The Stonic is Kia’s smallest SUV and is closely related to the Rio. It is, therefore, an SUV of compact dimensions. It is also possessed of limited off-road aspirations available, as it is, in front-wheel-drive only and with a ride height that just about qualifies as raised.

Black plastic cladding around the wheel arches and sills, and roof rails do contribute to an appropriately rugged appearance. There’s a new interpretation of the signature tiger-nose grille that’s slimmer, narrower and sits beneath a stepped bonnet. Every model rides on 17in alloy wheels.

The trim levels are named 2 – reviewed here – Maxx, 3 and 4 and there are just two engines to choose from: a diesel and a petrol.

The driving position is unusually low for an SUV and that might disappoint some potential buyers seeking the commanding view of the road that you’d normally expect in cars of this ilk. It is comfortable, though, with plenty of flexibility in the both the position of the seat and steering wheel, although the latter only adjusts for reach.

There are some nice touches, such as the sliding centre armrest, and the ergonomics are excellent, with all the controls within easy reach and nicely damped too. It all feels securely bolted together but there are no plush, spongy surfaces anywhere, just hard plastics.

Visibility out the front is excellent, thanks to slim A-pillars and, while the rear pillars are thick, the windscreen is deep and rear parking sensors are standard across the range.

Front-seat passengers are blessed with plenty of room. Even taller occupants will have room to comfortably accommodate their elongated limbs. It’s wide enough that you won’t be banging elbows with whoever you’re sharing the front of the car with.

Rear-seat passengers don’t fare quite so well, however, with leg room a little on the tight side, particularly if your gangly friend has nabbed the front seat. There is, though, adequate head room. You can squeeze three people across the rear bench although I doubt that there’ll be many expressions of gratitude for the experience, although the same can be said for most cars in this class.

There’s a reasonable amount of storage space in the front, with a decent-sized glovebox and a small – slightly too, small for my phone, particularly with a USB cable plugged in – ahead of the gear lever, plus two cupholders and a cubby under the centre armrest.

It’s a little less generous in the rear with just small door bins and map pockets on the back of the front seats to accommodate your Vimto and Werther’s.

Infotainment needs are satisfied with a rather commendable set-up that comes with a good-sized seven-inch display and includes DAB radio, Bluetooth audio streaming and handsfree calls as well as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

The screen is crisp and clear and is flanked by large shortcut buttons that are easy enough to prod while you’re on the move. You also get a welcome set of manual air con controls too, so you don’t have to cycle through a fiddly set of menus to adjust the temperature in the car.

Boot space doesn’t particularly impress. There are 352 litres with the 60/40 split-folding rear seats in place, and 1,155 litres with them stowed away. There is also a significant lip to negotiate when you’re loading or unloading. Top-of-the-range 4 trim is equipped with a dual-height boot floor which you can adjust to give yourself a flat load area.

You can choose a 1.6-litre diesel with 113bhp for your Stonic but my review car was powered by the firm’s 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol unit which places 118bhp at your disposal.

It’s appreciably eager, especially around town, and apart from a muted three-cylinder thrum when you’re accelerating, is quite refined when you’re cruising along at higher speeds. You do, however, have to endure a degree of wind and road noise.

The engine is also flexible enough to slip past slower-moving traffic on country roads when the need, or desire, arises and that nippy little motor is backed up by a nimble chassis that responds eagerly to changes in direction and resists body roll in corners admirably.

The six-speed manual gearbox is slick and precise and, combined with a well-judged clutch pedal, makes smooth driving a doddle for even the most leaden-footed of motorists.

The steering isn’t particularly communicative, but it's precise with a nice weight around the straight-ahead position. It isn’t easily ruffled either and, even with the introduction of some bumps mid-corner, the Stonic remains remarkably composed.

The Stonic can be a bit fidgety at motorway speeds, even on roads that look perfectly flat, but it doesn’t wallow thanks to well-controlled damping.

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The ride is firm but the pay-off is handling that’s agile and balanced. It isn’t the most practical small SUV but you do get plenty of standard kit, even in the basic trim 2. The turbocharged petrol engine is punchy and reasonably refined too.

If you’re happy to sacrifice a little practicality for a smidgeon more fun, then you should consider adding the Stonic to your list of maybes.

Kia Stonic 1.0 T-GDi ‘2’ ADAP

Price: £18,025

Engine: 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol

Transmission: 6-speed manual

Max power: 118bhp

Max torque: 171Nm @ 1,500 – 4,000rpm

Max speed: 114mph

0-62mph: 9.9sec

Fuel consumption (WLTP)

Low: 40.4mpg

Medium: 50.4mpg

High: 55.4mpg

Extra High: 42.2mpg

Combined: 47.1mpg

Emissions (CO2): 130g/km

For more information visit www.kia.co.uk