The best and worst cars from every manufacturer ranked

There are a dizzying number of car brands in the UK these days, and a lot of them sell a huge range of cars. Choosing which one to go with can therefore be a challenge.

What makes it even more difficult is the fact that within each brand there are brilliant cars as well as ones which aren’t so good. To help you navigate the endless options out there, we’ve been through every mainstream car maker in the UK and picked out the best and worst cars they sell.

We’ve avoided brands which only sell one car at the moment, as well as low-volume car makers such as Ferrari and Aston Martin. It’s also worth a quick caveat that just because a car is labelled the worst, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s bad. There has to be one car at the bottom of the pecking order, and in some cases it can be minute details which knock a car down.

Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on Carwow. And you can also sell your car, too. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.

So without further ado, here are the best and worst new cars from every car manufacturer.

Abarth

Best: Abarth 600e

The Abarth 600e proves that electric cars can be exciting to drive. It handles really well on a country road, and the fake engine noise is surprisingly fun as well. It’s just a shame that the range isn’t great.

Worst: 500e

The Abarth 500e isn’t quite as engaging to drive as the larger 600e, and it’s not a very practical car either. The fake engine noise isn’t as clever as the one in the 600e, and as a result it’s incredibly irritating. It still looks great though, and it’s easy to drive around town. A Mini Cooper Electric is just a better electric hot hatch.

Alfa Romeo

Best: Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio

This BMW M3 alternative has a glorious-sounding V6 engine and is fantastic fun to drive. It’s also a really good-looking car which is quite comfortable over long distances, however the interior is looking a bit dated and the infotainment system is rubbish.

Worst: Giulia

The standard Alfa Romeo Giulia has all of the Quadrifoglio’s drawbacks without the excitement of that brilliant engine and suspension setup. It’s still really nice to drive, but for the money you’d be better off going for a more modern, more practical BMW 3 Series.

Audi

Best: Audi RS3

If you’re after one of the most exciting hot hatchbacks out there, look no further than the Audi RS3. It has a lovely five-cylinder engine and is ballistically fast, and it’s great fun to drive on a twisty road. The boot is smaller than some alternatives, but we’re splitting hairs really.

Worst: Audi SQ8 e-tron Sportback

The SQ8 Sportback e-tron’s main issue is its price. At over £100,000 it’s more expensive than the vastly superior BMW iX, while offering less range on a charge and not being as good to drive. It’s a very fast car with plenty of grip, but your money is better spent elsewhere.

BMW

Best: BMW X5

The BMW X5 is essentially the perfect SUV. It’s comfortable while still being fun to drive, has a high-quality interior and offers cavernous practicality. The only thing which may put you off is the high starting price, but if you can afford one you wont be disappointed.

Worst: BMW XM

It’s hard to know what BMW was thinking of when it created the XM. It’s the first bespoke M model since the M1 supercar of the late ‘70s, and yet this £110,000 SUV is slower to 60mph than the baby M2. THe styling is also best described as divisive.

BYD

Best: BYD Seal

With the Seal BYD has created a genuine alternative to the Tesla Model 3. It’s really good to drive, insanely fast and you get decent range. It’s a shame that it’s not quite as practical as a Model 3, but if you fancy something a bit different then the Seal is a great electric car.

Worst: Seal U

The BYD Seal U is the only model it offers in the UK with a petrol engine. On paper it seems to offer great value for money – you get loads of standard equipment and the hybrid system is good as well. However, it’s let down by the wallowy suspension setup, which means it leans a lot in bends and bounces over bumps.

Citroen

Best: e-C3

This is one of the best-value electric cars on sale in the UK right now. The Citroen e-C3 starts from less than £23,000, and yet it’s a comfortable hatchback with plenty of standard equipment. The sub-200 mile range won’t suit everyone, but it’s perfect for most people’s daily commutes.

Worst: e-Spacetourer

If all you want to do is carry seven people around in comfort over short distances, the Citroen e-Spacetourer fits the bill. However, it’s a bit drab inside and the range is pretty poor, plus entry-level versions are sparsely equipped.

Cupra

Best: Cupra Born

When you look at the Cupra Born it makes the mechanically-identical Volkswagen ID3 look drab. You also get a spacious interior, up to 342 miles of range and it’s good to drive, although the lack of physical switchgear can be annoying.

Worst: Cupra Ateca

This is one of those cars which isn’t bad, it’s just starting to show its age compared to the rest of the Cupra range. The 300hp Ateca is still a riot to drive and it’s practical, but its interior is dated by modern standards.

Dacia

Best: Bigster

No other family SUV offers value for money like the Dacia Bigster. For around £25,000 you get a really spacious, practical family car which is good to drive and comes with all the creature comforts you need. The hybrid engine isn’t the most refined, but that’s about the only real criticism we can level at the Bigster

Worst: Dacia Sandero Stepway

The Dacia Sandero Stepway is one of our favourite small cars, so calling it the worst is harsh. The label has to go to one car though, and the only reason it goes to this one is because it’s more expensive than the normal Sandero but with no tangible benefits.

DS

Best: DS 7

The DS 7 is a comfortable and stylish SUV which certainly stands out against the German alternatives. It has a big boot as well, but there’s an annoying lip to lift stuff over. The 7’s infotainment system isn’t great either.

Worst: DS 9

The DS 9 was meant to be the French brand’s answer to cars like the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class, but it falls way short of those models. It’s not great to drive and shares too much interior switchgear with entry-level Citroens, and yet it costs an eye-watering £56,000 – making it £3,000 more expensive than the 5 Series.

Fiat

Best: Fiat 600

Fiat is really leaning into retro-inspired designs, which makes sense given the popularity of the old 500. The 600 is a small and comfortable SUV which comes with a range of efficient engines, or there’s an all-electric version if you want. It’s not the most practical car in its class, but it is temptingly cheap.

Worst: Fiat 500e Convertible

The Fiat 500e Convertible has a few things going for it. It’s good to drive and stylish, plus you may like the idea of wind-in-the-hair motoring. However, lopping the roof off the already impractical 500 has made it even less usable everyday thanks to a titchy boot, and it’s quite expensive.

Ford

Best: Ford Puma

The Ford was the best-selling new car in the UK last year, and it’s currently topping the charts for 2025 as well. It’s great fun to drive, has a massive boot and comes loaded with standard equipment, however the rear seats are a bit tight.

Worst: Ford Puma ST

The Ford Puma ST sounds great on paper – offering all the same kit and practicality as the standard car with some added spice. However, it’s not much faster, is quite a lot more expensive and it is really uncomfortable over bumps. You’ll be better off sticking with a more traditional hot hatch such as the Volkswagen Polo GTI.

Genesis

Best: Genesis GV60

If you’re after a stylish electric SUV with ballistic performance, the Genesis GV60 is worth a look. Not only is it properly quick, it has a stunning interior and offers a long warranty. It’s just a shame about the firm suspension which makes it uncomfortable around town.

Worst: Genesis G70

The G70 was one of the first cars Genesis brought to the UK, and the brand has come a long way since then. It has a thirsty petrol engine and a small boot, but at least it looks great and has an impressive interior.

Honda

Best: Honda Civic

Forget the Volkswagen Golf, the Honda Civic is one of the best family hatchbacks around. It’s fabulous to drive, has a smooth and economical hybrid engine and the interior is nicely built and easy to use. It’s on the pricey side, but if you can stretch to it then the Civic is worth paying a premium for.

Worst: Honda e:Ny1

The Honda e:Ny1 had a lot to live up to following the quirky and endearing Honda e, but it was a bit of a disappointment. The real-world range is poor, as are the charging speeds, and at over £40,000 it costs £10,000 more than the brilliant Skoda Elroq. Still, at least it’s comfortable to drive and offers decent practicality.

Hyundai

Best: Hyundai Santa Fe

The Hyundai Santa Fe is the reigning Carwow Car of The Year, and there are many reasons it’s deserving of this accolade. It’s immensely practical, nice to drive and offers loads of standard equipment. The lack of a diesel engine option is the only blot on the Santa Fe’s otherwise flawless report card.

Worst: Hyundai Bayon

On the face of it, the Hyundai Bayon offers decent value. It’s a sub-£24,000 small SUV with loads of kit, good interior space and frugal petrol engines, but a Volkswagen T-Cross is more practical and nicer to drive.

Jeep

Best: Jeep Wrangler

As a road car, the Jeep Wrangler is not good. It’s noisy, unrefined and uncomfortable, but it has so much character that you can’t help but love it. It’s easily the most desirable car Jeep makes, and it’s pretty much unstoppable off road.

Worst: Jeep Compass

It’s a shame Jeep couldn’t inject some of the Wrangler’s character into the Compass, because it’s not a hugely tempting SUV. It may offer decent off-road ability and a good amount of safety kit, but the cramped rear seats and jiggly suspension play against it. A Skoda Karoq is a much better bet for now, although an all-new Compass is on the horizon.

KGM

Best: KGM Torres EVX

You may not expect a humble electric SUV to turn a lot of heads, but the KGM Torres EVX does just that. It looks like a baby Hummer EV, and you get a massive boot as well. The infotainment system is annoying to use, but it’s cheap enough to get away with this.

Worst: KGM Tivoli

It may be cheap and spacious, but the KGM Tivoli is a very difficult car to recommend. You’ll see less than 30mpg in the real world, which is unacceptable on a car as small as this, and it’s not great to drive either. Do yourself a favour and buy the Dacia Duster instead.

Kia

Best: EV3

Kia has knocked it out of the park with the EV3. This funky-looking electric SUV is spacious and comfortable, while offering up to 375 miles of range and costing just over £33,000. The safety assistance systems can be a bit intrusive, but this is still one of the best electric cars on the market today.

Worst: Kia Niro EV

This is another one where it feels harsh to use the word “worst”. The Niro EV is a perfectly adequate electric car, but since the introduction of the EV3 it seems a bit pointless. The boot is only marginally bigger, it’s not as cool to look at, it won’t go as far on a charge and it costs over £4,000 more.

Land Rover

Best: Range Rover

The Range Rover is simply a British Icon. It’s been the go-to ride of the rich and famous for decades now and the latest one is close to being the perfect luxury car. The ride is sublime, it looks fantastic and it’s effortless to drive – whether you’re wafting around town, cruising down the motorway or climbing a medium-sized mountain.

Worst: Land Rover Discovery Sport

The Discovery Sport is a decent family SUV with loads of interior space, and it’s comfortable to drive as well. It’s just a shame about the noisy diesel engines and awkward infotainment system, plus the third row of seats is a bit cramped.

Lexus

Best: Lexus LBX

The Lexus LBX is a lovely small SUV which uses the same economical hybrid engine as the Toyota Yaris Cross, so it’ll be cheap to run. It’s also comfortable to drive and comes with a great warranty, but the boot is on the small side.

Worst: Lexus UX300e

As small electric cars go, the Lexus UX300e is alright. You get a nice interior and it’s comfy over bumps, but the cramped interior and slow charging speeds make it more difficult to live with than the similarly-priced BMW iX1.

Mazda

Best: Mazda MX-5

Small, fun sports cars are getting rare these days, but the Mazda MX-5 is doing its best to keep the breed alive. It’ll put a huge grin on your face on a twisty road and it’s even easy to live with day-to-day, as long as you don’t need rear seats or a big boot.

Worst: Mazda CX-60

The Mazda CX-60 comes so close to being a tempting family SUV. It has a lovely interior, it’s good fun to drive for such a big car and there’s loads of tech on board. However, the cramped rear seats, clunky hybrid system and high starting price mean you’ll be better off with an Audi Q5.

Mercedes

Best: Mercedes S-Class

If you want to know what sort of kit you’ll have on your family hatchback in 10 years time, you look at the current Mercedes S-Class. It’s long been the pioneer of new tech, and super-smooth suspension makes it one of the best luxury cars you can buy.

Worst: Mercedes EQA

With a starting price of £50,000, the Mercedes EQA is just too compromised to justify spending this much. The boot is tiny and it’s not all that comfortable, but at least you do get good driving range and a brilliant infotainment system.

MG

Best: MG 3

We reckon the MG 3 is the best Chinese car you can buy right now. For less than £17,000 you get a high-tech hatchback which is good fun to drive, and for £21,000 you can get a nippy hybrid engine.

Worst: MG 5

When it first launched, the MG 5 impressed with its spacious interior and low price tag. Things have moved on since then though, and now the 5 is looking dated with its drab exterior and cheap-feeling cabin.

Mini

Best: Mini Cooper Electric

The Mini Cooper Electric is a characterful small electric car which is great fun to drive. There are loads of personalisation options to make it your own, and the interior looks funky with its fabric dashboard. Just don’t expect it to be a comfy cruiser, because the suspension is quite bouncy.

Worst: Mini Aceman

With its sub-£30,000 starting price and fabulous styling, the Mini Aceman is a tempting electric SUV. However, the tight rear seats and overly firm suspension make it look less appealing than the Kia EV3.

Nissan

Best: Nissan Qashqai

The Nissan Qashqai is like the Greggs sausage roll of the SUV world: way better than it needs to be considering most people will just buy it anyway. It’s been the go-to choice for family buyers for years now, and it’s a comfy car with a solid and practical cabin.

Worst: Nissan Juke

On the other end of the scale, the Nissan Juke has very little going for it other than a generous list of safety kit. It’s cramped, uncomfortable and the technology on board is a faff to use.

Peugeot

Best: Peugeot 5008

A practical seven-seat family SUV has no business looking as good as the Peugeot 5008 does. It’ll turn heads in the supermarket car park, and the interior is lovely as well. You get loads of passenger space, although the hybrid engine is a bit noisy.

Worst: Peugeot E-Rifter

It may have a cavernous interior and a temptingly low price tag, but the Peugeot E-Rifter’s sub-200 mile range is less than ideal for families wanting to take a weekend away. The interior isn’t the nicest place to spend time either.

Polestar

Best: Polestar 3

If you’re after a luxurious and stylish electric car, but don’t want to go down the typical German path, the Polestar 3 is a great choice. It looks fab and has one of the nicest interiors around, and it’s properly comfy over long distances.

Worst: Polestar 2

The Polestar 2 isn’t a bad car by any means, it’s just been around longer than the 3 and 4 so it looks a bit dated by comparison. It still has a great Google-based infotainment system and impressive range, but the suspension is on the firm side.

Renault

Best: Renault 5

Few cars have caused quite such a stir as the new Renault 5, and it’s easy to see why. The retro-futuristic styling looks fantastic, and the interior is just as funky. It may not be as spacious as a BYD Dolphin, but it’s so good to drive that you may be able to look past this.

Worst: Renault Arkana

The Renault Arkana uses the same basic hybrid system as the Captur. In that car it’s smooth and refined, but somehow in the Arkana it’s jerky, noisy and not that fuel-efficient. Add in the cramped rear seats and firm suspension and you’re left with something which isn’t all that appealing.

SEAT

Best: SEAT Leon Estate

You can think of the SEAT Leon Estate as being like a budget-friendly version of the Volkswagen Golf Estate. It’s around £3,000 cheaper than the Golf, but it’s just as practical and nice to drive.

Worst: SEAT Ibiza

The Ibiza is another decent small hatchback which is just starting to show its age now. It’s cheap to buy, fun to drive and cheap to run, but the cheap-feeling interior may put you off.

Skoda

Best: Skoda Superb Estate

The Skoda Superb Estate really lives up to its name. While it may not set your world on fire, it’s a fantastic family car which will handle pretty much anything you throw at it. You get an enormous boot, palatial rear legroom and it’s a really comfy motorway cruiser.

Worst: Skoda Enyaq vRS

The standard Skoda Enyaq is a brilliant electric SUV, but the vRS gives it a sporting edge it simply doesn’t need. The usually very comfortable ride has been stiffened up, making it feel jiggly and unsettled, and the additional power doesn’t really add anything to the experience.

Smart

Best: Smart #1

The Smart #1 is a funky small SUV which stands out compared to cars like the Vauxhall Mokka Electric thanks to its posh-feeling interior and cool styling. It may not be all that practical thanks to a small boot, but the #1 has enough character to make up for this.

Worst: Smart #1 Brabus

Like the Skoda Enyaq vRS, the Brabus is just an unnecessary performance version of the Smart #1. It’s insanely fast, but the suspension hasn’t really been changed to cope with the added power and so it’s not much fun to drive.

Subaru

Best: Subaru Forester

The Subaru Forester is often forgotten about in a sea of German SUVs, but it’s actually a good family car. It’s comfortable, practical and well-equipped, although the hybrid engine is pretty slow.

Worst: Subaru Crosstrek

From an unsung hero to a car which is best forgotten, the Subaru Crosstrek is slow, thirsty and has a cheap-feeling cabin. It is very good off-road though, and Subaru has a great reliability record.

Suzuki

Best: Suzuki Across

The Suzuki Across is just a rebadged Toyota RAV4, so it was always going to be a good car. It has a frugal plug-in hybrid engine and loads of kit on board, plus it’s really comfortable. It’s just a shame about the high starting price.

Worst: Suzuki S-Cross

Compared with cars like the Toyota Yaris Cross, the Suzuki S-Cross never really stood a chance. The hybrid system is clunky and inefficient, and the interior feels cheap with a dated infotainment system. At least it’s spacious in the rear though.

Tesla

Best: Tesla Model 3

Simply put, the Tesla Model 3 is one of the best electric cars around. It’s fast, comfortable, well-equipped and offers great range, all for around £40,000. That makes it £5,000 less than a Polestar 2 and £10,000 cheaper than a BMW i4.

Worst: Tesla Model Y

Tesla only sells two cars in the UK, so the Model Y only gets the title of worst car by default. It’s still a hugely competent electric SUV with really impressive practicality and range, it just isn’t quite as good-value as the Model 3.

Toyota

Best: Toyota GR Yaris

The research and development that goes into Toyota’s GR cars is immense, and the GR Yaris is a masterpiece as a result. It’s huge fun to drive, both on a twisty road and a racetrack, but it’s still practical enough to use every day.

Worst: Toyota Aygo X

The Aygo X is a decent little city car, but the cramped interior and gutless engine are its main downfalls. The power problem will be solved later this year though, because it’s getting the same excellent hybrid engine as the Yaris.

Vauxhall

Best: Vauxhall Frontera Electric

For less than £24,000, the Vauxhall Frontera electric offers a cavernous cabin and it’s comfortable to drive. It’s also well-equipped, however it does feel cheap inside and it doesn’t have great range either.

Worst: Vauxhall Mokka

The Mokka has been around for a while now, and it shows in some places. The main issue is the interior, which just looks a bit drab compared to the mechanically-similar Peugeot 2008.

Volkswagen

Best: Volkswagen ID7 Tourer

The Volkswagen ID7 Tourer is more than £10,000 cheaper than the Audi A6 e-tron, but it doesn’t feel like it. The interior is really spacious, it’s super comfortable and it’s a handsome-looking thing.

Worst: Volkswagen Touareg

At over £70,000, it’s difficult to see why anyone would buy the Volkswagen Touareg over the BMW X5. It;s not as good to drive, has a pretty naff interior for the price and the V6 petrol engine is very thirsty.

Volvo

Best: Volvo EX30

The funky little Volvo EX30 is a former Carwow Car of The Year, and this small electric SUV is still a great buy in 2025. It looks great, it’s comfortable to drive and you get loads of safety kit, but a Kia EV3 is more spacious in the back.

Worst: Volvo EX90

The Volvo EX90 is a very good electric seven-seater which is comfortable and spacious, but at £100,000 it’s hard to justify over the much cheaper Kia EV9. The Kia also looks wicked, and it feels almost as premium inside – all for around £35,000 less.

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