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It's quicker and more refined than a comparably priced Qashqai, too. Nissan manages only a 150bhp diesel, and it's a bit rattly. The Qashqai also has a sharper ride, sending up shivers from motorway ridges and clangs from potholes, despite having its rear suspension on a subframe, a technique that's supposed to absorb noise.

On the other hand the Qashqai has a secret weapon. For £1,600 extra either the 2.0 petrol or 2.0 diesel can be fitted with 4WD, and if you do that you can still pay about the same as a T180. Having extra driven wheels ups the weight a bit, so costs about half-a-second on the 0-62, putting it at 10.9secs versus 8.1 for the Auris T180.

But 4WD doesn't half make a difference to the Qashqai on slippery corners. Once the thing's started to understeer and you think there's no more to be had, just push the throttle. Power is then sent to the rear, your line tightens and you scoot out of the bends in a right cheeky style. Even the 2WD Qashqai is still respectable, as it's set up to steer fairly sharply and roll little, but it's a dull understeerer when sharp wet bends appear.

If you don't really like cars, I can see why you might go for an Auris. It's refined and easy to use. You'll be driving along and it won't interrupt your thoughts about the cricket, the kids' school play or the regional sales conference. It looks smart without attracting much attention to itself. And it sure as heck won't go breaking down on you. As a new Corolla it does a great job but I just don't see what it adds to Planet Car.

Toyota raised new-dawn expectations by conjuring a brand new name, but the car itself plays a percentage game. And that's sad. Really the only version that's worth a punt for someone with a Top Gear reader's attitude to life is the T180 and that costs Focus ST money.

So, all credit to Nissan for trying something new. And succeeding in the aims it set itself. The Qashqai does drive pretty much like a car while looking like something a bit more roughty-toughty. And it's priced to sell, because it feels like a lot more metal than the Auris for little more cash - £19,299 for a decent-spec 2.0 diesel with 4WD. I have no idea what people will make of it though.

If someone's sensitive about driving an SUV these days, they surely won't want to be seen in a car that pretends to be one? Even one that's spotlessly innocent of all the so-called SUV pestilences: it's not a CO2 belcher, it doesn't take up a lane-and-a-half, it won't roll over and it won't deliberately run down nuns in bus queues.

But there are a lot of people who end up in conventional SUVs even though they know full well they're being short-changed in the driving department. They do it when kids come along.

They just can't bear to throw in the towel to 110-per-cent parenthood and get one of those egg-shaped nappymobiles that is an MPV, so they opt for the only thing that's as tall and as capable of swallowing clutter, an SUV. Well, the Qashqai ticks those boxes but it's nowhere near as grim to steer.

That's not a unique proposition, but it ain't a bad one.

Read Nissan Qashqai Car Review

Read Toyota Auris Car Review