Suzuki Vitara DDiS SZ5 AllGrip

Engine: 1,598cc, four-cylinder, turbodiesel

Power: 118bhp and 236lb.ft. of torque

Performance: 0-62mph in 11.4 seconds and 112mph

Economy: 67.2 mpg (combined)

CO2 emissions: 111g/km

Price: £21,299

Suzuki tell us that back in 1988 the Vitara was the car that opened up new horizons for the average driver, bringing four-wheel-drive to the masses in affordable fashion.

The new horizons we had been brought to in order to test the car felt very similar to those that we had left behind.

In 2015, the fourth generation Vitara is aiming to run with the same theme as its predecessors, however, and the security afforded by my test cars AllGrip system suggests it still has what it takes to be a top affordable SUV.

With prices starting at just £13,999 for the entry-level two-wheel-drive offering which can boast class-leading CO2 emissions from just 106g/km and 70.6mpg fuel economy it looks like a recipe for success.

Key to the new Vitara’s eco-credentials is its low weight, tipping the scales at between 1,075kg and 1,295kg despite being slightly larger than the Nissan Juke and Renault Captur and only slightly smaller than the considerably heavier Skoda Yeti.

First impressions of the Vitara’s styling are those of a front three-quarter view seemingly influenced by the Range Rover Evoque, with a high bumper line, narrow headlights flanking a polished silver grille and a clamshell bonnet (an established Vitara styling cue) with faux vents at its rearmost edge.

Each flank is characterised by a rising swage line which arcs up to form the rear wheelarches.

Suzuki have made a number of personalisation options available to potential buyers, as well as an array of bold colour choices with the option of a contrasting black roof (an £800 option).

Inside, plastic trim surrounding the gear-lever and a panel cutting through the dash can both be matched up to the exterior colour.

In my launch event car closely aligned to what will be the £21,299 range-topping DDiS SZ5 AllGrip – a seven-inch touchscreen dominates the centre console with an analogue clock flanked by two air vents above it.

Touches of grey and silver lift an interior which makes use of many hard, dark coloured plastics, but where outright material quality is not the Vitara’s strong suit, it feels functional.

Interior space is comparable to a mid-sized hatchback, with just enough room for five adults and a decent driving position available for a six foot driver.

Three specifications of Vitara will be available when it reaches UK dealerships next month (SZ4, SZ-T and SZ5).

Standard kit includes 16-inch alloys, DAB radio, cruise control and air conditioning.

SZ-T (from £15,499) adds privacy glass, 17-inch alloys, sat-nav and Suzuki’s Smartphone link audio system, which brings the functions of the owners phone to that touchscreen display.

The range-topping SZ5 (from £17,999) comes with a metre-long, sliding panoramic sunroof, keyless entry and engine starting, radar-guided cruise control and automatic braking if a collision situation is detected.

Cars equipped with the AllGrip four-wheel-drive also get hill descent control and four switchable driving modes (Auto, Sport, Snow and Lock).

Out on the rainy Portuguese roads, the Vitara initially revealed itself to be firmly sprung, the rear end feeling particularly taught.

This brings a degree of dynamism, allowing the SUV to feel biddable and accurate, but may hamper outright comfort on UK roads.

The ratios of the six-speed manual gearbox felt long, no doubt in a bid to see the AllGrip-equipped 118bhp DDiS turbodiesel engine to meet Suzuki’s impressive claims of 111g/km CO2 emissions and 67.2mpg fuel economy.

A 118bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine is also available – some 1,500 cheaper – but the turbodiesel offers more than twice the torque (115lb.ft versus 236lb.ft) and is the quicker of the two as a result.

My test car claimed an 11.4-second dash to 62mph and 112mph top speed and felt good for it, that torque allowing fairly comfortable overtaking and a relaxed motorway cruise.

Playing with a dial which adjusts the AllGrip systems settings will see the Vitara’s handling and responses sharpen quite markedly in Sport, with greater urgency and accuracy.

This is no seat-of-your-pants sports SUV, but it can make decent progress.

Our test route offered a brief off-road foray and while the Vitara AllGrip felt capable on the sand under its tyres, it wasn’t the toughest test.

Given Suzuki’s off-road know how and the light weight of the new Vitara, however, I’d wager that it can handle itself off-road.

On first impressions, the new Vitara’s styling might do little to dispel old reputations of hairdressers and women who frequent nail bars as it seemingly looks to tap into a market defined at its very upper echelons by the Range Rover Evoque.

But at a fraction of the price and with technology and running costs that make many of its key rivals look second rate on paper, the new Suzuki is a serious contender for the outright class honours.