Subaru Legacy

But look beyond the obvious, and you'll find a car that makes real sense. The ΂£19,995 Legacy has all the benefits of an executive load-carrier, plus excellent resale values, entertaining handling and a peerless reliability record. It may have looked bland in the past, but Subaru hopes to change all that with the 2002 model's smoked glass headlamps, chunkier bumpers and, on all but the entry-level GL, smart 10-spoke alloys.

Using its rallying skills, Subaru has uprated the suspension to create sharp handling, nicely weighted steering and immense four-wheel-drive grip. The car's appeal is boosted by a trio of flat-four engines: the basic 123bhp 2.0-litre unit; our test car's 2.5, which feels lively and urgent (although its 27mpg isn't the best in its class) and a 3.0 also available in the range-topping H6 Outback. Little has changed in the cabin.

The dash is dated, but quality materials and plush cloth trim - or leather with the ΂£1,000 Lux pack shown here - are enhanced by logical controls. The Legacy might not offer the same prestige as its rivals, but it should prove a rewarding and clever buy.