On the 25th anniversary of Auto Express's Driver Power survey, the best car to own in the UK has been revealed, and it is not a Ford, Kia, or Jaecoo. The winner is the Tesla Model 3 Mk 1, an electric vehicle that scored 88.55 percent based on owner ratings across ten categories.
Survey Methodology
The survey asked UK drivers to rate their cars on reliability, practicality, driving dynamics, interior quality, and infotainment systems. With a maximum score of 100 percent, the Tesla Model 3 emerged victorious, praised for its improved quality over the years, strong powertrain, safety features, economy, running costs, value, and infotainment. The main criticism was its exterior aesthetics.
Owner Testimonial
Charlotte Fosbury, a Tesla owner, told Auto Express: “I’ve been driving electric for seven years, and when I saw it, it was love at first sight.” She added: “The performance is one of the things I like the most…I know that if I need to, I can get out of trouble easily. People say you always have to use the touchscreen, but you don't. Everything’s accessible through just telling the car what to do – it’s very much a natural interaction.”
Runner-Up: BMW 2 Series
Second place went to the BMW 2 Series Mk2 coupe with 88.19 percent, just 0.36 percent behind the Tesla. Owners praised its driving dynamics, quality, and infotainment, though it lost marks for practicality and running costs. Auto Express noted: “The BMW 2 Series has leapt up the chart from 10th in 2025 to take the runner-up spot this year – and it was just less than half of a per cent away from overtaking the winning car. Deeply impressive. The German coupé’s strong scores from owners gave it seven category wins, with firsts in key areas including interior quality, driving pleasure and engine sound.”
Third Place: Vauxhall Grandland
The Vauxhall Grandland Mk2 secured third place with 87.77 percent. It was commended for its interior comfort, practicality, and infotainment, but fell short in powertrain, handling, ride, and reliability.
