STILL as rugged as they come, but with a thoroughly modern twist, the Suzuki Vitara remains the vehicle of choice for those looking for an SUV that will cut the mustard but not break the bank.

With a starting price of £15,499, it represents exceptional value. But that’s for a two-wheel drive version utilising a 1.6-litre petrol engine.

Head north of the £20,000 mark and you can get behind the wheel of the top-of-the-range Vitara S, which is powered by Suzuki’s 1.4-litre Boosterjet unit.

This turbocharged engine offers 140PS and a wide spread of torque available from only 1,500rpm, providing more pull, a more sporty ride and decent acceleration.

Matching the sporty performance are some impressive cosmetics that include gloss black 17- inch alloy wheels, a rear upper spoiler, satin silver door mirrors and red interior stitching.

More importantly, Suzuki’s intelligent four-wheel drive system is fitted as standard, alongside smartphone link audio and navigation, radar brake support and adaptive cruise control.

Standard equipment for all Vitara models in the range is comprehensive and includes seven airbags, alloy wheels, DAB Radio with USB and Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control with speed limiter, auto air conditioning and front and rear electric windows. The S model is also equipped with a unique grille design, LED headlamps with red projector covers, black side body mouldings, red accents for air conditioning vent and instruments and aluminium alloy pedals.

Where the Vitara fails to come up to scratch is in the use of cheaper plastics, but it has a well-packaged interior and a satisfactory amount of space for rear seat passengers.

The 1.4-litre engine offers a 0-62mph acceleration time of 10.2 seconds for both manual and automatic transmissions and a maximum speed of 124mph.

A six-speed manual transmission is fitted as standard. I tried the six-speed automatic version, which provides a quick response at low speeds and smooth progress through the gears. Additionally, a manual mode is fitted to enable the driver to change gear using shift paddles.

The All Grip four-wheel drive system is fitted as standard on the S model. It has four driver-selectable modes – auto, sport, snow and lock - and allocates torque to the rear wheels before any slippage can occur.

In auto mode it employs two-wheel drive by default, only switching to four-wheel drive if wheel spin is detected. Sport mode is optimal for twisty roads. At low and mid-range engine speeds, the system alters the accelerator/torque characteristics to optimise engine response and cornering performance. Snow mode uses four-wheel drive by default, optimising four-wheel drive control in accordance with steering and accelerator inputs to promote traction and stability on low friction surfaces. The Lock mode is for extricating the car from snow, mud or sand by means of a limited slip differential.

The compact dimensions of this five-door will not deter those looking for an urban runaround that is relatively easy to park and has the advantage of a raised driving position. With a nod to Suzuki’s SUV styling heritage, the clamshell bonnet gives the front end a beefy look of solidity, while the roof line slopes gently downward toward the rear.

With good on-road performance combined with off-road capability, a powertrain that delivers satisfactory levels of performance and fuel economy and some of the lowest CO2 emissions of any compact SUV, Suzuki has not only achieved the right look for the Vitara but also done it at a very good price.