This isn’t a full blown people-carrier, more a small city MPV, so the Fiat 500L’s running costs reflect that. The most fuel-efficient car in the line-up is the diesel model that is capable of averaging 67.2mpg on the combined cycle. The 0.9-litre TwinAir isn’t far behind this and will manage 58.8mpg, according to Fiat. Both of these engines are fitted with stop/start to help achieve such figures.

It will take a light foot to achieve the claimed economy, and you may find you slip well below this if you’re working the engines hard to get up to speed. Insurance will be cheap because it falls into a sensible group while Fiat is one of the more affordable when it comes to servicing and maintenance costs.

Like the fuel economy figures, Fiat 500L emissions are lowest in the diesel model. At 110g/km the car falls in to the lower Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) band resulting in low road tax. This figure also means it is the best option in the range if a buyer is considering the 500L as their company car. The TwinAir model isn’t far off the diesel car, however.

This is rated at just 112g/km. It also comes with eco:Drive LIVE. This analyses driving data and provides personalised suggestions on how you can reduce fuel consumption. This can be saved on to a smartphone or USB and allows the driver to view it in more detail.

The Italian brand doesn’t have a great record but Fiat 500L reliability shouldn’t be a concern. The engines have been thoroughly tested in the Panda and standard 500 hatchback models and seem to have held up well so far. The rest of the car feels fairly rugged and well put together and should stand up to the rigours of ownership. There are a few cheaper-feeling materials dotted around the cabin but these shouldn’t cause too many problems for the first few years.

The three-year warranty is fairly standard and should cover you for any early niggles that may appear.