The cars you loved reading about in 2023

Alternatively fuelled cars continue to be popular with Which? members, with nine of the top 10 being either hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric.

We base our rankings on the number of people that visit our reviews of both new and used cars in 2023. And with more than half of cars sold in 2023 at least partly powered by alternative fuels, it’s not surprising that these cars have proved popular.

What is surprising is that only one model in the best seller’s list (published monthly by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders) appears in our popularity ratings. Popular models from Polestar and Tesla are also noticeable by their absence.

While old favourites continue to appear on this list, several models that we’ve reviewed during 2023 have also proved very popular with readers. Two high-class used models generated significant numbers of views, too.

Interested in making the switch to an EV? Our list of the best electric cars details the models we recommend

Most-viewed car reviews of 2023

5. Kia e-Niro (2019-22)

• Typical price: £18,763
• Fuel type: Electric 

Despite our lab-tested review of the all-new Niro EV going live in early 2023, it’s the original e-Niro that gets the most attention.

The 201hp model we tested is powerful, smooth and economical. Kia’s seven-year warranty means that all e-Niro models should still be covered if any mechanical problem occurs (read the reliability section of our full review to find out whether you’re likely to need it). Additionally, it’s one of the cheapest cars to run according to our tests – and is also one of the cheaper used EVs.

We found that it’s not the fastest EV to charge, though. The e-Niro’s 100kW maximum DC charging speed is significantly less than more modern electric Kia models – such as the EV6, which can charge at up to 350kW.

Read our full Kia e-Niro (2019-22) review to find out more.

Buying on a budget? Check out our picks of the best cheap cars

4. Volkswagen ID.4 (2021-)

• Typical price: £44,281
• Fuel type: Electric

The ID.4 is the second model introduced to Volkswagen’s rapidly expanding ID range of electric cars. Being an SUV, it has a large boot and comes with plenty of safety equipment as standard.

It’s very similar to the Skoda Enyaq iV and Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron as they share many major components.

According to the latest Which? car survey, owners are satisfied with how easy the ID.4 is to drive, although many were unhappy with their car’s infotainment and software. When we lab-tested the car, we also had gripes about the relatively poor-quality interior materials used by VW.

It’s not surprising that VW updated the ID.4 in 2023, with an improved central touchscreen and better interior materials. The newer version also has longer claimed range and more powerful electric motors.

Read our full Volkswagen ID.4 (2021-) review to find out more.

3. Honda Civic (2022-)

• Typical price: £33,381
• Fuel type: Hybrid

With fastback styling, the current Civic is very different to its predecessors. Even though it’s significantly more expensive than other medium hatchbacks, this Civic has been remarkably popular.

It proved a hit in our latest owners survey, with ‘sublime’ and ‘a brilliant product’ being just two of the owner comments we received.

The Civic features an impressive amount of equipment as standard and comes with an interior that demonstrates Honda’s focus on build quality. As all standard Civic models are petrol hybrids, each model features a CVT gearbox that’s smooth and easy to use.

A pure-petrol, high-performance Civic Type R model is also available – look out for our full review early in 2024.

Find out if this car has what it takes in our full Honda Civic (2022-) review.

2. Lexus RX (2015-22)

• Typical price: £19,094
• Fuel type: Hybrid

This large hybrid SUV has proved popular this year, with one owner in our latest survey describing it as ‘the most reliable car I’ve ever owned’.

The V6 450h model we tested is both powerful and refined, but you’ll need to read our full review to find out what impact this has on fuel consumption.

There’s also plenty of safety kit across the range and the RX scored five stars when it was crash-tested by Euro NCAP in 2015 (although this rating expired in 2022).

Now that it’s been replaced by an all-new RX model and the similar (but all-electric) Lexus RZ, the RX is only available on the used market.

Read our full Lexus RX (2015-22) review to find out more.

1. Honda Jazz (2020-)

• Typical price: £25,748
• Fuel type: Hybrid

With nearly 20% more views than the second-place Lexus RX (and almost 50% more than Honda’s larger Civic), the Jazz is our most popular review of 2023.

Updated in 2023 with a revised exterior, additional trim levels and extra equipment as standard, this model is known for its spacious interior and clever features, such as its ‘magic rear seats' that flip upwards at the base to easily store taller items.

While the Jazz is relatively expensive for a small car, our lab tests show that low running costs somewhat offset the purchase price. And Honda’s reputation for building dependable cars should reduce maintenance costs, too. It’s not surprising that both this and the raised Crosstar alternative scored five stars for customer satisfaction in our latest car survey.

Find out if we recommend the Honda Jazz (2020-) in our full review.

The top 10 most-viewed car reviews in full

Head to our guide on the best hybrid cars of 2024 to find out which models we recommend

Our cars expert says

Dino Buratti, Which? cars expert

Sports-utility vehicles (SUVs) are very popular with car buyers, so it’s not surprising to see that they make up eight of our 10 most popular cars of 2023. EV and full-hybrid models that offer lower running costs are also popular, although the increasing popularity of plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models in the UK is also reflected with the inclusion of the Toyota RAV4 PHEV.

While sales of Genesis cars have grown year-on-year, its cars are still a rare sight in the UK. That hasn’t stopped our members from taking a look at our review of the brand’s classy all-electric GV60 model – and our lab is currently testing the all-electric version of the brand’s G80 saloon.

Models from traditional brands such as BMW, Ford and Vauxhall are notable by their absence from our list, with our members favouring models from brands such as Honda, Lexus and Toyota that focus on ease of driving and strong build quality.

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