THE recent stormy weather bringing floods has prompted many drivers to think about the overall ability of their cars.

And it has to be true that some came away wishing they had a little more traction when it comes to hazards such as mud on the road.

Modern technology has taken a lead in providing a solution and one of the most attractive options is the Suzuki Swift 4x4.

Available with a 1.2 petrol engine and manual transmission comes a five-door hatchback bodystyle with a clever 4x4 system.

The system, which is fully automatic and permanent, transfers additional torque to the rear wheels when required via a viscous coupling, further enhancing the Swift's acclaimed cornering capability.

It is also ideal for drivers living in rural areas who may need additional mobility over rough tracks and for crossing slippery surfaces during winter months without having to go to the expense of buying a larger conventional 4x4 SUV with the resulting penalties in running costs.

The viscous coupling used in the Swift 4x4 takes on the role of a centre differential to connect the front and rear axles and is made up of two sets of annular metal plates which rotate in a casing containing a silicon-like fluid.

In normal conditions the plates turn at the same speed but when wheel slippage occurs the fluid in the coupling quickly becomes highly viscous, heated by the increased friction caused by differences in the movement of the plates, causing the four wheel-drive system to adjust to the situation.

It might be thought that this arrangement is ponderous and heavy, but in fact it makes the car only 65kg heavier than the two-wheel-drive Swift.

And on the road the Swift 4x4 is as nimble and light on the controls as the two-wheel-drive. The only major difference between the two is 4x4 badging and a slightly higher body ride height. And on the SZ4 variant there are front and rear skid plates and some body kit.

Is there a disadvantage to all of this? The only one I could find was that due to the location of the rear differential for the 4x4 system the fuel tank capacity has to be two litres smaller than standard at 40 litres.

This is all part and parcel of the Suzuki Swift success story in the UK. When the car came to Britain decades ago it was treated as something of a niche alternative to cars like the Ford Fiesta.

But these days the Swift range has grown up to take on the big names in superminis on a level playing field without losing its value for money appeal.