An SUV that hasn't forgotten how to be a small car. The S-Cross gives you the raised seating position and the boot space, then uses about a quarter less fuel than a mid-size SUV doing the same trip — and fits into car parks they can't.

Small SUVs usually make you choose: either it's easy to park or it's actually useful. The S-Cross manages both, and it does it on noticeably less fuel than anything larger. The engine is a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol producing 103kW and 220Nm. The number that matters is the torque, and where it arrives — low in the rev range, which means it pulls away from lights and up freeway on-ramps without fuss despite the modest capacity. Claimed fuel use is around 5.9L/100km on the front-drive version. One detail worth knowing if you care about how a car drives: it uses a conventional six-speed automatic rather than a CVT. It shifts like a normal gearbox, which makes it more pleasant on the highway than most cars at this size and price. Boot space is 430 litres with the rear seats up, which handles two large suitcases and a couple of soft bags. The 60:40 split rear seat and adjustable boot floor open it out past 1,200 litres when you need to move something awkward. For Perth specifically, it suits the jobs a mid-size SUV is overkill for. Parking in Northbridge or Leederville. A couple touring the South West who want room for bags but not a big car. A week of driving between meetings where the fuel bill is coming out of your own pocket. Higher seating than a hatchback, better visibility in traffic, and none of the bulk. If the fleet vehicle is the AllGrip version, its four-wheel drive is for wet-weather traction only. Sealed roads apply here as they do across our fleet, regardless of the drive mode selector. Best for: couples and small families, city and metro driving, fuel-conscious hires, longer rentals where running costs add up, South West touring with luggage, anyone who wants an SUV without an SUV's footprint. Not ideal for: five adults with full luggage, unsealed roads, towing anything heavy, large-load moves.