IF a Family Fortunes question were to ask contestants for ten famous four-by-four manufacturers it's debatable whether Suzuki would end up being one of them.

Yet travel around any European ski resort in the middle of winter and there's a good chance you'll see them here, there and everywhere.

Our continental cousins seem much more switched-on to the go anywhere capabilities of all-wheel-drive Suzukis than we are, which makes me wonder if we're missing a trick.

So, next time your rear-wheel-drive executive saloon gets stuck in the snow and you vow to buy something that won't, it might be worth considering a trip to your local Suzuki outlet.

Suzuki actually offer a range of 4x4s, like fellow Japanese company Subaru they have made it something of a specialism, and if it's a more traditional rugged SUV styled vehicle that tickles your fancy you can opt for anything from a basic Jimny to the more plush Grand Vitara.

The Grand Vitara might be the daddy of the Suzuki range but it's no Chelsea tractor - competing against compact SUVs like the Volkswagen Tiguan, as well as larger contenders like the Land Rover Freelander.

The current version has been around a little while now but it's just had a facelift for 2013 that gives it added appeal.

Revised styling touches include new front and rear bumpers, foglamps and alloy wheels and the interior has been upgraded too.

The big mechanical change is a cleaner and more efficient 1.9-litre diesel engine.

A revised emissions control system revised means it pumps out 174g/km of CO2 rather than 179g/km and average fuel consumption is up from 41.5mpg to 42.8mpg.

Small beer some might say but it means the Grand Vitara moves down a VED band.

Another welcome addition is a touchscreen navigation system which is pleasantly intuitive and easy to use and you also get all the high-tech features that are becoming increasingly de rigueur these days - such as SD card, media player compatibility, USB/Bluetooth music streaming/phone connectivity - as well as more conventional entertainment features such as a CD player and a radio.

As far as fit and finish go the Grand Vitara is well built and nicely done out. The instrumentation is still fairly straightforward and functional rather than flash and fancy, but everything is where you need it and it does the job perfectly well.

Its design is also well suited to the needs of a family, in particular there's plenty of room in the rear and getting in and out is easy. The Grand Vitara's nicely elevated height makes accessing the front or back seats feel effortless.

The boot is large and I also like the ease of access offered by the horizontally opening tailgate, even if it is a little heavy to swing open.

Handling and performance are decent enough and on a par with most other SUVs of this type and switchable four-wheel-drive is another bonus, meaning it's there offering added grip and sure-footedness when you need it but you can also save on fuel by using two-wheel-drive for everyday motoring.

What the 1.9-litre diesel lacks in refinement it more than makes up for in pulling power.

Overall the Grand Vitara is a car that is easy to feel at home in, characterised by a practical and versatile nature and perhaps most importantly keenly priced too.