Long-term tests

Long-term tests

Every Auto Express long-term test, ever...

The Auto Express long-term test is a rigorous examination of a car’s design, engineering and practicality in real world conditions - often accompanied by some slightly silly photos of our experts with their cars. 

Our team lives with each car for a period of around six months, subjecting each to the trials and tribulations of our own daily routines. School runs, shopping trips, commutes, days out, family holidays, visits to the rubbish dump; we live with these cars so you can understand what it would be like to. 

And, of course, we’re car journalists so we regularly go above and beyond the typical use patterns for our long-term test cars. Track and off-road driving, in suitable models, gives a further insight into their qualities. So do the big mileages we cover on roads of all types right around the UK and across Europe, not to mention the photographic and video shoots.  

If you’re in the market to buy a new car, the Auto Express long-term test reports provide an invaluable insight into what your own life might be like as the owner. In combination with our in-depth reviews and group tests, these pages form the most comprehensive evaluation of new cars you’ll find anywhere. 

Over thousands of miles of testing, our experts really get under the skin of all the most popular models on the market and if you have specific questions about the cars we’re running now or have run in the past, we’re here to help… 

What’s on fleet?

Cars we’re reporting on now plus recent long-term test fleet arrivals and departures 

Scroll down for all our long-term test reports...

New & used car deals

Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £6,462 off RRP*
MG MG4

MG MG4

RRP £27,005Avg. savings £10,288 off RRP*Used from £10,200
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £38,030Avg. savings £3,560 off RRP*Used from £20,799
Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £27,415Avg. savings £6,054 off RRP*Used from £9,995
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
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More on Long-term tests

Hyundai ix35: Third report
Hyundai ix35

Hyundai ix35: Third report

Technical gremlins have been at play recently – but that hasn’t stopped us having fun in our family holdall
Long-term tests
10 Aug 2011
Citroen DS3: Fourth report
Citroen DS3

Citroen DS3: Fourth report

Long injury lay-off brought enforced break from our hot hatch. So has absence made the heart grow fonder?
Long-term tests
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Ford Focus: First report
Ford Focus and S-MAX

Ford Focus: First report

Our man is downsizing from a seven-seater MPV, so is the new hatch up to the job?
Long-term tests
1 Aug 2011
Mazda 5: Second report
Mazda 5

Mazda 5: Second report

Our MPV’s sliding doors have helped make life a whole lot easier for our working mum
Long-term tests
22 Jul 2011
SEAT Ibiza ST: Second report
SEAT Ibiza ST

SEAT Ibiza ST: Second report

Supermini estate has the pace to get us to the church on time – and the style to grace any wedding car park
Long-term tests
22 Jul 2011
Mitsubishi i-MiEV: first report
Mitsubishi i-MiEV

Mitsubishi i-MiEV: first report

What’s it like to live with an electric car? We’re about to find out, with the latest addition to our fleet...
Long-term tests
18 Jul 2011
Volkswagen Polo: first report
Volkswagen Polo

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Our man is expecting big things from our new supermini as we find out if it makes the grade as family transport
Long-term tests
18 Jul 2011
Mercedes E350: Third Report
Mercedes E350

Mercedes E350: Third Report

With its huge load capacity and strong pace, versatile E-Class is perfect for work and family life - especially now it's fitted with a roofbox
Long-term tests
11 Jul 2011
Suzuki Swift: Fourth Report
Suzuki Swift SZ4 vs DDiS

Suzuki Swift: Fourth Report

We pitch our punchy petrol baby Suzuki against its closest rival: the new diesel Swift
Long-term tests
11 Jul 2011
Saab 9-5
Saab 9-5 header

Saab 9-5

Big saloon is under pressure to deliver with better efficiency after we switched to Eco tyre readings
Long-term tests
1 Jul 2011
Ford S-MAX
Ford S-MAX header

Ford S-MAX

A 1,000-mile round trip to Scotland for a family holiday was no problem for our MPV
Long-term tests
9 Jun 2011
MINI Countryman Cooper D
MINI Countryman Cooper D boot

MINI Countryman Cooper D

How many staff can we squeeze into chunky Brit 4x4? Auto Express puts it to the ultimate practicality test...
Long-term tests
9 Jun 2011
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Peugeot RCZ
Peugeot RCZ vs Jagaur XKR-S

Peugeot RCZ

Our coupe is blessed with many talents, but it's no match for Jaguar's sensational new XKR-S. Or is it?
Long-term tests
7 Jun 2011
Skoda Superb Estate: Second Report
Skoda Superb Estate header

Skoda Superb Estate: Second Report

At last we've found a better all-rounder than our long-termer... a different version of the same car!
Long-term tests
7 Jun 2011
Vauxhall Corsa 2011 - long term test
Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa 2011 - long term test

Cut-price motoring and attractive styling are key to supermini’s appeal.
Long-term tests
6 Jun 2011
Renault Megane ST
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Renault Megane ST

Is our Renault Megane Sport Tourer ‘tres bien’, or do we wish it a ‘bon voyage’?
Long-term tests
31 May 2011
Kia Sportage
Kia Sportage header

Kia Sportage

Our snappers are exchanging cars – but does Korean crossover represent better part of the deal?
Long-term tests
27 May 2011
Audi A1: First report
Audi A1: First report header

Audi A1: First report

It requires guts to take on MINI, but our new premium small car has the stomach for a fight
Long-term tests
20 May 2011
Mercedes E350
Mercedes E350 header

Mercedes E350

Luxury estate is proving to be a prized asset – and a real winner when it comes to fuel consumption
Long-term tests
20 May 2011
Mazda 5: First report
Mazda 5: First report header

Mazda 5: First report

A growing family needs a bigger car. So after a 2 supermini and 3 hatch, the 5 MPV is the next Mazda for us to test!
Long-term tests
13 May 2011
Hyundai ix35
Hyundai ix35 corner

Hyundai ix35

Long weekends have allowed SUV to stretch its legs out of town – and it’s really impressed
Long-term tests
9 May 2011
Audi A5 Sportback
Audi A5 Sportback

Audi A5 Sportback

A hi-tech service at Audi’s flagship dealer has seen our Sportback restored to full fitness
Long-term tests
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SEAT Ibiza ST
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SEAT Ibiza ST

Stylish, practical supermini estate has joined our fleet in time for the warm weather and the holiday season
Long-term tests
28 Apr 2011