Long-term tests

Long-term tests

Every Auto Express long-term test, ever...

The Auto Express long-term test is a rigorous examination of a car’s design, engineering and practicality in real world conditions - often accompanied by some slightly silly photos of our experts with their cars. 

Our team lives with each car for a period of around six months, subjecting each to the trials and tribulations of our own daily routines. School runs, shopping trips, commutes, days out, family holidays, visits to the rubbish dump; we live with these cars so you can understand what it would be like to. 

And, of course, we’re car journalists so we regularly go above and beyond the typical use patterns for our long-term test cars. Track and off-road driving, in suitable models, gives a further insight into their qualities. So do the big mileages we cover on roads of all types right around the UK and across Europe, not to mention the photographic and video shoots.  

If you’re in the market to buy a new car, the Auto Express long-term test reports provide an invaluable insight into what your own life might be like as the owner. In combination with our in-depth reviews and group tests, these pages form the most comprehensive evaluation of new cars you’ll find anywhere. 

Over thousands of miles of testing, our experts really get under the skin of all the most popular models on the market and if you have specific questions about the cars we’re running now or have run in the past, we’re here to help… 

What’s on fleet?

Cars we’re reporting on now plus recent long-term test fleet arrivals and departures 

Scroll down for all our long-term test reports...

New & used car deals

Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

RRP £28,065Avg. savings £3,055 off RRP*Used from £15,500
Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £27,415Avg. savings £6,416 off RRP*Used from £13,600
Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,295Avg. savings £2,713 off RRP*Used from £8,995
Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £23,990Avg. savings £1,906 off RRP*
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

More on Long-term tests

Long-term test: MINI John Cooper Works
MINI John Cooper Works - front end header

Long-term test: MINI John Cooper Works

First report: hot hatch joins our fleet and immediately hits the track
Long-term tests
12 Oct 2025
Mazda CX-30 Homura long-term test: small SUV deserves more attention
 Mazda CX-30 Homura long-term - front 3/4

Mazda CX-30 Homura long-term test: small SUV deserves more attention

Fourth fleetwatch: a family trip highlights the CX-30’s appeal, and a couple of quirks
Long-term tests
9 Oct 2025
Long-term test: Vauxhall Grandland Electric GS
Long-term test Vauxhall Grandland Electric - final header

Long-term test: Vauxhall Grandland Electric GS

Final report: before we bid farewell to the Grandland GS, we put its value for money to the test
Long-term tests
8 Oct 2025
Volvo EX30 Extended Range RWD Plus long-term test
Volvo EX30 Extended Range RWD Plus long-term test - keys handover

Volvo EX30 Extended Range RWD Plus long-term test

First report: early signs are that our car will fully live up to its billing as our Small Premium SUV of the Year
Long-term tests
5 Oct 2025
Volkswagen ID. Buzz LWB long-term test: EV MPV reconnects with campervan roots on family trip
Volkswagen ID. Buzz LWB long-term - side of car with tent

Volkswagen ID. Buzz LWB long-term test: EV MPV reconnects with campervan roots on family trip

Second fleetwatch: our ID. Buzz felt right at home on a late summer camping trip, despite us overloading it with kit
Long-term tests
2 Oct 2025
Peugeot 5008 Hybrid GT long-term test: great car, wrong spec
Peugeot 5008 Hybrid GT long-term - twin header

Peugeot 5008 Hybrid GT long-term test: great car, wrong spec

Second report: our photographer decides which flavour of 5008 he prefers
Long-term tests
1 Oct 2025
Long-term test: Volkswagen Golf R
VW Golf R LT - header

Long-term test: Volkswagen Golf R

First report: performance Golf takes us on a high-speed trip down Memory Lane, but is it fit for a family?
Long-term tests
28 Sep 2025
Long-term test: Dacia Duster Journey Hybrid
Dacia Duster LT - front 3/4

Long-term test: Dacia Duster Journey Hybrid

Fourth fleetwatch: almost 4,500 miles on clock and our Dacia still impresses on economy and practicality
Long-term tests
25 Sep 2025
Long-term test: Range Rover Sport P550e Autobiography
Range Rover Sport long-term - bikes on the back

Long-term test: Range Rover Sport P550e Autobiography

Final report: It’s a grand finale for our PHEV as we take it to the south of France
Long-term tests
24 Sep 2025
Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica Veloce: long-term test
Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica Veloce - front with dog and Dawn

Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica Veloce: long-term test

First report: sporty-looking EV makes a good first impression, although range could be an issue
Long-term tests
21 Sep 2025
Long-term test: KGM Actyon K50
Long-term test- KGM Actyon K50 - rear 3/4

Long-term test: KGM Actyon K50

Third fleetwatch: our time with the Actyon is coming to the end, and its shortcomings versus rivals stand out
Long-term tests
19 Sep 2025
Skip advert
Advertisement
Long-term test: Renault 5 E-Tech Iconic Five
Long-term test Renault 5 E-Tech - yellow in sea of grey

Long-term test: Renault 5 E-Tech Iconic Five

Third report: our retro Renault’s star is still shining wonderfully bright
Long-term tests
18 Sep 2025
Honda Civic Type R long-term test: sensational handling meets overbearing safety
Honda Civic Type R long-term - front 3/4 at Brands Hatch

Honda Civic Type R long-term test: sensational handling meets overbearing safety

First report: Civic Type R is as fun as expected, but with some irritating technology
Long-term tests
14 Sep 2025
Audi A3 Sportback 35 TFSI long-term test: dependable hatch lights the way
Audi A3 Sportback 35 TFSI long-term - front with BMW and Subaru

Audi A3 Sportback 35 TFSI long-term test: dependable hatch lights the way

Second fleetwatch: As autumn starts creeping in, my A3 proves its worth with excellent lighting and comfort on long evening motorway trips
Long-term tests
11 Sep 2025
Cupra Terramar V2 long-term test: the Batmobile? My family’s already convinced
Cupra Terramar V2 long-term - Batman and Robin header

Cupra Terramar V2 long-term test: the Batmobile? My family’s already convinced

First report: Autumn is here and the (k)nights are getting darker – fire up the Batmobile!
Long-term tests
10 Sep 2025
Skoda Elroq Edition 85 long-term test: seeing double in the EV SUV
Skoda Elroq Edition 85 long-term - seeing double

Skoda Elroq Edition 85 long-term test: seeing double in the EV SUV

First fleetwatch: a cracked windscreen aside, life with our Elroq has started strong
Long-term tests
8 Sep 2025
Polestar 4 Dual Motor long-term test: brief spell in Lotus highlights Geely family ties
Polestar 4 Dual Motor long-term - Lotus and Polestar

Polestar 4 Dual Motor long-term test: brief spell in Lotus highlights Geely family ties

Second fleetwatch: Geely ties reveal some common ground with Lotus, but our Polestar 4 lacks the Hethel handling finesse
Long-term tests
4 Sep 2025
Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer Pro S Match long-term test: a people’s car for the electric age
Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer Pro S Match long-term - Golf GTI and ID.7

Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer Pro S Match long-term test: a people’s car for the electric age

Final report: Our man owns an iconic VW, so how does his EV compare?
Long-term tests
3 Sep 2025
BMW 530e Touring long-term test: PHEV estate passes family life exam with top marks
 BMW 530e Touring long-term - header with child's school marks

BMW 530e Touring long-term test: PHEV estate passes family life exam with top marks

Final report: PHEV estate was an unobtrusively great family machine
Long-term tests
22 Aug 2025
Volvo EC40 Plus long-term test: smooth, spacious and stress-free until the end
Volvo EC40 Plus long-term - header

Volvo EC40 Plus long-term test: smooth, spacious and stress-free until the end

Third fleetwatch: Volvo’s EV signs off with a 500-mile family holiday
Long-term tests
21 Aug 2025
Cupra Tavascan V1 long-term test: posh EV blossoms in warm weather
Cupra Tavascan long termer second report - header

Cupra Tavascan V1 long-term test: posh EV blossoms in warm weather

Fifth fleetwatch: range readings climbed to a peak of 380 miles in the summer weather
Long-term tests
14 Aug 2025
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio long-term test: full of soul but hard to justify
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio - front static

Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio long-term test: full of soul but hard to justify

Final report: we look back on our time with hot Alfa, another fabulous but flawed car from the brand
Long-term tests
10 Jul 2025
Ineos Grenadier Trialmaster long-term test: characterful 4x4 is a guilty pleasure
Ineos Grenadier Trailmaster long-term test - header image

Ineos Grenadier Trialmaster long-term test: characterful 4x4 is a guilty pleasure

Final report: we pitch up with our 4x4 to put the Ineos’s optional camping accessories to the test
Long-term tests
12 Jun 2025