SOME cars make you happy - in fact, they positively smile at you.

Such is the case with the restyled Peugeot 2008, the company's compact SUV which received its makeover in May last year and has been on sale in the UK since July.

The model, which is one of the company's most popular choices has sold 40,058 examples since the model was originally launched in 2013.

And it is a genuinely cheery soul, a factor enhanced the ear-to-ear grille grin which is part and parcel of the current Peugeot corporate look.

And behind the smile there is a lot to shout about including an innovative high-quality interior, high economy and low CO2 engines, dynamic driving qualities, raised ground clearances and grip control on certain models such as the Allure BlueHDi 120 as driven.

With an on the road price of £19,820, this car forms part of the upper mid-range Allure trim level which is a mainstream choice.

Under the bonnet is a 1,560cc Euro 5 four-cylinder diesel which is lively enough to top 119mph with a 0-62mph sprint factor of 9.6 seconds, enabled by a super-smooth six-speed transmission.

But the big plus is the CO2 emissions are just 96g/km.

The compact SUV market is extremely competitive and for a model to make headway it has to be special.

So Peugeot decided to endow its baby with a more assertive, powerful and appealing SUV look with wheel arch extensions for Allure models and upwards plus the new vertical grille.

The Peugeot i-cockpit is different, embodying the driving characteristics of the 2008 which is known for its agilityplus an intuitive and safe way of everyday motoring.

Part of the act is a compact sports steering wheel which offers precise driving and razor sharp manoeuvrability.

A seven-inch multifunction colour touch screen places all the car's functionality at your fingertips. In fact, there is a pattern to this interior that would delight that king of all logic, Mr Spock from Star Trek.

There is even a head-up display on the windscreen that allows the driver to keep his or her eyes firmly on the road.

To me, one of the biggest pulls of the 2008 is its Grip Control system. This is an adapted traction layout which gives the more upmarket 2008 choices versatility on varied terrain combined with mud and snow winter tyres.

On board connectivity includes the Mirror Screen feature which allow the driver to link Apple Carplay with voice activation or Mirrorlink compatible smartphone to the touchscreen.

In an effort to make urban travel a whole lot safer Active City Brake technologycan reduce the severity of accidents and even help avoid them altogether.