Journalist Christopher Sharp attended the SMMT annual test day at Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire, driving 15 cars. He ranked them from worst to best, with the Honda Civic eHEV emerging as the clear winner.
15th: Aion V - £36,450
The Aion V, a new Chinese SUV, left Sharp with more questions than answers. Unable to test it on the Alpine Handling Course, he found it soft with a big boot but gave it a 4/10 rating.
14th: Smart #1 - £29,960
The Smart #1 electric SUV was less fun to drive than rivals, with a massive touchscreen and inconsistent regenerative braking. It scored 5/10.
13th: Jaecoo E5 - £27,505
Improved from an earlier test, the Jaecoo E5 had better damping and feel, though not a class leader. Rating: 6/10.
12th: Chery Tiggo 9 - £43,105
Flagship model felt well put together and refined but was a big, soft box. Rating: 6/10.
11th: Jaecoo 7 - £29,210
Dubbed the 'Temu Range Rover', it surprised Sharp with its handling, feeling like an old Land Rover Freelander. Rating: 7/10.
10th: Peugeot 308 SW - £31,195
Non-electric estate car with good pull and massive boot, but steering wheel could block instrument binnacle. Rating: 7/10.
9th: MG Cyberster
Electric two-seat convertible with scissor doors evoked 1960s spirit but felt gimmicky. Rating: 7/10.
8th: Nissan Micra - £21,495
Shared platform with Renault 5 but softer, with nimble handling and different personality. Rating: 7.5/10.
7th: BMW Z4 - £45,000
Manual gearbox forced engagement; heavy clutch but decent drive. Sharp would buy a Toyota Supra instead. Rating: 7.5/10.
6th: Hyundai Ioniq 5 N - £65,800
Gripped corners flat like a Terminator, very pleasurable to drive. Rating: 8/10.
5th: Kia PV5 - £32,995
Electric MPV with good handling and practicality, named best electric car of the day. Rating: 8.1/10.
4th: Maserati Granturismo - £191,820
Most expensive and powerful, lithe and thrilling, but watch the low nose. Rating: 8/10.
3rd: Fiat Grande Panda Hybrid - £18,995
Small practical car with small engine proving excellent. Rating: 8.5/10.
2nd: Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio - £87,056
Light on its feet, fun to drive, a joy that reminds us what we'll miss with combustion engines. Rating: 8.5/10.
1st: Honda Civic eHEV - £35,945
Impeccable handling and intelligent hybrid powertrain made it the clear winner. Confident, communicative, and practical. Rating: 9/10.
