How to buy the cars on our long-term test fleet
We put our long-term fleet through the ultimate test – daily life. And if you've been impressed by what's on our fleet at the moment, here's what you need to know to put one of them on your drive...
What Car? regularly runs a fleet of long-term test cars to see what they're actually be like to live with. After all, using a car for a day is one thing, but moulding it into your lifestyle over a period of weeks and months? That’s an entirely different prospect.
It gives us an opportunity to explore every nook and cranny, and see in detail just what you'd be getting for your money. And it's not just us who give our verdict, we also take into consideration the views of our families, friends and other passengers.
In this story, we'll take you through some of the cars which are currently on our long-term fleet, explaining why we're running them and what qualities we've been impressed by – and which we haven't. We'll also highlight some of the things we've done with our cars to help paint a clear picture of what they're like to live with.
Should you find yourself interested in buying one of the cars featured, we’ll then show you how you can do just that.
Ford Capri 77kWh RWD Extended Range Premium | Run by: Mark Pearson, used cars editor
Mark is nearing the end of his time with the Ford Capri, and it’s mostly been a good run.
One particular highlight was an early summer holiday to Dorset, where he not only achieved an impressive maximum efficiency rating of 4.4 miles per kWh, but also found that the 572-litre boot was sufficient for the Pearson family’s often ambitious cargo loads.
But while he was impressed with the technical bits, the electric SUV’s name has continued to put him in a spot of bother. After much grief from one too many middle-aged persons whose fathers owned vintage Capris, he can no longer bear to keep it parked up on his driveway.
Still, if you can forgive Ford for this, as well as the awkward brakes and sometimes uncomfortable ride, Mark concludes the Capri combines low running costs with good practicality and a high-quality interior.
Buy this version of the Ford Capri
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Read our full Ford Capri review
Renault 5 E-Tech 150 comfort techno | Run by: Claire Evans, consumer editor
Claire has racked up almost 8000 miles in her example of our reigning Car of the Year, which means she’s had plenty of time to get acquainted.
For starters, she’s been mightily impressed with the number of gadgets the Renault 5 comes with: from the brake-by-wire system, which makes every day driving smoother, to the crispness of the voice control. She’s a fan of the interior’s design too, which comes with denim-coloured trim and actual buttons, so this small EV is more than just a retro face.
Its sternest test came when she decided to do the monumental drive from Kent to Belgium, where its supportive front seats were comfortable, and its 121bhp motor hurled along the 80mph European motorways without struggle. A 10-80% recharge time of 30 minutes also proved handy for a spot of baguette-searching (for the optional 3D-printed baguette holder fitted to Claire's car, of course), first at Calais, and then just outside Antwerp.
Skoda Elroq Edition 85 | Run by: George Hill, used cars writer
The Elroq received a five-star rating in our review, but does it hold up in the real world? George is currently in search of answers.
Things didn't get off to the best of starts, though. He’s a little confused as to why such a small infotainment screen (5.0in) has been used, and the Elroq also threw up a strange electrical glitch where the window switches were doing the opposite of what George asked of them – indeed, he compared it with his mischievous Yorkshire Terrier.
On the whole, though, it’s been a pleasant experience, with particular praise for the equipment and packaging. George has done the mandatory road trip too, with a jaunt to Wales helping him discover how smooth and comfortable the Elroq is, and how well the suspension absorbs imperfections in the road to deliver a controlled ride at all speeds.
Buy this version of the Skoda Elroq
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Read our full Skoda Elroq review
Mercedes E300de Urban Edition | Run by: Stuart Milne, digital editor
Of his recent 21-hour, 1100-mile trip to the Reims race circuit in France, Stuart said the following: “I genuinely can’t think of a car I’d rather be in.” He was of course speaking about the Mercedes E-Class estate that he’s been running for the last few months, and it’s telling of just where this ‘E300de’ plug-in hybrid version excels: space, comfort, practicality and economy.
They’re precisely the sort of characteristics you want in a ‘do it all’ car, and in this instance, they’ve been bundled up with an engine that’s hard to come by these days: a diesel plug-in hybrid (PHEV). That setup has allowed Stuart to average 96.7mpg across 6700 miles.
He also recently survived a horrendous six-hour commute (with a good chunk of that spent on the M25 motorway), and arrived looking – and feeling – as healthy as ever. Yet another telling sign of this long-legged cruiser’s ability to double-up as a mobile home-from-home.
Buy this version of the Mercedes E-Class estate
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Read our full Mercedes E-Class estate review
Volkswagen Transporter panel van T32 Commerce Pro 2.0 TDI | Run by: Max Edleston, photographer
In case you didn’t know, photographers often travel far and carry lots. Considering this, Max was only too happy to see if the Volkswagen Transporter could cut it as a busy snapper’s assistant.
The first impressions are good: it’s comfortable and spacious enough for hauling heavy camera equipment around. Efficient, too, since he’s averaging 36.2mpg against VW’s official economy of 36.7mpg. As such, the Transporter suits his nomadic lifestyle perfectly, since he could be lunching in London one moment, and then traversing up the A1 for some photography work the next.
Max is now also finding himself using the Transporter as… well, an actual transporter. You see, he’s becoming the centre of attention for friends who conveniently happen to have a number of jobs popping up that need him and his van to see out. As expected, it’s crushing almost every and any task that’s coming its way.
Mazda CX-80 2.5 e-Skyactiv PHEV AWD Homura | Run by: Steve Huntingford, editor
Does Mazda’s swanky new CX-80 flagship earn a spot among the best seven-seat cars around? That is precisely what editor Steve Huntingford is trying to find out.
First and foremost is the economy of this large plug-in hybrid: he managed a staggering 199.9mpg running on EV-only power in short bursts, which is not only 23.3mpg more than what the official figures suggest, but ideal for the school run. It does, however, drop to a more realistic 49.8mpg after a long drive in mixed conditions. Given he’s been living with it for a few months now, you can expect something similar.
The leather-clad interior in general is a plush place to be, even shaming the likes of the BMW X3, while the 12.8in infotainment screen can be controlled using a physical rotary dial. You even get heated second-row seats, and a third-row that’s big enough for two tall adults. Though you can’t place Isofix child seats in the latter, which, Steve says, could be a problem on the odd occasion.
Buy this version of the Mazda CX-80
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Read our full Mazda CX-80 review
Vauxhall Grandland Electric Ultimate | Run by: Chris Haining, sub editor
Chris has some lengthy commutes throughout the week, sometimes as much as three hours one way. So the importance of him having a car that’s a) comfortable, and b) capable of chewing up the miles, is paramount. The Grandland Electric is now the latest car tasked with doing that job.
In his most recent report, he recounts a cross-country trip to Cornwall where he gave the Grandland’s dynamic capabilities a thorough test. While it obviously isn’t quite as point-and-squirt as the Toyota GR Yaris he previously had, Chris is impressed at how the brawny Grandland responds to tight, technical roads. Drive it right, he says, and you can find some real joy.
It adds a different layer of dynamism to the Vauxhall, beyond the key attributes he looked for (and found) in the journey to the West Country. In short, it stacks up well against the very best electric SUVs, which includes the likes of the Kia EV3, Renault 4 and the Skoda Elroq.
Buy this version of the Vauxhall Grandland
See all of our new Vauxhall Grandland deals
Read our full Vauxhall Grandland review
Alfa Romeo Junior Ibrada | Run by: John Bradshaw, chief photographer
John lives in London, which means tight parking spaces, narrow streets and (sometimes) dodgy driving etiquette. The Junior can’t do much about the last bit, but how is it with the other two?
Excellent, to say the least. Its compact and nimble sizing means it can effortlessly loop between traffic, and when paired up with the frugal but fizzy 1.2-litre mild hybrid engine, the Junior puts on a good show – especially once the city lights are left behind.
John has also found it really easy to adjust his driving position, though discomfort can start to creep in after a while. Considering John, like Max, could be tasked with settling in for a long run on a moment’s notice, this is a black mark against the Junior. At least it has massaging seats, which cure some of the aches and pains brought on by longer trips.
Buy this version of the Alfa Romeo Junior
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Read our full Alfa Romeo Junior review
Toyota RAV4 PHEV GR Sport Bi-Tone | Run by: Darren Moss, deputy editor
Darren is still quite new to the parenting thing, which means the company cars he gets these days need to be adjustable and versatile. So, how does the big RAV4 cope in this regard?
Well, the child seats are easy to fix, and the rear bench is more than spacious enough for the little ones to sleep – or squabble – amongst themselves, as Darren found out on his summer holiday to the beach. Better still, he notes that the rear is far more suitable for them than the Cupra Formentor he previously ran, and the boot area is also bigger than both the Hyundai Tucson and the MG HS – two of the RAV4’s key rivals.
As for driving, the RAV4 gets adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist as standard to help the miles flow right past. And in a more day-to-day setting, its 46-mile EV-only range is plenty to get Darren to and from the What Car? office. He’s even averaged almost 50mpg so far in just over 2000 miles; a superb return for a big, heavy car with 302bhp and four-wheel drive.
Buy this version of the Toyota RAV4
See all of our new Toyota RAV4 deals
Read our full Toyota RAV4 review
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