View of a Roomster - On the road

You'll be able to choose from six engines – three petrol engines and three turbodiesels – all of which put the emphasis squarely on economy.

All the diesels comfortably manage an average of 50mpg and the petrols, with the exception of the 1.6 fitted with the optional six-speed automatic gearbox, squeeze out more than 40mpg.

None will exactly set the world alight for performance, but the diesels will be nicely driveable. The weakest diesel, a 70bhp 1.4, has as much pulling strength – 115lb ft – as the strongest petrol (105bhp 1.6), and that pull is on tap across a wider portion of the rev band.

The 1.6 is naturally the quickest car in the range, being the only model to (just) record a 0-62mph time of less than 11 seconds, but for everyday performance the 1.9 turbodiesel is probably going to be the star choice.

It has as much power as the 1.6, as well as 179lb ft of pulling ability. Throw in a potential of over 50mpg and, assuming it is priced right and offers reasonable refinement, it has to be the favourite.

For buyers with a green conscience, there's an 80bhp 1.4 diesel equipped with a particulate filter to trap sooty emissions. The line-up is completed by 1.2-litre/64bhp and 1.4-litre/85bhp petrol units.