The same can be said of the Tucson’s reaction if you try to hustle it through a set of tight, intricate corners; yes, there’s a decent amount of grip, but the steering is over-assisted and lacking in feel so it isn’t much fun, while the suspension flollops over crests and into compressions in a rather ungainly way. Pretty soon, you find yourself easing off to a more sedate pace.

This is a state of affairs with which the Tucson seems much more content. Its ride quality isn’t flawless – indeed, we suspect the big wheels and slender tyre profiles on our Ultimate model were to blame for the very subtle but ever-present vibration you get over all but the smoothest of road surfaces. Having said that, this is for the most part a very stable and smooth car, its soft suspension smoothing out both small and large bumps pretty convincingly.

On the motorway, too, the Tucson feels pretty polished; yes, there’s a little rustle of wind from the mirrors, but tyre noise is muted and the engine, when settled into a relaxed cruise at the national speed limit, is almost inaudible. 

The Telegraph verdict

While perfectly acceptable, then, the way the Tucson drives is never going to stir the soul, and the rear seats could offer a few more tricks to keep up with the best in class. But these, really, are its only flaws of note. Given so few SUVs are going to be hustled around on their doorhandles, the former point is forgivable, while the validity of the latter really depends on just how much versatility one actually needs. 

What the Tucson does best, however, is to soothe your furrowed brow; be it with its comfortable ride, its classy interior, its big boot, its general ease of use or simply the peace-of-mind of that five-year warranty.