This is quite a difficult set of attributes to find in a single car. You say you want something small and economical like a Toyota Aygo or Suzuki Ignis, but cars like this don't tend to come with powerful engines for overtaking, nor are they best-suited to motorways and rough rural roads.

We would suggest a small SUV with a diesel engine, giving you the ability to cope with rough roads but with a useful turn of speed and good fuel economy. For your budget we would look at the Mitsubishi ASX, as it is relatively compact, comes with a choice of two- or four-wheel-drive and 1.8-litre or 2.2-litre diesels engines depending on the year.

Alternatively you could try the Suzuki SX4 S-Cross, which is also available with a diesel engine and is well equipped. if you want something smaller, look at a Suzuki Ignis.