Britain’s Best Driver’s Cars 2025
There has rarely been a more diverse bunch of contenders for Britain’s Best Driver’s Car, but which is best?
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by Matt Saunders and Matt Prior
8 mins read
7 March 2025
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Our annual best driver’s car test brings together our 10 favourite new driver’s cars of the past 12 months for three days straight, during which time we assess their appeal on both road and track.
The variety and diversity that this contest brings is like no other group test out there: where else will you find a sub-700kg Lotus Elise restomod pitting itself against a 2.1-tonne electric hatchback from Hyundai?
The cars ranked below aren’t direct competitors of course, but have been chosen because of how they excel in driving ability.
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Helping to guide you through this smorgasbord of eclectic machinery are our road testers; Matt Prior, James Disdale, Richard Lane, Illya Verpraet and Andrew Frankel. They will provide you with first-hand experience at what it’s like to pilot each of these cars at the absolute limit.
We think that the McLaren Artura is the most complete driver’s car currently on sale today, impressing the judges for its lightweight hybrid design, supreme performance, and its poised, tactile handling.
But how did the other competitors fare in Autocar’s biggest and best group test? Listed below are the best driver’s cars, unmated in their capabilities, be it on road or track.
1. Mclaren Artura
9
- Design9
- Interior8
- Performance9
- Ride & Handling9
- Costs8
Pros
Poised, tactile and engaging handling shows little evidence of extra weight
Motors combine smoothly for uncompromisingly fast performance
Effective lightweight design
Cons
Limited to 17 miles of electric range in the real world
Could bring a little more drama to its steady-hand character
Latest revisions have firmed up the ride somewhat
We had an Artura at BBDC in 2022, but McLaren added a number of model-year upgrades, tuning the suspension and steering for greater engagement and fettling the V6 engine for more drama at the top of the rev range.
The results paid off, with the McLaren delivering all manner of thrills in all environments thanks to its excellent hybridised engine, lightweight design and poised, tactile handling.
I love the suppleness, the beautiful weight and pace of the steering, the balance of directional precision and mid-corner stability.
On the road its ride is fluent and controlled, but what impressed us the most was how easy it was to drive at pace; it was even enjoyable to drive when pottering through town.
James Disdale said of the Artura: “Arguably McLaren’s best road car yet.” And Richard Lane: “A superb helm meets pedigree body control.”
The McLaren is also seriously fast on track, too, but as noted by Verpraet, its brilliance around a circuit came down to its ease of use and confidence-inspiring drive.
It steered wonderfully, rode Cadwell Park’s demanding kerbs with composure and responded to inputs accurately thanks to its clever electronic diff.
Read our Mclaren Artura review
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2. Analogue Automotive Supersport
9
- Design9
- Interior7
- Performance8
- Ride & Handling9
- Costs7
Pros
Titanic appetite for pace on track
Still rides well on the road
Excellent attention to detail
Cons
It’s a lot of money to add to the cost of an S1 Lotus Elise
Takes away some delicacy from Lotus’ factory recipe
Cabin goes without any luxuries or modern features
No car in our contest was as raw or unfettered as the Lotus Elise-based restomod from Analogue Automotive.
It barely had a moment to rest in the pits before another tester snatched the keys for a couple of full-bore laps around Cadwell Park.
On the track it’s utterly tied down yet so expressive and happy to take some yaw in all the right places. The engine is a titan; communication levels are off the charts.
The Analogue reminded us of just how fun small, lightweight cars can be, and that you didn’t need oodles of power to be satisfied on a track.
Its various upgrades over the standard car, such as new front wishbones, Quaife LSD and rose-jointed suspension all combine to make it a proper driver’s car – the fettled K-Series engine (fitted with throttle bodies and new pistons) is a peach too.
There was far more drama conjured up by the Elise than many of its competitors on the day, as confirmed by Richard Lane: “The only way you’d get closer to the track is by getting out and licking it. It’s outrageously good. Raw but clinical.”
And yet, the Supersport still managed to remain pliant on the road, making it just as fun in this setting as it was on track.
Read our Analogue Automotive Supersport review
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3. Aston Martin Vantage
9
- Design9
- Interior8
- Performance9
- Ride & Handling9
- Costs8
Pros
Bombastic power output and sound
Old-school front-engined rear-drive balance
Muscular, brawny looks
Cons
A bit of turbo lag at low revs
Wider and longer than before
Gearbox can be hesitant at times
If you’re after a muscle car feeling in the form of a sports car, the Aston Martin Vantage is the best of the breed.
We dubbed it a “fabulous road car” but was also impressed by its willingness to entertain on a track as demanding as Cadwell Park.
The Aston laughs hard in the face of the Artura’s supposed soulfulness. It is an immensely easy car to love, both superficially and in dynamic terms, and it is outrageously characterful
On a twisty rural road, the old-school GT was a treat, thanks to its front-engine, rear-drive setup – and despite being turbocharged, the 656bhp V8 motor sounded even mightier than its predecessor.
There was tactility to its steering and plenty of traction when exiting bends, and the clever traction control system allowed for some fun without getting carried away.
Around Cadwell Park, the gnarly Aston felt as quick as the McLaren, but lacked the body control of its mid-engined competitor.
But while it might not have been able to match the McLaren on agility, the Vantage was more willing to loosen its rear end.
You could fire it into a bend and collect any moments of oversteer without issue.
Read our Aston Martin Vantage review
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4. Ariel Nomad 2
9
- Design8
- Interior7
- Performance9
- Ride & Handling9
- Costs7
Pros
Has an irrepressible sense of humour
A true driver’s car with deft handling
Suspension laps up tricky B-roads
Cons
Now costs £80,000 with a few options
Waiting list is getting on for three years
All-terrain tyres keep you on your toes
The Atom has won many BBDC titles over the years, but this time it was the Ariel Nomad’s turn to do battle with the very latest automotive exotica.
With its traction control, ABS, windscreen and softer off-road suspension, you might assume that the Nomad wouldn’t be as lairy as its Atom stablemate, but this wasn’t the case.
The new Ford powertrain isn’t quite as lovely as the Honda: shift quality is lumpier, delivery is boostier, doesn’t rev as keenly. Rest of the package remains very compelling – although I preferred it on the road rather than the track.
With 305bhp and a kerb weight that tips just over 700kg, the Nomad felt as fast as its more powerful competitors. The gearbox required a fair amount of man-handling and you could easily find yourself applying some opposite lock out of a corner.
For the track, Ariel swapped its chunky Yokohama Geolandars for some grippier rubber, and while it was engaging and quick, a layer of entertainment had been lost.
Some testers felt the 2.3-litre Ford Focus ST engine was less exciting than the Honda lump that powered the mk1 Nomad.
Still, it’s a highly capable off-roader, and finished in an admirable third place for the track driving part of our test.
Read our Ariel Nomad 2 review
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5. Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
10
- Design8
- Interior8
- Performance10
- Ride & Handling9
- Costs8
Pros
Handles with a free-flowing ease that belies its weight
Fake gearshifts are so intuitive you can forget your driving an EV
Retains the practicality of the regular Ioniq 5
Cons
Body control could be better
Touring efficiency isn’t that great
Cabin is perhaps a little ordinary compared to rivals
The Ioniq 5 N revealed itself to be a highly engaging and deeply rewarding driver’s car, showcasing that performance EVs can be fun.
Its various driving modes, fake gearshifts and engine note all took a bit of getting used to, but once familiar with them it is incredibly absorbing on road and track.
It does in some ways feel its weight, but it tries incredibly hard, and often succeeds in disguising it, especially in the way it turns in and then rotates through the apex.
The gears helped to gauge road speed while also adding an extra layer of interaction and the exhaust note gave it a bit more personality when punting along a rural backroad.
It is a heavy car thorough, and bumpy roads exposed a slight lack of sophistication in the damping. That said, range was never an issue.
The Hyundai was pretty handy on track, too, with its different modes allowing the pilot to choose how they wanted the 5 N to behave.
Indeed, its weight and size limit its capabilities on a track, but it was still able to entertain. Our testers enjoyed adjusting the torque so it could be balanced and precise one minute, and a lairy, tail happy hooligan the next.
Read our Hyundai Ioniq 5 N review
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6. Toyota GR Yaris
10
- Design9
- Interior7
- Performance9
- Ride & Handling10
- Costs7
Pros
Lightweight, compact design
Planted, secure and rapid
Exceptional perfromance
Cons
Expensive for a hot hatch
Gravelly engine when left to its devices
Boot requires a hefty slam to close
The GR Yaris returned for another crack at the BBDC crown (it finished an outstanding third in 2020) only this time in updated gen-2 guise.
The updated Yaris is a fine hot hatchback: its steering is communicative, it responds well to inputs (whether you’re chucking it into a bend or exercising more caution) and it sounds a little sweeter than its predecessor.
Lighter in feel than both the Ioniq 5 N and the Golf R, and more precise than the latter
It might not have been able to keep pace with the supercars in this test, but on the road it had more than enough deployable grunt to keep you engaged.
Being small and light, it was just as agile and fun around the rollercoaster-like Cadwell Park – and it was one of only a handful of cars in our test to have a manual gearbox.
Lane would have liked a bit more “finesse” from the Yaris, but noted that you could go “full throttle just about everywhere”.
Read our Toyota GR Yaris review
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7. Volkswagen Golf R
9
- Design8
- Interior8
- Performance9
- Ride & Handling8
- Costs8
Pros
Excellent cross-country pace
Superb four-wheel drive security
Improved infotainment system
Cons
Low speed ride is poor
Cockpit doesn’t feel £40,000 worth
Lack of physical buttons on steering wheel and dash
Volkswagen’s longstanding stablemate proved that there was still plenty of joy to be had in a hot hatchback from Wolfsburg.
The Mk8 failed to do the R moniker justice but in Mk8.5 form there was far more engagement and performance to be exploited.
Just a bit ‘meh’ on the road. No glaring errors; it just seems to lack the enthusiasm of, say, a Mk7.5 R. But it was a real surprise on track.
As a pure driver’s car, it lacked a bit of excitement, perhaps biased towards being an everyday hot hatch rather than an all out pocket rocket. It was fast, planted and surefooted, but that’s about it.
On track it was very chuckable, much like the GR Yaris (above) and there was decent levels of grip, traction and balance.
Understeer was well controlled and it was willing to be steered with the throttle – in race mode the 328bhp four came alive.
Ultimately the Golf R is a fun car on track, but lacks a bit of enthusiasm off it.
Read our Volkswagen Golf R review
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8. Noble M500
8
- Design9
- Interior7
- Performance8
- Ride & Handling8
- Costs7
Pros
Good balance and grip
Nicely tuned dampers and well sorted chassis
Values driving dynamics over anything else
Cons
Poor driving position
Gearbox throw is too long
Epic levels of turbo lag
No car divided opinion more than the twin-turbo V6-powered Noble M500. It’s a close relation of the M600, but has a new body and a motor taken from the Ford Ranger Raptor.
There was plenty to like about it: the dampers were tuned nicely, its steering was communicative and the chassis felt nicely sorted.
In the slippery early conditions the sledgehammer boost delivery serves up some white-knuckle moments, but once the grip is there it adds some real (nervous) laughs.
But the poor driving position, long-throw manual gearbox and awful turbo lag meant that some testers failed to gel with the M500, and couldn’t see past what was an unfinished package.
it was a prototype, mind, and on track there were glimmers of a great sports car under the M500. It was balanced, steered well and had good grip.
But again, the Noble failed to convince our testers, its unusual fuelling and iffy gearshift being the main disappointments,
Read our Noble M500 review
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9. Ford Mustang Dark Horse
7
- Design7
- Interior7
- Performance8
- Ride & Handling7
- Costs8
Pros
Gargling Coyote V8 is as charming as ever
Pleasingly precise, with some real handling chops
Spacious, commanding and comfy
Cons
Automatic gearbox is to be avoided, if possible
Ride-quality simply isn’t good enough on UK roads
Material quality doesn’t match the price
The Ford Mustang Dark Horse is a likable sports coupe with bags of V8 muscle car character – but a manual gearbox is a must.
The 10-speed auto in our test car was poor, both on the road and on track, but then even if it had come fitted with the six-speed manual box it might not have done much better.
Hopeless, hopeless, hopeless gearbox. And the irony? That thundering V8 has bags of character and performance, plus enough torque that it could happily get by with a three-speed Torqueflite auto.
There was little by way of engagement due its artificial steering and lack of handling sophistication, but we couldn’t find fault with the thunderous atmo V8 under its nose.
It echoed nicely off the banks of Cadwell Park, but on track its poor steering and auto gearbox once again let it down.
There was still plenty of fun to be had in the charming Dark horse, mind, and, the fact that a traditional V8 muscle car exists today is something we enthusiasts can be grateful for.
Read our Ford Mustang Dark Horse review
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10. Lotus Emeya S
8
- Design7
- Interior9
- Performance9
- Ride & Handling8
- Costs8
Pros
Understated but definite handling appeal
More spacious than a Taycan
Super fast charging speed
Cons
Not as engaging to drive as a Taycan
Lotus could have found a way to remove some heft
Luggage space is so-so
The big, silent Lotus Emeya S marked a new era for the Geely-owned brand and arrived in the Paddock at Cadwell as the second electric entrant in our test.
We tried to find some Lotus DNA within its driving characteristics, but overall, it wasn’t the most engaging car to drive, and not as rewarding as the Porsche Taycan.
Fairly nice steering and balance and doesn’t feel as big as it is. No glaring drivability issues, either. But it ’s not a driver’s car, just a nice big electric saloon with a slight sporting edge.
Sure, there was the same polish and poise that you would find in most premium electric saloons, and it flowed nicely down the roads surrounding Cadwell Park.
On circuit, many of our testers praised the Emeya’s body control, grip, traction and precise steering. Impressive for a heavy EV that was never built for the track.
It never felt that much fun to drive, however, and while it was smooth and fast there was little excitement to its drive.
