Like a Hummer on steroids, the UNICAT All-terrain vehicle can drive comfortably through almost any desert, jungle, snowstorm or flood nature can stir up.

But the 25,000-pound giant decided to plow through the tamer streets of Burien on a recent demonstration.

It picked up four thrilled grade school children from their Normandy Park homes and delivered them in rugged splendor to Marvista Elementary School.

Avi Meyers, CEO of UnicatAmericas Inc., which imports and distributes the $600,000 vehicles, dieseled up to the Seattle area from his Palo Alto, Calif., business at 8 miles per gallon to show it off at last month's Fall RV Show at Qwest Field & Event Center.

"You take it to a boatyard for service, said Meyer. "The operating systems are straight out of the marine industry, like the electrical panel."

The school children were impressed.

"I could go camping in it, and not have to take a tent," said Alex Seifert, 10, who seemed ready for a vacation after his first week of school.

"I love the TV by the bed!" exclaimed his sister, Jaclyn, 7.

Although the UNICAT is not typically utilized as a school bus, it does come in yellow.