THE Suzuki Liana is the Alistair McGowan of the motoring world - it's an accomplished family hatchback that just loves doing impressions.
And believe it or not its best impersonations are of people carriers and jet fighters.
No, I've not been at the drinks cabinet, the Liana has oodles of room and styling traits fans of people carriers would undoubtedly recognise.
But it also has the kind of turning circle last demonstrated by an F14 Tomcat in Top Gun.
Bucking the modern trend, Suzuki has decided on long overhangs and a short wheelbase to make the Liana turn on a sixpence.
Aimed at a market dominated by the Ford Focus, Suzuki's star deserves serious consideration in an extremely competitive market because the price to quality ratio is a good one.
Basically the top of the range Liana roughly lines up against a bog-standard Focus on cost.
And if you can put up with the digital dashboard display - where orange speed and rev figures flicker up and down like the clock in Kiefer Sutherland's '24' - then you have a stylish motor car with class competitive fuel consumption and room to swallow a family plus their shopping or luggage.
Liana is an acronym for Life in a New Age and although it didn't boost my karma, it certainly helped my wallet with an average 40mpg. If this is the new age then lead me to it.
Despite the hippy sounding name - the 1.6-litre GLX five-door hatchback I drove was slap bang in the modern era with CD player and air conditioning.
At £10,995 it's a lot of car for the money with other features including power steering, central locking, driver and passenger airbags, front and side airbags and anti lock brakes. It also has a three year/60,000 mile warranty and comes with three years roadside assistance.
The interior is inoffensive and practical rather than being particularly stylish. It's neat but it won't be giving Ferrari any sleepless nights.
At the front of the car, large triangular integrated lamp clusters, incorporating indicators and parking and driving lamps, are positioned alongside a metallic finish grille.
The bodywork sweeps upwards adding to an overall stylish impression. At the sides the A pillar bases are as far forward as possible to allow a smooth, sleek and aerodynamically efficient line from the bonnet to the roof. The impression of smoothness is reinforced by low-profile side turn-signal lamps using light-emitting diodes rather than conventional bulbs.
The Liana does not earn top of the class marks for a power-packed performance on hills. To get technical, its 101bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine is challenged in the low-down torque department. In English this means it struggles for pace on inclines, but on the motorway it proved quiet and refined.
Handling and ride are acceptable while all-round visibility is excellent and the driving position comfortable.
This is the best Suzuki I've driven for quality and it should prove to be more than just another also-ran in the race to tempt customers.
FAST FACTS
Suzuki Liana 1.6GLX
Price: £10,995
Engine: 105bhp, 1,586cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 5spd gearbox
Top Speed: 106mph
0-60mph: 11.7 seconds
Combined mpg: 39.8mpg
Insurance Group: 7
C02 emissions: 171g/km
BiK rating: 16%
Warranty: 3yrs /60,000 miles; 12yrs antirust