r/ukcarwow

Electric cars have moved from a niche curiosity to a mainstream choice in the UK, according to new data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The new figures show UK drivers can choose from more than 167 electric models, compared with just 14 in 2016. Electric cars now account for more than two in five models available on the market, reflecting a major shift in consumer choice and manufacturer investment.

The number of brands offering electric cars in Britain has also surged, rising from 12 in 2016 to 51 today, according to the SMMT data. This underlines the scale of industry investment in decarbonisation and zero-emission tech.

https://www.carwow.co.uk/news/10742/uk-electric-car-market-decade-comparison

If you're looking for a posh electric SUV, times are good. The BMW iX3 and Mercedes GLC Electric have recently launched, and now the crowd is complete with the Volvo EX60.

I travelled to Spain to test the car at the international launch and found it to be a comfortable way to get around, with loads of space inside. My son's child seat would fit no problem at all, and the long range means road trip stoppages are dictated more by the size of your bladder than the car's battery.

Good for the most part, then, but I'm still yet to find a car that's intuitive to use with all the buttons removed from the dash, and the BMW iX3 looks like better value for money.

Read the full review here: https://www.carwow.co.uk/volvo/ex60

This is the new Mercedes-AMG GT Four Door Coupe, and it’s gone all-electric.

That’s right, you thought putting a four-cylinder engine in the new C63 upset the AMG fanboys, this car ditches internal combustion all together. It follows on from the AMG XX concept car, and it touts some seriously impressive stats.

Mat has been to have a look around this new electric AMG, and he's going to tell you everything you need to know about it.

https://www.carwow.co.uk/mercedes/news/10738/new-mercedes-amg-gt-four-door-electric-first-impressions-mat-watson

Calling all Redditors! We want to know which new car features you hate the most for an upcoming article on carwow.co.uk

For me, the ever-increasing reliance on screens really grinds my gears. Just look at this 39-inch touchscreen in the new Mercedes GLC. Ridiculous if you ask me.

Let us know your new car pet peeves below, and we'll compile the top 10 most hated features according to you. Get ranting!

We've currently got two plug-in hybrid estate cars on the Carwow long term fleet: the BYD Seal 6 Touring and the Volvo V60. New, the Volvo is around £20,000 more expensive than the BYD, however we've found a 2025 V60 for the same price as the affordable Chinese alternative.

But which should you buy? The BYD offers plenty of tech for the money, and the interior looks a bit more modern than the Volvo's. That said, the V60 is much nicer to drive and it looks cooler - to our eyes at least.

What do you reckon? Would your £30,000 go on a lightly-used Swedish estate, or would you prefer that new car smell and a six-year warranty?

https://www.carwow.co.uk/editorial/choosing-a-car/car-comparisons-side-by-side/byd-seal-6-touring-vs-used-volvo-v60-carwow-long-term-test

Another seven-seater SUV to land on British shores, the MG S9 offers great electric-only range from its plug-in hybrid engine, lots of standard kit and a frankly cavernous interior. Even the third row of seats recline...

But - and it's a big but - is value for money enough for the big MG to stand out? Sure it's practical and well-equipped, but it's not very comfortable on any given road and the infotainment system is a headache to use.

So, if you had six family members to ferry about or the need for a gargantuan boot, would you spend £34,000 on the S9? Or would you shop elsewhere?

Read my full review on Carwow: https://www.carwow.co.uk/mg/s9

This is the new Skoda Epiq, and it's a small electric SUV which starts from just under £25,000.

Under the skin you'll find the same batteries and motors as you get in the Volkswagen ID Polo, meaning top-spec cars have a 52kWh pack and 211hp. This is good for up to 272 miles of range, around 20 miles more than you get in a Renault 4.

Despite being Skoda's smallest electric car, the boot is actually slightly bigger than the Elroq's. You get 475 litres to play with, as well as a small frunk under the bonnet.

That starting price means it's slightly cheaper than the petrol-powered Skoda Kamiq, but which would you choose?

https://www.carwow.co.uk/skoda/news/10734/new-skoda-epiq-revealed-price-specs-range-review

New DVLA data reveals more than 12,000 motorists have been caught drug-driving multiple times over the past 11 years, with reoffending rates far higher than drink-driving cases.

The findings, obtained by the RAC through an FOI request, show 12,391 drivers have received at least three DG10 endorsements since 2014. These penalties are issued when someone is caught driving, or attempting to drive, with controlled drugs above legal limits in their system.

Overall, the data shows 41,422 licence holders were convicted of drug-driving more than once in the last 11 years.

Do you think more can be done to tackle driving under the influence?

https://www.carwow.co.uk/news/10732/drug-driving-repeat-offences-dvla-data

I've always thought the BMW X5 was the best big, posh SUV, and a week with this 30d version has just cemented that feeling. It just does everything so, so well - it's fantastic to drive, comfortable on the motorway yet amazingly agile on a back road for something so vast. The interior feels great, and there's even a good mix of physical controls with the iDrive rotary dial still in place. Dare I say that it even looks quite discreet next to some of the latest BMWs?

https://www.carwow.co.uk/bmw/x5

This is the new Mercedes GLC Electric, and it’s an alternative to the BMW iX3 and Audi Q6 e-tron. Mat Watson has been driving it to see how it stacks up against that stiff competition, and while it’s a very comfy and luxurious mid-sized SUV it’s by no means perfect.

Let's start inside. That 39-inch Superscreen certainly looks impressive, and it's also pretty easy to use thanks to the zippy graphics and logical menus. Material quality is a bit naff in places though, such as the tacky air vents and cheap-feeling stalks.

There is plenty of space in the rear for two adults, although three is a squeeze. The 570-litre boot is also really practical, and Mat managed to get seven carry-on-sized suitcases back there. The front boot is massive, and it's easy to access by just pressing the Mercedes logo on the bonnet.

Out on the road, the GLC Electric is really comfortable and it feels solid through the bends. It's also easy to drive in town thanks to the rear-wheel steering, but the real-world range is less than impressive.

Mat managed to get 282 miles from a charge, which is way short of the claimed 393 miles of range for this top-spec test car.

But would that be enough to put you off? Check out Mat's full review of this £60,000 electric SUV:

https://www.carwow.co.uk/mercedes/glc-electric/news/10731/mat-watson-reviews-mercedes-glc-electric

Reports suggest Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to scrap the planned 5p fuel duty rise, according to The Sun.

The increase – due to be phased in from September through March 2027 – now looks likely to be dropped amid pressure over the cost of living and stubbornly high fuel prices.

With households already squeezed and inflation concerns lingering, the move would mark a notable policy reversal. Government insiders say the proposal has been under review for some time, but nothing has been officially confirmed yet.

https://www.carwow.co.uk/news/10729/fuel-duty-freeze-uk

This is the new Volkswagen ID Polo GTI, and it's the first electric VW to use that iconic performance badge. Our news editor from Carwow Germany has been looking around the car.

It's an alternative to cars like the Alpine A290 and Mini JCW Electric, and it's powered by a 226hp electric motor on the front axle.

The 0-62mph sprint takes 6.8 seconds, which is a bit slower than the Alpine and the Mini. Speed isn't everything though, and the ID Polo GTI has adaptive dampers and a clever locking differential to make sure it handles like a hot hatch should.

The design changes over the standard ID Polo are subtle, but effective. You get plenty of red trim, deeper front and rear bumpers and 19-inch alloy wheels, all of which come together to make, in my opinion, a good-looking little hot hatch.

Prices are expected to start from around £35,000, which is around the same as the Mini JCW Electric and Alpine A290. Do you reckon it's worth waiting for?

https://www.carwow.co.uk/volkswagen/news/10721/new-volkswagen-id-polo-gti-electric-hot-hatch-first-impressions

...then the Deepal S07 would sell in spades. Unlike the many featureless, blobby SUVs on sale at the moment the Changan really is quite a looker. I like the shark-nose front end, the pointy headlights and the sleek roofline.

It's really plush inside, too, even compared to other Chinese SUVs - but my word is it annoying to live with. From the fussy infotainment to the lack of buttons and ergonomic quirks, it gets on your nerves when you try to live with it. It's a shame, really.

I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed.

https://www.carwow.co.uk/news/10718/changan-deepal-s07-review-mario-christou

Motability has dropped its compulsory black box tracking policy after backlash from disabled drivers and campaigners.

The “Drive Smart” programme used telematics to monitor driving behaviour, but many argued the tech unfairly flagged drivers whose vehicle adaptations affected the data.

Young drivers on the Motability scheme had raised concerns over the rules, calling them intrusive and discriminatory. Motability has now reversed the decision in a major U-turn.

https://www.carwow.co.uk/news/10720/motability-drops-black-box-tracking-rules-after-driver-criticism

This is a naturally-aspirated petrol hatch with a manual gearbox. There are fewer of those on sale than there are V12 supercars. On paper, it's easy to see why - the performance is underwhelming, the fuel economy only so-so. But it didn't take me long out on the road to appreciate what the Mazda 3 is all about.

It's a car that feels as though it was designed by drivers, for drivers - not as an appliance, or a mobility service, or an app ecosystem, but as a car. Of the 900-odd miles showing on this car's odometer when Mazda picked it up, I was responsible for about 700 of them - and I loved every minute.

https://www.carwow.co.uk/news/10716/why-you-should-buy-the-mazda-3-tom-wiltshire

The first half of 2026 has been very busy for Audi. It launched the long-awaited RS5, the hardcore RS3 Competition and an updated version of the Q4 e-tron SUV.

And things are showing no signs of slowing down as we head towards the second half of the year either, so here are the most important new cars coming from Audi over the coming months and years.

https://www.carwow.co.uk/news/6606/new-audi-models-coming-soon

If you're after a small and stylish electric SUV, should you buy a Volvo EX30, or save around £5,500 and buy a Jaecoo E5 instead?

Both cars have their merits. The Volvo looks wicked, inside and out, and it's lovely to drive. The Google-based infotainment system is cool as well, although it can be glitchy at times. The tiny boot and cramped rear seats also hamper practicality.

The Jaecoo is much more roomy, and you get more standard equipment for your money. It also has more than a hint of Range Rover Evoque in the styling, but it's not as nice to drive as the EX30 and the slower DC charging speeds can be annoying on longer trips.

So would you choose one of these cars, or would your £30,000 go somewhere else?

https://www.carwow.co.uk/editorial/choosing-a-car/car-comparisons-side-by-side/volvo-ex30-vs-jaecoo-e5-electric-suv-test-mat-watson

Carwow’s Q1 2026 data reveals the used cars generating the most buyer interest in the UK. SUVs continue to dominate demand, while EVs and Chinese brands are completely absent from the top 10 most-enquired-about models.

Surprised EVs didn’t make the cut?

https://www.carwow.co.uk/news/10722/most-popular-used-cars-q1-2026

Jaguar has finally announced the name for its new electric luxury saloon. Say hello to the Type 01, which will be revealed in September with three electric motors and more than 1,000hp.

Is this the right move for Jaguar, or is it a huge mistake?

https://www.carwow.co.uk/jaguar/news/10710/new-jaguar-type-01-electric-luxury-car-name-confirmed