After the first month of the year finally ended, February finally arrived with the usual flurry of activity from the SGMW membership.
Equally busy was the automotive industry, with an array of new reveals to kick-start the year, including Mercedes killing off more of their four-cylinder AMG models and a potential ban on flush-fitting door handles. Because we like to bring you all of the exciting news.
Latest: 2026 Isuzu D-Max V-Cross review: the true ‘do it all’ daily driver
In member highlights this month, we have all of the details on the new Mitsubishi L200 and the reborn Toyota Urban Cruiser. As well as an in-depth look at the Stellantis write-downs and a man who bought his wife a Vauxhall Tigra.
Read on for a round-up of the new cars news, first drives, and what SGMW members got up to in February.
SGMW New Car Watch:
February started with big news from Skoda, literally, with the Czech brand finally revealing its forthcoming all-electric seven-seater, which will be called the Peaq. The model has already been previewed with the bold-looking Vision 7S concept, and it will measure in at around 4.9 metres long – about the same size as the current Superb estate. The Peaq will be fully unveiled later this year as a rival to other chunky EVs like the Kia EV9, the Hyundai Ioniq 9, and the Peugeot E-5008.
Mercedes also put another nail in their own downsizing strategy last month with the announcement that the AMG GLC 43 and 63 models are being discontinued. Both performance models were powered by four-cylinder engines, which weren’t exactly a hit with buyers and journalists alike. There is good news, though, as an AMG GLC 53 will replace both of the outgoing models, which gets its power from a 442bhp 3.0-litre straight-six turbocharged engine. It may not be a V8 ‘63’ model, but we’ll take it.
In electric car news, Mazda confirmed that its swish-looking 6e saloon will cost from £38,995 – a keen price point for a 348-mile EV. Elsewhere, the Toyota Highlander EV also made its official debut, with the US-only model packing three rows of seats and a 320-mile range figure when equipped with the largest battery option.
For the budget conscious who don’t want to go very far, Citroen revealed the e-C3 Urban Range last month as well. The new model is the cheapest way into an e-C3 starting at just £18,495. Of course, the ‘Urban’ part of its name hints at where it’ll be best utilised, as it offers up to 130 miles of range, making it the perfect foil for city dwellers.
We finish with a gripping story, again literally. As the Chinese government announced last month that it intends to ban retractable and flush-fitting door handles. Why? Because in the event of an accident and an electrical malfunction, they say recessed door handles that cannot be opened are likely to cause a fatality. And here we were thinking it was a pain when they freeze shut in the winter. But seriously, we think retractable door handles are technology for the sake of it and a bit unnecessary.
SGMW Test Drive Watch: winners and losers
The winners are…
Plenty of new models were highly rated last month, including the new Toyota bZ4X Touring, an SUV/estate EV which offers greater practicality than its regular-bodied sibling with an extra 140mm of length and 20mm more headroom for rear passengers.
The new MG4 Urban also achieved what we thought was impossible last month by undercutting the regular MG4 for value for money. While it may not get the pulse racing when driving it, the enormous 577-litre boot, impressive comfort and tech, and the 258-mile range impressed reviewers thanks to its price tag that starts at just under £23,500. A very cheap price for a new EV in 2026.
In the ‘cars you cannot have quite yet’ sector of the market, a drive of a prototype version of the new baby Skoda Epiq EV impressed reviewers thanks to its deft handling and techy interior. Reviewers were also impressed by the new Jaguar GT prototype. Yes, that whopping vast EV that has caused much controversy before it even arrived in showrooms. Ignoring the way it looks, this 2.7-tonne, 1,000bhp super-saloon was deemed as being super comfortable and very intuitive to drive. Leaving us with high expectations for the final production model.
Finally, we finish in Italy with the new Ferrari 849 Testarossa, a model whose looks caused a bit of controversy online, which, according to reviewers, doesn’t matter at all, as the way it drives and goes down the road will blow your mind, describing it as thrilling to drive with a sensational soundtrack.
And in the ‘everyone gets a trophy’ section…
This one hurts a bit, we won’t lie. The updated Alfa Romeo Tonale is still a looker with plenty of Italian flair. But questionable interior quality, wheezy powertrains, and a minuscule boot in the PHEV earned it a middling review score that falls short of rivals like the Ford Puma and VW T-Cross.
BYD’s frantic attempts at global domination in the past two years have also hindered the new Atto 3 EVO – an updated model that is designed on paper to keep it competitive in a fast-moving market but doesn’t. Yep, despite the addition of faster charging and an upgraded Google-powered infotainment system and a healthy 316-mile range figure, it hasn’t quite kept pace with rival models which offer greater range and a better driving experience. Proof if you ever needed any that new cars are in a constant state of rapid advancement these days.
SGMW Web Watch:
Mitsubishi L200 returns in May as £36k rival to Ranger and Hilux – Phil Huff
We kick off with more big news: the Mitsubishi L200 is back! After the brand withdrew from the UK in 2021, the new seventh-gen model marks the brand’s return to these shores with an all-new design. Phil Huff runs through all the details for Professional Pickup.
Read the Professional Pickup article here
Toyota Urban Cruiser cruises into the limelight at multi-million pound media centre – Maxine Ashford
Toyota’s latest addition to its ever-growing EV range is the new Urban Cruiser. Yes, the name was used on the rather poor small SUV from the mid-noughties, but now, it’s back as a chunky all-electric SUV. Maxine Ashford takes a look at the new small Toyota for Regit cars.
Read the Regit Cars article here
I bought my wife a new Convertible and it immediately broke – Matt Richardson
In marriage news, Matt Richardson buys his wife a new car, which then breaks down. The car in question is a Vauxhall Tigra Twin Top. And yes, we cannot remember the last time we saw one either.
Stellantis $26.5 Billion EV Debacle May Prompt Brand Purge – Neil Winton
No, $26.5 billion is not a misprint. This is the write-down figure announced by Stellantis last month. According to Neil Winton, this vast figure could prompt the conglomerate to cut down its vast collection of overlapping car brands.
SGMW Social Watch:
SGMW member Shane Wilkinson loves a Rover. So much so that he has vowed to cram as much Rover-themed content into Auto Express as he can. We wish him luck with this noble quest.
Apparently, the Isuzu Gemini was sold in South America – a fact brought to our attention by resident obscure car historian Chris Rees. Even stranger is that it was built in Korea and called the Saehan Bird.
Phill Tromans gets up close with the new Geely Starray EM-i – a new PHEV that can manage up to 84 miles of electric range that also gets plenty of kit and animals that live inside its infotainment.
Lastly, we finish on a high via Stu Bird, who got to have a poke around a first-gen Toyota Prius rally car. Very cool.
