Best British Cars

Best of British

In the history of the automobile there have been many iconic and legendary cars. Some merely exist for a moment, whilst others live a legacy most could only dream of.

Great Britain has an illustrious back catalogue of automotive greats, with some still flying the flag of excellence high and proud. Sure, some of these automotive icons may now be owned by international organisations, but most are still designed, built and created on British soil.

Below we have put together of some of the greatest British cars you can buy, with everything from ultra-exclusive hyper cars to iconic off-roaders with everything in between.

Aston Martin Vantage

Aston Martin is undoubtedly one of the world's coolest brands, not just in the automotive world, but in general. The Vantage legacy is just as impressive as the brand itself, with the 2005 model enjoying a 12-year reign before being replaced by the all-new Vantage in 2018.

No matter which generation of the Aston Martin Vantage you go for, you will be treated to a car that has you coming up with any excuse to grab the keys and just go for a drive.

Evocative V8 engines teamed with stunning looks ensure power, beauty and soul is still very much the main ingredients of an Aston Martin Vantage. Older versions can even be had with a colossal V12 engine that sounds monumental, and could quite possibly appreciate in the future.

With the ability to cover ground effortlessly, the Vantage is without doubt one of the finest British grand touring sports cars money can buy.

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Land Rover Defender

Arguably the most famous 4x4 vehicle available. The Land Rover Defender legacy can be traced back to the 1940s with the birth of the Series 1.

Since then, the Defender and Series models have been a focal part of Great British history with their ability to go anywhere, and of course the role they played in the British army.

Today, the all-new Defender writes a new chapter in this fascinating story. It is now a much more modern and comfortable affair with sharp design details and state-of-the-art technology. The new Defender represents seventy years of evolution whilst still honouring the legendary history for rugged solidity and character.

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Lotus Elise

It was Lotus' founder Colin Chapman who expressed simplifying and adding lightness was key to a successful sports car. And this has long been the recipe for many of Lotus' sports cars.

The Lotus Elise, first released in 1996 was the perfect recipe for a driver- focused sports car. This was thanks to simplicity and lightness - just what founder Colin Chapman expressed.

Today, the Elise recipe has not changed much as the car is still light and simplistic, meaning it is hard to find a purer driving experience. In a world where the manufacturer power war continues, the fact the Elise offers just under 240bhp proves you do not need masses of power to have a superb driving experience, and the Elise takes just a smidge over four seconds to go from 0 to 62mph. Meaning it will still devour a British B-road much quicker than more exclusive exotica.

It is a true British sports car icon.

MINI Hatch

Since 1959, the Mini has been an icon of everything British. Famous worldwide, and despite BMW owning and launching the new MINI back in 2000, the MINI is still built in Oxford, England.

The MINI Hatch manages to offer state-of-the-art technology and design, whilst still keeping the sprit and look of the original Mini, and it does this perfectly.

MINI models blend into today's fashion-conscious streets with great ease. What is really interesting is how the rear lights now imitate the Union Jack flag, and they manage to do this without the car feeling tacky or messy; it is done with great style and suits the fun factor the MINI offers. And let us not forget the text book go-kart like handling, which is what makes the MINI one of few cars that is an absolute joy to drive.

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McLaren P1

Built to be the best driver's car in the world, the McLaren P1 is an awe-inspiring hypercar with statistics that simply baffle the mind.

903bhp is deployed via a 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine. This is teamed with a McLaren E-Motor, as the P1 is not just a hypercar, it is a hybrid too.

0 to 62mph is dealt with in a mesmerizing 2.8 seconds, whilst the top speed is a tarmac shattering 217mph. Everything about the P1 is breathtaking, from its ability to turn heads to its ability to put in obscenely fast lap times of any race track it visits.

It is often said that the P1 is the successor to the legendary McLaren F1 - once the world's fastest car. Make no mistake, the P1 will go into the history books as one of the finest automobiles ever created, and best of all, it is British, so simply had to make the list. If you want one, you will need seven figures in your bank account.

Land Rover Range Rover

Quite possibly the best off-roader there is. For over fifty years, the Range Rover has been the definitive answer for those looking for the ultimate luxury off-roader.

The beauty about the Range Rover is its ability to be both sublime on and off road - a trait not many SUVs or 4x4 vehicles can muster. Ensuring no matter where your journey takes you, you will be cocooned in complete luxury, comfort and style with all the latest technology to ensure you do not get yourself in a tangle when the road runs out.

We could not ignore the Range Rover in our best British cars blog due to just how iconic it has become. You only have to take a wander round London to see how popular this British legend is.

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Jaguar F-TYPE

Built in Jaguar's Castle Bromwich factory in the UK, the F-TYPE is the spiritual successor to the legendary Jaguar E-Type. The long bonnet, dynamic style and typical Jaguar flair ensure this is one good looking sports car.

A mix of characterful and evocative engines have been available with the F-TYPE since its introduction in 2013, which include a symphonic V6 and a thunderous V8.

This has ensured performance is typically raucous with the F-TYPE hitting 62mph from a standstill in as low as 3.7 seconds. Even early models will still do it in under five seconds. Today, the F-TYPE is yet another fine Jaguar sports car that can make light work of grand touring and allowing drivers to make the most of a typical British B-road.

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Rolls Royce Phantom

You cannot talk about the best of British without mentioning Rolls Royce. Parent company BMW may own the brand, but each Rolls Royce is built by hand in Goodwood, England.

The Phantom not only has one of the coolest names to ever grace a car, but the model has been made by Rolls Royce since 1925. Today, the Phantom is quite simply one of the finest, if not the finest car that money can buy due to its hand-built nature and incredible attention to detail.

The Rolls Royce Phantom is the epitome of luxury, with one of the most striking interiors to be presented in a car. The hand-built aspect ensure each car is crafted to perfection, and graced with an engine that can waft the Phantom along with effortless ease.

This is the ultimate British car to be driven in.

Bentley Continental GT V8

With an illustrious heritage full of motor racing success and building cars that signify the epitome of luxury, Bentley produce some of the best British cars available.

Here, we have opted for the Continental GT V8, with GT standing for 'Grand Tourer', there are not many that do it so well and so luxuriously as the Continental GT.

The evocative V8 engine produces 542bhp, good enough for 0 to 62mph in just four seconds, with a top speed of 198mph. The thing is, the Bentley will do this whilst deploying ultra comfort, making grand touring seem simply and effortless, and whisper quiet at speed too.

And with exquisite touches ensuring the interior impresses on every level with heated armrests and massage seats, the Continental GT V8 can make driving long distances hugely pleasurable.

Aston Martin DBX

Another Aston Martin in our list, but this one is very different to the models we have been seeing from Aston Martin, that is because it is the first Aston Martin SUV.

In a world where the SUV is now one of the most popular choices on British roads, more and more manufacturers have been creating their own versions, even if they have not done before. This is what happened with the DBX, after production first started in mid 2020.

The DBX offers Aston Martin passion, craftsmanship and performance in a sought-after SUV format. With 542bhp produced from its wonderfully sizable 4.0-litre V8 engine, 0 to 62mph occurs in just 4.5 seconds.

It may not be your typical SUV, but let us not forget, this is an Aston Martin, which means as SUVs go, this is one of the best available.

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Discover your perfect British car with Stratstone

In an ever-changing world, the fact that so many cars are still designed, built and manufactured here in Britain is hugely impressive.

With everything from the humble MINI, all the way up to the awe-inspiring McLaren P1, the sheer choice is something to behold.

Inspired? Find your perfect new or used British car with Stratstone today.