WHEN I wrote about the Renault Clio estate not long ago, I struggled to find a rival on the small car market.

But the one I overlooked was the SEAT Ibiza and its estate is a perfect small load-lugger for those who don't want a boxy MPV.

I drove the 1.6 TDI FR at the top of the range and the 105bhp diesel suited the car, giving more than adequate performance aligned with excellent economy.

This is the kind of car that goes so far between fill-ups, you forget what to do with the nozzle.

The FR comes with slightly harder sports suspension than the standard cars, but it was never uncomfortable and certainly handled just as well as its hatchback brother - an absolute delight on a switchback road.

There is some wind noise at speed, which I think came from the standard roof rails, but apart from this, it was quiet and refined.

Safety is impressive, with plenty of airbags and stability control part of the package and equipment was very good in my test car.

There is plenty of space for four to travel in complete comfort, and the boot is big enough to get all their necessaries in without a problem.