In June 2024 Auto Express ran one of its product group tests on wiper blades. Six pairs went head to head, and ours was one of them. The testers admitted they hadn't heard of us until they saw WipeWave at the top of the Amazon listings.
We came third out of six with four stars out of five. Bosch won and Halfords took second. Here's how it went.
How the test worked
Every blade was fitted to the same car, a Fiat Panda. Before that, the testers left all six pairs in a freezer overnight, because a blade that goes stiff in the cold is no use in a British winter. Then they ran each pair at every wiper speed, on a wet screen and on a dry one.
Points came off for noise and for smearing. They also looked at how easy each set was to fit, whether it looked awkward once it was on, and what a pair cost to buy online.
How our blades did
The line we're proudest of is that our blades "wiped almost as well as the winning Bosch blades". The testers liked the locking mechanism as well. They called it sturdy and said it made the blades easy to fit and secure.
Price counted in our favour. Our pair for the Panda cost around £20, and that included delivery. As the review pointed out, delivery can add another fiver to the cost of some rivals.
There was one criticism, and it's only fair to mention it. The testers noticed a slight judder at the bottom of the driver's side blade. That's what kept us in third place.
Us, Halfords and Bosch side by side
These are the prices and ratings Auto Express published for the top three.
| Place | Blades | Price for a pair | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Bosch AeroTwin | around £27 | 5 out of 5 |
| 2nd | Halfords Wiper Blade Flat Upgrade | around £23 | 4.5 out of 5 |
| 3rd | WipeWave | around £20, delivery included | 4 out of 5 |
Bosch deserved the win. The AeroTwin did everything right. Still, it cost about £7 more than ours for a pair, and the gap in wiping was small. The verdict put it well: the runners-up "offer a useful saving, especially if you don't want to pay extra for delivery".
So which should you buy?
If you want the outright winner and don't mind paying for it, get the Bosch. If you'd rather have blades that wipe nearly as well for less, we think ours make more sense. Delivery is free on every order, and if the blades aren't right for you there are 30 days to send them back.
Prices have moved a little since 2024, so check what your car costs today. The quickest way is to pick your make or type your model and year into the search box.
Read the original review
The test was written by Tom Barnard and published by Auto Express on 10 June 2024 as "Best wiper blades 2024". Auto Express has since put a newer test at the same web address, so the link below goes to an archived copy of the 2024 version.