NO, it's not a new Bentley, I explain to another onlooker for the umpteenth time.

The car in question is actually a Genesis GV80, a brand that few will be very familiar with. But with tall, upright looks and a massive mesh grille topped by a classy badge it looks remarkably like a Bentley Bentayga, but perhaps a bit prettier.

A good start, then, for an SUV that costs less than half the amount of its famous lookalike. In fact, Genesis is the posh relation of Hyundai, in the same way that Lexus is to Toyota.

Build quality is excellent - at least as good as the German prestige makers - and the interior styling is more restrained than the exterior interpretation with loads of ‘extras' included in the £63k price tag.

Power comes from a 3.0-litre diesel engine or a 2.5-litre petrol. Ours was the diesel which suits the nature of the vehicle well. It comes with either five seats, or for a further £500 you get seven seats with a final back row.

It's a seriously large SUV, nevertheless performance from the 274bhp six-pot is lusty with 62mph coming up in just over seven seconds. It's quiet too, with barely a trace of diesel rattle and remarkably little wind or road noise.

An eight-speed automatic gearbox is standard which drives all four wheels. Change is smooth and slick and you get steering wheel paddles for greater control.

The abundant cabin space is well utilised. The boot with final row of seats folded can carry 727 litres of luggage, which beats the BMW X5 and 2,144 litres when the middle row is folded down. Door pockets, however, are tad skinny for the usual family clutter. There is, however, a sizeable storage compartment beneath the centre console and another one between the front seats.

Facia styling is pleasing and contemporary with a comfortable compromise between high tech and traditional. We felt less impressed with the over-sensitive cooling fan control which seemed to have a will of its own, and the electric driver's seat was too easy to operate in error.

You don't really expect handling and roadholding in a large SUV to be of a high order, so the GV80 came as a pleasant surprise - it grips well through bends and leans very little. Of course, you have to be aware of its girth but there's little to criticise about its dynamics.

Low speed ride can be a tad joggly over rippled or uneven surfaces but it smoothes out as speed mounts.

Despite its generous dimensions and gutsy acceleration, most owners will get around the 30mpg mark. Our average was 31mpg including some fast cross country dashes.

Standard equipment includes, sat nav, climate control, heated and cooled seats, self parking system and leather upholstery. Panoramic glass sunroof is an extra but would turn the big four-wheel-drive into a fabulous weekend or holiday car.