Carwow fleet watch: updates on the cars we live with everyday
Car changing is a big deal
We have a fleet of long term test cars here at Carwow, and we document every moment with each model to give you a clear idea of what they’re like to live with. Here’s a rundown of every car in the Carwow fleet right now.
The Carwow team covers thousands of miles every month, whether it’s slogging up and down the motorway with a boot full of equipment for a shoot, or zipping around the city to attend industry events.
It’s therefore important that we have the right cars for the job, and this is where the Carwow long-term fleet comes in. We have a selection of cars which manufacturers lend us for an extended period of time, usually six months, to give us time to really get to know them.
We’ll test their practicality, technology, comfort and reliability as we use them everyday, and the fleet consists of everything from performance estate cars to dinky electric hatchbacks. Here’s a rundown of all the cars currently in our possession and how they’re being tested.
Here are the cars currently on our long term fleet:
- Audi S5 Avant
- BMW M5 Touring
- BYD Seal 6 Touring
- Citroen e-C3
- Omoda 9
- Peugeot 208
- Polestar 3
- Skoda Octavia vRS Estate
- Volkswagen Tiguan
- Volvo V60
New arrivals
Audi S5 Avant
Run by: Jack Scotton
This is our Audi S5 Avant, run by head of video Jack Scotton. Under the bonnet is a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 engine with 367hp, and it’s already beaten an original Audi R8 in a drag race. With options, this car costs over £75,000.
Jack’s thoughts so far: “My S5 feels nice and luxurious inside, and it’s pretty comfortable to drive as well. I also like the V6 engine note, but it’s often overshadowed by the annoying beeps from the driver assistance systems.”
How is Jack testing this car?
As head of video, Jack is on pretty much every shoot for the Carwow YouTube channel. This means the S5’s boot is usually packed to the rafters with camera kit, and the tow bar usually has a camera rig fixed to it as well. The performance will also be put to the test tracking Mat’s BMW M5 Touring on high-speed shoots.
BMW M5 Touring
Run by: Mat Watson
Chief content officer and face of the Carwow YouTube channel Mat Watson is currently daily driving a BMW M5 Touring. This 727hp behemoth has a 4.4-litre V8 plug-in hybrid engine under the bonnet, and costs a whopping £140,000 thanks to some pricey options, such as the special grey paint and carbon fibre interior trim.
Mat’s thoughts so far: “The M5 Touring feels like more of a hooligan than the Audi RS Q8 I had before, and the playful handling encourages you to really engage with the car. It’s impressively agile for a car weighing over two tonnes.”
How is Mat testing this car?
As the presenter of the Carwow YouTube channel, Mat travels all over the world to film the latest and greatest cars. The M5 will therefore be put through its paces as a long-distance cruiser, and it’ll be interesting to see how that plug-in hybrid system affects efficiency around town when he’s ferrying his daughter around. There are a few track days on the cards as well.
BYD Seal 6 Touring
Run by: James Drujon
James has recently swapped his BYD Seal U for the BYD Seal 6 Touring to see if an estate car is better than an SUV for family life. It’s a plug-in hybrid with a 1.5-litre petrol engine and 184hp, and this is the most basic version you can buy, costing £35,000.
James’ thoughts so far: “The Seal 6 Touring has a smooth hybrid system which is getting me 60mpg on a run, but the seating position is odd. It feels like my knees are raised up, which isn’t all that comfortable on a long journey.”
How is James testing this car?
James is our associate producer, which means he handles logistics on Carwow’s video shoots. The Seal 6 Touring is therefore usually packed full of supplies to keep the crew fed and watered, and when he’s not working it becomes a taxi for his eight-month-old son.
Citroen e-C3
Run by: Giulia McCarthy
Giulia’s Citroen e-C3 is a small electric city car which is great value for money. It uses a 44kWh battery that delivers up to 199 miles of range, and being the top-spec Max version it has things like heated seats and a 10.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. At just over £24,000, it’s a bit of a bargain.
Giulia’s thoughts so far: “I love the way my e-C3 looks, and it’s comfy to drive as well. The constant warning beeps are annoying, though.”
How has Giulia been testing this car?
Giulia was drawn to the dinky e-C3 because she spends a lot of time dodging traffic on the busy streets of North London. She also needs enough space for the school run with her seven-year-old, and the Citroen needs to tackle the odd long-distance trip to visit family as well.
Omoda 9
Run by: Tommy Allen
Tommy has been running our Omoda 9 for around a month now. It’s a big and posh-looking plug-in hybrid SUV which is packed with kit, and it has a whopping 450hp as well. It costs just under £46,000, making it around £7,000 cheaper than an Audi Q5, but Tommy wants to find out if it’s worth considering over the usual premium German brands.
Tommy’s thoughts so far: “The Omoda’s hybrid system is incredible. It’s super smooth and really fast, but the autonomous driving aids are a bit naff.”
How has Tommy been testing this car?
As Carwow’s social content producer, Tommy spends a lot of time travelling up and down the country gathering short-form videos for our Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok channels.
Peugeot 208
Run by: Miguel Pessanha
This is our Peugeot 208, a small hybrid hatchback which Miguel is running to see if it’s more than just a pretty face. It’s the GT Line with some sporty styling upgrades, so it certainly looks the part, but at just over £30,000 it is quite expensive for a car of this size.
Miguel’s thoughts so far: “The 208’s hybrid engine is really economical, but rear legroom is tight when you try to get adults back there.”
How has Miguel been testing this car?
Miguel is a videographer on the Carwow video team, so you’ll find him at most shoots with Mat Watson. This means the 208 is usually loaded to the rafters with kit, and it’s occasionally put to use as a camera tracking car as well.
Polestar 3
Run by: Rory White
The Polestar 3 is a stylish Swedish electric SUV which has already excelled in one of our range test videos, managing almost 400 miles on a single charge. Rory has gone for the same single-motor model which we featured in that video to see how it fares as a family wagon.
Rory’s thoughts so far: “I got off to a rocky start with my Polestar thanks to some glitchy tech, but an overnight update has fixed these issues and transformed it into my perfect electric car.”
How is Rory testing this car?
Our Polestar 3 is being put to the test ferrying Rory’s three kids around, as well as taking Rory to drag race shoots and other industry events. He’s certainly putting that long range to the test.
Skoda Octavia vRS Estate
Run by: Jamie Edkins
News editor Jamie has been living with this Skoda Octavia vRS Estate for a while now, and it’s safe to say he’s smitten with it. Under the bonnet is a 265hp 2.0-litre petrol engine, so it’s pretty quick but it’s also comfortable and hugely practical. It looks great in this Royal Green paint, but at almost £50,000 it’s quite expensive.
Jamie’s thoughts so far: “The Octavia vRS Estate is the ultimate all-rounder, offering performance, comfort and practicality in one package. I just wish the infotainment system was easier to use.”
How is Jamie testing this car?
As our news editor, Jamie is responsible for gathering all the latest stories about new and exciting cars. He therefore travels all over the country to launch events, and he also drives from Hampshire to Cornwall quite regularly to see his family.
Volkswagen Tiguan
Run by: Iain Reid
This is our Volkswagen Tiguan, and on paper it’s the least sensible version of quite a sensible SUV. It has the same 2.0-litre, 265hp petrol engine which is in Will’s Cupra and Jamie’s Octavia, but it’s more focussed on comfort than sporty handling.
Iain’s thoughts so far: “My Tiguan is really comfortable and has a boot big enough to swallow our dog’s crate, but I’d probably save a few grand and go for the less powerful 1.5-litre petrol engine.”
How is Iain testing this car?
Iain spends a lot of time ferrying his family around Surrey, usually with Labradoodle Bonnie in tow. He also travels up to his homeland of Scotland from time to time, a journey which really puts the Tiguan to the test.
Volvo V60
Run by: Darren Cassey
Our Volvo V60 is here to prove that estate cars are still worth considering if you want something practical and stylish. Our car is a plug-in hybrid with over 450hp, and being the top-spec Ultra model it also features things like a Bowers and Wilkins sound system, a 360-degree camera system and adaptive LED headlights. All this can be yours for just over £60,000.
Darren’s thoughts so far: “My V60 looks awesome and it’s super-comfy, but I don’t see the point in plug-in hybrids. If you have charging at home, just buy an electric car.”
How is Darren testing this car?
The V60 is serving as a taxi right now for Darren’s three-year-old, and he also drives from Chichester to London a few times a week. The in-laws also live in Cornwall, so this car will see a fair few road trips.
New arrivals
These are the cars which we’ve only just been handed the keys to, so keep an eye on this page for the first reports to drop.
Cupra Formentor
Run by: Will Davies
Head of social media Will Davies has just taken delivery of a new Cupra Formentor, and it’s the range-topping VZ3 model. This means it has the same 333hp 2.0-litre petrol engine as a Volkswagen Golf R, and there’s even a drift mode which we’ll be trying out on the Carwow drag strip at some point.
Car change? Carwow!
Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.
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