IF Doctor Who was looking to upgrade the TARDIS he could do worse than have a look at the Hyundai ix20.

Admittedly, it's probably not the first car you might think of when contemplating intergalactic travel, but if your prerequisites include a need to look small on the outside, but big on the inside then it might prove spot on for any timelord worth his sonic screwdriver.

Sharing more than a little bit of DNA with the Kia Venga, the ix20 is marginally better named and feels considerably better to drive.

Hyundai's press spiel would have you believe it's all things to all people, stylish as a supermini with the space of an estate and the economy of a city car. While that might be exaggerating the truth somewhat, it is, however, a pretty good attempt at blurring the boundaries.

Externally, the ix20 gives the impression of being small thanks to its short wheelbase, but you don't need 20/20 vision to spot that, conversely, it is quite tall.

This is both a blessing and a curse, because while it means there's plenty of headroom within, it also means there is a tendency to teeter somewhat if pitched into a corner.

In line with almost every Hyundai these days, it is pretty stylish to look at. Along with their Kia cousins, the company is really in the zone when it comes to car design, offering fashionable and practical vehicles at reasonable prices. And if you're still not convinced then they will try to persuade you otherwise with the likes of a five-year, unlimited mileage warranty, five years of roadside assistance and five years of free vehicle checks.

Climb inside and you'll find the style gurus have been at work here too. We are not talking luxuriant materials, but while the feel might be a disappointment to some, the effect is nonetheless pleasing on the eye.

The steering wheel is fresh and modern looking and the perception extends to the centre console with its myriad of knobs and buttons. The dials and several other facets, while not out of the ordinary, were bathed in a pleasant blue which was an inexpensive, but nice touch.

Driver and front passenger have plenty of room and needn't fear compromising those in the rear if they need to push their seats backwards.

While I didn't carry adults in the back, I was able to transport three relatively stocky kids together without any complaints about invasion of their private space.

The boot is similarly spacious and is split into two levels so you can separate shopping from a wet dog, for example.

Where the ix20 disappointed, from my perspective, was with its wheezy 1.4 litre diesel engine. At times it felt like I was towing a dead animal behind me, but, that said, once up to speed progression was relatively unencumbered.

All this is easily solved, however, by opting for the petrol variant, which come with either a 1.4 litre or 1.6 litre powerplant.

The steering, which initially felt quite heavy, proved nimble enough to manoeuvre in town and held its own on the open road.

While there are other examples in this crowded field that offer more in terms of innovations, the ix20 is a more than able performer and certainly, as far as space is concerned, is hard to match.