It’s a bit difficult to categorise the i800 from Hyundai – it is an eight-seater MPV. But how many families need that many seats?

On top of that the seats only slide and recline so you can’t use it as a big load lugger.

But it has bags of luggage space – much more than another other MPV – and plenty of space for eight passengers while in the UK other MPVs have only seven seats tops with some of those often a little cramped and difficult to get into.

Not so with the i800 which is really a huge eight-seater minibus – forget the MPV tag.

Which makes me think it will do very well with private hire firms (especially on airport runs) and organisations like hotels which offer a courtesy service for guests.

Back to all that space. Getting in and out of all seats is easy with plenty of room to manoeuvre, stow bags etc.

In fact, the i800 has 851 litres of space in the boot even when loaded with passengers; that’s twice as much as some estate cars.

This eight seat practicality and car-like refinement has previously only been available from expensive German marques – at prices that can be as much as £10,000 more expensive than the i800 which is under £20,000.

The only rivals to approach Hyundai on price are cruder, van-derived conversions – and even these can’t match the i800′s specification.

It is also very easy to drive, despite its size, and manoeuvre with its excellent turning circle and standard parking sensors, is well laid out inside with good finish, comes with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty and is very well specified including: air conditioning (with separate controls in the rear for the passengers); heated drivers seat; ESP; electric windows; reversing sensors and 16-inch alloys.

Unlike ‘minibus’ rivals, the classy cabin also offers mood lighting in the middle and rear rows and offers a choice of colours to scroll through.

This gives light to occupants at night and offers them a unique ambience in the vehicle. Dark tinted glass also gives rear passengers that extra bit of privacy and keeps the cabin cool.

The Hyundai i800 features a pair of individual seats in front and two benches behind, each accommodating three adults in comfort with uncompromised head and legroom.

Both rear benches feature a 60:40 split-fold and recline while the centre row also slides forwards or backwards to tailor legroom as required and aid access to the rear.

If you don’t need to carry eight, or have small children in the rearmost row, then the centre seats can be slid back to create limo-like legroom.

The rear is accessed by sliding doors, making entry and exit easy wherever the i800 is parked. The centre row of seats is able to slide forward to allow easy access to the rearmost section of the cabin.

For added convenience ‘bottle bulges’ are designed into the door pockets and the front passengers have cup holders in the centre console.

I drove the peppy 2.5-litre, 168bhp diesel engine which easily pulled a load of six friends even on hills..

The steering is very-light to use, and the five speed manual box was smooth and responsive.

I was most impressed with the fuel consumption easily attaining the official figure of 33.2 mpg on a combined cycle.

A great package with such a lot to offer and yet another success story from Hyundai.

By Sharon Walters