diff --git a/src/karts/combined_characteristic.cpp b/src/karts/combined_characteristic.cpp
index ea6ff77a8..d9ee89de5 100644
--- a/src/karts/combined_characteristic.cpp
+++ b/src/karts/combined_characteristic.cpp
@@ -18,10 +18,13 @@
 
 #include "karts/combined_characteristic.hpp"
 
+#include "io/file_manager.hpp"
+#include "karts/xml_characteristic.hpp"
+
 void CombinedCharacteristic::addCharacteristic(
     const AbstractCharacteristic *characteristic)
 {
-    m_childs.push_back(characteristic);
+    m_children.push_back(characteristic);
 }   // addCharacteristic
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -29,7 +32,59 @@ void CombinedCharacteristic::addCharacteristic(
 void CombinedCharacteristic::process(CharacteristicType type, Value value,
                                      bool *is_set) const
 {
-    for (const AbstractCharacteristic *characteristic : m_childs)
+    for (const AbstractCharacteristic *characteristic : m_children)
         characteristic->process(type, value, is_set);
 }   // process
 
+// ============================================================================
+
+void CombinedCharacteristic::unitTesting()
+{
+    // We need to use really existing xml attributes, all characteristics
+    // were designed to work with those names.
+    std::string s1=
+        "<?xml version=\"1.0\"?>"
+        "  <characteristic name=\"base\">"
+        "    <suspension stiffness=\"4.5\" rest=\"-0.3\" travel=\"1+2\"/>"
+        "    <stability roll-influence=\"1+2*3\" chassis-linear-damping=\"2*3+1\""
+        "        chassis-angular-damping=\"0\" downward-impulse-factor=\"5\""
+        "        track-connection-accel=\"2\" smooth-flying-impulse=\"250\" />"
+        "  </characteristic>"
+        "</characteristics>";
+
+    XMLNode *xml1= file_manager->createXMLTreeFromString(s1);
+    XmlCharacteristic *c1 = new XmlCharacteristic(xml1);
+    delete xml1;
+
+    CombinedCharacteristic *cc = new CombinedCharacteristic();
+    cc->addCharacteristic(c1);
+
+    assert( cc->getSuspensionStiffness()           ==  4.5f );
+    assert( cc->getSuspensionRest()                == -0.3f );
+    assert( cc->getSuspensionTravel()              ==  3.0f );
+    // Note: no operator precedence supported, so 1+2*3 = 9
+    assert( cc->getStabilityRollInfluence()        ==  9.0f );
+    assert( cc->getStabilityChassisLinearDamping() ==  7.0f );
+
+    std::string s2=
+        "<?xml version=\"1.0\"?>"
+        "  <characteristic name=\"base\">"
+        "    <suspension stiffness=\"+1\" rest=\"-1\" travel=\"*2\"/>"
+        "    <stability roll-influence=\"/3\" chassis-linear-damping=\"*1\"/>"
+        "  </characteristic>"
+        "</characteristics>";
+
+    XMLNode *xml2= file_manager->createXMLTreeFromString(s2);
+    XmlCharacteristic *c2 = new XmlCharacteristic(xml2);
+    delete xml2;
+
+    cc->addCharacteristic(c2);
+
+    assert( cc->getSuspensionStiffness()           ==  5.5f );
+    assert( cc->getSuspensionRest()                == -1.3f );
+    assert( cc->getSuspensionTravel()              ==  6.0f );
+    // Note: no operator precedence supported, so (1+2*3) / 3 = 3
+    assert( cc->getStabilityRollInfluence()        ==  3.0f );
+    assert( cc->getStabilityChassisLinearDamping() ==  7.0f );
+
+}   // unitTesting
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/karts/combined_characteristic.hpp b/src/karts/combined_characteristic.hpp
index 72f89c33b..4d8a77d5b 100644
--- a/src/karts/combined_characteristic.hpp
+++ b/src/karts/combined_characteristic.hpp
@@ -24,9 +24,11 @@
 class CombinedCharacteristic : public AbstractCharacteristic
 {
 private:
-    std::vector<const AbstractCharacteristic*> m_childs;
+    std::vector<const AbstractCharacteristic*> m_children;
 
 public:
+    static void unitTesting();
+
     void addCharacteristic(const AbstractCharacteristic *characteristic);
 
     virtual void process(CharacteristicType type, Value value, bool *is_set) const;
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 03b10a884..4e81ea629 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -168,6 +168,7 @@
 #include "items/attachment_manager.hpp"
 #include "items/item_manager.hpp"
 #include "items/projectile_manager.hpp"
+#include "karts/combined_characteristic.hpp"
 #include "karts/controller/ai_base_lap_controller.hpp"
 #include "karts/kart_properties.hpp"
 #include "karts/kart_properties_manager.hpp"
@@ -1857,6 +1858,11 @@ void runUnitTests()
     assert( isEasterMode(22, 3, 2016, 5));
     assert(!isEasterMode(21, 3, 2016, 5));
     UserConfigParams::m_easter_ear_mode = saved_easter_mode;
+
+
+    Log::info("UnitTest", " - Kart characteristics");
+    CombinedCharacteristic::unitTesting();
+
     Log::info("UnitTest", "=====================");
     Log::info("UnitTest", "Testing successful   ");
     Log::info("UnitTest", "=====================");