A brawny diesel engine and the added traction of four-wheel drive make a good combination when towing, as the Fiat Sedici proves. With plenty of pull, the Sedici happily reached, and held, 60mph. Only the Subaru Legacy hit the legal limit more quickly in this weight class. It also performed well through the lane-change manoeuvre.

However, by 4×4 standards, the Sedici is a tiddler, and this is reflected in the cabin space. Two passengers should be reasonably comfy in the back, but three is a bit of squeeze. With all the seats in place, there’s just 270 litres of luggage space in the boot – only enough to take around a third of our holiday luggage. The capacity rises to a moderate 670 litres with the rear seats down. The Sedici dropped another point for not having a 12V socket in its boot.

This isn’t a cheap car, either, given how small it is inside. The VW Golf costs only a little more but is a better all-rounder, although it can’t match the Fiat’s acceleration or the security of four-wheel drive.