SSANGYONG is not a name that readily trips off the lips. "I thought they made TVs", said one wag.

But their models, a bit like those other Koreans Hyundai and Kia of a few years ago, are beginning to make people sit up and take notice.

This is especially true in the case of the Korando Sports which looks like a people carrier at first sight, a cunning disguise that masks the fact that it more like a double cab commercial pick-up.

The flat back with the removable roof gives the game away as the does the towbar, the four-wheel drive capability, the ground clearance and huge wheels.

But there's more to it than that. Unlike some commercial types, this big beast has a car-feel. The interior looks like a car, with plenty of room for three in the rear, it drives like a car and with the quiet diesel engine you could easily be in a family saloon.

Running costs are not much more than a family saloon, with excellent fuel economy although CO2 emissions are high.

The 2.0-litre diesel engine has plenty of grunt, with good pulling power through the gears, automatic in the case of this vehicle.

It is also pretty quiet and at motorway speeds is barely audible. It has a claimed average consumption of 37.7mpg, but then there's the best bit of all, the price.

This model featured the kind of equipment you would find in a top range executive car, but you get the lot for a shade under £22,000 on this range topping version, but models start from just £18,295 and offer a five year, unlimited mileage warranty.

A real bargain if you are not bothered by the name - and the fact that some of the plastic finish feels cheap, and in some cases nasty, especially the sharp edges on some switches and trim.

And then there's the removable ashtray that sits in the central console and does nothing but rattle, forcing you to take it out or jam it in with paper. The high ground clearance and lack of grab handles also makes it awkward for younger and older people to climb aboard in comfort.

Those are about the only downsides and unless you are ultra-picky.

The cabin itself is bordering on the plush with large comfortable heated leather seats, the front pair being multi-adjustable, with plenty of head and legroom.

All round vision is excellent thanks to the large windscreen and window, although vision to the restricted because of the fixed rear canopy.

The other thing that makes it so attractive to drive is the comfort. The leather seats are big and comfy both in the front and the rear, with loads of leg room for everyone.

The dashboard is dominated by a central touch screen that controls sat nav and functions such as the music system and phone connectivity. Sadly I could not find the USB point for my MP3 player.

Clearly this is a practical car, with a 2.3 tonne towing capacity. It can be used both as a workhorse with its huge storage area to the rear and high and low ratio four wheel drive and as a family car.

But the flat load area would need some kind of netting to keep items like shopping from flying around the stowage area. And for commercial use, it doesn't have a the greatest payload.

Safety features are comprehensive with an array of airbags, ABS and stability control. It's quite a package with a comprehensive list of standard equipment.