Try, Buy, Dream – June 2026

This month’s selection of vehicles to try out, buy or simply dream about

Additional words by: Dan Trent

Published on 18 June 2026 | 0 min read

It has never been easier to try a car, van or bike – some brands 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 vehicle back at the end of the deal. Additionally, some brands provide 24-hour test drives for a chance to get to know the vehicle before you commit. Then there’s the Buy choice, whether it’s paying in one hit or signing up to a fixed term finance deal with the option to buy at the end. These are vehicles 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!

Try

Mini Aceman 24-hour test drive

Nestling snuggly between the iconic Cooper and the family-friendly Countryman sits the compact all-electric Mini Aceman. Make no mistake, the Aceman may have chunky SUV looks but it still a relatively petite car which helps it lean into its Mini-like character. We love the funky interior and quirky circular display which give the car a unique vibe. In fact, the Aceman is packed with features to make it stand out from a sea of play-it-safe rivals like the Vauxhall Mokka and Ford Puma Gen-E – only Mini would add a built-in ‘Go-Kart’ mode! If you are unsure about swapping fuel pumps for charging cables, Mini offers 24-hour test drives across its entire electric range to give you a change to find out whether an EV works for you, and if it doesn’t you could always give the petrol five-door Cooper a go instead.

Find out more about the Mini Aceman here

Buy

Volvo EX60

The EX60 may command a chunky price tag, but we think this elegant electric SUV is still worth buying. It’s roomy, safe and oh so Swedish. The smooth electric power and airy ambiance make the EX60 a calming and comfortable place to be. Volvo hasn’t forgotten about practicality either – this is a family car after all – so there’s plenty of storage and a well thought through boot with a handy 60/40 split in the floor to access an extra compartment beneath. Yes, the BMW iX3 may be sportier and the Mercedes GLC has more screens than Times Square, but the EX60 has an appealing understated persona which shouldn’t be overlooked.

Find out more about the Volvo EX60 here

Dream

BMW M5 Touring

Fast estate cars are a bit of a petrolhead niche but one making a bit of a comeback of late, and we’ve been enjoying with test drives for review for the BMW M3 Touring and, most recently, the M5 Touring. Both combine speed to catch the likes of Porsche 911s napping … and all the family-friendly practicality of a regular estate car. They’re also a lot more discreet than equivalent performance SUVs, and therefore able to slip under the radar a tad. Reviews Editor Dan is fresh back from a 1,000-mile roadtrip to the Le Mans 24 Hours in the M5 Touring and already checking behind the sofa to see he has the £140,000 or so required for one specced to the level of the one he took to France. Wish him luck with that but with its combination of a thundering petrol V8, plug-in hybrid efficiency and the boot space to sling his bicycle straight in it’s not hard to see why he’s all dreamy. He even reports seeing 40mpg for as long as the battery remained charged, which isn’t bad for a 727 horsepower super-estate. One to dream about with heart and head in full accord!