BENEATH the chunky but somewhat ubiquitous styling of the Chevrolet Cruze hatchback there's a bit of a surprise.

Because this budget hatch - about the size of a Focus or a Golf - is designed to appeal to families watching the pennies, you hardly expect a hefty thump in the back when you floor the accelerator.

But that's exactly what you get behind the wheel of the LTZ powered by a 2.0-litre diesel knocking out a substantial 161bhp.

With no pretences towards being a hot or even a warm hatch, the performance is pretty impressive.

Not only is outright acceleration punchy with 62mph coming up in 8.5 seconds but the high gear thrust is on a par with more powerful and expensive saloons. Its torque statistic puts it firmly in the BMW/Audi diesel 2.0-litre league - seriously good for a car with a £17,800 price tag.

You tend to regard the engine's athletic capability as a bit of a bonus because frugality is probably the main selling point.

With CO2 emissions of 147g/km, the Cruze LTZ is among the cleaner diesels and most drivers will find they can get close to the official combined economy figure of 50.4mpg.

I was happy enough with my average of 47mpg which took in some fast motorway travel as well as town driving. That means the potential range between fill-ups is more than 600 miles.

Within its 4.5 metre length, space is well utilised and there's ample room for five with plenty of leg and headroom front and back.

The boot really is family-sized, having space for 413 litres of luggage - making it one of the most spacious in its class.

It has to be said that the interior styling falls short of VW or Focus standards. Although sturdy and durable, there's too much dark plastic to offer much aesthetic appeal.

There's no shortage of standard equipment on the LTZ version. Air con, alloy wheels, electric front and rear windows and parking sensors are all in with the price. Metallic paint is a £410 extra and sat-nav costs £765.

The Cruze's pleasant but slightly anonymous styling is quite colour sensitive - I personally found the darker shades more flattering than the paler ones.

On the road, it's eager, unburstable engine is a treat with instant throttle response no matter what gear you are in.

There's a bit of road noise from the tyres but the engine remains unflustered and relaxed.

It handles safely and securely without being overtly sporting. The odd bump or pothole can catch the suspension out but by and large it's a comfortable ride helped by supportive front seats.

The hatchback with its folding rear seats, which increases luggage capacity to more than 880 litres, is a much more practical proposition than the saloon which was launched first. It also, in my view, has more balanced lines.

The LTZ Hatchback is a likeable family workhorse that not only delivers in terms of economy and space but has more grunt than you have a right to expect for the price.