Once more, welcome to the place where the Aston was rolled in “007 Casino Royale”-  UTAC Millbrook.  For under 20 years the testing ground of GM Vauxhalls, Opels, Bedford’s and the like, it is now independent of any manufacturer, owned by the French company UTAC CERAM. 

The great thing about the 2026 SMMT event was the inclusion of a “Working Vehicle” arena, accessed by a shuttle bus from the main centre, a massive concrete turning circle designed for truck testing, on the day however the area was awash with manufacturers LGV and PSV wares waiting to be tested.

Once the Safety Briefing   was over and breakfast downed, the attack was made on the vehicles waiting outside.

During the course of the day, I tried mainly to cover vehicles that I drive, i.e. LVC’s (Light Commercial Vehicles).  The Hon. Editor encouraged me to join him in the truck zone first, then I tackled the LCVs.  All tested were EV’s.

I have been asked to record my thoughts on some of the vehicles, so these will be described in terms of the feeling they evinced on me as a driver.  The Tech. Specs. you can, dear reader, reveal to yourselves by simple research.

 

Higer SWB Azure single deck City bus – I.P & M.H

As part of my experience in the “Working Vehicles” zone and my very first time driving a PSV, Harris Coach and Bus presented this for assessment.  As with all the staff in this “Zone”, there was a tangible measure of knowledge and experience, which was not always the case with the cars.  I approached the bus with some trepidation, but this was soon dispelled, as the instructor made me feel at ease.  Just entering the bus platform from the central door caused a slight “Oh, wow!” to pass my lips.  The interior was very inviting, particularly by dint of the blue leather detailing used on the seats.  However, it  was clearly a Chinese product, as there was a distinct absence of the “new car smell” therein.  This odour is shunned in the home market, yet something the average Western customer expects – a bit like the way we may surreptitiously pierce the foil seal of a new coffee jar, just to catch the exotic perfume.

I settled into the driving seat, felt comfortable and followed the briefest of instruction, for that was all that was required and set off.  Being all-electric, the driving task was made so much easier.  The bus seemed to lose some of its bulk and length once on the move and the instructor was keen that we extended the drive to take us over part of the Hill Route, past a favourite photography spot, so he could have some fun “photo-bombing” some glamour shots of the latest in automotive excess with a PSV!  I had to admit that even as a novice driver, I felt quite in control and up for the jape.  Surprised looks behind expensive cameras in front of vastly more expensive cars were most amusing.

My over-riding opinion of the City bus was one of it being well-screwed together, but asking the usual question of “How long on British roads will it remain so?”  My personal experience of many miles on roads in and around Shanghai, Beijing and Chongqing were that these are billiard-tables compared to those of, say, the “Royal” Spa City of Cheltenham.  I was further minded to muse over the apparent shortage of PSV drivers, in part due to the perception of these vehicles being a handful to drive in traffic.  This EV goes a long way to removing some of those perceptions.  If we could only change the desires of youngsters to be “influencers” (is that a real job, although many have become stupidly rich “influencing?”) and encourage them to take on a real job, such as driving us about.  This is a real service when you are wanting to move from the vast rain-swept Heathrow Car-park to the warm, dry terminal before little George throws another paddy about being hungry, wet and not influencing you at all.

EDITORS NOTE – I too had a drive in the Higer. As a holder of a PSV licence for well over 20 years, I noted the steering for an unladen bus a little heavy and found the cab layout and switchgear ergonomics poor compared to established rivals. That said, the Higer had superb brakes and felt well screwed together – how well it fares in the real world compared to other Chinese PSV products currently gaining a UK foothold such as BYD remains to be seen.

 

Farizon SV van – I.P

The Farizon SV van was my first drive after the “Working Vehicles”, so I traded size and weight for an unladen BEV van.  Again, my interest in “Perceived Quality”, in which I hold my PhD, was piqued by the very first touch of this van.  The name, not unknown to me, but as yet undriven, is another newcomer to our streets and a real coup to have on the pan at Millbrook.  The “vehicle handshake”, or door handle was pleasing in terms of its tactility, weight, shape and loads and the interior it revealed actually creased my physiognomy  into a broad smile.  That is always a good start.  The reason was the bold splash of bright bronze-coloured trim starting at the door inner handle escutcheon and arcing across the dash to the passenger handle.  There is, or was, no need for this adornment.  It could have been the normal grey or blacks but that treatment wouldn’t have evinced a smile.

The van drove well, despite being unladen and I as usual took to the Hill Route.  I expected a considerable dose of tramping from the rear, but not at all.  (Apologies, reader, but I did not check on IRS or live axle).  This was an easy van to hustle about, imagining that the stop/start nature of the possible user’s business would suit this machine.  As a part of the Geely family, there is much experience behind the unfamiliar name and it did again feel well-built.  Having spent many happy hours beside assembly tracks in the Middle Kingdom, I know that they are usually new, clean facilities where keen operators do exactly what they are told, so if the process is good, the result will be.  The van was a great place to be; it felt more spacious than my usual Tranny/Ranger or Isuzu pick up, it handled well and the floor covering looked flat and easy to clean.  A comparison of running cost showed a saving of up to £1,500 p.a. on the short hops that we cover in our diesel trucks on our heritage railway.  The purchase price is another thing, though.  

Isuzu D-Max pick up – I.P

I chose this Isuzu D-Max as a comparison with the ancient, but still solid diesel truck that we use on the GWSR (Gloucester and Warwickshire Steam Railway) where I work as part of the Drainage team.  This latter is worth tuppence and this new EV which I was to assess retailed at an eye-watering £62k in its top-spec condition!  However for the purposes of research, I set off for the Hill Route.  Now, I have to admit to having enjoyed a decent repast and maybe my over-sensitive gut was influencing my impressions, but before I made it to the hills, just on the concrete approach roads, my midriff was wobbling horribly.  Now, I do not wish to offend, I know I am 68 and a little over-the-top being a bus-pass holding OAP (not to be sniffed at btw), but I am a reasonably fit body and try to keep my abdominal muscles in some form of order, tension-wise at least, but ouch!  The effect on my bits was dramatic in that Isuzu.  I have never felt so stirred by secondary ride motion.  In fact, I nearly exited the truck for a road-side motion.  This discomfort plagued my whole drive, over the varying road surfaces, bends and uphill/downgrade features of the course.  It was the usual EV joys of easy to drive and staggering acceleration, with great re-gen braking, but none of that appeased my gut, so I wasn’t displeased to return the car.  I commented on this effect to the stand staff and was naturally informed that no-one else had observed this, but I doubt that many had tried the vehicle.

AION V SUV – I.P

Towards the end of the day, Mike and I schlepped around looking at cars and chatting with contacts we knew.  One such was on the Aion stand.  “Aion?” I hear you say.  Indeed, new to me as well.  Not new, but still as engaging and professional as Laura Biss manning or (“womaning”) the stand.  Neither Mike nor I had seen many people on the Aion pitch during the day, nor had we sighted the cars being driven much, so after a few very pleasant pleasantries, we were treated to a very fact and stat-filled, passionate introduction to the cars on show.  When she opened the passenger door, there must have been a collective clunk as two chins hit the concrete.  The interior was special.  Yes, it was the £1,500 extra Premium specification, but these two old soaks (OK Mike, speaking personally on the age bit) were properly impressed.  Once one is impressed with a product, or conversely is unimpressed, the human psyche then starts looking for more features to further please or disenfranchise the beholder.  It is the same when one meets another human – if we like them, we often go looking for more pleasing character aspects or if we don’t like a person, we pick on other faults they may have.  Humans are weird.

The delights in the car kept coming.  The rear doors had the widest opening angle of any we have seen.  That may be barely by a few degrees, but the impression was made.  The seats were set to slide rearwards a few centimetres to assist exiting when the doors were open.   The tray-tables in the rear of the front seats looked like they would repel sustained attack by belligerent feral children (you know the type) and had a quality feel to them.  I just had to drive one, so I set off for the Hills.  Tragically, my progress towards the test routes was blocked by a kind (and long-suffering) UTAC Marshal.  “Sorry, Sir, the test track closed five minutes ago.  Please make a circuit of the pan and return the car to the stand.”  These Marshals were on a 12-hour duty and had been more than courteous, out in the sun all day, so one was not going to upset them, therefore I complied.  

I used to work for an Engineering Manager who said that if I couldn’t assess a car within 500 metres, I should not be working for him.  Fair point,  So that is all I had with this car and it impressed me further.  A peach to drive and so good that we have arranged a longer-term review later in the year, so look out, dear reader if you are still awake.  If not, WAKEY – WAKEY!  Time to put the kettle on, he’s finished waffling about the SMMT Test Day 2026!

*Editors Note – Autobritannia has just recently run the AION V on a week long test. The results and opinions will be up soon. Be surprised – we were!

DAF XD Electric Tractor Unit – M.H

The diesel version of this tractor unit powered by DAF’s successful ‘MX’ series engine has been a hit in sales charts for LGV vehicles. No doubt helping to cement their incredible record for being the UK number one brand for all trucks at 7.5 tonnes and above. The new electric DAF XD was everything I expected – quiet, refined and a well laid out interior. Some nice touches of piano black and colour shades have turned what was a fleet vehicle in the form of the old CF range which the XD replaced into something a little more premium feeling. Build quality feels much better too and the new drivers seat is a welcome touch.

On the hilly test route and loaded to 36,000Kgs gross vehicle weight, the XD romped up the banks and the combination of excellent foundation and retarder brakes kept my heartbeat rate at a sensible level coming down them. My first ever jaunt in an EV commercial – a thoroughly well engineered and presented vehicle.

Honda Prelude e:HEV – M.H

Oh I do love a good Honda, and I am so pleased they have found their engineering Mojo again in recent years after a little time in the wilderness. The Prelude is their answer to something sporting based since the UK deletion of legendary Civic Type:R. In fact this all new model does feature some Type R DNA by means having some suspension and braking componentary based on the Civic Type:R. A good thumping round Millbrook’s alpine hill course found the Prelude to be riotous fun, like a limpet on the tarmac with quick steering, instant torque and performance and extra engine noises pumped through the car speakers. Quality felt excellent too and I look forward to having one of these on full test soon. Some pundits were saying it was a little pointless – I’ll reserve my thoughts after I’ve put some mileage on one. I’ll tell you this though – I’m looking forward to it.

Dr Ian S Pogson CEng

Mike Humble