Skip advert
Advertisement

Car polishes and waxes

Buff up in the first part of our two- week Spring Car Care Special with Britain's biggest-ever polish test.

Want the ultimate protection for your car? Then look no further than this, the ultimate test! In another British first, Auto Express has put 19 top waxes and polishes on trial.

Diamond-hard protection, luxurious carnauba wax, brilliant shine, no-grief polishing... in no other sector of the car valeting market are the manufacturers' promises bigger or bolder.

But do they match up to reality? We braved the hail, rain, snow and ice in order to bring you the truth. We scoured the high street accessory shop shelves and the Internet to assemble this megatest.

So which one comes out on top? The next four pages will reveal all. And next week, we will show you the best and worst ways to keep your car spotless.

Verdict

It is very hard to look past Turtle Wax in these results. The US manufacturer may produce a massive range, but it really does have a handle on exactly how to make durable polishes.

Accordingly, Turtle Wax takes the top three spots with its Gloss Guard, Platinum and ClearVue, and has no less than six products finishing in our top 10.Newcomer Rain Dance impresses, and it's a promising debut for the new Original liquid from Simoniz. The top 10 is completed by chain store giant Halfords' Williams F1 wax and the Armor All Protectant.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Toyota Yaris Cross
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £22,197Avg. savings £3,092 off RRP*Used from £22,197
Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

RRP £12,100Avg. savings £3,639 off RRP*Used from £11,450
Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £10,100Avg. savings £3,628 off RRP*Used from £7,500
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Renault Megane to take on the Tesla Model Y with a radical makeover
Renault Megane - front quarter exclusive image Avarvarii

New Renault Megane to take on the Tesla Model Y with a radical makeover

Hi-tech ‘software-defined’ C-segment model heralds a new design direction for Renault as the firm works to achieve a 465-mile range
News
2 Nov 2026
Honda CR-V prices slashed by thousands, ZR-V gets cheaper too
2026 Honda CR-V - front cornering

Honda CR-V prices slashed by thousands, ZR-V gets cheaper too

Honda has revealed updated pricing for the CR-V and ZR-V models, with the latter getting a particularly chunky discount
News
2 Nov 2026
New Nissan X-Trail 2026 review: a big step in the right direction
Nissan X-Trail - front

New Nissan X-Trail 2026 review: a big step in the right direction

The reworked Nissan X-Trail hybrid is getting a fresh e-Power drivetrain and slicker styling – and is already available in the US
Road tests
30 Oct 2026