The newest of the Falcon flock has an aggressive streak, sits low on the road and its striking lines command respect.

Turns out it’s not one of the high-performance XR series, though it’s a winner in terms of looks, equipment and driving pleasure.

The distinctive new Falcon S with its body-coloured waterfall grille is based on the Forte but comes with rear spoiler, sports suspension, sports seats, alloy wheels and identifying decals.

It’s a pretty comprehensive package that includes air-conditioning, front power windows and cruise control and is priced from $34,990.

Power, transmission and other main components are identical to the Forte, but the S benefits in driveability from lower height and 16-inch alloy wheels.

And the handling pundits at Tickford have tuned the suspension to give the S a firmer ride, helped along by a set of P215/55 R16 tyres to give it a bigger footprint for more comfort and adhesion.

The sporty theme is continued inside with charcoal finish and black cloth trim, bolstered sports seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

For those who want more, the range of options covers all sorts from a body kit, sunroof, 17-inch alloy wheels and CD player to independent rear suspension, limited slip differential, ABS and tow pack.

So the snazzy-looking car is more than a tarted-up Forte in its standard form and owners can add more bits as wants and budget allow.

The rather long-in-the-tooth 4.0 litre straight six has undergone considerable development in recent times and is now smoother, more powerful and fuel-efficient. Still not the quantum-leap that the same engine with Variable Camshaft Timing represents, but good nonetheless.

Transmission is a no-cost choice between five-speed manual or four-speed auto, with the latter the obvious pick for those who have to contend with the slow-moving traffic of urban areas.

The cabin is roomy and visually attractive and there’s a four-speaker stereo for the music buffs, but for my money the supportive sports seats are the biggest interior plus factor.

They’re wide, comfy and padded in the right places to make driving the enjoyable pastime it should be.

There’s room for animated discussion front and back, and the split-fold rear seat allows access to the kind of boot which is expected of one of Australia’s most popular family cars.

Today’s Falcon is a spacious and well-balanced car and the S adds panache to the equation—for very little more.

Buyers get a torquey, reliable motor, good transmission, upgraded suspension and disc brakes on all four wheels.

The car is well made, quite well finished, runs strongly and uses less fuel than its macho image would suggest. 11.5 litres/100km seemed a very acceptable average during our test.

It’s good on security too, with smartlocks on the remote central locking system and an electronic engine immobiliser. So Falcon S will stay where you park it as well!