As well as a four-star Euro NCAP crash test safety rating, there’s an abundance of safety equipment, including dynamic stability control and six intelligent airbags which tailor their response to the circumstances of an accident. Bluetooth is available from summer 2005 making using a phone while driving both legal and safer.

Boot space is pretty good in the X-Type. With 452-litres of luggage room, it’s on par with other four-door saloons like the Mercedes C-Class and Audi A4. However, the actual space is rather shallow and not very practical as a result – if you want carrying ability go for the handsome estate version. There are a few storage compartments in the cabin including a twin central cupholder, but the door pockets are narrow.