SSANGYONG has been responsible for some outlandish designs in recent times the butt-ugly Stavic and Korando come to mind. As a result, cynics more attuned to conventional Japanese and European offerings have easily dismissed this up-and-coming Korean brand as nothing more than an aberration. But last year it sold more than 2500 vehicles, in a booming market where some of the more established players were struggling to sell more than 1000. Now it has released the Kyron, a proper four-wheel drive based on the Rexton chassis but with more rakish wagon styling and the first of a range of diesel engines. Some styling quirks remain, like the multi-faceted grille and "heraldic" tail lights, but this SUV lives up to its claim of offering serious off-road potential in a roomy and practical package with the fuel efficiency only a turbo-diesel can deliver.