Auto Vista UK motoring, reviewed and explained

Auto Vista

UK motoring, reviewed and explained

Latest Articles

The Great British Squeeze: When Your Car Outgrows Your Street
Roads & Travel

The Great British Squeeze: When Your Car Outgrows Your Street

New cars are heavier, wider and taller than ever, and Britain's parking bays, residential roads and multi-storey ramps are starting to show the strain. We look at why kerb weights have climbed, what it means for tyres, insurance and neighbourly parking, and whether buyers should push back in 2026.

The Glare Divide: Why Britain's LED Headlights Are a Bright Idea With a Blind Spot
Roads & Travel

The Glare Divide: Why Britain's LED Headlights Are a Bright Idea With a Blind Spot

LED and matrix headlights are transforming night driving, but not everyone is a fan. We look at the rise of high-intensity lights, the rules that govern them, and how to stay safe when the dazzle hits.

Knobs, Not Novels: Why Britain's Dashboards Need a Thumb-Friendly Rethink
Roads & Travel

Knobs, Not Novels: Why Britain's Dashboards Need a Thumb-Friendly Rethink

Touchscreens have swallowed the modern dashboard, but British drivers are starting to push back. This is not a nostalgia trip: it is about keeping eyes on the road, fingers on familiar controls and a sensible split between glass and buttons.

Pillbox Motoring: The New-Car Visibility Squeeze and How to See More of the Road
Roads & Travel

Pillbox Motoring: The New-Car Visibility Squeeze and How to See More of the Road

Modern cars are safer in a crash but often harder to see out of, with thicker pillars, higher waistlines and smaller rear screens. We look at why 2026 models can feel more closed-in, what that means on narrow UK lanes and in tight car parks, and the practical checks and habits that help you see more.

The Great British Pit Stop Audit: Motorway Services Ranked for 2026
Roads & Travel

The Great British Pit Stop Audit: Motorway Services Ranked for 2026

Some services are worth planning a journey around. Others feel like a tax on tired drivers. We've graded Britain's motorway stops on fuel prices, food, loos, EV charging and plain old value for money.

Twenty's Plenty — Or Is It? Wales's Default Speed Limit, Three Years On
Car Tax & Finance

Twenty's Plenty — Or Is It? Wales's Default Speed Limit, Three Years On

Three years after Wales made 20mph the default on residential roads, the shouting has faded and the data has arrived. We look at what actually changed, why England's patchwork is confusing drivers, and what it all means for your premium.

Third Pedal Problems: Is the Manual Gearbox Becoming a British Curiosity?
Car Tax & Finance

Third Pedal Problems: Is the Manual Gearbox Becoming a British Curiosity?

Manuals still exist on UK forecourts, but the market around them has quietly split in two. We look at what learner habits, dealer part-ex desks and enthusiast demand are doing to the value of a third pedal in 2026 — and what that means for your wallet whether you're buying or selling.

Bay Wars: The Unwritten Rules of Britain's Public Charging Etiquette
EV Ownership

Bay Wars: The Unwritten Rules of Britain's Public Charging Etiquette

Six bays, four cars, one cable draped across a walkway and a driver hovering with intent — the British public charge point is a social experiment with a plug on the end. Here's our field guide to the unwritten rules, the app failures and the motorway-services standoffs of 2026.

Pass or Pay: The New MOT Pressure Points for Diesel and Electric Drivers
Maintenance & Repair

Pass or Pay: The New MOT Pressure Points for Diesel and Electric Drivers

The 2026 MOT is asking tougher questions of diesel particulate filters and electric-car battery health — and the answers can get expensive. Here’s what to check before test day, which models are most exposed, and how to keep a fail from becoming a financial disaster.

The Old Car Ultimatum: A Ten-Step Scorecard for Scrapping or Spending
Car Tax & Finance

The Old Car Ultimatum: A Ten-Step Scorecard for Scrapping or Spending

When the repair quote looks bigger than the car’s value, emotion and arithmetic start arguing. This UK-focused ten-step scorecard helps you decide whether to scrap, sell, part-exchange or spend — without romanticising a money pit.

Forecourt Detective: How to Judge a Used EV's Battery in Five Minutes Flat
Car Tax & Finance

Forecourt Detective: How to Judge a Used EV's Battery in Five Minutes Flat

A used EV is only as good as the battery under the floor, and the dealer's smile is not a state-of-health report. Here is a practical forecourt routine for UK buyers, plus the warranty small print and red flags that should make you walk away.

Winter-Proof Your Motor: A 2026 Cold-Snap Checklist for UK Drivers
Maintenance & Repair

Winter-Proof Your Motor: A 2026 Cold-Snap Checklist for UK Drivers

A no-nonsense pre-winter audit for UK drivers, ranking the checks that keep a car reliable when the temperature drops. Battery, tyres, coolant, lights and the grit-season kit — sorted by cost, urgency and the risk of a miserable roadside wait.

Pothole Patrol: How to Protect Your Car From Britain's Road Crater Epidemic in 2026
Maintenance & Repair

Pothole Patrol: How to Protect Your Car From Britain's Road Crater Epidemic in 2026

Potholes are deeper, repairs are pricier and council claims are still a slog. Here is how to spot damage early, toughen up your car and give yourself the best chance of getting your money back.

Vehicle Tax in 2026: The Models That Win, the Ones That Hurt, and the Levers You Can Pull
Car Tax & Finance

Vehicle Tax in 2026: The Models That Win, the Ones That Hurt, and the Levers You Can Pull

The April 2026 VED changes are in force, and they have redrawn the value map for UK drivers. Here is who is paying more, who is quietly saving, and how to keep your car tax bill in check without settling for a car you do not want.