Category: News

If you’ve ever been in the market for a used car, there’s a strong chance you’ve heard the term ‘full service history’ (or commonly FSH).

This is a desirable trait in any used car, and one sellers often use to catch the eye of potential buyers. But what does it mean, exactly? We explain…

What is a full service history?

Fairly simply, a car with an FSH is one that has been maintained at every required interval since it was built, with work carried out either by a manufacturer directly or by an approved service centre.

What makes this so important?

Having an FSH means that a car has been maintained consistently to the standards outlined by the manufacturer when it rolled off the production line, meaning it’s likely to be in the best possible shape it can be. It also means parts will almost certainly be those from manufacturer-approved sources, rather than third parties which may not match the quality.

How can I maintain a full service history?

If your car already has an FSH, it’s easy to maintain by ensuring that service intervals are carried out at main manufacturer dealers or workshops provided by them at the correct times. Service intervals can vary wildly depending on car, so check your owner’s handbook for more information.

How can I check my car’s service history?

Every car should come with a service booked, marked out with stamps denoting the date of a car’s service and how many miles were covered at the time of the work being carried out. If you’re struggling to find it, they’re often bundled in the wallet that also includes the owner’s handbook.

With the summer upon us, more and more people will be heading out under pedal power to make the most of the longer days and warmer weather

But what if you want to take your bike a little further afield, or need to transport it somewhere else? That’s where a car comes in – but some are better at facilitating a bike than others. We’ve picked out some of the best.

Tesla Model X

Tesla’s Model X SUV could be the best all-electric car available for cyclists at the moment. Not only is it cutting-edge both in terms of looks and technology, but it’s also extremely practical – and, most importantly, it’s available with a bike rack for the roof.

And with a range of over 300 miles, you shouldn’t have to worry about charging in between cycle rides too often.

BMW 5 Series Touring

The BMW 5 Series Touring has historically been the go-to option in the large estate segment. Furthermore it makes an excellent choice for bikers, thanks to its huge boot capacity and flexible storage options. It’s available with a roof-mounted bike rack, as well as one for the tailgate.

The split boot – which incorporates a separate glass hatch – has always been a handy feature, meaning you can grab items from the boot without having to open the entire door.

Volvo V90

Volvo’s latest large estate car – the V90 – has been somewhat of a smash hit, and it’s little wonder why; plenty of in-car tech, huge levels of safety equipment and simplistic Scandinavian design combine to create a very impressive car indeed.

But it’s the superb boot capacity which makes it ideal for bikers. Volvo is big on additional equipment for its cars, which is why as well as the single bike roof rack, you’ll find a tow bar-mounted system capable of carrying up to four bikes too – ideal for cycling families.

Cupra Ateca

The Cupra Ateca is the first car to come from Cupra since it became a standalone brand, distancing itself from parent company Seat. Though based on the regular Ateca, this Cupra version features a powerful 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with close to 300bhp. Put neatly, it’s a very quick car, capable of going from 0-60mph in five seconds.

Despite being on the compact side of things when it comes to SUVs, the Cupra Ateca manages to be reasonably practical, and it’s not too much of a stretch to fit a bicycle in the back of the car when you fold the seats down. A roof-mounted carrier is available too, of course.

Skoda Superb Estate

Skoda’s Superb Estate probably has the best cycling credentials of any car here, having been the car of choice for Tour de France teams for many years. The ability to carry several bikes at once is a big bonus, but the car’s ride is too – it’s comfortable, and therefore makes journeys when you’re no longer in the saddle a bit easier.

Available with a range of engines and specifications, there’s likely to be a Superb for any cyclist.

Jeep Gladiator

The regular Jeep Wrangler may not be the best choice for cyclists, but the upcoming Gladiator? Now that’s a completely different kettle of fish. With a large rear load bed, it’s ideal for mounting bikes to, and you can keep them all in a row by placing the front wheel of each bike over the folding rear bed.

But more than anything, it just looks incredibly good. In may be one the more out-there choices on this list, that’s for sure.

Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain

It’s funny how estate cars keep cropping up on this list, right? It makes sense, as they offer improved space over a saloon while retaining a comfortable ride and plenty of refinement.

The Merc’s E Class All-Terrain throws a bit of extra go-anywhere ability into that mix. A good choice for off-road cyclists, E-Class All-Terrain will be better suited to dealing with slippery conditions than its more road-orientated rivals.

Jaguar F-Pace

Jaguar’s F-Pace has been designed for lifestyle adventures from the off – it was even released with a special wristband-style ‘activity key’, allowing you to leave the standard key inside the car, locking and unlocking it instead with the band. It means you can go out and cycle without having to worry that you’ll drop the keys along the trail.

It’s a practical car too, and the all-wheel-drive system on the F-Pace is impressively versatile, allowing it to get here, there and everywhere.

Subaru Outback

When it comes to building rugged, go-anywhere cars, Subaru knows a thing or two. The Outback is a case in point; it’s remarkably good of road and it’s robust both inside and out. We’d argue that it’s not one of the most traditional bicycle transport choices, but that’s no reason to dismiss it.

It’ll take all manner of beating and still keep going, and it’s got plenty of places to store all of the kit associated with cycling, too.

Dacia Duster

If you’re after a value-for-money cycling car option, then the Dacia Duster is ideal for you. But don’t let a bargain price fool you into thinking that this is a low-quality car – the Duster is remarkably well rounded.

It’s very good off-road, and it’s superbly practical too. Essentially, it’s a great car for cyclists – be they road cyclists or mountain cyclists.

The way we buy a car today has evolved massively from, say, two decades ago. Rather than purchasing the latest Auto Trader magazine and hoping a good car was within a decent distance away, we now have the ability to see and buy cars all over the country from our living rooms thanks to the rise of online classified adverts.

Though a much more convenient way to buy a car, it’s not without its risks and things to take care of. Here are our dos and don’ts to buying a car online…

Do shop around

The great thing about buying a car online is that an entire country’s worth of classified adverts are at your fingertips. Check a number of sites and a number of listings to see what cars are out there before deciding on a purchase — you might find a better deal on the next page you’re visiting.

Do research

The internet is a giant bank of knowledge, and that’s something that should be taken advantage of. Look at owner’s forums and professional reviews of a car to gauge what to expect from a motor you’re looking at — be it new or used — and also seek out potential issues that could arise with a car.

Do check a car’s history

Take advantage of the DVLA’s website to check basic background history of a car to see its MOT history. It’s free to access, and requires just the vehicle registration.

We’d also suggest forking over the few quid for one of the many background check services available online. These can show information such as outstanding finance, theft history and if a car is written off. This could help avoid a potentially disastrous purchase.

Do message or contact the seller

Don’t be afraid to give the seller of a car you’re looking at a message or a call. Ask any questions about the car you may have, and see if you can get as much information as possible from them. If things seem a little bit sketchy about the sale, then don’t be worried about backing out from it.

Do arrange a viewing and don’t buy ‘sight unseen’

Though the internet is wonderful for many things, it can’t yet let us see cars for sale up close and personal from the comfort of our homes. We’d say it’s a must to see a car before exchanging any cash, as things may not appear all that an online advert may suggest.

Don’t send money through dubious sources

If you’re looking to purchase a car online and a seller is demanding up front payments through strange sources before allowing you to see the car – or even if you’ve committed to a purchase over messages – don’t be afraid to walk away. Though most car sellers will have the best intentions, it’s always possible scammers could be out to trick you.

That said, auction websites like eBay will require payment if you’re bidding on a car — though there’s plenty of measures in place on their side to protect consumers from scammers.

Summer is here, and that means it’s the time of year many of us will be flocking to exotic locations such as Madrid, Zagreb and Torquay.

No matter where you’re heading off to this year though, the fact you’re reading this suggests there’s a good chance you’re thinking about hiring a car for your trip. Though a simple process usually, it can be a little bit of a daunting experience for newcomers — and so, we’ve put together a guide on what to know when hiring a car.

First of all, should I hire a car?

If you’re staying in a major city and don’t plan to venture further out, you can probably get away with sticking to public transport links. For those wanting a little more adventure on their travels though, hiring a car enables that — it’s worth keeping the extra cost in mind

How do I hire a car?

There’s two main ways to hire a car really — either online in advance, or when you arrive at the airport of your destination. Booking online would be our go-to method. This usually presents you with the best deals, and allows you to compare between providers.

That said, it may be easy to forget amidst all the holiday excitement, so it’s always nice to know a car can be booked right as you arrive at your destination.

How much should I expect to pay and how can I cut costs?

Pricing of a hire car can can vary wildly depending on where you are, the type of vehicle you want, the length of your stay and how much driving you plan to do in it. That said, as a general rule, booking well in advance and shopping around for the best deals can save you money no matter what rental motor you’re after.

What does ‘or similar’ mean?

Now this is quite a common sight. If you’re looking to hire say, a Ford Fiesta, and you’re met with ‘or similar’ next to it, don’t be surprised to arrive to another car of the same size.

Companies tend to use a popular car to symbolise the size of a vehicle, rather than using terms such as ‘supermini’ or ‘executive saloon’. This makes it easier to understand for those who may be a little less clued-up when it comes to categories of cars.

Is insurance covered?

Typically, hire car companies will offer some level of insurance coverage — though these tend to be light, so it’s worth checking details closely when making a booking. For extra peace of mind, many third party firms offer more comprehensive hire car insurance.

What’s the deal with fuel?

Fuel policies with hire car firms can vary, but typically you’re given a car with a full tank and then expected to return it as such. Don’t be caught out trying to get away without refuelling though — many terms of conditions when hiring a car will allow the company to invoice you at an inflated rate to cover the extra.

Are there any restrictions when hiring a car?

Though hiring a car tends to be fairly relaxed, the big restriction is often age. Typically, drivers under 25 may struggle to hire a car through mainstream companies, and specialist firms for younger drivers are likely to charge a much higher rate.

Many firms may also deny drivers with a higher number of points on their licence from driving — typically this is for those with higher than six but this can vary.

Be it producing bespoke sports cars or providing vigour to otherwise ordinary passenger vehicles, the Germans have a well-established knack for producing incredible performance machines.

And thankfully, not all of them are flame-spitting supercars, which means that an enthusiast on a budget can take a digital trip to their used car site of choice and find a lot of Munich mental and Leipzig lunacy on offer for reasonable prices.

The range of choice is such that it can be hard to know where to look, but the following list should help you narrow down the market if you’re considering a German-built performance car for less than £15,000.

VW Golf R

‘R or GTI?’ That’s a question that many enthusiasts have to answer when looking at hot hatches, and both are valid answers. But, for our money, the R is the one to have.

A clean example of the outgoing MK7 Golf R isn’t quite available for under £15,000 just yet, but expect that to change within the next two years as the MK8 comes on stream.

With all-wheel drive and 266bhp on tap, the Golf R is as capable as they come when the roads get twisty.

Porsche Boxster

Examples of the first-generation 986 Boxster can be found for well under £6,000, but for the purposes of this entry, all eyes are trained on its successor, the 987.

If you are willing to settle for the standard 2.7-litre version of the Boxster, producing a ‘mere’ 240bhp from its flat-six motor, then tidy examples can be found for little more than £11,000.

The Boxster S – which started life with a 276bhp, 3.2-litre version of the six-cylinder engine, and was bumped up to a 291bhp, 3.4-litre variant from 2007 onwards – can be found for roughly £1,000 extra in good condition with somewhere over 50,000 miles on the clock. 

Audi RS4 Avant

Blending practicality and pace is something that the Germans have made into their own personal art, and there are few better at both than the RS4 Avant.

At this price point the pickings are slightly slim, but some sub 100,000-mile examples can be found for under £15,000, complete with the stellar 4.2-litre, 415bhp V8 that drew applause from critics and enthusiasts alike when new.

BMW M3

A widespread of BMW M3s are available at this price point, and which you go for is purely down to personal preference, as all are exemplary performance saloons.

The 90s E36, the E46 and the 4.4-litre V8 E90/E92 M3 can all be found for under £15,000. A lot of the examples on sale are convertibles, which do lose some of the renowned chassis dynamics thanks to less body rigidity, so carefully consider whether you value a drop-top over driving pleasure before putting money down.

While the three available generations all have their merits, the E46 might well be the wise bet; surely the last M3 with a naturally-aspirated straight-six will see a rise in value in due course?

Mercedes E63 AMG

A step above the M3 and the RS4 on the performance saloon ladder, the E63 is Mercedes’ rival to the M5 and RS6.

Appropriately, the mid-2000s examples you’ll find at this price point provide a step up in performance, with a 6.2-litre, 514bhp engine under the bonnet.

Mercedes’ reliability reputation in the 21^stcentury has been a little shaky, so do be aware of the potential cost implications of taking on this car; that said, we did find a sub-50,000-mile example just under budget, and that may have a lot of life in it yet!

Opel GT

Now for something completely different.

Built from 1968 to 1973, a majority of examples of Opel’s compact sports car come with a 100bhp, 2.0-litre engine, which push the sub-1000kg car from 0-60mph in 10.8 seconds.

It’s a rare car – at least in these borders – with charming styling and unique rotating headlights.  Fancy one? If so, we’ve found a good-looking example for less than £10,000.

BMW Z4 M Coupe

It’s another one that only just limbos under the £15,000 barrier, but the Z4 M Coupe is a wonderful car. If it’s predecessor — the Z3 M — is anything to go by, it may be due a little rise in price also.

This Coupe, which benefits from a sharper handling setup than the convertible, shares its engine with the E46 M3. The combination of the performance and soundtrack of the straight six, and the smart coupe lines, make for a wonderful second-hand buy.

Audi S8

Yes, even the very top of the Audi saloon line-up can be found within budget; well within budget, in fact.

The late-2000s S8 boasts a 5.2-litre V10 engine derived from that of the Lamborghini Gallardo and Audi R8 supercars, delivering an impressive 450bhp. And, as a bonus, Audi’s ‘S’ models possess compromise lacking in the more sport RS variants, meaning that this car is as luxurious and comfortable as it is pacey.

Examples of this car can be found at less than £8,000, but we’d suggest heading north of £10,000 to find one with less than 80,000 miles on the clock.

So, it’s time to sell your car. You want to get a good price, but you also don’t want to spend months paying for a classified ad wondering why nobody wants your motor.

To make sure you shift your vehicle in a prompt manner while also getting a good deal for you and your buyer, we’ve put together a quick how-to…

1. Do your research

Considering that the price is one of the most important aspects of selling your car, it’s generally worth putting in a bit of time do your research. It might be a little time-consuming but it can really pay off in the long run.

The most important things to consider are the age, colour, mileage and condition. You can use classified ad websites and refine your search so it only shows cars that match your own on these criteria, and see what price they’re going for.

Once you’ve checked a few different sites, you should have a pretty good idea how much your motor is worth.

2. Use a free valuation tool

If you don’t fancy putting in too much time when selling your car, there are a few free valuation tools out there that can use data gleaned from car marketplaces to give you a quick estimate.

They will use a similar approach to the above, asking for info such as mileage, age and condition of the car so they can calculate its worth. This might be a good starting point, but we’d recommend double checking the results against live ads just to make sure.

3. Decide if you want the full value or a quick sale

Depending on how keen you are to sell your motor, there can be a tradeoff when it comes to time or profit. If you’re looking for a quick sale of a car that’s either not particularly desirable or there’s plenty in supply, you may have to accept taking a loss on its value.

On the flip side, if you’re willing to wait a bit if that means earning more money, holding out for the right buyer could prove a profitable move.

4. Remember: values differ depending on the buyer

The last thing to bear in mind is that the value of your car can differ greatly depending on who you’re selling it to.

For example, if you’re selling it privately you’ll be able to get a bit more for the car as reward for putting in the time and effort to advertise it. However, even if you follow the tips above to value your car correctly, how long it takes to sell your car is somewhat out of your control.

On the other hand, you could sell it to a dealership. This is a way to ensure a quick sale, but the dealer will need to make a profit when they sell it on, so you’ll get below the market value for the privilege of a quick sale.

Looking for a new car is often challenging enough, but what if you’re a keen golfer?

The need to haul a full set of clubs with you can restrict your options, and that’s before you factor the need for a prestige look that many aim for at the links.

No panic though — we’ve done the hard work for you, finding handsome, desirable cars with enough space for a set of clubs…

Volvo V90

Let’s start with something particularly practical. To be honest, pretty much any estate would work here — but you want something elegant and stylish.. You could go for a typical German options from Audi, Mercedes-Benz or BMW, but really, you want to show you don’t just follow the crowd.

That’s where Volvo comes in with the V90. It’s handsome on the outside, light, airy and a little bit quirky on the inside, and has a massive boot. The fact it’s incredibly safe and good to drive just adds to the appeal.

Ferrari GTC4 Lusso

You might be surprised to see a Ferrari on this list, what with it better-known for making impractical supercars you can barely fit your exquisite leather briefcase in, let alone a set of clubs.

However, that’s exactly why the Prancing Horse introduced a ‘shooting brake’ to its range. Estate-like in shape but swoopy in appearance, the GTC4Lusso offers high performance motoring with added practicality.

In fact, to prove how fit-for-purpose this car is, Ferrari even offered it with a bespoke golf club bag that could be tailored to the buyer’s specification.

Mini Clubman

To many traditionalists, the expansion of the Mini brand under German parent firm BMW is sacrilege. The standard car is bigger than ever and there are now SUV-like versions too. However, the Clubman gets away with some of the ire because it’s the revival of a body type offered on the original Mini.

It’s essentially an estate, with two doors that open like a van at the rear, making access easy. So not only do you get easy access and lots of space, it still has Mini’s premium reputation and high-quality interiors.

Porsche 911

If ever there was a sports car that could fit in perfectly at a golf club, it’s a 911. It has that reputation for quality that so many others would kill for.

However, you might be surprised to learn that despite being a relatively small sports car, you can definitely fit a set of clubs in the back. It appears most owners recommend laying them across the back seats. It’s not the most elegant solution, but it works.

McLaren GT

As with the Porsche, you might be surprised to learn there’s a practical McLaren, but there is, in the form of the upcoming GT.

It’s designed to be more of an everyday McLaren, with comfort over long distances preferred to race track performance — it’ll still do 0-60mph in about three seconds, though, so it’s no slouch.

It gets a new rear boot space, and to prove its practicality, McLaren shared photos of a set of golf clubs on-board. Practicality, crazy performance and spaceship styling in one package.

Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo

When the Porsche Panamera was first revealed, it was rather the ugly duckling of the German firm’s range. However, the latest version looks svelte and muscular, and perhaps at its most appealing in Sport Turismo form, with estate-meets-coupe style.

Here you have Porsche brand appeal, mile-munching comfort, and space for your clubs and countless other stuff while you’re at it.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe

Mercedes has various good-looking and practical estates in its range, but if you really want to turn heads at the golf club, look no further than the S-Class Coupe. It has all the luxury inside that’s to be expected from the firm’s flagship non-sports car, while retaining a decent amount of boot space even in coupe form.

It’s something of an understated, underrated gem, particularly in S 63 AMG form, where it packs 612bhp.

Bentley Continental GT

If you like your luxury motors British, looking now further than the Bentley Continental GT. It was completely revitalised recently with a new look, exquisite interior and a gorgeous 12-cylinder engine.

Given the opulence of every surface inside, though, it might be difficult to bring yourself to throw your clubs in the boot after a rainy session…

Ferrari’s latest machine has broken cover, and it’s the firm’s most powerful road car to date.

The SF90 Stradale — named as such to celebrate 90 years since the iconic Italian racing team was formed — is the manufacturer’s second electrified car, following 2013’s LaFerrari.

More significantly though, it’s both Ferrari’s first plug-in machine and series production hybrid vehicle. The SF90’s powertrain consists of a redesigned, twin-turbocharged 3.9-litre V8 which itself produces 769bhp, mated to an electric motor that packs a further 217bhp.

Power from the V8 is sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox — another first for the brand — while the electric motor sends its grunt to the front axle.

This all-wheel-drive system incorporates Ferrari’s new ‘RAC-E’ technology on the electrified axle, too. Ferrari likens it to ‘a hand guiding the car into corners’, using torque vectoring technology to optimise the percentage of power sent to each wheel at any one time.

The result of all this is a 0-60mph time of 2.3 seconds — making it Ferrari’s quickest car to date too — with a top speed of 211mph. As this is a plug-in hybrid, it’s also capable of running solely on electric power. Ferrari claims the SF90 can cover just over 15 miles between charges when in EV mode.

Though the major technical innovations for the car come underneath the skin, there’s also some trick tech visible, such as a drag reduction system (DRS) implemented on the SF90’s rear wing.

Rather than deploying a large wing like many supercars, it instead lowers a segment of bodywork in front of the wing to increase downforce under braking and hard cornering, before raising it again to minimise drag. In total, the SF90 can produce 390kg of downforce.

Inside the car, an overhauled steering wheel features bringing most of the car’s functions to the fingertips of the driver via touch-sensitive buttons. Behind it sits a new 16-inch digital instrument cluster with a fresh head-up display.

Rounding out the fresh innovations is a new key, too. The SF90 is entirely ‘keyless’ — allowing it to be locked, unlocked and started with the fob in the driver’s pocket. It’s designed to look identical to the Ferrari badge at the front of the car.

Customers looking to enhance their SF90 Stradale for the track can also upgrade to the ‘Assetto Fiorano’ package. This adds carbon fibre door panels and underbody elements, plus titanium springs and exhaust component to shave 30kg off the standard car, while its 20-inch forged alloy wheels are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres for increased grip.

Although Ferrari are yet to announce the price of the SF90 Stradale, as the firm’s new range-topper, expect it to surpass the previous cream-of-the-crop 812 Superfast’s £260k starting price.

In the current motoring hive mind, it is easy to get the impression that all petrol and diesel cars are as economical as using £20 notes for toilet paper, while electric cars systematically generate ice and steaks for starving polar bears.

This isn’t necessarily the case, though. In fact, an overwhelming majority of new petrol and diesel cars on sale today qualify to pass through London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) without charge.

However, some are, of course, more frugal with their fuel than others. Here are the cars that are among the most economical on sale today.

Petrol

Suzuki Celerio: 72.4mpg

While the main phrase you might use to describe Suzuki’s Celerio is ‘unremarkable’, its economy figures are certainly not to be ignored.

Utilising the 1.0-litre ‘DualJet’ petrol engine, the Celerio is quoted at a combined 72.4mpg, which is an extremely impressive figure.

Peugeot 108 (also Citroen C1 and Toyota Aygo): 68.9mpg

Peugeot’s ultra-compact supermini is only available with one 998cc (or 1.0-litre, in layman’s terms) engine, which is capable of a highly impressive 68.9mpg.

The Peugeot is mechanically identical to the Toyota Aygo and Citroen C1, and as such, both of those cars also claim the same mpg figure.

Fiat 500: 74.3mpg

Fiat’s 500 benefits from the Italian marque’s extremely impressive two-cylinder TwinAir engines, which allows the stylish machine to claim some very impressive economy figures.

The highest figure quoted for the venerable Italian supermini is 74.3mpg, attributed to the 0.9-litre engine with 84bhp.

Diesel

Ford Focus: 80.7mpg

With 94bhp on tap, the base level ‘EcoBlue’ diesel Focus is unlikely to turn heads or rock your world in the performance stakes, but its economy is certainly not to be sniffed at.

Said to achieve an incredible 80.7mpg in official tests the fourth-generation Focus is certainly friendly to your wallet if you cover a lot of miles.

Honda Civic: 80.7mpg

If you’d rather go for something that provides a little less conformity than the straight-laced Focus, but you’d still like to achieve 80.7mpg, there’s always the Honda Civic, which gained a unique – if divisive – look for its tenth generation.

The Civic has a power edge over the Focus too, with it’s 1.6-litre I-DTEC engine producing 118bhp.

Volkswagen Polo: 83.1mpg

Even though Volkswagen was the straw that broke the camel’s back in the emissions scandals, they do still make some very impressive, efficient diesel engines.

A combined mpg figure of 83.1 makes the Polo a supremely economical choice among its supermini peers, even if a mere 74bhp means you’ll often be wanting for a bit more kick.

The rise of the electric car can’t be underestimated. Each manufacturer is rushing their own plug-in car to market, and demand for these new models is increasing by the hour.

But which ones are best? We’ve put together some of the ideal all-electric cars currently on sale.

Hyundai Kona Electric

Hyundai has changed the game with its new Kona Electric. Capable of travelling up to 279 miles on a single charge, it’s got one of the most impressive ranges of any new electric car available. And as a result of its basis on the regular Kona, it brings funky styling and plenty of in-car technology too.

It’s all put together in a compact package too, which means that it’s just as well suited to urban driving as it is to longer distance motoring.

Jaguar I-Pace

The British firm has struggled in recent years as the diesel crisis hit shortly after it invested heavily in the fuel. Fortunately, its bet on an all-electric SUV has paid off, with customers queuing up to buy one.

It’s easy to see why – the I-Pace is fast when you want it to be but a comfortable cruiser when you want to relax. It’s far from cheap at £64,495, but that’s good value compared with the Tesla Model X, its biggest rival, and with almost 300 miles of range, recharging should be a rare occurrence.

Nissan Leaf

Nissan’s Leaf is often one of the first cars that springs to mind when you think of electric vehicles. It was, after all, one of the very first all-electric cars to become popular, and has gone on to retain a lot of this popularity as the years have gone by.

These days the Leaf can still hold its own. It’ll crack 239 miles on a single charge, and is spacious and comfortable too.

BMW i3s

BMW has taken time to refine its i3 all-electric city car, ditching its petrol range extender thanks to better range. The firm has also added this – the i3s – which gives the car a little added performance.

It comes with a tuned stability system and a slightly more dynamic look – but still encapsulates all the good qualities of the regular i3 too.

Kia e-Niro

Ever since journalists first got behind the wheel of the e-Niro, they’ve praised the crossover for being good to drive and offering a battery capacity that can consign range anxiety to the past.

However, unfortunately the e-Niro has been a victim of its own success. Kia hasn’t been able to source batteries quickly enough to meet demand for the car, so wait times are now up to about 12 months.

Hyundai Ioniq Electric

Do you want the good news or the bad news? The good news is that the Ioniq Electric is a mighty appealing electric car. It’s practical, good to drive and surprisingly quick, too. The interior feels a little on the cheap side, but it’s far from disappointing.

The bad news, though, is that Hyundai is hit by the same battery shortage as Kia, so wait times can be up to a year. So if you want one, you’re going to have to wait.

Audi E-tron

Audi may be one of the largest carmakers around, but it’s actually been relatively late when it comes to an all-electric model. However this – the E-Tron – is its first model, bringing a premium look and feel as well as impressive electric technology.

Audi claims that it’ll do 248 miles on a single charge, but also provide plenty of space and practicality while it does so.

Renault Zoe

The Renault Zoe offers one of the cheapest entry points to EV ownership, but don’t mistake that for meaning it’s a cheap and cheerful offering that should be avoided – the Zoe is a great little supermini.

Opt for the big battery version and you get 186 miles of range, so most inner-city commuters will only have to charge it once or twice a week. Prices start at just over £17,000 with the plug-in grant.

Tesla Model 3

Tesla could be classed as one of the founding fathers of the electric car. The Model 3, its saloon car, has arguably been one of its most successful. But for many, it was just a touch too expensive and a little out of reach.

That’s where the new Model 3 chimes in. It’s designed to be a bit more affordable, but still capable of delivering plenty of range and high technology levels too.

Volkswagen e-Golf

If you’re looking for a safe bet when it comes to your electric vehicle purchase, you really can’t go wrong with the Volkswagen e-Golf. It brings the build quality and dependability you’d expect from one of the UK’s best-selling models, and simply adds an electric powertrain.

It can travel up to 144 miles before the batteries need topping up, and while that’s far from the best in the segment, it’s perfectly acceptable for the typical commuter. With plug-in car grant applied, prices hover around the £30,000 mark.