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

Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £29,820Avg. savings £6,182 off RRP*Used from £12,795
MG MG4

MG MG4

RRP £27,005Avg. savings £6,250 off RRP*Used from £10,431
Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

RRP £28,065Avg. savings £3,266 off RRP*Used from £13,902
Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke

RRP £19,785Avg. savings £4,644 off RRP*Used from £9,295
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
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Mazda 3 2.0 Sport
Side view of Mazda 3

Mazda 3 2.0 Sport

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Long-term tests
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Subaru Forester 2.0 XE auto
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Subaru Forester 2.0 XE auto

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Long-term tests
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VW Golf 2.0 TDi GT DSG
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VW Golf 2.0 TDi GT DSG

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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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Mitsubishi Colt
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Long-term tests
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Skoda Fabia vRS
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Long-term tests
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Audi A6 3.0 TDI quattro SE
Front view of Audi A6

Audi A6 3.0 TDI quattro SE

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Long-term tests
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Citroen C2 VTS
Citroen C2 VTS boot

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Long-term tests
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Mercedes CLK Coupe
Side view of Mercedes-Benz CLK Coupe

Mercedes CLK Coupe

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Smart ForFour

Smart ForFour

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Long-term tests
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Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi Zetec

Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi Zetec

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Long-term tests
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Toyota Corolla Verso 1.8 VVT-i

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Long-term tests
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Vauxhall Astra 1.9 CDTI SRi

Vauxhall Astra 1.9 CDTI SRi

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Long-term tests
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MINI Cooper S Convertible

MINI Cooper S Convertible

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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

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Long-term tests
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BMW 120d SE

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Mazda 3 2.0 Sport

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Long-term tests
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VW Golf 2.0 TDi GT DSG

VW Golf 2.0 TDi GT DSG

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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

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Long-term tests
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Skoda Fabia vRS

Skoda Fabia vRS

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Long-term tests
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Land Rover Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE

Land Rover Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE

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Peugeot 407 SW HDi SE

Peugeot 407 SW HDi SE

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Citroen C2 VTS

Citroen C2 VTS

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