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| HOME | UK | MANUFACTURERS |

UK Manufacturers

So what do the manufacturers say about their offerings?

Alfa Romeo
http://www.alfaromeo.co.uk/

A visually noisy and somewhat annoying site that is poor from a research point of view - there are no external reviews and the car comparison tool is very limited. The emphasis seems to be much more on making things look good rather than supplying helpful information. And I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder as I find the predominantly black and grey site with its white text and patches of red difficult to use.

Pros:
Nothing positive to say here.

Cons:
The whole site is sluggish and non-intuitive. There is no site map that might help you navigate quickly to your area of interest (rather than trying to read the mind of the Alfa Romeo web designers). Specifications are not available in a single location but have instead been cut in to chunks and are displayed in a vast number of tiny popup windows. The gallery is a joke with hardly any material. The car comparison tool only allows you to compare one Alfa Romeo to another.

How to:

• Look at specific model information
  We can no longer "deep link" you directly to the models page (too much flash and other gimmickry on this visually noisy site). Instead click on the Models button (second from the left at the bottom of the page) and then click on the Model name that interests you.
  
  
• Compare with other cars
  Select your model of interest by clicking on the Models link and then on the model name. To compare your selected Alfa Romeo model with another model click on the Compare Model link in the upper right hand corner of the page. You can only compare Alfa Romeo to Alfa Romeo and only two vehicles at a time.
  
  

Aston Martin
http://www.astonmartin.com/

Paltry amounts of information coupled with annoying and gimmicky coding (Flash, sound etc) make this a poor research site.

Pros:
There's a fairly good gallery although it is much more geared to showing off the Aston Martin vehicles than providing the vehicle shopper with useful tools to learn more about the cars.

Cons:
Specifications are sketchy, there are no 360 degree views in the gallery (which is not within each model but linked to up in the top right hand corner of the main page) and there is no car comparison tool on the site. This is not a very helpful place for anyone trying to learn more about the Aston Martin cars unless you are willing to wade through a ton of hype.

How to:

• Look at specific model information
  Simply click on the model name that you are interested in (left hand column).
  
  
• Compare with other cars
  No comparison tool available.
  
  

Audi UK
http://www.audi.co.uk/audi/uk/en2.html

A fair research site with an average amount of information - colour palette is rather restricted and this gives the whole site a rather lacklustre look.

Pros:
The basics are covered here - there are specs, static images and anecdotal information. Most models now seem to have 360 degree views.

Cons:
Although specifications are available they are in the form of huge (4MB/40-80! odd pages) PDF files that are slow to load. There is no car comparison tool. There is nothing extra that would assist the new car shopper.

How to:

• Look at specific model information
  Click on the name of the vehicle you wish to look at. Model names (i.e A4) are listed across the very top of the screen. Once inside a model you can pick the exact derivative you wish to see from a list displayed to the right of the main picture on the page (it's the one that's making you dizzy with all its activity).
  
  
• Compare with other cars
  No car comparison tool available on the Audi UK site.
  
  

BMW UK
http://www.bmw.co.uk/

The BMW site is only fair from a research point of view and I find navigation far from intuitive. A lot of the content that distinguishes good site from average is missing. There is now a good gallery with wallpaper and screensavers.

Pros:
One positive aspect of this site is the ability to look at all the models and select the right one(s) for you - to get started click on the Explore button underneath the New BMW model range section (far left hand area of the page). This allows you to select a vehicle by price range, bodystyle, CO2 tax band or fuel type. This is useful for shoppers who aren't sure which BMW might suit them. The gallery is quite good with images, wallpaper and screensavers. There is a car comparison tool but it only allows you to compare one BMW to another.

Cons:
Although specifications are very complete they are very unimaginatively displayed. There are no external reviews or information on long term ownership or safety. There don't seem to be any 360 degree views in the gallery.

How to:

• Look at specific model information
  From the main page simply use the Quick model selector to choose your model. Information on this model, including prices and specifications, road tests, accessories etc is all available from the buttons across the bottom of the picture displayed on the main model page. Specs are seen by going to the 'View the facts and figures' link while visuals are found by clicking on the Image gallery link on the far left just below the picture (but above the far left white box containing the Experience the XXX button - where XXX is the model you are looking at).
  
  
• Compare with other cars
  You cannot compare your selected BMW with other manufacturers.
  
  

Chrysler UK
http://www.chrysler.co.uk/

This site rates at less than average in terms of research capability. A lot of standard offerings are missing and the whole site is so loaded with gimmicks and geegaws that slow it down it is ridiculous.

Pros:
The basics are covered - static images in the gallery, specifications and anecdotal information.

Cons:
Specs are okay but are presented in such a way that you have to keep clicking to move between specification categories and you don't really see the complete picture. There is a gallery but 360 degree views are missing. There is no car comparison tool and no external reviews. There is no additional helpful information like safety data, long term ownership costs or information on environmental issues.

How to:

• Look at specific model information
  From the main page simply choose the model you are interested in by hovering over the SELECT A VEHICLE heading (far left, just below the Chrysler logo at the top of the page) and then selecting one of the models from the list displayed.
  
  
• Compare with other cars
  There is no car comparison tool on this site.
  
  

Fiat UK
http://www.fiat.co.uk/

A frustrating site that seems more intent on impressing you with its mastery of Internet technology (including unasked for soundtracks speaking the text displayed - to they think we can't read?) . The basics are barely covered, navigation is convoluted, there is too much Flash on the site and it's all rather annoying and exhausting.

Pros:
Little to be positive about from a research perspective. There is a combined specs/comparison page that allows you to see specifications on a model and compare it to other Fiat models at the same time - it is okay but nothing special.

Cons:
There is no car comparison tool worthy of the name, no 360 degree views and no external reviews. In short there is absolutely nothing here that will help a serious car shopper learn more about Fiat automobiles and why Fiat should be chosen over another manufacturer.

How to:

• Look at specific model information
  Click on the graphic of the vehicle you are interested in - as you hover over each vehicle you'll be shown a little bit of information about it (but not the price unfortunately).
  
  
• Compare with other cars
  There is no car comparison tool on the Fiat site.
  
  

Ford
http://www.ford.co.uk/

This site, although still too Flash-heavy in my eyes, has improved somewhat. There is now a help me choose tool. The site's usefulness for research has increased, although not greatly, from earlier reviews.

Pros:
The specification presentation has improved and there is quite a bit of useful information under the various headings on the left (Promotions, Fuel economy and CO2 emissions). There are some good static images under the Colours and trims heading.

Cons:
There are no 360 degree views in the gallery nor is there a car comparison tool that allows you to compare your selected Ford to other manufacturers. There are still no external reviews on the site.

How to:

• Look at specific model information
  Simply click on the graphic of the vehicle you are interested in or use the Help Me Choose tool in the right hand column.
  
  
• Compare with other cars
  There is no car comparison tool on the Ford site that allow you to compare with other manufacturers.
  
  

Honda (UK)
http://www.honda.co.uk/cars/

Thank goodness this site has improved from previous reviews! There is now quite a bit of good information for the vehicle shopper including a good image gallery and reviews. That said the site is still sluggish in my opinion.

Pros:
A good place to start is by going to the VIEW RANGE page by clicking on the link at the bottom of the CARS list on the far left hand side of the page - this will allow you to filter the full range of vehicles by price, fuel economy, emissions and some other characteristics. Specifications are complete although not particularly well-presented. There are plenty of static images and 360 degree views of both the interior and exterior. There is information on features, a helpful range overview and reviews that provide links to the original articles.

Cons:
Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any car comparison tool and the site is a bit sketchy on in-depth information like environmental initiatives and safety features.

How to:

• Look at specific model information
  Simply select the model you are interested in by clicking on the appropriate graphic. We have given you the link to Honda's concept of a help me choose tool so you can also select the right vehicle(s) for you by a number of criteria using the sliders and check boxes across the top of this page.
  
  
• Compare with other cars
  Honda no longer has a car comparison tool on its site.
  
  

Jaguar UK
http://www.jaguar.com/uk/en/home.htm

The Jaguar site is not too bad from a research perspective although I find navigation far from intuitive. The basics are covered and there are some interesting films and explanations of proprietary technologies.

Pros:
Specs are there but a bit hard to find - look for the e-FACTS text below a small graphic of the model you are viewing in the left hand column. The gallery is adequate. The sections on performance, design and luxury are well done with lots of information if you drill down.

Cons:
There is no car comparison tool and the gallery lacks 360 degree views. I get the sense that all the information you could possibly want is on the site but it is not easily accessible and you have to dig for it - this is disappointing. There are no external reviews available.

How to:

• Look at specific model information
  From the main page select a model from the row of models listed across the top of the page.
  
  
• Compare with other cars
  There is no car comparison tool on the Jaguar site.
  
  

Jeep UK
http://www.jeep.co.uk/index.html

If you are observant you may notice that this review is exactly the same as that of Chrysler (with Chrysler changed to Jeep of course). That's because, like most humans, I am lazy and since the Chrysler and Jeep sites are basically identical I just duplicated the Chrysler reviews and changed the brand names.

This site rates at less than average in terms of research capability. A lot of standard offerings are missing and the whole site is so loaded with gimmicks and geegaws that slow it down it is ridiculous.

Pros:
The basics are covered - static images in the gallery, specifications and anecdotal information.

Cons:
Specs are okay but are presented in such a way that you have to keep clicking to move between specification categories and you don't really see the complete picture. There is a gallery but 360 degree views are missing. There is no car comparison tool and no external reviews. There is no additional helpful information like safety data, long term ownership costs or information on environmental issues.

How to:

• Look at specific model information
  From the main page simply choose the model you are interested in by hovering over the SELECT A VEHICLE heading (far left, just below the Jeep logo at the top of the page) and then selecting one of the models from the list displayed.
  
  
• Compare with other cars
  There is no car comparison tool on this site.
  
  

Land Rover UK
http://www.landrover.com/gb/en/home.htm

Nothing special here for the shopper researching Land Rover vehicles. The basics are covered (barely) and there is nothing much of note to be found.

Pros:
Specs are provided although somewhat dull in the way they are presented. I like the way the site has broken down interesting topics in to easily digestible chunks of information (i.e. look at the Safety and Security section). The Awards and Recognition section is still there but it is buried under the About Us link. The gallery is adequate.

Cons:
The Awards and Recognition section seems to be getting a bit long in the tooth and where there are reviews links to the original article are not provided. There is no car comparison tool and although there are videos there are no 360 degree views available.

How to:

• Look at specific model information
  From the main page simply select your model of interest from the row of vehicles shown horizontally beneath the VEHICLES heading.
  
  
• Compare with other cars
  There is no car comparison tool on the Land Rover site.
  
  

Lexus
http://www.lexus.co.uk/

A boring site although the colour palette has been jazzed up a bit since earlier reviews. The basics are here but certainly nothing beyond that. Ho hum.

Pros:
Basic specifications are available and there is minimal information on each vehicle's features, accessories and equipment. The image gallery contains static photos, videos, wallpaper and screensavers.

Cons:
There is no car comparison tool or external reviews. The gallery doesn't contain any 360 degree views of either the interior or exterior.

How to:

• Look at specific model information
  Simply select your model by clicking on the appropriate graphic.
  
  
• Compare with other cars
  There is no car comparison tool on the Lexus website.
  
  

Lotus Cars
http://www.grouplotus.com/cars/home.html

This previously insipid and boring site has been jazzed up visually but still falls rather short in terms of content.

Pros:
Specifications are available although they are displayed in a rather difficult to review format with wide spaces between the lines of information. Each model has a rather poor quality 360 degree view of the vehicle's exterior on its main page (for the model). The multimedia gallery (available from the main menu, not within each model) contains some interesting images and wallpaper.

Cons:
As mentioned, the 360 degree view is of rather poor quality (zoom in even once, using the right mouse button, and you'll see what I mean) and only available for the exterior. There is no car comparison tool and the multimedia gallery has a listing for videos but doesn't actually seem to have any. There are no reviews available.

How to:

• Look at specific model information
  Choose your model by clicking on the graphic or the model name - then select within that model by clicking on the model name over on the right hand side of the page.
  
  
• Compare with other cars
  There is no car comparison tool on the Lotus site.
  
  

Mazda
http://www.mazda.co.uk/

Boring, boring, boring. Dully presented specs. Dry explanations that are as exciting as reading the side of a cereal box. The only bright spot is the gallery.

Pros:
The basics are covered although not with any flair or creativity. There are reviews available on most models with links to the original articles (well done!).

Cons:
There is no car comparison tool and the specifications are very erratic - on some models you had to download a brochure so that you could see basic information like fuel consumption (huh). The gallery is also very variable - most models had only 8-10 very ordinary static pictures. Earlier there were movies and wallpaper but these seem to have disappeared.

How to:

• Look at specific model information
  Simply click on the graphic for the model that you are interested in.
  
  
• Compare with other cars
  There is no car comparison tool on this site.
  
  

Mercedes-Benz UK - Passenger Cars
http://www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/

A fairly good research site although some of the material found in earlier reviews has disappeared.

Pros:
Specifications are well done with a good degree of detail and a easily scannable display format. The depth of information within each model is impressive and you can certainly obtain a lot of data on each model.

Cons:
The gallery is diminished from earlier reviews and now contains only static photos that can be downloaded as wallpaper. There are no 360 degree views or multimedia offerings. There is no car comparison tool and there are no external reviews.

How to:

• Look at specific model information
  Simply select the model you are interested in from the grid below the graphic. As you hover over each model name you'll see a graphic of it and its starting price.
  
  
• Compare with other cars
  There is no car comparison tool on the Mercedes-Benz site.
  
  

Nissan UK
http://www.nissan.co.uk/

The Nissan site is a masterful example of cramming in fancy design features while simultaneously providing little real content. Navigation is confusing and the presence of superfluous bells and whistles is annoying.

Pros:
I'll try to be fair here although this site really gets under my skin (in a bad way). The various Flash-laden screens and non-intuitive links are entertaining and fun but don't give me much tangible information about Nissan vehicles. The gallery is okay and does contain a 360 degree view of a kind (of the vehicle's exterior). There may be reviews available (see Cons below).

Cons:
The whole site is slow in the extreme (not surprising given the amount of Flash and other gimmickry). I was completely unable to find specifications which I surmise might be in the e-brochure which you have to download - and to download it you have to supply your name and email address. The 360 degree view in the gallery is exterior only and you can't seem to zoom in. There is a REVIEWS heading but after a 5 minute wait (I'm not kidding) nothing had appeared.

How to:

• Look at specific model information
  Select a vehicle by choosing a link underneath the VEHICLES heading in the top left hand corner of the screen (just to the right of the NISSAN logo). When you click on a range name (for example CITY CARS) the vehicles within that range will appear to the right - simply click on the one that interests you.
  
  
• Compare with other cars
  There is no car comparison tool on the Nissan website.
  
  

Peugeot.co.uk
http://www.peugeot.co.uk/

Peugeot's site is somewhat improved on this review - at least specifications are now available without downloading. Still the reliance on sound, Flash and blurring images of Peugeots moving at speed rather than providing more useful information is disappointing.

Pros:
Specifications are available and fairly well presented. There is a fair amount of anecdotal information for each model and the video brochures are mildly interesting.

Cons:
There is no car comparison tool and no gallery although images of the vehicles are littered all over the site - but not in a very useful way that allows you to get a good look at interiors (for example). No reviews or indepth information is available.

How to:

• Look at specific model information
  From the main page click on the model number of the vehicle that interests you (they're shown across the bottom of the page - as you hover over the number you'll see a graphic of the model and two buttons - a build button and a discover more button - choose the latter).
  
  
• Compare with other cars
  There is no car comparison tool available on the Peugeot site.
  
  

Porsche AG
http://www.porsche.com/uk/

A fairly skimpy site from a research perspective. The basics are covered but there is nothing extra or anything that will get the adrenaline going on this site.

Pros:
The basic specs are here although the presentation is lacklustre. The gallery has a number of static images as well as wallpapers. Anecdotal information is here but it's not very extensive.

Cons:
There is no car comparison tool (the compare models button only allows you to compare Porsche to Porsche) and there are no external reviews available. There are no longer any 360 degree views or videos available in many of the galleries (although some models still have videos and screensavers). Everything is rather dull and the text in a wishy washy, fuzzy edged gray is hard to read and unexciting.

How to:

• Look at specific model information
  Select your model from the text links on the left.
  
  
• Compare with other cars
  There is no car comparison tool on the Porsche website.
  
  

Proton Cars UK
http://www.proton.co.uk/

A poor site from a research point of view. Information is skimpy and navigation is a bit confusing. The gallery is minimal and basic and there isn't a lot of data available.

Pros:
The basics are covered (barely).

Cons:
There are no 360 degree views in the gallery (static shots only) and the specifications are not on the site but must be downloaded. There is no car comparison tool and navigation is somewhat perplexing. No reviews and little information about the cars or why you would buy one as opposed to some other brand.

How to:

• Look at specific model information
  From the main page simply choose a model by clicking on the appropriate graphic.
  
  
• Compare with other cars
  There is no car comparison tool on the Proton website.
  
  

Renault UK
http://www.renault.co.uk/cars/compare.aspx

This is a good site from a research point of view with lots of good information and some extra features that are very helpful for the car shopper.

Pros:
The link that we've given you takes you to a page where you can compare the whole Renault range and filter out the vehicles that don't match your needs. Do this by indicating criteria in the left hand column.

The basics - like specifications and anecdotal information are well covered and the gallery has both 360 degree views and static images. There is some interesting information about the company as well as news articles about Renault vehicles under the About Renault link.

Cons:
There is no car comparison tool on the site and it would be better if external reviews or news articles about specific vehicles were included in that vehicle's specific information page. The 360 degree view is only of the vehicle's exterior,

How to:

• Look at specific model information
  Select a model by clicking on its graphic.
  
  
• Compare with other cars
  There is no car comparison tool on the Renault website.
  
  

Saab Great Britain
http://www.saab.co.uk/

An average research site with fair coverage of the basics but with nothing really extraordinary or innovative for the new car shopper.

Pros:
Specs are covered competently and there are static pictures and rather 'arty' videos available. Anecdotal information is extensive and there are brief excerpts of reviews and awards available under each model.

Cons:
There is no car comparison tool and 360 degree views are not available. The awards/reviews under the Awards heading are a bit long in the tooth in some cases and no link is given to the original publication.

How to:

• Look at specific model information
  From the main page hover over the Cars heading (top left hand corner of the page) and then select either the Overview or Facts heading shown below the graphic of the vehicle you are interested in.
  
  
• Compare with other cars
  There is no car comparison tool on the Saab site.
  
  

Subaru UK
http://www.subaru.co.uk/

This site does better from a research perspective than it does from a car shopping viewpoint. The basics are covered nicely, there is an adequate gallery and some effort has been made to provide additional, helpful information for the car shopper.

Pros:
The gallery has static and 360 degree views as well as videos (it is hard to tell which items in the gallery are which but generally those with text underneath are static images, those with nothing are 360 degree views and those with frames along both sides are video). There is a fair amount of information on specific models. Specifications are covered adequately.

Cons:
Reviews that were available earlier have disappeared from the site and the 360 degree view seems to be internal only. There is no car comparison tool available.

How to:

• Look at specific model information
  On the main page hover over the Vehicles heading in the top left hand corner and then select a model from those shown in two rows beneath this heading.
  
  
• Compare with other cars
  There is no car comparison tool on the Subaru website.
  
  

Toyota GB
http://www.toyota.co.uk/

This site does little more than a fair job of presenting information about Toyota and its vehicles. Specifications are adequate, the gallery is basic and there are certainly no extras here.

Pros:
Nothing really positive here except for the presence of professional reviews for some models. Specifications are adequate and the gallery contains quite a few images. There is some interesting material under the News, Views & Blog heading under the black Menu box in the top left hand corner of the main page.

Cons:
There are no 360 degree views in the gallery. Some models have large numbers of consumer reviews which are of dubious value.

How to:

• Look at specific model information
  Select the Explore link from the list of links displayed when you hover over the model name you are interested in.
  
  
• Compare with other cars
  There is no car comparison tool on the Toyota site.
  
  

Vauxhall
http://www.vauxhall.co.uk/vaux/pages/cars/index.jsp

The Vauxhall site is a bit disappoint from a research point of view with an over-reliance on presenting information within the configurator. It starts off well with a couple of help me choose tools but goes downhill after that.

Pros:
Get started by clicking on the Help me choose link in the column on the left hand side of the page. From here you have a couple of choices - you can either compare all Vauxhall models or use the "right car questionnaire" to help find the Vauxhall car that best suits you. The Photos & Films tab has some interesting content as does the News and Reviews section and the At a Glance section covers the bare minimum.

Cons:
The "detailed specs" are far from comprehensive and they are scrunched up within the configurator window and hard to read. The 360 degree view available on most model's main page is a video and you can not control its movement and it is exterior only. The News and Reviews section on some models contains items of dubious value (Nick's Big Trip with Vauxhall). There is no car comparison tool on the Vauxhall site.

How to:

• Look at specific model information
  Click on the "see the range" link to the right of the topmost graphic. Then simply click on the discover link that is below and to the right of each model's graphic. This will display the information pertinent to that particular model.
  
  
• Compare with other cars
  There is no car comparison tool on the Vauxhall site.
  
  

Volkswagen UK
http://www.vw.co.uk/

The Volkswagen site does pretty well from a research point of view. There is a good gallery, links to press items and the basics are covered nicely.

Pros:
The specifications are really well done with a row of graphics across the top and a scale on the far right that shows you the best choice in each category (fuel consumption, CO2 emissions etc) . There is a gallery with static images as well as a 360 degree view. Reviews are available from the Reviews and Awards link and also the Latest News link (this link is in the second row of headings across the top of the screen when you are looking at a particular model).

Cons:
The 360 degree view is exterior only and you can't zoom in. Some of the reviews in the review section are undated (and others with dates are quite old) and there is no link to the original article. There is no car comparison tool available on the site.

How to:

• Look at specific model information
  Simply click on a model's graphic to select it.
  
  
• Compare with other cars
  There is no car comparison tool on the Volkswagen site.
  
  

Volvo Car UK Ltd.
http://www.volvocars.co.uk/

This site fails miserably in providing useful information to the vehicle shopper. Far too much Flash and other gimmickry which make it slow to use and confusing navigation.

Pros:
The gallery on specific models is adequate and there is plenty of flowery language describing various features of Volvo vehicles.

Cons:
There are way too many bandwidth hogging features on the site that make it incredibly slow to load and cumbersome to use - every time you change to a different section within a particular model (say from SAFETY to DESIGN) you have to wait for it to load. I was completely unable to find specifications anywhere and there are no reviews available on any of the vehicles. The "interactive gallery" doesn't have 360 degree views that you can control to any degree (you have a link that rotates the car but there is no zoom in feature). There is no car comparison tool.

How to:

• Look at specific model information
  Select your vehicle by clicking on the graphic of the model you are interested in.
  
  
• Compare with other cars
  There is no car comparison tool on the Volvo website.
  
  

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