Auto Express is a weekly motoring magazine sold in the United Kingdom published by Carwow Group.[2][3] The editor is Paul Barker.[4]

Auto Express
Cover of issue 1856 (6–12 November 2024)
EditorPaul Barker
Former editorsSteve Fowler, Graham Hope, David Johns
CategoriesAutomobile magazine
FrequencyWeekly
Total circulation
(2022)
31,166 (December 2022) [1]
First issue1988
CompanyCarwow
CountryUnited Kingdom
Based inLondon
LanguageEnglish
Websitewww.autoexpress.co.uk
ISSN0954-8866

History and profile

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Cover of 28 August 2002 issue, showing previous logo and design based on Auto Bild.[5]

Launched in September 1988, its 1,000th issue was published on 20 February 2008. Its only weekly competitor in Britain is Autocar. Auto Express is the biggest selling motoring magazine in Britain, with a circulation of 31,166. The Auto Express website receives between 3 and 4 million visits per month.[6][7][8]

Auto Express is known for its in-depth reviews, road tests and group tests[9] of the latest new cars, as well as for its news coverage[10] on the cars and consumer motoring issues. There is also a wide variety of other content in the print magazine and on the website from long term tests and product tests to used car buying guides, opinion columns and features. Auto Express is also known for its spy shots and speculative illustrations of forthcoming cars.

It has sister magazines in France: Auto Plus, and Germany: Auto Bild, as well as in other countries around Europe, which follow the same design and format.[5] In the UK Auto Express is part of the Carwow Studio group of automotive media brands that includes Carbuyer, Driving Electric and Evo, as well as the Driver Power survey.

Driver Power

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Since April 2001, Auto Express has published the J.D. Power rivalling "Driver Power" car customer satisfaction survey, which shows the best and worst cars to own that year according to motorists who own them.[11] In 2022, the Kia XCeed[12] was the top rated car in Driver Power and Porsche[13] was the top manufacturer.[14][15][16]

Real-World Road Test

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In February 2023, Auto Express launched the Real-World Road Test; a test that sees groups of two or three new cars subjected to a rigorous assessment processes focused on car buyers' needs. The test considers the merits of each car, not only the way that it drives, but also every aspect important to owners, from the space inside to the usability of infotainment systems. Equally importantly, it gives a clear indication of how much car buyers can expect to pay to buy and run the car.[17]

Sell My Car

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In September 2024, Auto Express launched its own "Sell my car"[18] service providing consumers with the option of selling their car directly to the Carwow Group network of over 5,500 verified UK car dealers. The service on the Auto Express website works by providing a car valuation and giving users the option of listing the car for sale. Once listed the car is made available for the dealer network to bid on and the car owner is presented with the highest bid, which they can accept or reject. If the bid is accepted, payment is transferred and the car is collected free of charge.[19]

Ownership

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In 2021, Auto Express and the rest of Dennis Publishing's automotive assets were spun-off as independent company called Autovia. In 2024, Autovia were purchased by the Carwow Group. The former Autovia brands sit under the Carwow Studio division as part of the Carwow Group.

Car of the Year

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References

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  1. ^ "ABC circulation for 2022". abc.org.uk. December 2022.
  2. ^ Baggott, James (14 February 2024). "Carwow buys car magazines Auto Express and Evo for undisclosed sum". Car Dealer Magazine. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  3. ^ "CARWOW ACQUIRES LEADING AUTOMOTIVE TITLES" (Press release). London, United Kingdom: Carwow Ltd. 14 February 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  4. ^ "Boost for used car dealers as Carwow launches Auto Express marketplace". Car Dealer Magazine. 4 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  5. ^ a b Quinn, Anthony. "Car magazines UK case study: deadly rivalry sparked by Carweek and Top Gear". Magforum. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  6. ^ "Dennis website". Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
  7. ^ "Auto Express - Data - ABC | Audit Bureau of Circulations". www.abc.org.uk. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  8. ^ "autoexpress.co.uk Website Traffic, Ranking, Analytics [February 2023]". Semrush. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  9. ^ "Reviews". Auto Express. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  10. ^ "News". Auto Express. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  11. ^ Auto Express Driver Power website
  12. ^ "Best cars to own: Driver Power 2022 results". Auto Express. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  13. ^ "Best car manufacturers 2022". Auto Express. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  14. ^ "Lexus car dealers are Britain's best". Motortrader. 27 April 2007. Archived from the original on 3 May 2009. Retrieved 6 May 2007.
  15. ^ "Auto Express Driver Power 2007 Survey". Auto Express. March 2007. Retrieved 18 September 2007.
  16. ^ "Best car manufacturers 2019". Auto Express. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  17. ^ "Our new real-world test is the most comprehensive car review you'll find". Auto Express. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  18. ^ "Carwow Group extends "Sell My Car" service to Auto Express". Yahoo Finance. 5 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  19. ^ Dickson, Ian. "Carwow expands "Sell My Car" service to Auto Express - AIM Group". aimgroup.com/. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
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