TOP 5 SUV /CROSSOVERS
LAND ROVER DEFENDER
THE GOOD: Reboot brings untold dynamic improvements wherever you drive
THE BAD: Second-row access is a pain in the 90; expensive; 130 in particular is very big, so parking can be tricky
THE UGLY: Alternatives to white steel wheels are oered. Why?
THE ONE TO BUY: Range spans 90, 110 and 130 bodies, with significantly dierent dimensions but remarkably similar character and the genuine o-road ability that Land Rover always delivers so convincingly. Heart says petrol V8 90, head/wallet say diesel-six D250 110
PORSCHE MACAN
THE GOOD: Handles better than any other SUV. And some hot hatches
THE BAD: Hardly an original choice – but then there’s good reason for that
THE UGLY: Be patient – there’s an all-new one coming soon and it’ll be an EV
THE ONE TO BUY: The £72k 434bhp Macan GTS is the sportiest but £60k 375bhp Macan S is the sweet spot
ASTON MART|N DBX
THE GOOD: Glorious noise; masterful balance; rear-axle bias
THE BAD: Fiddly and outdated Merc infotainment drags the cabin down; ‘The name’s Bond, Dadbod Bond’
THE UGLY: How you’ll feel when you meet someone with the 707 version
THE ONE TO BUY: Just get the DBX 707. Megabucks but worth it for 697bhp
FERRAR| PUROSANGUE
THE GOOD: V12engined rascal uses mind-bending suspension to hit lofty dynamic highs. Hugely fast, huge fun – really
THE BAD: |nfuriating haptic controls; boot isn’t vast
THE UGLY: No meaningful o-road ability whatsoever, unsurprisingly
THE ONE TO BUY: For now there is only one, and you’ll need £313k to enter the conversation
MERCEDES G CLASS
THE GOOD: Truly epic o-road; retro styling will age well/is already aged
THE BAD: Sideopening boot door a nuisance at the supermarket; ungreen image
THE UGLY: |nfluencers will scratch your bonnet taking selfies
THE ONE TO BUY: AMG V8 G63 (£175k) if you play up front or on the wing; G400 (£131k) for the back four