If you’re buying a new car in 2024, you’re probably a little overwhelmed with all the choice. Fear not, though, because with smarter car buying, you can chart a course through the crashing sea of automotive mediocrity and get at the helm of a one of the best cars on sale.
The new car market has changed dramatically over the last few years. Traditional no-brainer brands, such as Volkswagen and Mercedes, have fallen off their game. That has allowed less prestigious car manufacturers, such as MG and Kia, to swoop in with better value, better quality vehicles.
This shift in the car market makes it difficult to choose a good car. Even though the Volkswagens and Mercedes of today aren’t anywhere near as good as they were a generation ago, both companies’ reputations are still riding the high of their prior successes.
Don’t be sucked into the marketing hype. Instead, engage in smarter car buying – and, if you’re loyal to particularly brand, don’t be afraid to change your shopping habits. We’ve thought outside the box to bring you this list of six cars that are popular in the UK and six alternatives that we think are better.
MG4 EV > Volkswagen ID.3
We really like the MG4 EV – so much so, that we made it our Car of the Year for 2024. If we’re honest, it was an easy decision. No other electric car on the market offers the same blend of affordability, practicality, performance and driver engagement.
The Volkswagen ID.3 is its most obvious rival, but the cheapest model available is still a good £10,000 more expensive than the cheapest MG4 EV – and we’re not convinced you’re getting £10,000 worth of extra car. Yes, the Volkswagen feels like a more premium product, but the MG can match it for range and performance (which is far more important).
If that doesn’t sound like a good enough bargain to you, you can always opt for the hot MG4 XPower. It’s a 435hp, dual motor version of the car that has enough straight-line speed to blow Volkswagen’s biggest gun – the Golf R – into the middle of last week. And do you want to know the best part? It’s still £800 cheaper than the entry-level ID.3.
Smart #1 > Jeep Avenger
The Jeep Avenger grabbed all the headlines when it was launched. For the past year, it’s traded on its set-square styling, its strong branding and its European Car of the Year 2023 win. But we’ve spent a lot of time with the car this year, and we don’t share the same opinion.
That’s because, underneath, it’s a Peugeot e-2008 – and that’s far from being the best option for your money in the small electric SUV class. Like the Peugeot, the Avenger doesn’t offer enough range, practicality, performance or value to distance it from its competitors. It sits defiantly in the middle of the segment, but it still commands the same sort of cash as the class leaders.
For that reason, we’d much sooner steer you towards the Smart #1 if you’re in the market for a small SUV. It has a slightly longer maximum range of 273 miles, it’s much better to drive when the roads get twisty and it’s considerably faster (even the most basic model has 118hp more than the Avenger). Even its interior feels more upmarket. Just try not to get too annoyed by the driver assistance tech.
Honda Civic > Volkswagen Golf
We love the Honda Civic. We love how it proved to the world that hybrid technology can be fun, even in a mainstream family runabout. It’s an incredibly well-rounded motor, offering enough poke to worry some lesser hot hatchbacks and everyday fuel economy well into the 50mpg range.
Its biggest rival is the ever-popular Volkswagen Golf, but we honestly can’t understand how the Golf has managed to retain the number nine spot on the UK’s best-selling list when the Civic exists. The latest model simply isn’t as good as the Golf it replaced – and the Honda is an objectively better car than both.
The Volkswagen isn’t as well built as the Civic, nor as easy to use. It has fiddly touch sensitive climate sliders, for example, while the Honda sticks with dials and buttons. And while the Golf has more choice in terms of engines and trim levels, the Civic’s one-engine-fits-all approach results in a faster and more refined car. The Civic has a larger boot, too.
Skoda Octavia > Audi A3
The Audi A3 just managed to sneak onto the UK’s best-selling car list in November 2023, filling the space left by the dearly departed Ford Fiesta. And it’s a good car. But if you want a solid, well-equipped, comfortable family hatchback, why not go for a Skoda Octavia instead?
We know the badge snobs will be scoffing into their afternoon teas, but peel back the bodywork and both cars are the same underneath. You get a lot more car for your money by opting for the Skoda, too – the entry-level Octavia is more than £2,000 cheaper than the Audi, but it has more space for passengers and much more space in the boot. It’s even powered by the same 110hp 1.0-litre engine.
If it was our money, we’d spend a bit more cash (around £32,000, to be precise) and go for a 150hp 2.0-litre TDI model. We cover an awful lot of motorway miles, which means we’d reap the benefits of the engine’s 60mpg+ capability and 600–700-mile range, along with the Octavia’s inherent comfort.
Skoda Karoq > Nissan Qashqai
The Qashqai is a success story for Nissan. When the first-generation model was launched in 2007, it helped to kick start the SUV craze we’re still living with today. Since then, it grown to achieve best-selling status in the UK, climbing to the number two spot in our new car charts.
But we think the Skoda Karoq does a better job of hauling a family around. It isn’t that the Nissan Qashqai is a bad car – it’s just that the Skoda is a more well-rounded option that can be bought for a similar amount of money.
We prefer the Karoq because it’s more cleverly packaged. There’s more room for kids and their car seats in the rear, and the boot is bigger too. Unlike the Qashqai, it also comes with a diesel engine option, which we find is still so useful for people who cover long distances.
Hybrid > Electric
Progress is not a straight, upward trajectory. The graph of progress looks more like a rollercoaster with crushing lows and jubilant highs. We think electric power is part of the future, but we don’t think the technology has reached its peak yet. So, if you want a new car that’ll serve you well today, think about a hybrid.
And not a plug-in hybrid, either. Preferably one of our best self-charging hybrids such as the Toyota Yaris Cross or the Honda Jazz. They’re easier to use because you don’t need to have charging point installed on your house – and the best examples can rival diesels for fuel efficiency.
The reason why electric cars still aren’t the answer to our transport conundrum is simple. There’s still a massive amount of work to do when it comes to public charging, which if anything has taken a backward step in the past couple of years. New charger rollouts are not keeping pace with the increase in EV sales. The cost of fuelling an EV is also rising to meet that of a petrol or diesel car, as electricity prices continue to soar.
Although the tide of electrification is rapidly gaining momentum, and increasingly excellent EVs are being launched on an almost daily basis, we’re more than happy to showcase the merits of hybrids, at least in the short-term.
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