For a company as big and varied as Fiat, it's a wonder that it's taken them this long to build what they dub a Compact SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle). The market is booming, rivals have been cleaning up for some time now but Fiat has insisted on selling cars that conform to the old rules. Things now look to be changing. The Croma blurred the boundaries and the Sedici offers all-wheel drive fun in a bite sized package. Of all the Sedici models offered for sale in the UK, the 1.6-litre 16v models are likely to be the biggest sellers, so it's these cars we turn our attention to.

As long as you discount its Suzuki SX4 sister car, the Sedici looks like nothing else on the road. The low waistline, the big glasshouse, the 4x4 styling cues at the front and rear and the bold Fiat branding give it a very definite identity. It's been cleverly pitched insofar as Fiat have managed to avoid endowing it with too much gratuitously expensive and over the top off-road paraphernalia, instead concentrating on the sort of trail, track and winter driving that target customers will likely use the Sedici for. It is, however, more capable than its diminutive looks suggest.

The 1.6-litre models represent the entry level cars and they're competitively priced from £12,710 for the Dynamic model and £13,710 for the Eleganza. A 1.9-litre Multijet 8v turbodiesel variant costs from £14,700. These prices are about what you'd expect to pay for something like a Ford Fusion, a car which merely pretends to have all-wheel drive. Why fake it when you can have the real thing with a handy dose of Latin style thrown in too?

The Sedici doesn't ask much of its driver on road, feeling refined and easy to drive. The 1.6-litre petrol powerplant has 107bhp at its disposal and plenty of poke (sixty from rest is 10.8 away en route to 106mph) while the manual gearbox is light, slick and positive. At the pumps, owners should return around 40mpg in regular use. The 145Nm of torque doesn't make for huge overtaking muscle but it is a little more flexible than most 1.6-litre petrol powerplants.

The styling will be a major selling point and responsibility lies with the Italdesign studio of Giugiaro. It's a very neat piece of work. Inside, the fascia is attractively designed with some decent and hard wearing materials used. The combination of a raised driving position, height adjustable driver's seat, rake-adjustable steering wheel and deep front quarter light windows offer the driver a commanding driving position with good all-round visibility for a panoramic view of the road ahead.

"This Sedici offers real four-wheel drive capability at a price where rivals offer fake off-road credentials"

The interior is a lot more spacious than you might think, the Multipla-style low waistline giving the cabin an airy feel. As well as reclining individually, each section of the 60:40 split/folding rear seat can be double folded forwards into an upright stowage position behind the front seat backs, boosting the volume of the flat-floor luggage compartment from 270 to 670 litres. Numerous oddment stowage spaces throughout the car include a large, lockable, passenger side glove box and generous door bins.

So much for showroom considerations. What's it like on the rough stuff? The answer is somewhat unexpected. Though it's no Land Rover Freelander, this compact Fiat is endowed with some rather serious off-road artillery. It's been fitted with a clever on-demand 4x4 system which features an electronically controlled centre differential and three driver-selected operating modes - 2WD, AUTO and LOCK - activated via a three-way transmission control rocker-switch housed in the centre console. This simple, intuitive, electronic solution does away with the need for any cumbersome and intrusive transfer box gearlevers.

At the heart of the new 4x4 transmission is an electromagnetically operated dry multi-plate clutch coupling system that modulates the transfer of torque electronically, according to demand from either axle.

In 2WD mode, used during normal driving conditions, the 4x4 system transmits all engine torque to the front axle, reaping the benefits of a traditional front-wheel drive transmission - improved fuel economy, less mechanical wear and lower emissions. When driving in adverse weather conditions, or on surfaces with low levels of grip, the Sedici driver can select on-demand 4x4 simply by setting the transmission control switch to AUTO. In this mode, the transmission employs the ABS anti-lock brake sensors to detect relative slip levels between front and rear axles and, generating electrical pulses which activate the electromagnetic clutch plate coupling system, intervenes where necessary.

The system's AUTO setting automatically modulates torque distribution between the front and rear axle, transmitting all torque to the front wheels under the majority of normal driving conditions, whilst optimising torque transfer to the rear axle when the sensors detect low grip, or in anticipation of loss of traction during acceleration.

As its name suggests, LOCK splits engine torque equally between front and rear axles, to ensure prompt and stable take-off in mud, snow, sand or other adverse conditions. This 50:50 torque split is maintained up to speeds of 37 mph, above which the system automatically reverts to the AUTO mode.

The Sedici's combination of short 895 mm front and 720 mm rear overhangs and high 190 mm ground clearance make it surprisingly well suited to challenging off-road conditions, with approach, departure and break-over angles (the maximum angle of incidence that may be undertaken without the body touching the ground) of 20.3, 31.1 and 18.1 degrees respectively. The car will also readily climb gradients of 33%.

Standard equipment is generous, including ABS with EBD, twin front and side airbags, air conditioning, front fog lights, roof bars, electric front windows, electric power steering, 60/40 split-folding rear seats and a 4-speaker CD radio. To this tally, the Eleganza adds silver-painted roofbars, a leather-covered steering wheel, 16" alloy wheels, automatic climate control, a height-adjustable driver's seat, chromed interior fittings, body-coloured electric heated mirrors and stereo controls for the steering wheel.

Competitively priced, well finished and offering a voguish 'crossover' appeal, the Sedici hits the market at a good time. Of course, three years ago would have been even better from Fiat's perspective but models like this aren't cheap to develop and partnership with Suzuki was a very canny move. Of the two cars, the Fiat will have broader appeal and should do well, with early residual forecasts looking strong. Best of all, the Sedici represents something a little different without serving up a financial hit. That's why it's well worth looking at if you're in the market for a car that follows the road less travelled.

TOP 2 SEDICI DEALS

The results below show the top SEDICI deals on buyacar

	Fiat Sedici 1.6 16V Dynamic 5dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £207	Saving £1,374	Price £11,481
	Fiat Sedici 1.6 16V Eleganza 5dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £219	Saving £1,536	Price £12,319

typical 10.92% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000