THE Grand Vitara never fails to impress with its distinctive, chunky looks.

And for a car that falls into the compact proper 4x4 sector it has a substantial profile and strong presence on the road.

This turbo diesel model is a solid member of the Suzuki fleet and remains competitively priced.

It also offers a surprisingly refined driving experience.

The automatic gearbox runs smoothly through the gears and an overdrive button in effect offers the driver a cruising option.

There is also the advantage of being able to shift between two and four-wheel drive at up to 62 mph while moving in a straight line.

While it isn't that quick and does roar a bit when accelerating, pulse-quickening performance isn't what one looks for in this type of car.

Secure and responsive handling however is a reasonable expectation and this is where the Grand Vitara excels.

On road the car is surefooted and the five-door model in particular feels incredibly well balanced.

It is more than capable off road as well and the selectable 4WD is easy to engage.

The interior of the car has a major plus point and that is space.

It is deceptively roomy with bags of space in the rear enabling three adults to sit comfortably.

I did a trip from London sitting in the back and was pleasantly surprised at just how comfortable it was, even managing to doze off.

And with an efficient folding seat system, the car is very versatile in terms of rear load area.

There are some clever stowage areas and a locking glovebox but the trim and general finish of the interior is a little uninspiring.

And uninspiring is perhaps an appropriate word.

This is a solid, well put together vehicle that is difficult to fault.

But the same can be said of any number of cars in today's fiercely competitive market, especially in the compact 4x4 sector.

So one looks for stand out features and it is here that the Grand Vitara is found a little wanting.

The car is a good performer and a perfectly pleasant drive.

But in general it does lack a bit of sparkle.

Great economy figures and an impressive amount of interior space are the features.

But where the Grand Vitara once led the way in its class, the feeling now is that it is just about keeping pace.