Drove 15 cars in 8 hours - 1 hybrid blew BMW, Peugeot and Jaecoo out the park

The SMMT Test Day at Millbrook Proving Ground showcased 15 cars over eight hours, ranging from budget Chinese SUVs to a £191,000 Maserati, highlighting the breadth of today’s market. The session included the top hybrid hatchback priced at £35,945, alongside entries like the Aion V (£36,450), Smart #1 (£29,960), Jaecoo E5 (£27,505) and Chery Tiggo 9 (£43,105). The journalist’s impressions varied, with the Aion V offering a tough evaluation due to limited alpine handling testing, while the Jaecoo E5 showed a marked improvement in ride quality. The event demonstrated the mix of value, performance, and innovation in recent debuts.