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

Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £16,260Avg. savings £3,075 off RRP*Used from £7,195
Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke

RRP £19,785Avg. savings £6,762 off RRP*Used from £9,574
Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £27,415Avg. savings £7,528 off RRP*Used from £11,213
Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £19,855Avg. savings £5,488 off RRP*Used from £9,630
* 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

Laguna Sport Tourer vs rivals
Laguna, Accord, Mondeo

Laguna Sport Tourer vs rivals

Renault's new Laguna Sport Tourer is leading the firm’s drive upmarket. But is it good enough to beat established stars, the Honda Accord and Ford Mon…
Car group tests
2 Jan 2008
Mercedes CLS vs BMW 6-Series Coupe
Mercedes CLS and BMW 6-Series

Mercedes CLS vs BMW 6-Series Coupe

BMW has finally added a diesel to the 6-Series range. We compare it to the oil-burning CLS to see which makes the better grand tourer.
Car group tests
2 Jan 2008
Cool cabrios
Saab 9-3 cabrio v VW Eos

Cool cabrios

Run a cabrio in winter? You must be joking! We see how Saab’s new 9-3 convertible and Volkswagen's Eos shape up as all-year all-rounders
Car group tests
21 Dec 2007
Mazda 2 1.5 Sport
Mazda 2

Mazda 2 1.5 Sport

Sharp handling and stylish looks make 2 a hit
Car group tests
19 Dec 2007
Renault Clio 1.2 TCE Dynamique S A/C
Renault Clio

Renault Clio 1.2 TCE Dynamique S A/C

French offering is a front-runner for quality
Car group tests
19 Dec 2007
Fiat Grande Punto 1.4 T-Jet Sporting
Fiat Grande Punto

Fiat Grande Punto 1.4 T-Jet Sporting

Engineered to pack a punch, can the feisty Fiat outmuscle its rivals?
Car group tests
19 Dec 2007
Renault Clio vs Fiat Grande Punto vs Mazda 2: 2007 group test
Clio, 2, Grande Punto

Renault Clio vs Fiat Grande Punto vs Mazda 2: 2007 group test

Do turbocharged engines make sense in superminis? Fiat thinks so, and has just fitted one into its latest Grande Punto. We see how it fares against Re…
Car group tests
19 Dec 2007
Top tests '07

Top tests '07

We put the best cars head-to-head each week. Here we look back at the highlights of the year...
Car group tests
12 Dec 2007
4X4 Mega test
4X4 mega test

4X4 Mega test

In an Auto Express first, we line up 12 off-roaders, from premium SUV to Pick-up truck, and pit them against the toughest 4x4 course in the country to…
Car group tests
5 Dec 2007
Ford Focus vs Honda Civic
Focus vs Civic

Ford Focus vs Honda Civic

Ford’s new Focus is here – and desperate to reclaim its Position at the top of the compact family car class. In this first head-to-head test, we see i…
Car group tests
5 Dec 2007
Diesel vs petrol roadsters

Diesel vs petrol roadsters

Is diesel the best choice for a roadster? We find out as the new Alfa Spider JTDM meets the petrol-powered Audi TT 2.0
Car group tests
28 Nov 2007
Fuel economy challenge
Economy header

Fuel economy challenge

We find out how much difference changing your driving style can make to your fuel bills on motorways, country roads and in town...
Car group tests
27 Nov 2007
Skip advert
Advertisement
Subaru Impreza twin test
Impreza WRX vs Civic Type R

Subaru Impreza twin test

Subaru’s new hatchback Impreza has already divided opinion. But is the first hot version, the WRX, a match for the Honda Civic Type R?
Car group tests
21 Nov 2007
Kia Picanto v rival

Kia Picanto v rival

Its predecessor was one of the UK's top-selling city cars. So is Kia’s new Picanto just as tempting? We find out as it meets Peugeot's 107
Car group tests
14 Nov 2007
Renault Laguna test
Renault Laguna group

Renault Laguna test

Can Renault’s new Laguna teach its competitors a thing or two about family cars? We find out as it meets the Ford Mondeo and Peugeot 407 in its first …
Car group tests
14 Nov 2007
Lexus LS600h vs Audi A8
Lexus vs Audi

Lexus LS600h vs Audi A8

The new Lexus lS600h hybrid aims to blend performance and luxury with class-leading efficiency. Can it beat Audi’s diesel-engined A8L?
Car group tests
7 Nov 2007
MINI Clubman vs rivals
MINI Clubman vs rivals

MINI Clubman vs rivals

Road test editor Oliver Marriage and family try the new MINI Clubman for size. We find out if it’s as versatile as the Peugeot 207 SW – and enough of …
Car group tests
7 Nov 2007
1-Series Coupé vs rivals
BMW group test

1-Series Coupé vs rivals

The all-new 1-Series Coupé aims to take BMW to the top of the class for driving fun. But is the powerful flagship 135i a match for the Audi TT and Vol…
Car group tests
7 Nov 2007
Volkswagen Polo Bluemotion vs rivals
VW Polo Bluemotion vs rivals

Volkswagen Polo Bluemotion vs rivals

Thanks to a raft of upgrades, VW’s new Polo Bluemotion promises amazing fuel efficiency. We put it to the test as it meets the most economical cars in…
Car group tests
31 Oct 2007
Volvo XC70 vs Audi A6 Allroad
Volvo XC70 test

Volvo XC70 vs Audi A6 Allroad

Which practical premium car is best equipped to tackle the worst of the UK winter? We find out as Volvo’s all-new XC70 meets Audi’s Allroad...
Car group tests
31 Oct 2007
Kia Cee'd SW vs rivals
Kia test

Kia Cee'd SW vs rivals

Looking for a spacious family car? There’s some interesting contenders – including Kia’s Cee’d SW. We pitch it against Skoda and Nissan rivals
Car group tests
24 Oct 2007
Altea Freetrack 4 vs Scenic Conquest
Altea Freetrack vs Scenic Conquest

Altea Freetrack 4 vs Scenic Conquest

The new SEAT Altea Freetrack and Renault Scenic Conquest both claim to take the rough with the smooth. We put them to the test!
Car group tests
24 Oct 2007
Mazda 2 vs rivals
Mazda 2 group

Mazda 2 vs rivals

Mazda is looking to make a big impression in the supermini class. Can it beat the Peugeot 207 and Vauxhall Corsa?
Car group tests
17 Oct 2007