NO one can accuse Vauxhall of sitting back and taking things easy in recent times, for you only have to check out its model range to see it has been busy.

Since the launch of the Insignia - which was voted European Car of the Year in 2009 - its been pretty much non-stop for the Luton-based marque.

The large family saloon was quickly followed the same year by the new Ellesmere Port-built Astra, while a brand new Mariva MPV people carrier just pipped the likes of the brand new Adam and Mokka into showrooms.

And of course, there's the Cascada, the stunning cabriolet that's just right for those hot summer days.

Another offering from the Griffin-badged brand was the heavily-revised Antara, the second-generation of the chunky SUV available in both two and four-wheel-drive.

If truth be told, there was not much wrong with the old version, but Vauxhall reckoned that by giving the Antara a serious facelift - and a couple of derivitives of a new, fuel-efficient 2.2-litre diesel engine - they could make serious inroads into the growing SUV market.

So a lot of thought went into the new Antara. Inside the cabin the quality of the upholstery was upgraded, the front seats offered more adjustment and a new instrument bezel incorporated easier-to-read cluster graphics.

Sound-proofing was also enhanced, while an electric parking brake allowed space for a deep storage bin between the front seats.  

Outside the newcomer got something of a nose job with a revised grille and new-look fog lamps being the main beneficiaries. Curves to the waistline, underbody and roof and a crease up the centre of the bonnet rang in the cosmetic changes.

The Antara's new look was completed by large wrap-around lights to the rear and a set of stylish alloy wheels. 

The chassis was also tweaked for better ride and handling and a new speed-related steering rack helped give the driver great feedback.

Under the bonnet sits a 2.2-litre diesel engine pumping out either 160 or 181bhp with the more powerful unit being reserved solely for four-wheel-drive versions.

Both units provided the Antara with more than enough power to meet most requirements and on a trip through a snowy Trossachs the big Vauxhall didn't disappoint.

The ride over rutted tracks proved no problem as the car's suspension soaked up the bumps and potholes with total ease.

On the black stuff, the Antara was both agile and stable at speed and provided masses of confidence even on those winding, undulating and poorly surfaced roads.

Power is delivered smoothly throughout the six gears and performance wise, the Antara is no slouch. Top speed is 124mph while standing to 62mph takes just 9.2 seconds. Fuel consumption is a decent 42.8mpg on the combined cycle while CO2 emissions come in at 175g/km.

The all-singing, all-dancing SE model comes kitted-out with goodies such as leather upholstery, xenon headlamps with cleaning system, heat-absorbing windshield and 19-inch alloy wheels, making it a tip-top second-hand buy.

A manual all-wheel-drive 2011 Antara in SE trim on an 11-plate will cost anything between £9,865 and £12,840, while move up a year to a 12-plate and you'll be talking in the region of £11,640 to £14,485.

Go for an automatic gearbox and prices will increase by anything up to £600.