AN OLD favourite is back. After doing rather well selling the outgoing model, Suzuki dealer Motor Mall was without Grand Vitaras for quite a while.

But not any more.

The former darling of the lightweight 4×4 sector – which Suzuki did invent, after all – is back looking the neatest in its 11 years on the British market. Vitara, by the way, has been around twice as long – first appearing in 1988.

Anyway, approaching the latest incarnation from the rear, the obvious difference is the tailgate.

Right-side-hinged, which is fine for kerbside loading, it no longer carries the spare wheel.

It looks neater and makes the tailgate lighter and easier to operate, but where has the spare gone?

Well, that’s just it – it has gone.

Suzuki has joined the growing ranks to specify instead a sealant and compressor.

Well, that’s the moan over and you can’t really blame them when everyone else is doing the same.

Enter the cabin of the test car – a top-of-the-range Grand Vitara SZ5 five-door – and the mood lifts, the grumbles are soon forgotten.

Gorgeous summer sunshine streams in through the sunroof, which unlike a growing number of glazed lids is actually a proper roof that can be tilted or slid back. A right result.

Diesel engines are popular in this class – greater economy and better torque characteristics for towing – and the 1.9 litre unit has been tweaked to meet Euro V emissions regulations and fuel economy and CO2 emissions are both improved.

But oil burners are not for everyone and the test car’s 2.4-litre four-cylinder powerplant, hooked up to a four-speed automatic box, makes a compelling case for good old gasoline, especially with the balancer shaft now cleverly incorporated into the oil pump and other measures to reduce noise, vibration and harshness.

The smooth, rev-happy unit and the transmission – which is exceptionally eager to dip down a ratio or two to keep progress lively – make for a surprisingly fun drive, certainly more fun than the bare performance figures suggest.

Unlike the test pilot, the Grand Vitara has not gained too much in width over the years and while the odd gap needs careful assessment – as it does even in a Mini over here these days – there is nothing daunting about tackling local mirror-clashers like Les Blicqs in it.

That surprising liveliness is complemented by pretty good road manners for a tallish 4×4 and roll during cornering is modest, with the steering giving car-like levels of feel and feedback.

With the SZ5 riding on larger, 18-inch, alloys with lower profile tyres than other models, the ride over lumps, humps and bumps is going to be a bit firmer than in lower-spec models but it is still more than acceptable.

And the interior is a fine place to be.

Suzukis have generally proved to be pretty durable, although their haptics – the science of being touchy-feely – are never going to embarrass Audi, for instance.

Truth be told, some interior plastics and buttons do feel a bit hard to the touch.

But the steering wheel is a chunky, comfy bit of leather with remote controls for the audio on it, the leather upholstery standard on the SZ5 is decent and there is even the occasional bit of chrome and grained wood fillet to provide a visual lift.

Like most of its rivals, the Grand Vitara offers fine, roomy, upright seating for its four or five occupants and a fair boot for their luggage, too, and the Grand Vitara manages it within dimensions that are a little smaller than obvious rivals.

It sports six airbags and the usual package of electronic safety, stability and brake assistance, too, with ESP stability program with traction control now standard across the range.

The top-of-the-tree SZ5 also boasts high-intensity discharge headlamps, keyless entry and start – although you have to twist a steering-column control to start up – and just when I was getting used to the return of the starter button and yes, I did drive cars with starter buttons long before keyless entry was invented: Morris Minor, Rover 16, Issigonis Mini and A35 to name but four.

Kit is strong for Grand Vitara’s competitive price, with the front seats heated on SZ5 models, six-disc CD/radio with MP3 compatibility, cruise control, that wonderful electrically operated sunroof and single zone climate control air con.

And should you ever need it to, it will still go off-road.

Four-wheel drive is permanent and the twist of a switch will either lock the centre differential or, a rarity for compact SUVs, switch to a low ratio set of gears for really dirty work.

Switching between the three takes a second or two but a visual display in the revised, clearer, instrument cluster keeps you informed.

So the head gardener’s favourite is back with a tidier look and still fine for that role. But with those design and kit tweaks, hide and real sunroof and decent towing credentials too, the appeal is even broader now.