u/CarwowJamie

If you're after a small and stylish electric SUV, should you buy a Volvo EX30, or save around £5,500 and buy a Jaecoo E5 instead?

Both cars have their merits. The Volvo looks wicked, inside and out, and it's lovely to drive. The Google-based infotainment system is cool as well, although it can be glitchy at times. The tiny boot and cramped rear seats also hamper practicality.

The Jaecoo is much more roomy, and you get more standard equipment for your money. It also has more than a hint of Range Rover Evoque in the styling, but it's not as nice to drive as the EX30 and the slower DC charging speeds can be annoying on longer trips.

So would you choose one of these cars, or would your £30,000 go somewhere else?

https://www.carwow.co.uk/editorial/choosing-a-car/car-comparisons-side-by-side/volvo-ex30-vs-jaecoo-e5-electric-suv-test-mat-watson

Jaguar has finally announced the name for its new electric luxury saloon. Say hello to the Type 01, which will be revealed in September with three electric motors and more than 1,000hp.

Is this the right move for Jaguar, or is it a huge mistake?

https://www.carwow.co.uk/jaguar/news/10710/new-jaguar-type-01-electric-luxury-car-name-confirmed

It’s a really exciting time to be a car buyer, because there are loads of new and interesting models being released to suit a whole plethora of needs.

Looking for a small, affordable electric car? Renault’s got you covered with the new Twingo. Fancy a V8 supercar? Toyota’s developing just that. There really is something for everyone, and we’re going to walk you through the most important new cars coming in 2026 and beyond.

https://www.carwow.co.uk/news/6756/best-new-cars-coming-soon

Chinese cars are taking the UK by storm. Cars like the Jaecoo 7 and BYD Seal U have exploded in popularity because they offer loads of kit at a bargain price, but what if you’re after something really luxurious?

Well that’s where the Zeekr 8X comes in. It’s a new plug-in hybrid SUV from China with 1,400hp, loads of luxury features and an interior which is posh enough to give any European car a run for its money.

Prices start from just over £54,000 in China, but it’ll probably cost around £70,000 when it goes on sale in the UK next year. To find out if it’s any good, Mat is going to pit it against a £250,000 used Rolls Royce Cullinan to see if the British car feels five times more expensive.

https://www.carwow.co.uk/news/10704/zeekr-8x-review-mat-watson-2026

We've had a Citroen e-C3 on the Carwow long-term fleet for six months now, and it's a great urban runaround. We love the comfy suspension and nippy performance around town, but going further afield does pose a problem.

Citroen says this car will do 200 miles on a charge, but we're lucky if we see 130 miles from it in the real world. For those with no way of charging at home, that makes things tricky.

If you want the same comfy ride and funky styling, but without the range anxiety, you can get a hybrid version of the Citroen C3 for pretty much the same money as our electric version.

We've done some maths to work out which car makes the most sense depending on your needs, and you can check out the findings here:

https://www.carwow.co.uk/news/10698/citroen-e-c3-vs-c3-hybrid-comparison

The Kia Sportage has been one of the UK's most popular cars for years now, but the Jaecoo 7 is quickly catching up.

It may have been around for less than two years, but this Chinese SUV has been among the top 10 best-selling new cars for two months running. But which of these cars is best?

The Kia Sportage is hugely practical, with a larger boot than the Jaecoo and plenty of rear seat space. It's also slightly nicer to drive, and some of the interior controls are easier to use.

That said, the Jaecoo 7's interior looks more modern and feels a touch posher, and you get more standard kit for your money. It's slightly better for getting three people in the back as well, because it has a completely flat floor.

It's a tough decision, but we've tested both of these cars and have compared them both in-depth here: https://www.carwow.co.uk/editorial/choosing-a-car/car-comparisons-side-by-side/jaecoo-7-vs-kia-sportage-family-suv-test

Which would you rather have?

This is my new car - a 2004 BMW Z4 2.5i.

Why a Z4? Well after selling my Mazda MX-5 I was missing convertible life. You just can't beat that wind in the - err - scalp feeling.

I've always fancied a Z4, and after hearing that it was being discontinued this seemed like the right time to take the plunge.

So what's it like? Well I've done about 1,500 miles in this car so far, and it's been fantastic. The engine sounds great, it's good fun on a twisty road and I love the styling. The only fly in the ointment is the run-flat tyres, which make it really stiff over bumps. New rubber is on the shopping list.

If you're after a good-looking, fun roadster with a great engine for less than £6,000, check out a used Z4.

Drop a line below if there's anything else you'd like to know!

https://www.carwow.co.uk/bmw/z4/news/10694/living-with-a-2004-bmw-z4-jamie-edkins

Mat Watson has bought this 2006 Bentley Continental GT for £10,200. Getting a two-door luxury barge with a W12 engine and lashings of leather for the price of a basic Dacia Sandero seems too good to be true, but is it?

We've had this car inspected to find out how much it would cost to fix its various issues, and it's safe to say it's not the bargain it first seemed.

https://www.carwow.co.uk/news/10686/should-you-buy-a-cheap-luxury-car-mat-watson

To find out, we bought two cheap used electric cars and put them through their paces.

The first is a 2013 Nissan Leaf, which we picked up for just £1,500. It had 50,000 miles on the clock when we picked it up, and it's in really good nick.

And the we have the rare and quirky Mia C, a French EV from 2013 with sliding doors and a McLaren F1-style central seating position.

Both cars have a real-world range of around 50-60 miles these days, so neither are likely to be suitable as an only car. However, as a second car for local errands they could be ideal. Especially if you have somewhere to charge them at home.

The Nissan is a better all-rounder, with more seats, a bigger boot and much better parts availability making it easier to maintain. That said, the Mia C has a certain charm just because it's so weird, and it's one of only five left on UK roads.

So if you had £3,000 to spend on a runaround, would you consider either of these cars? Or would you buy something else instead?

https://www.carwow.co.uk/editorial/choosing-a-car/car-comparisons-side-by-side/2013-nissan-leaf-vs-2013-mia-c-used-cheap-electric-cars

On paper, it seems like a strange comparison. The Audi Q3 e-hybrid is much smaller than the Omoda 9, and therefore isn't a direct competitor, but when you look at the prices it starts to make sense.

The Omoda 9 is larger than the Q3, comes with more standard equipment, is way more powerful and goes further on electric power alone. The interior is also impressively posh, and yet it's around £1,500 cheaper than the Audi.

That said, we really like the Audi Q3. It looks smart, is great to drive and offers decent practicality for its size. But with the Chinese alternative seemingly offering a lot more for the money, should Audi be worried?

https://www.carwow.co.uk/editorial/choosing-a-car/car-comparisons-side-by-side/omoda-9-vs-audi-q3-plug-in-hybrid-suvs-test

Diesel cars have long been the default choice if you're looking for the lowest fuel costs. However, with it currently costing around 30 pence per litre more than petrol, are diesels economical enough to offset the difference?

I've been crunching some numbers, and it turns out that diesel cars aren't quite the money-saving hacks we once thought they were.

So what do you reckon - Does diesel still have its place? Would you go for a petrol or hybrid instead? Or maybe electric cars are the way forward for budget-friendly motoring.

https://www.carwow.co.uk/editorial/owning-a-car/fuelling/are-diesel-cars-still-worth-buying-fuel-price-comparison

This is the all-new Volkswagen ID Polo, and it's a return to form for VW interiors.

The annoying sliders and touch pads are gone, and in their place are proper, old-school buttons and switches. It also has a massive 441-litre boot, and the rear seats are pretty roomy as well.

There are three motor options and two batteries to choose from, with the flagship getting 211hp and 283 miles of range. A hot GTI version is also on the way, and that car will get beefed-up suspension and 226hp.

Prices are expected to start from less than £25,000, putting it in line with cars like the Renault 5 and Fiat Grande Panda Electric. But would you choose this new VW over those cars?

https://www.carwow.co.uk/volkswagen/news/10667/new-volkswagen-id-polo-cheap-electric-car-first-impressions

The new BMW iX3 has caused quite a stir, because it’s the car which will decide BMW’s future. It uses an all-new collection of parts which will underpin all of its future models, so there’s a lot of pressure on this car to impress.

To find out if it does, we're going to test it against the Tesla Model Y and the Audi Q6 e-tron. We'll compare their designs, interiors, check out their technology, see how practical they are and take them for a drive to see which one is best.

The BMW is the most striking to look at from the front, and it has a really solid and high-tech interior. It is the most expensive though, and it's only averagely roomy inside.

The Tesla Model Y has a cavernous interior, loads of luggage space and it's also the cheapest of the three, but the minimalist interior can be annoying to use at times.

As for the Audi, it looks the most posh from the outside and it's relaxing to drive on the motorway, but the interior is a bit of a letdown.

So which would you choose? Check out this triple test to see our final verdict.

https://www.carwow.co.uk/editorial/choosing-a-car/car-comparisons-side-by-side/bmw-ix3-vs-tesla-model-y-vs-audi-q6-e-tron

I've been living with this Royal Green Skoda Octavia vRS Estate for the last four months, but now it's time to say goodbye.

I'm rather smitten with this sporty estate car. I love the way it looks, it's great to drive and I've managed to average almost 37mpg over 3,500 miles. That's only 4mpg off the official claimed figure, and I've not exactly been hypermiling it.

The interior is a bit drab though, and there have been a few instances of the infotainment system refusing to pair to my phone. It's also not the most fun performance car on a twisty road, but it's still very easy to get a wriggle on when things get twisty.

The Skoda Octavia vRS is a good-looking, practical and unpretentious sporty estate car for the masses, and that’s why I love it.

https://www.carwow.co.uk/skoda/octavia-vrs-estate/news/10622/skoda-octavia-vrs-estate-long-term-review-verdict-jamie-edkins

The Volkswagen Golf has long been the go-to family hatchback for many, but it faces stiff competition from the brilliant Honda Civic.

It may be more expensive to buy, but the Civic has a cracking hybrid engine, a solid interior, a big boot and it's brilliant to drive.

The Golf is still a strong contender though, offering ample rear passenger space, more engine options and plenty of standard kit.

It's a close one, but there can only be one winner. Check out our comparison here, and let us know which one you'd choose!

https://www.carwow.co.uk/editorial/choosing-a-car/car-comparisons-side-by-side/volkswagen-golf-vs-honda-civic-mat-watson

Our YouTube producer Rory White has been in the United States driving the Rivian R1S, and after a week with this 1,025hp, tank-turning electric car he’s excited for the brand to land on UK shores.

https://www.carwow.co.uk/news/10617/living-with-rivian-r1s-review-rory-white

New versus used is the age-old car buying decision. Do you want to be the first owner and enjoy that new car smell, or would you rather sacrifice that to get a bit more for your money?

Take the BYD Dolphin for example. It’s an electric hatchback which comes with loads of kit, and it starts from just over £26,000. For that money you could also have a two-year-old Cupra Born, a car which costs around £5,000 more than the BYD from new.

So which should you choose? Well having driven both, I’m going to compare the two on value for money, practicality, range and driving experience so you can decide which one is best suited to your needs.

https://www.carwow.co.uk/editorial/choosing-a-car/car-comparisons-side-by-side/new-byd-dolphin-vs-used-cupra-born