A SIGNIFICANT mid-life facelift looks set to make the Suzuki S-Cross more competitive in the market for small SUVs.

And there's absolutely no doubt that the re-styled SX4 S-Cross really looks the part, which wasn't something you could necessarily say about its more bland predecessor.

It's clear to see that the design team has put some hard work into giving the car a more distinctive front end. Notable features include an aggressive air intake, newly designed headlamps, a clamshell bonnet and a steep and distinctive nose.

In terms of engines, Suzuki has got rid of its naturally aspirated 1.6 petrol engine and has introduced two smaller capacity Boosterjet engines.

During the vehicle's UK press launch on the roads of Cheshire and North Wales, the Telegraph & Argus tested both the turbocharged 1.0-litre and 1.4-litre motors.

The 1.0-litre version is a sweet engine and offers the driver more power than you would imagine from a small unit.

It pulls with gusto from below 2000rpm and feels sufficient for most everyday situations.

For a relatively small engine, it was hard not to be impressed with the capable way in which it powered a 1730kg vehicle.

Understandably, the engine can run out of puff around the 4500rpm mark, which is something that can't be said of the more powerful 1.4 unit, which I also had the chance to test.

This engine, especially when on sports mode, offers excellent acceleration, with power available at a consistent rate right through the rev range.

The vehicle's handling is also impressive. The steering is direct and there is very little body roll in the corners.

There's an increased ride height and revised suspension settings.

The view of the road ahead is good from the lofty driving position.

Meanwhile, the vehicle is roomy and there's plenty of space for tall adults.

The cabin is attractive, with updates including a new soft touch dashboard pad and a piano black finish for the centre panel that surrounds the infotainment unit.

On the higher-spec version, the large sunroof was a very pleasant feature.

There are still some hard plastics dotted around the cabin, but everything seems well put-together.

In terms of green credentials, there are emissions of just 113g/km for the 1.0-litre Boosterjet engine with manual transmission.

The S-Cross is available in three grades; SZ4, SZ-T and SZ5 with all three equipped with seven airbags and ESP as standard. DAB Radio is also fitted as standard equipment on all models.

Suzuki says the SZ-T model is aimed at the market for corporate or fleet buyers.

The various tweaks have contributed to making the S-Cross a more desirable vehicle and a stronger competitor to the Nissan Qashqai and the newly-released Seat Ateca.

With its generous levels of standard equipment and starting at £14,999 for the 1.0 Boosterjet SZ4, the vehicle is good value for money.

The lowdown

Suzuki SX4 S-Cross 1.0 Boosterjet SZ-T

Engine: 1.0-litre petrol

Price: £19,499 on the road

Power 109bhp

0-62mph 11.0sec

Top speed 112mph

Economy: 56.4mpg combined and CO2 of 113g/km