Claire Evans is a motoring journalist with more than 30 years’ experience, and has been consumer editor of What Car? since 2016.
Prior to joining What Car?, Claire was motoring editor for Which?, , where she worked for six years. Over the years, she has contributed to many motoring publications, including Car Magazine, The Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Mail and The Evening Standard.
In her current role, Claire writes all the features and advice content for What Car?, both online and in print. She also creates the annual What Car? Reliability Survey, which informs the brands’ new and used car reviews.
She frequently appears on BBC radio as an expert on motoring issues, and has guested on GB News, LBC and Sky News. Claire also contributes to the annual RAC Report on Motoring.
Claire studied news journalism at Highbury College (now known as City of Portsmouth College) completing the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism.
Claire is an expert in:
- Consumer advice
- Electric cars
- New car buying and leasing
- Used car advice
- Child car seat advice
Claire Evans Q&A
What’s the best piece of advice you could offer a car buyer?
It can be cheaper to buy a new car on a personal contract purchase deal rather than outright, so even if you have the cash it’s important to check out the overall cost of different buying options up front.
That said, depreciation is the single biggest cost of buying a new car, so it’s worth considering buying nearly new or secondhand, as this means someone else will shoulder the often steep loss in value that happens in the first couple of years.
What’s the best car you’ve ever driven?
I’ve always had a soft spot for sports cars, and while I love the Porsche 911, I prefer the Cayman and Boxster because they’re smaller and more affordable, but just as much fun. You’re guaranteed many hours of enjoyment from either one of these.
The best car I’ve driven in my long career was a 1952 Frazer Nash Mille Miglia. It’s an open-top, two-seater racing thoroughbred, much of which is based on the legendary BMW 328. It not only looks gorgeous with long sloping wheel arches and a long bonnet, it goes like stink too.
What will the car market look like in 20 years?
I think buyers will have a choice of pure electric or hydrogen-powered vehicles. The former will be more suited to short, urban journeys and the latter for long-haul trips or high-mileage drivers. The current trend towards having the use of a car rather than owning it outright will continue, with the vast majority of people getting used cars on personal contract purchase or subscription deals.
Most car sales will be completed online, and the few remaining new car showrooms will become ‘destinations’ with a focus on entertaining people as well as informing them about brands and models via interactive media.
While petrol and diesel cars will be banned from cities, I’m hoping their use won’t be too restricted as I want to keep driving my 1995 Mazda Eunos.
