IN THIS FEATURE Bigger than a supermini, smaller than a Focus Flexible four-wheel drive Cabin quality needs looking at

And so onto the curvy, undulating test track, first in a 1.6 with front-wheel drive. The five-speed gearchange is particularly slick with its short, light movements, and the engine makes a fair fist of bringing this 1130kg 2x4 up to speed (112mph maximum). As promised, the SX4 stays surprisingly level in the corners, and it gets its power down well with not much understeer. It feels, in essence, like a bigger, softer Swift, and it rides nicely.

The 1.9 JTD, with four-wheel drive, is an altogether more engaging machine. The engine is quite noisy in this application (work is continuing here), and the six-speed gearbox is less sweet than the 1.6's five-speeder, but there's much more acceleration on tap even if the top speed remains the same (opting for the front-wheel drive JTD gives you an extra 6mph). Switched to front-wheel drive mode the 1.9 feels quite inert and builds up some understeer at speed, as you'd expect from its heavier engine. But switch to 'auto' (4x4 on demand) and it undergoes a huge personality transformation.

Prototypes had varying ride and handling settings

Now, you can power through corners with all wheels biting into the road, and if you back off the line tightens decisively. The SX4 had just become entertainingly throttle-steerable and thoroughly good fun. Did Suzuki intend such a bipolar personality? "We made it easy for the ladies, who are most likely to use this car, but added some fun for when the man drives," said an engineer. Alarmed at this extraordinary sexism, I pointed out that many women are as keen to enjoy the way a car feels as many men are, given the opportunity. 'Not in Japan,' came the reply. Lost in translation? It's more than just the language.

The SX4 arrives in the UK next summer, sourced from Hungary although it's also to be built in Japan.