Citroen C-Crosser

The Citroen C-Crosser is the same car as the Mitsubishi Outlander and Peugeot’s 4007 – they’re identical but with different tinsel. Doesn’t make them bad though. Manufactured by Mitsubishi, they make a lot of sense.

• Comfort

  Firmly sprung but well damped, Citroen's first 4x4 (ish) since the 2CV Mehari variant makes for a decent motorway companion. When things work this well and you don't pay very much dynamically, the high driving position becomes a boon you get to like.

  

• Performance

  The 2.2-litre four-pot turbo diesel in the C-Crosser is a gem. It may only have 154bhp, but the car punts from rest to 62mph in just under 10 seconds and can overtake and ride the motorways with ease. A terminal speed of 124mph is perfectly achievable but unnecessary.

  

• Cool

  Acceptable parked on the drive, though don't expect a C-Crosser to get you laid unless you live in a really rough town.

  

• Quality

  All the variants of this car are built by Mitsubishi, so although the C-Crosser is built with the exacting standards of the Japanese, it won't win many design awards. Feels good inside though.

  

• Handling

  Very, very car-like, the C-Crosser has a well-judged chassis set-up that makes it genuinely fun to drive. It doesn't get distracted by bumps and can be made to dispense quite a lot of speed on tight roads. Decent steering and strong brakes help.

  

• Practicality

  Pop-up kid's seats in the back are a stroke of genius for families with kids and friends and kit to transport. The boot's also big with just five to seat - it'll hold 770litres. As an all-round car it's hard to pick fault.

  

• Running costs

  Insurance at Group 12 feels steep, but around 40mpg is a nice surprise for an SUV, even a soft one. Not in the highest VED band for tax - but it'll still hit you for £200 a year.