As a road tester, Illya drives everything from superminis to supercars, and writes reviews and comparison tests, while also managing the magazine’s Drives section. Much of his time is spent wrangling the data logger and wielding the tape measure to gather the data for Autocar’s in-depth instrumented road tests.
He loves figuring out what cars are about, and finding the flaws that others miss. Being thorough also means celebrating the cars that get it right, either because they do a job well, or just because they’re fun and interesting.
He joined Autocar in 2021 following stints at automotive business publications at UKi Media & Events and Ultima Media, where he reported on less glamorous but equally fascinating and important sectors of the automotive industry such as logistics and tyre production. He first cut his teeth reviewing cars as news reporter at Business Car.
Illya is originally from Belgium, where he obtained an MA in English and German literature and linguistics, before moving to the UK in 2016 to study automotive journalism at Coventry University.
Illya is an expert in:
What was your first car?
A E30-generation BMW 316i touring from 1993. I loved that car, and it seems inevitable that I’ll get another (albeit with a proper engine this time). It was the perfect first car: It was 18 years old car when I got it, so it taught me mechanical sympathy, but it was also relatively simple. Rear-wheel drive and not very much power were ideal for teaching a young car enthusiast about driving.
What’s the best car you’ve ever driven?
Until recently, it was the Toyota GR86. Admittedly, a compact two-door sports car won’t be ‘the best’ car for everyone, but for me, you just can’t beat a compact, light car with a manual gearbox and a deliciously throttle-adjustable chassis for everyday, on-road fun. But then I drove an E28-generation BMW M5, which has a similar handling balance, but also a spectacular straight-six engine.
What will the car industry look like in 20 years?
I’ll miss the manual gearbox, but I also really like electric cars. I’ve had more fun in the MG4 and Mini Cooper E than in plenty of ‘proper’ performance cars. I love how the instant torque lets you work the chassis, and how you don’t draw unnecessary attention to yourself with a loud engine. There’s plenty to be upbeat about, but also big challenges. There’s a bloodbath in the making if European manufacturers can’t take control of their supply chains and find some way to compete with the emerging Chinese carmakers, whose products are making big leaps very quickly. I also hope there’s going to be a re-evaluation of the ICE bans, because it doesn’t look like we’ll see enough affordable EVs in time, which will drive people to the second-hand market and decimate the new-car industry.
