SUZUKI's all-new Ignis range looks significantly more businesslike than its predecessor, and an added bonus is that it will include a four-wheel drive version.

But first out is the £7,953 1.3-litre five-speed manual which went on sale this week. It is an ideal motor for York's busy roads, easy to park and manoeuvre yet quite capable of bowling along at motorway speeds without grunting or groaning. In fact it is surprisingly easy to take on the high and mighty when it comes to knocking off the miles-an-hour.

The superseded showroom model had neat, but rather anonymous, lines, whereas the new is much more with it, with large headlamp clusters and decidedly flared wheel arches front and rear.

Its wrap-around bumpers are colour-cordinated and an excellent feature is that the Ignis also comes with fixed roof rails. At the back, rather too upright for my taste, there are rear light clusters on either side of the tailgate.

There are changes to the interior too, including a new fascia, revised instrumentation and a trip computer. Although the instrument panel is designed to be easier to read whatever the lighting conditions, sadly the information display, which is located above the radio, and shows the radio frequency, station or CD track, as well as the time, fuel consumption figure and outside temperature, is not. It is seated so far into the depths of the fascia that it virtually disappears from sight, especially when the sun is shining through the rear window. However, there are full marks for the Blaupunkt radio/CD player with its easy-to-use finger tip-sized controls; unlike many other small car radios there are no problems finding the on/off or pre-set station buttons with this particular model. The audio system, incidentally, makes itself heard via six speakers.

The seating is satisfactory, quite comfortable and supportive. The driver's seat has an height adjuster, and the normal manual slide and recline ability. Getting the driver's seat just right and comfortable manually generally takes a bit of to-ing 'n' fro-ing so Suzuki could score a few more Brownie points by introducing a powered facility.

Moving into the back, the rear seat splits 60/40, and helpfully, the seat backs can also be part-reclined.

There are never enough stowage areas in cars, but the latest Ignis does provide quite a few including a tray, albeit an extremely shallow one, under the front passenger seat. There are bottle holders on all the doors, door trim pockets, a front-seat back pocket, and cup holders.

For the driver there is a new three-spoked leather-trimmed gear lever, and the gearshift has been given the leather look, too.

The latest Ignis also has improved safety features, with front and side airbags, and active front seat head restraints, all in the standard specification.

The 1.3-litre five-speed manual is quite splendid when it comes to economy motoring. Round the city it returned nearly 35mpg, a fraction more than the handbook's 34mpg, and on the open road returned more than 51mpg, giving a combined return of around 43.5mpg.

Maximum power output is 92.5bhp at 6000rpm, while torque is 87lb.ft at 4000rpm. It is a responsive engine, although a bit buzzy for its four cylinders/16v layout, and is matched to a five-speed gearbox.

Suzuki says it has tuned the suspension settings to improve the car's handling, and this certainly seems the case. The suspension is a mix of MacPherson strut at the front and Suzuki's own system at the back, providing a good stable ride.

On top of this Ignis has been fitted with electric power steering which helps cut fuel consumption by between three and five per cent. What it does is provides more power at lower speeds, making it easier for instance to negotiate car parks, and York's congested parking streets. At higher speed, on the open road, the steering receives less power assistance.

Ignis has been given a safety make-over, too, with crushable zones designed to absorb a collision in a controlled way and keeping the car's occupants safer, while side impact beams are fitted in the front and back doors. The five seats all have three-point seatbelts, while the Isofix child seat restraint system is also fitted in the back. Front and side airbags are also fitted, together with active safety head restraints for driver and front passenger.

Other safety factors are ABS anti-lock brakes and electronic brakeforce distribution, which ensures that braking is distributed to front and rear wheels on an equal basis depending on the weight of the car, taking into account how many passengers and luggage is being carried.

Security measures include deadlocks, an immobiliser as well as keyless remote central locking.

The boot is a handy size, plenty of room for the family luggage, and capable of extension from 526-litres with the back seats in place, to 1,002-litre with the seats folded.

The Ignis arrives with a three-year or 60,000 mile warranty, together with a six-year anti-rust warranty and three years of Suzuki Assistance providing roadside breakdown help.

For the new owner there is also a full range of custom-designed Suzuki accessories.

There's never any doubt about the efficiency of Suzuki's smaller engines, and the Ignis will also be fitted with a 1.5-litre unit, also using variable valve timing, manual transmission and two-wheel drive, and is also listed at £7,953.

Next month a 1490cc full-time four-wheel drive model will be added to the range. To cope with the extra weight, this one has 98bhp at its disposal, although the more important figure is that maximum torque is up from 118lb/ft to 133lb/ft. Badged as the 4GRIP, it will cost £8,953, the same price as the four-speed automatic Ignis, which will also use the 1.5-litre engine but reverts to two-wheel drive, and is due to go on sale in December.

Updated: 16:47 Thursday, September 18, 2003