Most cars in this class come with less power than the Savvy. Its 1.2-litre engine offers 75bhp, which gives it a healthy performance advantage over many budget car alternatives. With the standard five-speed manual transmission the Savvy will sprint from 0-62mph in less than 14 seconds Fitted with the optional automated manual transmission (the same Renault Quickshift system found in the Clio) the same benchmark sprint is covered in 15.7 seconds.

It’s okay around town but you need to keep working the gearbox to get the best out of the engine.

Despite Proton owning Lotus cars there was no direct input from the British sportscar manufacturer in the Savvy. However, it offers a decent drive with conventional hydraulic power steering providing reasonable feel – more manufacturers are prepared to sacrifice feedback and feel in the pursuit of better fuel consumption with electric power steering.

The Savvy holds the road quite well out of town and resists body roll unless pushed unreasonably hard. The Style model, with 15-inch alloy wheels, offers plenty of grip when cornering.