Suzuki Grand Vitara   Women's view

The Look Of Delight On My Seven Year-Old Nephews Face Said It All. The Suzuki Grand Vitara Is a Fun Car Which Kids Will Love. But What Will Their Mums Think? June Neary Reports

If you've set your heart on a small, affordable four-wheel drive model for under £12,000, then the latest version of Suzuki's cute little three-door Grand Vitara is worth more than a second glance. It leads this rather small sector, not only in Britain but across the rest of Europe, so has gained a significant vote of approval from quite a number of women - and men - already. Let's leave aside, for the moment, why you want a 4x4 instead of the ever-practical hatchback or estate car. If we are to be absolutely honest, most 4x4 drivers never really put their off-roaders through their paces off the road. But if you want to be different and to give the kids a real treat, then the Grand Vitara will happily fit the bill. When I stepped up into the snowy white 1.

6-litre model which I borrowed this week, I did feel as if the world was my oyster. You sit high up with good all round vision, especially with the top down. So what if you really should be up a mountain track instead of in the middle of town to take full advantage of its attributes? Unrivalled off-road ability isn't what you'd get with your Grand Vitara anyway, so the experts would say, but if you do take it into the forest to walk the dog, then it should handle the softest mud patches and rockiest inclines with ease.

Inside, there's plenty of room for four people, but your dog would have a hard time in the back, as the boot has less depth than a parcel shelf. I would also question how comfortable the third passenger Suzuki say should fit into the back seat would actually be, but for short journeys, who will mind? The 3-door Grand Vitara features 50:50 split-folding rear seats, as opposed to the 60:40 set-up in the 5-door. With the release of a lever at the seat base, the backs fold down to increase luggage capacity at the expense of passenger accommodation. More space can then be freed-up relatively easily by means of a lever at the back which allows the whole seat to tumble forward.

Suzuki's 16-valve engine gives added oomph, always a bonus for mums on the run. The suspension, dare I say it, could be better. In towns beset with speed bumps (which I applaud in principle I quickly add), even at snail's pace the Grand Vitara proved a bit of a boneshaker.

* Could I Live With One?In honesty, the dashing little three-door 1.6-litre Grand Vitara which I enjoyed for the day would not suit many working mothers lifestyles, rushing from work, to school, to Sainsbury's and back, with endless bags to take to the childminder, PE kit for school and the odd box of own brand bitter for the long-suffering other half. The five-door version would be a different matter however if I could afford it which is doubtless why you see so many on the roads.

I can easily see just why, image apart, so many women opt for a four-wheel drive - to inject a bit of spice and fun into the daily routine. The more practical options can be so very dull. And speaking personally, practical considerations aside, I certainly wouldn't think twice about trying a Grand Vitara if my budget was at the £12,000 price point. It makes you want to set off to seek the peace of the Scottish glens or the Welsh mountains.