ALFA ROMEO STELVIO

It’s easy to see the appeal of SUVs – they offer practicality and comfort while the raised ride height gives great all-round visibility. They don’t always score highly in the style stakes though, but you can trust the Italians to take care of that and as a result the Stelvio is a very pretty car – it’s almost a shame to get it muddy!

Alfa Romeo’s new 4x4 offers high levels of safety equipment – all models are fitted with technology to make your braking distance shorter. Additional systems will alert the driver and then slow the car down if they sense a potential crash. It will also give you a warning if there’s a vehicle in your blind spot or you wander out of lane. The cruise control monitors traffic conditions and keeps a safe distance between you and the car in front.

Not surprisingly from a premium car such as this, the interior is well-built and luxurious, with top-quality wood and leather fittings, along with an attractive infotainment system, which has an impressive eight speakers.

From around £39,000