Honda FR-V

And now we've driven the ΂£14,750 1.7 SE, which despite being the entry-level model, comes with a healthy list of standard equipment. On paper, it's a tempting choice. Pick the cheaper model and you save ΂£950 over the bigger-engined car.

The CO2 emissions rating is also down by 20g/km, which will please fleet users, as will the improved fuel economy figures. Insurance costs are lower, too, as the 1.7-litre falls into group 9, compared to the 2.0 model's group 11 rating.

The smaller-capacity model isn't short of power, either, developing an impressive 125bhp. That's enough to provide some sparkling performance. The engine is smooth and willing, happily revving all the way through to the near-7,000rpm red line, giving the FR-V some real spirit. But it's not all good news. In typical Honda fashion, the unit is reliant on high revs to deliver decent pace, and in fifth gear - the cheaper model does without the 2.0's six-speed box - there's minimal torque to cope with motorway work, with downchanges often necessary to keep up with the flow of traffic.
Honda has tried to address this by lowering the gearing, so that in top the engine is turning over at 3,500rpm at 70mph. But with maximum torque at a high 4,800rpm, it's an unhappy mix.

The high-revving nature of the engine affects refinement at speed, while at the same time the car is not at its most responsive. This was always going to be an engine that works best if you drive it hard - and to compound matters it gets a bit boomy when you do.

So from a driver's perspective, the 2.0 is worth the extra money. It's more expensive than some rivals, but it will hold its value better than most. It also benefits from a ΂£330-per month finance, insurance, warranty and service package giving five years of worry-free motoring.