I wrote to you last year about driving 100 miles a day, 30 across hills on poor roads and 70 on the motorway. I wanted some 4x4 capability, excellent fuel consumption for motorway driving (I am filling my Yaris up twice a week) and have a budget of up to £23,000. You recommended the diesel Toyota Urban Cruiser or the Mitsubishi ASX4. I like both - although my Toyota dealer can never track down a diesel Urban Cruiser for me to test drive and the petrol version is boring. The ASX4 is at the top end of my budget and is like hens' teeth.

So I have been dithering but another winter of long dark drives, ice and dazzle looms. Since I wrote, MINI has brought out the Countryman ALL4 (which ticks the fun box, is a bit plastic and frivolous and seems to do brilliantly in terms of CO2 emissions and tax costs) and Kia the Sportage, and there are others. I have checked out reviews, but I am in a quandary. Do I play it safe and stick with Toyota (which is a bit boring and also quite low in terms of dazzle-busting) or is there something else that I should go for?