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

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

MODEL 3

RAV4

XC40

best-ev-home-charging-tariffs-2025-here-are-the-best-and-cheapest-weve-found

best-home-charging-tariffs

Saloon

Tesla

Model 3

On 1 October 2025, the UK energy price cap increased by 2.1% to bump the average annual household bill up by £35, from £1720 to £1755. It also means that, until December 31 2025 at the very least, the maximum price per unit of electricity in the UK will stagnate at 26.35p — a rise of just under a penny per kilowatt-hour (kWh).This is reflective of the global energy market prices as we head into the winter months — but it means the cost of <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tag/ev-charging">charging your EV</a> at home may have also changed recently.While <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-home-ev-chargers/n25830">home charging</a> is significantly cheaper than using a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/electric-car-charging-networks-rated/n23269">public charger</a>, the best way to cut the cost of running an EV is by taking advantage of the growing number of energy tariffs designed with electric car owners in mind. These tariffs typically offer a lower rate during off-peak hours, meaning you can charge the battery of <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">an electric car</a> from 10% to 80% for as little as a few pounds.It’s not just electric car owners who can benefit, either. While <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">plug-in hybrid</a> (PHEV) models use smaller batteries which are cheaper to charge, switching to an EV tariff can still help owners save a noticeable amount in the long run.According to research from the home chargepoint producer Andersen, 21% of plug-in hybrid car owners in the UK — around 118,000 people as of August 2025 — don’t have a smart charger which can make best use of off-peak energy costs. The company estimates that these drivers could save as much as £600 per year by making the switch.Even so, not all electric car energy tariffs are created equal, and choosing the right one can make a significant difference to the size of your monthly bill, so it pays to do your homework.Here, we’ve reviewed and rated the best electric vehicle tariffs currently on the market, and we’ve explained how to choose the ideal ones for your needs, as well as explaining other vital factors that could influence your decision.<h2 dir="ltr">How we rate the home electric car tariffs</h2>Price is the biggest concern for homeowners, so our first consideration when ranking the home EV charging tariffs was how much they would cost to charge up an EV. To compare them, we calculated the cost of charging up a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-3/saloon/review/n19010">Tesla Model 3</a> Long Range with a 75kW useable battery capacity from 10% to 80% in Kent.

Because it's not always possible to charge a 52kWh battery from 10% to 80% during off-peak hours, due to the size of the battery and the 7kW electricity supply most properties used, we had to split our sums.- We multiplied the number of cheap rate hours each tariff provides by our home charge speed (7kW) to gives the total amount of charge regained out of the required 70% (or 52.5kWh) during the cheap charge period- We then multiplied the remaining amount of charge needed by the peak rate cost to gives the total use fee for the peak rate hours- Finally, we added both figures to get the total cost of charge from 10-80% in a dayFor tariffs with shorter off-peak prices we’ve used the low rate price for the first five, six or seven hours and then resorted to the peak price for the remainder of the charge session.Using the Good Energy Fixed Tariff as an example, we calculated how much of the battery would be charged in five hours and multiplied it by 6.6p. We then worked out how much the remainder would cost to charge with the peak rate of 30.56p. The low rate cost is £2.31 and the peak rate fee is £5.35, meaning the total cost to charge from 10% to 80% is £7.66.This demonstrates the importance of also choosing a tariff with a low peak hours rate, so we’ve considered this, along with the daily standing charge, when rating the companies.For the eight energy companies we have customer satisfaction data collected from our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-home-ev-chargers/n25830">best home EV chargers</a> feature, we’ve also factored in the scores provided by users wherever possible.Prices are correct as of 8 October 2025.<hr /><h2 dir="ltr">The best home electric car tariffs in 2025</h2><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">1. OVO Charge Anytime</h3>EV charging rate 7.0p/kWhEV charging times AnytimeOne day charging cost £3.68

An optional extra that can be added to any OVO energy tariff for free, Charge Anytime enables you to charge up your EV any time of the day or night at the cheapest rate of 7p/kWh. It determines when the best time to charge the car is, depending on how much load is on the grid. All you have to do is remember to leave your car plugged into the wallbox, and let the system know what time you need the car charged up by.The downside for heavy electricity users is that the special rate is only applicable to EV charging, and can’t be used to power any other electrical devices that you might want to run at night on a timer, such as a washing machine or dishwasher.In our last energy provider survey, OVO had the second-highest customer satisfaction rating at 88%.<a href="https://www.ovoenergy.com/" target="_blank">Visit OVO for more information</a><hr /><h3>2. Scottish Power EV Optimise</h3>EV changing rate 9p/kWhEV charging times 24/7One day charging cost £4.73While almost all electric car tariffs will only offer their cheap rate for a few hours overnight, EV Optimise from Scottish Power lets you charge at the lesser fee throughout the day. This is important because many electric cars can take over five hours to charge using a typical 7kW home charger.As such, the 9p/kWh rate is very reasonable, but other appliances around the house will be subject to the tariff’s peak charge.At 76%, the customer satisfaction rating for the energy company is among the lowest in our survey, so not all users are overly happy with the company.<a href="https://www.scottishpower.co.uk" target="_blank">Visit Scottish Power for more information</a><hr /><h3>3. Octopus Energy Intelligent Go</h3>EV charging rate 7p/kWhEV charging times 23.30-05.30One day charging cost £5.72Octopus’s most flexible tariff is favourable because it gives you two cheap charging options and six hours of off-peak charging for all appliances, not just your car. You can either charge your car up overnight for six hours at 7p/kWh, or leave the car plugged in and let Octopus know when you need it charged by, and it will top up the batteries at any time when there is excess energy on the grid.

And Octopus isn’t clawing back too much in peak kWh or standing charge rates. At 26.43p and 44.32p respectively, both of these are fairly low compared with rival providers. The tariff is not available with all home EV chargers, but more brands have been added recently. The icing on the cake for Octopus customers is that the company has the highest satisfaction rating of all those in our last home EV charger survey. Octopus Intelligent Go customers gave the company a rating of 95%, and the company as a whole scored 91%.<a href="https://octopus.energy/" target="_blank">Visit Octopus for more information</a>  <hr /><h3 dir="ltr">4. E.On Next Next Drive Fixed V9</h3>EV charging rate 6.7p/kWhEV charging times 00.00-06.00One day charging cost £5.75

Although this is one of the cheapest EV charging tariffs available, it’s not as flexible. Unlike OVO Charge Anytime or Scottish Power EV Optimise, you can only get the cheap rate for six hours – although this is still an hour longer than many other EV tariffs. Perhaps more crucially, though, any other appliances used when the cheap rate is in effect will attract a standard rate of 28.89p/kWh. The 48.03p daily standing charge is reasonable, thoughOnce you sign up to this tariff, your rates will be fixed for 12 months. E.On gained the third highest rating from customers in our latest study. 89% were very satisfied with the level of service provided. <a href="https://www.eonenergy.com/" target="_blank">Visit E.On for more information</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">5. Utility Warehouse EV tariff</h3>EV changing rate 7-8.5p/kWhEV charging times 0.00-05.00One day charging cost £7.07-£7.59Utility Warehouse’s EV tariff is different to most because the off-peak rate depends on how many of their services you use. Customers who only get their electricity from Utility Warehouse can charge their EV for 8.5p/kWh – a figure that drops to 7p/kWh for those who use the company for their broadband, insurance and smartphone. Like many other tariffs on this list, the lower rate is only available for five hours overnight, but the 26.39p peak rate and 45.14p standing charge are very reasonable.We didn’t have enough responses from Utility Warehouse customers to give it a satisfaction rating.<a href="https://uw.co.uk/" target="_blank">Visit Utility Warehouse for more information</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">6. Ecotricity EV tariff</h3>EV charging rate 8.0p/kWhEV charging times 12.00-05.00 (or 01.00-06.00 in the summer months)One day charging cost £7.08

Like many of the offerings here, the ultra-cheap rate is limited to five hours a day, and the 8p/kWh charge is slightly higher than what some alternatives offer.Nevertheless, the standard rate of 23.42p/kWh is low and the daily standing charge of 47.85p is reasonable.We didn’t have enough responses to give Ecotricity a customer satisfaction rating. <a href="https://www.ecotricity.co.uk/" target="_blank">Visit Ecotricity for more information</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">7. British Gas Electric Driver</h3>EV charging rate 7.9p/kWhEV charging times 00.00-05.00One day charging cost £7.51Similar to many EV tariffs, British Gas’ offering is limited to five hours charging during off-peak hours. While its EV rate is slightly pricier than that of Good Energy, its standard rate is lower at 27.1p, so it’ll cost you less to use other appliances at peak hours. The daily standing rate of 55.69p is higher than many alternatives, however – giving it less appeal for those who need to use a fair amount of electricity during the day.British Gas customers were mostly happy with the level of service and gave the company a 74% satisfaction rating in our latest study. <a href="https://www.britishgas.co.uk/" target="_blank">Visit British Gas for more information</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">8. Good Energy Fixed</h3>EV charging rate 6.6p/kWhEV charging times 00.00-05.00One day charging cost £7.66A 6.6p/kWh charging rate represents good value for money, but it’s limited by the short time limit of five hours overnight. Fortunately, the off-peak rate doesn’t just apply to your EV. So, if you have other electrical appliances on timers, you’ll be able to benefit from that low rate.The downsides are that the standard rate of 30.56p/kWh and the daily standing charge of 56.67p/kWh are both higher than many tariffs from alternative companies.Like the E.On tariff, the Good Energy one fixes the prices you pay for a year. We didn’t have enough responses to give Good Energy a customer satisfaction rating. <a href="https://www.goodenergy.co.uk/" target="_blank">Visit Good Energy for more information</a><hr /><h3>9. EDF GoElectric Overnight</h3>EV charging rate 8.99p/kWhEV charging times 00.00-05.00One day charging cost £7.69While this EV tariff has a reasonably cheap overnight rate of 8.99p/kWh, its daily fee is rather high at 56.74p, but its standard rate is low at 26.39p/kWh. Unfortunately, in our last survey, the brand had the lowest customer satisfaction rating – scoring 71%.

<a href="https://www.edfenergy.com/" target="_blank">Visit EDF for more information</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">10. Octopus Energy Go</h3>EV charging rate 8.5p/kWhEV charging times 00.30-05.30One day charging cost £8.03If you don’t have a charger that’s compatible with Octopus’s 'Intelligent' Go tariff, this is the next best option from the company. While the EV rate isn’t the lowest available, the standard electricity rate of 28.87p/kWh and daily charge of 44.78p are both very fair. During off-peak times, customers can run other appliances around the house at the reduced rate; however, this only applies for five hours a night – one less than Intelligent Go offers.Although Octopus Go customers weren’t as happy as those on Intelligent Go, they still rated the company and the tariff they were on pretty highly, giving it a satisfaction rating of 92%. <a href="https://octopus.energy/" target="_blank">Visit Octopus for more information</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">11. Scottish Power EV Saver</h3>EV charging rate 7.2p/kWhEV charging times 00.00-05.00One day charging cost £8.17Scottish Power’s EV rate is good at 7.2p, but users only get that for five hours a night, and the standard rate of 32.29p is on the high side. Nevertheless, the daily standing charge of 39.97p is the cheapest we’ve seen.Unfortunately, Scottish Power did not rank highly in our latest customer satisfaction survey, gaining a score of 76%.<a href="https://www.scottishpower.co.uk/" target="_blank">Visit Scottish Power for more information</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">12. EDF EVolve Sept 2026</h3>EV charging rate 16.3p/kWhEV charging times 00.00-05.00One day charging cost £10.32EDF’s fixed rate EV tariff doesn’t represent as good a value as GoElectric Overnight, with a night time rate of 16.3p. The off-peak rate is only available for five hours per night but is available to all appliances around the house.While the standard rate of 26.39p is slightly higher than that of GoElectric Overnight, the daily charge of 45.29p is more than 10p cheaper.The overall ranking is also adversely affected by the brand’s 71% satisfaction score, which is the lowest of the companies rated. <a href="https://www.edfenergy.com/" target="_blank">Visit EDF for more information</a>  <hr /><h3 dir="ltr">What types of EV tariffs are there?</h3>Single rate electricity tariffsConventional plans provide electricity at a fixed rate, given in pence per kilowatt-hour (p/kWh), in addition to a daily standing charge. This offers a good balance for many people, because it means you don’t have to worry about racking up a huge bill by running energy-intensive appliances (such as a dishwasher or washing machine) at peak times.Dual rate electricity tariffsBy contrast, ‘dual rate’ tariffs, as the name suggests, offer two different prices – a peak rate during the day, and a cheaper off-peak rate overnight – to encourage people to save money by using more electricity when demand is lower.

Therefore, if you’re an EV driver who can plug in overnight, you’ll be able to save money by setting your car to charge during the off-peak period. You can usually do this via the car’s app or infotainment system, or using your home wallbox app.The trade-off for off-peak savings is an increase in the peak rate. In fact, the peak price on dual rate policies is allowed to exceed the Ofgem Energy Price Cap (currently 22.36p/kWh*) based on the size of the off-peak discount.Dual rate tariffs with EV smart chargingWhile many EV tariffs are simply dual rate tariffs, some go a step further. Octopus Energy’s Intelligent Octopus and OVO Energy’s Charge Anytime both allow owners to access ‘smart charging’ at a discounted rate throughout the day as well as at night.This means that on top of discounted overnight power, your car can be automatically told to charge when electricity production is at its greenest outside the off-peak period, and you’ll still only be charged the lower rate.One thing to bear in mind, however: in order to be able to take advantage of smart charging, either your car or your home wallbox charger must be compatible with your chosen provider’s smart charging service. It’s worth ensuring that your car or charger are compatible, otherwise you might find you’re able to get a better deal elsewhere.<h3 dir="ltr">How much does it cost to charge an EV at home?</h3>To give you an idea of just how much you could save, here’s an example using the results from our recent EV<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/range-test-how-far-can-electric-cars-really-go/n24836"> range test</a>. In that test, the second most efficient model was the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-3/saloon/review/n19010"> Tesla Model 3</a> Long Range. It eked 324 miles of range out of its 75kWh battery, equivalent to an efficiency of 4.3 miles/kWh.

Charging that car at home, at a typical rate of 22p/kWh, would mean a £509 spend for 10,000 miles of driving. By contrast, the best-value EV tariff we found (OVO’s Charge Anytime) offers electric car smart charging at a rate of 7p/kWh. At this rate, fuelling a Model 3 could cost as little as £162 for every 10,000 miles covered.You can read more about this in our feature on <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-true-cost-of-using-public-charging-points/n21009">how much does it cost to charge an electric car</a> feature.<h3 dir="ltr">What is the best EV tariff for me?</h3>There are four key stats to consider when working out how much you could save by switching to an EV tariff:Peak rate – the rate you’ll pay to power your home during the day. This will be more expensive for a dual rate than a single rate tariff, so it’s worth checking how much more that will cost you day to day.Off-peak rate – the discounted rate on a dual rate tariff. This is the rate you’ll pay for electricity between certain hours of the night, although these hours vary from policy to policy. This is also the rate you’ll be charged at for EV smart charging.Smart charging – additional off-peak-rate EV charging offered when the electricity supply is greenest. It can be a useful add-on if you frequently plug in during the day, but you need a compatible car or charger to be able to reap the savings.Standing charge – a fixed daily fee charged while an electricity tariff is in place. The current Ofgem Energy Price Cap sets the maximum standing charge at 53p per day*.Maximising your savings means finding a balance between those factors to best suit your lifestyle. <h3 dir="ltr">What is the OFGEM energy price cap? </h3>This is the maximum amount an energy supplier can charge householders for each unit of electricity they use and for the daily standing charge for the energy. It was introduced by the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), the energy price regulator, in 2019 to stop consumers from paying too much for electricity if they remained loyal to one supplier for many years. There are also price caps for gas, and those for electricity and gas are both reviewed every three months. Introduced on 1 October 2025, Ofgem’s latest Energy Price Cap for a typical household using both electricity and gas is £1755 – 2.1% more than the previous cap due to the increasing cost of global energy prices. Under the current figures, the energy price cap per unit stands at 26.35p/kWh whereas the daily standing charge is capped at 53.68p.<hr /><h2 dir="ltr">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></h2><h2>Read more: <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-home-ev-chargers/n25830">Best home EV chargers</a> &gt;&gt;</h2>

Best EV home charging tariffs 2025: here are the best and cheapest we’ve found

Best home charging tariffs

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

Coupe

Citroen

City-Car

Citroën

Dacia

Spring

SPRING

Leapmotor

LEAPMOTOR

Sandero

Hyundai

Toyota

Aygo X

AYGO X

Sandero Stepway

Picanto

Convertible

Caterham

Super Seven Convertible

Sports

Super Sevens

Version&nbsp;Ami Coupe&nbsp;|&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£7,705 &nbsp;|&nbsp;Best Price&nbsp;£7,705 

Though technically not a car, but a ‘quadricycle’ (like the <a href="http://electric">Fiat Topolino</a>), the cutesy <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/ami/city-car/review/n23515">Citroen Ami</a> is the cheapest way to get on the road with four wheels and an electric motor in the UK right now. If you live in a city, this could be an appealing&nbsp;prospect for you: its 46 miles of range and 28mph top speed will be fine for narrow streets and tight traffic. But it you venture out onto faster, busier roads, you'll be far better served by other cars on this list.

All is not lost, though, because its diminutive size will make finding and securing parking a breeze. And since it’s a quadricycle, you can drive one at just 16 years old in the UK. In most of Europe, it’s even lower.&nbsp;

However, behind the Instagram-friendly looks of the Ami, there’s clear evidence of cost-cutting to get it to such a low price. Most of the fittings are made from hard plastics, for example, and the metal frame and plastic structuring is fairly exposed.&nbsp;

As such, while cheap, the Ami represents a mobility solution for an extremely niche market. For most people, we’d suggest having a glance over at our best <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-electric-cars/n26959">small electric cars</a> list instead.

<h2>Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/ami/city-car/review/n23515">Citroën Ami review</a></h2>

Citroën Ami

Version&nbsp;1.0 TCe Bi-Fuel Essential Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr&nbsp;|&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£14,705 | Best&nbsp;Price&nbsp;£14,705

The first four-star rated car featured on our list is the humble <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/dacia/sandero/hatchback/review/n55">Dacia Sandero</a>. It’s been more than a decade since the first&nbsp;Sandero landed in the UK, and in that time, it has forged a reputation for being well-equipped, easy to maintain and cheap to run.&nbsp;

Just over £14,700 is enough to&nbsp;get you the Essential trim, which has cruise control, front electric windows and air conditioning as standard. Mechanically, this grade comes with a 99bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine that can run on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). If you live near a petrol pump that stocks this stuff, you’ll be saving a fair bit. Otherwise, regular unleaded will still work.&nbsp;

The one big drawback with the Sandero is its safety rating: <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n19724">Euro NCAP</a> awarded it just two stars, despite it sharing the same underpinnings as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/clio/hatchback/review/n97">Renault Clio</a> (since Renault owns Dacia). For all its qualities, this could be considered the achilles heel for the Sandero.

<h2>Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/dacia/sandero/hatchback/review/n55">Dacia Sandero review</a></h2>

Dacia Sandero

Version&nbsp;45 26.8kWh Expression Auto 5dr&nbsp;|&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£14,995&nbsp;|&nbsp;Best Price £12,034

The cheapest electric ‘car’ per se that you can buy right now is the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/dacia/spring/hatchback/review/n26964">Dacia Spring</a>. And guess what? It’s also an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a>. Oh, how the tables have turned. You’ll get a choice of two power levels - 44bhp or 64bhp - mated to a 26.8kWh (total) battery that delivers up to 140 miles of range.&nbsp;

What’s more, our best price estimate means you can get one for almost £3000 less than the list price. It’s a solid option for those searching for an entry-level car, but do remember, it’s exactly that. So compared to slightly more upmarket <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-electric-cars/n26959">small electric cars</a>, like the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/e-c3/hatchback/review/n26854">Citroen e-C3</a>, it’s pretty rudimentary.&nbsp;

The e-C3’s 111bhp e-motor gets it from 0-62mph in 10.4sec (as opposed to 13.7sec), delivers just under 200 miles of range, and has both more space and a far better safety rating. It’s very much a case of getting what you pay for with the Spring.

<h2>Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/dacia/spring/hatchback/review/n26964">Dacia Spring&nbsp;review</a></h2>

Dacia Spring

Version&nbsp;37.3kWh Auto 5dr |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£15,995 |&nbsp;Best Price&nbsp;£13,989

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/leapmotor/t03/hatchback/review/n27136">Leapmotor T03</a> actually shares some of its DNA with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/c3/hatchback/review/n26854">Citroen e-C3</a> and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/review/n84">Fiat 500e</a>, since the Chinese brand falls under <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-stellantis/n26975">the Stellantis group</a>. And the sales pitch is clear: offer lots of standard equipment and a decent drive for not much money. It does just that.&nbsp;

You get a sole motor/battery option, which is a front-driven 95bhp e-motor paired-up with a 36kWh battery. Its 0-62mph is rated at 12.7sec, which is faster than the Dacia Spring, but off the pace of most other <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-electric-cars/n26959">small electric cars</a>. A 165-mile range isn’t bad either, but only betters the Spring in its category.&nbsp;

The boxy T03’s saving grace is the supple suspension and comfortable ride: it’s not a fast car, but it’ll be an adequate place to sit and ponder on long journeys (and traffic jams alike). It may cost almost £2000 more than the Spring, but it’s arguably worth the excess.

<h2>Read our full <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/leapmotor/t03/hatchback/review/n27136">Leapmotor T03 review</a></h2>

Leapmotor T03

Version&nbsp;1.0 TCe Essential Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£16,015&nbsp;|&nbsp;Best Price&nbsp;£16,015

Think <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/dacia/sandero/hatchback/review/n55">Dacia Sandero</a>, but…more. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/dacia/sandero-stepway/hatchback/review/n17269">Stepway</a> features a more sculpted bonnet, integrated skid plates, the all-important roof rails and sits higher up than the original. All these changes amount to a Sandero that, on face value at least, looks superb.&nbsp;

And since it is effectively the same as the standard Sandero inside, it retains most of the admirable qualities: spacious interior, big boot and a comfortable ride. Plus, the entry-level retains that Bi-Fuel 1.0-litre petrol engine, which means you can switch between LPG and unleaded at will.&nbsp;

Aside from its Spring-shaped sibling, the Stepway is also noticeably cheaper than similarly-themed small, high-riding hatchbacks like the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/jazz/hatchback/review/n17343">Honda Jazz Crosstar</a>. By over £6000&nbsp;where that particular example is concerned, no less.

<h2>Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/dacia/sandero-stepway/hatchback/review/n17269">Dacia Sandero Stepway&nbsp;review</a></h2>

Dacia Sandero Stepway

Version&nbsp;1.0 Pure Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr|&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£16,695 &nbsp;|&nbsp;Best Price&nbsp;£15,195

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/picanto/hatchback/review/n58">Picanto</a> was given its big overhaul last year, which, despite the small price increase, completely uprated the small car's interior and exterior. You’ll now find even more standard-fit bits, including an 8.0in touchscreen, rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera.&nbsp;

Although it's pretty&nbsp;underpowered, since its 1.0-litre three-cylinder produces just 62bhp, it's surprisingly fun to drive around the corners. Despite the unconventionally tall but wedge shape, it's super agile. Though if your budget would allow, we’d suggest opting for the 1.2-litre engine - it’s both quicker and more flexible at low revs.

<h2>Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/picanto/hatchback/review/n58">Kia Picanto&nbsp;review</a></h2>

Kia Picanto

Version&nbsp;1.0 Advance Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£17,100 |&nbsp;Best Price&nbsp;£15,130

The first car to break past the £17,000 threshold is the&nbsp;little <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/i10/hatchback/review/n49">Hyundai i10</a>, which has a wonderful reliability record, practical interior and plenty of space for the sort of car it is. It’s also one of the most comfortable cars in its class.&nbsp;

As a thing to sit in and operate, it’s rather good. But the i10 isn’t all that great actually drive, however. At this price you’d be eyeing up the 1.0-litre petrol, which takes 15.6secs to get to 62mph. And that’s with the manual gearbox; opt for the automatic and it’s even slower. We’d suggest one of the bigger engines if finances allow.

But if you’re really not bothered about straight-line pace, and prefer brisk travel in a car that’s well-built and frugal, the entry-level i10 could be your calling.

<h2>Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/i10/hatchback/review/n49">Hyundai i10 review</a></h2>

Hyundai i10

Version&nbsp;1.0 VVT- i Pure Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£17,145 |&nbsp;Best Price&nbsp;£15,745

Toyota introduced the revamped <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/aygo-x/hatchback/review/n24132">Aygo X</a> earlier this year, which gained a new grille, thicker arches and strips of black paint. Though as one might mistakenly think, considering the styling, it doesn’t actually get 4WD. Still, it does look good, and with a cheapest possible price of less than £16,000, it’s priced just as handsomely.&nbsp;

But by far the biggest change introduced by Toyota is the new petrol-electric&nbsp;full-hybrid setup, which is shared with the bigger <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/yaris/hatchback/review/n31">Yaris</a> model. It allows the Aygo X to produce the lowest emissions of any non-plug-in car on sale, and thanks to a total output of 114bhp, cuts a massive 5.7secs off its predecessor’s 0-62mph time (now 9.2secs).&nbsp;

A GR Sport trim level does exist too, which adds a stiffer suspension and slightly sharper steering, but the changes aren’t huge. As such, we’d just stick with the standard car.

<h2>Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/aygo-x/hatchback/review/n24132">Toyota Aygo X review</a></h2>

Toyota Aygo X

Version&nbsp;1.5 SE Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£17,245 |&nbsp;Best Price £14,695

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">Small cars</a> are slowly being frozen out by manufacturers, because it's hard to sell cheap ones profitably. And that&nbsp;makes MG’s decision to renew the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg3/hatchback/review/n17867">MG3</a> for a third-generation all the more commendable. And it hasn’t shied away with equipment for even the more modest trim levels either.&nbsp;

You’ll find&nbsp;an entry-level with a 1.5-litre petrol engine for a little over £14,500, which produces 113bhp and allows for a 0-62mph time of 8.0sec&nbsp;flat. Not bad at all. But while it’s good in a straight line, the MG3 is less so elsewhere: the ride is firm, the steering feels a little slow and the engine can get noisy once you’re up to speed.&nbsp;

The MG3 does claw some points back in the cabin, where the fit and finish is tidy. Featuring&nbsp;a 10.25in <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-car-infotainment-systems-tested-and-rated/n21269">touchscreen</a>, you’ll even get <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a>, bluetooth and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-sat-nav-apps/n24915">sat-nav</a> all as standard. Interested?

<h2>Read our full <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg3/hatchback/review/n17867">MG3 review</a></h2>

Version&nbsp;0.6 160 2dr |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£17,990 |&nbsp;Best Price £17,990

Yep, a Caterham has managed to sneak onto our list of 10 cheapest new cars you can buy. It’s not going to be a full-bore track monster like the 620, but rather, the standard <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/caterham/super-sevens/sports/review/n17247">Seven</a>. It’s equipped with a 620cc three-cylinder petrol engine, which produces just&nbsp;84bhp.&nbsp;

If that sounds weedy, do consider the Seven weighs just 440kg (in R guise), which means a power-to-weight ratio of a very respectable 191bhp per tonne. That sits in the ballpark of most <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/hot-hatches/n17005">hot hatches</a>, and since you’re so exposed in the cabin, the experience will feel spritely enough.&nbsp;

Don’t, however, think you’re getting much by way of practicality or comfort: the ethos behind the Seven stretches back several decades now. That means it’s cramped and fairly uncomfortable. You’ll get seats, a steering wheel, some dials and pedals, and… that’s about it. At least it’s cheap.

<h2>Read our full <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/caterham/super-sevens/sports/review/n17247">Caterham Seven review</a></h2>

<hr />
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>

<h2>Read more: <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/coming-soon-new-cars-worth-waiting-for/n24987">New cars coming soon</a> &gt;&gt;</h2>

Caterham Seven

Even though prices of new cars seem to only be heading up, it’s still possible to find a bargain with a limited budget. Sure, buying a new car is likely to be among the biggest purchases you make, but with prices starting from just £7705, the cost of a brand-new car might surprise you. In this list we’ll prove just that, by showing you 10 of the cheapest new cars that you can buy, offering a variety of body styles, including <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">small cars</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-suvs/n17050">small SUVs</a>, as well as multiple power options, including mild hybrid and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">fully electric</a>.

We’ll look into other features that matter to buyers too, ranging from comfort and practicality to reliability, and prove that you needn’t compromise on these things just because you’re looking at entry level cars. Better still, a lot of the cars we’ve quoted here have tempting discounts available, so we’d suggest checking out our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Deals</a> service to see just how much you could save. If any of the cars do take to your liking, you can follow through to the full review to see just what you’ll be getting for your money. Finally, we’ve even thrown in some of the most commonly asked questions around small car ownership at the end of this page; handy, particularly if you’re buying a new car for the first time.<hr /><a href="https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90474827/d77b5cae5b94&amp;rdt=4">The What Car? Reliability Survey is live, tell us about your car now</a>

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

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

Ford

Fiesta

1 Series

Combi Van

Volkswagen

Transporter

Whether you’re buying or selling, there are a staggering number of scams designed to trick you out of your money, car or both. According to research by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, there were 3.5 million cases of fraud in 2024, resulting in £11.4 billion being stolen from consumers. While scams cover many aspects of life, a growing number of those fraudulent transactions were for used cars or car parts.Overall, nearly a third (61%) of Brits encountered a scam once a month in 2024, and 52% saw an increase in the number of attempted scams against them compared with 2023. With used car values high and consumers struggling with the cost of living, there’s a growing demand for affordable <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">used cars</a>. Criminals are taking advantage of this by advertising <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/fake-car-dealer-website-scam/n25138">fake cars for sale</a> at temptingly low prices. They encourage buyers to either pay a hefty deposit or in full up front, and then disappear with the money. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/fiesta/hatchback/used-review/n952">Used Ford Fiestas</a> are the model most commonly reported as being involved 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> – largely due to the high number on the roads.

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. You may have thought that <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/car-clocking-what-is-it-and-how-to-avoid-buying-a-clocked-car/n1219">‘clocking’</a> (turning back the odometer on a car to increase its value) was a thing of the past, but it’s making a comeback with fraudsters tampering with digital dials to lower mileage and then charge more for used cars. And there is also a growing trend in fake QR codes being put on car park payment boards and on <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/electric-car-charging-networks-rated/n23269">public EV charging</a> points. Instead of directing car owners to the legitimate site to make payment, they divert them to a fake one that takes their card details and uses them to take money off of bank accounts or credit cards. Here we round up the latest car scams and provide tips to help you avoid them.  <hr /><h2 dir="ltr">Common scams when buying a used car:</h2><h3 dir="ltr">Fake car sales websites</h3>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 at a reputable business elsewhere. The fake ads will advertise the cars 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, they become 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 /><h3 dir="ltr">Fake car ads on social media</h3>What is it? There has been a big increase in criminals using social media platforms and marketplaces to sell fake goods, including an extensive amount of cars or car parts. According to data from the TSB retail banking chain, UK buyers are losing more than £160,000 a day after making purchases on Facebook Marketplace. It estimates that nearly £60m of fraud took place on the platform in 2023, and 34% of the listings on the site were fraudulent. 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 popular online retail and social media platforms. 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 /><h3 dir="ltr">Car clocking </h3>What is it? High-mileage examples of secondhand cars can be worth £1000s less than comparable ones with few miles under their belts. One reason that it’s become more prevalent in recent years is the high percentage of new cars bought on personal contract purchase (PCP) deals; they come with annual mileage limits and sometimes stiff penalties for exceeding them. This scam takes advantage of this by lowering the mileage of a secondhand car to increase its value. Although it’s illegal to wind back a car’s mileage and sell it on for more than it’s worth, the act of altering the mileage is legal and that means unscrupulous people can get hold of the computer software used to do it and use it for illegal purposes. How does it work? All new cars have digital odometers that may be susceptible to being altered by plugging a computer into the car’s electrical system. It is possible for criminals to buy the software to <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/car-clocking-what-is-it-and-how-to-avoid-buying-a-clocked-car/n1219">clock cars</a>, but those wishing to commit this crime don’t have to splash out on the software - they can contact an online advertiser who will come to them and clock the car for around £100.

How to avoid being scammed The easiest way to spot a clocked car is to see if its condition fits with the mileage shown. If the odometer says 6000 miles but the car has worn tyres, saggy seats and other wear and tear, it could well be clocked. The best way to find out for sure is to check its service history. You can do this by looking up its old MOTs on the Government’s website, or by paying for a history check on it. Read our in-depth <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/car-clocking-what-is-it-and-how-to-avoid-buying-a-clocked-car/n1219">guide to clocking</a> for more advice on how to spot a clocked car. <hr /><h3 dir="ltr">Car cloning </h3>What is it? Criminals sometimes put the numberplate from a legitimate car onto a stolen vehicle to stop it from being identified if it’s used for a robbery or other crime. They may also use this tactic to avoid paying clean air zone charges, such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/ulez-expansion-everything-you-need-to-know/n15049">London ULEZ</a>, parking fines and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/speeding-fines-tickets-and-penalties-guide/n15071">speeding tickets</a>. Another version of this involves the whole identity of a car being copied onto another one by altering the vehicle identification number (VIN) that’s stamped on various parts of the car; this is usually done to hide the identity of a stolen or written off car so it can be sold for a profit.  How does it work? The criminals will search online for a car that’s the same make, model and colour as the one they want to hide and obtain a copy of the legitimate car’s numberplates to fix to their car. It can now be used for criminal activity without being easily identified. If they’re cloning a car to sell it on, they’ll replace the VIN number on the stolen or damaged car with that of the legitimate car. They may replace the plate the VIN number is stamped on or rub it down to erase the original VIN and then imprint the new one in its place. How to avoid being scammed If you think your car has been cloned you should inform your local police authority and report the crime to <a href="https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/">Action Fraud</a>. Once you’ve reported your car to the police, you may be stopped whenever they see you driving it, but so will the cloned car, and hopefully that will mean those driving it will be picked up by the police.<hr /><h2 dir="ltr">Common scams when selling a car:</h2><h3 dir="ltr">Overpaying buyers</h3>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. Such scams are often called advance-feed frauds.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.<hr /><h3 dir="ltr">Third-party payment scams</h3>What is it?Scammers pretending to be customers interested in buying a car may request that they send you the money through a third party payment app. While these services can be more convenient and quicker than a bank transfer or paying in cash, they are much more difficult to track when the money does not come through.How does it work?The scammer will typically seem keen on buying the car without viewing it and will insist on using a particular third-party, person-to-person (P2P) payment service to send over the money – typically the full asking price.

In most cases, they will typically send a link to verify the transaction, which will lead to a fake version of the payment service’s website. When you try to log in, your account information will be shared with the scammer. However, even if the service they use is genuine, they could also claim that they accidentally overpaid – demanding that you repay them, even if you haven’t received any money. Third-party banking apps are also much more difficult to track, meaning you’ll struggle to get your money back.How to avoid being scammedNever 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, because 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, because they may be trying to launder money. <hr /><h2 dir="ltr">Common scams when owning a car:</h2><h3 dir="ltr">Car tax scam emails</h3>What is it? The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has been battling scam messages pretending to be from the department for years. In 2024, nearly 20,000 Brits called the organisation to report vehicle and licence 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 report@phishing.gov.uk. The fake websites they link to can then be investigated and removed to help prevent anyone from falling victim to them.<hr /><h3 dir="ltr">Car tax subscription scam websites</h3>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 /><h3 dir="ltr">Car park and car charging site QR code scam</h3>What is it? Scammers stick their own QR codes onto car park pay machines and the charging points at <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/electric-car-charging-networks-rated/n23269">public EV charging stations</a>, 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 and EV charging in many locations around the country. Criminals create their own QR codes and stick these over the legitimate ones. 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 lost thousands to QR code scammers operating at a car park in Teeside. 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 because 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 or EV charging, 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 or EV network provides payment via a specific payment app, download this from your app store and pay via this instead since it is far more secure.<hr /><h3 dir="ltr">Crash for cash</h3>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 scammedKeep 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 /><h3 dir="ltr">Ghost brokers</h3>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. <h2 dir="ltr">How to avoid being scammed when buying a car:</h2>- If you are unsure whether a car is genuine, ask the seller to send a photo of the V5 document and videos looking around the vehicle - Avoid paying the full price for a car that you haven’t seen - If you’re buying a car from a dealership, research the company thoroughly and make sure the website is genuine - Be wary of dealers and private sellers who refuse to let you see the car before deciding whether to buy it - Check the car’s overall condition matches the mileage on the odometer - Enter the car’s number plate into a history checking service to see previous MOT results, recorded mileages and whether the vehicle was previously written-off or stolen - Avoid texts and emails claiming to be from the DVLA which ask for personal details, and only tax the car on the department’s genuine website - When insuring the car, avoid ghost brokers that use social media to offer significantly lower prices than genuine insurers<h2 dir="ltr">How to avoid being scammed when selling a car:</h2>- Think carefully before responding to a potential buyer that is not currently living in the UK or is offering more than the asking price for the car - Never hand over a car or any of its documentation to a buyer until they have paid the agreed price in full - Report any customers you suspect are a criminal to the administrator of the website the car is being advertised on - Avoid accepting cash if your car is worth more than £10,000 - Ask the buyer to make a direct money transfer using a reputable platform or a CHAPS/BACS electronic payment<hr /><h2 dir="ltr">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><h2 dir="ltr">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

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 

top-10-ways-to-reduce-your-fuel-bills

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/class/cost-of-living-car-advice">cost-of-living crisis</a> is putting a big squeeze on household budgets, meaning we're all trying to save money where we can as a result of ever-increasing prices.

Thankfully, there are simple tricks you can do to improve the fuel economy of your car, and spend less time (and money) at the pumps as a result. So if you want to get the biggest bang for your buck out of every tank of fuel, follow our tips by clicking through this slideshow.

Slideshow story: please click the right-hand arrow above to continue, or simply scroll down if you’re reading on your mobile&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Top 10 ways to reduce your fuel bills

Remove excess weight. Take unnecessary bulky items out of the car, such as that shovel you put in the boot to clear snow in winter. Also, if the kids are staying at home, so can their buggy.

1: Remove weight

Remove external carrying kit such as roof boxes or bike racks whenever they aren’t being used. The car has to work much harder to cut through the air due to the extra wind resistance such items create.

2: Reduce drag

Keep your car well maintained and serviced regularly. Check and if need be pump up your tyres to the correct level to reduce rolling resistance. Michelin reported in 2015 that the UK's motorists&nbsp;wasted £250 million per year on fuel driving around on the wrong tyre pressures.

3: Basic maintenance

Plan your journey. Avoid traffic black spots and busy times if possible, and get the map or sat-nav out to avoid getting lost and driving further than necessary. The Covid-19 pandemic forced many people and companies to work much smarter –&nbsp;not just home-working, but also coming in at more flexible hours –&nbsp;which can help you avoid traffic and save fuel into the bargain.

4: Plan journeys

Unless it’s really cold or uncomfortably warm in the car, leave the air-con turned off. Using it can put a strain on the engine and burn more fuel, especially at low speeds. The same goes for heated windscreens, demisters and other electrical appliances. You should however switch on the air-con every so often for a period to ensure seals and other components don't degrade.

5: Turn off air conditioning

Be gentle and change gear early. Accelerate and brake gently, and change to a higher gear as soon as possible. As a general guide, change up before 2000rpm in a diesel and 2500rpm in a petrol, without letting the engine struggle at low revs.

6: Change up early

Lots of modern cars are fitted with engine stop-start technology, which can be great if you let it work properly. Sit with your foot on the clutch and the engine will continue to burn fuel; take it off and you’ll save money and fuel. Additionally, many cars with automatic gearboxes have eco-modes; these often include disengaging the engine from the driven wheels –&nbsp;coasting –&nbsp;which also saves fuel.

7: Use engine stop/start & eco modes

Stick to the speed limits. What Car? research shows that doing 80mph can use up to 25% more fuel than doing 70mph.

8: Obey speed limits

Use gravity to your advantage and build up momentum when going downhill to help you then get uphill, rather than accelerating more to get up the incline. The best way to do this is to read the road as if you were on a pushbike and accelerate accordingly. Accelerating hard up a hill is an extremely thirsty activity.

9: Read the road

Look far ahead while driving and keep moving where possible by anticipating obstacles. Easing off the accelerator and keeping momentum is better than speeding up, braking and then starting all over again.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter&nbsp;<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>

10: Use gravity

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

Alfa Romeo now has one of its strongest-ever model line-ups, after years of living off past glories.

The BMW 3 Series-rivalling Giulia executive saloon is one of the best cars in its class to drive, while the closely related Stelvio and smaller Tonale both competes in the booming SUV class.

It’s all a long way from the days when Alfa Romeo just had a couple of dated hatchbacks (the Mito and Giulietta) and the niche 4C sports car in its range.

Alfa Romeo

Alpine (pronounced 'Al-peen') only makes one model, but if you’re in the market for a sports car, this French brand is worthy of your attention.

Its A110 is one of the best-handling cars on sale today. And while it’s not especially powerful, it’s still properly quick, thanks to its low weight.

The looks and character of today’s A110 were inspired by a legendary namesake that won the first ever World Rally Championship back in 1973. But the new car is undoubtedly a worthy successor.

Alpine

Audi

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.

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.

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.

DS AUTOMOBILES

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.

Geely

Genesis

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.

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

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.

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

MAXUS

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

One of the most famous names on British roads, MG is owned by Chinese firm SAIC these days and it's slowly beginning to rebuild its model line-up. At present, just two cars are offered: the MG 6, which aims to match cars like the Skoda Octavia on space while beating them on price, and the Ford Fiesta-rivalling MG 3. Both cars look good value for money, but resale values have been an issue, as well as cabin quality and the tax bills created by relatively high CO2 emissions. Things could improve with the arrival of the GS, a Nissan Qashqai-rivalling SUV that will bring a new transmission and new turbocharged petrol engines, as well as a revised diesel motor. It's scheduled to go on sale in 2016 - although it wouldn't be the first MG to have been delayed during the brand's rebirth.

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