The Finalists

TOYOTA COROLLA CROSS 1.8 XR CVT KIA SELTOS 1.5CRDI EX AT VOLKSWAGEN T-CROSS 1.0 TSI LIFE DSG

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With photography done, arms aching from hauling child seats and prams into 13 cars, and a wealth of driving on open roads and gravel tracks behind us, the surprisingly difficult task of choosing the top three finalists was upon us. Instead of agonising over who was going through, it was the process of eliminating the 10 diverse but worthy runners up that proved difficult.

There were some unexpected disappointments in the mix, notably the Chery Tiggo Cross and Renault Duster; the former, despite its neat styling and competitive asking price, falling foul of poor powertrain calibration while the Duster’s underwhelming perceived quality and poor refinement stymied its chances. We were also surprised by the Creta’s hard ride and laggy transmission, especially as its build quality, spaciousness and general road manners otherwise impressed.

The Omoda, while striking and generously stocked, was similarly affected by sloppy dynamics and a pokey cabin. It was not all doom and gloom, though. Two of the Chinese delegation, the Haval and BAIC, put in strong performances. The former especially impressed in terms of refinement and quality, while the BAIC proved spacious and capable all-round. It was only their thirsty powerplants that tripped them up at the final hurdle.