Ssangyong Kyron

Our verdict

A small SUV that’s forgettable that we can’t really remember anything about it. Oh, it’s cheap. That’s about all

Comfort

With the exception of some mild wallow, the ride’s passably comfortable and there’s plenty of space inside.

Performance

Woefully, painfully slow. Ssangyong quotes 15.8 seconds to 60mph. It feels like longer. You’ll be faced with the very real possibility of being outrun by glaciers.

Cool

God, no. Not even in a so-uncool-it’s-actually-cool way. As cool as lawn bowls.

Quality

Feels properly bolted together, but interior plastics seem to have been sourced from 1970s Russia. A mixed bag, then.

Handling

Yes, the Kyron handles. But only in the sense that the front wheels roughly go in the direction you point them. If you’re looking for feedback and tactility, you’re shopping in the wrong place.

Practicality

Good interior space, good visibility – yes, the Kyron is practical. But that shouldn’t make you want it any more.

Running costs

Economy of just over 30mpg hardly seems a fair trade-off for such woeful performance. And who’s going to buy one second-hand when Kia and Hyundai offer such magnificent warranties?