Skip advert
Advertisement

Old vs new 2018: 30 years of Auto Express road testing (1988 to 2018)

To celebrate our 30th anniversary we put the star cars we were testing in 1988 up against the class leaders of 2018

Auto Express is 30, with 2018 symbolising a landmark three decades of Britain’s biggest-selling weekly car magazine. So to mark this special anniversary (and deliver something a bit different for the festive season), we’re looking back through the ages and pages to see how the automotive landscape has changed since 1988.

Advertisement - Article continues below

But there’s another pertinent point that’s worth mentioning. With Britain and its car manufacturers staring down the barrel of a difficult Brexit, the industry is on the cusp of yet another change.

While there’s been turmoil and torment over the past 30 years, certainly, there have been many success stories, too. Auto Express has always been a champion of the British motor industry (we featured an important new British car on the front cover of Issue 1, no less), so with the iconic pairings we’ve assembled here, we’re looking at how the products we’ve been buying have morphed over this time – and without getting too political, what we hope for the future.

Click on the links to the left or below to see our old vs new head-to-head tests...

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

RRP £28,085Avg. savings £3,239 off RRP*Used from £14,490
Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke

RRP £19,805Avg. savings £4,614 off RRP*Used from £9,295
Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,310Avg. savings £2,657 off RRP*Used from £9,495
MG MG4

MG MG4

RRP £27,005Avg. savings £6,250 off RRP*Used from £11,499
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Morris JE mixes ultra-retro style with EV power and carbon fibre
New Morris JE electric van - front

New Morris JE mixes ultra-retro style with EV power and carbon fibre

Morris Commercial reveals the pilot production of the JE van will commence in 2027 with a 300-mile electric range
News
12 Jun 2026
New Mitsubishi L200 2026 review: promising return for pick-up favourite
Mitsubishi L200 - front

New Mitsubishi L200 2026 review: promising return for pick-up favourite

The Mitsubishi L200 is back and is arguably better than ever
Road tests
15 Jun 2026
Electric car charging costs review launched by government
Electric car charging mega test - charging overhead

Electric car charging costs review launched by government

Government report to address concerns over long-term cost of EV charging
News
10 Jun 2026