Try the simple life . .

But here's something that makes them all forgettable. And really it's quite inexpensive a bit like the simple little plastic clip you find on the windscreen of some Volvos, to fix your shopping list or directions, and often more useful than a whole host of expensive all-singing all-dancing equipment.

Inside this Suzuki, just below the usual fascia, is a full-length shelf not tucked away so it's difficult to reach with areas marked out for retaining various bits and pieces, and a cupholder at each side.

It's so simple so why hasn't anyone done it before?

It is hardly the height of sophistication; quite cheap to produce, I imagine, in simple dark plastic. But it shows that the designers have been thinking about what an owner really needs in a car.

So full marks to Suzuki not only for that, but for giving us a car which is an object lesson in how to produce a straightforward, simple, competent and thoroughly acceptable runabout at an affordable price.

Suzuki occupies a somewhat individual position among the world's car makers. The company is probably best known for its small 4x4s, which many years ago gave us the chance to own a practical all-terrain vehicle that was modest in size, buying price and running costs.

The handy Vitara was then superseded by the Grand Vitara which starts at £12,995. There is also the Jimny (£9,980) which is nearer to being a 4wd mini, but Suzuki makes six other models which are not 4x4s.

These include the tiny Alto, Swift, Baleno, the new Liana, the Wagon R estate, and this Ignis.

All fit into that category of 'budget' cars, for buyers who will sacrifice a little sophistication for affordability prices for the Ignis (they say it's Latin for fire) start at £6,940.

You find it with either three or five doors, and Suzuki describe it as "a compact yet extremely practical small car . . . a comfortable, value-for-money car that's immensely versatile and practical." Can't disagree with that.

It's also described as a 'multi compact' supermini, but let's not get silly. Not that the Ignis is crude you'll find power steering, radio cassette, dual front airbags, immobiliser, electric windows and mirrors, central locking and more.

The Ignis is not the prettiest of cars, maybe, but we've seen worse.

The exterior shape is individual, but not ugly. For practical reasons it's taller than most, which ensures good visibility through the large glass areas, but at two inches short of 12ft long and with help from the power steering, it makes easy work of small parking spaces.

It's comfortable and spacious, and the interior is flexible. In the five-door form of my test car it is a full 4/5 seater, and although it is no longer than the average mini it is at least a class bigger for interior space and flexibility.

Because it is high off the ground, the Ignis' front seats are also relatively high 24 inches from the ground to the cushion.

Head and legroom levels are fine, and the generous interior width means an absence of protruding wheel housings.

And ground clearance (6.5 inches) is superior to any other challengers in the class, so to hell with those confounded speed bumps!

But if you need to brake unexpectedly, the tail lamp clusters are mounted high, at each side of the rear screen.

The 1.3-litre engine coped with all my requirements, from tootling around town to a motorway journey at determined speeds, and it proved quiet.

You'll be delighted to know that the timing chain is the first in any car engine to have a pitch of 8mm. So what? It matters because it helps improve quietness and performance.

Probably more important is the occasional need to turn this mini into a removal truck. The luggage area is deep and wider than other cars in its class, and the rear door opens upwards, which helps.

The rear seats split 50/50, and can be folded completely flat, which gives 419 litres of stowage space.

Now, remember that shelf below the fascia? Well, it's just part of a host of storage solutions for every day items cup holders for driver and passenger, a centre console that's OK for mobile phones and pagers, and a handy shelf under the dashboard.

If you can afford the GL model, you may also need the storage tray for valuables beneath the passenger seat.

And there's also a large removable box which fits under the floor of the luggage area, with a capacity of 19 litres, and it can even be ordered with legs so you can use the lid as a picnic table.

You can also buy alloy wheels, air conditioning, roof racks, further storage boxes, fog lamps, front and rear spoilers, manual and electric sunroofs.