Finally, the end is nigh. By which we mean that 2025 is coming to a close. A month that usually signals the arrival of many automotive-branded biscuits and other edible paraphernalia to the houses of motoring journalists, along with a varied array of other automotive themed festive gifts.
SGMW Awards 2026: HAPPY START TO 2026 FOR SGMW NEW YEAR HONOURS WINNERS
Despite the snow, Christmas traffic, and abundance of free biscuits, the SGMW membership continued their continued commitment to the written word last month with a plethora of reviews, news, and features. They even managed to all gather in the same place for the Southern Group’s annual Christmas meal; which was a fantastic event as usual.
Anyway, these are the tinsel-covered highlights as produced by the SGMW membership for December 2025, along with a quick peek at all of the important goings-on. Enjoy.
SGMW new car watch
Last month started on a considerable high with the arrival of the new Toyota GR GT, a V8-powered supercar packing 641bhp and a small hybrid motor. Which, if we do say so, is rather stunning looking. Wowsers indeed.
Back in the normal world, notable arrivals from December include the new XPeng G6, a 480bhp electric SUV that will cost around 40k. In Germany, meanwhile, Volkswagen announced a new Final Edition version of its stout SUV for both the Touareg and Touareg R models. As the name suggests, this new trim level spells the end of the big VW, which is slated to end production in 2027.
Caterham also shared some more details on its upcoming Project V electric sports car, including that it’ll get a 268bhp powertrain, giving it the capability to sprint from 0 to 62 mph in around 4.5 seconds and have a range of around 249 miles.
Finally, Mitsubishi is back! Well, in the UK at least, a place where they’ve been famous for not selling cars since 2020. The new Outlander PHEV will spearhead the brand’s return to Blighty, alongside the burly L200 pickup. Now, if they can bring back the Evo and lend us the Tommi Makkinen heritage fleet car for a week, that’ll make us very happy.
SGMW test drive watch
Winners:
We start the winners section with the refreshed Isuzu D-Max, which received plenty of positive praise for its on- and off-road ability and smartly designed cabin. We fully agree with this positive praise, and you can read our thoughts on it here.
Other winners from the festive period included the redesigned Citroen C5 Aircross, which was rated as a strong contender in the family SUV class for its practicality, comfort, and value for money.
Sticking with French cars, the new Renault Clio supermini won the hearts of reviewers, as despite it not arriving in the UK until 2027, reviewers deemed it worth waiting for. While at the other end of the French-car spectrum, the Alpine A390 was awarded excellent review scores for its considerable driving ability.
Moving swiftly onwards to America, the new Jeep Compass was positively received by testers, who said it represents a leap forward for the US brand, thanks to its angular looks, excellent tech, strong build quality, and vast interior.
The winner of the month award has to go to the Mercedes CLA Hybrid. A car that was described as being a highly impressive alternative to going fully electric thanks to its frugality. Also winning praise for its fantastic tech and excellent refinement.
And the losers:
In the losers’ section, no one got the presents they wanted. The verdicts on the Toyota Urban Cruiser likely left the brand’s PRs eating their feelings over Christmas. These low scores were mainly due to its average range figure and slow charging ability, cheap-feeling interior, and rather forgettable driving experience. We can only assume some journos will be off the Toyota Christmas card list for this year.
Slightly further up the ratings scale was the Leapmotor i C10 Irmscher, which, despite the famous name stamped on its bodywork, was described as being fancier looking rather than any better. Not very Christmas cheer at all.
SGMW Web Watch:
Bentley Continental GT 2025 review – Tim Pitt
In ‘standard’ form, the latest Bentley Continental GT gets a 680hp V8 hybrid powertrain. A not too shabby number if you ask us. But is it the pick of the range? Tim Pitt gets behind the wheel of the British luxury coupe to find out.
Read the Motoring Research review
I tested the Tiggo 9 from China’s biggest car exporter Chery in a 640-mile festive adventure – with no top-ups – Jim McGill
Jim McGill embarks upon a grand European adventure in the new Chery Tiggo 9 SUV. How grand exactly? Try a 640-mile road trip taking in five countries along the way.
Toyota bZ4X 2025 review – Maxine Ashford
The Toyota bZ4X was only introduced a few years ago, and now there’s an updated model which is more efficient with a higher range figure. But can this revamped Toyota EV compete against the latest crop of family SUVs? Maxine Ashford has driven the latest model to find out.
Lexus UX300h 2025 Review – Stuart Bird
Lexus gave its UX SUV a significant update a couple of years ago, but is the hybrid UX300h still a competitor compared to its rivals? Stu Bird gives his verdict in his latest video for the Driven It channel.
SGMW Social Watch:
Tim Pitt bags himself an early Christmas treat in the form of a rather lovely Lotus Emira with 400bhp on tap. Jealous? Yes we are.
Early Christmas present: I have taken delivery of this Emira Turbo SE for the next few weeks.
— Tim Pitt (@timpitt100) December 23, 2025
‘Purple Haze’ paint colour looks more Lamborghini than Lotus – proper junior supercar vibes, I think.
Anything you want to know? pic.twitter.com/nK6UBwNv6g
When is a Citroen Visa not a Citroen Visa? Well, according to Chris Rees, it’s when someone gives it a 2CV-styled makeover.
Is it a Citroen 2CV? No, in a bizarre twist it’s actually a Citroen Visa pic.twitter.com/w6Vd4rkJHz
— Chris Rees (@quillerrees) December 5, 2025
When it comes to spotting rare and obscure cars, SGMW members have an exceptionally eagle eye for such things. Peter Nunn is the latest to excel with this spot, a very cool Fiat 850 coupe. Che cosa! As the Italians would say.
Very cool car parking spot this AM 🙏🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/rqbZXFTpy7
— Peter Nunn (@PeterNunn3) December 22, 2025
In birthday news, Shane Wilkinson celebrates 32 times around the sun with a very appropriate birthday cake. SGMW approved of course.
Today my family is celebrating 32 years of my existence with a Lightning McQueen cake. I approve! pic.twitter.com/yPVx69F3zK
— Shane Wilkinson (@WilkiWheels) December 29, 2025
