SMALL might be beautiful, but let’s face it, it’s not an option open to everyone. If you’re from the hip-op – as opposed to hip-hop – generation, you really want four passenger doors and seats well above road level.

And if you’re a parent rather than a grandparent you’ll want a reasonable boot behind your four or five seats.

Given some of our enthusiastic traffic-calming humps – and an increasing need to jump ever-higher kerbs – a decent bit of ground clearance doesn’t go amiss either.

There are even some of us who need four-wheel drive and some towing ability and those who have enjoyed the commanding view from the seat of a 4×4 or MPV are reluctant to give that up, too.

But Chelsea tractors are becoming politically incorrect and fuelling anything bigger than a supermini is getting pretty expensive.

The solution?

Well, there is an affordable car or two that ticks all the boxes – and there has been for a little while.

It seems that the Suzuki SX4 –produced at Suzuki’s Hungarian plant along with its Fiat Sedici cousin – and I had been avoiding one another for almost three years.

Although it does have a certain presence, you would never guess from the clean, neat lines that some models come with an intelligent four-wheel drive system.

This one did not. The car supplied by Motor Mall for the test was a 1.6GLX automatic and the auto option is available only on that spec and in front drive.

Suzuki call it a sport crossover while others just see it as a distinctive compact five-door with a bit of attitude.

No matter.

It will do everything most owners want.

Keyless entry and decent-sized front doors make it easy to get into the height-adjustable driver’s seat where the generous headroom and commanding view make for a relaxing drive.

The metallic-look two-tone upholstery might not be to all tastes but the seats are comfortable enough.

The rear ones, too, are pretty accommodating and a little higher than the fronts to afford a decent all-round view.

They fold quickly and easily as well, more than doubling the bootspace.

Roof rails are standard across the range, should more luggage be necessary.

The interior is good – although it is not going to cause anyone at Audi any sleepless nights.

Some of the cabin plastics are a bit hard but it is all put together well and gives the impression that it will last. Oddment space is pretty decent, too.

Certainly the switchgear worked with an expensive-car precision and it’s all sensibly located so operating the SX4 is pretty intuitive.

The GLX boasts climate control air conditioning, alloy wheels, CD player, tinted glass, a pollen filter and front fog lights in addition to audio controls on the steering wheel, among other features. Safety levels are also decent with ABS, electronic brake-force distribution and front side and curtain airbags standard on all models, which rate four Euro NCap stars for occupant protection, three for child occupant safety and three for pedestrian protection.

The four-speed auto is smooth-changing and performance is pretty respectable, especially for an auto, with a 0-62mph claimed time of 10.8 seconds and top speed of an academic 106mph.

Handling is safe and predictable and those not hobbled by 35mph limits say noise is suppressed quite well on the motorway, too.

But local motorists will most appreciate its nimbleness around narrow lanes and tight parking space.

With its range of petrol and diesel engines and the option of four-wheel drive, the SX4 range meets an awful lot of people’s motoring needs.

A sort of star that is a reasonably priced car.