YES, winter's here. No problem with a chill breeze or the rain but just around the corner there's sure to be ice and snow - and that's when the traffic grinds to a halt.

Mind you, a glance down any suburban road will prove just how popular four-wheel-drives are, so for many the white stuff will be an easily-conquered challenge.

Yet despite the craze for tall, upright vehicles with twin axle drive, not everyone wants or can afford a big off-roader when 99.5% of the time they are driving on polished - if pot-holed - Tarmac surfaces.

There is an answer, however. Suzuki now makes an all paw version of the miniscule Swift, which has the technology to traverse in safety slippery or snowy roads even if it can't quite scale the slopes of Snowdon.

What's more it is only marginally less frugal than the supermini it is based on, weighs just 65kg more and with prices starting at £13,819 it doesn't cost the earth.

In normal driving, the front wheels do the work, but when it's slippery a viscous coupling automatically brings the rear axles into play and adhesion is restored.

In other words, the driver is blissfully unaware of shenanigans that make it all possible, yet is able to maintain progress.

With a tiny 1,242cc petrol engine under the snub nose, performance is hardly shattering. But thanks to the silky, willingness of 92 horsepower the Swift 4x4 keeps up well and manages a max of 103mph with 62mph being reached in 13.4seconds.

The slick five-speed gearbox needs to stirred quite a bit but this is no hardship because it is one of the best gear changes in existence. Even when revved hard, the engine note remains restrained and harmonious.

The five-door model I drove, the SZ4 4x4 (price £15,739), makes best sense for families and allows much easier access to the rear than the more sporty looking three-door.

There's ample room for four aboard, partly thanks to the upright seating positions which helps maximise legroom.

Boot space isn't quite so spacious with the rear seats in place. Just 211 litres can be carried which means it's best to travel light. When the back seats are folded, this expands to 511 litres.

The Swift has fun, cheeky looks. And that's the way it drives too.

The steering, like all the controls, is light but it's also reasonably sensitive and gives good driver feedback.

Handling is taut and nimble with little roll but good suppression of bumps. It feels extremely solid and well-made and this impression extends to cabin where materials are of the highest quality and compares well with much more expensive models.

Standard equipment in the SZ4 includes air con, cruise control, adjustable steering wheel, electric rear windows as well as front ones, alloy wheels and electrically heated and adjustable door mirrors.

You gain a few grammes CO2 with the heavier 4x4 version, but a figure of 126g/km is still very impressive. In real terms, fuel economy worked out at around 43mpg during my tenure - the official combined average is 51.3mpg.

The smart-looking, go-anywhere Swift is a bargain four-wheel-drive that's easy to park and just about as much fun to drive as the front driver version.