The Northern Group Drives: September’s Road Test Reviews

The Northern Group’s members have been busy over the last month, driving new vehicles from across the motor industry in a variety of events and in road tests on their own local roads.

There’s been plenty going on at the tail end of the summer as brands have made the best of the weather to hold events in our region, further afield, and abroad, with our members in attendance and driving a wide range of different cars.

As you’ll have read, BYD came up to the region this month, with several members in attendance. Andrew Harris was among them, noting the new entry-level Dolphin as “a compelling proposition for those looking to dip their toes into the world of electric vehicles without breaking the bank” for the Yorkshire Times.

Moving slightly up the electric car scale, George Loveridge was one of our number taking a run out in the Polestar 2 this month. Writing on Driving Around, George comments that “this Polestar fills me with hope that one day I could swap an old Jaguar for an electric vehicle”.

In fact there was quite a bit of Polestar action this month, as Andrew Walker also drove the Polestar 3 and 4 models for Company Car & Van. He praised the looks, stylish interior, and build quality of both vehicles.

Hybrids were in no short supply either, with Frederic Manby taking to the wheel of the Lexus LBX for the Yorkshire Post. Our meetings and membership secretary commented that “in just about every way I like the demure LBX”.

Andrew Walker — busy man! — also took the FIAT 600 Hybrid for a whirl for Company Car & Van, feeling that FIAT has successfully upsized the sibling 500 and calling it “a resounding success”.

Annabelle and Ben Quirk were out driving the updated MG HS, and the SUV left Ben “speechless” regarding its improvements over the previous car.

Two of our members were putting Isuzu’s DMAX V-Cross to the test this month. Julie Marshall, for the Yorkshire Post, drove the “Mudmaster” special and remarked that it was such an easy drive around town you might forget “how much metal you were towing along with you”, while George Loveridge was in the regular car for Travel News Update and noted that “Isuzu’s ‘on-the-fly’ 4×4 system is as easy as 1, 2, 3!”

You might expect our green-laning maestro Damian Turner to be in a similar machine, but this month he was testing out the “Full-Hybrid Electric Vehicle” (FHEV) version of the Ford Kuga. Writing for The Mud Life, he remarks that it “strikes a sweet spot for drivers who want something that can handle both the daily grind and a bit of adventure on the weekends”.

Ben Harrington, of Driving Torque, reviewed the new MINI Cooper S and commented that it’s still “an excellent little car” even if the move up in size means it has “lost some of its characteristic cheekiness”.

Driving the Toyota Corolla Hybrid — another hybrid! — for 50Plus Magazine, Steve Howarth highlights Toyota’s “kaizen” principle of continuous improvement in the updated model, noting how “well put-together” it is.

Finally this month there’s Will Kilner’s review of the Genesis GV80 for the Telegraph and Argus. Will reckons that this flagship car from the group’s line-leading brand is “accomplished enough to steal sales from more established rivals”.