In-depth reviews to help you choose the perfect new car

What Car?’s team of expert reviewers drive thousands of miles every year to test every new car on sale — and every year, they spend countless hours considering them to shortlist the very best new cars on sale. The resulting list forms our category winners in the annual What Car? Awards, which is headed by the very best car to launch in the previous 12 months. And the current What Car? Car of the Year is the BMW iX3.

For more than 50 years, What Car? has provided industry-leading, authoritative car reviews following rigorous, head-to-head testing. Our methodology blends objective data with real-world subjective assessments to deliver the most insightful and considered reviews.

What Car’s team of expert testers take their own measurements, ranging from interior space to EV range, rather than relying on manufacturers' own figures. Every car is rated across multiple categories, from safety to depreciation, with star ratings weighted by vehicle class. This approach, supported by annual reliability survey data and ownership cost analysis, ensures the definitive verdict.

Our feature covering how we test cars explains this in more detail.

What Car? will always recommend the right car for your need, rather than prioritising a specific fuel type. That’s because everyone’s driving habits and usage situations are different.

As a rough guide, though:

Electric cars are best for 

• drivers who are able to charge at home or at work
• those looking to reduce their day-to-day running costs
• company car drivers, thanks to low tax bills
• those who are able to afford the larger upfront costs, as EVs are generally more expensive to buy

Plug-in hybrid cars are best for

• drivers who are able to charge at home or at work
• those who spend significant amounts of time driving in towns or cities
• company car drivers
• drivers who frequently travel long distances

Hybrid cars are best for

• drivers who are unable to charge at home or work
• those who are uncomfortable with the idea of charging
• drivers who want a smooth yet familiar driving experience

Petrol cars are best for

• those seeking the lowest purchase prices
• drivers who prefer the reassurance of quick refuelling
• enthusiasts who enjoy the experience of driving a combustion-engined car

Diesel cars are best for

• long-distance drivers who value supreme fuel economy
• those who tow caravans or trailers
• drivers who cover huge mileages on a regular basis

In our latest reliability survey, Honda topped the list of the most reliable car brands with a score of 96.6%. It was followed by Mini (96.4%), Suzuki (95.7%), Toyota (95.2%) and Vauxhall (95.1%)

What Car? ensures objectivity through its rigorous testing and editorial independence. Back-to-back testing enables us to eliminate environmental variables and GPS-logging equipment supports our subjective view on how a car ‘feels’ with hard data. Our measurements are standardised, and long-term reliability is verified through an annual survey of some 25,000 owners.

We use class-based weighting to ensure all cars are judged against specific buyer priorities, such as efficiency or speed. Importantly there’s no conflict between editorial and advertising teams, meaning What Car?’s reviews can be relied upon to be free of commercial influence.

Our feature covering how we test cars explains this in more detail.

What Car? revisits cars throughout their lives, and will revise ratings up or down depending on the quality of the car – balanced against the things we know are most important to buyers in each class. Additionally, ratings will be revised according to increasing standards of cars in that class. Indeed, it’s not uncommon for a five-star car to be revised down to four or even three stars over its lifetime.

This ensures readers receive the best, more insightful and useful information when they’re in market for their next car.

Our feature covering how we test cars explains this in more detail.