The Kia XCeed is the Korean firm's jacked-up, coupe-styled version of the popular Ceed hatchback. It's a very attractive thing, and bang on-trend at the moment.

For reasons I've yet to fathom, the coupe on stilts look is all the rage, and Kia fancies a slice of the market, so it's applied some plastic cladding, some roof rails, and a svelte stature to its family runabout and created... Well, I'm not really sure how to pigeonhole a coupe crossover, but it works. It looks just right.

Of course, it's not an off-roader, not that that seems to matter. It's front-wheel-drive only and the latest versions offer a plug-in hybrid option alongside a more conventional 1.5-litre turbo.

In standard petrol guise, it's a peppy and very capable tool for carrying around your family and their luggage.

The boot is better than you'd think, with slightly more space than a standard Ceed, but a fairly claustrophobic rear passenger space thanks to that sloping roof line.

Front-seat passengers will be much happier, though, especially as the Ceed bundles in all the things we like about Kia's latest interiors. Switches are well weighted, materials feel top-notch, and there's always a generous level of equipment on offer.

Rear visibility, that said, is affected a bit by the large rear pillars, but all models come with reversing cameras and Smart Park Assist, which mitigates the problem somewhat.

All models also get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility on a really rather good central infotainment screen, and top-spec versions get a larger screen, and a digital driver display.

On the road the longer travel in the suspension makes the XCeed feel predictably softer, although not by an alarming amount. There's more roll, but again, this has been kept under control quite well. Sharp steering helps the driving experience, but this is not a sports car. Although the engine likes to rev, its 158bhp isn't exactly monstrous.

But the pay-off, of course, is ride quality. And the XCeeds' ride is lovely. It soaks up big bumps nicely and, although it's no Lexus over the rumble strips, it does handle UK roads very well.

If the smart looks alone aren't enough to sell the car to you, then the keen pricing and spec levels might well be. The basic "2" spec starts at £23,770, and a fully-featured "GT-Line S" would be £31,870. The plug-in hybrid version costs £33,495, but there are obvious tax benefits with such a version.

The XCeed makes a strong case for itself. It's more attractive than the Ceed, not really any less capable in the grand scheme of things, and only slightly more expensive. I can see it being very popular in a world in which buyers love a niche.