The Auris isn’t a bad car, but against the quality of opposition here, it struggles to shine. With 126bhp and 222lb ft of torque, it’s outgunned by the Mazda 3 and Peugeot 308. It couldn’t hold 60mph into the wind in top gear.

Good fuel economy (52.3mpg on the combined cycle) is some compensation, while the keen price means you can save in the showroom as well as at the pump. The TR model tested comes with an impressive list of standard kit. Reliability should be a given, too.

Out on the test track, while the Auris handled the lane-change test without undue drama, an unsettled feel at high speeds didn’t inspire confidence.

Without a van, the Auris corners neatly and rides well enough, but does nothing exceptionally well. As one judge put it, “This is a middle-of-the-road car.”