I bought this car to keep the miles and cost off my over the top supercharged V8 saloon. The result? I've put more miles on it in 18 months than the other car in more than twice that time, and it rarely feels like second-best.

Looks: The two-box design is clean with just enough curviness to avoid looking like a budget-special. Sort of like the Mini had been designed today, without the need for all that retro-bling. Even if you don't like the design today, I'll bet that it will age much better than the Fiestas etc. of today. The stubby nose does like to collect the odd paint chip though, but whether or not that was to blame for my windscreen crack on the M6 is debatable.

Handling: This is the trump card of the car. It is just so much fun throwing it around at legal speeds that you forget about power and the steering is communicative enough as well. The braking is spot on too - all round disc brakes on the SZ4 work really well while still being smooth.

Power: If I didn't live in the city, I may well have gone for the manual, as the auto does sap a bit of power. That's a big thing for me to say, as I am a die-hard auto gearbox lover, but the manual was the best manual gearbox I think I've ever used. The auto is at least smooth, the engine does like being revved, and after a while either the gearbox or myself learned the habits of the other and the car is less likely to kick down at the wrong moment. The power is still adequate though, with more than enough to keep up with city traffic, or cruise at 70+ on the motorway.

Interior: There's no way around it, on first look the materials are hard and unappealing. But nothing feels flimsy, the switches work well, and everything is laid out sensibly. Many far more expensive cars would do well to use this design, albeit with some soft-touch plastics. The greatest bit though is the stereo - not perfect, but a clear, lively sound from six speakers that makes your music and radio enjoyable, along with iPod connectivity through a USB port (so even the new iPhones with the Lightning connector will work), bluetooth, and steering wheel controls. The only things missing here are a small OEM subwoofer and DAB radio.

Equipment: Climate control, heated electric wing mirrors, all round electric windows, cruise control, automatic headlights, keyless entry and start, alloy wheels, fog lamps, bluetooth phone - it's equipped better than most fleet Mercedes or BMWs. The fact that all that comes as standard in the top trim keeps costs (including insurance) down, as well as reducing lead times as the car you want is likely to be in stock rather than having to be built specially and then transported across Europe. Auto wipers, HIDs and sat nav would be nice, but at least a Tomtom fits neatly in the dash-top storage bin when not in use.

Safety: Suzuki must be commended on this. 5 star crash rating, stability control, loads of airbags including one for the driver's knees. Even more importantly, everything is standard even on the lowest trim, sending out a clear message that safety should not be an optional extra.

Comfort: The seats are supportive, the steering wheel leather and the climate control works. The suspension is about right - firm enough to allow for the eager handling, while being comfortable as long as you avoid hitting big potholes or speed bumps hard.

Fuel economy: Not perfect, but does about 40mpg with a heavy right foot around town. I doubt that many eco-cars would do that much better when driven hard enough to keep up.

Practicality: Can't say much on this, as I usually drive on my own and do have a car with a big boot if I need to carry anything big. The seats leave a big step up from the boot floor when folded, and the boot lip is a bit high, but the boot is big enough for a good many shopping bags, and the 5-dr gives easy access to stuffing a great deal on the rear seats. I wouldn't have expected much more in a supermini, but don't expect the car to be a mini-MPV.

Reliability: Not a problem (apart from needing a new windscreen, which I can hardly blame on Suzuki). No recalls, always started first-time. No significant rattles, and I expect the car to be mostly bulletproof well after I've traded it for a new one.

Dealership: Especially with cheaper brands, dealers can be a mixed bag. I dodged a very nasty hard-sell from one dealer and went with John Banks Suzuki in Bury St. Edmunds - got a deal almost as good as the internet brokers, with fantastic service that included transferring my private plate and even sympathising with me when the DVLA introduced a delay, rather than getting annoyed. If I trade in for another Suzuki, I'll go direct to them and avoid the tedium of searching around.

Overall: Absolutely the best value car that I have ever owned. I paid about £12k in total for a well equipped, economical and genuinely fun car that fits my needs perfectly. At this point in time, and barring any lottery wins, I'd only consider changing it if Suzuki introduced an automatic Swift sport, or a newer and better Swift.