Yes, it does look a bit like a tissue box on wheels, doesn't it ? And all 1.85 metres of my body were just about convinced they would not all fit in there at once. But although it took a while to get everything adjusted as close to correct as possible, Alto's cabin seems almost amazingly spacious.

Some clever design is involved in achieving that, such as the organically styled interior with its dashboard swooping dramatically around and down the door; no angled corners, so the available space in the cabin at least seems bigger. As I said - clever.

The seating is reasonably well laid out, and four average adults can indeed be carried in reasonable comfort while drivers of varying heights were able to attain a varying level of comfort that, in my case at least, was quite acceptable even for longer journeys. That was, of course, despite being occasionally troubled by the inexplicable feeling that I somehow resembled a praying mantis...

Instrumentation is bare-bones basic with speedo, fuel and temperature, which it can at least be said is not at all confusing, and to adjust the exterior mirrors one must first wind down the window. There is no over-use of power gadgetry here, even the rack and pinion steering is a direct link between road and driver.

Yet it boasts a standard rear window wiper/washer (still available on some econohatches only as an option), remote fuel and hatch releases, a reasonable AMFM radio/cassette unit and a steering wheel that must have taken a wrong turn somewhere on the assembly line. That might explain it, because I still can't imagine how such a nice leather-clad sports steering wheel found its way into this car.

Alto is completely in its element on city roads, able to keep up with traffic with relative ease and, of course, fit into places that won't accommodate most other cars, all the while carrying a decent load of shopping or whatever that was easily lifted into its generously proportioned hatch.

It must seem that I almost wrung the poor little Alto's neck during our test, but not so; I never really hoped to achieve anything like the 3.66 L/100km (77.38mpg) fuel economy a box-stock Alto managed in the recent Sunday Times Yalgoo 1000 Fuel Economy Rally, and was well satisfied with my average of 6.4 (44mpg).

But then I double-checked one of the readings which gave me that average, to realise that one particularly smooth morning run on the freeway had resulted in 3.8 L/100km (72mpg) !

Okay, so the optional air conditioning was switched firmly off, but it is still the best economy I have ever achieved in a standard vehicle in the real world of everyday motoring.

Its frugal dietary habits, driver-friendly nature and undeniably attractive pricing make the Suzuki Alto an attractive proposition as an SST (Super Shopping Trolley). Now if only I didn't have this thing about praying mantises.