Top 10: Best British Cars

The Range Rover is as British as they come. Originally created to show that off-roaders could be comfortable and luxurious, the Range Rover is popular among those who want the capability to go here, there and everywhere but still want to remain comfortable when they do it.

While there are some questions regarding the reliability of used Range Rovers, when well-maintained these can be very high-end ways of getting from A to B. Today, the latest generation of Range Rover is built at the JLR facility in Solihull. The firm is also gearing up for a momentous change as it introduces its first electric Range Rover – though diesel and petrol-powered versions will continue to be made.

The Mini Cooper is a British success story. While the latest, BMW-made Minis might be a far cry from the teeny-tiny originals, they have proven more than up to the challenge of capturing the ‘British’ quality that was so present in the classic version. These days, the Mini Cooper continues to be made in the firm’s huge facility in Oxford with the plant currently looking after production of the latest petrol-powered Mini – though the electric version is expected to be made there soon too.

While the Mini has certainly grown compared with the original, it still retains the nimble handling that you’d expect. The latest version comes equipped with a very eye-catching central screen inside, too, which is one of the largest OLED-type displays ever fitted to a car.

Aston Martin is one of the most recognisable British brands out there. While quite a lot of that can be attributed to the James Bond connection, Aston’s ability to make good-looking sports cars that turn heads is a big part of why this British brand has risen to the top.

These days, Aston Martin continues in its journey of creating some of the most jaw-droppingly good-looking cars, with nearly all of them being crafted at the firm’s home in Gaydon, Warwickshire. It’s here that you’ll find models like the latest Vantage being made, which arrives as the newest rival to the Porshe 911. With a 4.0-litre turbocharged V8, it certainly has the performance you’d expect from an Aston Martin, though its used predecessor still offers a whole lot of excitement at a lower price.

Vauxhall is a household name here in the UK. Loved by families and those after no-nonsense ways of getting from A to B, Vauxhall has always had the everyday driver in mind throughout the years, producing cars that don’t break the bank and aren’t costly to run, either. Thousands have been built here in the UK, with the Astra being one of the most popular.

While production of the latest Astra has been moved to Germany, the previous generation car called Ellesmere Port in Cheshire its home. It was a wildly successful iteration of the Astra, too, and as a result, you’ll find many to choose from on the Motors site today.

Jaguar’s F-Pace took everything that the brand was known for and transferred it into one good-to-drive and good-looking SUV. It arrived as Jaguar’s first foray into the four-wheel-drive SUV segment, too, but set aside from the competition thanks to its classy interior and driving style which was sportier than many expected.

As a used buy, the F-Pace is very tempting. There’s good availability in the second-hand market and, regardless of which version you opt for, you’re getting a comfortable and well-specified British-made car – it’s still made at the JLR facility in Solihull.

Lotus is a car company which has had a massive influence on the motoring world. Founded by Colin Chapman, Lotus is a firm which pioneered lightness above all else. Most importantly, they’ve all had a home at the firm’s site in Hethel, Norfolk, where trained specialists hand-built and hand-finish some of the brand’s tip-top sports cars.

While Lotus’ British-ness may have been watered down lately – it was acquired by Chinese manufacturing giant Geely back in 2017 – it still makes its key sports cars in Hethel. That includes the new Emira, which is a lightweight two-seater which continues the legacy of the Elise with its engaging driving experience and no-nonsense design.

Bentley’s home in Crewe is where all of the firm’s luxurious models are made. From the Flying Spur to the Bentayga SUV, Bentley uses the very best materials throughout its cars to create models that feel special both inside and out. There’s a true sense of craftsmanship at the heart of every Bentley model, too, with even the painting process being conducted with meticulous care.

While Bentley may have had to say farewell to its legendary W12 engine in its new cars used examples of the W12-powered Continental GT are commonplace, but remember to factor in high repair costs and a lot of fuel bills.

McLaren is right at the cutting edge of car making and it all comes from the firm’s home in Woking, Surrey. Specialising in lightweight and ultra-modern materials, McLaren has come a long way from the days of the super-speed F1. Today, McLaren creates some of the sharpest supercars and sports cars on the market, specialising in combining old-school features – like traditional hydraulic-assisted steering that brings the best possible feel – with composite materials and even electrification.

The 720S is, for many people, ‘peak’ McLaren. With a punchy 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 and a very driver-focused interior, it’s a rocketship on wheels.

The Lotus Carlton is one of the poster stars of British motoring. One of the fastest four-door cars of the 1990s, it was an example of how to transform something relatively humdrum into a very special car indeed. What started off as the standard Vauxhall Carlton became a supercar-scaring saloon through the fitment of a turbocharged 3.6-litre straight-six engine with 377bhp. With its undercover looks but sledgehammer performance, the Lotus Carlton remains a true icon among petrolheads.

But it’s not an icon that can be bought cheaply. These days, even slightly tatty examples will fetch well in the region of £80,000 while pristine versions can see that price soar to over £100,000.

As with the Lotus Carlton, the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth was an example of making something special out of a relatively everyday British-built car. Spawned from Ford’s involvement in Group A racing in the 1980s, the humble Sierra was given a lot more performance than usual thanks to a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine fettled by – you guessed it – Cosworth.

Transforming one of Dagenham’s finest took more than just an engine swap, mind you, which is why it also gained an overhauled exterior design and a tweaked chassis that made the Sierra RS Cosworth sharper to drive. Today, tip-top examples have been known to fetch up to £300,000 though higher-mileage versions will still command a price tag of around £70,000.