WITH its neat, rather stubby shape and cheeky looks, the SEAT Arona sits comfortably in the fiercely fought small SUV sector.

The fact that it is offered neither as a hybrid nor as a diesel, has hardly tarnished its popularity - it is, after all, both economical and fairly clean.

Three engine options are available and it was the mid-range 1.0-litre 113bhp three-cylinder model we went for. There's also a less powerful version of the 1.0-litre and gutsier 1.5-litre that pushes out 147bhp.

Based on the Ibiza hatchback, its looks are a mirror of the successful larger Ateca, which is no bad thing. With a smaller, lighter body to haul it's no surprise that the Arona FR has punchy performance and sharp handling - more dynamically satisfying than most other small high-riders in fact.

It has an ability to cope with directional change yet retain composure that is lacking in many rivals. Suspension is firm enough to limit roll angles yet sufficiently compliant to iron out all put the worst road surfaces.

So it delivers a good all round ride with the agility of a decent hatchback - no mean achievement. A bonus is sharp steering with a fair bit of road-feel.

The three-cylinder petrol engine is coupled to a twin clutch automatic gearbox in the model we drove and the partnership works well whether you're pushing on through fast A-roads or pottering through town or along country lanes.

Steering wheel paddles to operate gear changes manually add to the enjoyment.

A time of around 10seconds to 62mph is pretty nifty and compares well with rivals. Top speed is 120mph. A fairly academic statistic.

Pick-up is impressive with ample torque that means high revs are generally unwarranted. When the needle edges into the red, the noise levels rise somewhat, otherwise the Arona is pleasantly hushed.

No problem with cabin space in the front with sufficient shoulder room and plenty of legroom. Those in the back seats are less well catered for with limited legroom unless the folk in the front are willing to slide forward their seats. Headroom is acceptable for all but the tallest passengers.

The boot which is accessed via an unpowered tailgate is regularly shaped and can carry up to 400litres of luggage. A movable floor platform allows a degree of versatility, as do the folding rear seats.

The facia is logical and cleanly laid out with a central high mounted touchscreen which is quick to react and easy to read.

There are a lot of dark plastic mouldings, most of which are of decent quality. Parking sensors, air con and automatically retracting door mirrors are standard but heated seats or heated steering wheel rim aren't included in the FR spec.

There's a distinct temptation to pedal the Arona hard, such is the calibre of the handling and engine's quality. Inevitably, economy suffers to a degree. Nevertheless we seldom saw less than 40mpg and on several less enthusiastic drives the average nudged the 50mpg mark.