Of course you get that high riding position which should deliver decent visibility, but that’s blunted by the hefty A-pillars that can be instrusive when you are pulling into angled junctions. There’s not a great view out of the back either because the rear window is relatively small. The controls are nicely laid out and you can master their functions within minutes, but the quality of the plastics on the dashboard leave a lot to be desired.

The fit and finish isn’t particularly great, with sharp edges still exposed and uneven panel gaps. On our test car the moulding on the air-vent surround was very uneven and bumpy, which isn’t particularly encouraging when you are spending £20k+ on a car.

Kia Sportage comfort levels is when the car makes sense. The seats are comfortable albeit short on side support, but the driving position is good. Like any other 4×4 it’s set quite high and thankfully, with rake-and-reach adjustable steering it’s easy to find the right set-up, regardless of your size and shape. As far as the ride is concerned and Kia Sportage comfort levels overall, it delivers a game of two halves.

On the motorway, it feels relaxed and planted and around town there’s few complaints, but on undulating B-roads the suspension set-up yields a bouncy, sometimes wallowy ride. It’s also rather unsettled on notchy roads and things can feel firm and jittery. It’s not unbearable, but it can irritate after a while and your kids might start looking a bit green after 30 minutes.

Around corners the body lean is excessive so you do have to rein in your speed on turn-in. The diesel engine is noisy on start-up and at low speed but it quietens down nicely once you get up and running. There’s an absence of road and wind noise, which is very welcome.