Illya Verpraet

Illya Verpraet Road Tester Autocar
Title: Road Tester

As part of Autocar’s road test team, Illya drives everything from superminis to supercars, and writes reviews, comparison tests, as well as the odd feature and news story. 

Much of his time is spent wrangling the data logger and wielding the tape measure to gather the data for Autocar’s eight-page road tests, which are the most rigorous in the business thanks to independent performance, fuel consumption and noise figures.

He joined Autocar in 2021 following stints at automotive business publications at UKi Media & Events and Ultima Media, where he reported on less glamorous but equally fascinating and important sectors of the automotive industry such as logistics and tyre production. He first cut his teeth reviewing cars as news reporter at Business Car.

Illya is originally from Belgium, where he obtained an MA in English and German literature and linguistics, before moving to the UK in 2016 to study automotive journalism at Coventry University.

Illya is an expert in:

  • Quantitative and qualitative road test reviewing
  • EV hatchbacks and crossovers
  • Hybrid technology.
  • Comparison testing

What was your biggest news story?

As a road tester, I don’t get involved with news much these days. However, I was writing for Automotive Logistics when the car industry (and almost every other manufacturing industry with it) realised that demand after Covid was rebounding. However, all shipping containers were stuck in ports, a lot of the ships that normally carry them were laid up and port workers had been laid off or had covid, which made getting car parts across the world a nightmare. It was interesting to be in the right place at the right time to write about things being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

What’s the best car you’ve ever driven?

The Toyota GR86. Admittedly, a compact two-door sports car won’t be ‘the best’ car for everyone, but it is for me. You just can’t beat a compact, light car with a manual gearbox and a deliciously throttle-adjustable chassis for everyday, on-road fun. It still has most of the luxury and refinement I want, and seems to have been spared from most modern-car annoyances.

What will the car industry look like in 20 years?

I’ll miss the manual gearbox, but I also really like electric cars. I’ve had more fun in the MG4 and Mini Cooper E than in plenty of proper performance cars. I love how the instant torque lets you work the chassis, and how you don’t draw unnecessary attention to yourself with a loud engine. There’s plenty to be upbeat about, but also big challenges. There’s a bloodbath in the making if European manufacturers can’t take control of their supply chains and find some way to compete with the emerging Chinese carmakers, whose products are making big leaps very quickly. I also hope there’s going to be a reevaluation of the ICE bans, because it doesn’t look like we’ll see enough affordable EVs in time, which will drive people to the second-hand market and decimate the new-car industry.

Car review

BMW M5 Saloon and Touring review

Flagship 5 Series has turned PHEV and promises to be BMW's most extreme super-saloon yet

BMW M5 Saloon and Touring review
Car review

Hyundai Santa Fe

Hyundai's seven-seat SUV embraces boxy design and goes hybrid-only

Hyundai Santa Fe
Car review

Dacia Duster

With a more sophisticated platform, design-savvy look and fresh tech, has this all-new version lost sight of the model’s value appeal?

Dacia Duster
Car review

Audi E-tron GT

Updated electric four-door is almost entirely new underneath, but is the recipe actually improved?

Audi E-tron GT
Car review

Audi A5 and S5 review

New look, new platform, new powertrain tech, new four-wheel drive system and even new naming for Audi’s compact executive estate

Audi A5 and S5 review
Car review

Porsche Panamera

Four-seat grand tourer brings yet more performance and luxury to the added-desirability super-saloon segment

Porsche Panamera
Car review

Mercedes-AMG CLE 53

Lower-rung AMG gains butch looks and big power. Can it stick it to the BMW M4?

Mercedes-AMG CLE 53
Car review

Audi Q6 E-tron

EV introduces a new platform and a new design language for Audi

Audi Q6 E-tron
Car review

Volkswagen Golf GTI

The iconic hot hatch took on a harder edge with its eighth generation, at the expense of its intoxicating blend of everyday performance. Can this facelift make it a better GTI?

Volkswagen Golf GTI
Car review

Vauxhall Grandland

Latest Stellantis componentry spawns a second generation of Vauxhall family SUV

Vauxhall Grandland
Car review

Lamborghini Urus SE

Electrification has become inevitable even for the Rambo Lambo

Lamborghini Urus SE

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