I must admit I was congratulating myself when the weather closed in just before Christmas. Having planned a trip to snow-bound North Yorkshire for the festivities, I was delighted with my foresight in choosing a Kia Sportage to be my chosen mode of transport. Its four-wheel drive would be more than reassuring when the going inevitably got tough.

The Sportage duly arrived and I was looking forward to a week of waving smugly as I sailed past other drivers. But I was laughing on the other side of my face when it emerged that although this vehicle looked like a 4X4, it was in fact front-wheel drive like most other cars.

Only a slight improvement in the weather allowed us to make the journey to the frozen North and lots of embarrassing skidding and sliding, as well as digging out on a couple of occasions, followed.

And if I had £1 for every incredulous look I received as I slipped and weaved this 4X4 impersonator on each minor gradient, then I would be a rich man.

As a result, I would like to say categorically that I see no point in building something that looks like a 4X4, and then giving it two-wheel drive, despite Kia’s aspirations to develop the “urban crossover” vehicle.

The Sportage does have 4X4 versions and, if you are still considering one after reading this, then only these should be considered — even if you do sacrifice a bit of fuel economy.

Nevertheless, the Sportage has a lot going for it. The new version is a quantum leap ahead of its predecessor in terms of looks and is aggressively modern in its styling, making it very easy on the eye.

There are also two new engines out of four available on the model range, including a 1.6 litre petrol and a 1.7 litre diesel fitted to the test vehicle.

This was highly efficient, quietly delivering plenty of power, while returning an average of 46mpg in very mixed (often challenging) driving conditions.

This figure would doubtless have been better had the stop-start function which cuts the engine when in traffic jams or at traffic lights been operating. But it is automatically disengaged below two degrees centigrade — presumably to save the battery in cold weather — and as a result rarely came into play.

But the Sportage is a reasonably comfortable place to be on a long journey. The test car was fitted with heated leather seats, which lacked a little in thigh support, but were otherwise adequate, while the six-speed gearbox was smooth.

The car handled well enough with decent brakes springing no surprises even in the ice, although the traction control was severely tested.

Satellite navigation, automatic wipers and excellent xenon headlights were a boon in the bad weather, while the reversing sensors and camera made parking such a large vehicle relatively easy.

But there were more annoyances. For example, it is amost impossible to see the indicators flashing on the dashboard because the steering wheel obscures them. Far better to have them top left and right.

Also, it seemed impossible to fold the rear seats flat, despite consultation with the manual.

In this age of sliding, swivelling and flipping seats to give cars maximum flexibility, I would have appreciated a little more input in this area.

Niggling faults I know but they all add up, and in such a competitive field, it can make a difference.

Having said that, the Sportage otherwise does a good job of dispelling Kia’s image as a budget brand. There is very much a grown-up feel here and it is on a par with rivals such as the Nissan Qashqai in terms of the quality of materials and finish.

And the seven-year standard warranty also gives real peace of mind, particulary for private buyers looking for cover on their investment.

But take care when choosing your model. Looks can be deceptive and, as I discovered, you can be found out very quickly.

Model: Kia Sportage 1.7 CRDi 3 Sat-Nav Performance: 0-60mph 11.9 seconds; top speed 107mph Economy: 52.3mpg (combined) CO2: 143 g/km Price: £22,570 Web: www.kia.co.uk