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

Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £27,415Avg. savings £6,054 off RRP*Used from £9,995
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
Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,295Avg. savings £3,081 off RRP*Used from £11,700
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
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Toyota Auris
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Toyota Auris

Has the Toyota hatch left a pleasant taste after 12 months on test? Our chocaholic managing editor serves up his verdict on the rebranding from Coroll…
Long-term tests
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Honda Civic Type R
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We’ve had plenty of fun on the race circuit in our Honda Civic Type R. But does the three-door thriller perform as well as …
Long-term tests
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Citroen C4 Picasso
Citroen Picasso

Citroen C4 Picasso

The chance to work outside London saw our Citroen C4 Picasso head for rural England – loaded with a fortnight of luggage and a bike
Long-term tests
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SEAT Leon Cupra
SEAT Leon Cupra

SEAT Leon Cupra

Our bright yellow SEAT Leon FR TDI is making way for an even more distinctive Cupra version. So what are our first impressions – and is the flagship h…
Long-term tests
20 Feb 2008
Audi TT Coupé 3.2 quattro
Audi TT

Audi TT Coupé 3.2 quattro

Read it and weep... the brochure will soon be the only reminder of the great service we’ve had from our TT as we bid the classy Audi coupé a sad goodb…
Long-term tests
20 Feb 2008
Whine glum!
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A mystery engine noise has been annoying us during our final few weeks in the note. but guess what?
Long-term tests
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Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 30
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Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 30

After an amazing year on the Auto Express fleet, we’ve said farewell to Volkswagen’s Golf GTI Edition 30, but can it be considered among the very fine…
Long-term tests
13 Feb 2008
Land Rover Freelander 2008 - long-term test
Land Rover Freelander

Land Rover Freelander 2008 - long-term test

Our long term Freelander has found favour with staff photographer Pete Gibson
Long-term tests
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Lion’s on song
Peugeot 407

Lion’s on song

Peugeot’s 407 coupé certainly hit the right note with us thanks to its clever sound system which copied all of our favourite music on to its hard driv…
Long-term tests
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Why Kia Cee'd is a good sport
Kia Cee'd

Why Kia Cee'd is a good sport

Kia’s Cee’d has proved itself in every area, from cruising to carrying loads. but what happened when it entered the world of motorsport?
Long-term tests
30 Jan 2008
Long-term Suzuki Swift Sport
Suzuki Swift

Long-term Suzuki Swift Sport

Our racy little Suzuki’s been on a long, high-speed motorway trip for a last hurrah. So, how did it fare?
Long-term tests
23 Jan 2008
Long-term Volvo C70

Long-term Volvo C70

After nearly 18 months on the long-term fleet, our C70 has finally gone back to Volvo.
Long-term tests
23 Jan 2008
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Long-term Mazda MX-5
Mazda MX-5

Long-term Mazda MX-5

Does Mazda’s all-new hard-top MX-5 Roadster Coupé set the pulse racing in the same way as the soft-top model? It’s time to have some winter fun!
Long-term tests
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Long-term Audi TT
Audi TT

Long-term Audi TT

Who would have thought it? Our Audi TT is winning favour for the gear its boot swallows. And that’s on top of its breathtaking performance, incredible…
Long-term tests
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Long-term Ford S-MAX 2.0 TDCi Titanium
S-MAX Dan

Long-term Ford S-MAX 2.0 TDCi Titanium

We’re dazzled by the array of optional kit included on our new Ford S-MAX. It offers all the comfort and technology of the Lexus it replaces – at half…
Long-term tests
5 Dec 2007
Volkswagen Golf GTI long-termer
VW Golf GTI

Volkswagen Golf GTI long-termer

With a new set of optional black alloys fitted, our Golf GTI Edition 30 looks fantastic – and they are the finishing touch to a truly fantastic driver…
Long-term tests
28 Nov 2007
BMW M3
BMW M3 slide

BMW M3

The rapid BMW left us strangely unmoved when we first drove it. Would a long-term test help us warm to the ultimate 3-Series?
Long-term tests
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Long-term Suzuki Swift Sport
Suzuki Swift

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Small is best when it comes to city driving – and Suzuki’s Swift Sport is proving to be an ideal companion
Long-term tests
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Long-term Citroen Picasso
Citroen Picasso

Long-term Citroen Picasso

It’s one of the most popular cars on our fleet thanks to its huge capacity – and recently, our C4 Picasso has helped create some…
Long-term tests
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Long-term Toyota Auris 2.0 D-4D T3
Toyota Auris

Long-term Toyota Auris 2.0 D-4D T3

First impressions don’t always count! We weren’t big fans of the Toyota Auris when it arrived on our fleet. but we’ve stuck with it, and it’s now prov…
Long-term tests
31 Oct 2007
Long-term Mazda 3 MPS
Mazda 3 front

Long-term Mazda 3 MPS

We're on first-name terms with our Mazda dealer after a spate of calls to sort a problem on our 3 MPS. But it hasn't spoiled our enjoyment of our supe…
Long-term tests
24 Oct 2007
Long-term BMW 535d M Sport Touring
BMW 535d Touring

Long-term BMW 535d M Sport Touring

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder – and in our opinion, the BMW 5-Series’ diesel engine is worth worshipping. Powerful, frugal and refined, it’s on…
Long-term tests
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Long-term Honda Civic Type R
Civic Type R bumper

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Fitting a new grille badge to our Honda Civic Type R is far from simple – it includes removing the front bumper! Thankfully, life is less stressful wi…
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