IF you are looking for a crossover at the moment there is plenty to choose from.

The sector is booming and a recent arrival is the stylish and value for money Hyundai Tucson.

It has bags of appeal thanks to its good looks, refined performance and spacious interior.

The Tucson arrived in September to replace the popular ix35 in Hyundai's range and it offers a lot more than its worthy predecessor.

It certainly costs more but it has much more equipment and space as well as all the latest tech.

The designers have ditched the ix35's rounded style for a more masculine look. The Tucson boasts a bold grille, strong wheel arches and chunky lines which all combine to make it look like a real off-roader.

All models in the range are generously specced and get alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, automatic headlights, LED daytime running lightsand steering wheel controls.

Buyers can choose from five power plants - three diesels and two petrols- and also from two and four-wheel-drive models.

I have been sampling the 2.0-litre CRDi version in Premium trim with four-wheel-drive which costs £28,075 on the road.

The diesel unit produces 136ps and is quiet and smooth. It can handle a towing capacity of up to 1,900kg and if you need more grunt a 185ps version of the same engine is also available.

Capable of 114mph, the test car reached 62mph in 10.9 seconds and has a claimed combined figure of 54.3mpg. Emissions are 139g/km.

Most owners will never take their Tucsons off the road and it is certainly not suited to real mud-plugging but it does have some ability thanks to the locking differential which can be activated at the touch of a button. For most of the time the car's clever electronics will control the power to the wheels making sure you get the best economy and safety.

I found the ride to be smooth and the Tucson deals well with bumpy roads. The steering is accurate but lacks a bit of feedback but body roll is kept to a minimum and as a result the Tucson is a nice car to travel in.

The cabin offers bags of space for driver and passengers, is finished in nice materials and is well put together. There is bags of head, leg and shoulder room and the heated seats are really comfortable.

The list of equipment in the Premium is truly extensive and includes leather trim, driver's seat electric lumbar support, automatic de-fog system for the front windscreen, automatic headlights with dusk sensor, climate control, fog lights, projection headlights with a static cornering feature, electric adjustable and folding mirrors, front and rear parking sensors, a speed limit info system, automatic dimming rear view mirror with compass, and a blind spot detection system with traffic alert.

You also get a decent sound system, an eight-inch touchscreen satellite navigation system with a reversing camera, Tom Tom live services, Bluetooth, digital radio and USB and aux connections. Steering wheel controls and cruise control with a speed limiter are also fitted.

The safety features are too numerous to list but they include all the latest systems to keep you out of trouble and informed.

The Tucson range starts from £18,695 and some of the less expensive models like the SE Nav are liable to be the most popular. The Tucson was certainly easy to live with and it is ideal practical family transport.