Especially in its long wheelbase version, this is a veritable ‘Tardis’ of a small car; robust, roomy and excellent to drive. The stability problems of old have been wholly ironed out and you really feel you’re sitting in a much bigger car, especially if you’re on the back seat of the long wheelbase models. Interior quality is exceptional on all models. The clever ‘sandwich flooring’ allows the engine to be partly underfoot, so that the cabin space is considerably larger than for most small cars. You’re quite high up as a result, but this helps foster the illusion that you’re gliding along in a Land Rover rather than a Ka! The rear seats fold on a 60/40 basis, converting an already generous 435 litres of boot space into a huge 1995 litres.

There are a huge range of engines; the 1.5 litre petrol version hasn’t quite got enough ‘oomph’, although it’s fine for driving about town. Petrol and diesel at 2.0 litres more than adequately supply the missing gutsiness and they’ll cheerfully deliver a nifty drive. Despite its early reputation for toppling, the new A Class corners confidently and effortlessly even when you’ve got your toe down. The ride is a little on the hard side, especially with the faster models, but the car is responsive and sturdy. With 2.0 litre models yielding over 50 mpg, the A Class gets a gold star for fuel efficiency, too.