Car group tests

Car group tests

The UK's most popular cars head-to-head against their key rivals...

If you really want to know how a car performs against its key rivals, this is the place to find out. The Auto Express group test is an automotive institution decades in the making that gets right to the heart of the questions that car buyers want answered. 

While our in-depth reviews and long-term tests are usually done with the car in isolation, albeit by experienced journalists with detailed prior experience of hundreds of other cars, the group test puts two or three direct rivals head-to-head in the same place, on the same roads and in the same conditions. There is nowhere to hide. 

As a means of slimming down your car buying shortlist these exhaustive tests are great. We drive the cars over long distances, interrogate the control systems, load and unload the interiors, and take our own precise measurements to make comparisons easier. Sometimes there’s an obvious winner but often what emerges is a picture of two cars with qualities that would suit different kinds of buyer - a picture that only becomes clear after this kind of detailed side-by-side testing. 

Our team brings you at least one two- or three-car group test every week, building up a clear picture of the cars we rate and those that we don’t... 

Scroll down to find all our group test pages… 

New & used car deals

Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £15,255Avg. savings £1,912 off RRP*Used from £7,299
Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £6,462 off RRP*
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £27,145Avg. savings £2,383 off RRP*Used from £15,483
Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke

RRP £19,785Avg. savings £4,638 off RRP*Used from £9,995
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

More on Car group tests

Formula One
F1

Formula One

All the latest news from this year's season.
Car group tests
23 Mar 2009
British Touring Car Championship
BTCC

British Touring Car Championship

The home of the best news, reviews and videos from this year's British Touring Car Championship
Car group tests
23 Mar 2009
Fiat 500
Fiat 500

Fiat 500

Cheeky Italian supermini proves that style can be had on a budget
Car group tests
20 Mar 2009
Proton Savvy
Proton Savvy

Proton Savvy

Packed to the gunwalls it may be, but there's not much else to like about the Savvy
Car group tests
20 Mar 2009
Kia Picanto
Kia Picanto

Kia Picanto

Cute city car costs pennies to run and costs less than £6,000
Car group tests
20 Mar 2009
Mitsubishi Colt
Mitsubishi Colt

Mitsubishi Colt

With a peppy engine and Evo-inspired styling, the thrifty Colt is well worth a look
Car group tests
20 Mar 2009
Hyundai i10
Hyundai i10

Hyundai i10

Fresh-faced city car looks great, is well equipped and costs little to run
Car group tests
20 Mar 2009
Ford Ka
Ford Ka

Ford Ka

Not quite as lovable as the original but still an excellent small car
Car group tests
20 Mar 2009
Fiat Panda
Fiat Panda

Fiat Panda

Spacious, fun to drive and with low running costs, the Panda is a budget winner
Car group tests
20 Mar 2009
Citroen C1
citroen c1

Citroen C1

Chic, well built and good to drive, the C1 is a great budget runabout
Car group tests
20 Mar 2009
Face Value

Face Value

The revised Octavia upholds Skoda’s reputation for low costs. But is it a more sensible buy than the all-new entry-level VW Golf, as well as key Renau…
Car group tests
20 Mar 2009
Chevrolet Matiz
Chevrolet Matiz

Chevrolet Matiz

Tough little city car is cheap to run but lacking in almost every other department
Car group tests
20 Mar 2009
Skip advert
Advertisement
Perodua Kelisa
Perodua Kelisa

Perodua Kelisa

It's basic in every department and no looker but the Kelisa isn't actually that bad
Car group tests
20 Mar 2009
Style & Substance

Style & Substance

Does Renault’s new Laguna have more to offer than just striking looks?
Car group tests
20 Mar 2009
How To Look Good For Less!

How To Look Good For Less!

You don’t have to break the bank on a car to turn heads – as we line up a great-value fashion parade.
Car group tests
13 Mar 2009
Porsche Cayenne Diesel vs BMW X6

Porsche Cayenne Diesel vs BMW X6

Porsche isn’t afraid to defy convention – as its Cayenne SUV proves. Now, it’s fitted with the firm’s first-ever diesel engine, too.
Car group tests
13 Mar 2009
Supermini Economy Heroes
x

Supermini Economy Heroes

We go on a 300-mile marathon to choose the best of the latest superminis for buyers wanting to slash their motoring bills
Car group tests
7 Mar 2009
Kia Soul v Skoda Roomster

Kia Soul v Skoda Roomster

Can Kia’s new Soul knock out Skoda’s Roomster in a battle of chunky, funky superminis?
Car group tests
6 Mar 2009
Heart Vs. Head Special

Heart Vs. Head Special

How do you like your cars... sexy or sensible? That’s the choice facing us at four different price points in a special test shoot-out
Car group tests
6 Mar 2009
Power of 6

Power of 6

Can a bigger diesel propel the Mazda 6 ahead of Vauxhall’s Insignia?
Car group tests
20 Feb 2009
New Focus RS vs rivals

New Focus RS vs rivals

Ford’s 301bhp Focus RS aims to set new standards in the hot hatch class. We see if it can beat challengers from MINI and Subaru.
Car group tests
20 Feb 2009
Prize MX-5 head-to-head
Mazda MX-5

Prize MX-5 head-to-head

You can win this Auto Express Edition of Mazda’s MX-5 on Page 47... but first we test it against the RC!
Car group tests
16 Feb 2009
Focus Zetec vs Fiat Bravo
Focus Zetec vs Fiat Bravo

Focus Zetec vs Fiat Bravo

While the Focus RS steals the attention, a new Zetec S diesel brings all the fun of a fast Ford with low running costs. We put it up against a stylish…
Car group tests
16 Feb 2009