So by now you may have read the hot hatch section of my SMMT Test Day experience, this section focuses on the other cars I drove on the day.
Dacia Duster
We start off with something complete different, the Dacia Duster, which is the only off-roader on the list. I took this on the off-road course - naturally - and it was good fun. I've never been off-roading before so for me this was a whole new world. I'll be honest, I spent most of my time concentrating on what I was doing rather than the car, but even so I was able to get a good feel for it.
The car looks and feels cheap inside, but at a starting price of under £10,000 one would argue that it is cheap. Despite the bumpy ride the Duster was comfortable and there was enough grip on offer to get the job done. I did feel the car was a bit underpowered though but that may have just been me.
BMW M2 Coupe
Like the Abarth 695 Biposto the M2 Coupe was a popular car and was often away from its stand. I had to go back a few times to see if it was there but I was finally able to climb into the manual variant after lunch. The car was lower than I expected and as you'd expect, the inside had a very premium feel.
The M2 made a big impression on me, the car sounded absolutely fantastic and the car was very planted. It was also one of the most agile cars I drove on the day and it seemed to changed direction effortlessly. The gear changes were slick and precise and I really cannot think of anything I'd want to change. It was an absolute thrill to drive.
Citroen C4 Cactus
Now this is a car I've never been keen on because of its styling which really isn't my cup of tea. However, I have to say the car really won me over and I can see why it has won so many awards. I drove the 110 PureTech petrol and it was easily the most comfortable car I drove. The seats are like big armchairs and it's just a pleasant place to sit. I've sat on less comfortable sofas to be honest.
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t was smooth to drive and the car felt quite nimble when I drove it around the city route. I was expecting the car to feel heavy but there were no such problem which was a pleasant surprise. It's a relaxing car to drive and perfect for cruising around on a sunny day as the music plays away in the background.
Ford EcoSport
Next up is the Ford EcoSport, pretty much one of the only Fords I could drive as I was too young to drive the Focus RS and Mustang - you had to be at least 28, although I was fine to drive Aston Martins and the Audi R8, work that one out. Anyway, I'm moving away from the point. I must admit I didn't know a great deal about the EcoSport so I wasn't too sure what to expect.
The model I drove had 1.0 litre EcoBoost engine which produces 138 bhp and it's a rather nippy motor. It makes a nice noise and I have to say I wasn't expecting when I first stepped in the car. The drive was smooth and visibility was good. All in all a rather pleasant drive.
Alfa Romeo Giulietta
This was a car that I didn't bond with to be honest which is a shame as I think it's real looker and it's car I've wanted to try for some time. I took it around the city route and the car just felt heavy and a bit cumbersome. It felt like I was having to drag it around the tight corners in all honesty.
It wasn't all bad, the car was comfortable and the cabin was a nice place to but that wasn't enough to give me the driving pleasure I was hoping for. Plus it had an automatic gearbox and I much prefer a manual.
Mini Cooper S Convertible
I was hoping there would be a Mini Cooper S hatchback or even a John Cooper Works but it was just the convertible they had. It was a nice day however so the convertible was probably a good choice anyway. I stepped in to the retro chic cabin and was able to find a comfortable driving position very quickly.
The 1.6 litre engine produced a meaty engine note and the gear changes were short and sharp. As with all Minis, the handling was very good and there was plenty of grip on offer. I've always been a big fan of Minis but the new ones are just too expensive in my opinion. I believe the one I drove was over £25,000, which is a lot for such a small car.
Audi R8 V10
Due to my age I wasn't able to drive the Ford Focus RS or the Mustang yet I could drive the uber powerful R8 V10, how does that work? Anyway, I was very fortunate to get the low-slung 533 bhp supercar and you don't really appreciate how low it is until you try to get in it. I fired up the V10 engine and doing so produced a very satisfying roar from the back.
I was expecting the car to be savage and hard to handle but if anything it was one of the easiest cars to drive on the day. The S Tronic gearbox provided snappy changes and the power was manageable. When I got it on the high speed bowl it got up to 100mph like it was nothing and once it was there the car felt like it was barely being tested. It was civilised in the cabin too, I was able to hold a normal conversation with no problem so it's very refined.
Unfortunately my phone died by the time I drove this so that's why I'm using images direct from MG...
MG6
We finish with a car that surprised me, the MG6. I was hoping to have a go in the MG3 which I will actually be reviewing next month but it wasn't there so I climbed into its big brother, the MG6. The model I drove is the range-topping TL which features a 1.9 turbo diesel engine. The inside was quite a nice place to be although it was a little plasticy and a bit plain.
Starting the car is unusual though, the key is like a big usb stick and you have to push it into its slot before pressing the engine start button. It felt a bit over the top but once I was on my way I was very surprised how smooth it drove. The performance was good and the ride was comfortable. Thanks to MG I will be giving this car a thorough test in July and I'm looking forward to that. I'll have to get used to that electric handbrake though!