IN the UK motoring environment things are rapidly approaching a situation of crossover rule.

This latest mode of everyday transport mixes the best features of the traditional hatchback and the commanding stance of a sports utility vehicle.

And they come in different sizes. There has been much activity at the smaller end of the spectrum with a high demand from people who just want more from their car.

And what has to be one of the most attractive is the Renault Captur, which has been a success for the manufacturer since the wraps were thrown off to the European audience in 2013.

Renault calls the Captur an urban crossover, but in truth it is much more than that.

If, for instance you have always bought cars like the Renault Clio and are looking for something with a more commanding driving position, then the Captur fills the bill.

Without the usually massive outlay for a walloping great four-wheel-drive you have a scaled downSUV with conventional drive that fills the bill for most everyday drivers.

The Captur is one of the main rivals of the Nissan Juke and is going all out for more sales with its dazzling array of personalisation options on top of it undeniably attractive styling.

With Clio underpinnings the Captur is relatively compact, measuring just 4.1m in length and 1.53m high, including 200mm of ground clearance.

It features a 2.6m wheelbase and on the road is a pleasantly involving drive imparting the feeling of a very well-balanced car.

Practicality is high on the list of priorities with a 60/40 split rear bench seat that also slides to allow up to 215mm of kneeroom.

Inside, the Captur features a fresh and stylish look with deep cubby holes to house most of the stuff we haul around during everyday driving.

There's also a double-sided (carpet and rubber) hard boot floor that splits the rear luggage space and creates a substantial - and hidden - storage space.

Under the bonnet of the test car was Renault's 1,461cc common rail diesel linked to a neat six-speed manual gearbox giving a top speed of 109mph and a 0-62mph sprint of 11seconds.

With 110bhp on tap this latest diesel addition to the range certainly did not disappoint and neither did the combined mpg readout of 76.4mpg. And even better news is that the CO2 emissions are well under the 100g/km mark at 98.

There are some strong practical reasons to buy a Captur. Renault offers a comprehensive ownership package including a four-year warranty, four years' servicing and four years' roadside cover.

Many would say that this is a car for the younger driver, but for those of advancing years who want a car that is more easy to enter and exit than a hatch like the Clio, then here is the answer.