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What makes a car premium? Is it the badge the model bears on its nose, or is it the level of technology on offer inside? Is it the refinement, or the quality, or the fact that spending more money means you don’t have to make compromises compared with a more mainstream alternative? In truth, it’s all these things and more – and for brands such as Hyundai that have been clamouring to elevate their image to a more upmarket status, this push towards a more premium product is embodied by the Korean firm’s new Tucson SUV. It’s a big departure from what came before it, and given Hyundai’...

There's a reason why the Volvo estate has become such an icon: decades ago, while its rivals were focusing exclusively on saloons, this Swedish car maker was making far more practical family models.  It started with the Duett back in 1953 and continued with the Amazon, but it’s the boxy 240/260 and 740/760 estates with which Volvo cemented its reputation as the maker of such cars. The firm always prioritised safety and practicality over stylish design, which was great for those who valued function over form, but with rivals offering a more complete package, a fresh approach was required.�...

Toyota GR Supra launched to great fanfare in 2019, and can cut it with great-driving sports cars like the Porsche 718 Cayman, while matching the image and usability of models such as Audi’s TT. However, the Japanese machine has only been available with a 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six in the UK, despite a 2.0-litre four-cylinder model being offered in Toyota’s home country. Until now. Although it has less power, this new 2.0-litre GR Supra also weighs less than its brawnier brother, so it could be the keen driver’s choice – plus it’s also cheaper, to the tune of £8,345 spec-fo...

Whether or not you think Tesla is an over-hyped company, or that its cars are deserving of the adulation that they regularly receive, you can’t deny that company founder Elon Musk has shaken up the market with products that are like nothing else. Not only that, but Tesla has also set up a charging infrastructure that’s the envy of its rivals. Tesla was founded in 2003 and its first car, the Roadster, was introduced in 2005. Effectively an electrified two-seater sharing much with the Lotus Elise, the Roadster sold in tiny numbers. It wasn’t until 2012 that we saw the first mainstream Tes...

Electrification really came of age in 2020, with company car drivers flocking in their droves to premium plug-in hybrids, like the three new saloons we’ve assembled here for this test, thanks to very low Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) taxation rates. This technology isn’t new, but all three of the cars here have either received an update or are all-new models. Let’s start with the BMW; the 530e is part of the overall update to the 5 Series range, with refreshed looks, interior tweaks and the same great petrol-electric powertrain that’s made it one of the best on offer in this class so far. Aud...