Car group tests

Car group tests

The UK's most popular cars head-to-head against their key rivals...

If you really want to know how a car performs against its key rivals, this is the place to find out. The Auto Express group test is an automotive institution decades in the making that gets right to the heart of the questions that car buyers want answered. 

While our in-depth reviews and long-term tests are usually done with the car in isolation, albeit by experienced journalists with detailed prior experience of hundreds of other cars, the group test puts two or three direct rivals head-to-head in the same place, on the same roads and in the same conditions. There is nowhere to hide. 

As a means of slimming down your car buying shortlist these exhaustive tests are great. We drive the cars over long distances, interrogate the control systems, load and unload the interiors, and take our own precise measurements to make comparisons easier. Sometimes there’s an obvious winner but often what emerges is a picture of two cars with qualities that would suit different kinds of buyer - a picture that only becomes clear after this kind of detailed side-by-side testing. 

Our team brings you at least one two- or three-car group test every week, building up a clear picture of the cars we rate and those that we don’t... 

Scroll down to find all our group test pages… 

New & used car deals

Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £39,045Avg. savings £7,139 off RRP*Used from £10,800
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,640Avg. savings £2,419 off RRP*Used from £8,995
Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £24,040Avg. savings £1,535 off RRP*Used from £17,990
Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £16,275Avg. savings £2,689 off RRP*Used from £7,800
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

More on Car group tests

Kia Stinger vs Jaguar XE vs Alfa Romeo Giulia
Kia Stinger vs Jaguar XE vs Alfa Romeo Giulia

Kia Stinger vs Jaguar XE vs Alfa Romeo Giulia

Petrol is popular again in the executive class, but can the new Kia Stinger really rival the Jaguar XE and Alfa Romeo Giulia?
Car group tests
7 Jul 2018
Mercedes CLS vs Audi A7 Sportback
Mercedes CLS vs Audi A7 Sportback - header

Mercedes CLS vs Audi A7 Sportback

The latest Mercedes CLS and Audi A7 Sportback four-door coupes lock horns in a battle for premium honours
Car group tests
4 Jul 2018
Mercedes A-Class vs Volkswagen Golf vs Audi A3
Mercedes A-Class vs Volkswagen Golf vs Audi A3 - header

Mercedes A-Class vs Volkswagen Golf vs Audi A3

The new Mercedes A-Class redefines the premium hatch, but can it beat the VW Golf and Audi A3? We find out...
Car group tests
29 Jun 2018
DS 7 Crossback vs Volvo XC40
DS 7 Crossback vs Volvo XC40 - header

DS 7 Crossback vs Volvo XC40

Can the petrol DS 7 Crossback avenge the diesel model’s defeat at the hands of the Volvo XC40?
Car group tests
27 Jun 2018
Peugeot 5008 vs Skoda Kodiaq vs SsangYong Rexton
Peugeot 5008 vs Skoda Kodiaq vs SsangYong Rexton - header

Peugeot 5008 vs Skoda Kodiaq vs SsangYong Rexton

The 5008 is a revolution for Peugeot. But can it beat equally transformative diesel SUVs from Skoda and SsangYong?
Car group tests
23 Jun 2018
Suzuki Swift Sport vs Volkswagen up! GTI vs Ford Fiesta ST-Line
Suzuki Swift Sport vs Volkswagen up! GTI vs Ford Fiesta ST-Line - header

Suzuki Swift Sport vs Volkswagen up! GTI vs Ford Fiesta ST-Line

We see if Suzuki’s new Swift Sport can repeat past glories as it faces VW and Ford
Car group tests
17 Jun 2018
Audi Q5 vs Jaguar F-Pace

Audi Q5 vs Jaguar F-Pace

The Audi Q5 and Jaguar F-Pace SUVs face off with muscular 3.0-litre diesel power
Car group tests
13 Jun 2018
Kia Stinger vs Volkswagen Arteon vs BMW 4 Series
4 series group

Kia Stinger vs Volkswagen Arteon vs BMW 4 Series

We see if the sharp-looking Kia Stinger four-door coupe adds up against the VW Arteon and BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe
Car group tests
9 Jun 2018
MINI Cooper vs SEAT Ibiza: 2018 twin test
MINI Cooper vs SEAT Ibiza - header

MINI Cooper vs SEAT Ibiza: 2018 twin test

Revised MINI Cooper five-door meets the sporty SEAT Ibiza in a premium supermini showdown
Car group tests
6 Jun 2018
Jaguar E-Pace vs Volkswagen Tiguan vs Jeep Compass
Jaguar E-Pace vs Volkswagen Tiguan vs Jeep Compass - header

Jaguar E-Pace vs Volkswagen Tiguan vs Jeep Compass

We see if Jaguar can shake up the SUV market as its E-Pace meets the latest Jeep Compass and VW’s Tiguan
Car group tests
2 Jun 2018
Aston Martin Vantage vs Porsche 911 GTS
Aston Martin Vantage vs Porsche 911 GTS - header

Aston Martin Vantage vs Porsche 911 GTS

It’s judgement day for the cool new Aston Martin Vantage as it takes on the legendary Porsche 911 GTS
Car group tests
30 May 2018
Alpine A110 vs Audi TT RS vs Porsche 718 Cayman
Alpine A110 vs Audi TT RS vs Porsche Cayman - header

Alpine A110 vs Audi TT RS vs Porsche 718 Cayman

As Alpine returns with its A110 sports car, we see if it’s a match for the Porsche 718 Cayman and Audi TT RS
Car group tests
27 May 2018
Skip advert
Advertisement
Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer GSi vs VW Passat Estate
Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer GSi vs Volkswagen Passat Estate - header

Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer GSi vs VW Passat Estate

The warm Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer GSi meets the VW Passat estate in a practical performance duel
Car group tests
23 May 2018
Ford EcoSport vs Volkswagen T-Roc vs Mazda CX-3
Ford EcoSport vs T-Roc vs CX-3

Ford EcoSport vs Volkswagen T-Roc vs Mazda CX-3

Ford has revised its EcoSport again. We see if sporty new trim can help small SUV fight the VW T-Roc and Mazda CX-3
Car group tests
20 May 2018
Audi R8 RWS vs Porsche 911 GT3
Audi R8 RWS vs Porsche 911 GT3 - header

Audi R8 RWS vs Porsche 911 GT3

The new rear-wheel-drive Audi R8 takes on the Porsche 911 GT3 in a pure-bred sports car battle
Car group tests
16 May 2018
Mercedes X-Class vs Nissan Navara vs Volkswagen Amarok
Mercedes X-Class vs Nissan Navara vs Volkswagen Amarok - header

Mercedes X-Class vs Nissan Navara vs Volkswagen Amarok

Mercedes wants to redefine the pick-up market with the X-Class, but it’ll have to beat the Nissan Navara and VW Amarok first
Car group tests
13 May 2018
Nissan 370Z vs Mazda MX-5 BBR GTi Turbo
Nissan 370Z vs Mazda MX-5 BBR GTi Turbo - header

Nissan 370Z vs Mazda MX-5 BBR GTi Turbo

The Nissan 370Z and Mazda MX-5 sports cars focus on fun, and now they fight it out
Car group tests
11 May 2018
Citroen C4 Cactus vs Volkswagen Golf vs Vauxhall Astra
Citroen C4 Cactus vs Volkswagen Golf vs Vauxhall Astra

Citroen C4 Cactus vs Volkswagen Golf vs Vauxhall Astra

Citroen has turned its C4 Cactus SUV into a family hatch, but this has put it into the sights of the VW Golf and Vauxhall Astra
Car group tests
6 May 2018
Range Rover Evoque vs BMW X2
Evoque vs X2

Range Rover Evoque vs BMW X2

BMW’s curvy new X2 coupe-SUV meets the Range Rover Evoque in a style-led battle
Car group tests
5 May 2018
Honda Civic vs Renault Megane vs Vauxhall Astra
Diesel hatchback group test

Honda Civic vs Renault Megane vs Vauxhall Astra

Does Honda’s new diesel Civic make sense as it faces the Renault Megane and Vauxhall Astra hatchbacks?
Car group tests
29 Apr 2018
Kia Optima PHEV vs VW Passat GTE
Kia Optima PHEV vs Volkswagen Passat GTE

Kia Optima PHEV vs VW Passat GTE

We put Kia Optima and Volkswagen Passat plug-in hybrid estates through their paces
Car group tests
27 Apr 2018
Subaru XV vs Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross vs Skoda Karoq
Subaru XV vs Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross vs Skoda Karoq - header

Subaru XV vs Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross vs Skoda Karoq

Can the new Subaru XV and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross SUVs hold back the all-conquering Skoda Karoq?
Car group tests
21 Apr 2018
Toyota Yaris GRMN vs Peugeot 208 GTi
Toyota Yaris GRMN vs Peugeot 208 GTi - header

Toyota Yaris GRMN vs Peugeot 208 GTi

The limited edition Toyota Yaris GRMN has entered the hot hatch fray, but is it a match for the Peugeot 208 GTi?
Car group tests
19 Apr 2018