Neither engine choice is particularly economical – the diesel manages 45mpg, but that’s only in the GS2 model. Choose the higher spec GS3 or GS4 and this drops to 43mpg while emissions also rise, making these models more expensive to tax. Servicing and parts are reasonable though while insurance is group eight or nine.

The diesel is the better choice for eco-conscious buyers. It emits 165g/km of CO2 and returns 45mpg (in the GS2 model), but this isn’t particularly impressive compared to other family cars like the Ford Focus or Volkswagen Golf.

The previous Lancer model was largely reliable and despite the cheap-looking interior plastics, we expect this one to be just as tough. The 2.0 DI-D is a Volkswagen engine and has been well proven across the Volkswagen range as well as in SEAT, Audi and Skoda models.