SUZUKI's Grand Vitara has been going strong for over 20 years and the latest model has just been given a major facelift to keep it fresh.

Available with a choice of two petrol engines and one diesel, the Vitara is also offered in three trim levels, SZ3, SZ4 and SZ5.

The diesel 1.9-litre model which I drove recently only comes with the range-topping SZ5 trim so it is the flagship of the range and costs £23,875.

Styling changes include new front and rear bumpers, foglamps and new 18-inch alloys. Door mirrors and handles are now body-coloured and roof rails and an electric sunroof add to the appearance.

The Grand Vitara looks like a machine that means business rather than some 4x4s which are all about style, but it is far from ugly and the new interior is also an improvement.

The cabin offers impressive levels of comfort and although some of the plastics could do with an upgrade, the rest is fine.

Driver and passengers enjoy bags of head, shoulder and legroom and the big windows let in plenty of light to increase the feeling of space.

The leather seats in this model are heated and equipment levels are more than generous. You get automatic air conditioning, cruise control and a decent sound system with CD as standard as well as USB and MP3 compatibility, Bluetooth and  a good satnav system.

Boot space is again generous and can be increased by collapsing the 60/40 split rear seats. The tailgate swings open to make for easy loading and the spare tyre is attached to it.

The instruments are functional rather than flashy but everything works well and the driving position is excellent with good visibility.

The 1.9-litre diesel power plant provides plenty of grunt and emissions have been reduced slightly to 174g/km.  Average fuel consumption is claimed to be 42.8mpg and, surprisingly, I came very close to that figure over the duration of the test.

The 129bhp on tap is good enough for a top speed of 106mph and the Grand Vitara takes 13.2 seconds to reach 62mph.

I found the Suzuki to be surprisingly nimble on the road and equally good on the tough stuff. As a bonus, the Grand Vitara offers permanent four-wheel-drive for safer motoring.

The Grand Vitara is an ideal car for an active family as it offers stacks of space, is extremely practical and economical to run. It might not be as fancy as some of its competitors but it is versatile, tough and competitively priced.