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

Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £25,250Avg. savings £3,150 off RRP*Used from £10,495
Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £27,435Avg. savings £6,350 off RRP*Used from £10,450
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £38,050Avg. savings £3,940 off RRP*Used from £23,990
Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £15,270Avg. savings £3,278 off RRP*Used from £7,500
* 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

Subaru Forester 2.0 XE auto
Side view of Subaru Forester

Subaru Forester 2.0 XE auto

Today's city-dwelling 4x4 drivers have come in for a massive amount of criticism over their motoring habits. "What is the point of four-wheel drive, w…
Long-term tests
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Mitsubishi Evo IX FQ-320
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX in workshop

Mitsubishi Evo IX FQ-320

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Long-term tests
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Skoda Fabia vRS
Front view of Skoda Fabia

Skoda Fabia vRS

No two ways about it: the Skoda Fabia vRS is one of the most popular cars on the Auto Express long-term fleet. Everyone who drives it loves the neat h…
Long-term tests
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Mercedes CLK Coupe
Side view of Mercedes-Benz CLK Coupe

Mercedes CLK Coupe

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Long-term tests
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Smart ForFour

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Long-term tests
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Toyota Corolla Verso 1.8 VVT-i

Toyota Corolla Verso 1.8 VVT-i

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Long-term tests
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MINI Cooper S Convertible

MINI Cooper S Convertible

Driving a MINI Convertible is a treat in more ways than one. Not only is it great fun, but it can get you discounts at trendy restaurants! I got 20 pe…
Long-term tests
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Honda Accord Tourer 2.2 i-CDTi

Honda Accord Tourer 2.2 i-CDTi

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Long-term tests
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Mazda 3 2.0 Sport

Mazda 3 2.0 Sport

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Long-term tests
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Nissan Micra 1.5 DCI SX LT

Nissan Micra 1.5 DCI SX LT

I am starting to feel sorry for my Nissan Micra. If you've read any of the previous long-term reports on the supermini, you'll know that it's been giv…
Long-term tests
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Skoda Fabia vRS

Skoda Fabia vRS

Skoda has a rich rally heritage and Auto Express's road test editor, Oliver Marriage, has sampled it for himself, campaigning a Group A Fabia last yea…
Long-term tests
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Land Rover Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE

Land Rover Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE

Believe it or not, Fidel Castro and I have something in common, and it's not a love of big cigars or an interest in long speeches. It's a lot simpler …
Long-term tests
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Peugeot 407 SW HDi SE

Peugeot 407 SW HDi SE

It's amazing the amount of abuse that some cars can put up with. They are subjected to virtually no washing, servicing or TLC, and still they keep chu…
Long-term tests
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Toyota Corolla Verso 1.8 VVTi

Toyota Corolla Verso 1.8 VVTi

Bottoms up! That was the toast to the Toyota Corolla Verso after it proved the ideal companion on a booze cruise to France a couple of weeks ago. The …
Long-term tests
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Mercedes CLK270 CDI

Mercedes CLK270 CDI

I'm developing selective hearing. No, I'm not going deaf due to the children in the back of our new CLK, but friends and family are constantly express…
Long-term tests
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Smart ForFour

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Long-term tests
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Honda Accord Tourer 2.2 i-CDTi

Honda Accord Tourer 2.2 i-CDTi

The message in our Driver Power 2005 survey was clear: people really love their Hondas.
Long-term tests
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Mazda 3

Mazda 3

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Long-term tests
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Skoda Fabia

Skoda Fabia

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Long-term tests
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Nissan Micra

Nissan Micra

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Long-term tests
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Toyota Corolla Verso 1.8 VVT-i

Toyota Corolla Verso 1.8 VVT-i

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Peugeot 407 SW (2004-2010) review
407 sw

Peugeot 407 SW (2004-2010) review

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Long-term tests
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Chrysler Crossfire

Chrysler Crossfire

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