[node:field-cars-road-test-type:name]: Hyundai I20 1.4 CRDI Comfort 5dr

The data pages at the back of TG are liberally sprinkled with mini MPVs. The Renault Modus was one of the first, then came the Nissan Note, the C3 Picasso, and now the Kia Venga and this Hyundai, which is related to it. But here’s a thing. You hardly ever see them on the roads. Some, like the Yaris Verso, just skulked off in the face of everyone’s indifference.

See, what’s the point of a small MPV? Space, first of all. Well, if you want space, why not just buy a bigger hatchback? Sod the Modus, go to the Megane where the choice is wider and the discounts deeper. Of course, MPV stands for multi-purpose vehicle, so maybe a bit of versatility is needed: clever seat-fold arrangements and the like. Trouble with those is they add complexity and weight. Which costs money and economy, and small-car buyers regard that as a slap in the face.

You see the trouble. A mini-MPV has to be designed with diamond clarity of purpose. It either has to be simple but stylish, so it undercuts the bigger hatchbacks. Or it has to be super-clever like the Meriva is with its ultra-versatile seats and clap-hands doors, so people are prepared to stump up for it.

The iX20 goes the first route. There’s nothing especially ambitious about it, but the design is handsome and not too generic. The cabin looks good and is nicely assembled, but the dash uses not one square inch of soft-feel plastic. At this price, it can’t be criticised for that. Everyone sits upright, to make the legroom bigger, but it makes the driving feel a bit van-ish. The back seats recline and slide, but they don’t fold very compactly. A Honda Jazz is more versatile for carrying stuff. And nicer to drive.

There are 1.4 petrol and diesel engines, both with decent economy thanks to idle-stop and the tolerably low weight. I was in the diesel. Once warm, it’s quiet enough, but you have to work it. On a motorway it strains to punch a hole for this tall body to cut through the air. I suspect most buyers will object to the extra cost of the diesel engine and its six-speed box, and stick to the petrol five-speed.

Mooching around town the ride is decently smooth and quiet, the steering precise and effort-free, and the gearshift and clutch slick. That’s the likely environment for a car like this and a sensible set of priorities. On the sort of roads where you might enjoy your driving, it soon starts to bobble and skip about. A proper supermini is far more fun.

The critical thing about the iX20 is the price. The petrol starts under £12k. It’s well equipped even as a base model. But it doesn’t have the character of a

Citroen C3 or the driving smarts of a Jazz. Never mind a normal hatch.