A 4x4 that can average 70mpg sounds too good to be true but that's what Suzuki has created with its new and very trendy Vitara SUV.

On sale in April the latest Vitara sets a new standard for fuel economy among non-hybrid off-roaders.

Along the coast road which runs down the western edge of Portugal we have just notched up 70.6 to the gallon in the new diesel Vitara fitted with Suzuki's Allgrip four-wheel-drive technology.

The multi-mode traction system was first seen in Suzuki's S-Cross model and has been fettled to give the new Vitara quite accomplished characteristics.

It feels grippy and well planted on the road while on more adventurous terrain it makes the Vitara a capable soft roader, its abilities enhanced by hill descent control.

The Allgrip model is the flagship of the new Vitara range and costs from £21,299 for the 1.6-litre 120ps diesel or £19,499 for a similar capacity petrol version.

The diesel is particularly impressive and outperformed its official fuel consumption figure of 67.2mpg with little trouble on Europe's gently undulating most westerly road.

There is plenty of mid-range pull and although fairly noisy when the engine is cold it quietens down on a run and will move well at motorway speeds.

The maximum speed is a claimed 112mph and 0 to 60 takes 11.4 seconds while its emissions of 111g/km make it the cleanest diesel SUV on the market outstripping the likes of the MINI Countryman ALL4 and even the much smaller two-cylinder Fiat Panda 4x4 TwinAir which manages 114g/km.

It's an impressive achievement from Suzuki which is rapidly building a reputation for fuel efficient vehicles which are high on value and all-round appeal.

The front-wheel-drive version of the diesel Vitara offers even more value for money, costing £1,800 less and having a combined fuel return of 70 to the gallon with emissions down to just 106g/km.

With a 10 gallon tank that gives the diesels a range of around 700 miles on a single tank, not to be sneezed at in this day and age.

The diesel Vitaras are fitted with six-speed manual gearboxes while the petrol versions are five speed and cost £1,500 less but are not quite as economical. Expect to average around 50 to the gallon with a CO2 figure of 123g/km at best.

A six speed automatic is also going to be available on petrol models and although not as gutsy to drive it is quieter than the diesel and again surprisingly mean returning an average of 53mpg on our drive.

That said, the petrol model did not feel quite as composed and robust on the road as the diesel Vitara which at 1.87 tonnes is 140 kilos heavier.

The new Vitara is the sixth generation of Suzuki's family-oriented utility model first launched in 1988 and part of a range which has notched up almost three million sales around the world.

With SUVs now becoming more and more fashion focused Suzuki is dressing up its newcomer with some bright paint jobs including dual tone options and colour matching facias.

All but the base SZ4 model - which costs from £13,999 - can be fitted with extra body kit such as skid plates, side mouldings and different coloured grilles which make it sharp and stylish but still with some classic Vitara traits such as a clamshell bonnet and vent panels on the front wings.

Inside, a seven-inch touchscreen (which can be used while wearing gloves) is the central feature of the dashboard and it features a very clear high definition display while sat nav is standard from mid-grade SZ-T trim (priced from £15,499) onwards.

Top grade SZ5 versions of the Vitara start at £17,999 and include anti-collision systems, adaptive cruise control, LED headlamps and a large analogue clock in the middle of the dash which adds a touch of character to the interior.

Suede upholstery, keyless entry and a panoramic sunroofs are other features of the SZ5 models which is a lot of kit for an £18,000 SUV.

On the family front, the Vitara comes with twin ISOFIX child seat points in the rear and a boot capacity of 375 litres including an underfloor area. Drop the rear seats and it offers a maximum of 710 litres.

With Suzuki's new Celerio city car now on sale the Vitara is part of a new-look line up for the Japanese brand which also includes the S-Cross crossover and the little Jimny - a hard core 4x4 if ever there was.