Making the grade

enhanced further by the fact it also sits a little bit higher off the ground.

Inside, the changes are more modest, with a slightly remodelled and softer touch dash, along with new fabrics for the seats.

The other big changes are under the bonnet and the replacement of the old 1.6-litre petrol engine with two new smaller and lighter petrol units.

The S-Cross is now available with either 1.0-litre or 1.4-litre Boosterjet turbocharged engines.

Even the 1.0litre gives the old 1.6-litre a real run for its money. It might deliver slightly less horsepower (110 compared to 118) but has more torque, lower CO2 emissions and fuel economy that’s ten per cent better.

Step up to the 1.4-litre and it leaves the old petrol powerplant well and truly in the shade, while also offering improved economy.

The diesel unit is revised rather than new, but it too is cleaner and greener and has improved economy.

There are three trim grades - SZ4, SZ-T and SZ5.

This car was a range-topping SZ5 ALLGRIP four-wheel drive automatic model and with a £24,629 price tag might be considered a little on the expensive side but the range starts at £14,999.

That sub £15,000 outlay will get you a 1.0-litre in SZ4 trim that comes pretty well equipped with Bluetooth, digital radio, air conditioning, 16-inch alloy wheels and heated door mirrors. All models come with seven airbags.

Step up to SZ-T trim and you get satellite navigation, dual zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors, rear parking camera, rear privacy glass, bigger alloys and LED headlights.

SZ5 trim adds leather trim, heated front seats, a swish sliding glass sunroof and roof rails.

You also get an added safety feature in the shape of radar brake support – autonomous braking which will actually take over for you if it thinks you’re in danger of colliding with the car in front.

As well as the ease of the automatic gearbox what I liked most about this car was the new 1.4-litre petrol engine.

It’s a sprightly, smooth and impressive unit that gives the car more of the feel of a hot hatch than a family runabout.

The automatic transmission has a range of modes and even in standard auto mode, which switches automatically between two and fourwheel drive when required, it packs a potent punch but with sports mode engaged it offers plenty more.

It makes for a car that really is great fun to drive and the added bonus of four-wheel drive means it offers the kind of grip that delivers genuinely sporty handling.

Truth be told its standard mode is more than enough to have fun in for everyday driving, saving sports mode for more open road environments.

Around town this car felt positively twitchy in sports mode, like some racing thoroughbred waiting to be let loose.

Overall, the updated S-Cross offers plenty that’s genuinely new and as an all-round package it has really stepped up a notch or two.