Drove 15 cars in a day and £36k hybrid blew all other vehicles away'

On the SMMT Test Day at Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire, the journalist tested 15 cars in a single session, illustrating the breadth of the UK market beyond SUVs. The event gathers a mix of new, nearly-new, and used models for hands-on evaluation, across city and handling courses. The Honda Civic eHEV hybrid, priced at £35,945, emerged as the top performer in Sharp's assessment for its handling and intelligent powertrain. Other prominent entries included the Aion V (£36,450), Smart #1 (£29,960), Jaecoo E5 (£27,505), and Chery Tiggo 9 (£43,105), reflecting a wide spectrum of design and value.