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Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Review: Best new cars of 2025 named by motoring experts
Every year a significant number of new cars hit the market - but which ones truly are the best of the bunch? Every year, the cream of the crop is named by various panels, crowning their favourite for outstanding overall performance. The most recent ceremony has seen automotive publication Auto Express deliver its Car of the Year 2025 gong to an electric car from a Czech brand that was formerly the butt of jokes in Britain. Skoda's Elroq crossover - which starts from £31,510 - has taken this year's crown. It marks the fifth year in a row that an EV has been awarded the top prize. But it isn't just the quirky Elroq that's turned judges' heads this year. As Auto Express editor Paul Barker says, the 'standard of new cars coming to the market continues to rise'. So, here are the cars that have impressed reviewers the most and are highly recommended by the experts... Skoda Elroq voted best new car of 2025 Skoda is a bit of a cult classic brand at this point, winning a legion of fans for its ability to offer quality, reliability and affordability. The Elroq can be praised for embodying all that in a mid-sized electric SUV, with a seriously competitive range of 360 miles and a huge amount of practicality – 470 litres of boot space to be exact – into a price package of just £31,510. Paul Barker summed it up when he said: 'As a mid-size SUV, it hits the sweet spot for many UK buyers, offering space, comfort, usability, and value – while also delivering the electric performance and refinement that drivers increasingly expect. 'It's a car that feels ready for the mainstream, and importantly, it doesn't demand big compromises to go electric. Skoda's clever packaging, mature driving dynamics and understated quality all shine through in the Elroq.' It is the fifth consecutive year that an EV has taken the top honour, with the Citroen e-C3 winning in 2024, the Hyundai Kona EV in 2023, the Nissan Ariya in 2022 and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 a year earlier. Responding to the Elroq's victory, Skoda CEO Klaus Zellmer said: 'Winning Car of the Year means a lot to all of us at Škoda. I'm grateful for this recognition of the hard work, creativity, and care that goes into building a car we're truly proud of. 'We set out to create a car that people would love to drive on their daily explorations. 'To see it connect with drivers and experts alike is incredibly rewarding.' Skoda's other winners Skoda is on a roll, sweeping the board in all the categories that deliver maximum practicality to drivers. As well as the Elroq being Car of the Year and Mid-Size SUV of the Year, the Octavia took home Family Car of the Year while the Superb won Estate of the Year, and the Kodiaq claimed Large SUV of the Year. The Octavia is a key example of Skoda's reputation for offering sensible, good-value and massively spacious cars. Available as a Hatch or Estate, it's a versatile family car. Not only is there a big range of petrol and diesel engines, but the interior is surprisingly plush and the Estate has a 640-litre boot. And it only costs £28,250. The Superb won Estate Car of the Year, and considering the new version has even better fuel consumption than before as well as an improved ride for a price that massively undercuts rivals, that's not all that surprising. The Superb starts from £37,225 and comes with a PHEV option that gives you 62 miles of EV-only range. And finally, the Kodiaq was crowned Large SUV of the Year, rounding out Skoda's winning night, with its seven-seater option making a go to for large families. Again, it won't break the bank costing £39,000 with loads of standard kit and tech thrown in, and a surprisingly plush interior. Barker praised all Skoda winners but still elevated the Elroq as a step above its siblings saying: 'In a year where Skoda has taken home four major category wins, including with long-standing favourites like the Kodiaq and Superb, the Elroq is a worthy flagship. 'It shows how far the brand – and electric cars more broadly – have come.' Other recommendations - from the luxurious to the affordable BMW stormed home with five wins, making the German marque the other most awarded brand of the year. The iX – the car with very divisive looks but an almost unparalleled combination of EV luxury and practicality – won Large Premium SUV of the Year and Premium Electric Car, while the X3 was awarded Mid-size Premium SUV. With the iX's range of up to 426 miles and maximum luggage capacity of 1,750 litres you'd think it would be a slow sensible car. But no, it can do 0 to 62 in 4.6 seconds. However, it isn't cheap, starting from over £75k and going up sharply to over £114k. The fun 2 Series took Coupe of the Year – a car that's always a hit with keen drivers who like old-school handling and rear-wheel drive. The 530e seek past the post in the Premium Hybrid category, rounding out that grand total of five awards. Today there are four in five models available as battery electric, plug-in hybrid or hybrid, and almost two in five completely zero emission. So, it's not surprising that EVs are being recognised as some of the very best options on the market, shown by the number of categories won by zero emissions models. The Kia EV3, the South Korean brand's small electric B-segment SUV, was awarded Small Company Car of the year, while the Tesla Model 3 took home Mid-size Company Car of the Year. Kia's little Picanto won the City car category, bringing the total wins for Kia to two. The EV3's rival, the Volvo EX30, was crowned Small Premium SUV and was the only trophy for the Swedish manufacturer. Audi's new A6 e-tron was an electric car that beat out intense competition from the fellow German rivals BMW i5 and Volkswagen ID.7. Its long-distance driving capabilities – it can do up to 464 miles on a single charge, undeniable good looks, plush interior and refined ride managed to snag it Large Company Car of the Year. Beating all others to the ultimate luxury tag was the Bentley Flying Spur. It topped Range Rover (no easy feat) to be Auto Express' Luxury Car of the Year. Is it the sustainable Nappa leather interiors, the endless customisation options, the Wellness seating specification or the Ultra Performance Hybrid V8 powertrain that's most covetable? We'll let you decide. In pure performance though, the McLaren Artura took home first, winning Performance Car thanks to its V6 twin-turbo hybrid petrol engine, 700PS, and rear spoiler with 50kg of downforce. The Honda Civic Type R is a cheaper and more compact option for performance lovers, but potentially no less fun. It's Hot Hatch of the Year – approved by boy racers the world over no doubt. On the cheaper end the MG3 Hybrid + was awarded Affordable Hybrid Car of the Year, the Mazda MX-5 took Convertible of the Year and the newly reincarnated Fiat Grande Panda (available as a hybrid or electric) won Supermini of the year.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Motoring experts who have driven almost every new model in the last 12 months name the best cars of 2025
Every year a significant number of new cars hit the market - but which ones truly are the best of the bunch? Every year, the cream of the crop is named by various panels, crowning their favourite for outstanding overall performance. The most recent ceremony has seen automotive publication Auto Express deliver its Car of the Year 2025 gong to an electric car from a Czech brand that was formerly the butt of jokes in Britain. Skoda's Elroq crossover - which starts from £31,510 - has taken this year's crown. It marks the fifth year in a row that an EV has been awarded the top prize. But it isn't just the quirky Elroq that's turned judges' heads this year. As Auto Express editor Paul Barker says, the 'standard of new cars coming to the market continues to rise'. So, here are the cars that have impressed reviewers the most and are highly recommended by the experts... The Skoda Elroq is the best car money can buy. Motoring journalists have crowned this electric car as Car of the Year at the Auto Express Awards. But it's not just the Elroq that made Skoda a winner.... Skoda Elroq voted best new car of 2025 Skoda is a bit of a cult classic brand at this point, winning a legion of fans for its ability to offer quality, reliability and affordability. The Elroq can be praised for embodying all that in a mid-sized electric SUV, with a seriously competitive range of 360 miles and a huge amount of practicality – 470 litres of boot space to be exact – into a price package of just £31,510. Paul Barker summed it up when he said: 'As a mid-size SUV, it hits the sweet spot for many UK buyers, offering space, comfort, usability, and value – while also delivering the electric performance and refinement that drivers increasingly expect. 'It's a car that feels ready for the mainstream, and importantly, it doesn't demand big compromises to go electric. Skoda's clever packaging, mature driving dynamics and understated quality all shine through in the Elroq.' It is the fifth consecutive year that an EV has taken the top honour, with the Citroen e-C3 winning in 2024, the Hyundai Kona EV in 2023, the Nissan Ariya in 2022 and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 a year earlier. Responding to the Elroq's victory, Skoda CEO Klaus Zellmer said: 'Winning Car of the Year means a lot to all of us at Škoda. I'm grateful for this recognition of the hard work, creativity, and care that goes into building a car we're truly proud of. 'We set out to create a car that people would love to drive on their daily explorations. 'To see it connect with drivers and experts alike is incredibly rewarding.' Skoda picked up five awards at: Car of the Year, Family Car of the year, Mid-size SUV of the Year, Estate Car of the Year and Large SUV of the Year Skoda's other winners Skoda is on a roll, sweeping the board in all the categories that deliver maximum practicality to drivers. As well as the Elroq being Car of the Year and Mid-Size SUV of the Year, the Octavia took home Family Car of the Year while the Superb won Estate of the Year, and the Kodiaq claimed Large SUV of the Year. The Octavia is a key example of Skoda's reputation for offering sensible, good-value and massively spacious cars. Available as a Hatch or Estate, it's a versatile family car. Not only is there a big range of petrol and diesel engines, but the interior is surprisingly plush and the Estate has a 640-litre boot. And it only costs £28,250. The Superb won Estate Car of the Year, and considering the new version has even better fuel consumption than before as well as an improved ride for a price that massively undercuts rivals, that's not all that surprising. The Superb starts from £37,225 and comes with a PHEV option that gives you 62 miles of EV-only range. And finally, the Kodiaq was crowned Large SUV of the Year, rounding out Skoda's winning night, with its seven-seater option making a go to for large families. And then the Kodiaq made it to first place in the Large SUV category - a competitive class with many more luxurious seven-seaters losing to this sub-£40k car Again, it won't break the bank costing £39,000 with loads of standard kit and tech thrown in, and a surprisingly plush interior. Barker praised all Skoda winners but still elevated the Elroq as a step above its siblings saying: 'In a year where Skoda has taken home four major category wins, including with long-standing favourites like the Kodiaq and Superb, the Elroq is a worthy flagship. 'It shows how far the brand – and electric cars more broadly – have come.' Other recommendations - from the luxurious to the affordable BMW stormed home with five wins, making the German marque the other most awarded brand of the year. Editor Paul Barker awarded the Elroq Car of the Year saying: 'As a mid-size SUV, it hits the sweet spot for many UK buyers, offering space, comfort, usability, and value – while also delivering the electric performance and refinement that drivers increasingly expect' The iX – the car with very divisive looks but an almost unparalleled combination of EV luxury and practicality – won Large Premium SUV of the Year and Premium Electric Car, while the X3 was awarded Mid-size Premium SUV. With the iX's range of up to 426 miles and maximum luggage capacity of 1,750 litres you'd think it would be a slow sensible car. But no, it can do 0 to 62 in 4.6 seconds. However, it isn't cheap, starting from over £75k and going up sharply to over £114k. The fun 2 Series took Coupe of the Year – a car that's always a hit with keen drivers who like old-school handling and rear-wheel drive. The 530e seek past the post in the Premium Hybrid category, rounding out that grand total of five awards. Today there are four in five models available as battery electric, plug-in hybrid or hybrid, and almost two in five completely zero emission. So, it's not surprising that EVs are being recognised as some of the very best options on the market, shown by the number of categories won by zero emissions models. The Kia EV3, the South Korean brand's small electric B-segment SUV, was awarded Small Company Car of the year, while the Tesla Model 3 took home Mid-size Company Car of the Year. Kia's little Picanto won the City car category, bringing the total wins for Kia to two. The EV3's rival, the Volvo EX30, was crowned Small Premium SUV and was the only trophy for the Swedish manufacturer. Audi's new A6 e-tron was an electric car that beat out intense competition from the fellow German rivals BMW i5 and Volkswagen ID.7. Its long-distance driving capabilities – it can do up to 464 miles on a single charge, undeniable good looks, plush interior and refined ride managed to snag it Large Company Car of the Year. The Volvo EX30 won the Small Premium SUV category - a single win for Volvo but an important category as the market is full of new premium SUVs at the moment The Bentley Flying Spur which can easily cost over £260k is the Luxury Car of the Year. If you've got the money what's not to like? As well as impressive power you can customise every inch of it to your heart's desire Beating all others to the ultimate luxury tag was the Bentley Flying Spur. It topped Range Rover (no easy feat) to be Auto Express' Luxury Car of the Year. Is it the sustainable Nappa leather interiors, the endless customisation options, the Wellness seating specification or the Ultra Performance Hybrid V8 powertrain that's most covetable? We'll let you decide. In pure performance though, the McLaren Artura took home first, winning Performance Car thanks to its V6 twin-turbo hybrid petrol engine, 700PS, and rear spoiler with 50kg of downforce. The Renault 4 is based on the original that sold over eight million units . Now electric it has a driving range of up to 247 miles and quick charging and only costs £26,995 The Honda Civic Type R is a cheaper and more compact option for performance lovers, but potentially no less fun. It's Hot Hatch of the Year – approved by boy racers the world over no doubt. On the cheaper end the MG3 Hybrid + was awarded Affordable Hybrid Car of the Year, the Mazda MX-5 took Convertible of the Year and the newly reincarnated Fiat Grande Panda (available as a hybrid or electric) won Supermini of the year. Ford's big-seller pick-up the Ranger was a shoo-in for winning the pick-up category too – and did. But a special mention goes to Renault who had a massive 2024 and first half of 2025 thanks to the launch of the Renault 4 and Renault 5. Both cars have captivated modern buyers with their retro-centric design, affordability and ability to bring the winning formula from the past into our electric present in such a well-designed and fun way. AUTOEXPRESS NEW CAR OF THE YEAR WINNERS AND RUNNERS-UP IN 2025 CATEGORY WINNER HIGHLY COMMENDED HIGHLY COMMENDED Car of the Year 2025 SKODA ELROQ City Car of the Year Kia Picanto Hyundai i10 Leapmotor T03 Supermini of the Year Fiat Grande Panda Renault 5 Citroen C3 Family Car of the Year Skoda Octavia Citroen C4 Dacia Jogger Estate Car of the Year Skoda Superb Toyota Corolla Touring Sports VW Passat Small Company Car of the Year Kia EV3 Hyundai Kona MG4 Mid-size Company Car of the Year Tesla Model 3 BMW i4 Mercedes C300 e Large Company Car of the Year Audi A6 e-tron BMW i5 Volkswagen ID.7 Small SUV of the Year Renault 4 Alfa Junior Dacia Duster Mid-size SUV of the Year Skoda Elroq Tesla Model Y Dacia Bigster Large SUV of the Year Skoda Kodiaq VW Tayron Hyundai Santa Fe Small Premium SUV of the Year Volvo EX30 BMW X1 Mini Countryman Mid-size Premium SUV of the Year BMW X3 Lexus NX Porsche Macan Electric Large Premium SUV of the Year BMW iX Porsche Cayenne RR Sport Luxury Car of the Year Bentley Flying Spur Range Rover BMW 7 Series Hot Hatch of the Year Honda Civic Type R Audi RS 3 Alpine A290 Coupé of the Year BMW 2 Series Ford Mustang Maserati GranTurismo Convertible of the Year Mazda MX-5 Morgan Supersport Mini Convertible Performance Car of the Year McLaren Artura Porsche 911 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Affordable Electric Car of the Year Renault 5 Renault 4 Fiat Grande Panda Premium Electric Car of the Year BMW iX Lotus Emeya Porsche Taycan Affordable Hybrid Car of the Year MG3 Hybrid+ Toyota Yaris Dacia Duster Premium Hybrid Car of the Year BMW 530e Audi A3 TFSIe Mercedes C300 e Pick-up of the Year Ford Ranger VW Amarok Toyota Hilux Electric Van of the Year Renault Master E-Tech Ford E-Transit Custom Ford E-Transit Courier Small Van of the Year (shared between identical Stellantis products) Citroen Berlingo/Vauxhall Combo Cargo/Peugeot Partner/Fiat Doblo Ford Transit Courier Renault Kangoo Mid-size Van of the Year Ford Transit Custom Volkswagen Transporter Stellantis Medium Large Van of the Year Renault Master Stellantis Large Ford Transit Driver Power most reliable car Mercedes-Benz GLE Driver Power most reliable manufacturer Subaru
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Irish Daily Mirror
Car expert shares warning with motorists over importance of vehicle's colour
A motoring expert has urged drivers to be cautious of one small decision when they purchase a new vehicle, which could end them up with some significant extra costs. Paul Barker, editor of Auto Express, warned that picking the colour of a car can have some financial implications, as some manufacturers charge extra for specific colours. Paul shared that while the practice is not new, it can impact monthly repayments for those using finance agreements. He cited examples from Nissan and Skoda, illustrating how the costs vary between companies, reports the Express. Paul said: "It's entirely likely that anyone shopping for a new Nissan Qashqai might also have a Skoda Karoq on their shortlist. "Unless you want your Qashqai in red, you'll need to budget another €870 above the list price to cover the paint, whereas you can have your Skoda in any one of five colours including a pearl finish and so-called Exclusive Meteor Grey completely free of charge. "So, if you're not having your Qashqai in red, the cost of this mid-size SUV has jumped up by €390 - and most likely more than €820 - versus the Skoda." While the colour of a car may not affect its performance, for many motorists it could be crucial in deciding whether to buy a particular brand. Paul highlighted that Nissan is not alone in this approach, with companies like SEAT and Maserati also adopting distinctive rules and pricing structures regarding car colours. He concluded: "So whatever car you're looking at, don't get distracted by the shiny colours - and make sure you're not in the dark about what your favourite shade will cost you." Drivers are also being alerted to the pitfalls of purchasing a used car and the errors to be aware of. Key among these is neglecting to perform essential checks before forking out cash for the car. A study by AA Cars revealed a startling 79 percent of people bought a pre-owned vehicle without getting a professional check first. James Hosking, Managing Director of AA Cars, commented: "Buying a used car is a major financial decision, so it's concerning how many people aren't ticking off even the most basic checks. "Failing to thoroughly assess a car before buying it could mean missing warning signs that point to costly repairs down the line. It also makes it harder to know whether you're getting good value for money."
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Car expert shares warning with drivers over importance of new vehicle's colour
Auto Express editor Paul Barker explained that some car companies charge customers different rates for spraying their cars a certain colour as he cautioned about possible additional costs Motorists have been cautioned by a car expert that a seemingly innocuous decision when purchasing their next vehicle could result in significant additional costs. Paul Barker, editor of Auto Express, highlighted that selecting a car's colour can have financial implications, as some manufacturers charge extra for specific colours. Paul noted that this practice, while not new, can affect monthly repayments for those using finance agreements. He cited examples from Nissan and Skoda, illustrating how the costs vary between companies, reports the Express. Paul said: "It's entirely likely that anyone shopping for a new Nissan Qashqai might also have a Skoda Karoq on their shortlist. "Unless you want your Qashqai in red, you'll need to budget another £745 above the list price to cover the paint, whereas you can have your Skoda in any one of five colours including a pearl finish and so-called Exclusive Meteor Grey completely free of charge. "So, if you're not having your Qashqai in red, the cost of this mid-size SUV has jumped up by £335 - and most likely more than £700 - versus the Skoda." While the colour of a car may not affect its performance, for many motorists it could be crucial in deciding whether to buy a particular brand. Paul highlighted that Nissan is not alone in this approach, with companies like SEAT and Maserati also adopting distinctive rules and pricing structures regarding car colours. He concluded: "So whatever car you're looking at, don't get distracted by the shiny colours - and make sure you're not in the dark about what your favourite shade will cost you." Drivers are also being alerted to the pitfalls of purchasing a used car and the errors to be aware of. Key among these is neglecting to perform essential checks before forking out cash for the car. A study by AA Cars revealed a startling 79 percent of people bought a pre-owned vehicle without getting a professional check first. James Hosking, Managing Director of AA Cars, commented: "Buying a used car is a major financial decision, so it's concerning how many people aren't ticking off even the most basic checks. "Failing to thoroughly assess a car before buying it could mean missing warning signs that point to costly repairs down the line. It also makes it harder to know whether you're getting good value for money."
Daily Mail
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
The best cars you can buy: Luxury German SUV tops list of 10 models rated highest by owners
With so many car options to choose from, how do you go about buying the very best one? It needs to combine several excellent traits, from being good to drive, reliable, relatively affordable to run, spacious and packed with kit. Trying to whittle such a bustling market of capable motors down to one is no easy task... unless you get a few recommendations, that is. Fortunately, thousands of drivers in Britain have been given the chance to vote on what is the best motor on the road, based on their own personal experience of owning them. Auto Express' Driver Power study ranks every car by customer satisfaction based on a combination of measures, including dependability, value-for-money, engine and gearbox performance, boot space, comfort, ease of touchscreen system, and interior and exterior styling. The results from the latest poll, completed by 91,000 UK motorists, are just in and these are the cars drivers say are worth every penny - with a very expensive luxury Mercedes coming out on top. Paul Barker, editor of Auto Express said the survey is a useful tool for any vehicle buyer as it 'reveals exactly what owners genuinely think - and how they feel - about their cars'. He told us: 'This unique perspective gives unrivalled insight into what prospective customers can expect, and tells manufacturers exactly what their own customers think of the cars they sell. 'From running costs to quality and infotainment, we get the views of people living with these cars day-to-day, and the results show the cars that offer the best chance of a very satisfying ownership experience.' Here's a countdown of the 10 with the highest owner ratings and what it is that drivers adore most about them... 10. BMW 2 Series (2022-present) Owner satisfaction rating: 87.91% BMW's sporty 2 Series Coupe just makes the top 10 recommendations, cementing its place with top marks from owners for how it drives. In fact, it was voted the second-most pleasurable car in terms of steering and braking feedback, as well as scoring high for plush ride quality - which is somewhat of a surprise given this essentially is a stiffly tuned performance machine tuned for ultimate road holding. Owners also love the acceleration and engine sound it produces. Even practicality scores are impressive for a two-door coupe, but BMW's infotainment set-up really hits the mark with a first place score for the quality of its sat-nav. One owner said it combines the best of 'style, performance, comfort and quality build, with innovation, elegance, and good value for money'. Praise indeed! 9. Dacia Duster (2017-2024) Owner satisfaction rating: 88.04% The previous-generation Duster, which went off sale late last year to make way for the new version, has been highly commended for some time. In fact, in last year's Driver Power poll, it was the motor scored highest for satisfaction. While it hasn't quite repeated that feat in 2025, it's still received a raft of high scores from those who use one on a daily basis. It retained its crown as the top-scoring motor for value for money and was rated second overall for practicality and infotainment, and a fourth for running costs. The Duster beats all comers for owner satisfaction for boot space, and it also rated highly for cabin storage, child-friendly features and rear legroom. Low insurance premiums, respectable fuel economy and relatively inexpensive servicing bills also got a mention, while owners also had positive things to say about the cars' audio system and user-friendly cabin layout. Drivers though were less impressed when reviewing their Dacia's driving performance. That said, no family car that cost less than £10k from new is never going to handle like a Lambo! A Duster owner described it as: 'Great value, cheap to buy and run, feels safe, good customer service at the garage. It's a lot of car for the price.' 8. Citroen C5 Aircross (2019-present) Owner satisfaction rating: 88.15% The French car maker is synonymous ride quality, and the C5 Aircross lives up to Citroen's unflappable reputation for a cushiony-smooth experience. Owners said the comfort levels are unmatched, though the ratings suggest road handing hasn't been entirely compromised, with drivers giving top marks in this department too. The C5 Aircross ranks fourth overall for driving pleasure, and all from a driving seat rated second overall from a comfort perspective. There's another first place for cabin storage satisfaction, and seating flexibility along with cabin quality also got thumbs ups all round from owners. Running costs - including insurance, servicing outlay and fuel economy - are low and owners are very happy with the number of safety features on offer. 'I'm surprised at how good the quality is for a French car, and the seat comfort is excellent over long drives,' one owner said. 7. BMW 4 Series (2021-present) Owner satisfaction rating: 88.19% Building on the positive feedback received from 2 Series Coupe owners, BMW bosses will be overjoyed to hear that drivers of the bigger 4 Series Coupe are even more impressed with their two-door sportsters. Where it wins big is on the performance side; owners are extremely complementary about its steering response, ride quality, and driving pleasure, where it ranks among the best three cars. It gained plaudits elsewhere for its interior styling, dashboard layout, and ease of switching off irritating and nannying safety features. Owners are also happy to report that the touchscreen system is better than others, with one BMW 4 Series driver telling Auto Express: 'I love how the infotainment system is intuitive and easy to use. Everything is pretty much one tap away, which makes driving so much more enjoyable.' Customers are also impressed with the quality of the finish, though reliability isn't as robust as some might like and satisfaction with fuel economy and running costs is low too - something to bear in mind if frugality is top of your wishlist. 6. Vauxhall Crossland (2021-present) Owner satisfaction rating: 88.25% Just pipping the BMW 4 Series to sixth place overall for owner satisfaction is a car that couldn't be more different to the German coupe if it tried. Vauxhall's compact crossover, the Crossland, has rated well for its efficient running costs thanks to its 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engines returning impressive miles to gallon, the servicing bills being welcomingly low and insurance premiums relatively cheap. Other areas where it excelled include reliability and quality, while boot space, seating versatility and child-friendly features also scored high among drivers. Value isn't a strong point, though, and safety scores left a little to be admired. One driver described their Crossland as being 'nice to drive and very practical' while also being loaded with cabin tech that's easy to operate but also makes the car feel 'modern'. 5. Mercedes C-Class (2021-present) Owner satisfaction rating: 88.31% Despite this being a premium Mercedes product, owners still rated their C-Class saloons high for value for money. Also among the things they adore is the infotainment system, practicality, cabin storage and child-friendly features. Exterior style is also scored fifth overall. On the road, the C-Class's supple ride and driving pleasure are the best-placed attributes, albeit road handling is far from among the top contenders. Fuel economy and service costs weigh it down slightly. 'I like the luxurious interior and the smooth ride, the advanced safety features, the strong performance and the elegant design,' one C-Class driver quoted. 4. Ford Kuga (2020-present) Owner satisfaction score: 88.69% Ford's Kuga SUV is ticking all the right boxes when it comes to family-friendly practicality, according to those who currently drive one Ford's SUV scored extremely well for safety, practicality and interior, proving its excellent credentials as a family wagon. Owners also gave the Kuga top marks for boot space and seating versatility, along with front seat comfort and rear legroom - yet more traits that make it ideal for drivers who regularly need to transport kids while covering longer journeys. But it's also not a complete borefest: it was among the top 10 best for steering, braking and road handling and wasn't far off the leaders for driving pleasure too. That's some achievement for a relatively run-of-the-mill practical SUV. 'It features the latest technology and has many great features. It is also a perfect family car at a reasonable price,' one keeper reported. While reliability wasn't earmarked as a major concern in the poll, Ford has recently recalled Plug-in Hybrid - some 26,000 UK cars in total - over a conerning fire risk. 3. Vauxhall Astra (2022-present) Owner satisfaction rating: 89.97% While Vauxhall's evergreen Astra has fallen down the popularity order - and no longer features among the best-selling cars in Britain - that's not to say owners of the current model aren't mightily impressed with its performance. Drivers love the exterior style, ranking it third overall against far sportier options, while front seat comfort and interior styling all scored strongly. Excellent infotainment ratings combined with top marks for overall quality and reliability are backed by positive scoring on safety features and drivers loving the value for money over some rivals. One keeper, who's racked up plenty of mileage in their Astra, had nothing but good things to say. 'It is smooth, quiet, very comfortable, it has an impressive range of driver assistance technology and it looks stunning, even after three years and 50,000 miles,' they told the motoring publication. 2. Vauxhall Grandland (2018-2024) Owner satisfaction rating: 90.55% Though recently replaced with the second-generation Grandland, the original Vauxhall family crossover scored 90.55 per cent overall for owner satisfaction, which is good enough for second overall in the list of best rated motors in 2025. Owners love how it looks inside and out and have been blown away with by just how comfortable the front seats are, how much rear legroom is on offer and the luggage-swallowing size of the boot. In fact, practicality is where it wins most of its plaudits, as outlined in this very positive owner review: 'It is high off the ground, with plenty of room inside. Quiet and comfortable on long journeys, and the boot is amazing.' Touchscreen functionality ranks well, too, while servicing and reliability both net first place ratings suggesting this is a dependable and cheap motor to keep running. 1. Mercedes GLE (2019-present) Owner satisfaction rating: 92.24% The most loved car of the moment is the £90,000 Mercedes GLE. While it might not be cheap, owners are saying they are getting a lot for their money with class-leading attributes, including unrivalled driving enjoyment, build quality and safety features Costing from around £90,000 new, the Mercedes GLE is not what you'd call cheap. But owners say it's worth the substantial financial outlay as it's a class above everything else. It ranked first overall in six different categories in the Driver Power poll of 91,000 motorists this year. GLE's key wins include driving pleasure, safety attributes, climate settings, audio and sat-nav functionality, and overall quality. Exterior style, the sat-nav performance and the wonderful balance of conventional and touchscreen controls also rated highly among owners. Where it was slightly marked down was for fuel economy and running costs - though any £90k-plus family SUV is likely to come with bills of a similar scale. Despite this minor criticism, it still scored a mightily impressive 92.24 per cent overall for owner satisfaction, making this the most-loved motor of the last 12 months. An owner said about their GLE: 'Its luxurious interior, smooth ride, and advanced tech make it a joy to drive, but it's roomy enough for family and luggage.'
