With an immobiliser, infrared central locking and window etching as standard, the Megane Scenic should stay firmly rooted to your driveway, though a tracker is also available at an extra cost, while remote central locking is standard on later models. ABS and power steering is always confidence inducing, especially in adverse weather conditions. One irritation is the overly tight security, as the immobiliser cuts off after a minute of inactivity if the doors are unlocked.

This can only be rectified by locking and unlocking the doors again, which is a nuisance for those trying to wrestle small children into their child seats or the less nimble who take a little more time to climb in and out of the car.

The Megane Scenic is extremely versatile, and can readily adapt to the varying demands of family life. The flexible seating layout increases storage capacity, as the rear seats are capable of sliding back and forth, as well as being folded down. Conveniently, the flip-folding tables in the rear also come complete with cupholders – handy for reducing the likelihood of spillages – while the hardback middle rear seat can also double up as an armrest or an additional flat surface.

There are numerous cubbies dotted throughout the cabin, with the moderately sized glovebox and door bins useful for miscellaneous easy-to-reach storage. Unfortunately, there is not much load space with five people on board, so lengthy holiday journeys could prove a little too cosy for some. Overall though, there are few cars on the market at this price that offer similar levels of practical versatility, proving a bit hit with families on a budget.