When we first moved to our present village home just over 12 years ago, one of the first things I decided was that we would need a Range Rover. My justification was that we lived on a fairly steep hill and have a near vertical driveway to get out of. If conditions got bad then a 4x4 would be essential to get about. Sure enough, that first winter we saw a snowflake and remained perfectly mobile. But so did everyone else. It was really just an excuse because I wanted to own another Range Rover and I pretended to myself the choice was justified. As it happened, there were a few occasions over the following seven years I kept the car that it came in really useful but as an ultimate mobility tool for most occasions there are other options far more suited to the role - and a darned sight cheaper to run, too, when you consider the 11 mpg petrol habit my Range Rover had. Looking back, I wonder how I ever afforded it. Now if you want a more affordable option, then consider the Fiat Sedici. Here's a sensible, family size hatchback with four wheel drive that can get to most places. It's limited only by its road tyres and the lack of ground clearance that prevents it riding big ruts. Most of the time you will be able to ignore its self selecting 4x4 system that normally drives the front wheels but cuts in to power all four as the need arises if left in auto mode. It can also be locked into permanent 4x4. On the day it was delivered, we set out in the evening to see a gig by Jimmy Carr. He was hilarious - a little bit young for us, maybe, but with time we managed to get most of the punchlines. What wasn't so funny was the weather. It was throwing it down and surface water was a real problem. At least, it would have been in most other cars but the little Fiat, made in Hungary by 4x4 experts Suzuki, cut right through the deepest water and was never deflected from its course as it was in auto select 4x4 mode. It's really great to find a smallish car that gives a feeling of reassurance when most would have been tossing about on top of the water, losing grip and shooting off sideways. So if you live in a rural area and want permanent mobility then maybe the Fiat should feature on your shopping list. Fiat also makes a 4x4 version of the smaller Panda, too. What I like about the Sedici, apart from the appeal of its four wheel drive, is that the body is extremely roomy. Four bulky adults fit in with no trouble at all. The test car was fitted with Fiat's excellent 1.9 litre multijet diesel giving 120 bhp, the same engine you will find popping up in various General Motors models, too. It's a great engine and its power is more than adequate for a car the Sedici's size. There's a 112 mph top speed and 0-62 mph time of 11.2 seconds to enter into the equation but more to the point is the way this car settles down to a steady lope at cruising speeds. Sometimes the engine note is a little intrusive but it's very easy to live with this car. Equally important is that the Sedici will go at least four times as far on a gallon of diesel as my Range Rover would on a gallon of petrol. And as far as passenger space goes, there's very little to choose between the two as the Fiat is commodious for its size while the RR was cramped. And at £14,495 for the Dynamic version, the Sedici is tops on value, too. Maurice Hardy Annette's View While sometimes looks should be a secondary consideration when choosing a car, the Fiat Sedici is very pleasingly styled as well as mechanically capable. The car is tall and has a deep side glass area with a line that gradually rises towards the tail. From the C pillar backwards there's the impression of one big wraparound screen as the D pillars are covered over with blacked out glass. Other makers have cars that ape the Fiat's looks, with slightly raised suspension and body cladding that's supposed to give the impression of toughness and ability. The big difference with the Sedici is that it delivers and you really can take it places at the weekend to enjoy your surroundings while your friends are trolley racing in the supermarkets. Its raised profile also brings the advantage of a better view out, excellent for the kids. But if you are an empty nester, maybe getting on a bit, then the ease of access is also worth considering as the raised hip height of the seats makes it easily possible to slide into the car rather than climb down. The driving position is excellent, too, and the fascia is clear and simple. This is one family car that really delivers all it promises. Car: Fiat Sedici 1.9 Dynamic Does it fit your ego?... 0-62 mph: 11.2 secs Top speed: 112 mph Bhp: 120 @ 4000 rpm,br> Torque: 206 lb ft @ 2050 rpm ...and your wallet?... Price: £14,495 Urban: 34.9 mpg Extra urban: 49.6 mpg Combined: 42.8 mpg CO2 emissions: 174 g/km Insurance Group: 8 Best bits: simple 4x4; capable in all conditions; good family transport. End