THE crossover, that mix of hatchback and SUV is big business in the UK car market.

Offering the convenience and practicality of a hatch and some of the best features of a larger 4x4, there are more and more offerings and some come at a very advantageous price.

One such is the Suzuki SX4 S-Cross which exploits Suzuki's past experience in four-wheel drive vehicles to the full.

Suzuki hit the ground running with lightweight 4x4s and has gained many fans with vehicles like the Jimny.

But the SX4 S-Cross is a much more civilised vehicle with the option of ALLGRIP technology for sure-footed motoring and a pricetag, on the car tested of just £22,049 which is the cost of some hatchback competitors.

It is the first Suzuki Crossover available with either two-wheel-drive or ALLGRIP four-wheel-drive and features bold SUV style looks.

The body designs gives  ample room for passengers and luggage and the SZ5 model as tested includes the  world's first double sliding panoramic glass sunroof, having one of the  largest opening areas in this category.

Suzuki set out to provide a workable fusion of handling technology, safety, performance and family friendliness and the company has, without doubt succeeded.

Made at the Suzuki plant in Hungary, the model I drove was equipped seven airbags, ESP and Tyre Pressure Monitoring as well as Daytime Running Lights (DRL), 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control with speed limiter, air conditioning, and heated door mirrors..

It ran on 17-inch polished alloy wheels and was also equipped with Dual Zone automatic air conditioning, front fog lamps, Bluetooth connectivity, rear privacy glass, silver roof rails and silver skid plates. 

Equipment exclusive to the top of the range SZ5 model includes front parking sensors, leather seat upholstery, and HID projector headlamps with auto function.

It is a surprisingly aerodynamic vehicle and the 1.6 petrol version I drove boasted a combined mpg figure of 47.8, which is good for a petrol crossover. There is a diesel option which, as expected has a much better mpg return.

It also features a good turn of speed with a maximum of 108mph being attainable with a 0-62mph sprint factor of 12 seconds.

The engine is an evolution of the well-tried Suzuki M16A unit and offers lower emissions and improved fuel economy with no compromise on performance. Weight savings in the engine and related parts also help to realise the superior fuel economy together with high output and torque

ALLGRIP is Suzuki's new generation four-wheel-drive (4WD), created by evolving the company's renowned 4WD technologies to provide driving enjoyment and peace of mind in diverse conditions while promoting economy and limiting the strain which 4WD cars place on the environment.

The system has four driver-selectable modes - auto, sport, snow, and lock.

Integrated control of the engine, transmission, ESP, etc., allows selection of an optimal mode to suit road and driving conditions. The driver selects the desired mode using a simple push and turn dial on the centre console.