout that has seen service in war zones across the world, but also as part of the Queen’s personal garage.</p>

<p dir="ltr">If off-road prowess is one of Land Rover’s core values, though, the other is luxury. Indeed, the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Range Rover Velar are among the best luxury SUVs you can buy.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The Discovery, meanwhile, is a practical rival for the Audi Q7 and BMW X5, while the stylish Evoque (which is available as a three-door convertible as well as a traditional SUV) goes head to head with Audi’s Q3 and BMW’s X1.</p>

<p dir="ltr">In the coming years, we’ll see a new road-biased ‘Road Rover’ as well as an all-new Defender.</p>


LAND ROVER

<p dir="ltr">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.</p>

<p dir="ltr">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.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Like Toyota, Lexus has built a very strong reputation for reliability and regularly finishes very close to the top of our annual Reliability Survey.</p>


LEXUS

<p dir="ltr">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.</p>

<p dir="ltr">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.</p>

<p dir="ltr">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.</p>


MERCEDES-BENZ

<p dir="ltr">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.</p>

<p dir="ltr">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.</p>

<p dir="ltr">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.</p>


MINI

<p dir="ltr">The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.</p>

<p dir="ltr">However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.</p>


VOLKSWAGEN

<p dir="ltr">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.</p>

<p dir="ltr">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.</p>

<p>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.</p>


VOLVO

DS 7

GOLF

SORENTO

used-car-of-the-year-awards-2022-approved-used-car-schemes

Ceed

Toyota

Yaris

Saloon

Lexus

<p>The recently revised <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/volkswagen">Volkswagen</a> Approved Used scheme now gives you a rare 24-month warranty,<br />as well as two years’ worth of of free MOT tests, two years’ roadside assistance and, if you buy the car through Volkswagen’s own PCP finance scheme, two free services as well.</p><p>There’s also a 142-point check on each car, a 30-day/1000- mile no-quibble exchange policy, service history checks, independent vehicle history and mileage checks and five days of complementary Volkswagen Drive Away insurance.</p>

<p>On top of that, it covers cars of any age that are offered for sale on VW forecourts, up to a 100,000-mile limit.</p><p>It’s this last quality that sets it apart from the few other rivals schemes that also offer 24 months’ worth of warranty cover but generally for younger cars only. All told, this scheme’s sheer breadth is unparalleled.</p><h3><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/volkswagen?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp"><strong>Find used Volkswagen cars for sale &gt;&gt;</strong></a></h3><hr /><h2><strong>Also consider...</strong></h2><h3><strong>DS Certified</strong></h3>

<p>The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/ds">DS </a>Certified scheme is a previous overall winner in this category, but this year it has to give way to the Volkswagen scheme. That’s because although DS, too, offers a splendid 24-month warranty, it’s not as all-encompassing, in that it only covers cars up to four years old that have done less than 50,000 miles.</p><p>Still, DS also provides an extensive 120-point mechanical check, two years’ EU and UK breakdown recovery, a full history and mileage check, free MOT test cover and a 30-day/1000-mile exchange programme.</p><p>Meanwhile, if you’re buying a DS between four and seven years old with no more than 100,000 miles on the clock, a 12-month warranty is offered.</p><h3><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/ds?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp"><strong>Find used DS cars for sale &gt;&gt;</strong></a></h3><hr /><h3><strong>Toyota/Lexus Relax</strong></h3>

<p>Anyone buying a car through the approved scheme offered by <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/toyota">Toyota</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/lexus">Lexus</a> gets a 12-month/unlimited-mileage warranty that covers used cars up to eight years old with a maximum of 100,000 miles. On top of that, you’ll get one year’s UK and European roadside assistance, a multi-point mechanical check and full vehicle preparation, a full service history guarantee, a free MOT test and, if a demonstrable fault is unable to be fixed, a 30-day or 1000-mile exchange policy.</p><p>Additionally, if you take your Toyota or Lexus to be serviced at a main dealer every year, its warranty will automatically be extended for another year until the car reaches 10 years old or accrues 100,000 miles on the odometer.</p><h3><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/toyota?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp&amp;sort=asc&amp;sortBy=distance"><strong>Find used Toyota cars for sale &gt;&gt;</strong></a></h3><h3><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/lexus?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp&amp;sort=asc&amp;sortBy=distance"><strong>Find used Lexus cars for sale &gt;&gt;</strong></a></h3><hr /><p dir="ltr"><strong>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></strong></p>

Used Car of the Year Awards 2022: Approved Used Car Schemes

kia-approved-used-car-scheme

<p dir="ltr">It's true that the Kia apporved used scheme does provide the longest warranty in the industry, and this will appeal to a number of used car buyers who may have had to foot large repair bills shortly after taking ownership.</p><p dir="ltr">However, it is also one of the more restrictive policies out there because all the cars that qualify have to be less than 20 months old and have done less than 20,000 miles. Most rival approved schemes offer cars for sale that are five years old, with the best extending this to 10 years. <a href="www.whatcar.com/news/bmw-approved-used-car-scheme/n22097">BMW Approved</a> and also <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/mini-approved-used-car-scheme/n22139">Mini Approved</a> go even further by not imposing an age or mileage limit at all.</p><p dir="ltr">There are other benefits to the Kia scheme, such as a 60-day/1000 mile exchange guarantee along with accident aftercare should you be involved in a collision. The website also makes a big deal of the fact that all the cars available to buy are Euro 6 compliant and avoid <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/londons-ultra-low-emission-zone-everything-you-need-to-know/n15049">London's ULEZ</a> fee - but then you'd hope they would given that all cars are less than 20 months old.</p><table><tbody><tr><td>Name of programme</td> <td>Kia approved used</td> </tr><tr><td>Maximum age</td> <td>20 months</td> </tr><tr><td>Maximum mileage</td> <td>20,000 miles</td> </tr><tr><td>Warranty length</td> <td>7 years or 100,000 miles</td> </tr><tr><td>Breakdown cover</td> <td>12 months roadside, recovery, home start and EU cover provided by RAC</td> </tr><tr><td>Inspection</td> <td>Multi-point inspection</td> </tr><tr><td>Exchange policy</td> <td>Yes, 60 days</td> </tr><tr><td>Extendable warranty</td> <td>No</td> </tr><tr><td>Mileage guarantee</td> <td>Yes</td> </tr><tr><td>Full service history guarantee</td> <td>Yes</td> </tr><tr><td>MOT cover</td> <td>Yes, for the first year and up to the value of £1000</td> </tr><tr><td>Additional benefits</td> <td>Accident aftercare, seven days' complimentary insurance</td> </tr><tr><td>Number of dealers</td> <td>187</td> </tr></tbody></table><p dir="ltr"><strong>For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter </strong><a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html"><strong>here</strong></a></p><h2 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/kia"><strong>Find a used Kia for sale &gt;&gt;</strong></a></h2><h3 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/class/approved-used-car-schemes"><strong>Read about more approved used schemes &gt;&gt;</strong></a></h3>

Kia Approved Used Car Scheme

volvo-selekt-approved-used-car-scheme

<p dir="ltr">The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/volvo">Volvo</a> Selekt used approved scheme mostly mirrors the benefits of rivals, although it can't match <a href="http://www.whatcar.com/news/bmw-approved-used-car-scheme/n22097">BMW Approved</a> for the age of cars covered, nor does it match the level of warranty cover provided by <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/jaguar">Jaguar</a>, which gives you 12 months of cover on cars up to the same seven year age limit. Anything that is over five years old under the Volvo scheme only gets six months of cover, with the option to upgrade it to 12 months for an additional fee.</p><p dir="ltr">However, Volvo Selekt is one of the few that will guarantee that all cars under the scheme have a full service history, which should give buyers some peace of mind that they will be buying a car that has been maintained to the manufacturer's guidelines.  </p><table><tbody><tr><td>Name of programme</td> <td>Volvo Selekt</td> </tr><tr><td>Maximum age</td> <td>7 years</td> </tr><tr><td>Maximum mileage</td> <td>100,000 miles</td> </tr><tr><td>Warranty length</td> <td>12 months (less than 5 years, 6 months if more than 5 years - can upgrade to 12 months)</td> </tr><tr><td>Breakdown cover</td> <td>12 months roadside, recovery, home start and EU cover</td> </tr><tr><td>Inspection</td> <td>150+</td> </tr><tr><td>Exchange policy</td> <td>Yes, 30 days</td> </tr><tr><td>Extendable warranty</td> <td>Yes</td> </tr><tr><td>Mileage guarantee</td> <td>Yes</td> </tr><tr><td>Full service history guarantee</td> <td>Yes</td> </tr><tr><td>MOT cover</td> <td>Yes, up to the value of £750</td> </tr><tr><td>Additional benefits</td> <td>N/A</td> </tr><tr><td>Number of dealers</td> <td>104</td> </tr></tbody></table><p><strong>For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter </strong><a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html"><strong>here</strong></a></p><h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/volvo"><strong>Find used Volvos for sale &gt;&gt;</strong></a></h2><h3><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/class/approved-used-car-schemes"><strong>Read about more approved used schemes &gt;&gt;</strong></a></h3>

Volvo Selekt Approved Used Car Scheme

land-rover-approved-used-car-scheme

<p dir="ltr">The straightforward Land Rover Approved scheme shares its benefits with the Jaguar Approved scheme – they're actually two separate schemes but they issue from the same parent company and are identical in detail. </p><p>This scheme covers cars up to seven years old and with up to 100,000 miles on the clock. It includes a 12-month, unlimited-mileage warranty and a comprehensive mechanical check with a 165-point inspection. You'll also get 12 months' breakdown cover, which covers both the UK and the EU and includes home-start assistance, car hire and hotel accommodation, all of which is a lot more generous than most rival schemes. </p><p>While a full service history isn't guaranteed with every car, the dealer will carry out the latest service if it's missing from the record. </p><table><tbody><tr><td>Name of programme</td> <td>Land Rover Approved Used</td> </tr><tr><td>Maximum age</td> <td>Seven years</td> </tr><tr><td>Maximum mileage</td> <td>100,000 miles</td> </tr><tr><td>Warranty length</td> <td>12 months</td> </tr><tr><td>Breakdown cover</td> <td>12 months recovery, home start and EU cover</td> </tr><tr><td>Inspection</td> <td>165</td> </tr><tr><td>Exchange policy</td> <td>Yes, 30 days/1000 miles</td> </tr><tr><td>Extendable warranty</td> <td>Yes</td> </tr><tr><td>Mileage guarantee</td> <td>Yes</td> </tr><tr><td>Full service history guarantee</td> <td>No</td> </tr><tr><td>MOT cover</td> <td>12 months</td> </tr><tr><td>Additional benefits</td> <td>Free service if no FSH guarantee; complimentary half-day Land Rover Experience</td> </tr><tr><td> </td> <td> </td> </tr></tbody></table><p dir="ltr"><strong>For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter </strong><a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html"><strong>here</strong></a></p><h2 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/land-rover?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp"><strong>Find used Land Rovers for sale &gt;&gt;</strong></a></h2><h3 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/class/approved-used-car-schemes"><strong>Read about more approved used schemes &gt;&gt;</strong></a></h3>

Land Rover Approved Used Car Scheme

ds-certified-approved-used-car-scheme

<p>Winner of our best <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/used-car-of-the-year-awards-2021-used-car-scheme/n22041">used car scheme award</a>, DS Certified, offers a rare 24-month warranty. Similarly lengthy warranties have been available from <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/skoda">Skoda</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/audi">Audi</a> for promotional periods, but the DS version is available for cars up to four years old that have done less than 50,000 miles. There’s also an extensive 120-point mechanical check, two years’ worth of DS Assistance EU and UK breakdown recovery, a mileage and outstanding finance check on every car sold, free MOT cover and a 30-day/1000-mile exchange programme. On top of that, buyers can access a number of premium services via automatic membership of the DS Only You club, including a 24/7 helpline, valeting and DS car rental. </p><p>What’s more, if you’re buying a car between four and seven years old with up to 100,000 miles on the clock, you can take advantage of a 12-month warranty with breakdown recovery and the same pre-sale checks, DS Only You membership, MOT cover and exchange policy that you get if you buy a newer car. </p><table><tbody><tr><td>Name of programme</td> <td>DS Certified</td> </tr><tr><td>Maximum age</td> <td>Seven years</td> </tr><tr><td>Maximum mileage</td> <td>100,000 miles</td> </tr><tr><td>Warranty length</td> <td>Two years (&gt;4 years) One year (&lt;4 years)</td> </tr><tr><td>Breakdown cover</td> <td>up to 24 months</td> </tr><tr><td>Inspection</td> <td>120pt</td> </tr><tr><td>Exchange policy</td> <td>Yes, 30 days</td> </tr><tr><td>Extendable warranty</td> <td>Yes</td> </tr><tr><td>Warranted mileage</td> <td>Yes</td> </tr><tr><td>Full service history guarantee</td> <td>No</td> </tr><tr><td>MOT cover</td> <td>Yes, up to the value of £750</td> </tr><tr><td>Additional benefits</td> <td>Accident Management, outstanding finance</td> </tr><tr><td>Number of dealers</td> <td>36</td> </tr></tbody></table><p><strong>For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter </strong><a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html"><strong>here</strong></a></p><h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/ds"><strong>Search for a DS used cars with What Car? &gt;&gt;</strong></a></h2><h3><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/class/approved-used-car-schemes"><strong>Read about more approved used schemes &gt;&gt;</strong></a></h3>

DS Certified Approved Used Car Scheme