WHATEVER happens to the 2018 new car market, one market segment will make headlines – supermini-sized crossovers, the B segment SUV.

In fact the trend towards high-riding, tough-looking cars is forecast to accelerate by an astonishing 30 per cent in 2018, according to industry analysts IHS Global, who are predicting total sales of 250,000 supermini crossovers, compared to 199,000 last year.

“This looks like a market segment that will be on fire this year,” said IHS analyst Colin Couchman.

Already just a couple of weeks into 2018, two new models have been launched – the revised Ford EcoSport and SEAT Arona – while the SEAT’s platform twin the VW T-Roc appeared in dealers just a few days before Christmas.

This veritable avalanche of new models was already on a roll in 2017 with the Citroen C3 Aircross, Kia Stonic, Skoda Karoq and Vauxhall Crossland X.

They join established models in a segment that was last year worth 199,000 sales in total, according to IHS Global Insight.

Last year, the UK’s favourite small crossover was the Nissan Juke (39k units), followed by the Vauxhall Mokka (38k), Renault Captur (21k), Peugeot 2008 (18k) and Ford EcoSport.

Vauxhall is expected to break into the Top 5 this year with the Crossland X (17k units) ironically at the expense of the Peugeot 2008  – with which it shares a platform – which will raise a few smiles at Luton.

The Ford EcoSport ended 2018 at around 12,500 units, a creditable number, given its lacklustre road test reviews, and a testament to the Ford dealer network’s power to make a good deal.

Ford has thrown money at the EcoSport, originally engineered in South America, having mid-judged the standards of the European market and has changed 2300 parts. One Ford insider told us that as soon as the EcoSport arrived in the UK market, they knew the car would need ‘some help’.

Ford’s small SUV is now built in Romania, instead of India, a move that has cost 200 billion euro.

On a recent test drive, it is clear the EcoSport is now much quieter, with a higher quality interior, although newer rivals remain ahead on dynamic appeal.

Ford remains bullish on the EcoSport, predicting 20k UK sales in 2018 —  a near 30 per cent increase — sufficient to nudge it up one position in the Top 5.