There’s no engine note to inform you that the rear-wheel-drive car is ready – the only indication is the light that’s illuminated on the dash. There may be no throaty burble as the car sits idling but touch the accelerator pedal and the pulling power is instantaneous: up to around 30mph the iOn feels quick. The battery has 49 kilowatts of power while 180Nm of pulling power is available up to 2,500rpm so once you pass the 30mph you are back in the real world as the low-down pulling power tails off.

From a standing start you can get from zero to 30mph in 5.9 seconds which is not too shabby, but it does take 15.9 seconds to get to 62mph which is pretty slow. It is therefore ideal for zipping around town but less so when you get out on the open road because overtaking manouevres demand great care and much planning.

Dimensionally the iOn is a small and compact car which means it’s ideal in city centres. It has its flaws – a little too much body roll and poor grip levels – so if cornering ability is a priority choose something else. The iOn will largely be used in urban areas so although it’s not what you would call agile it’s decent enough for the job its designed for.