With the cee'd, it's time to start looking at this Korean brand in a different way. Here is a car that is at least as good as the Family Hatchback class favourites - your Astras, Focus's and Meganes - but costs less to buy and to own. That works for me.

There's plenty of space in the rear and I had no problem lumping child seats in and out - or with the weekly Tesco shop. The plastics seem pretty hard-wearing and the design seems as child-proof as it's possible to get at this price point.

It'll get to 60mph in 11.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 116mph, so it's no slug but you need to rev it quite hard and it can get a touch thrashy as a result. The steering lacks a little of the polish of some of the very best contenders, although we're talking about tiny percentage differences. There's certainly very little in it when it comes to ride quality, the cee'd cornering well with little roll even when you come across the unexpected. The long wheelbase helps ride quality with only lumpy B-roads showing up any flaws in deportment. Apart from the two engines I've already mentioned, the other powerplant options are a 141bhp 2.0-litre petrol unit, a choice of a couple of 1.6-litre diesels, developing either 89 or 114bhp or a 138bhp 2.0-litre diesel. I'd check on my likely annual mileage before stumping up the extra for these however.

Here is a Kia that needs no apologies - a car that sells on quality as well as price. If you're buying a car in this sector, it's an alternative you can't afford to ignore.