14 car waxes put to the test
Car wax puts an extra layer onto your car’s paintwork to help protect it from road damage, to give it a shiny finish, and to help water ‘bead off’ it.
After cleaning the car, the normal procedure is to use a damp microfibre applicator to work a thin and even layer of wax into the paintwork. After a short wait (see the manufacturer’s instructions) lightly wipe the wax off with a folded cloth.
It’s best to use new cloths each time you wax, and to avoid waxing in strong sunlight if you want to minimise the effort required to remove it.
Here are our reviews and ratings of 14 waxes, along with their best online prices (not including postage).
Soft99 Fusso Coat £19.99 (three stars)
A Japanese import, this soft wax works in easily and dries very quickly, so you may find yourself working harder to get it off. The applicator it comes with isn’t top quality, but the wax itself is strong and the manufacturer says that the protection lasts for up to a year.
Supernatural Hybrid Nano £17.90 (three stars)
In terms of ease of use this product is up at the tough end of the spectrum. The relative difficulty of application is compensated for by good results. £17.90 buys a small 30ml tub. A 100ml tub is available: that would last a very long time, as not much product is needed per waxing.
Bilt Hamber double speed-wax £15.95 (four stars)
We really rate Bilt Hamber’s Auto Wash car shampoo, and their car wax is just as impressive. It’s hard to find in the shops but your online searching will be rewarded. Besides the wax you get a good cloth and applicator. Simple to apply and remove, with good water beading, this is a great value product.
Simoniz Original Wax £6.00 (four stars)
Another hard wax, but this one is easy to work. You don’t have to leave it to dry, so it’s handy if you’re pushed for time. It gives you a deep shine, very good water beading and (Simoniz reckons) protection for up to 12 months. Even if you double up on that, this is tremendous value for money.
Black Diamond Hardwax £7.50 (four stars)
The clue’s in the name: this is a hard wax. It’s worth the effort though because you get a great result with good water beading and very little product is needed. Black Diamond says the shine will stick around for 8-10 months.
Autoglym High Definition Wax £40 (four stars)
Not what you’d call cheap, but it’s not just an easy to apply (and remove) wax: you also receive two top quality applicators and cloth. Autoglym has an excellent name in the detailing industry, and from the peformance of this durable and deep-shining product you can see why.
Collinite No. 476S £19.90 (three stars)
Another big name in the industry, Collinite has a reputation that is well deserved if this wax is a fair representation. Very little product is needed, and just a light wipe is all you need to take it off. No residue is left behind.
Meguiars Gold Class Carnauba Plus Premium Paste Wax £17.99 (four stars)
Much softer than some of the other products on test, the Meguiars wax delivers impressive water sheeting and a deep shine. The applicator is easy to use. A more upmarket option, Meguiars Ultimate Paste Wax, is available (and well rated) at around £30.
Angelwax Enigma £45 (three stars)
You can take this wax off after just a couple of minutes and you’ll be delighted by the results. It has a beautiful smell too, but the price isn’t so beautiful, especially when it’s set against some of the much cheaper but not vastly inferior choices here.
Mothers Synthetic Wax £11.73 (three stars)
One of the wettest waxes on test (a harder Synthetic Paste Wax is available), this one requires little effort to put on or take off. It gives more than acceptable results, with decent paint protection and satisfying water beading.
Autobrite Carbanuba £11.50 (four stars)
If you like bananas, this one’s for you. The fruity smell is quite pervasive. We liked the silky consistency of the paste, the ease of dispensing it from the squeezy bottle, and the low effort needed for application and removal.
Turtle Wax Original £6.30 (four stars)
Another low-effort wet wax, the Turtle Wax is fantastic value at just over six pounds. The shine is good and you don’t need to pay for online postage as it’s easy to find in the shops. Perfect for those on a restricted budget.
Armor All Shield £9.55 (four stars)
Yet another wet wax, and a very good one too. Simplicity itself to use, with no requirement to wait for drying as you can buff it off while it’s wet. Long lasting protection is claimed by the manufacturer.
Collinite Insulator Wax £16.95 (four stars)
Not as dry as Collinite’s other No 476S product, Insulator Wax is a heavy duty product that the maker says is suitable for industrial use. Unfortunately it’s quite difficult to extract from the tub. It’s worth the effort though because the consistency is lovely and very little elbow work is needed to take it off.
Verdict
1. Simoniz Original Wax
2. Bilt Hamber Double Speed Wax
3. Autoglym High Definition Wax
Just failing to make our top three podium was Turtlewax Original Wax. It’s a fine budget choice.
Easily the dearest of our medal winners was the third-placed Autoglym High Definition Wax. If money’s no object you’ll be pleased with it, and with the excellent kit that’s thrown in.
On the sum total of its performance – ease of use, smashing results and low price – Simoniz Original Wax is the best car wax we tested. Bilt Hamber Double Speed Wax is more expensive but its extra durability means it’s still great value.
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14 car waxes put to the testUsed carsHaymarketWant to protect your car? We’ve tested fourteen waxes from £6 to £45 – and the results may surprise you.