Lawrence Cheung has worked at What Car? as New Cars Editor since 2021. He oversees the first drives section of the site and magazine, commissioning and writing about the latest cars to hit the market. He also contributes to sister magazine Autocar.
Lawrence previously worked at Car Magazine and Parkers for more than five years, progressing through to the role of Senior Staff Writer. During this time he wrote car and van reviews, news and advice articles, and dipped his toe in presenting on the Parkers YouTube channel.
In his free time, Lawrence is usually found either practising his restraint on collecting another hot hatch, attaching GoPros to record the sounds of a car, or building up his collection of trainers.
Lawrence is an expert in:
- New car buying
- Hot hatches
- Electric cars
- Car testing
What’s the best piece of advice you could offer a car buyer?
Buying a new car can seem like a daunting process nowadays, especially when the options range from pure electric cars, to hybrids and conventional internal combustion engines. Despite this, putting a little time in to whittle down the right one will pay dividends and figuring out the type of journeys you’ll cover is a huge factor.
For example, a diesel car can still make sense for those who mostly spend their time covering long distance journeys, but a hybrid or electric car makes much more sense for those short, stop-start trips.
Test driving a car is still important to see whether it’s comfortable and practical enough for your needs. There might be certain aspects about the way it drives or the way the interior works that may not suit you as well as it does with other buyers.
It’s also quite easy to prejudge what a car brand is like, so it’s best to consider cars with an open mind. Even the most traditional brands are very different to what they stood for ten years ago. Some have greatly improved in the way they drive and how plush their interiors are, while others have declined in terms of build quality and reliability.
What’s the best car you’ve ever driven?
The Porsche Cayman GT4 RS is one of the best cars I’ve ever driven. Yes, it’s fast and nimble, but the incredible engine sound is unlike anything else I’ve experienced.
What will the car market look like in 20 years?
It’s safe to assume electric cars will become increasingly common and they will work well for a lot of people. They’re easy to drive, quiet and make sense for all those short commutes.
Meanwhile, car enthusiasts will still be finding a way to keep their internal combustion cars going. They may have an electric or fuel cell car to take care of the more mundane weekday journeys, but the one running on fossil-fuels will be taken out at the weekends to provide the thrills.
