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Mike Rutherford

Mike Rutherford was one of the founding fathers of Auto Express in 1988 and remains the title's longest-serving journalist. 

He has served time as the motoring editor on four tabloid newspapers - London Evening News, The Sun, News of the World & Daily Mirror. And from the 1990s-2010s he was a weekly columnist on several broadsheet papers - Daily Telegraph, The Independent/Independent on Sunday and The Sunday Times. 

The Economist Intelligence Unit and International Herald Tribune have used him as a motor industry consultant/author. And he has presented over 1,000 motoring, sports or current affairs programmes for LBC, talkRADIO, talkSPORT and ITV. 

Currently, he is: the Chief Columnist at Auto Express where he still writes a weekly column; Judge (& Founding Director) at Europe/Asia-based BestCarsOfTheYear.com - The New Car World Champions; Chairman Emeritus of North America’s World Car Awards; and President of The British Motor Show.  

Additionally, Mike remains a contributor to the BBC, Sky, GB News, LBC, talkRADIO and other national and international stations such as CBS.

His claims to fame are that he has interviewed four British Prime Ministers, worked as a ghostwriter for Martin Brundle & Stirling Moss, and driven thousands of road, concept and racing cars including a Tyrrell F1 Car and world-record-breaking Bugatti. 

In recognition of his 40-year full-time career in the media and automotive worlds, he was presented with the coveted Newspress Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.

Away from cars, Mike has repeatedly travelled to Zambia, Botswana and other counties in central southern Africa where he helped establish libraries and personally delivered thousands of books and writing materials to schools and orphanages.  

He also serves as a proud Trustee at the Marcus Rutherford Foundation/Young Adult Cancer Trust which now incorporates and safeguards The Forest of Marcus.

E-mail: mike.rutherford@carwow.co.uk

JLR is moving in the opposite direction to VW-Audi and Hyundai-Kia, and that’s not a good thing
Opinion - JLR

JLR is moving in the opposite direction to VW-Audi and Hyundai-Kia, and that’s not a good thing

Instead of following the successful business model adopted by VW-Audi, Toyota-Lexus and Hyundai-Kia, Mike Rutherford thinks JLR is moving in the oppos…
Opinion
4 Aug 2024
Multi-fuelled hybrid cars have to be the wisest choice for the 2020s and beyond
Solar powered car

Multi-fuelled hybrid cars have to be the wisest choice for the 2020s and beyond

Mike Rutherford thinks there’s a future for cars powered by petrol, electricity, the sun’s rays... and a wind-up handle
Opinion
28 Jul 2024
The arrival of sub-£20k electric cars can't come soon enough
Opinion - Citroen e-C3

The arrival of sub-£20k electric cars can't come soon enough

Mike Rutherford thinks that pure electric cars are still struggling to win over the hearts and minds of buyers
Opinion
21 Jul 2024
It’s a shame Aston Martin, Bentley, Jaguar, Land Rover or Rolls-Royce aren't good enough for the Prime Minister
Opinion - Bentley

It’s a shame Aston Martin, Bentley, Jaguar, Land Rover or Rolls-Royce aren't good enough for the Prime Minister

Mike Rutherford looks back at a rollercoaster week in the automotive world
Opinion
14 Jul 2024
Labour could take £400billion from motorists over the next five years
Opinion - speed cameras

Labour could take £400billion from motorists over the next five years

Mike Rutherford wonders whether the Labour party will reinvest the money it will make from motorists in better, safer, more efficient roads
Opinion
7 Jul 2024
An average new car price of £40k is simply too high for most people
Opinion - Dealership

An average new car price of £40k is simply too high for most people

With the average price of a new car in the UK now over £40,000, Mike Rutherford thinks vehicle manufacturers need to rip up their RRP lists and start …
Opinion
30 Jun 2024
Dacia, Kia and MG have gone from no-hopers to celebrated winners
Opinion - Dacia Duster

Dacia, Kia and MG have gone from no-hopers to celebrated winners

Mike Rutherford thinks Dacia, Kia and MG were once considered underdogs, but the 2024 Driver Power results show just how far all three manufacturers h…
Opinion
23 Jun 2024
The death of the Geneva Motor Show can't be considered as progress
Opinion - Geneva Motor Show

The death of the Geneva Motor Show can't be considered as progress

Mike Rutherford laments the demise of the iconic Geneva Motor Show
Opinion
16 Jun 2024
‘Electric cars, ULEZ and ICE bans: these topics are taboo for Keir Starmer and the Labour party’
Opinion - Keir Starmer

‘Electric cars, ULEZ and ICE bans: these topics are taboo for Keir Starmer and the Labour party’

Mike Rutherford thinks Keir Starter needs to address motoring issues if he’s to be an effective Prime Minister
Opinion
26 May 2024
“Toyota’s record profits are down to hybrid cars, not EVs”
Opinion - Toyota C-HR

“Toyota’s record profits are down to hybrid cars, not EVs”

Mike Rutherford thinks it’s been a crazy month so far, with electric car sales faltering and factories getting the go ahead across Europe
Opinion
19 May 2024
‘Vauxhall listened to criticism and cut its electric car prices, now other brands need to follow suit’
Opinion - Vauxhall Corsa Electric

‘Vauxhall listened to criticism and cut its electric car prices, now other brands need to follow suit’

Mike Rutheford thinks electric car prices are still far too expensive
Opinion
12 May 2024
"Fiat's model line-up is too small and too expensive"
Opinion - Fait 600e

"Fiat's model line-up is too small and too expensive"

Mike Rutherford thinks car companies such as Fiat should rely less on UK Government subsidies to help bail them out on EV sales, and focus more on res…
Opinion
5 May 2024
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“Car designer Frank Stephenson has so many ideas he just doesn’t know how to stop”
Opinion - Frank Stephenson

“Car designer Frank Stephenson has so many ideas he just doesn’t know how to stop”

Mike Rutherford speaks to legendary car designer Frank Stephenson to see what’s next
Opinion
21 Apr 2024
'The cure for slow electric car sales is simple - lower prices'
Mike Rutherford opinion - Skoda Enyaq tracking shot

'The cure for slow electric car sales is simple - lower prices'

Mike Rutherford thinks the prices of electric cars is the number one thing deterring consumers from making the switch
Opinion
14 Apr 2024
‘It’s time for BMW to relaunch Triumph, and Rishi Sunak should help’
Opinion - Triumph

‘It’s time for BMW to relaunch Triumph, and Rishi Sunak should help’

Mike Rutherford thinks there needs to be more British car companies selling sensibly priced cars on the world stage
Opinion
7 Apr 2024
‘The UK should be fighting for a Chinese or Korean car factory’
Opinion - Hyundai factory

‘The UK should be fighting for a Chinese or Korean car factory’

Mike Rutherford thinks UK politicians should be seeking to establish a new state-of-the-art and job-creating Asian car factory on British soil
Opinion
31 Mar 2024
“The Dacia Spring might be as significant in the 21st century as the Citroen 2CV and VW Beetle were in the 20th”
Dacia Spring - opinion 2024

“The Dacia Spring might be as significant in the 21st century as the Citroen 2CV and VW Beetle were in the 20th”

Mike Rutherford thinks many other manufacturers will have to follow the example set by Renault and Dacia when it comes to EVs
Opinion
24 Mar 2024
“MG is easily outselling Jaguar, Land Rover and Bentley combined”
Opinion - MG4

“MG is easily outselling Jaguar, Land Rover and Bentley combined”

The wave of Chinese cars has arrived in the UK, and Mike Rutherford thinks it’s not about to stop any time soon
Opinion
17 Mar 2024
“Why would any retailer sell a new car at cost price?”
Opinion - Nissan dealer

“Why would any retailer sell a new car at cost price?”

Mike Rutherford wonders if we really need ‘cars at cost’ schemes when they lack financial transparency
Opinion
10 Mar 2024
"BYD, Dacia, MG and Renault are among the most impressive and in-touch car brands in the world"
Opinion - MG3

"BYD, Dacia, MG and Renault are among the most impressive and in-touch car brands in the world"

Mike Rutherford is confused as to why so many car manufacturers avoided the 2024 Geneva Motor Show
Opinion
3 Mar 2024
'Cheap SUVs are where the smart money's going in today's car market'
Opinion - Volkswagen T-Roc

'Cheap SUVs are where the smart money's going in today's car market'

Mike Rutherford thinks sensibly priced SUVs are the natural successor to less spacious family hatchbacks
Opinion
25 Feb 2024
“Some manufacturers are losing their appetite for electric cars”
Opinion - Ford Explorer

“Some manufacturers are losing their appetite for electric cars”

With EV market share shrinking, Mike Rutherford thinks there might be delays to the proposed 2035 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars
Opinion
19 Feb 2024
“The Volkswagen Golf is the greatest real-world car of the last 50 years”
Opinion - VW Golf

“The Volkswagen Golf is the greatest real-world car of the last 50 years”

Mike Rutherford thinks the new or used VW Golfs that he either bought, leased or ran as company cars were the finest affordable cars on the market
News
11 Feb 2024
‘BYD is rubbing salt into Tesla’s wounds’
Opinion - BYD

‘BYD is rubbing salt into Tesla’s wounds’

Mike Rutherford thinks BYD’s superb start to 2024 is part of the reason Tesla’s market valuation has plummeted
Opinion
28 Jan 2024
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‘Electric cars could end up like Betamax’
Opinion - Vauxhall Corsa Electric

‘Electric cars could end up like Betamax’

Mike Rutherford thinks electric cars could end being priced out of the market - just like Betamax did almost 50 years ago
Opinion
21 Jan 2024
‘Don’t bet against BYD being the car company of the year in 2024’
Opinion - BYD

‘Don’t bet against BYD being the car company of the year in 2024’

Mike Rutherford looks at the sales figures from 2023 and notices a growing trend heading into 2024
Opinion
14 Jan 2024
“Too many people made life miserable for car users in 2023”
Opinion - traffic

“Too many people made life miserable for car users in 2023”

After 2023 proved to be a tough year for car users, 2024 already looks much brighter
Opinion
7 Jan 2024
'Fix Britain’s Third World public charging system or folk won't buy electric cars'
Opinion - Tesla chargers

'Fix Britain’s Third World public charging system or folk won't buy electric cars'

Mike Rutherford thinks firms like Tesla are doing its bit, but the creaking electricity supply industry must up its game
Opinion
10 Dec 2023
‘Forget leasing a car, a cut-price van should be your next everyday vehicle’
Opinion - Fiat Scudo

‘Forget leasing a car, a cut-price van should be your next everyday vehicle’

With some huge savings to be had, Mike Rutherford thinks a van could be the perfect vehicle
Opinion
3 Dec 2023
“Renault is taking over as the manufacturer of cars for the people”
Opinion - Renault Twingo

“Renault is taking over as the manufacturer of cars for the people”

Mike Rutherford thinks Renault is doing more than any other manufacturer when it comes to making affordable electric cars
Opinion
26 Nov 2023
'High Insurance premiums are forcing owners to scrap their cars'
Opinion - scrap

'High Insurance premiums are forcing owners to scrap their cars'

Mike Rutherford is stunned that car insurance premiums have risen by an average 61 per cent in the past 12 months
Opinion
5 Nov 2023
‘Thinking of car leasing? Look beyond the monthly payments to get a true idea of the cost’
Opinion - Audi Q2

‘Thinking of car leasing? Look beyond the monthly payments to get a true idea of the cost’

Mike Rutherford thinks up-front payments are often overlooked when customers see a tempting leasing deal
Opinion
29 Oct 2023
‘China's MG and BYD are disrupting the UK market with unbeatable pricing’
Opinion - BYD

‘China's MG and BYD are disrupting the UK market with unbeatable pricing’

Mike Rutherford thinks many car makers are being forced to admit that their list prices are too high
Opinion
15 Oct 2023
“EVs have three problems: high prices, over-ambitious range claims and a poor charging network”
Opinion - EV

“EVs have three problems: high prices, over-ambitious range claims and a poor charging network”

Mike Rutherford thinks electric cars sales remain painfully slow as the sums simply don’t add up for most people
Opinion
8 Oct 2023