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Mike Rutherford

Mike Rutherford was one of the founding fathers of Auto Express in 1988 and remains the title's longest-serving journalist. 

He has served time as the motoring editor on four tabloid newspapers - London Evening News, The Sun, News of the World & Daily Mirror. And from the 1990s-2010s he was a weekly columnist on several broadsheet papers - Daily Telegraph, The Independent/Independent on Sunday and The Sunday Times. 

The Economist Intelligence Unit and International Herald Tribune have used him as a motor industry consultant/author. And he has presented over 1,000 motoring, sports or current affairs programmes for LBC, talkRADIO, talkSPORT and ITV. 

Currently, he is: the Chief Columnist at Auto Express where he still writes a weekly column; Judge (& Founding Director) at Europe/Asia-based BestCarsOfTheYear.com - The New Car World Champions; Chairman Emeritus of North America’s World Car Awards; and President of The British Motor Show.  

Additionally, Mike remains a contributor to the BBC, Sky, GB News, LBC, talkRADIO and other national and international stations such as CBS.

His claims to fame are that he has interviewed four British Prime Ministers, worked as a ghostwriter for Martin Brundle & Stirling Moss, and driven thousands of road, concept and racing cars including a Tyrrell F1 Car and world-record-breaking Bugatti. 

In recognition of his 40-year full-time career in the media and automotive worlds, he was presented with the coveted Newspress Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.

Away from cars, Mike has repeatedly travelled to Zambia, Botswana and other counties in central southern Africa where he helped establish libraries and personally delivered thousands of books and writing materials to schools and orphanages.  

He also serves as a proud Trustee at the Marcus Rutherford Foundation/Young Adult Cancer Trust which now incorporates and safeguards The Forest of Marcus.

“MG is easily outselling Jaguar, Land Rover and Bentley combined”
Opinion - MG4
Opinion

“MG is easily outselling Jaguar, Land Rover and Bentley combined”

The wave of Chinese cars has arrived in the UK, and Mike Rutherford thinks it’s not about to stop any time soon
17 Mar 2024
“Why would any retailer sell a new car at cost price?”
Opinion - Nissan dealer
Opinion

“Why would any retailer sell a new car at cost price?”

Mike Rutherford wonders if we really need ‘cars at cost’ schemes when they lack financial transparency
10 Mar 2024
"BYD, Dacia, MG and Renault are among the most impressive and in-touch car brands in the world"
Opinion - MG3
Opinion

"BYD, Dacia, MG and Renault are among the most impressive and in-touch car brands in the world"

Mike Rutherford is confused as to why so many car manufacturers avoided the 2024 Geneva Motor Show
3 Mar 2024
'Cheap SUVs are where the smart money's going in today's car market'
Opinion - Volkswagen T-Roc
Opinion

'Cheap SUVs are where the smart money's going in today's car market'

Mike Rutherford thinks sensibly priced SUVs are the natural successor to less spacious family hatchbacks
25 Feb 2024
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“Some manufacturers are losing their appetite for electric cars”
Opinion - Ford Explorer
Opinion

“Some manufacturers are losing their appetite for electric cars”

With EV market share shrinking, Mike Rutherford thinks there might be delays to the proposed 2035 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars
19 Feb 2024
“The Volkswagen Golf is the greatest real-world car of the last 50 years”
Opinion - VW Golf
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“The Volkswagen Golf is the greatest real-world car of the last 50 years”

Mike Rutherford thinks the new or used VW Golfs that he either bought, leased or ran as company cars were the finest affordable cars on the market
11 Feb 2024
‘Car makers and insurance firms need to take a look at the real-world’
Opinion - WOMAC
Opinion

‘Car makers and insurance firms need to take a look at the real-world’

Mike Rutherford thinks it’s time wealthy companies in the global car business stepped up to assist those who need help
4 Feb 2024

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‘BYD is rubbing salt into Tesla’s wounds’
Opinion - BYD
Opinion

‘BYD is rubbing salt into Tesla’s wounds’

Mike Rutherford thinks BYD’s superb start to 2024 is part of the reason Tesla’s market valuation has plummeted
28 Jan 2024
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‘Electric cars could end up like Betamax’
Opinion - Vauxhall Corsa Electric
Opinion

‘Electric cars could end up like Betamax’

Mike Rutherford thinks electric cars could end being priced out of the market - just like Betamax did almost 50 years ago
21 Jan 2024
‘Don’t bet against BYD being the car company of the year in 2024’
Opinion - BYD
Opinion

‘Don’t bet against BYD being the car company of the year in 2024’

Mike Rutherford looks at the sales figures from 2023 and notices a growing trend heading into 2024
14 Jan 2024
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“Too many people made life miserable for car users in 2023”
Opinion - traffic
Opinion

“Too many people made life miserable for car users in 2023”

After 2023 proved to be a tough year for car users, 2024 already looks much brighter
7 Jan 2024
“Hybrid cars hit the sweet spot in terms of desirability, price, convenience and tech”
Opinion - Honda Civic
Opinion

“Hybrid cars hit the sweet spot in terms of desirability, price, convenience and tech”

Mike Rutherford thinks recent sales show that hybrids are the car of choice for UK customers
24 Dec 2023
'Fix Britain’s Third World public charging system or folk won't buy electric cars'
Opinion - Tesla chargers
Opinion

'Fix Britain’s Third World public charging system or folk won't buy electric cars'

Mike Rutherford thinks firms like Tesla are doing its bit, but the creaking electricity supply industry must up its game
10 Dec 2023
‘Forget leasing a car, a cut-price van should be your next everyday vehicle’
Opinion - Fiat Scudo
Opinion

‘Forget leasing a car, a cut-price van should be your next everyday vehicle’

With some huge savings to be had, Mike Rutherford thinks a van could be the perfect vehicle
3 Dec 2023
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“Renault is taking over as the manufacturer of cars for the people”
Opinion - Renault Twingo
Opinion

“Renault is taking over as the manufacturer of cars for the people”

Mike Rutherford thinks Renault is doing more than any other manufacturer when it comes to making affordable electric cars
26 Nov 2023
‘Volvo has to work hard to maintain its reputation as a maker of the safest cars on the planet’
Volvo - opinion
Opinion

‘Volvo has to work hard to maintain its reputation as a maker of the safest cars on the planet’

Mike Rutherford thinks it’s hard work keeping an enviable reputation intact, especially with new brands snapping hard at your heels
19 Nov 2023
'The best car designer in the world? Look no further than Frank Stephenson'
Opinion - Frank Stephenson
Opinion

'The best car designer in the world? Look no further than Frank Stephenson'

Frank Stephenson has designed some of the most beautiful on the planet, and Mike Rutherford is glad to see him passing on his knowledge to the next ge…
12 Nov 2023
'High Insurance premiums are forcing owners to scrap their cars'
Opinion - scrap
Opinion

'High Insurance premiums are forcing owners to scrap their cars'

Mike Rutherford is stunned that car insurance premiums have risen by an average 61 per cent in the past 12 months
5 Nov 2023
‘Thinking of car leasing? Look beyond the monthly payments to get a true idea of the cost’
Opinion - Audi Q2
Opinion

‘Thinking of car leasing? Look beyond the monthly payments to get a true idea of the cost’

Mike Rutherford thinks up-front payments are often overlooked when customers see a tempting leasing deal
29 Oct 2023
“I’m baffled as to how a brand-new £84k Volvo XC90 can fail so spectacularly”
Opinion - Volvo XC90
Opinion

“I’m baffled as to how a brand-new £84k Volvo XC90 can fail so spectacularly”

Mike Rutherford says it's bad that a new and expensive XC90 died at the roadside, but even worse that Volvo can't explain why
22 Oct 2023
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‘China's MG and BYD are disrupting the UK market with unbeatable pricing’
Opinion - BYD
Opinion

‘China's MG and BYD are disrupting the UK market with unbeatable pricing’

Mike Rutherford thinks many car makers are being forced to admit that their list prices are too high
15 Oct 2023
“EVs have three problems: high prices, over-ambitious range claims and a poor charging network”
Opinion - EV
Opinion

“EVs have three problems: high prices, over-ambitious range claims and a poor charging network”

Mike Rutherford thinks electric cars sales remain painfully slow as the sums simply don’t add up for most people
8 Oct 2023
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“Auto Express has covered 35 years of taxes, tolls and intolerance for UK motorists”
Mike Rutherford opinion
Opinion

“Auto Express has covered 35 years of taxes, tolls and intolerance for UK motorists”

As a founding father of Auto Express, Mike Rutherford is uniquely placed to look back at changes in its lifetime
1 Oct 2023
'BMW is the best car brand in the world, by one very important measure'
BMW badge opinion
Opinion

'BMW is the best car brand in the world, by one very important measure'

Mike Rutherford explains how the race for profit among the world’s top car companies is being won by BMW, with a clutch of others hot on its tail…
25 Sep 2023
‘New car buyers need a wider choice than just pure EVs’
Opinion - Mercedes EQE
Opinion

‘New car buyers need a wider choice than just pure EVs’

With the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars looming, Mike Rutherford thinks there needs to be a place for hydrogen and other alternati…
17 Sep 2023
‘How the VW ID.3, Vauxhall Astra and MINI justify their £40k price tags is beyond my comprehension’
Opinion - VW ID3
Opinion

‘How the VW ID.3, Vauxhall Astra and MINI justify their £40k price tags is beyond my comprehension’

Mike Rutherford is growing increasingly frustrated at the cost of buying a brand new car
10 Sep 2023
‘Many will boycott London’s ULEZ rather than pay £4,000 a year’
Opinion - ULEZ
Opinion

‘Many will boycott London’s ULEZ rather than pay £4,000 a year’

Mike Rutherford thinks London’s expanded ULEZ is one of the worst anti-motoring schemes he’s ever seen
3 Sep 2023
“At the British Motor Show, the people are as important as the cars”
Opinion - British Motor Show
Opinion

“At the British Motor Show, the people are as important as the cars”

Mike Rutherford thinks the people involved in running the British Motor Show at Farnborough are inspiring
27 Aug 2023
'Henrik Fisker is the automotive industry's next leading man'
Opinion - Henrik Fisker
Opinion

'Henrik Fisker is the automotive industry's next leading man'

Mike Rutherford believes that the EV company founder is destined to follow in the footsteps of Henry Ford and John DeLorean
20 Aug 2023
'From Formula E to Goodwood Festival of Speed, July 2023 was full of car-related disappointments'
Opinion - July 2023
Opinion

'From Formula E to Goodwood Festival of Speed, July 2023 was full of car-related disappointments'

Mike Rutherford believes that the last month has provided a constant bombardment of motoring misfortunes
13 Aug 2023
‘The ULEZ expansion is more about Sadiq Khan grabbing cash than cleaning the air’
Opinion - ULEZ
Opinion

‘The ULEZ expansion is more about Sadiq Khan grabbing cash than cleaning the air’

Mike Rutherford wonders about the motives behind London's Ultra Low Emission Zone expansion
6 Aug 2023
'Petrol and diesel prices at motorway services are totally unjustified'
Opinion - motorway services
Opinion

'Petrol and diesel prices at motorway services are totally unjustified'

Mike Rutherford will continue to give motorway service areas a wide berth until they drop their fuel prices
30 Jul 2023
‘The killing-off of the Ford Fiesta shows the contempt car makers have for loyal customers’
Ford Fiesta opinion
Opinion

‘The killing-off of the Ford Fiesta shows the contempt car makers have for loyal customers’

Mike Rutherford thinks loyalty is a foreign concept to most big businesses
23 Jul 2023
‘Thinking of buying a new EV? The sums simply don’t add up’
Opinion - Electric cars
Opinion

‘Thinking of buying a new EV? The sums simply don’t add up’

Mike Rutherford thinks car-buying customers are being overcharged, and many are simply walking away
16 Jul 2023