Latest news with #carbrands
The Sun
5 days ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
String of UK car dealerships to SHUT in weeks with dozens of jobs up in the air after being ditched by huge brands
TWO major car brands are set to stop trading with one of the largest dealerships in the UK. Staff at affected branches were left fuming after being informed of the decision earlier this week, putting dozens of jobs at risk. 5 5 5 Stellantis UK, who own huge brands including Peugeot and Vauxhall, confirmed it had terminated its contract with Marshall Motor Group by mutual consent. It means that Marshall, which represents 25 manufacturers, is set to close several of its 138 stores across the country. Six branches were unexpectedly closed earlier this year, with another four now also confirmed to be shutting up shop, potentially affecting thousands of customers. Three Peugeot stores have been culled, with locations in Gatwick, Cambridge and St Neots set to be shut down by the end of June. And one Vauxhall garage in Ipswich is also set to close its doors for the final time by the end of next month. Staff members at the affected shops were informed of the shock decision earlier this week following an internal announcement. Speaking to The Sun, a source said: 'Staff at all four branches have been told the exact same thing. 'There is a lot of purposefully confusing jargon being thrown around, but essentially they are not renewing the contracts with Stellantis. 'There are roughly 60 people at each location, so we're looking at dozens of jobs being put at risk. 'They didn't give staff any particular reason, it doesn't seem to make much sense to them.' It is not known whether Marshall plans to offload staff to other branches or take on new contracts at the eight closed dealerships. The motor firm declined to comment on the closures. Stellantis confirmed they would continue to sell cars in the same areas with new investors. In a statement, the firm said: "Stellantis UK confirms that, by mutual agreement, our retailer agreements with Marshall as a group has ceased at all their sites. "We have appointed new investors to represent our brands in the majority of these locations, therefore offering our customers continued representation for sales and service." It comes after Marshall confirmed in March it was "downsizing" its relationship with Stellantis. The firm axed Peugeot dealerships in Canterbury, Ashford and Peterborough. It also shut a Vauxhall store in Peterborough, with all four closing on March 31. 5 Employees at these locations were reportedly "blindsided" by this shocking news, according to Car Dealer Magazine. Staff were reportedly told about the sad news on February 28. An employee claimed: "We were blindsided by it to be honest, we just didn't see it coming. "When the directors came down to tell us last week, they said it wasn't linked to performance and it's because Marshall is downsizing its number of Stellantis sites." Marshall Volkswagen Horsham and Aylesbury were also culled at the end of March. A statement on its website read: "Further to a strategic review, Marshall Volkswagen Aylesbury and Marshall Volkswagen Horsham will close. "Its sales, service and parts operations, including the customer base will transfer to Marshall Volkswagen stores." Why are so many car dealerships closing down? By Summer Raemason According to Business Rescue Expert there are multiple reasons why car dealerships are folding across the UK. The first major factor is rising online car sales which are beating in-person sales at dealerships. With an extensive range of comparison and second-hand sites to chose from, may car buyers don't even step foot into a dealership anymore. Secondly, the actual cost to physically run the sites has soared. Rent, wages and energy bills have all been increasing for roughly the past five years, putting many out of pocket. Car manufacturing across the globe was also hit by a semiconductor chip shortage in 2022 which made it difficult to produce new motors. The high demand with limited supply created a backlog, which although has eased, is still having an impact on the industry. A third reason for recent closures is the shift to electric cars. They are becoming more popular, given the Government initiative to be Net Zero in 2050. The industry is also affected when companies merge or are bought by rivals. This may lead to some independent names falling victim to the ongoing spate of closures.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
15 Best Car Brands, Ranked By Reliability
Reliability and a hassle-free ownership experience are some of the main reasons we buy new cars. According to CarEdge, a site dedicated to making car ownership easier, average new car prices are creeping closer to $50,000. If you're spending that much on a vehicle, you certainly don't want to spend your time hanging out at the repair shop. Luckily, we have independent organizations like Consumer Reports that fight for a fair marketplace. Every year, they list the best and worst vehicles on the market based on predicted reliability ratings, and using data from its annual reliability surveys. Traditionally, the two top spots have been held by Toyota and its luxury brand, Lexus, but this year, there's a new king of the hill. Let's look at the 15 best car brands you can buy in 2025, as per Consumer Reports' reliability rankings. Subaru is, without a doubt, the biggest surprise on this year's reliability list. According to RepairPal, an online automotive complaint resource, the Japanese brand has been known to suffer from certain issues, such as head gasket failure, excessive oil consumption, and CVT transmission problems. However, this year, the Subaru Impreza and Forester received well-above-average reliability scores, while the rest of the lineup, except the Solterra EV, is rated above average and average. One reason for this is that Subaru uses tried-and-tested technology, resulting in fewer problems. Lexus is usually found in the first or second spot on Consumer Reports' reliability rankings, so nothing has really changed for 2025. This Japanese brand builds cars that'll last you a lifetime, and they're right up there with the Europeans in terms of luxury. Four of Lexus' models received an above-average score, while three managed an average rating. In this year's rankings, Consumer Reports says Lexus and Toyota have traded the two top spots for many years, but Toyota has now been knocked down to third. The brand took a hit due to below-average reliability ratings for three of its vehicles — the bZ4X EV, the Tundra, and the redesigned Tacoma. Coincidentally, the bZ4X is the same vehicle as Subaru's Solterra, so that one should definitely be avoided. If not for those models, Toyota would still reign supreme, as four Toyota models scored well above average, seven scored above average, and five scored average. Honda is another Japanese carmaker known for making reliable, high-quality cars, and is usually found near the top of every Consumer Reports rating. This year, Honda earned fourth place overall in the reliability rankings. Three of Honda's models, including the CR-V and HR-V compact SUVs, received an above-average score, with another seven getting an average rating. With Honda in fourth, it's no surprise that its luxury brand follows right behind in fifth. Surprisingly, Acura no longer offers any hybrid models, despite Honda being one of the pioneers of that game. This year, Consumer Reports has only ranked two Acura models, the RDX and MDX SUVs. The RDX received an above-average score, and the MDX was rated as average. Mazda offers a wide variety of models, from the open-top 2-seater MX-5 Miata to the midsize three-row SUV CX-90. Its models tend to be affordable, good-looking, fun to drive, and reliable. Several of Mazda's vehicles have earned above-average reliability ratings by Consumer Reports, with the SUVs and crossovers consistently ranking among the best in the segment. Audi is the first non-Japanese brand on the list. European luxury vehicles are loaded with modern technology, which, according to Scientific American, tends to fail more often than older tech that's been tried and tested. Even the entry-level vehicles in Audi's lineup offer excellent build quality and are more luxurious than most of the Japanese models. That said, they also come with higher maintenance and repair costs, so Consumer Reports says it's hard to recommend used models. BMW is perhaps Audi's fiercest competitor, and the two have duked it out for decades. This time, Audi won the battle, but the Bavarians are following right behind. All the things we said about Audi also hold true for BMW. It's one of the top brands if you're in the market for a new luxury vehicle, but expect it to be costlier to own than a Lexus or Acura. A couple of decades ago, no one would've guessed that Korean carmakers Kia and Hyundai would feature in the top-ten most reliable car brands, but here we are. Kia now offers vehicles in most modern segments. They're usually not among the top in terms of reliability, but the low price and excellent warranties help offset that. Everything we said about Kia also goes for Hyundai, which secures the tenth spot on Consumer Reports' rankings. It's possible to find some serious bargains in Hyundai's lineup, and while they may not last as long as a Lexus, they'll certainly run for a few hundred thousand miles. The electric Ioniq 5 N is even one of the most fun EVs on the market today. Just missing out on the top ten, we find Buick, the first American brand on the list. If you want to buy American and reliability is important, then Buick is clearly the brand to go for — at least according to Consumer Reports. Buick offers two- and three-row SUVs with better interiors than you'll find in a Chevy or Ford, but for less money than traditional luxury brands such as Lexus, Lincoln, and Cadillac. It's no secret that Nissan's vehicles have struggled with various reliability issues over the years. Nissan Problems, a website dedicated to tracking issues related to various Nissan vehicles, mentions problems with the CVT transmission, engine failures, and a smorgasbord of other issues. Consumer Reports also says the brand's overall scores suffer because of up-and-down reliability and average to below-average owner satisfaction. Still, they managed to squeeze into 12th place of the 22 car manufacturers in this year's ranking. Ford sells its pickup trucks under the "Built Ford Tough" slogan, but the Blue Oval is only the 13th most reliable brand. The F-150 remains one of the best-selling trucks on the North American market, but Consumer Reports gave it a below-average reliability rating. In fact, with the exception of the Ford Mustang, the electric Mustang Mach-E, and the small Maverick truck, most Ford vehicles have been given an average to below-average reliability rating. Genesis, Hyundai Motor Group's luxury brand, goes head-to-head with all the established luxury carmakers but often costs less than the competition. Consumer Reports says Genesis models tend to be impressive during road tests, but the reliability varies, with some models having dropped to below-average reliability ratings. Gone are the days when Volvo was known for making brick-shaped cars that were surprisingly fun to drive and so well-built that they could probably emerge unscathed from a demolition derby. While the Swedish carmaker still builds safety-focused cars, it suffers in other areas—reliability, in particular. Consumer Reports says most of Volvo's new cars scored average or below average in their reliability rankings. Although Volvo ranks 15th for new car reliability, it's 17th in owner satisfaction, and 24th in maintenance and repair costs, giving it a 22nd place overall.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
15 Best Car Brands, Ranked By Reliability
Reliability and a hassle-free ownership experience are some of the main reasons we buy new cars. According to CarEdge, a site dedicated to making car ownership easier, average new car prices are creeping closer to $50,000. If you're spending that much on a vehicle, you certainly don't want to spend your time hanging out at the repair shop. Luckily, we have independent organizations like Consumer Reports that fight for a fair marketplace. Every year, they list the best and worst vehicles on the market based on predicted reliability ratings, and using data from its annual reliability surveys. Traditionally, the two top spots have been held by Toyota and its luxury brand, Lexus, but this year, there's a new king of the hill. Let's look at the 15 best car brands you can buy in 2025, as per Consumer Reports' reliability rankings. Subaru is, without a doubt, the biggest surprise on this year's reliability list. According to RepairPal, an online automotive complaint resource, the Japanese brand has been known to suffer from certain issues, such as head gasket failure, excessive oil consumption, and CVT transmission problems. However, this year, the Subaru Impreza and Forester received well-above-average reliability scores, while the rest of the lineup, except the Solterra EV, is rated above average and average. One reason for this is that Subaru uses tried-and-tested technology, resulting in fewer problems. Lexus is usually found in the first or second spot on Consumer Reports' reliability rankings, so nothing has really changed for 2025. This Japanese brand builds cars that'll last you a lifetime, and they're right up there with the Europeans in terms of luxury. Four of Lexus' models received an above-average score, while three managed an average rating. In this year's rankings, Consumer Reports says Lexus and Toyota have traded the two top spots for many years, but Toyota has now been knocked down to third. The brand took a hit due to below-average reliability ratings for three of its vehicles — the bZ4X EV, the Tundra, and the redesigned Tacoma. Coincidentally, the bZ4X is the same vehicle as Subaru's Solterra, so that one should definitely be avoided. If not for those models, Toyota would still reign supreme, as four Toyota models scored well above average, seven scored above average, and five scored average. Honda is another Japanese carmaker known for making reliable, high-quality cars, and is usually found near the top of every Consumer Reports rating. This year, Honda earned fourth place overall in the reliability rankings. Three of Honda's models, including the CR-V and HR-V compact SUVs, received an above-average score, with another seven getting an average rating. With Honda in fourth, it's no surprise that its luxury brand follows right behind in fifth. Surprisingly, Acura no longer offers any hybrid models, despite Honda being one of the pioneers of that game. This year, Consumer Reports has only ranked two Acura models, the RDX and MDX SUVs. The RDX received an above-average score, and the MDX was rated as average. Mazda offers a wide variety of models, from the open-top 2-seater MX-5 Miata to the midsize three-row SUV CX-90. Its models tend to be affordable, good-looking, fun to drive, and reliable. Several of Mazda's vehicles have earned above-average reliability ratings by Consumer Reports, with the SUVs and crossovers consistently ranking among the best in the segment. Audi is the first non-Japanese brand on the list. European luxury vehicles are loaded with modern technology, which, according to Scientific American, tends to fail more often than older tech that's been tried and tested. Even the entry-level vehicles in Audi's lineup offer excellent build quality and are more luxurious than most of the Japanese models. That said, they also come with higher maintenance and repair costs, so Consumer Reports says it's hard to recommend used models. BMW is perhaps Audi's fiercest competitor, and the two have duked it out for decades. This time, Audi won the battle, but the Bavarians are following right behind. All the things we said about Audi also hold true for BMW. It's one of the top brands if you're in the market for a new luxury vehicle, but expect it to be costlier to own than a Lexus or Acura. A couple of decades ago, no one would've guessed that Korean carmakers Kia and Hyundai would feature in the top-ten most reliable car brands, but here we are. Kia now offers vehicles in most modern segments. They're usually not among the top in terms of reliability, but the low price and excellent warranties help offset that. Everything we said about Kia also goes for Hyundai, which secures the tenth spot on Consumer Reports' rankings. It's possible to find some serious bargains in Hyundai's lineup, and while they may not last as long as a Lexus, they'll certainly run for a few hundred thousand miles. The electric Ioniq 5 N is even one of the most fun EVs on the market today. Just missing out on the top ten, we find Buick, the first American brand on the list. If you want to buy American and reliability is important, then Buick is clearly the brand to go for — at least according to Consumer Reports. Buick offers two- and three-row SUVs with better interiors than you'll find in a Chevy or Ford, but for less money than traditional luxury brands such as Lexus, Lincoln, and Cadillac. It's no secret that Nissan's vehicles have struggled with various reliability issues over the years. Nissan Problems, a website dedicated to tracking issues related to various Nissan vehicles, mentions problems with the CVT transmission, engine failures, and a smorgasbord of other issues. Consumer Reports also says the brand's overall scores suffer because of up-and-down reliability and average to below-average owner satisfaction. Still, they managed to squeeze into 12th place of the 22 car manufacturers in this year's ranking. Ford sells its pickup trucks under the "Built Ford Tough" slogan, but the Blue Oval is only the 13th most reliable brand. The F-150 remains one of the best-selling trucks on the North American market, but Consumer Reports gave it a below-average reliability rating. In fact, with the exception of the Ford Mustang, the electric Mustang Mach-E, and the small Maverick truck, most Ford vehicles have been given an average to below-average reliability rating. Genesis, Hyundai Motor Group's luxury brand, goes head-to-head with all the established luxury carmakers but often costs less than the competition. Consumer Reports says Genesis models tend to be impressive during road tests, but the reliability varies, with some models having dropped to below-average reliability ratings. Gone are the days when Volvo was known for making brick-shaped cars that were surprisingly fun to drive and so well-built that they could probably emerge unscathed from a demolition derby. While the Swedish carmaker still builds safety-focused cars, it suffers in other areas—reliability, in particular. Consumer Reports says most of Volvo's new cars scored average or below average in their reliability rankings. Although Volvo ranks 15th for new car reliability, it's 17th in owner satisfaction, and 24th in maintenance and repair costs, giving it a 22nd place overall.
Motor Trend
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
2025 Audi Q6 E-Tron Quattro First Test Review: An EV That's Pure Audi
Pros Very on-brand Modern and attractive interior Crushingly normal Cons Firm ride Limited regen settings So normal it's boring Every brand has a signature tuning style—in other words, drive enough Hondas, Toyotas, Mercedes-Benzes, and Teslas, and you should be able to pick out any of their wares from behind the wheel while blindfolded, if such a taste test were at all safe. Audis, too, have a specific 'Audi' vibe. That the 2025 Audi Q6 E-Tron fits that bill is no surprise—it is, after all, an Audi—but that it does at all despite being an EV is. 0:00 / 0:00 Maybe we shouldn't be so surprised. The Audi tuning style is best summarized as 'crushing competency.' These are vehicles that do most things well, with a borderline-sterile level of polish and capability that aligns with their super-modern-architecture design. The ride quality of any given Audi is taut yet smooths off the worst potholed streets, the steering is accurate and weighted just so, and the handling enjoys a secure-feeling surfeit of grip that never seems to run out. And every Audi looks closely related. Many traditional carmakers are rushing into the EV space these days, and not all of them are doing a very good job of channeling their traditional, internal-combustion-bred brand signatures into all-electric products. The Q6 E-Tron bucks that trend, looking, driving, and feeling for all the world like a gas-fed Audi that just so happens to lack engine noises or vibration. An Electric Audi That Feels Like an Audi As we pointed out after our first drive experience with the Q6 last year, not only is this vibe mesh unexpected because the Audi is electric, but because it shares its new PPE architecture with Porsche. That's a lot of muddy water from which something with such clarity of purpose emerges. Given that the Q6 E-Tron is more or less the electric equivalent to Audi's popular Q5 internal combustion compact luxury SUV, it seems like as good a bogey as any to compare it to, next to more interesting EV alternatives such as the Cadillac Lyriq, Genesis GV70 Electric, or Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV. And sure enough, the Q6's performance is roughly in line with the last gas-fed Q5 we tested, a 2021 model (the Q5 is all new for 2026, but we've not tested that version yet). That 2021 Q5 stopped a few feet shorter from 60 mph, posted higher grip numbers, and generally delivered the same agreeable ride and handling as the Q6, whose 118-foot stop from 60 mph is fine, and its 0.83 g of lateral grip on the mediocre side. The Q6 E-Tron is quicker, of course, but not as much as you'd expect given it has almost twice the power as that 2021 Q5 (456 hp compared to 261). That counts double when you factor in the Q6's big-time torque advantage and the instantaneous response from its dual motors—a 4.6-second 0–60-mph time is yawn-worthy among modern EVs, and it's only 1.1 seconds quicker than that four-year-old Q5. It's also 1,252 pounds heavier, so that factors into the quickness equation as well. But Not Everything Needs to Be Fast, Right? This bolsters our assertion that the Q6 E-Tron is, for the most part, a pretty convincing Q5 with a 94.4-kWh battery and two motors in place of a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a gas tank. And despite the more pedestrian straight-line performance relative to several of its competitors, it's refreshing to drive an EV that doesn't feel hyperactively quick while delivering otherwise normal handling or braking performance. A good example of that kind of imbalance? Jeep's new Wagoneer S, a Q6 competitor that, in Launch Edition form, is rated at 600 hp and can rocket to 60 mph in a claimed 3.4 seconds. Sounds great until you drive it and realize nothing else about it matches up with that big power and quick acceleration. Worse, its comfort-focused body control lets the Jeep wriggle around in its lane while you explore the smokin' acceleration, as if you strapped JATO rockets to a shopping cart. The Audi instead delivers a largely balanced driving experience, much like any other Audi and especially the Q5. Thrust when pulling away from a stop is satisfying but never overwhelming, and the silent running of its motors amplifies the sense of refinement Audis are lauded for. The steering is smooth and accurate, and the ride from the air springs and adjustable shock absorbers is controlled but comfortable, with very narrow changes from drive mode to drive mode. Want a quicker and more engaging Q6? There's always the SQ6 E-Tron with 509 hp. A Quick Charger, Though One area where the Q6 E-Tron exhibits real haste is during charging, either when plugged in or on the move. It's capable of up to 400 kW of regenerative braking, a high rate of capture when slowing using the motors instead of the mechanical brakes; we noticed it in around-town driving where the range readout would barely budge even after several days of downtown errand running. On a DC fast charger, the Q6 E-Tron took on a huge 177 miles of range in just 15 minutes in our testing—beating the already stout 160-mile figure notched by its more powerful SQ6 E-Tron sibling. Charging speeds peaked at 279 kW, but more impressively, it averaged 195 kW over a charge from 5 to 80 percent. Combined with the dual-motor Q6's 295-mile EPA-estimated range—which we nearly matched in our MotorTrend Range Test with a 285-mile number at sustained freeway speeds—you'll spend less time charging in general than in some competitors. Easy to Live With, Hard to Lust After While those numbers are duly impressive, it's Q6 E-Tron's familiar, day-to-day usability that's arguably its greatest asset—or potential liability depending on your point of view. For example, the cabin is laid out pretty much like any other Audi, with big, crisp displays and plenty of physical buttons for climate controls and audio volume. That's good. So, too, is the Audi-typical interior quality, which is highlighted by rich-feeling materials put together with utmost precision—so much so that it makes a Tesla Model Y feel like a cheap economy car. Among the few flashy bits inside are the wraparound LED strips that owners can set to the color of their choosing. Flip the signal stalk for a left turn, and the left side of the portion running across the top of the dashboard pulses green; adjust the HVAC to a warmer temperature? The affected zone glows red for a moment (or a cool blue, if cooling that zone). It's pretty slick. The EV-specific parts of the Q6 E-Tron, however, are merely so-so. There isn't a full one-pedal drive mode, though the most aggressive setting—activated by pulling back on the electronic shift lever to 'B' from drive—can nearly slow the Audi to a stop. (Or you can pull a paddle on the left side of the steering wheel to up the regen levels on the fly.) That said, even with B selected, the Q6 sails for a beat before the slowing power from the motors builds to its peak. No heads will snap forward as with the more aggressively tuned regen settings we've experienced from many other EVs, but it can make it more challenging to time your slowing. Another bugaboo? The Audi's regen settings are cleared when shifting from drive to reverse, or into park, etc. In other words, say you've chosen the highest B regen level and then you go to parallel park. As soon as you put it into reverse, that level disappears—an eventful discovery if you're not paying close attention and expecting more slowing power when lifting off the accelerator pedal. Adding the ability for it to hold a specific regen setting as other EVs do would be preferable and deliver a more consistent experience. EV hiccups aside, the Q6 goes about its business quietly and, again, seemingly in ways designed to make customers switching from a gas-fed Audi feel at home. On this front, the Q6 E-Tron succeeds wildly—but it also lends the SUV a sense of empty competency. Other than being quieter and feeling more substantial than a humdrum Q5, the Q6 doesn't do a lot to make its electric power stand out in any way. In the end, if you own a conventionally powered Audi and want to go electric, the Q6 will make that journey as easy as possible. But if you're the cutting-edge type, there are simply more tech-forward, stylish, better-handling and -driving, and otherwise more interesting choices out there at a similar price.
Arabian Business
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Arabian Business
UAE car buyers prioritise warranty, sustainability in brand trust, survey
Warranty, servicing costs and fuel efficiency, alongside environmental sustainability, have emerged as the most influential factors shaping trust in car brands among UAE residents, a recent survey said. Alongside these priorities, advanced technology and features (33 per cent), local presence and after-sales service (32 per cent), and resale value (31 per cent) also emerged as critical factors in building consumer trust, according to the recent survey conducted by Volkswagen Abu Dhabi. UAE car buyers' priorities The findings shed light on evolving preferences among consumers, who are increasingly prioritising long-term ownership value, maintenance affordability, and eco-conscious choices when making car-buying decisions. The country of origin (i.e. European, Japanese, Chinese) and brand legacy were also cited as key points of consideration for 29 per cent and 24 per cent of respondents, respectively, highlighting that reputation and heritage remain key to consumer decision-making. While most results were consistent among respondents of all age groups, consumers aged 45 and above placed more value on practicality, with half (50 per cent) citing warranty and servicing costs as the most important factor. On the other hand, younger consumers (18–24) appear to be more influenced by a brand's legacy (30 per cent) and media reviews and word of mouth (20 per cent). 'As the automotive market in the UAE is consistently evolving with new entrants joining the playing field, it's increasingly important to remain informed about evolving customer preferences and tailoring offerings to retain existing customers and attract new ones,' said Jordan Walker, General Manager at Volkswagen Abu Dhabi. 'The findings of this survey reaffirm existing trends which we know to be true – customers seek value for money and excellent after-sales service,' he said. Commissioned by Volkswagen Abu Dhabi, the YouGov survey polled over 1,000 respondents across the UAE.
