The Northern Group Drives: January’s Road Test Reviews

Despite having the same 31 days as six other months, January always feels like it’s the longest one. Even though it might drag on a bit, that means more time for driving!

Once again, our members have been as busy as can be, with hundreds of cars tested at launches, events, and on short- and long-term loans. We can’t bring you them all in this short space, but here’s some highlights from the various NGMW outlets across the month.

We’ll start as usual with one of our YouTube channels, as PlanetAuto had a day with the new Isuzu D-Max on and off-road. Annabelle and Ben Quirk were impressed with how Isuzu has “upped their game” with the changes to the D-Max:

Like Isuzu, KGM — formerly Ssangyong — is known for relatively simple machines that are popular in rural areas, and we’ve had members testing the Actyon and Tivoli models this month.

George Loveridge was in the former for Driving Around, feeling that the Actyon punches above its price point for kit and “the quality and attention to detail on the interior”. Mike Torpey, for Car Reviews UK, agreed, praising the value for money of the “eye-catching coupe SUV”.

On the Tivoli front, Frederic Manby was out in the compact model for The Scotsman and remarked that it too is keenly priced, noting it as “a well-equipped family hatchback with an SUV flavour”.

In fact our membership secretary barely seemed to take a break in January. He also reviewed the MG HS for The Scotsman and, while driven to distraction by its bonging, found it “a well-equipped and smart family sized car with no apparent cost-cutting in its furnishings”. He also said of the last-of-line Alfa Romeo Giulia Tributo that he “loved it but couldn’t afford the fuel bills”, and found the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N-Line a “tempting EV offer”.

Elsewhere on the Korean front, new member Naveed Hussain was having a spin in the range-topping Genesis GV80, on his Naveed4Speed channel. He commented on its luxury and premium feel, adding that “I would love to be driven in it just as much as I would love to drive it”:

Julie Marshall was another member hardly sitting still this month, with her reviews of the Audi A3 Sportback and Nissan Qashqai in the Yorkshire Post. She praised the Audi for its “superb” handling and for feeling “bigger than it is”, while the Qashqai attracted positive comments for its technological upgrades and spaciousness.

Damian Turner was another in the Qashqai this month, commenting in The Mud Life that it’s “a masterclass in blending efficiency, practicality, and modern technology”. Another busy man, he was also out in the Skoda Karoq — “the ideal companion for everything from the daily commute to weekend adventures” — and the Suzuki Vitara which “just keeps getting better”.

That throws us back to George Loveridge, who reviewed its sibling car for Travel News Update. He found the updated Swace estate to be a “a very smart, comfortable and economical cruiser”.

David Thomas was reviewing the MINI Countryman for his Auto Bears YouTube channel, remarking that it’s a “very good family SUV” that still has the “MINI quirks that we’ve come to know and love”:

We’ve had a few more drives in BYD models this month too, with Will Kilner praising the relatively inexpensive Dolphin for its “excellent levels of standard equipment” in the Telegraph and Argus. Andrew Walker was out in the larger Seal U for Company Car and Van, noting that it’s “so well priced and specced it will turn heads”.

Will was also driving the Subaru Outback, noting that the “sure-footed” Subaru was “so much more than just a no-nonsense rugged vehicle”. Meanwhile Andrew was taking the Renault Symbioz through its paces, remarking that it’s “very impressive” and “definitely worth your time” in a crowded sector.

Mike Torpey added the Volvo XC60 to his reviews this month, again on Car Review UK, finding the car to bring “genuine distinction to such a competitive market”. Our vice-chair Andy Harris was taking the updated Audi Q7 for a run for the Yorkshire Times, commenting that the PHEV model is “a significant step forward in the luxury SUV segment”.

Finally we have David Hooper’s review of the Honda HR-V for Wheel World Reviews, noting it to be “a smart, practical and well equipped contender”, while Ben Harrington found the Cupra Leon “a mightily impressive piece of kit that could even be a track-day tool” on Driving Torque.