The 10 biggest reviews on Carwow in 2024

2024 has been another massive year for cars with ructions in the electric car market, new models both thrilling and mediocre launched, and sales of new cars in the UK actually growing in spite of it being one of the most politically turbulent years in memory.

It’s also been the year when the SUV really and truly took over the UK car market, with the top four selling cars of the year all being SUVs big or small, with more traditional hatchback cars pushed down the list.

It’s been the year that electric cars finally started to become affordable, and when Chinese brands really started to make their mark in the UK and Europe. While we wait to find out what 2025 holds, here are the car reviews that you’ve been reading most on Carwow this year…

1. Volvo EX30

Good enough to have been crowned Carwow Car of the Year for 2024, the compact all-electric Volvo got off to a storming sales start and no wonder — it’s the EV that gives you decent range and a proper premium badge for not a huge amount of money. It’s not the most spacious thing around but the EX30 looks great and it’s good to drive, too with the 428hp four-wheel drive model providing Ferrari-burning performance in a safe, family-friendly package.

2. Audi Q4 e-tron

The Q4 e-tron is the best all-electric Audi crossover, because while it shares its motors and batteries with the humbler likes of the Skoda Enyaq and VW ID4, the fact is that the Q4 e-tron actually has more reliable range in day to day driving than its pricier brothers, the Q6 e-tron and the Q8 e-tron. On a full charge, you should be able to get at least 280 miles out of a Q4, and every one of those miles will be driven in excellent comfort and refinement.

3. Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota’s smallest SUV is also its cutest — just look at the Yaris Cross’ adorable face! Even the GR Sport version, which tries to look mean and moody, just ends up looking as loveable as a kitten wearing a Batman mask. While it’s a Yaris hatch underneath (same 1.5-litre petrol hybrid engine) the Yaris Cross is far roomer inside than the small hatchback, and like all Toyotas it’s well-made and reliable. It’s also quite good to drive, but better yet is capable of a real 60mpg if you’re careful.

4. BYD Seal

BYD arrived in some style this year with the sleek-looking, well-priced Seal which takes on the likes of the Tesla Model 3 and the Polestar 2 and offers plenty of interior space, and a slightly weird touchscreen that rotates to portrait or landscape positions. That’s a bit pointless, but the rest of the Seal is anything but, with decent range, a rugged lithium-iron phosphate battery, and big performance from the 530hp two-motor version. It’s good to drive, too, but the cabin is a bit ‘chintzy.’

5. Tesla Model Y

For a time, the Tesla Model Y was the biggest selling car in the world, and it’s not hard to see why. It combines big interior space, with lots of high-tech features, rapid charging, and a very impressive range. All that and a bargain price tag, thanks to Tesla’s recent round of price-cutting. The downsides are that it’s a bit uncomfortable over bumps (you can get around some of that by fiddling with tyre pressures though) and a cabin that’s not as well made as those of the Skoda Enyaq nor Polestar 4.

6. Volkswagen Tiguan

All new for 2024, the chunky-chinned Tiguan took over where the old one left off, with a roomy cabin, family-friendly boot space, and the option of a plug-in hybrid version that can go for as much as 70 electric miles on a single charge of its big battery. The regular diesel version’s not bad either, although the Tiguan isn’t much fun to drive, and the big screen — with built-in Chat GPT AI — is still kinda confusing at times.

7. MG4 EV

The MG4 is fast becoming a perennial favourite, as while it’s very much a Chinese-owned and made car, it wears a familiar — beloved, even — British badge and offers excellent all-round electric performance for a reasonable price. It’s even good fun to drive, although it’s better in standard form than as a high-performance MG4 XPower, which is odd. The cabin’s rather cheap and the touchscreens awful, but it’s still a good all-round electric family car.

8. Tesla Model 3

Heavily updated for 2024, the big-selling Tesla Model 3 remains the electric saloon to beat. The likes of BMW, BYD, and Polestar have all tried, but none can quite match the combo of price, tech, space, range, and the effortless Supercharger charging network. Which is not to say that the Model 3 is perfect — suspension comfort and handling are no longer top-drawer, and the big touchscreen can be awkward to use, but once you’ve experienced the performance hit of the four-wheel drive versions, you’ll be hooked.

9. Polestar 2

Polestar did something this year that no car maker has done since Triumph in the 1970s — it changed the Polestar 2 from front-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive, just by moving the electric motor. Doing so, and adding a new, slightly larger battery dramatically increased the 2’s range – to a whopping 408 miles for the long-range model. It’s sweet to drive too, although some of the cabin feels a bit cheap and it’s far from the roomiest car around.

10. BYD Dolphin

The BYD Dolphin is that unusual thing — a cheap car that doesn’t feel cheap. While it’s one of the most affordable electric cars around, the cabin looks surprisingly smart, with that big rotating screen (again, it’s kinda pointless) and high-backed bucket seats clad in ultra-soft pleather. It’s also roomy, and has decent range, offering versions with either 192 miles or 265 miles, and it’s good at replicating those claimed mileages in the real world. The Dolphin’s not a lot of fun to drive, but it’s efficient, smooth, and easy to live with, all of which counts for a lot.

You can get a great price on all of these models, and many more, with Carwow’s new car deals. You can also browse the latest used cars from our network of trusted dealers, and when it’s time to sell your current car, Carwow can help with that, too.