IT seems that the current craze for unfeasibly large off-road vehicles means that many people are prepared to pay almost anything - but there is no need.
Hyundai offers the five and seven-seat Santa Fe for a fraction of the price of rival vehicles with designer badges and is an impressive package for the money.
Obviously a Santa Fe is not in the same league as a Porsche Cayenne or Range Rover Sport but then it costs just a third of the price.
For those in search of an honest 4x4 vehicle that is spacious well-built, utterly reliable and a reasonable performer the Santa Fe fits the bill.
It now comes with a choice of 2.7-litre V6 petrol and 2.2-litre turbodiesel engines and a choice of five and seven-seat interior configurations.
Best value of the lot is the seven-seat oil-burning GSI with a list price of £22,630, which in reality is probably nearer to a straight £22,000.
For this you get a smart looking chunky 4x4 with alloy wheels, air conditioning, four electric windows, multi-disc CD system and a full set of front and side air bags.
The 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine is good for 111mph and acceleration to 62mph is 11.6 seconds with 38mpg economy.
Hyundai is so confident of the reliability of its products that it gives them all a five-year warranty with unlimited mileage, which no rival manufacturer is prepared to do.
Whilst the Santa Fe may not hold its value as well as some of its more desirable European rivals it falls from a much lower starting point so in reality the reduction in value is proportionately less.
The bottom line is that the Hyundai Santa Fe is a very competent package at an exceeding competitive price.
Forget the image and in the real world there really is no need to pay three times the price for a vehicle to perform precisely the same purpose.
FAST FACTS
Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 CRTD GSI 7-seat
Price: £22,630
Mechanical: 153bhp, 2,188cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving all four wheels via 5spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 111mph
0-62mph: 11.6 secs
Combined mpg: 38.7
Insurance group: 14
CO2 emissions: 191g/km
BiK rating: 28%
Warranty: 5yrs/ unlimited mileage, 6yrs paint, 6yrs anti-rust