When I was 10 years old and someone in the school playground asked what car I wanted when I grew up, I was not saying a Ford Fiesta. Of course I wanted something exotic. A Porsche. A Ferrari. Something fast, low, loud and completely unrealistic. That is part of being a car-mad child. I still understand the appeal of supercars. They are exciting. They are beautiful. They make noise, attract attention and represent the dream version of motoring. I would never pretend otherwise.
But as I have got older, and especially as my career has developed in automotive marketing, leasing and car reviews, I have become much more interested in real-world cars. The cars people actually buy, lease, use for commuting, school runs, holidays, work trips, shopping, weekends away and everyday life.
That is where cars become genuinely interesting to me.
Top Gear was fun, but Fifth Gear felt useful
Like a lot of people, I loved Top Gear. The big adventures, the supercars, the humour, the ridiculous challenges. It made cars feel exciting and dramatic. But I also loved Fifth Gear because it showed cars people might actually buy. That mattered to me.
There is something satisfying about reviewing or talking about a car that someone could realistically see on their driveway. A car does not have to cost six figures to be interesting. In some ways, it is more impressive when a manufacturer makes something appealing, practical and good value within a realistic budget. That takes real skill.
Anyone can make something desirable if the price is enormous and practicality does not matter. It is much harder to make a family SUV, electric hatchback, small crossover or company car feel clever, stylish and enjoyable without pricing it out of reach. That is the challenge I find interesting.
A good car has to fit real life
For me, a good car is not just about performance. Of course, I like a car to drive well. I like responsive handling. I tend to prefer a slightly firmer suspension and a sportier feel. I like a car that feels connected rather than floaty or vague. But real life matters too.
A good car needs to be comfortable. The technology needs to be useful, not annoying. The boot needs to work for how people actually use it. The interior needs to feel good day after day, not just impressive for the first five minutes. The price needs to make sense. The design needs to have some appeal.
Looks matter to me, and I know that is subjective. I am usually going to lean towards the sportier trim. Think BMW M Sport rather than SE. I like cars that have a bit of presence, even if they are everyday models. But it all has to work together.
A car can look great and still be frustrating. A car can be fast and still be uncomfortable. A car can have loads of technology and still feel badly designed if everything is buried in a touchscreen menu. Real-world cars have to do more than impress. They have to live well.
Normal cars are easier to connect with
I think people connect with reviews of normal cars because they can picture themselves in them.
Most people are not waking up wondering whether to buy a Lamborghini. They are wondering whether an electric SUV has enough range for their commute. They are wondering if a seven-seat car has enough space for family life. They are wondering if a small hatchback will feel cheap or cheerful. They are wondering if a new brand is worth trusting. That is where a review can be genuinely useful.
If I can help someone understand whether a car might work for their life, that feels more meaningful than simply describing how fast something accelerates on a track.
I am not saying performance does not matter. It does. But it is only one part of the story. Most people spend far more time in traffic, on the school run, on the motorway or parking outside a supermarket than they do attacking a mountain road. So those details matter.
Some everyday brands are doing brilliant things
Recently, I have been really impressed by brands that are making everyday cars feel interesting again. Geely, as a newcomer to the UK market, has surprised me. The cars feel well put together, well equipped and more convincing than some people might expect from a new name.
Renault is another brand I keep coming back to. For me, Renault is one of the most interesting everyday value brands at the moment. Their cars look good, drive well and have a sense of character that many mainstream cars have lost. That is what I like.
A real-world car should still have personality. Practical does not need to mean dull. Affordable does not need to mean forgettable. Sensible does not need to mean soulless. The best mainstream cars manage to feel desirable without becoming ridiculous.
Car media can be too obsessed with the fantasy
I do think the car media world can focus too heavily on performance and luxury. I understand why. Supercars get clicks. Big power figures are exciting. Expensive cars create drama. But they do not reflect how most people experience cars.
There is a gap between fantasy motoring and real-life motoring, and I think that gap is where some of the most useful content sits.
- What is the car like after a long drive?
- Are the seats comfortable?
- Is the infotainment system annoying?
- Can you easily adjust the heating?
- Does the range disappear on the motorway?
- Is the boot shape useful?
- Does it feel worth the monthly payment?
Those are the things people actually care about once the novelty wears off.
Real-world cars say more about us
I also think everyday cars say a lot about how people live. A car can be a family decision, a business tool, a reward, a practical necessity, a style choice or a little bit of freedom. Sometimes it is all of those things at once.
A supercar is often a fantasy. A real-world car is part of someone’s actual life. It gets them to work. It takes them to see family. It carries shopping, dogs, children, gym bags, suitcases and occasionally far too much stuff from IKEA. It sits outside the house. It becomes part of the routine. If a car can make that routine easier, more comfortable or more enjoyable, then it has done something valuable.
Why this shapes my content
This is why my car content naturally leans towards the real world. I still enjoy special cars. I still get excited by beautiful design, strong performance and brands with history. But I am more interested in whether a car makes sense for the people who might actually drive it.
That is the lens I try to bring.
- Not just “is it fast?” but “is it good to live with?”
- Not just “does it look impressive?” but “would I recommend it?”
- Not just “what are the figures?” but “how does it fit into someone’s life and budget?”
That, to me, is where cars become most interesting. Supercars are brilliant to dream about. But real-world, good-value cars are the ones that actually matter.