Most of the larger car manufacturers in the UK may not be British owned anymore, but the cars they make are at least mostly made in this country. That is not to say that many of the parts are made in other countries, which is how things are done in the modern world.
Two of our greatest marques, Jaguar and Land Rover are owned by Indian Tata Motors. As for Rover, the ownership of that marque is split between BMW, SAIC, and Tata Motors.
Other overseas car companies use UK plants to build and customize their vehicles. As locally produced cars have a lower impact on the environment, it goes without saying that buying one of them will reduce your personal carbon footprint.
Plus, as many of these best UK built cars are excellent motors, you won’t have to sacrifice quality or comfort either.
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8 Best UK Built Cars
So which were the best UK built cars in 2020 then?
1. Land Rover Discovery
Whilst not being as good off road as the Defender, the Discovery offers you just about everything else you could want. It is not only suited to cruising a motorway all day, but Land Rover can also handle off-road trips (its terrain response software helping a lot here) and is very very comfortable.
However, it is expensive and can be hard to park in the small slots provided in multi-story or supermarket car parks.
2. Jaguar F-Type Coupe
If you want a car designed in Britain, that is also beautiful to look at and really fun to drive, you cannot go wrong with the F-Type.
Its low center of gravity ensures that it is well balanced, and when you floor that accelerator, you can really feel the power of this magnificent beast.
The cabin looks just a good as the exterior, whilst also maintaining the ‘sports car’ mood.
It is very expensive though, and very wide, not making it suitable for some of our leafy country lanes…
3. The Honda Civic Hatchback
A totally different class of vehicle, this model can be considered in the list of the best UK built cars – Honda has been making cars in the UK for over 30 years now.
However, as the car was originally designed with American tastes in mind, it does not suit everyone, you either love it or hate it.
If you can put that behind you though, you will find this motor a pleasure to drive. It has a nice sporty interior and has enough room for the family.
4. Vauxhall Astra Hatchback
This car has always been a top seller, having been remodeled over the years to keep up with the demands in the marketplace, another facelift being planned for 2021.
Considering all that you get, this car offers excellent value for money, the extras like ‘Parking Assist’ being well worth the expense. However, because of the huge numbers out there, trade in values are often low, especially when compared to VW’s.
This is perhaps the reason that so many are leased rather than purchased?
5. Nissan Qashqai
This one qualifies as it is built in Sunderland, many being exported to Europe where it is also a favorite. It actually made a big impact when it was launched, creating the crossoever/compact SUV marketplace.
It is a capable car, being comfortable and quiet. However, as it was the first in its line, others have improved on the idea now, many now choosing Seat’s and Kia’s.
6. Mini Hatchback
We are on more familiar ground here, the Mini being a UK classic. Some would say that this model is more a fashion statement than a car though. One of its poor points is that it can be a bit noisy at speed as it is not very aerodynamic.
It is however just as fun to drive as the first Mini’s, that go-kart feels having not been lost in translation over the years.
7. Range Rover Estate
A really expensive car, but one that is hard to beat, you can even have leather seats with a massage function if you want, the interior being genuinely fit for Royalty (which is probably one reason why so many drive one).
It is hard to think of a vehicle that is more enduring, as exclusive, and as ‘royal’ as a Range Rover. It is, however a bulky beast and will not suit anyone who wants to be seen as green, its fuel consumption figures being as large as its ‘personality.
8. The Toyota Corolla Saloon
Another Far Eastern model is made in the UK. This marque was phased out in the UK 13 years ago, being rebadged the Auris. However, it has been remodeled and is now being seen as a major competitor to the Ford Focus, WV Golf, and Astra.
It has been designed to be sporty, cheap to run, and has lots of standard items built into the base models. So there you have it, the best UK built cars in 2020. If you have a yearning for earlier days though, can I suggest that you visit the Great British Car Journey? There you will find over 130 cars dating back to the Austin 7, with examples of many cars that your Dad (or maybe yourself in your younger days) drove in the 1970s.
You can even drive some of these if you want, what a fantastic place to visit and drive an old car!
