THE crossover market may be relatively new but already it is extremely crowded and competitive.

Nevertheless, Suzuki is certain its new SX4 S-Cross is good enough to grab a slice of the action.

And with prices starting from just under £15,000 and a choice of two-wheel or Allgrip all-wheel-drive, diesel or petrol engines and five trim levels - there should be a model to suit most tastes. A CVT automatic gearbox is also available on the petrol model.

The S-Cross is an all-new car and is being sold alongside the existing SX4. I have been driving  the 1.6 petrol Allgrip version in the top SZ5 trim which costs a reasonable £21,549 and another £430 if you want to add metallic paint.

The S-Cross certainly looks the part and is nicely styled. Cladding, skid plates, roof rails and 17-inch alloys add to the appeal and privacy glass and wheel arch extensions complete the image.

Even the entry-level S-Cross is well equipped and this SZ5 spec version has all the goodies. The materials and plastics are good quality - a vast improvement over some models in the Suzuki range - and the soft-touch dashboard is well laid out.

Equipment includes a panoramic sunroof, heated leather front seats, dual-zone air con, rain-sensing wipers, LED lights, sat nav, rear parking camera, Bluetooth and a decent sound system and steering wheel controls.

In addition there is a comprehensive range of safety  and security features that would put some prestige brands to shame.

The S-Cross is also very practical with 430 litres of boot space rising to 875 litres when you collapse the 60:40 split-folding rear seats. There are also plenty storage areas within the cabin and under-floor storage in the boot.

The 1.6 petrol engine provides decent performance with 62mph being reached in 12 seconds and a top speed of 108mph. The claimed combined figure is 47.8mpg but you can expect to get a good deal less than that in normal driving conditions.

This car came with the Allgrip system which means you can select from four driving modes - auto which favours front wheel drive to aid fuel economy, sport, snow and lock which allows you to get out of deep snow, mud or sand.

The handling and ride are a match for anything else in the class and the S-Cross allows four adults to travel in real comfort and will take five at a push.

Versatile and priced to compete, the S-Cross is extremely capable and Suzuki should have no trouble shifting their target of 6,000 units in the first year.