Although the new Renault Twingo safety levels haven’t been assessed by the experts at Euro NCAP, Renault expects the new model to achieve four stars.

Locating the engine at the back of the car has allowed more of the short, frontal area to be devoted to crash safety, the space absorbing a considerable amount of the impact. Rear end shunts are catered for by the engine going down and underneath the car in the event of an impact from that direction. Ultra-high strength steel has been used in key areas of the Twingo’s construction.

Naturally, airbags are included, with two front and two side ones fitted as standard.

Keeping you safe and hopefully away from the scene of an accident in the first place are various electronic measures to keep the car stable, as well as boosting the Twingo’s braking performance.

Making sure you’re visible are high-mounted lights and LED day running lights on all Twingos. The lights can be automatic as an option on Dynamique models, as can the wipers. A lane departure warning system is available too preventing you wandering out of lane without indicating your intentions.

The rear seat is fitted with ISOFIX child seat mountings, while the front passenger seat can be similarly equipped as an option.

There’s a small compromise to the rear-engined layout when it comes to Renault Twingo practicality.

Despite efforts to angle the engines and lower their overall height, the boot floor and loading lip (793mm) are much higher than all the Twingo’s rivals.

The boot will take a couple of small suitcases or about six bulging supermarket shopping bags easily enough but its 188-litre capacity falls short of the Citigo/Mii/Up’s 251 litres and the Hyundai i10 at 252 litres.

This can be extended to 219 litres, by placing the rear seatbacks at a 90 degree angle, but they don’t feel particularly comfortable when you sit on them.

Fold the 50:50 seat back over and you’ll liberate 980 litres, but the Twingo’s party trick is the flat-folding front passenger seat allowing the Renault to accept loads of up to 2.3m.

Dotted around the cabin are numerous storage bins and solutions totalling 52 litres of capacity, including a removable bag instead of a glovebox, rear door pockets, space under the rear seat and a lidded bin in front of the gear lever.

There’s no front boot under that short bonnet, but access to the car’s fluid reservoirs and battery can be found by sliding the plastic body panel forwards.