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...

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Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

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Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

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Audi A3

Audi A3

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Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

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* 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

VW Golf 2.0 TDi GT DSG

VW Golf 2.0 TDi GT DSG

Does size matter? I always thought so. As Auto Express's consumer editor, I need a car capable of carrying the hundreds of samples we get through on o…
Long-term tests
18 Jan 2005
Smart ForFour

Smart ForFour

It hasn't taken long for us to get over our grief... the little red Roadster has gone, and in its place is an altogether more grown-up Smart
Long-term tests
11 Jan 2005
Nissan Micra

Nissan Micra

The brief was simple: transport two people and their luggage across France cheaply, efficiently and in comfort. Low European diesel prices and high fu…
Long-term tests
7 Dec 2004
Honda Accord Tourer 2.2 i-CDTi

Honda Accord Tourer 2.2 i-CDTi

Those who keep a close eye on the comings and goings of our fleet will notice our Honda Accord Tourer seems to have changed colour.
Long-term tests
30 Nov 2004
Fiat Panda

Fiat Panda

The Fiat Panda is a giant among cars - well, it is if you take it to Legoland and park it next to scale models of the London landmarks! Joking aside, …
Long-term tests
30 Nov 2004
Volkswagen Touran

Volkswagen Touran

Radio-controlled cars may be only a fraction of the size of the real thing, but when you have to transport 20 of them (for our forthcoming Christmas t…
Long-term tests
23 Nov 2004
Smart Roadster

Smart Roadster

Good design never goes out of fashion. Apple's iPod has reached must-have status for mobile music lovers, and it's down to its beautiful, tactile look…
Long-term tests
23 Nov 2004
Toyota Prius

Toyota Prius

Think of an ideal car for zipping around a traffic-packed city centre, and the Toyota Prius probably wouldn't be top of your list. But that's the role…
Long-term tests
9 Nov 2004
Chrysler Roadster

Chrysler Roadster

American culture. There are aspects of it to both love and hate. While I detest multi-channel TV showing nothing but adverts, theatrical politicians a…
Long-term tests
9 Nov 2004
Audi A6 3.0 TDI quattro SE

Audi A6 3.0 TDI quattro SE

With Halloween just past, you're probably sick to death of spooks and ghouls turning up at your door demanding cash or goodies - or else! It seems tha…
Long-term tests
3 Nov 2004
Mitsubishi Colt

Mitsubishi Colt

Someone must be smiling on me. As Auto Express's newest staff member, I had expected to be making lots of cups of tea. But instead, I've been given th…
Long-term tests
26 Oct 2004
Vauxhall VX220

Vauxhall VX220

Each weekend, I play golf. And as soon as I started looking after our long-term Vauxhall VX220 Turbo, I became something of a novelty at the club. Not…
Long-term tests
26 Oct 2004
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Ford Focus C-MAX

Ford Focus C-MAX

While the Auto Express road test team gets to sample a number of luxury saloons and exotic roadsters from time to time, real-world motoring is where o…
Long-term tests
12 Oct 2004
Daihatsu Copen

Daihatsu Copen

Six months. That's crunch time for most relationships. During the early stages of a new romance, everything seems perfect. But as the novelty wears of…
Long-term tests
12 Oct 2004
Chrysler Crossfire

Chrysler Crossfire

I'm a sucker for a wild-looking car. There's none of this understated 'good taste' design for me - my motors have to stand out from the crowd. If the …
Long-term tests
5 Oct 2004
Honda Accord Tourer

Honda Accord Tourer

"I'm moving house at the weekend, is there any chance I can borrow the Accord Tourer?" It's a phrase that's been heard often in the offices of Auto E…
Long-term tests
28 Sep 2004
Audi A4 Cabrio

Audi A4 Cabrio

I suppose you have to expect it when you're pushing on towards 40 - a bit of creakiness and general wear and tear, that is. With humans it's the onset…
Long-term tests
28 Sep 2004
Volkswagen Touran

Volkswagen Touran

Who said our long-term cars have it easy? The Volkswagen Touran is certainly being made to earn its living, particularly after it was pressed into ser…
Long-term tests
7 Sep 2004
Volvo V50

Volvo V50

No doubt about it, the Volvo XC90 was one of our best-ever long-termers - the giant SUV never put a foot wrong. Of course, this made it harder to say …
Long-term tests
7 Sep 2004
Nissan Micra

Nissan Micra

We've got a bubble car on our long-term fleet. Well, not really, but that seems to be most people's reaction to our latest acquisition. I can see what…
Long-term tests
17 Aug 2004
Smart Roadster

Smart Roadster

For my fifth birthday, I got every boy's dream present - a pedal car. I used it every day for the next three years, before the front wheel gave way mi…
Long-term tests
10 Aug 2004
Vauxhall VX220 Turbo

Vauxhall VX220 Turbo

We've struggled to see the bright side of life with our VX220 Turbo over the past few weeks. Nothing to do with the car itself, you understand - more …
Long-term tests
21 Jul 2004
Toyota Prius

Toyota Prius

Ah, the sound of silence! That's what we have got used to with our long-term Prius. The petrol-electric hybrid has become a firm fleet favourite over …
Long-term tests
20 Jul 2004