In the short-base threedoor version there is good room up front with comfortable seats but space is lost in the rear and medium/big loads mean folding rear seats. It means you can't do the shopping and transport the kids at the same time though.

The price conscious will go for the three-door 1.6 litre 105 bhp which has permanent 4x4 drive.

Priced at ?24,595, it is going to attract lower tax and insurance costs than most of the opposition where two-litre engines are the norm.

But how important are racing starts in urban or even rural settings. A lot of these vehicles will be driven around town by women drivers where urban traffic conditions usually mean between 8-18 mph on average.

The Suzuki will cover the 0-60mph (0-100km) in 13.4 seconds which compares favourably with the 2-litre petrol Nissan X-Trail's 11.3 seconds and Land Rover 1.8 litre petrol 11.8 seconds.

And the Grand Vitara also does better in comparative fuel economy with the Nissan and the Land Rover. The Suzuki's combined fuel consumption is 32mpg (8.7L/100km), Nissan X-Trail 30.4 (9.3) and Land Rover 27.3 (10.3).

So with improved cabin interior and much nicer lines, the Grand Vitara is set to make lots of new friends among the growing numbers who seek better economy and value for money as motoring costs rise.

Behind the wheel the driver gets a high position which gives a commanding view of the road, seats are comfortable and the dash is sensibly laid out. The long centre console with audio and temperature controls is within easy reach and the manual gear transmission is slick and light to operate.

The 16 valve engine is reasonably quiet with 105 bhp at 5900rpm and 145 Nm torque at 4,100rpm.

The top speed is 99mph (159km/h) which is adequate.

Expect around town travel to bring fuel consumption figures down to 26mpg.

On the safety side there are front and side airbags and curtain airbags with anti-lock brakes and seat belt pre-tensioners.

Like all high sided vehicles the Suzuki is subject to side winds and a firm grip on the steering is needed in exposed terrain.

But the suspension settings make driving comfortable and there are many more expensive vehicles on the road with higher levels of wind and tyre noise intruding into the cabin.

A good urban traveller, the off-road handling will not be as good but it should be able to handle picnic trails and reasonable field runs without too much difficulty.

If you crave more space and go for the bigger fivedoor version you get a twolitre engine and the price jumps to ?31,995. Of course, there is lots more boot space here with less seat folding and the ride should be better with a bigger wheelbase. There is also a 1.9 litre turbo-diesel version on sale at ?34,995 which will be the choice of the rural and agricultural communities.

By opting for the threedoor version, a quite considerable saving of ?6,500 can be made. So there will be a market for the 'Baby Grand' in urban areas where horse power and space can be compromised without too much penalty.