WHILE the prevailing trend for most cars has been to get bigger it's been the reverse for SUVs, which by and large have got progressively smaller.

Once upon a time if you wanted an SUV it was a choice between a Range Rover, a Jeep or a Mitsubishi Shogun - but the seemingly endless demand for SUVs in all shapes and forms and their subsequent proliferation means there are now literally scores to choose from.

Size-wise they pretty much cover the entire spectrum, with plenty of smaller models offering an SUV experience at a very affordable price - to the point where the compact SUV is starting to offer a real alternative to the traditional family hatchback or estate.

SUVs (or crossovers as they're sometimes branded these days), like the Volkswagen Tiguan, Audi Q3 and Mitsubishi ASX offer familiar SUV attributes like an elevated driving height, a roomy cabin and 4x4 capability in a small package.

The explosion in the SUV market made me wonder at one point whether even smart would be getting in on the act - it's probably doubtful but I'm sure MINI will be turning one out before too long.

I guess the question has to be just how small can an SUV get - and the answer thus far has to be ‘as small as a Fiat Panda Trekking'.

Okay, first things first, this particular model isn't actually a 4x4, even though it does look like one but these days there are plenty of front-wheel-drive SUVs for people who have no intention of ever going off-road.

That said this Panda does boast some off-road capability, in the form of uprated traction control - Traction+. And, should you want a totally authentic 4x4 experience there is an all-wheel-drive version available for an additional outlay.

Looks-wise the Panda certainly has presence, its elevated ride height giving added stature. Not quite as quirky as a Doblo or Qubo it still manages to exude an element of individual character.

Its mini-SUV credentials are enhanced by plastic body cladding and its added ride height (47mm to be precise), complemented by roof bars.

The interior is generally pretty decent with a hallmark of quality and everything is well laid out and easy to use. Some of the plastics might be a little on the hard side but it kind of works with the car's functional character.

The cabin is relatively roomy, for what in effect is a city car, and front and rear seat passengers are well catered for when it comes to comfort. Its boot isn't the biggest  - with just 225 litres of space - but imaginative storage solutions around the car do help make up for that.

There's a choice of two engines - a 900cc, two-cylinder TwinAir petrol engine or a 1.3-litre MultiJet diesel. 

This was the diesel and it proved a capable all-round performer, though it feels better suited to the city than the open road and I'd imagine the same is true of the petrol version.

Fiat's 1.3-litre diesel is a proven unit and does the job well in the Panda, offering a relatively refined drive and smooth delivery. It also offers low emissions and the benefit of stop-start technology.

While the Panda Trekking is generally fun to drive - in the way that all good small cars are due to their compact dimensions - the elevated ride height does impinge a little on its handling capabilities at higher speeds.

It's not really the kid of car that's been designed to be chucked around corners. That said it would be unfair to expect too much from a car in this class and given it's trying to offer a scaled-down SUV experience perhaps some compromises need to be made.

Standard equipment includes the Fiat Blue & Me Bluetooth system, air conditioning and electric windows.