IT'S a trifle too easy to dismiss small SUVs as merely fashionable toys.

Sure, there are those who buy one in the same way a city boy may don a pair of working boots just to pop down the wine bar at the weekend...kind of cool but contrived.

But I can well recall an ancient Suzuki Vitara romping around an off-road track that left a couple of Discoverys and a Patrol struggling for grip.

And it might surprise many that one of the most impressive bits of kit over the rough stuff is the diminutive Fiat Panda 4x4. And still more tenacious is its posher brother, the Panda Cross which looks like the regular model after a course of steroids.

With ample body armour, big bumpers, copious lights and a sprinkling of plastic cladding, the Cross takes on the role with a sort of Tonka toy attitude.

Beneath the trendy exterior, though, there are some sensible practical touches - higher ground clearance, hill descent mode and special mud/snow tyres.

Two versions are available, the 0.9-litre two cylinder TwinAir and the 1.3-litre MultiJet diesel. Priced at £16,495, the diesel I drove is £1,000 dearer than the petrol model.

Performance of the two versions is quite similar, but in practice the MultiJet is more relaxed with better high-gear clout thanks to the plentiful torque of the diesel unit. Real life economy of around 50mpg is rather better too.

By today's standards the Panda is quite narrow and inevitably your shoulders are a trifle too close to your passenger's.

Nevertheless, there's generous all-round space with loads of headroom, ample storage space and a boot which will carry 255 litres of luggage. The rear seat folds and splits to further boost capacity.

On the road, the little car picks up its heels well. The combination of a light body and an eager diesel unit make the Panda fun to drive.

On paper stats of 0-62mph in 13.8 seconds and a max of 104mph don't look particularly stirring but in reality the Panda is well capable of keeping up with the action...and it puts a smile on your face too. The light five-speed gearbox is pleasant to shift. The petrol version gets a six-speeder as standard.

It isn't the quietest of cars, particularly when pressing on. The engine sounds somewhat gruff but quietens down at cruising speeds.

Take the Panda Cross away from polished surfaces on to rough tracks or a boggy field and it really comes into its own. It romps up impossible inclines and scrabbles triumphantly down steep slopes with the help of a terrain control selector with a choice of three driving modes - off-road, auto and hill descent. An electronic locking differential makes sure traction is achieved over slippery surfaces.

The snazzy exterior styling approach is carried through to the cabin with big, bold dials, chunky switchgear and plenty of space for oddments.

Good quality plastic mouldings prevail and the interior feels both smart and durable. Heated door mirrors, climate control and tyre pressure monitoring are standard features.