Ssangyong Rexton

Our verdict

It’s big. It goes off-road a bit. You don’t want one. Neither do we

Comfort

It’s big and soft. By definition, this means we have to give it some points for comfort. But we don’t feel good about it.

Performance

Not quite as awful as you might think – opt for the 2.7-litre five cylinder diesel and you’ve got a passably swift SUV. Anything smaller and you might want to consider public transport instead.

Cool

Cooler than a Vanquish in the depths of the Large Hadron Collider. Not really.

Quality

With the exception of a tacky aftermarket stereo, the top-spec versions are nicely kitted out and don’t feel like they’ll fall apart after a strenuous shopping trip.

Handling

If you ever reach the stage in your life when you genuinely don’t know the answer to the question, ‘So how does that two-tonne Korean SUV handle?’, it’s time to take a long hard look in the mirror.

Practicality

Yes, full of practicality. Packed to the brim with the stuff, actually. Still practically no reason to buy one, though.

Running costs

Spec your Rexton up and you’re looking at a 25 grand car. Did someone mention the word ‘depreciation’?