Skip advert
Advertisement

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

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

Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £23,990Used from £19,899
Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £16,160Avg. savings £4,179 off RRP*Used from £6,595
Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £29,820Avg. savings £5,024 off RRP*Used from £12,378
Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,295Avg. savings £3,075 off RRP*Used from £10,295
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

AA and BSM driving schools under investigation over £3 booking fee

AA and BSM driving schools under investigation over £3 booking fee

The Competition and Markets Authority is looking at how the companies present mandatory fees to customers
News
18 Nov 2025
Chery Tiggo 8 wins Carwow Car of the Year 2026 thanks to its outstanding value
Chery Tiggo 8 - Mat Watson

Chery Tiggo 8 wins Carwow Car of the Year 2026 thanks to its outstanding value

The seven-seater family SUV also won Carwow’s Hybrid Hero award
News
20 Nov 2025
New Renault Trafic E-Tech van gets sci-fi looks and 280-mile range
Renault Trafic - front

New Renault Trafic E-Tech van gets sci-fi looks and 280-mile range

The production version of the new mid-sized Renault Trafic van has been revealed and it will hit showrooms later in 2026
News
18 Nov 2025