COMPACT Sports Utility Vehicles - baby 4x4s to you and me - are a notoriously difficult species to breed.
Too compact and they feel like a shoe box, too off-roady and they have the ride and handling on the mean city streets of, well, a shoe box.
Too small an engine and you might as well put wheels on a shoe box. Too few extras and it' like being given a shoe box without the shoes.
I've driven many versions and almost all have fallen into one or other, and once, memorably, all of these traps.
Mitsubishi however, with Italian help, has managed to produce a thoroughbred - the Shogun Pinin - that has about as much to do with shoe boxes as Michael Portillo has with Conservative Party unity. And this car also refuses to do the dirty on you even in the toughest terrain.
The junior version of the mighty Shogun is ideal for those who want the off road performance and great driving position without the bulk.
Styled by Italian designer Pininfarina, the Shogun Pinin is ideal for city driving. The light steering means it's child's play to handle and exceptionally manoeuvrable.
The high driving position, small turning circle and short overhangs make the Pinin easy to drive in city traffic, and equally amenable to parking in the tightest of spots. Add to that a slick gearbox with more combinations than a Chubb safe and it is easy to see why the Pinin is a delight to drive.
Its car-like qualities are a major selling point, proving an exception to the rule for small 4x4s by declining to provide a ride akin to a bucking bronco. This model has better manners than Jeeves and Wooster and comes with air conditioning, roof rails, electric windows and a CD player.
But when the going gets rough it's tougher than Mike Tyson. The Pinin's second gearlever allows you to select between four modes ranging from two wheel high, for everyday town driving, to three variations of four-wheel-drive, depending on the weather and road - or off-road - conditions.
For normal use the second gear-lever can be left in 2H, which means only the rear wheels are being driven, making day to day driving more economical. In the week that I drove the Pinin the average fuel consumption, thanks to its GDI engine, never dipped below 30 miles per gallon.
There is a natty green light on the dashboard that shines when your driving is environment and wallet friendly. A small quibble is that it catches your eye, distracting your attention from the road. But otherwise the controls are neatly set out and easy to use.
When the roads are wet or slushy and you want to accelerate rapidly a switch to 4H gives you that extra stability. Unlike some four wheel drive vehicles, this change can be made at anything up to 60 miles per hour.
The remaining two four-wheel-drive modes are really only for serious off-roading, although it does give you peace of mind if you happen to be out during a heavy snow storm, or if you use your vehicle for pulling a caravan or boat across fields.
Luggage space on the Pinin is relatively small, although the large opening rear door makes loading easy and the rear seat backs do fold down to give extra space.
Overall Mitsubishi has put together a presentable package for a shade under £16,000. Slightly more expensive but definitely of more use than your average shoe box.
FAST FACTS
Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin 2.0 GDI Equippe 5-door
Price: £15,995
Mechanical: 127bhp, 1,999cc four cyl petrol engine driving two or all four wheel via 5spd manual gearbox with part time high/low transfer box.
Max speed: 106mph
0-62mph: 10.2 secs
Combined mpg: 29.7
Insurance group: 11
CO2 emissions: 227g/km
BiK Rating: 27%
Warranty: 3yrs/ unlimited mileage; 6yrs anti-rust