BEST CAR MATS

Carpets are expensive to replace, which is why a set of high-quality floor mats is a valuable investment for your car

- Craig Cheetham

ONE of the areas of your car that takes the most abuse is its floor, with driver and passengers climbing in and out, mucky shoes, shuffling feet and shopping bags all contributing to wear and tear.

If you don't protect your car's carpets, then before you know it, you may find them stained, scuffed or holed. And on the basis that new carpets are an interior-out job, the cost of replacement can be huge.

That's why a set of floor mats is a sensible investment, but with a wide choice of aftermarket options available, which is best?

Here, we've brought together a mixture of mats – universal and tailored, rubber and fabric – to see which are tougher than the rest and will provide the best protection.

1. Simply Brands Excalibur Car Mats
Price: £24.88 Fitting: Universal
Rating: ★★★★★
Contact: carsparesltd.com

QUALITY was very much a key consideration in these tests and the Excalibur mats thoroughly impressed us. They feel very sturdy and have a wipe-clean rubber surface, but also have a carpeted heel pad for extra durability and more control if you have wet shoes. They didn't move around in our driving and foot-shuffling tests, while grooves in the upper surfaces of the mats work as guides, should you need to trim them to fit your car.

2. Halfords Rubber Car Mats
Price: £20 Fitting: Universal
Rating: ★★★★★
Contact: halfords.com