Try, Buy, Dream – August 2025

Trying a car has never been easier – lots of car brands now offer subscription services on a monthly basis, with no down payment or exit fee so you can swap in and out of different models with minimal notice. Or you can lock in for longer, on a leasing deal, which still means you just pay a monthly amount and hand the car back at the end of the deal. Additionally, some brands provide 24-hour test drives for a chance to get to know the car before you commit.
Then there’s the Buy choice, whether it’s paying for the car in one hit or signing up to a fixed term finance deal with the option to buy the car at the end. These are cars that make good long-term sense. And finally our fave section, for dreamers everywhere. The new luxe stuff, the wishlist option or the treat yourself splurge, depending on how big that imagined windfall might be. Enjoy this month’s offerings!

The modern Land Rover Defender is an impressive beast with capabilities far beyond most people’s use case. It’s cool, imposing and iconic, although perhaps not as universally loved as the original. Available in three lengths, even the smallest Defender 90 has a commanding presence. Yet, the Defender 130 is positively colossal. We’re living with one on long-term test to find out if we can squeeze it into our lifestyle and our driveway. If you’re looking for a luxurious off-roader with space for up to eight people, but you don’t want to splash out on the full cost of ownership, Land Rover’s Pivotal service could be just what you are after. This allows you access to a Defender on subscription with things like insurance included in the monthly payments. Plus, if you fancy a change after six months you can swap your car for another model.
Find out more about the Defender 130 here

The Skoda Elroq takes all the best bits from the larger Enyaq but condenses them into a smaller package. The Elroq has more storage solutions than your local IKEA with its unique combination of clever cubbies, smart shelving, and nifty netting making it a perfect family wagon. The Elroq is one of our favourite electric cars under £37,000 which we hope will be eligible for the government’s new Electric Car Grant (ECG). While we wait to hear if the Elroq makes the cut, Skoda is offering its own ‘Grant Guarantee’ promising to provide a self-funded £1,500 discount on cars ordered before the end of August even if they don’t qualify for the ECG. For this reason, the Elroq is our pick to buy this month.
Find out more about the Skoda Elroq here

The original Aston Martin Vanquish famously appeared in the James Bond movie Die Another Day fitted out with ‘adaptive camouflage’ and nicknamed the Vanish. When the Vanquish name returned last year the all-new model could easily gain the same moniker thanks to its rapid acceleration – it’s blink and you’ll miss it fast. Now, Aston has removed the roof to give us a Volante version which is even more thrilling. Whether you’re exploring the Yorkshire Dales like Rory in this video or travelling further afield, the Vanquish Volante is a perfect balance of performance and luxury. Switch effortlessly from smooth GT mode into brutal Sport+ mode and the Vanquish Volante transforms into an entirely different beast. It’s the stuff dreams are made of which is why it’s our pick for this month.
Find out more about the Aston Martin Vanquish here

Try, Buy, Dream – July 2025
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