4+ hour, 28+ min ago (301+ words) A popular Renault hatchback, dubbed by experts as a "cutting-edge" model, has been named the new Car of the Year. The new fully-electric Renault 5 is certainly catching the attention of consumers, with the plucky hatchback now praised by judges at the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers (ASMW)." "Its compact size and nimble agility make it perfect for Scotland's varied roads and city streets. Inside, the clever use of space and quality materials create a comfortable, tech-rich cabin. Exceptional efficiency and good practicality for its size round out its appeal, making it an ideal everyday car." "With its blend of charm, innovation, and driving dynamics, the Renault 5 stood out from a competitive field. It's a deserving winner that combines heritage with forward-thinking design." The Renault 5 E-Tech is equipped with a 52 kWh comfort-range battery" which can provide up to 250 miles of range…...

1+ day, 18+ hour ago (1280+ words) We live in an era of great automotive, political, and fiscal change. Around the world governments are switching ideologies and their economies are dealing with the financial difficulties those changing political axis. Meanwhile on the roads it is becoming ever more expensive to run and own a car. Rachel Reeves's latest budget introduced a new pay-per-mile scheme for PHEVs and electric cars which will be set at 3p per mile, the end of a freeze to fuel duty, and the raising of a luxury tax for premium electric cars. That makes it an interesting time then to be testing a premium electric car from one of the world's most prestigious marques. The Audi S6 Avant e-tron quattro is a top of the range estate car from Audi. The launch edition I had on test was a launch edition that had an estimated…...

2+ day, 10+ hour ago (608+ words) A group of renowned motoring experts have come together to decide what, in their opinion, has been the best car of 2025. After testing hundreds of different cars across nearly 12 months of motoring, experts from publication WhatCar? have decided that a small French electric vehicle is their car of the year. The car in question is the Renault 5, a vehicle that has won great aplomb and applause since it was released earlier this year. The 5 has been praised not only for its semi-retro looks and driving dynamics, but for it's infotainment system and the fact that it feels like a car where every effort has been made to make every bit of it as good as it can be. In a statement summarising why they had chosen the 5 as their car of the year, WhatCar? said other popular picks may have…...

2+ day, 19+ hour ago (483+ words) Drivers of electric vehicles will be forced to trek to MOT centres every year to have their mileage checked under controversial changes announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves , sparking fears the new pay-per-mile scheme could become a "chaotic and messy" nightmare, reports The Times. Under the government's radical overhaul, EV owners will be liable for a 3p-per-mile tax on miles driven from 2028, with plug-in hybrid drivers paying 1.5p. But in a twist that has left experts baffled, drivers of brand-new EVs will be required to visit MOT centres to have their mileage verified in the first two years of ownership, despite the car not even requiring an inspection. Drivers will be saddled with the onerous task of estimating and pre-purchasing their miles for the year at the same time they tax their car, with any unused miles claimed back as a rebate…...

1+ week, 7+ hour ago (294+ words) Classic car owners may need to pay more to get behind the wheel from this exact year as petrol and diesel ban rules come into effect. Labour is set to ban the sale of most brand-new petrol and diesel vehicles from 2030 as part of a crackdown on combustion engines." Posting online, Adrian Flux Insurance said: "Classic cars are not being banned, but it's likely the next few decades will see a shift that may eventually present a challenge for classic car drivers." "This includes increased availability of electric car charging points, more dedicated electric vehicle parking spaces and decreased space at fuel stations for traditional petrol and diesel pumps. Some have even wondered if the ban could mean that classic cars will be worthless in the future." "Though running and maintenance costs are likely to increase for classic cars, vehicles…...

1+ week, 11+ hour ago (399+ words) Every electric car owner in the UK is set to be hit with higher car tax fees from April 2026 as part of major Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) updates. VED fees rise depending on Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation every April, with 2026 set to be no exception. Specialists at Pete Barden have predicted VED fees are likely to rise by around 4.6% next year, with standard rate fees, first-year charges and Expensive Car Supplement fees all set to rise. The move could see electric car owners paying up to "20 more to use the road in a blow to those making the switch. Pete Barden said: "The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics confirm that the headline inflation level held steady at 3.8% in September 2025, the same as in August. "While the Government typically bases VED rises on the Retail Prices Index…...

1+ week, 20+ hour ago (403+ words) A motoring specialist has revealed one secret everyone looking at buying a used electric vehicle should follow.Leading car expert Mat Watson explained that anyone considering an EV as their next vehicle should ensure they always run a "diagnostic" check on their vehicle. He explained that a simple diagnostic check should be able to tell drivers how much battery life is available, preventing drivers from buying a dud.This isn't something available to those buying more traditional petrol and diesel combustion engines, where it can be very difficult to tell what condition cars are in before finalising a deal. Speaking to Express.co.uk ahead of the launch of his new book 'AUTOBiography: An A-Z Expose of Cars', Mat said: "One thing I am finding is that a lot of electric cars are very cheap on the market for what…...

1+ week, 2+ day ago (527+ words) Drivers could slash "3,750 off the price of the new Nissan LEAF following the UK Government's decision to broaden its Electric Car Grant (ECG) scheme today. The ECG was introduced earlier this year as part of efforts to make electric vehicles more affordable and accessible to everyone. Starting at "32,249, the Nissan LEAF offers a driving range of up to 386 miles and can charge from 20% to 80% in just 30 minutes. Production is scheduled to begin at Nissan's Sunderland facility, employing its 6,000-strong workforce, from December. In light of the announcement, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: "Nissan helped pioneer early EV ownership through the original Leaf, so it is great to see them join our drive to make going electric cheaper and more accessible for families. "Alongside saving drivers thousands, this news is also a big boost for manufacturing in the North East " supporting…...

1+ week, 4+ day ago (590+ words) The latest battery-powered Porsche has just been confirmed, and it has a very clever trick up its sleeve that petrol cars will never beat. Just like a modern smartphone, the all-new Cayenne Electric range now features wireless refilling. Simply park over a special charging plate, and the car takes care of the rest, with the battery getting topped up without requiring any annoying cables. Of course, to take advantage of this smart battery boosting, owners will need to install an inductive charging system on their drive, which won't be cheap. It's also slower (around 11Kw) than rapid refilling via a wired connection (now over 300Kw), but it certainly takes all the hassle out of topping up the tank. When needing a faster charge, the new Cayenne is fully capable of achieving a range of 202 miles from a 16-minute stop at the service…...

2+ week, 10+ min ago (404+ words) A budget electric car available to buy for just over "20,000 is scooping up Car of the Year prizes with experts branding it a "game-changer. The new Renault 5 looks the business, handles well and comes in at an attractive price point - a perfect recipe to genuinely cut through the noise and become a market leader in 2025. In October, the Renault 5 was officially the UK's best-selling electric car, outselling the Tesla Model Y. Outside of sales figures alone, the EV hatchback, named after the original Renault 5 which launched in 1972, is causing a stir among industry leaders. The Renault 5 E-Tech picked up the "Best Electric Small Car' prize at the 2025 What Car? Electric Car Awards in September. This has followed further success with the model scooping the European "Car of the Year 2025" award, as well as similar prizes from Top Gear.com and Business…...