Suzuki Grand Vitara

SUZUKI Grand Vitara

1.9 DDiS

Top speed: 106 mph

0-62 mph: 13.2 secs

Power: 129 Ps

Torque: 221 lb ft

Urban Economy: 30.1 mpg

Extra urban: 42.2 mpg

Combined: 36.7 mpg

CO2 emissions: 205 g/km

Price: £17,025

It's a dog-eat-dog world in the off-roader market. Contrary to popular belief this market is thriving, as manufacturers are developing more planet-friendly versions of their four-by-fours.

In fact some manufacturers are ditching the family saloon altogether in favour of four-wheel drive wagons – supplying the demand for these versatile family cars.

And one car maker you can always rely on to produce economical and good value-for-money off-roaders is Suzuki. The Grand Vitara has a world-wide following and age-old SJ410s still compete in off-roading events – how is that for hardwearing?

The latest Grand Vitara is perfect for families on a budget. It has permanent four-wheel drive and with the 1.9-litre turbodiesel engine, it has bags of torque for towing and miserly 40mpg-plus economy figures.

When I first tried out this model as a brand new car in 2005 with hardly any miles on the clock, I described the engine, unflatteringly, as rough as an asthmatic lion gargling with nuts and bolts. But several thousand miles later and the lion's asthma is almost certainly gone. It has loosened well and is roaring just like a work-thirsty turbo-diesel is meant to.

Well, I'm testing a demonstrator which has wracked-up a whole load of miles. In fact it's just running in with 20k on the clock. What a difference it makes too. No wonder these engines go on and on and on.

The thing I love about this car is it looks big and yet is the same length as my own Audi 80 and therefore is manageable to drive and park. As usual, the high driving position affords great visibility all-round and, despite its high centre of gravity, the Grand Vitara is really easy and comfortable to drive.

Permanent four-wheel drive and a locking centre differential means you are unlikely to get stuck anywhere. The low-range four-wheel drive and ample torque will pull you up some steep hills too.

The thing is, although this car in diesel format is a more than capable contender for agricultural life, it looks far too 'pretty' to be driven through the mud and filth all day long with muddy boots and sheepdogs traipsing through it constantly.

It's one of the easiest cars to get into. There's no high sill to negotiate and the seat is positioned as such that you just slide in effortlessly. Getting out you just slide out of the door as easy as that. Even the rear door opens wider than most. It's incredibly user friendly.

The revised interior is very up to date. While offering plenty of storage it has a good hardy feel to all the finishes.

On the safety front, Vitara has driver, front passenger, side and curtain airbags as standard, as well as ABS and side impact protection beams.

Most boxes have been ticked by now, I'm sure, looks, practicality and build quality. How about economy? One neat little trick this car has up its sleeve is the little panel on top of the dashboard that tells you how many MPG you are getting at that precise second, so you can watch the economy when you need to.

This five-door model shares its marketplace with the Toyota RAV4, Honda CRV and Mitsubishi Outlander, yet with its permanent four-wheel drive it is by far the cheapest option.

What else makes this car a good option is its Euro Ncap rating, particularly for the pedestrian. With three stars, it's the highest rating achieved by an off-road car for pedestrian safety.

Thanks to the budget, all drivers have to pay a little bit more road tax, however it's not all bad news, as the Grand Vitara shares the same banding as your average two-litre family car with a cost of £210 per year