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Paul Barker

As Editor, Paul heads up Auto Express magazine and website, as well as Carbuyer and Driving Electric. It’s the highlight of a career writing about cars that kicked off in the year 2000 for MotorTrader magazine, and has taken in consumer, business and even van magazines and websites including What Car?, Autocar, AutoTrader, Carwow, BusinessCar, Company Car Today, What Van?, as well as newspapers such as the Express and Evening Standard. 

He’s won the Guild of Motoring Writers’ Editor of the Year Award and Automotive Editor of the Year in the Newspress Awards, as well as Business Writer of the Year from HeadlineAuto.

Paul says...

"The car industry has always been fast-paced, but the breadth of stories to tell at the moment is like nothing before. From technology and electrification to the invasion of new brands from China and elsewhere, political and social pressures on motorists and the fundamental huge numbers of exciting new cars, there’s so much to say. We love helping readers navigate it all by providing clear, insightful, entertaining and above all else useful automotive content, no matter what they want. We love cars, the car business and helping people with their buying and owning decisions, and I hope that shines through in everything we do."

Paul’s main areas of expertise

  • New cars
  • Consumer news and buying decisions
  • Car industry
  • Electric vehicles 
  • Hot wheels models

Paul Barker Q&A

Q: What was your first car? 

A: A dark blue 1.0-litre 1984 VW Polo (the mini-estate car-shaped/bread van one). That poor thing was mechanically abused for the best part of three years without giving me any serious bills before being terminally sideswiped by a fool in a Ford Sierra that took a corner too fast. It was replaced by a Peugeot 205 money pit with a broken gearbox and boot that wouldn’t stay up.

Q: What is your dream car? 

A: I really want a late-1990s Subaru Impreza Turbo, but my dream car would depend on the circumstances. If I have to bring the family I’d love a VW Grand California and/or Audi RS 6 Avant with a roofbox and bike rack. If I’m allowed to leave them at home (or make them get the train) then it’s hard to see past a Porsche 911 Turbo, although a Noble M12 that someone can guarantee me would run faultlessly would be fun. 

Q: If you could change one thing about cars, driving or the car industry today what would it be?

A: To give motorists a better deal - be that the price of new cars, the rise of low emission and charging zones with different entry criteria, the dire state of and lack of investment in roads, the way road space is being reduced, ridiculous parking fees, the insurance industry and the prohibitive cost of public EV charging. And that’s without getting started on the way some manufacturers are trying to sneak in subscription costs for features that should be included in the cost of the car, and a dozen other things that would make life cheaper and fairer for people that love and/or rely on their cars to go about their daily lives. 

Social media and e-mail

E-mail: paul.barker@carwow.co.uk

LinkedIn: Paul Barker

Renault Megane EV charging across Europe: 7 countries, 24-hours, no plan
Auto Express editor Paul Barker looking at Folkestone Harbour

Renault Megane EV charging across Europe: 7 countries, 24-hours, no plan

Can you drive an electric car across Europe with no planning? We take a road trip to find out...
Features
10 Oct 2024
Charge your EV to 80 per cent and crack on with your journey – it’s cheaper and faster
Opinion - EV charging

Charge your EV to 80 per cent and crack on with your journey – it’s cheaper and faster

Editor Paul Barker doesn't think it makes much sense to keep your electric car plugged in all the way to 100 per cent on a public charging point
Opinion
9 Oct 2024
Ford Explorer review
Ford Explorer - main image

Ford Explorer review

Electric SUV adds some Ford flavour to its VW-derived running gear
In-depth reviews
8 Oct 2024
Skoda Fabia, Scala and Kamiq to remain on sale until 2030
Skoda Kamiq - front tracking

Skoda Fabia, Scala and Kamiq to remain on sale until 2030

Czech brand confirms that three of its most popular models will continue to be sold until the end of the decade
News
4 Oct 2024
EVs outlasting ICE cars says Renault boss
Renault Zoe - front tracking

EVs outlasting ICE cars says Renault boss

Electric car batteries are holding up very well against the test of time
News
4 Oct 2024
Labour are leaving car drivers on the hard shoulder
Traffic - opinion

Labour are leaving car drivers on the hard shoulder

Editor Paul Barker thinks it’s worrying that transport secretary Louise Haigh ignored drivers at the Labour Party conference
Opinion
2 Oct 2024
New Skoda Elroq arrives as the Enyaq’s smaller EV brother
Skoda Elroq - front

New Skoda Elroq arrives as the Enyaq’s smaller EV brother

The Skoda Elroq is the Czech brand’s second all-electric car, joining the larger Enyaq in the range
News
1 Oct 2024
What is Ampere? Exploring Renault's intelligent electric car brand
Selection of Renault EVs

What is Ampere? Exploring Renault's intelligent electric car brand

Traditional car manufacturers are being pushed harder than ever by an array of new, rapidly developing rivals. Renault’s answer is a whole new brand
Features
1 Oct 2024
Renault is making big changes to combat the threat from Chinese electric cars
Opinion - Renault

Renault is making big changes to combat the threat from Chinese electric cars

Editor Paul Barker thinks Renault - and many other traditional manufacturers - are improving thanks to the competition from new brands
Opinion
25 Sep 2024
Sportier Omoda 5 in the works, with several new models set to follow
2024 Omoda 5 - front static

Sportier Omoda 5 in the works, with several new models set to follow

Omoda and Jaecoo are planning a rapid expansion of their respective line-ups over the next few years
News
18 Sep 2024
Modern ADAS driver-assistance systems can be borderline dangerous
Opinion - safety tech

Modern ADAS driver-assistance systems can be borderline dangerous

Editor Paul Barker believes that some modern car safety tech is more of a hindrance than a benefit
Opinion
18 Sep 2024
Electric cars work for many people, but the incentives simply aren’t good enough
Opinion - EVs

Electric cars work for many people, but the incentives simply aren’t good enough

Editor Paul Barker looks at the position of electric cars after the latest set of UK sales figures were announced
Opinion
11 Sep 2024
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The new-look Auto Express means more news and reviews in a bigger, bolder and fresher style
Opinion - new AEX

The new-look Auto Express means more news and reviews in a bigger, bolder and fresher style

Editor Paul Barker is excited to introduce the new-look Auto Express magazine and website
Opinion
4 Sep 2024
Hybrid cars don’t have to be boring
Hybrid cars opinion - Paul Barker

Hybrid cars don’t have to be boring

Editor Paul Barker believes the new Lamborghini Temerario is concrete proof that hybrid cars can genuinely be exciting
Opinion
21 Aug 2024
New 2024 Peugeot 3008 Hybrid GT review: cheaper but less powerful than the EV
Peugeot 3008 Hybrid - front tracking

New 2024 Peugeot 3008 Hybrid GT review: cheaper but less powerful than the EV

New hybrid powertrain opens up Peugeot’s stylish mid-size SUV to even more buyers, but it isn’t exactly flawless
Road tests
15 Aug 2024
Radical new car interiors are on the way
Opinion - Peugeot 208 interior

Radical new car interiors are on the way

As manufacturers look for more ways to cram tech into our cars, editor Paul Barker thinks a new age of interiors is on the horizon
Opinion
15 Aug 2024
BYD gunning for European parity within five years
BYD Dolphin - front tracking

BYD gunning for European parity within five years

BYD is determined to shake up the European establishment
News
12 Aug 2024
We need the right EV chargepoints in the right places: quality over quantity
Opinion - fast charger

We need the right EV chargepoints in the right places: quality over quantity

While the increasing number of EV chargepoints is encouraging, editor Paul Barker thinks more 50kW+ units are needed
Opinion
7 Aug 2024
New Volkswagen ID. Buzz GTX 2024 review: fails to live up to its flagship status
Volkswagen ID. Buzz GTX - front

New Volkswagen ID. Buzz GTX 2024 review: fails to live up to its flagship status

The hot Volkswagen ID. Buzz GTX packs 335bhp, but looks set to cost around £70k
Road tests
31 Jul 2024
The Ford Capri is testing the ‘all publicity is good publicity’ adage to breaking point
Opinion - Ford Capri

The Ford Capri is testing the ‘all publicity is good publicity’ adage to breaking point

Editor Paul Barker looks at why Ford decided to bring back the Capri name on a new electric SUV
Opinion
24 Jul 2024
F1 is in danger of becoming too expensive for its fans
Opinion - Lewis Hamilton

F1 is in danger of becoming too expensive for its fans

After attending the 2024 British Grand Prix, Paul Barker was left shocked at how expensive everything was
Opinion
17 Jul 2024
New high-performance 4x4 ID Buzz Cargo to be the fastest van on sale
Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo - front cornering

New high-performance 4x4 ID Buzz Cargo to be the fastest van on sale

Volkswagen will add the 4x4 powertrain from the ID.Buzz GTX to the ID.Buzz Cargo van range, but it’s more for towing capacity and extra performance.
News
15 Jul 2024
New Ford Capri ride review: a first taste of the divisive electric SUV
New Ford Capri - front cornering

New Ford Capri ride review: a first taste of the divisive electric SUV

We hitch a ride in Ford's new electric coupe-SUV at the Goodwood Festival of Speed
Road tests
12 Jul 2024
The new Ford Capri should have been more coupe and less SUV
Opinion - Ford Capri

The new Ford Capri should have been more coupe and less SUV

Editor Paul Barker thinks is surprising it has taken Ford thing long to bring back the Capri nameplate, and wonder what will be next
Opinion
11 Jul 2024
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New Volkswagen ID. Buzz LWB 2024 review: electric MPV finally gets seven seats
Volkswagen ID. Buzz LWB - front

New Volkswagen ID. Buzz LWB 2024 review: electric MPV finally gets seven seats

The all-electric Volkswagen ID.Buzz MPV grows in size and gains some useful improvements
Road tests
4 Jul 2024
The 2024 New Car Awards were the most competitive yet
Opinion - New Car Awards 2024

The 2024 New Car Awards were the most competitive yet

Editor Paul Barker admits it was hard to pick an overall Car of the Year due to so many strong contenders, but thinks we ended up with a worthy winner
Opinion
3 Jul 2024
Family Car of the Year 2024: Skoda Octavia
Skoda Octavia - Family Car of the Year 2024

Family Car of the Year 2024: Skoda Octavia

The Skoda Octavia is the 2024 Auto Express Family Car of the Year, with the Dacia Jogger and Honda Civic commended
Awards
3 Jul 2024
Estate Car of the Year 2024: Skoda Superb Estate
Skoda Superb - Estate Car of the Year 2024

Estate Car of the Year 2024: Skoda Superb Estate

The Skoda Superb Estate is the 2024 Auto Express Estate Car of the Year with the BMW 5 Series Touring and Toyota Corolla Touring Sports commended
Awards
3 Jul 2024
Supermini of the Year 2024: Citroen C3
Citroen C3 - Supermini of the Year 2024

Supermini of the Year 2024: Citroen C3

The Citroen C3 is the 2024 Auto Express Supermini of the Year, with the MG3 and MINI Cooper commended
Awards
3 Jul 2024
Large SUV of the Year 2024: Skoda Kodiaq
Skoda Kodiaq - Large SUV of the Year 2024

Large SUV of the Year 2024: Skoda Kodiaq

The Skoda Kodiaq is the Auto Express 2024 Large SUV of the Year with the Kia EV9 and Nissan X-Trail commended
Awards
3 Jul 2024
Ultimate £160k Land Rover Defender Octa will sprint from 0-60mph in 3.8 seconds
Land Rover Defender Octa - front

Ultimate £160k Land Rover Defender Octa will sprint from 0-60mph in 3.8 seconds

The new Octa is the most powerful Land Rover Defender ever with a whopping 626bhp
News
2 Jul 2024
No matter who wins the election, we’ll keep pushing to get motorists the best deal
Opinion - election 2024

No matter who wins the election, we’ll keep pushing to get motorists the best deal

After the transport secretaries pitch for votes in our leaders’ debate, editor Paul Barker wonders what it could all mean for the motorist
News
27 Jun 2024
Ferrari electric car plans progress with high-tech new factory
Ferrari SF90 Spider

Ferrari electric car plans progress with high-tech new factory

Ferrari is well on the road to its first electric car in 2025 but carbon-neutral fuels will keep internal combustion on the agenda.
News
27 Jun 2024
The cars you love are similar to the ones we love
Opinion - Driver Power

The cars you love are similar to the ones we love

Editor Paul Barker says a big thank you to everybody who took part in the 2024 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey
Opinion
12 Jun 2024