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… 

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Volkswagen Tiguan

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Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

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Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

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Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

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More on Car group tests

Compact Executives

Compact Executives

Can Mercedes all-new C-Class sink three of its key competitors from BMW, Audi and Alfa Romeo?
Car group tests
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Turning Japanese

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Which is the best British-Built Japanese car? We test UK-built stars from Nissan, Honda and Toyota
Car group tests
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BMW X5 v Audi Q7 v Land Rover Discovery
BMW X5 v rivals

BMW X5 v Audi Q7 v Land Rover Discovery

Now offering seven seats, BMW’s all-new X5 aims to make choosing a premium SUV even more difficult. We see if it leaves rivals from Audi and Land Rove…
Car group tests
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C-MAX v rivals

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To find out what Ford's C-MAX is made of, we pitch it against the Citroen C4 Picasso and SEAT Altea XL...
Car group tests
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Audi R8 v Porsche 911 v AM V8 Vantage v Jaguar XKR Coupe: 2007 group test
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Does Audi's R8 have the performance to match its looks and upset top-flight models from Porsche, Aston Martin and Jaguar?
Car group tests
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Fabia Group test
Skoda Fabia group test

Fabia Group test

We put Skoda's Fabia against the Vauxhall Corsa and Renault Clio
Car group tests
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Ford Mondeo v Honda Accord v Vauxhall Vectra v VW Passat

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The new Ford Mondeo takes on family car rivals – the Honda Accord, Vauxhall Vectra and VW Passat
Car group tests
25 Apr 2007
BMW 335d SE Coupe v Mercedes CLK320 CDI Sport

BMW 335d SE Coupe v Mercedes CLK320 CDI Sport

Is BMW's all-new 3-Series coupe a more tempting buy than its oil-burning Mercedes CLK rival?
Car group tests
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Off-roaders

Off-roaders

We pitch Land Rover’s rugged Defender against Nissan’s Patrol
Car group tests
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Drop-tops

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We test Ford's long-awaited Focus CC against key Volkswagen and Vauxhall rivals
Car group tests
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Superminis

Superminis

We compare Proton's new Satria Neo with rivals from Suzuki, Hyundai and Ford in its first test...
Car group tests
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Drop-tops

Drop-tops

We compare Audi's TT Roadster to the Porsche Boxster, Nissan 350Z and Mercedes SLK
Car group tests
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Qashqai v rivals

Qashqai v rivals

Can Nissan Qashqai's mix of hatch practicality and chunky styling beat the VW Golf, an unusual Dodge and a go-anywhere Kia?
Car group tests
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Hi-tech

Hi-tech

We try hi-tech newcomers from Honda and Lexus to see which gives the best vision of the future
Car group tests
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Porsche 911 Turbo v Lamborghini Gallardo

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Porsche's new 911 Turbo and Lamborghini's Gallardo face up in a supercar clash to savour
Car group tests
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Family hatchbacks

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In its first test, the all-new cee’d meets key rivals from Citroen and Mazda
Car group tests
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Honda Civic Type R GT
Honda Civic Type-R GT

Honda Civic Type R GT

Does Honda’s latest hot hatch have the thrills to match its wild looks?
Car group tests
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MINI COOPER S
MINI Cooper S

MINI COOPER S

Have the latest updates sent the British baby to the top of the class?
Car group tests
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Ford Focus ST-2
Ford Focus ST-2

Ford Focus ST-2

TeamRS, Ford’s UK racing arm, must be satisfied with its offering
Car group tests
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Renaultsport Megane R230
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Latest hot hatch aims to build on Renault’s motorsport success
Car group tests
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We find out if the all-new Honda Civic Type R has what it takes to beat the very best in the hot hatch market
Car group tests
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Family hatchbacks

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We pitch Toyota's all-new Auris against opponents from Honda, Ford and VW in its first UK test...
Car group tests
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Soft-tops

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Blackpool is the backdrop as we try new soft-tops from Bentley and Morgan. Which is the height of Britishness?
Car group tests
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