On paper, the SsangYong Korando looks like an absolute bargain. It’s a lot of car for a fiver less than £16k, with a powerful engine, a high kerbweight, a reasonably roomy cabin and a five-year warranty. However, it’s not stable enough at speed for us to recommend it.

At 60mph it felt okay – it was not especially secure, but the movements were slight. Above 60mph those movements became more pronounced.

It didn’t cope well with more violent manoeuvres. It leaned heavily and was pulled around by the caravan in the low-speed slalom, and in the lane-change test it struggled to keep on course on the first two runs. The third and fastest attempt at the manoeuvre couldn’t be completed.

In the hill-start test, the handbrake held if pulled on firmly. The car struggled for traction whenever the slope was damp (we tested the front-wheel drive model although 4x4s are available), but otherwise this was one of its strongest suits.

Strong torque from the new 2.2-litre diesel helped with the hill start, and contributed to brisk acceleration – 30-60mph took 12.9 seconds. It’s also more fuel-efficient than the old engine, with an official combined figure of 53.3mpg.

The boot took all but one item from our holiday luggage, and the towing electrics were easy to access. However, some marks were lost because the SsangYong Korando doesn’t have trailer stability control.

2019
Category Winners
2019 Up to 1400kg

Škoda Octavia

Hatch 1.5 TSI 150PS SE L DSG

2019 1400-1549kg

Seat Ateca

2.0 TSI 190PS FR DSG

2019 1550-1699kg

Volkswagen Arteon

2.0 TDI 150PS Elegance DSG

2019 1700-1899kg

BMW 520d

Touring xDrive M Sport

2019 1900kg+

Land Rover Discovery

3.0 SDV6 HSE

2019 Best Budget 4x4

Dacia Duster

1.5 dCi Ambiance 4x4

2019 Best Plug-In Hybrid

Land Rover Range Rover Sport

P400e HSE Dynamic

2019 Best Ultralight Tow Car

Seat Arona

1.0 TSI 115 FR

2019 Fuel Economy Award

Ford Focus Estate

1.5 EcoBlue 120PS Titanium X

Previous Winners
2018
1700-1899kg

BMW 520d

Touring xDrive M Sport

2017
1900kg+

Land Rover Discovery

3.0 Td6 HSE*

2016
1400-1549kg

Skoda Superb Hatch

2.0 TDI 150PS SE Business

2015
1400-1549kg

Volkswagen Passat Estate

2.0 TDI BMT 150PS SE Business DSG

2014
1400-1549kg

Nissan Qashqai

1.6 dCi (130PS) Stop/Start System Acenta Premium

2013
Up to 1424kg

Skoda Octavia

2.0 TDI CR 150PS Elegance

2012
1725–1899kg

Jaguar XF

2.2D Premium Luxury

2011
1425-1574kg

Volkswagen Passat Estate

2.0 TDI 170 Bluemotion Sport

2010
1900kg+

Land Rover Discovery 4

3.0 TDV6 XS

2009
1900kg+

Volvo XC60

D5 SE Geartronic

2008
1575-1724kg

Ford Mondeo Estate

2.0 TDCi Titanium auto

2007
1575-1724kg

Volkswagen Passat Estate

2.0 TDI Sport 4Motion

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