u/CarwowTom

Mat walks you round the new BMW 3 Series and its i3 electric sibling. What do you reckon to these sleek new saloon cars - better looking than the iX3 or not?

Well, maybe don't forget the E-Transit entirely - the Farizon V7E is a bit rubbish to drive, the cab is awkward to use and it comes from a brand nobody's ever heard of without the vast servicing and support network of more established manufacturers.

But - it's cheap to buy, the payload is massive and the range and performance numbers all look promising. Should you take the plunge? Read the full review to find out.

Video editor George is really enjoying it so far, though. It's super-comfy for his long journeys, the boot is massive and it looks great. But in mid-spec 'GT' trim, with the plug-in hybrid engine, the 308 SW looks very expensive against other plug-ins - especially Chinese ones like the BYD Seal 6 Touring.

The kit list doesn't really reflect that either - no wireless phone charging or sunroof, though George reckons the dash looks really smart and feels very premium. He's not the biggest fan of adjusting the climate controls through the screen, either, though Peugeot's handy 'i-Toggles' customisable shortcuts make certain functions a lot easier.

We've got the keys to this Peugeot for the next six months so stay tuned to see what we think of it. Do you have one? Do you agree with George?

These are the bits of equipment your car has that you find indispensable - things you use every day, and don't want to give up when you change cars.

While there are some definite obvious candidates, a couple of items on the list surprised me!

This is the 1998 Volvo S90 Executive, and it's a bit special. Coachbuilt by the Swedish firm Nilsson, this was extended substantially compared to the regular S90 so that the rear passengers had a truly lovely time.

From its purple paint to its six-cylinder engine to the swathes of wood veneer on the dashboard, I love everything about this car - and stepping into one after a go in a 2026 luxury car, it makes me even sadder that craftsmanship and quiet luxury has been replaced with shouty styling and gigantic screens.

A new car dealership can feel like a high-pressure, stressful environment - but it doesn't have to. You're there on your terms, and with a checklist of dos and don'ts you can lead the negotiation and avoid falling for salesperson waffle.

Here's our guide on what to do to make the most of your time at a dealership doing what a third of new car buyers have said they're happy to skip - the all-important test drive.

Last month, this was the best-selling electric car in the UK - but why? The Renault 5 has come in for some serious praise from both journalists and owners, but that doesn't always translate into sales success.

I reckon the R5 is achieving such success for a few key reasons - the styling being the most obvious - but also the price, positioning and practicality. Do you have one? Do you like it?

This is the new AUDI E7X, and you can't have one.

Unless you live in China, that is. The AUDI sub-brand is a joint venture between Audi and Chinese manufacturer SAIC Motor, and it's aiming to give the German brand a bit of a foothold back in the Chinese market, where it's been losing ground to domestic manufacturers.

It's an all-electric SUV that's loaded with tech and offers great specs - plus a staggeringly low price. But how does it compare to the European-market equivalents? I've put it up against a Q8 to find out.

Watch the video above, or read more here: https://www.carwow.co.uk/news/11172/audi-vs-audi-china-vs-germany-mat-watson-compares

That's right, the facelifted C-Class has an updated infotainment system which can access ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or Bing (really? Bing?) depending on the nature of your query. Mercedes says it'll enable you to use natural language rather than hitting specific voice triggers, and ask follow-up questions rather than treat each new sentence like a separate prompt. Personally, I remain pretty skeptical about AI in cars, but I'll wait until I've tried this one properly before passing judgement...

Of course, AI isn't the only addition Mercedes has made in the facelift. It gets new styling, including the same three-pointed stars in the head- and tail-lights as the new C-Class Electric and GLC Electric. There's also an update to the grille, which is more upright and illuminated around the rim - though it's not quite as bold and brash as the ones fitted to its electric models.

Inside, you don't get the acres of screen you'll find in Merc's newer cars, but the cabin actually looks better for it. There are even a few new buttons in the form of rocker and roller switches on the steering wheel, replacing (some of) the capacitive touch buttons.

Engines include three petrols, two diesels and a new 395hp plug-in hybrid with up to 62 miles of range. The chassis has been tweaked and you can now get rear-wheel steering for a supermini-sized turning circle.

So what do you think? Worth waiting for, or would you rather have a BMW 3 Series or Audi A5 instead? If it were me, I'd go 3 Series Touring all day long, but I must admit the fact Merc and Audi still offer diesels is a big draw.

I put Audi's two flagship estate cars to the test - the A6 Avant e-tron and the A6 Avant e-hybrid. As tested, similar price, but each model has its advantages depending on the type of journeys you undertake.

Despite their names, they're actually quite different cars to own and drive too - so read the article to see which one I recommend.

This is the new Hennessey Blackbird, and it's aiming for the same sort of people who might find themselves in the market for a Bugatti, a Pagani, or a Koenigsegg. But - in typical muscle car fashion - the American brand has gone a different way to the alternatives, and instead of fitting this car with an ultra-complex hybrid engine, automatic gearbox and high-tech interior, it's kept things simple.

So the Blackbird gets a 6.2-litre V8 engine that produces more than 800hp, and which will rev to a whopping 9,000rpm. The power all goes to the rear wheels, and in the middle there's a six-speed manual gearbox. Not an automatic that thinks it's a manual, not a fake shifter attached to simulated ratios - a proper, three-pedal-and-a-clutch manual gearbox.

As a further nod to the past, there isn't a single touchscreen on the inside. The dials are all analogue, and the dashboard layout refreshingly simple - though there is a phone mount, because you'll probably still want navigation and media controls. Hennessey says 0-60mph will take just 2.5 seconds and top speed is 220mph.

Want one? I do.

Read more here: https://www.carwow.co.uk/news/11118/new-hennessey-blackbird-revealed-mat-watson

The Lepas L8 is the first car from this new sister brand to Chery, Omoda and Jaecoo. 'Lepas' is a portmanteau of 'leopard' and 'passion', by the way - and it's another one of those cars that, while I don't particularly like, I'm sure is going to sell extremely well.

You get a ton for your money. The top-spec 'Elevate' - which is still much cheaper than the most basic VW Tiguan - gets a 279hp plug-in hybrid engine, 20-inch wheels, LEDs all round, a panoramic sunroof, heated, ventilated, massaging and electrically-adjustable seats, a Sony sound system, a built-in fragrance diffuser... how long have you got?

While it's better to drive than a Jaecoo 7, it's still not great. The suspension does that trick of being neither comfy nor sporty, and the steering wheel may as well be a Wii remote. But the success of the Jaecoo shows most buyers don't really care about that.

The next big sales success from the mammoth Chery group? I think it might be...

The Festival of the Unexceptional is a yearly event which celebrates the mundane, the unloved, and the disappearing cars that most classic car shows just ignore. It's also one of the highlights of my year, because nowhere else do you get such a mixture of inclusivity, nostalgia and outright fun.

This year I borrowed an amazing 1998 Volvo S90 to take with me, but I was in good company - with over 2,500 cars there, personal highlights included an incredible Matra Rancho, an immaculate Peugeot 405 diesel and a very bright and cheerful Mazda 121 Fun Top.

FotU will be back next year and you can bet I'll be there again!