2026-02-28 · 6 min read

Proven What Car? email designs you can use

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After analyzing 18 What Car? emails, a few patterns stand out: punchy review-led hooks, clear comparison framing, and CTA buttons that push readers straight into the next click. This gallery shows the real campaigns What Car? actually sent, complete with screenshots and notes on layout, content blocks, and subject line angles. Use the takeaways to tighten your editorial-to-action flow and make your automotive content easier to navigate.

1. ๐Ÿšจ Britain's MOST STOLEN CARS revealed...PLUS Britain's CHEAPEST HYBRIDS rated ๐Ÿ”‹

1. ๐Ÿšจ Britain's MOST STOLEN CARS revealed...PLUS Britain's CHEAPEST HYBRIDS rated ๐Ÿ”‹
1. ๐Ÿšจ Britain's MOST STOLEN CARS revealed...PLUS Britain's CHEAPEST HYBRIDS rated ๐Ÿ”‹
Subject: ๐Ÿšจ Britain's MOST STOLEN CARS revealed...PLUS Britain's CHEAPEST HYBRIDS rated ๐Ÿ”‹
Objective

This email aims to drive engagement by delivering timely, attention-grabbing automotive content, highlighting stolen car statistics and affordable hybrids, while promoting subscription to the What Car? magazine and encouraging users to explore car-buying tools and insurance services.

Why this works

The email opens with a high-impact, emotionally charged headline about car theft, immediately tapping into reader anxiety and curiosity, this urgency drives clicks while positioning What Car? as a trusted source for critical, real-world motoring intelligence.

How to implement

By pairing a provocative video headline with a drag race comparison of budget hybrids, the campaign turns dry data into entertaining, competitive storytelling, making technical reviews feel like must-watch content rather than passive reading, which boosts engagement and time-on-page.

Pro Tip

The CTA 'See whatโ€™s on the list' under the theft section is vague, rephrasing it to 'Reveal the Top 10 Most Stolen Cars' would increase click-through by promising specific, valuable data rather than implying a generic list. โ€ข The layout clusters multiple CTAs without visual hierarchy, adding subtle spacing or directional cues (like arrows or numbered steps) between sections would guide the readerโ€™s eye from the theft alert to the hybrid video, then to the subscription offer, improving conversion flow.

Colors:
#E60012
#008C95
#FFFFFF

2. ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ Most and least RELIABLE PREMIUM SUVS revealed...PLUS Britain's cheapest new car rated ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ

2. ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ Most and least RELIABLE PREMIUM SUVS revealed...PLUS Britain's cheapest new car rated ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ
2. ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ Most and least RELIABLE PREMIUM SUVS revealed...PLUS Britain's cheapest new car rated ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ
Subject: ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ Most and least RELIABLE PREMIUM SUVS revealed...PLUS Britain's cheapest new car rated ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ
Objective

To engage car buyers with authoritative, data-driven insights on premium SUV reliability and value-focused models while promoting the latest issue of What Car? magazine and affiliated services like Motorway and ALA Insurance.

Why this works

The email opens with a high-impact headline that combines urgency and curiosity by revealing both the most and least reliable premium SUVs, a powerful hook for shoppers who prioritize long-term ownership confidence over flashy features.

How to implement

Each content block is tightly focused on one vehicle or service, using real-world imagery and concise copy to reduce cognitive load while still delivering actionable insight, making complex car-buying decisions feel approachable and trustworthy.

Pro Tip

Add a countdown timer or limited-time badge near the ยฃ28.49 magazine offer to create urgency and increase conversion, especially since the discount is substantial but currently lacks temporal pressure. โ€ข Reorder the sections so the BMW iX long-term test appears after the Dacia Sandero review, placing the premium electric SUV after a budget model creates a natural upgrade path and reinforces brand authority across segments.

Colors:
#D40000
#008C95
#FFFFFF

3. ๐ŸŽ๏ธ BEST USED SUPERCARS...PLUS VW Polo rated ๐ŸŽ๏ธ

3. ๐ŸŽ๏ธ BEST USED SUPERCARS...PLUS VW Polo rated ๐ŸŽ๏ธ
3. ๐ŸŽ๏ธ BEST USED SUPERCARS...PLUS VW Polo rated ๐ŸŽ๏ธ
Subject: ๐ŸŽ๏ธ BEST USED SUPERCARS...PLUS VW Polo rated ๐ŸŽ๏ธ
Objective

To engage car enthusiasts and potential buyers by showcasing high-value used supercars, new model reviews, and practical MPV comparisons, while driving subscriptions and clicks to deeper content and partner services.

Why this works

The email brilliantly leverages aspirational imagery of supercars alongside practical family vehicles to emotionally engage readers while grounding them in real-world affordability, making luxury feel accessible without sacrificing credibility.

How to implement

By embedding a time-sensitive magazine subscription offer with a clear price-saving hook and visual cover mockup, the campaign transforms passive readers into paying subscribers by appealing to their desire for authoritative, curated motoring knowledge.

Pro Tip

The CTA 'Tempted?' under the supercar section is emotionally engaging but lacks urgency or specificity, replacing it with 'See the Top 5 Supercars Under ยฃ50K' would better align with the price-comparison hook and drive more targeted clicks. โ€ข The layout clusters multiple content blocks with similar visual weight, diluting focus, introducing visual hierarchy with larger headline fonts or subtle dividers between sections would guide the readerโ€™s eye more effectively toward high-value CTAs.

Colors:
#D6001C
#007A87
#FFFFFF

4. ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช GERMANY vs USA: BMW iX3 takes on TESLA MODEL Y ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ

4. ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช GERMANY vs USA: BMW iX3 takes on TESLA MODEL Y ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
4. ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช GERMANY vs USA: BMW iX3 takes on TESLA MODEL Y ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
Subject: ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช GERMANY vs USA: BMW iX3 takes on TESLA MODEL Y ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
Objective

This email aims to drive engagement by pitting two premium electric SUVs against each other while promoting additional content, services, and subscriptions that keep readers informed and connected to the What Car? brand.

Why this works

The email opens with a high-stakes, emotionally resonant comparison between two global EV giants, instantly hooking readers by framing the content as a competitive showdown rather than a dry review.

How to implement

Each content block is tightly edited to deliver a clear value proposition, whether itโ€™s saving money on a charger, learning about a used car, or winning a prize, making every section feel purposeful and skimmable.

Pro Tip

The hero CTA 'See which wins' could be strengthened with urgency or exclusivity, for example, 'See who wins, before the verdict drops', to increase click-through by implying time-sensitive content. โ€ข The layout buries the subscription offer beneath multiple content blocks; moving it higher or adding a sticky banner would capture interest while readers are most engaged with the brandโ€™s authority.

Colors:
#D60000
#008C95
#FFFFFF

5. ๐Ÿš™New KIA SPORTAGE vs SEAT ATECA...PLUS China's TESLA MODEL Y rated ๐Ÿš™

5. ๐Ÿš™New KIA SPORTAGE vs SEAT ATECA...PLUS China's TESLA MODEL Y rated ๐Ÿš™
5. ๐Ÿš™New KIA SPORTAGE vs SEAT ATECA...PLUS China's TESLA MODEL Y rated ๐Ÿš™
Subject: ๐Ÿš™New KIA SPORTAGE vs SEAT ATECA...PLUS China's TESLA MODEL Y rated ๐Ÿš™
Objective

This email aims to engage car buyers and enthusiasts by delivering timely, comparative reviews and breaking automotive news, while also promoting a subscription offer to keep readers informed through the What Car? magazine. It seeks to drive clicks to detailed content and convert interest into paid subscriptions.

Why this works

By leading with a high-stakes head-to-head comparison between two popular SUVs, the email immediately taps into buyer indecision and positions itself as the authoritative guide for making confident purchasing decisions.

How to implement

The inclusion of a breaking recall alert adds urgency and credibility, subtly reinforcing that What Car? delivers not just reviews but essential real-world safety intelligence that subscribers canโ€™t afford to miss.

Pro Tip

The CTA buttons are visually consistent but lack hierarchy; the 'Read more' button under the subscription offer should be larger or more prominent to match its conversion importance compared to article CTAs. โ€ข The email lacks personalization cues, adding the recipientโ€™s name or referencing past viewed models (e.g., โ€˜Since you liked the Tesla Model Y reviewโ€ฆโ€™) would increase relevance and click-through rates.

Colors:
#D60B1A
#008C95
#FFFFFF

6. ๐Ÿ”‹ Best and worst SMALL ELECTRIC SUVS revealed...PLUS SKODA KODIAQ rated ๐Ÿ”‹

6. ๐Ÿ”‹ Best and worst SMALL ELECTRIC SUVS revealed...PLUS SKODA KODIAQ rated ๐Ÿ”‹
6. ๐Ÿ”‹ Best and worst SMALL ELECTRIC SUVS revealed...PLUS SKODA KODIAQ rated ๐Ÿ”‹
Subject: ๐Ÿ”‹ Best and worst SMALL ELECTRIC SUVS revealed...PLUS SKODA KODIAQ rated ๐Ÿ”‹
Objective

To engage car buyers by delivering curated, expert-backed vehicle reviews and comparisons while driving subscriptions to the What Car? magazine through a limited-time discount offer.

Why this works

The email opens with a bold, benefit-driven subject line that immediately signals value by revealing 'best and worst' models, creating urgency and curiosity for readers actively researching small electric SUVs.

How to implement

Each article preview pairs a high-res hero image with a provocative question and a clear CTA, turning editorial content into a navigable decision-making tool that feels personalized to the readerโ€™s car-buying journey.

Pro Tip

Add a countdown timer next to the subscription offer to amplify urgency, since the discount is framed as a limited-time deal, a visible timer would increase conversion by creating real-time scarcity. โ€ข Include a short testimonial or star rating under each article preview to build social proof, for example, 'Rated 4.8/5 by 2,300 readers', which would reinforce credibility and encourage clicks.

Colors:
#D60000
#008C8C
#FFFFFF