The Auto Express Driver Power survey has named the best car to own in the UK, considering various factors, and the winner may come as a surprise to many drivers07:42, 12 Jun 2026Updated 07:42, 12 Jun 2026When it comes to the world of motoring, no shortage of voices will tell you what cars are like to drive and own. But when it comes to how vehicles perform in the real world over the long haul, nobody knows better than the drivers who get behind the wheel day in, day out.‌That's precisely why gathering opinions from a wide range of motorists is so crucial in determining what cars are genuinely like to live with.‌With that in mind, leading motoring publication Auto Express recently launched its Driver Power survey to uncover the best car to own in the UK right now — and the outcome may well raise a few eyebrows.‌Taking the top spot in the Driver Power Survey — which this year marks its 25th anniversary — was an electric vehicle: the Tesla Model 3 Mk 1. The winner was decided by asking members of the public to rate their cars across 10 categories.Those categories covered everything from reliability, practicality and driving dynamics, to interior quality and infotainment systems. With a maximum possible score of 100 percent, the Tesla came out on top with an impressive 88.55 percent.‌Among the car's standout strengths were its much-improved build quality over the years, a powerful drivetrain, solid safety credentials, reasonable running costs and economy, along with its value for money and infotainment setup. The one area that let it down, however, was its exterior styling.Speaking to the magazine about her Tesla, driver Charlotte Fosbury highlighted some of its standout features, saying: "I've been driving electric for seven years, and when I saw it, it was love at first sight."She added: "The performance is one of the things I like the most...I know that if I need to, I can get out of trouble easily. People say you always have to use the touchscreen, but you don't. Everything's accessible through just telling the car what to do - it's very much a natural interaction."‌Hot on the Tesla's heels in second place was the BMW 2 Series Mk2 coupe on 88.19 percent, earning plaudits for its driving experience, build quality, and infotainment system.While the model dropped points for practicality and running costs, owners were full of praise for the powertrain, exterior design, and interior technology.Article continues belowAuto Express reviewers noted: "The BMW 2 Series has leapt up the chart from 10th in 2025 to take the runner-up spot this year - and it was just less than half of a per cent away from overtaking the winning car."Deeply impressive. The German coupé's strong scores from owners gave it seven category wins, with firsts in key areas including interior quality, driving pleasure and engine sound."Rounding off the top three was the Vauxhall Grandland Mk2, scoring 87.77 percent. The model won praise for its interior comfort, practicality, and infotainment, though it shed points in the areas of powertrain, handling, ride quality, and reliability.