More the merrier in Hyundai's i800

Hyundai i800 2.5 CRDi Style Auto
Top speed: 112mph; 0-62mph: 14.4 secs; BHP: 168 @ 3,800rpm; Torque: 289lbs/ft @ 2,000-2,500rpm; Price: £23,545 (range starts at £21,355)

Every now and then, along comes a vehicle so eminently suited to its purpose that you wonder why everyone isn't driving one. Or - in this case - everyone with a houseful of kids.

Fortune smiled on me when our twins' birthday coincided with the arrival of a superb Hyundai i800 - just about the only proper eight-seater available, unless you stray into minibus/nine-seater territory.

This Hyundai impressed from the off with good-looking lines, especially from the front which looked rather businesslike. No vehicle this size looks its best from the side but the i800 was neat enough (especially with its smart metallic paint, a £495 option) while from the rear, it was no less gainly than many other seven-seater MPVs despite a usefully vast and wide-opening top-hinged tailgate.

Where it did surprise was in the sheer amount of internal space. Not one of our passengers felt short-changed on leg or headroom, still leaving plenty of room in the huge boot. The only disappointment is that the seats don't fold entirely flat.

Driving the i800, powered by a smooth-running 2.5 diesel four-cylinder engine, with its equally smooth five-speed automatic gearbox, was the icing on the cake. There was bags of power and the steering was nimble and precise. It was easy to park and manoeuvre thanks to its straight-sided lines, tight turning circle and reversing sensors.

I found myself jumping into the i800 and enjoying it for round-town trips even when I could have driven something smaller. The ride was slightly bouncy unless there were passengers on board but that is the compromise you expect, although it's a pity there are only two airbags rather than a fuller complement.

The radio sounded a little tinny, and despite good equipment levels on the CRDi Style Auto it's never going to feel luxurious. But these are mere quibbles which parents with fast-expanding numbers of children will gladly overlook.