THERE'S plenty of competition at the lower end of the SUV scene - models starting at around the £18,000 mark.

Stuff like the Kia Sportage, latest Nissan Qashqai and new Suzuki SX4 S-Cross residing above that threshold and Renault Captur, Skoda Yeti and ultra-cheap Dacia Duster below it.

You can add to the latter list, at entry grade anyway, the Hyundai ix35.

Revamped last year and heralding lower prices than before - £560 at the bottom end - the popular model now has a wealth of standard kit, something that's proved a standout feature of the Korean brand.

For instance there won't be many cars of this ilk and price bracket that have heated seats in the rear as well as up front.

What you get with the ix35 is a crossover model offering families the best of all worlds - a sort of devil's food cake but with green salad calories.

It's a smart, spacious and chunky looking vehicle with a simply laid out if rather plain interior, let down only by some cheap plastics and a flimsy central stowage box.

Otherwise you can cart five around in comfort, enjoy a premium quality sound system, plug in the iPod and shove plenty of gear in the boot.

Retained from the previous line-up are the existing 1.6-litre GDi petrol engine along with 1.7-litre and 2.0-litre CRDi diesels, plus five spec grades - entry-level S, mid-range SE and SE Nav and two flagship trims called Premium and Premium Panorama.

The version driven here featured the 1.7 CRDi, a sweet and lively oil-burner producing 114bhp and giving the ix35 reasonable punch coupled with the potential for an average 50 miles per gallon.

It's rewarding to drive too with an easy-shift six-speed manual gearbox, perhaps over-light steering and splendid visibility.

And with an upgraded chassis and suspension set-up the Hyundai's ride and handling are also of a high standard.

Even the cheapest 1.6-litre GDi 2WD S model, at £17,000, includes 16-inch alloy wheels, remote central locking with alarm, USB and AUX connections, air-con, cooled glove compartment, trip computer, hill start and downhill brake control.

If you want the added power of a 2.0-litre diesel then the tab starts at £23,000, though there's more kit and the added bonus of four-wheel drive.

What's certain is that the ix35 has plenty of family appeal. It is well equipped, has wide opening rear doors, loads of cubbies and can cope with all the clobber.