SOME cars attract more by their looks than anything else, while others pull in the punters for more practical reasons such as price and engine choice.

The new Suzuki Baleno - there was briefly another Suzuki called ‘Baleno’ in the nineties - sits fairly and squarely in the latter category.

Suzuki wants to expand its range in the UK market, and while the smaller Swift has sold in bucketloads it is a compact car. The Baleno is in part tasked with retaining loyal customers with growing needs, as well as attracting new buyers.

Visually, the Baleno is a plain Jane. Although Suzuki will wax lyrical about a "liquid flow" design theme, the truth is that in the metal this is a very ordinary-looking hatchback, with few distinctive features.

On the inside, it is more attractive. There’s a large touchscreen display with satellite navigation, DAB and reversing camera capabilities, although the plastics are harsh and there's little else to catch the eye on entering the cabin.

In the front, a lack of storage space is evident. The glovebox is pint-sized and the oddment box in the centre console can barely accommodate a large mobile phone. Door bins are reasonable but won’t hold large water bottles. The seats are comfortable and all the controls are well placed.

It is only when you start to drive the Baleno that it puts a smile on your face.

Steering is quite responsive and the general handling characteristics feel like those of a more expensive car.

The 1.0-litre BoosterJet engine produces a remarkable amount of power at low revs and the result is a feisty feel. It won’t win races or set the heart racing like a hot hatch, but Suzuki has managed to squeeze 110bhp out of a tiny displacement.

Accompanied by a gutsy engine note when pressing on, you instantly feel at one with this powerplant, which will take its place in the updated Swift next year.

You can opt for five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission (SZ5 versions only).

There’s also a 1.2-litre mild hybrid, which uses a bit of electric power in conjunction with a conventional engine. While this does bring the co2/km figure down below 100, it’s more expensive, and Suzuki expects it to account for only of ten per cent of sales.

With an overall length of four metres, legroom for passengers is good in both the front and the rear. There’s around seven centimetres more legroom in total than the Swift, and it's possible to seat five adults in slightly compromised comfort.

In the rear, the slightly simplistic design continues. On the plus side, the split-folding rear seats make the potential load space enormous, and even with the seats in place the boot is still a class-leading 355 litres – larger than the Ford Focus and Hyundai i20.

Some of the basic touches, like a mechanical handbrake, are actually quite attractive to a lot of buyers. And weighing in at under a tonne, and with surprisingly good aerodynamics, the Baleno is technically impressive. But it is such an ordinary car at first glance.

Without doubt, its key selling points are the1.0 BoosterJet engine, which makes for a fun driving experience, and the roominess on offer.

The Baleno will certainly attract Suzuki drivers who have outgrown the Swift, and inevitably some newcomers to the brand will be drawn in by this practical, no-nonsense little runaround with an engaging engine. Buying a Suzuki is a statement. It means that you cherish reliability and practicality over a ‘desirable’ badge.

And with prices ranging from £12,999 for the entry-level model, you get excellent value.

AT A GLANCE

Suzuki Baleno 1.0 Boosterjet SZ5

Price: £13,999 (Baleno range from £12,999 (SZ-T 1.0-litre Boosterjet) to £13,499 (SZ5 1.2-litre SHVS)

Engine: 1.0-litre three-cylinder Boosterjet turbocharged petrol, producing 111PS

Transmission: Five-speed manual (six-speed auto available on SZ5)

Performance: 0 to 62mph in 11.4 seconds; top speed 124mph

Economy: 62.7mpg combined

CO2 emissions: 105g/km

Performance: ****

Economy: ***

Ride/Handling: ***

Space/Practically: ****

Equipment: ***

Security/Safety: ***

Value For Money: ***

OVERALL: ***