Mark Pearson

Mark Pearson
Title: Used cars editor

Mark spent his formative years at the BBC, where, at various times, he scheduled, broadcast and archived television and radio programmes and researched, wrote and produced promotional material. 

After such dedicated public service, it seemed natural to start something new and combine his lifelong interest in motoring and his enthusiasm for writing. He joined Haymarket 12 years ago, working across the Autocar, What Car? and Pistonheads titles, initially as a data assistant, before rising through the ranks to be a data editor, a sub-editor, a digital editor, a deputy used cars editor and, currently, the used cars editor. Here, he oversees the used car content both in the magazine and online, scheduling, commissioning, editing and writing copy. 

Mark is one of the more senior members of the Autocar team. Having owned many cars and motorcycles over a long driving career, and having driven and ridden even more than that, he naturally has a lot of experience to draw upon. Despite this, he says he’s embarrassed to be working for this authoritative publication surrounded by colleagues of such obvious and outstanding natural ability. 

He has also presented many online videos and made appearances on BBC radio. 

Mark is an expert in:

  • Used cars
  • New cars
  • Classic and ‘Cult Hero’ cars
  • Motorcycles
  • Motoring history

Mark Pearson Q&A

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

I find driving on tracks tedious, and supercars irrelevant for road use, so I would choose a supremely competent road car. Maybe a BMW M440i if I didn’t have to look at it. An Alpine A110 would be nice. Maybe the latest Bentley Continental GT, if my journeys were longer. 

What will the car industry look like in 20 years?

Alas the future of the car industry is largely in the hands of politicians, so the only certainty is that our motoring future will look very different indeed. I just hope the cars we love aren't legislated out of existence.

Car review

Used Lotus Evora 2011-2015 review

It rode and handled in a way that put nearly everything else in its shade, and it's yours from £20k

Used Lotus Evora 2011-2015 review
Car review

Used BMW i8 2014-2020 review

Munich's tech-laden electrified streak can now be had from £30k - here's how it stacks up

Used BMW i8 2014-2020 review
Aston Martin V8 front three quarter
Aston Martin launched the V8 Vantage in 1977
News

Used car buying guide: Aston Martin V8

Hairy-chested, patriotic ’70s supercar exudes sophistication but isn't for the faint hearted

Used car buying guide: Aston Martin V8
BMW i8 Coupe
The i8 arrived as a butterfly-doored, low-slung plug-in hybrid
News

Used car buying guide: BMW i8

Munich's tech-laden electrified streak is surprisingly couth - here's how it stacks up as a used purchase

Used car buying guide: BMW i8
Suzuki SC100 front three quarter
The SC100 was powered by a 970cc four-stroke four-cylinder engine
News

Used car buying guide: Suzuki SC100

Small-engined coupé born out of a Japan-only Kei car is delightfully analogue

Used car buying guide: Suzuki SC100
Maserati 3200GT side
The 3200GT was welcomed with positive reviews and ran until 2002
News

Used car buying guide: Maserati 3200 GT

Tempting coupé with V8 panache and Italian cachet that, at the time, was the best Maserati in 20 years

Used car buying guide: Maserati 3200 GT
Volkswagen Touran front three quarter
The Touran is one of our favourite MPVs and one of the best-selling MPVs on the market
News

Nearly new buying guide: Volkswagen Touran

Classy if demure MPV goes big on versatility and agreeable road manners; a terrific used buy

Nearly new buying guide: Volkswagen Touran
Ford Fiesta front three quarter
The Fiesta is available with a raft of engines, with outputs from 69bhp to 197bhp
News

Nearly new buying guide: Ford Fiesta

It may be singing its last verse, but this fun-to-drive, do-it-all supermini still has a lot to shout about

Nearly new buying guide: Ford Fiesta
Brisol Fighter front left
When Bristol launched the Fighter, everything was to be of the highest quality
News

Used car buying guide: Bristol Fighter

200mph ultra-aerodynamic coupé from a tiny British start-up gets the recognition it deserves

Used car buying guide: Bristol Fighter
Porsche Cayenne S front three quarter tracking
The first-generation Cayenne was introduced in 2003
News

Used car buying guide: Porsche Cayenne

Luxurious, powerful, glitzy, and the car that saved Porsche. A slab of middle-class luxury from £2000

Used car buying guide: Porsche Cayenne
Alfa Romeo Giulia QV front three quarter 2
The Alfa Giulia QV is a hugely characterful, romantic four-door saloon
News

Nearly new buying guide: Alfa Romeo Giulia QV

This nimble saloon has all the charm and theatre of a four-door Ferrari, with none of the impracticality

Nearly new buying guide: Alfa Romeo Giulia QV

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