I drove 16 cars in a day including BMW, Ford and Mercedes vehicles – one scored perfect 10

Driving has always been a way for my mind to unwind. I relish getting to know a car and discerning its strengths and weaknesses.

So, you can imagine my excitement when offered the opportunity to spend an entire day test driving a variety of vehicles at The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)'s annual test day. Over a span of seven and a half hours, I had the pleasure of driving 16 different cars, ranging from city cars to supercars, classics to SUVs.

Getting behind the wheel of some of these gems truly brightened what was otherwise a rather grey and overcast day. I've rated all the cars out of 10 – with one achieving a perfect score.

Scroll down to discover which one achieved the coveted perfect 10.

The Leapmotor is currently one of the most affordable electric cars available in the UK. It's a compact addition to the ever-growing electric car market.

Much like the Skoda I mention further down, I noticed fellow journalists hopping in and out of them throughout the day, making them one of the two most popular cars on the day, although this could be due to the fact there were three of them.

Nonetheless, people were lining up and so I joined them. Once on board, it was clear why it was such a bargain for today's money, but at least it felt sturdy.

When driving, it's not a Porsche Taycan, but the lack of power meant there was no need to worry about approaching a bend too quickly. As expected, physics made it agile and easy to manoeuvre.

One slight oddity was that the tyres had a cliff-edge of grip, meaning once you reached a certain point, the grip vanished entirely without much warning. However, when you're not moving very fast, this isn't much of an issue. Would I purchase one?

No. I would rather spend the money on a decent second-hand car which was larger, more lively, and had a greater range. The Leapmotor is more of an unconventional third or fourth car rather than someone's main mode of transport.

If you're confined to the city, a motorbike or low mileage second-hand city car from a larger, well-known brand is likely a better option.

Christopher's Rating: 6/10 – Charming first effort, but requires more refinement, a larger boot and a lower price tag.

The German brand was present with my personal four-ringed favourite, the Audi e-Tron GT. I drove one of these last year – because Prince William has one – and found its steering to be a revelation.

Fortunately, the same characteristics had been passed onto the Launch Edition of the S5 saloon that came with a delicious petrol engine.

This car, like its electric counterpart, isn't designed for track days or city driving, but for storming along the autobahn. Yet, on Millbrook's alpine handling course it twisted and turned with agility and grace.

It handled the course's bumps admirably and I felt it would likely appeal to those who spend their time on motorways and also just enjoy driving in general. A commendable effort.

Christopher's Rating: 7.5/10 – Audi have been criticised recently for their electric efforts, but they still excel in the Quattro-petrol area too.

The Seal, from Chinese firm BYD, is part of a new wave of Chinese cars aiming to compete with the likes of BMW, Audi, Mercedes, and Porsche in the executive car market. The Seal is part of that arsenal and based on my albeit brief time with it, the signs are promising.

The car is powerful, sure, but there's more to it than that. Like nearly every other luxury car currently on sale in the UK, it comes with a wall of touch screens. Even though I'm not personally a fan of touch screens replacing buttons, the ones in the Seal were intuitive and easy to use.

Once on the move, the ride was smooth, the car grippy, and a breeze to drive. Would I have preferred more steering feel? Yes, but that's not the point.

The point is that these cars are a serious contender to European big brands who have dominated this space for decades. Let's see what comes next.

Christopher's Rating: 7.5/10 – Equal to the Audi in terms of my rating, but loses and gains points in different places. It's superior in terms of performance, but I preferred the driving experience of the German car.

I've already touched on the Rocketeer MX5 for another article in the Mirror's motoring section, but writing about it again is hardly a hardship when I have such a soft spot for cars like this. I love restomods, they take a beautiful classic car and give it the convenience (and sometimes power) of a modern car.

The Rocketeer MX5 takes a 1990s B-road hero and gives it a fresh six-cylinder powerplant. I was so excited to drive this MX5, it was the first car I drove after the driver's briefing in the morning. Being a convertible, you can revel in that six-cylinder engine note and short-throw gearbox so much more.

It's small, it's nimble, it's powerful, it can be made to be as bespoke as you want. It's not mass-market but that's not the point, it's the car industry letting it's hair down, and that can only be a good thing in a market where the public mainly wants SUVs.

Christopher's Rating: 8/10 – Bravo Rocketeers. More of these please.

That isn't to say the big boys from bigger brands can't have a little fan as well. Ford is one of the best at this. They've taken their Ford Mustang electric car and given it some of World Rally Championship treatment. The original car has been given more power, different tyres, different interior, a few more driving modes, and a changed set-up underneath.

As a result, this car is nimbler than the vehicle it's based on despite the raised suspension and off-road tyres. I would love to have had the opportunity to take on gravel where its rally-related modifications would have made it an absolute riot. On tarmac though, it still felt very effective.

The Alfa Romeo Junior Ibrida is a baby-SUV. It looks like an SUV, but is actually about the same size as a BMW 1 Series.

It's small, petrol, and on this particularly overcast day, very red. I decided to test drive it after following one whilst testing another car. Taking the wheel myself, it was clear why the other pilot had decided to do two laps of the alpine course and not just the one.

It was simply plain fun, felt light on its feet, had good steering feel, but never felt like it ran out of grip. I wouldn't necessarily buy it as the boot was a bit too small and it could do with being a few centimetres closer to the ground.

But there will be people out there who will be taken with this small hot-ish hatchback.

Christopher's Rating: 7/10 - The Junior Ibrida is a capable and charming car, that won't be to everyone's taste. It is at least fun to drive.

A car I would most certainly recommend you buy if you have the money is the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. A rival to the BYD Seal and Audi S5 above, this would be my pick of the three by far.

A powerful six-cylinder engine, rear wheel drive, electric car like throttle response, and Italian charm, what's not to like?

I hypermiled one of these from London to Edinburgh and back last year and having the opportunity to not worry about MPG and just enjoy one of Alfa's greatest hits was so liberating.

Yes, the German and Chinese cars probably make better financial sense, but there's a charm to the Giulia. It's not naughty, but it's the alternative A24 choice.

Some of it might not make sense, but it's not afraid to be open about what it is. It's a four-door Italian stallion of a car that is quite serious, but also very endearing in the way only Alfa Romeos can be.

Christopher's Rating: 9/10 – A car you would buy with your heart, even if your head told you others would be a more sensible bet. I will be sad when Alfa stops building these.

If the Alfa Romeo Giulia is a car you purchase with your head, then the Mercedes is a car you acquire if you've just won the lottery. At over £100,000, I believe this may have been one of the priciest cars on display.

So costly and valuable were the AMG GTs on show that a representative from Mercedes accompanied me as we navigated our way around the alpine course and onto Millbrook's high speed bowl where we were restricted to a speed of 100mph for safety reasons.

As you would anticipate from a car of this price and specification, it was very luxurious inside. Competitors for this car include the Porsche 911 and Aston Martin Vantage.

To be honest, this was one of those cars where you would desire more time to truly assess it, but then again, the same could be said of all of the cars present. As it was, it was a delightful experience.

Christopher's Rating: 8/10 - A car designed to conquer continents, I was left with a feeling wanting to find out more.

The Mini Aceman is a family SUV, the best way to think of it is to see it as an electric version of Mini's already relatively popular Countryman that we're familiar with.

What does the Aceman offer when you've got 20-30 minutes?

Well, it boasts short overhangs at the front and rear that should aid with parking and is equipped with MINI's new interior design. This includes BMW's new chunky steering wheel, also featured in the BMW 1 Series.

On the road, the MINI proves to be quite a delight, keeping pace with much sportier cars ahead of it. It may not be your choice for a track day, but it can certainly hold its own.

One minor annoyance was the music that kept playing every time I touched the throttle. Initially intriguing, but after a few weeks, you might find yourself searching for the off switch.

Ah yes, the renowned BMW 1 Series. For over a decade, this compact BMW was a rear-wheel drive hatchback.

Now, the car has transitioned to front-wheel drive. Despite the change, the car continues to sell in large numbers and the model we had on hand showcased BMW's latest design styling.

With a spacious boot and generous seats, the 1 Series appears to be an ideal family car on paper, provided that family doesn't desire an SUV. Its compact size should assist with parking and its light steering will make manoeuvring even easier.

On the twists and turns of the alpine course, it was stable, uneventful, and competent as most BMWs often are.

The interior is plush, posh, and comfortable, although the chunky and thick steering wheel wasn't to my taste, it probably wouldn't be a purchase defining matter.

Christopher's Rating: 7/10 – A good effort, even if the driving experience was a bit lacking in texture.

I was also reunited with the Honda Civic Type R. This car, considered one of the most effective hot hatchbacks of the modern era, has won a significant number of motoring awards.

Once you're behind the wheel, it's easy to see why. The handling is taught and balanced, the chassis stiff, the gearbox a joy and the engine buzzing with a desire to be let off the leash.

Moreover, because this is based on a Honda Civic, it's practical too with a big boot, rear seats, and space for family-related objects. It was one of my favourite cars to drive when I had one for a week in 2023, and that assessment hasn't really changed 18 months on.

Christopher's Rating: 8.5/10 – It was great in 2023, it's still good now. We'll be sad when Honda stops making these.

The Hyundai Inster is a curious little car, and not just because its name sounds like slang for a popular social media network (guess which one). It's interesting because it's got early-2000s Fiat 500 vibes about it. When that car was launched, it was lauded for its cool looks, funky interior, charming handling, and small size.

These are all traits I discovered in the Hyundai Inster. It's somewhat compact, boasts distinctive aesthetics, a daring interior, and handles well.

Unlike something like the Leapmotor, this feels like it's competing to be someone's sole car, something to challenge the Ford Fiestas and VW Polos of this world.

Indeed, being electric, you might be less inclined to embark on exceptionally long road trips, but if the UK's charging infrastructure enhances, then why not?

Christopher's rating: 8/10 – Hyundai has constructed an effective foundation here. If, like other manufacturers, it develops a hybrid version, then I would be hopeful about sales figures.

One vehicle which isn't mainstream is the Alpine A110R. This was one of my favourite cars of the entire day.

Just like its Austrian counterpart, the Alpine features rigid suspension, a large wing, and you're fastened into it using a four-point racing harness. This is a car through which you experience everything.

There's no insulation here, you are inundated with so much information you chuckle. It's a raw, enjoyable, exhilarating place to be, even when you're merely trundling out of the car park.

Get moving and once everything has warmed up, it is confidence inspiring. You feel alive, joyful and self-assured.

It's a car that needs to be worked, it doesn't hand you speed on a platter, you have to strive for it. What this all signifies is that when the car is ready, and you are too, it is incredible.

As specialised as this car may be, it's phenomenal.

Christopher's Rating: 9.5/10 – Bright blue and beautifully brilliant.

The Ford Explorer represents the blue oval's latest foray into the electric SUV market. The Explorer is a large, practical vehicle that manages to be comfortable and well-executed.

It handles corners with ease and stability on the road, while the interior screens are quick and user-friendly. Plus, it boasts a spacious boot.

However, one minor issue I encountered was the lack of substantial leg support in the seats, which resulted in some sliding around during sharp steering manoeuvres. Despite this, the car remained firmly grounded, but you didn't feel fully integrated with the seat.

Christopher's Rating: 7/10 - A commendable effort and a solid foundation to build upon.

The MG S5 EV marks MG's venture into the electric SUV sector, an area where the Anglo-Chinese firm has shown considerable prowess in recent years. Their latest model continues this trend with a respectable range, ample boot space, and handling that won't soon be forgotten.

It's crucial to remember that cars like this aren't necessarily about the handling; they're about transporting your loved ones from point A to point B safely and without fuss. This also applies to the aforementioned Ford; they're designed to instil a sense of safety and offer excellent practicality for your money.

My only significant critique is that larger vehicles like this require greater ranges, perhaps up to 400 miles, and more charging facilities.

Christopher's Rating: 7/10 – Like the Ford it's a good effort, and technology will only make these electric SUVs more viable with time.

The crowning jewel of the day was the Skoda Felicia convertible. Produced from between 1959 and 1964, I wasn't originally going to drive it.

But then I saw others coming back from their drives with massive smiles on their faces. The first thing I was told was that to start it one had to pull out the choke to get it started. The second was just plain strange.

Normally in a manual car, first gear is ahead to the left, second is direct behind, third is ahead to the right, fourth behind that and firth ahead to the right etc. In the Skoda, it was literally the opposite. First was where fifth would be, second where sixth lives.

In short, instead of going from left to right along the gearbox. On the road, the Skoda was practically charming in the way only cars of a certain age can be.

I came back as all the others had, with a massive smile on my face, bobble hat still intact.

Christopher's Rating: 10/10 – Skoda deserves great credit for bringing precious classics on an overcast, potentially rainy day.

So, you drive 16 cars and have to decide which one is the best. In truth, there are very few cars here that you can directly compare with the other.

You can't compare the MX5 with the Ford or the Mercedes with the MG for example. So, on a purely objective perspective it's hard.

However, the car that was most memorable from the day was the Skoda with its curious gearbox, blue paintwork, and novel driving dynamics.