Is there room for your family or friends in the back of the car, and is the boot big enough for the things you tend to carry? Would a higher ride height make it easier to get in and out? If you have bikes or canoes, would roof rails come in handy? The next thing to consider is what fuels your car. While some cars are only available with a petrol engine, such as the Skoda Fabia , most manufacturers offer both petrol and diesel engines. Mild-hybrid , hybrid , plug-in hybrid and electric models are becoming increasingly common and can be an excellent choice, particularly if you do a lot of driving around town.
As a rule of thumb, if you cover fewer than 12, miles a year, a diesel engine may not be suitable. Conversely, most petrol-hybrid and plug-in hybrid models offer lower running costs than their petrol-only counterparts, but are more expensive to buy than a conventional petrol or diesel model.
If you mainly do short trips, a diesel is probably not for you, as diesel engines need to be run at speed regularly to burn off soot that collects in the Diesel Particulate Filter DPF. Our dedicated guide to choosing between petrol and diesel has more information. If you want better economy and lower emissions, then a diesel with mild-hybrid assistance could be a good choice.
If you plan to use your car for shorter journeys, then one of the latest plug-in hybrid models could be a viable choice if you have access to a charging point. A large number of PHEV models, such as the BMW e and Mercedes A e , can be driven on electric power for around 30 miles, depending on how you drive them, a range that can often be sufficient to cover shorter commutes. There are now a wide range of electric cars on the market, with plenty managing over miles between charges - much more than most people ever drive in one go.
If you have small children, a crossover SUV is a good bet, as the raised ride height makes getting kids and their seats into the car much easier. If you need your car to have certain features, such as sat-nav, parking sensors or leather seats, try to go for a trim level that includes them all together, as this is usually better value than adding items individually as options.
Each Carbuyer review contains details of every version of a car that you can buy, including engine choices and trim levels. It also includes technical information such as power and performance figures, as well as fuel economy and CO2 emissions data. Be sure to bear in mind, however, that running costs are easily dismissed at the buying stage, and excessive fuel consumption or insurance premiums could leave you resenting your car. Electric and hydrogen cars cost nothing in tax.
Cars registered before April were subject to a different tax structure, which took CO2 emissions and engine size into account - so you may pay much less or much more, depending on the car. After the five year period ends, annual road tax returns to the flat rates mentioned above. Zero-emission cars are exempt from this extra surcharge, so even the most expensive EVs are free to tax.
Fuel economy obviously needs to be taken into account. You should still take quoted figures with a pinch of salt because how and where you drive will affect fuel economy. If economy is important to you, our guide to the most economical cars on sale today is well worth reading.
Top 10 best family cars On the test drive, be sure to drive along a variety of roads, from dual carriageways to twisty back roads. This will help you make a fuller assessment of the way the car handles. Our in-depth guide to test drives has more information. Thrilling performance Electric handling If you can, you should. Hugely expensive Will be too fast for some. Wide and impressive engine range Incredible comfort and noise isolation Stunning interior design and finish Genuine five-seat accommodation.
Some rivals are more fun to drive Limited boot on hybrid models Somewhat of a tech overload Can get expensive with options. Skoda Superb Estate onwards Review. Vast interior space Classy yet stylish looks Very comfortable ride Great value for money. Unengaging, albeit capable to drive Some people might find it too big Rear seats don't fold flat Prices have been creeping up.
Confusing badge and name Will be quite expensive Limited engine range Less practical than E Porsche Cayman Coupe onwards Review.
Great fun to drive with sharp handling Strong and powerful engines Remarkably comfortable around town Top-notch build quality and user-friendly interior. Porsche fans may not like the four-cylinder engine Despite being entry-level, it can be very expensive No rear seats limits practicality A lot of equipment comes as optional extras.
Tesla Model 3 onwards Review. Good to drive, easy to operate via the central touchscreen Real-world electric range is very impressive Our favourite in class. The safest collision is one you avoid in the first place. Lighter cars are typically more agile and give you a better chance of steering away from a crash rather than gripping the wheel, barreling in, and letting physics punish the other driver.
Small cars tend to cost less to buy and consume less fuel, too. Driving a smaller, more frugal car makes you look enlightened—at least in college towns and northern California. All-wheel drive is seen as a safety feature in wintry climes, but the only difference the average driver will notice with all-wheel drive is the added traction when accelerating.
Heavy cars and trucks do plow through deep snow better and behave more predictably, but hit a patch of ice, and that weight is just extra momentum to try to control. Again, bigger is not necessarily better. In our road tests, we always cite 0-tomph times, but the fact is that very few people ever actually use full throttle. Around Ann Arbor, we see more drivers who fear full throttle than those who ever use it. The buying practice of getting the bigger engine but never using more than half-throttle is like building a four-story house but leaving the top two floors vacant.
All else being equal, larger engines use more fuel. The type of driving you do determines whether or not a hybrid or an electric vehicle makes sense for you. Hybrids tend to use less fuel around town, when low speeds and frequent braking keep them running on battery power longer.
Electric vehicles are good for buyers who live in areas where public charging infrastructure is robust. Electric vehicles can be taken on road trips, but as our recent mile road rally experiment proved, not all EVs are created equal.
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