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 Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £15,255Avg. savings £1,912 off RRP*Used from £7,299
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £38,030Avg. savings £3,207 off RRP*Used from £20,799
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £25,235Avg. savings £2,502 off RRP*Used from £11,527
Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £7,962 off RRP*
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
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Vauxhall Astra 1.2 Turbo: long-term test
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Ford Focus Active Estate: long-term test review
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Final report: there’s much more to the Ford Focus Active Estate than the SUV-style additions
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Final report: We’ll miss our practical, value-for-money budget seven-seater
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Honda HR-V: long-term test
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