Torches

With the nights drawing in, a decent torch is an essential for your car. We take our pick from 10 shining stars...

Auto Express Car Reviews

October 2007

Shed a little extra light on that roadside repair this winter with the latest in torch technology.

After years when normal filament bulbs fought it out with LED (light emitting diode) newcomers, the latter has won the battle, with most of the latest designs using them.

The good news is they’re ideal to keep in the glovebox, as the power consumption of LEDs is significantly less than conventional bulbs, so batteries last much longer. The light is also whiter than halogen or xenon bulbs, and the beam more usable, as makers often cluster several LEDs together to illuminate a wide area.

But which of this new generation of torches deserves a place in your car? We turned the lights out and put 10 top sellers through their paces to find the shining stars.

The Test

Life in a car can be tough on kit, so we dropped all the torches four times from a metre to check build quality. On the practical side, we assessed the beam over eight metres plus under the bonnet, then checked how easy it was to change batteries and bulbs.

We also wanted torches that did not roll, so they could be left on a sloping surface. Desirable extras included batteries supplied in the pack, plus we factored in price.

Verdict

There's something for everyone on our podium. Kamasa takes the win with the effective and keenly priced Magnetic Torch, which is ideal for cars. Ring is in second spot with the conventional, but powerful and compact, Auro. It also takes the third spot with its Generator, which works well and is good for the planet, too.