VAUXHALL has come late to the small SUV market but the Mokka looks the part and drives reasonably well.

I drove the 1.6 petrol for a while and, while it is never going to set light to the road, performance is reasonable and the engine smooth and quiet.

This is the lowest powered engine in a range of three which also includes a rather noisy 130bhp turbo diesel and an excellent 140bhp 1.4 turbo petrol.

The Mokka is available with four wheel drive (4WD) in some more expensive models, but I drve the Tech Line front wheel drive version. On equivalent models, the 4WD costs an extra £1,500, so don't bother if you don't need it.

Running costs should be very reasonable - it is a Vauxhall after all - and the lifetime warranty is great if you're intending to keep it, but it only applies to the first owner.

The steering is a bit lifeless and the ride unsettled at times but the road-holding is reasonably good without too much roll.

The cabin is a good looking place to sit, with a good level of equipment at a keen price making the Tech Line the model to go for.

It comes with sat nav, Bluetooth, cruise, and a USB port as well as digital radio/CD with steering wheel controls, stability control and an alarm.

: Kia Soul