So now you see why I was so pleased to see one with my name on it at Tromso airport. A comfortable ride over scarred roads, economy that gave me 1,000km between fill-ups, and a cavernous body withenough space not only to carry all our extreme cold-weather gear, but also allow us to change into it. But above all, the confidence to stop the engine late at night at -20° on an Arctic road dozens of miles from the nearest settlement so we could admire nature’s most extraordinary display overhead in utter silence, but secure in the knowledge that the Roomster would start again and get us home. I don’t know if I’d have had the same faith in some of its rivals.

OR YOU COULD BUY... A MINI CLUBMAN
If the Roomster is a triumph of function over form, the Mini Clubman is the very opposite. Both were conceived as more practical alternatives to a conventional hatchback. The Clubman differs from the standard Mini in having a longer wheelbase and a squarer, estate-like rear end, which creates a little extra leg- and boot-room. It has beautifully engineered van-like twin boot doors that glide open on gas struts, but they reveal a boot that is still too small to be of real use; you can forget loading prams, bicycles or indeed anything more than a few bags. The rear opening single half-door on the right-hand side improves access to the rear seats but they’re still cramped. Love the Clubman for its bold looks, but don’t buy it for its practicality. But it does share one killer advantage with standard Minis. The diesel engine emits just 109g/km – only a fraction more than Toyota’s much-hyped hybrid Prius - and returns 4.1l/100km – or 68mpg – while still reaching 100km/h in 10.1 seconds, a second faster than the most powerful diesel Roomster.

MINI CLUBMAN D COOOPER
Price: from €18,000
Engine: 1.6 litre diesel
Power: 108PS
Top speed: 193km/h
0-100km/h: 10.1sec
CO₂: 109g/km
Economy: 4.1l/100km
We like: economy, emissions, bold design
We don’t like: practicality
Verdict: Of limited appeal; perfect for a few

SKODA ROOMSTER
Price: from €12,500
Engine: 1.2-1.6 litre petrols and 1.4 & 1.9 litre diesels
Power: 109PS (1.9TDi)
Top speed: 182km/h
0-100km/h: 11.1sec
CO₂: 139g/km
Economy: 5.3l/100km
We like: price, practicality, charisma
We don’t like: refinement
Verdict: Possibly the best Skoda ever

FIRST IMPRESSIONS – by Richard Lofthouse
Launched last year, Fiat’s stylish Bravo has received two, transformative new engines – a 1.4-litre petrol and a 1.6-litre diesel, both turbocharged. On the road, first impressions are that the ECO version of the 107 PS diesel is the star pick. Tall gearing and special tyres mean sector-busting CO₂ per km of 119g despite 290 nM of torque. A kerb weight of 1,320kg precludes boy-racer antics but why bother when you can make such swift and utterly refined progress as this – just a few years ago the preserve of Jaguars? Think 1,500rpm at 100km/h in sixth, with just a hint of tyre and wind. We achieved 20% less than the quoted 4.5 l/100km economy, but that’s still OK.