Four-door family saloons don’t come much cheaper than this and thanks to the low price tag, resale values should be respectable, with the Epica expected to retain perhaps as much as 40% of its original price at three years old. There’s also a servicing package available which covers owners for three years and either 30,000 or 60,000 miles. Prices start at £299.

The Epica doesn’t perform particularly well on the eco front with average emissions of 196g/km of CO2 across the line-up. The petrol engine puts out 205g/km (210g/km if you opt for the automatic gearbox) but the diesel does better, with a figure of 169g/km, although that’s still not as good as many similar powered rivals. The range is fairly economical, averaging 39mpg.

The Epica is expected to have a decent record for reliability. The VCDi engine is already used in the Captiva and there have been no reported problems so far and although the service intervals are quite frequent for a modern car, this should ensure any problems that might develop are picked up before they become serious.