THE concept of the mini-MPV has always been a bit of a contradiction to me.

Striving to transplant the comfort, practicality and versatility of the average family bus into something the size of a small hatchback is no easy task.

Plenty of car makers are willing to try, though, given an increasing demand for motors that are small on the outside and big on the inside.

One of the more successful attempts to fill this challenging niche is the Fiat 500L which, given the Italian marque's claim to be a small car expert, should come as no surprise.

The decision to brand this car with the ‘500' label is a blatant attempt to cash in on the huge popularity of the company's trendy city car.

Although there are a few similarities in appearance the 500L is actually based on the Punto supermini platform and sits somewhere in between its Panda and Qubo stablemates in the range - although it offers a lot more style than both of these.

Despite the extra design flourishes, though, the 500L's look is inevitably somewhat van-like - because that remains the best shape to maximise cabin space and practicality.

And it is these areas which are the real strengths of this car.

The high roofline and upright stance provide ample space for five with good head and legroom, while the driver enjoys great all-around views thanks to an elevated driving position and an abundance of glass real estate.

This range-topping Lounge model also included a panoramic glass sunroof which emphasises the feeling of space by flooding the cabin with light.

It is not just the generous space that is impressive in a car of the 500L's dimensions, though, but the clever ways in which Fiat have packaged it.

There are a plethora of permutations to configure the cabin depending upon whether passenger or load space is the priority.

The 60/40 split rear seats slide forwards and backwards independently, fold down and flip up completely while the front passenger seat also folds down for carrying longer items.

The boot floor can be set at three levels, with hidden space underneath in the higher two positions, and you'll find some 22 separate storage cubbies dotted around the cabin and boot.

The fixtures and fittings all have a quality look and feel solid and durable enough to cope with the rigours of everyday life.

Power comes from a range of efficient petrol and diesel engines but if you want the 500L to haul your family and all their stuff you'd be well advised to go for the 1.6-litre diesel I drove.

It gets a little vocal at times but the extra grunt will be welcomed with a full load on board or on the motorway - and it still offers fuel economy of more than 60 miles per gallon on average.

Sporty performance is not the point here, and the 500L is a relaxed and easy rather than exciting car to drive, with Fiat's city mode tweaking the already light and accurate steering to make manoeuvring around town even easier.

Equipment is generous by small car standards and also helps to boost the family friendliness of this car, with alloy wheels, automatic lights and wipers, rear parking sensors, five-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, cruise control, electronic stability programme, and dual-zone climate control all included in Lounge trim.

Options such as satnav with digital radio (£500), a Beats audio upgrade (£600) and driver and front passenger lumbar adjustment gave my car quite a luxury feel. You can even get an in-car Italian coffee machine for £200.

And while it may not have the charm of its city-car namesake, the 500L does share many of the personalisation options that add an extra touch of style and individuality, such as contrasting roof and wing mirrors (£850).