10. Suzuki Swift 4x4

The new Suzuki Swift 4x4 really does get off to a flying start - costing from £11,516 or £13,116 for the top-spec SZ4 driven here, it provides a rival at last for the Fiat Panda.

On dry roads there’s barely any difference in the driving experience compared to the equivalent front-wheel-drive Swift. Despite having an additional 65kg to haul around – courtesy of the extra rear differential and connecting shafts – the Swift 4x4 only weighs 1,085kg, so its superb chassis remains agile and alert.

However, the weight penalty means that CO2 jumps by 10g/km, to 126g/km, and fuel economy drops by 5.2mpg, to a claimed 51.3mpg. The 4x4 uses different suspension and dampers, too, raising the ride height by 25mm. This leads to slightly more body roll than in the two-wheel- drive model, but a smoother straight-line ride as a payoff.

The 4x4 clings on impressively when negotiating roundabouts quickly, resisting understeer a bit longer than the normal model, but the difference is minimal.