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

Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £25,235Avg. savings £2,514 off RRP*Used from £12,194
Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £3,158 off RRP*
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £38,030Avg. savings £4,033 off RRP*Used from £25,973
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £2,310 off RRP*Used from £15,938
* 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

Mercedes C-Class Estate vs BMW 3 Series and Volvo V60

Mercedes C-Class Estate vs BMW 3 Series and Volvo V60

We see if new Mercedes C-Class Estate has space and quality feel to beat BMW 3 Series Touring and Volvo V60
Car group tests
20 Nov 2014
Toyota Yaris vs Volkswagen Polo

Toyota Yaris vs Volkswagen Polo

Can the new Toyota Yaris scale the heights of the supermini class? We find out as it squares up to the VW Polo
Car group tests
19 Nov 2014
Mercedes C300 BlueTEC Hybrid vs Lexus IS 300h

Mercedes C300 BlueTEC Hybrid vs Lexus IS 300h

Mercedes promises to mix luxury and efficiency with its new hybrid C-Class - here it takes on the Lexus IS 300h
Car group tests
12 Nov 2014
Ford Focus vs Nissan Pulsar & SEAT Leon

Ford Focus vs Nissan Pulsar & SEAT Leon

Can the updated Ford Focus see off the Nissan Pulsar and SEAT Leon in its first test?
Car group tests
11 Nov 2014
VW Scirocco vs Peugeot RCZ
VW Scirocco vs Peugeot RCZ - main shot

VW Scirocco vs Peugeot RCZ

Updated VW Scirocco blends good looks with more power, and faces the Peugeot RCZ in this test
Car group tests
4 Nov 2014
Gripping tale: Subaru Impreza vs Mazda 3

Gripping tale: Subaru Impreza vs Mazda 3

Is four-wheel drive enough for the new Subaru Impreza to leave the Mazda 3 trailing?
Car group tests
29 Oct 2014
MINI Cooper D 5-door vs Fiat 500L & Audi A1 Sportback

MINI Cooper D 5-door vs Fiat 500L & Audi A1 Sportback

We test the new MINI five-door against two of its key premium hatchback rivals to see how it measures up
Car group tests
23 Oct 2014
Vauxhall Corsa vs VW Polo & Ford Fiesta

Vauxhall Corsa vs VW Polo & Ford Fiesta

Can Vauxhall’s all-new Corsa storm to the top of the highly competitive and lucrative supermini class?
Car group tests
21 Oct 2014
Lexus NX vs BMW X3
Lexus NX vs BMW X3

Lexus NX vs BMW X3

Lexus is looking to conquer the compact SUV class with its new NX 300h hybrid. We see how it fares against BMW’s recently revised X3
Car group tests
21 Oct 2014
Renault Twingo vs SEAT Mii

Renault Twingo vs SEAT Mii

Can radical new Renault Twingo city car find a way past the excellent SEAT Mii?
Car group tests
16 Oct 2014
Jeep Cherokee vs Nissan Qashqai & Land Rover Freelander
Jeep Cherokee group test

Jeep Cherokee vs Nissan Qashqai & Land Rover Freelander

Has Jeep created a winner with its new Cherokee 4x4? We test it on road and off against Nissan and Land Rover
Car group tests
15 Oct 2014
Tow Car of the Year 2015 - SEAT Leon ST 2.0 TDI 184 FR
SEAT Leon ST Tow Car of the Year

Tow Car of the Year 2015 - SEAT Leon ST 2.0 TDI 184 FR

So, out of the six worthy category winners, which model is taking away the top prize of Towcar of the Year 2015?
Car group tests
9 Oct 2014
Skip advert
Advertisement
Judges' Special Award - Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV GX4hs
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Tow Car of the Year

Judges' Special Award - Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV GX4hs

In the past, the Towcar of the Year judging panel has presented a Special Award to recognise an innovative new model.
Car group tests
9 Oct 2014
Best AWD over 1,800kg - Land Rover Discovery
Land Rover Discovery Tow Car of the Year

Best AWD over 1,800kg - Land Rover Discovery

Only a big hitter can scoop such a heavyweight title, and at 2,570kg, the Land Rover Discovery topped the kerbweight table this year.
Car group tests
9 Oct 2014
£25,000 - £30,000 - VW Golf SV GT 2.0 TDI DSG
Volkswagen Golf SV Tow Car of the Year

£25,000 - £30,000 - VW Golf SV GT 2.0 TDI DSG

A total of 11 cars did battle in our £25,000-£30,000 class, but only one could win – and we handed the crown to the new VW Golf SV.
Car group tests
9 Oct 2014
Over £40,000 - Land Rover Discovery 3.0 SDV6 HSE Luxury
Land Rover Discovery Tow Car of the Year

Over £40,000 - Land Rover Discovery 3.0 SDV6 HSE Luxury

Our judges got into the most heated debate over the most expensive category in our Towcar awards.
Car group tests
9 Oct 2014
£20,000 - £25,000 - SEAT Leon ST 2.0 TDI 184 FR

£20,000 - £25,000 - SEAT Leon ST 2.0 TDI 184 FR

The SEAT Leon ST emerged as the outstanding contender in the largest category of our Towcar awards.
Car group tests
9 Oct 2014
£20,000 - £25,000 - SEAT Leon ST 2.0 TDI 184 FR
SEAT Leon ST Tow Car of the Year

£20,000 - £25,000 - SEAT Leon ST 2.0 TDI 184 FR

SEAT Leon ST Tow Car of the Year
Car group tests
9 Oct 2014
£15,000 - £20,000 - Peugeot 308 SW 1.2 e-THP 130 Active
Peugeot 308 SW Tow Car of the Year

£15,000 - £20,000 - Peugeot 308 SW 1.2 e-THP 130 Active

Another category contested by only three cars, but there was a clear winner in our £15,000-£20,000 class
Car group tests
9 Oct 2014
Under £15,000 - Fiat Panda 4x4 1.3 Multijet
Fiat Panda 4x4 Tow Car Awards

Under £15,000 - Fiat Panda 4x4 1.3 Multijet

Car group tests
9 Oct 2014
Volkswagen e-Golf vs BMW i3
VW e-Golf vs BMW i3

Volkswagen e-Golf vs BMW i3

Can the new VW e-Golf put battery-powered cars on the road to mainstream success? We find out as it meets the brilliant BMW i3
Car group tests
7 Oct 2014
Space age: Mercedes Citan Traveliner vs rivals
Mercedes Citan group test

Space age: Mercedes Citan Traveliner vs rivals

Can the Mercedes Citan Traveliner give established van-based MPVs a run for their money?
Car group tests
30 Sep 2014
Ford EcoSport vs Renault Captur
King of the castle: Ford EcoSport vs Renault Captur

Ford EcoSport vs Renault Captur

Can new Ford EcoSport get the better of the Renault Captur in this crossover power struggle?
Car group tests
29 Sep 2014