AS usual, I was late leaving for a weekend staying with friends about 70 miles away, which meant I had to use the motorway to get there.

So, after a couple of days of fun and memories, the journey home could be taken at leisure and not a motorway in sight.

There are still plenty of roads and routes in this country that come with good fun as part of the package and I found another one.

I was driving Renault's award winning and top selling Captur small crossover, which in turbo diesel form is capable of over 70 miles per gallon.

Well, I wasn't trying for top economy, I was enjoying myself, but even so it managed an excellent 52mpg, which in real driving is pretty hard to beat.

This was Europe's best selling compact crossover in 2015 and it has also just also won the Honest John awards highest rated car by owners.

It was certainly highly rated by me and wonderfully comfortable over the whole of my weekend journey and for the rest of the week, just like the Clio on which it's based.

The engine is smooth and refined and drives the front wheels through a five speed gearbox - there is no four wheel drive option, so it's never going to be able to take to the rough stuff.

But those swooping, good looking lines have a raised ride height like a 4x4, giving a great view all round, even though it's very like the Clio to drive.

That comfortable ride is backed up by very good road holding and handling - again very much in the Clio mould - but with only 90bhp from the 1.5 turbodiesel, performance is best described as adequate.

However, there is a 110bhp version of the same engine available and that should be much better.

All the Capturs seem to come with very good levels of kit and the Dynamique Nav I drove, towards the top of the range, just about has it all.

Stability control, sat nav, hill start assist, cruise, and stop start are all there, together with an alarm, Bluetooth and alloys.

It also has climate control, washable and removable car seat covers, an up-rated sound system and keyless entry and starting.