Alex Robbins
Alex Robbins focuses on helping everyday drivers solve practical motoring problems and make clear-headed decisions about cars, rather than simply reporting automotive news. He is The Telegraph’s consumer motoring expert and a contributing editor at Telegraph Cars, writing a regular advice-led column that serves as a motoring agony uncle for readers. His beat spans new and used cars, hybrids and electric vehicles, with a consistent emphasis on value, reliability and everyday usability.
Consumer motoring expert and reader problem‑solver
Robbins’ defining strand of work is his long-running “Ask the Expert” format, where he diagnoses mechanical issues, untangles disputes and guides drivers through complex ownership decisions.
Recent questions he tackles include unexplained increases in vehicle tax compared with newer versions of the same car, lane-departure warning systems that are too intrusive, and steering faults that may stem from breakdown patrol damage. He also deals with specific reliability worries, such as electric drive faults on a Nissan Qashqai, power-steering problems, and persistent oil warning lights on Peugeot models. Alongside mechanical and safety concerns, he addresses consumer-rights issues, including whether manufacturers should pay for rodent damage, what recourse drivers have when a service coincides with serious engine failure, and how to handle leasing firms that refuse to sell a car at the end of the term.
The through-line is constructive, detailed guidance that combines technical understanding with clear explanations of what a driver can practically do next.
Used cars, value and buying guides
A second pillar of Robbins’ coverage is value-focused buying advice, particularly around used cars and budget-conscious choices. He produces detailed guides such as the best used family SUVs for £10,000, the best £5,000 family SUVs, and the seven best used cars to buy for £10,000, often framing each piece with “and the one to avoid” to flag clear pitfalls. His work covers used electric cars under £20,000, common-sense family cars, simple no-frills motors and affordable tow cars, reflecting a sustained interest in helping readers stretch their budgets without sacrificing reliability.
Earlier in his career he spent two years as a used cars editor at What Car? before building a freelance portfolio across titles including What Car?, Autocar and Classic & Sports Car, which underpins his depth on depreciation, running costs and second-hand market dynamics. That background feeds directly into his Telegraph buying guides, which repeatedly emphasise value for money and practical ownership considerations rather than headline performance figures.
New car reviews and electric vehicle insight
Robbins also reviews new models across mainstream and niche segments, bringing the same consumer lens to road tests.
His reviews span cars such as the Kia EV6 GT, the Kia Picanto, the Dacia Jogger and Jogger Hybrid, the Suzuki Swift hybrid and the Nissan Qashqai, balancing driving impressions with everyday usability and cost-of-ownership analysis. He covers boutique hybrids and budget seven-seaters as closely as performance-oriented hatchbacks, showing a willingness to test cars at all price points.
Electric and hybrid coverage is a recurring thread: he writes about the most fuel-efficient new hybrid cars to buy in 2026, evaluates used electric car bargains, and explains how advertised EV range and proposed bans on new petrol and diesel cars translate into real-world choices. His expertise in electric and hybrid vehicles has been recognised with the Newspress EV Writer of the Year award in 2023, reinforcing his status as an authoritative voice on the transition to electrified motoring. Across this work he tests vehicles as a product tester, grounding opinions in hands-on experience and systematic evaluation rather than brochure claims.
Motoring stories, events and wider roles
Beyond advice and reviews, Robbins occasionally writes narrative motoring pieces and event coverage that still pivot around the experience of ordinary drivers.
His work has included a series on UK’s rarest cars, such as a 1978 Peugeot 504 TI with only a handful left on the road, and features on star cars of recent years and the events and models that shaped 2023. He has also documented a 277-mile walk to Anglesey for a Race of Remembrance event, a story he serialized for The Telegraph that combined endurance, remembrance and motoring culture. In parallel with his Telegraph role he maintains a broader professional footprint: he is the brains behind Carmly, a consumer-focused motoring service; he serves as a columnist for CarGurus UK; co-hosts the Overbore podcast; and sits as a juror for UK Car of the Year. Over nearly two decades as a motoring journalist he has attended hundreds of new-car launches and built detailed knowledge of models old and new, which he channels into clear, actionable guidance for drivers rather than industry-facing commentary.
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