This MPV is not quite a stunner but it has some very worthy features, including surprisingly good handling, comfort and space, and pleasing design.

There is a great deal of space-versatility on offer in this seven seater – the passenger seats fold and collapse as you please and there’s more than adequate leg and head room for passengers and driver alike. It’s not huge, but it is adaptable and it’s certainly not cramped. For an MPV, this model drives astonishingly well.  You’ll experience very little roll whilst driving thanks to the relatively low level of the cabin, and the steering is superbly responsive. With a Volkswagen diesel engine, you’re also guaranteed excellent quality.

MPVs have a reputation for being charmless and cumbersome; the Mitsubishi Grandis is not guilty on both charges. It has a distinctive elegance about it and it is not remotely difficult to manoeuvre. Both the petrol and the diesel engines take a slightly tardy 11 seconds to hit 60 mph but MPV drivers are unlikely to want to burn rubber and tear up the tarmac anyway. For city driving, it’s perfect, and it looks classy, too. And least the diesel offers superb fuel efficiency. This car is proof that MPV snobbery, if taken too far, can deprive you of an exceptional drive and a versatile vehicle.