Our cars 2013: what are they like to live with?

While we've covered more than 500 new cars in 2013, we've also been taking a much closer look at what some of them are truly like to live with.

Our long-term fleet this year has been subjected to daily use by our expert team of testers, who have more than 50 years of road testing experience between them, to find out about the small things that can be missed in our normal tests.

It's been a busy year for our cars this year, with over 110,000 miles on the collective clock of our current fleet - not to mention the other cars we've run over the course of the year. Read on to see a small selection of the most interesting cars we've been driving in 2013.

SEAT Alhambra

Steve Fowler - Editor-in-chief

You buy an MPV with your head rather than your heart, but the SEAT Alhambra makes it easier than most. I took ours on a long trip to Spain with three kids and a boot load of gear, and couldn’t have wished for a better car – the big seven-seater is so easy to use and drives just like a VW Golf. And when it came to our annual New Car Awards, the SEAT took its third Best MPV crown in a row. Our only criticism is the styling: form definitely follows function with the Alhambra, which is why we gaveit the Starsky and Hutch treatment.

Suzuki Swift

James Disdale - Road test editor

Sometimes, the best things really do come in small packages. Despite its tiny dimensions and bargain £13,749 price tag, the Swift Sport punched well above its weight for driving fun. At the heart of its appeal was its agile and engaging chassis, while the effervescent 1.6-litre engine delivered plenty of real-world performance. Yet these hot hatch thrills didn’t come at the expense of everyday usability, as the Suzuki was packed with big car kit and surprisingly refined. And although it was hampered by a 211-litre boot and cramped rear bench, I missed the car sorely the moment it left our fleet.

Skoda Citigo

Owen Mildenhall - Senior road tester

Running our Skoda Citigo was one of my highlights of 2013. I enjoyed every minute driving our 74bhp Elegance Greentech – but the most memorable bit was collecting it from the factory in Slovakia and driving it back to the UK.

The plant is located on the outskirts of Bratislava, and produces the Citigo alongside its VW up! and SEAT Mii sister cars. It was fascinating to look around, and even features a ski lift to transport finished models to the site’s test track!

And on the 1,000-mile drive back, I really fell for the Skoda. It felt as much at home on the German autobahn as on Austrian mountain roads and French city streets.

Ford B-MAX

Paul Bond - News reporter

When I started at Auto Express, I never thought I’d appear on its pages wearing nothing but patriotic swimwear. But we like to be creative with the header shots for reports on the cars on our fleet – so it seemed like a good idea to mimic Ford’s memorable B-MAX ‘diving board’ TV ad.

Trouble was, while the advert was shot on a high diving board in sun-kissed Barcelona, I had to make do with a pink paddling pool in chilly rural Oxfordshire!

Not that this has detracted from my enjoyment of running the B-MAX. Those neat sliding doors make the cabin really practical, while the car is almost as good to drive as the Fiesta it’s based on.

Renault Twizy

Jack Rix - News editor

When Renault offered us the opportunity to run an all-electric Twizy on our fleet, we jumped at it – even though the car’s limited range meant that only a handful of people on the team would be able to take the keys for their daily commute.

In the end I was chosen as the guinea pig – and driving it was even more of an adventure than I expected. The Twizy drew unparalleled attention, with even short trips turning into Q&A sessions with the public. This continued even after Renault had retro-fitted plastic windows, for better protection from the elements.

But while it remained a bit of a fair weather toy, the Twizy was great fun.

Dacia Sandero

Chris Ebbs - Consumer editor

I’ve largely enjoyed my time with our bargain basement Dacia Sandero. But I’ve constantly been asking myself the same question most people considering this car probably ask themselves: would I rather spend the £8,995 on a used supermini, like a Ford Fiesta, instead?

The Dacia is surprisingly spacious and has a strong diesel engine. Plus, there’s no arguing with its value for money. But the rubbish radio reception, cheap interior and quirky driving position let it down – and leave me wondering if I’d forego the new car smell and confidence-inspiring warranty for a more capable second-hand car. I still haven’t decided.

Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake

James Disdale - Road test editor

After the hyperactive Suzuki Swift Sport, the cosseting Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake was a bit of a shock to the system. Yet it didn’t take me long to fall for the gorgeous estate’s considerable charms.

Not only did the CLS look a million dollars, its interior struck a perfect balance between luxury and practicality. I even managed to warm to the 2.1-litre four-cylinder diesel, which sounded agricultural at idle but smoothed out at speed and delivered strong acceleration.

But what I’ll remember most is the effortless comfort and refinement – it took the strain out of every cross-town commute and marathon motorway trip.

MINI Clubvan

Otis Clay - Junior photographer

I have to admit the MINI Clubvan had me confused when it first arrived on our fleet. Was it a true commercial workhorse or was it a premium-badged urban plaything with a big boot?

It didn’t take long at the wheel for me to recognise how well the fashionable Brit mixed practicality with desirability. Its upmarket cabin, sharp handling and good refinement were pure MINI, while the 860-litre load bay easily swallowed a handyman friend’s bits and pieces.

Better still, very low CO2 emissions and excellent fuel economy made the Clubvan extremely cheap to run. This really is a van for all seasons.

Hyundai i30

Dawn Grant - Picture editor

Our Hyundai i30 really hit the target during its time on the Auto Express fleet. While it’s not the most exciting car, and never really stood out in one particular area, a balanced blend of talents meant it stood out as a great-value and practical family car.

A comfortable cabin made it easy to live with, stylish looks helped add a pinch of desirability, while light steering and a responsive turbodiesel engine ensured it felt good on the road.

The i30 also benefited from plenty of passenger space, a decent-sized boot and impressive build quality. Most importantly, it was cheap to run and never missed a beat.

Volvo V40

Dean Gibson - Deputy road test editor

I’d always liked our Volvo V40’s colourful ambient interior lighting, so by way of comparison, snapper Pete Gibson and I went to Southend in Essex to take pictures at the neon-lit arcades.

My favourite shot that night was of me driving along the seafront. Our hatch looked great with all the multi-coloured overhead lights reflecting off the curves and creases of its boldly styled body.

Unfortunately, the V40 didn’t shine quite as brightly during its time on our fleet. Although it was comfortable and efficient, its active safety kit proved too intrusive in everyday driving and the sat-nav suffered recurring failures.

Lexus CT 200h

Mat Watson - Head of motoring video

The Lexus CT 200h was a surprise on a number of counts. Firstly, I found that, if I tried, I could achieve its claimed 69mpg economy – although I had to drive slowly. Drive normally, and the car would return 45mpg – as good as anything else on our fleet at the time, with the exception of the super-frugal Suzuki Swift diesel.

The second surprise was that despite the sporty looks, the CT was no more fun than a Toyota Prius. In fact, the firm ride meant it was worse. That was a pity, as the beautifully finished Lexus was nice to sit it – the seats in particular fitted me so well I was convinced they’d been tailored specifically for my body.

Audi A3

Luke Madden - Deuputy news editor

I’ll be the first to admit that the Audi A3 hatchback wasn’t the most thrilling car to run. But ever since it left our fleet, I’ve come to appreciate just how trouble-free and relaxing it really was.

It has the quality to match Audi’s much more expensive A4 compact executive saloon. It also never went wrong – in six months, all we had was a flat tyre.

And I couldn’t complain about the way it drove, either – it was eerily quiet on the motorway and a breeze to drive around town. Did I have any memorable drives in the A3? Not really, but I was happy to trade thrills for laid-back chills.

Toyota Prius

Darren Wilson - Art director

As a keen cyclist, I felt a bit guilty being photographed binning my trusty bike in favour of our frugal Toyota Prius Plug-in. Yet that’s exactly what I’d done.I’ve been charging the hybrid daily at work, then driving home on pure electric power. There’s often enough charge to get me part of the way back to the office again before the petrol engine kicks in.

As a result, I’ve been averaging fuel economy of around 90mpg. Add the fact that the car’s exempt from the Congestion Charge, and driving in central London is a financial no-brainer. In fact, I’ve cycled only once since this picture was taken... and my pedal fell off two miles from the office. That’s bicycle karma.

Range Rover

Steve Fowler - Editor-in-chief

There’s something very special about Range Rover ownership, so it’s no surprise that the big Brit is our reigning Luxury Car of the Year.

The latest model is one of the coolest cars on the road (not least thanks to the cooled and massaging front seats), and it’s this comfort and refinement that set it apart. Pampering features include doors that close themselves and an incredible Meridian sound system – so you’re always travelling first class, whether you’re on road or track.

We’re getting better economy from our 3.0-litre V6 Range Rover than we are from our 2.2-litre Evoque, too.

VW Amarok

Lesley Harris - Road tester

I was so looking forward to the arrival of the VW Amarok on our fleet that I arranged a sneak preview. VW South Africa kindly lent me one for an amazing holiday to that fabulous country, which included driving the famous Garden Route.

The go-anywhere pick-up proved ideal for the trip. It behaved impeccably on the vast, open roads due to its car-like steering and feel, and was perfect for heading off the beaten track in pursuit of remote countryside and coastline.

And while this example didn’t have the same tonneau cover as our car, the exposed load bay was a perfect picnic spot for watching stunning sunsets.