The best liquid car wax

Ceramic-infused waxes are all the rage at the moment thanks to the extra protection offered compared to traditional car waxes. These products are actually infused with SiO2 (silicon dioxide) as opposed to the material a toilet is made from, but SiO2 is still an incredibly tough material that offers excellent hydrophobic protection.

We're big fans of Meguiar's Hybrid Ceramic Wax to the point that it's our favourite liquid wax. Easy to apply and with a quick curing time, it's straightforward to use and should offer up to six months of protection. Best of all, it's designed not to leave a greasy white residue on plastics or rubber trim as other waxes will often do.

Graphene has the rumblings to overtake ceramic as the wax additive of choice thanks to its super-strong protective properties against water, heat and harsh chemicals. More and more brands are getting involved with graphene products, including Auto Finesse.

Proudly boasting that graphene is 100 times stronger than steel, Auto Finesse claims that this wax is almost impervious to any contaminant a wax could face. There are the usual hydrophobic properties you'd expect, alongside chemical resistance up to pH 12, abrasion resistance, anti-corrosive abilities and even anti-static properties. It'll also hide small imperfections in the paintwork and deliver a deep shine to the finish. It should last up to eight months and Auto Finesse even claim it should help keep body panels cooler in the sun.

Any wax that calls itself buttery better be easy to apply. Chemical Guys nail it with this super smooth liquid wax that's easier to spread than butter on hot toast. With a carnauba base and synthetic polymers added, it's designed to offer an incredibly deep gloss to paintwork while also gently cleaning away any contaminants and providing a hydrophobic layer of protection.

The downside to such a smooth wax is that it's not the longest lasting. Chemical Guys don't publish a figure but a ballpark figure indicates that you'll get about a month's protection and gloss from this wax. It's an excellent wax for a car show or some photographs where gloss is central, but isn't durable enough to realistically be used on a daily-driven car.

We'd tell you to avoid most two-in-one cleaners like the plague, but we'll make an exception for this liquid car polish and wax. Part of Turtle Wax's excellent Ceramic range, this polish and wax combination will correct small scratches and imperfections in a car while also applying a ceramic layer of protection.

This means that applying this one product will help the overall finish of a car and provide a deeper shine that's normally only achievable with polishing. It won't be as effective as doing each step separately but the overall results will still be more than satisfactory. It's also really good value for money (especially for a ceramic-infused option) and the perfect option for beginners.

After something a little more familiar and proven? Carnauba was the peak of car care for decades and still has a place thanks to the deep natural glow it produces that synthetic waxes simply cannot match. While it won't be the longest-lasting option, carnauba is a joy to work with and will deliver a gorgeous deep shine to any paintwork.

Meguiar's carnauba wax will leave a lovely gloss in a car's paintwork. The durability won't be a patch on other options, but the wax is simple to use and is the best affordable liquid wax currently on sale.