Many of the standard creature comforts of the Relay are carried over in this bargain-basement model, including a driver’s seat armrest, an A4 paper clipboard on top of the dash and a little desk that folds down from the centre passenger seat. Neat.

Meanwhile, the driver’s seat is firm and supportive and adjusts for reach and height, although it could do with a little more depth in the squab for a rangy specimen like me.

There is plenty of space for two more occupants, thanks to the dash-mounted gearstick and there are two grab rails, one on the passenger side and another in the middle of the roof, just in case the going gets a bit racey.

Meanwhile both doors include a cola-bottle bin and there is another cup/can holder on the centre console.

My only real gripe is that mouldy old cassette player. Does anyone actually own cassettes in this day and age?

On the safety front, I was pleased to note that the Relay has a ladder-frame bulkhead behind the driver’s seat to protect its main occupant from flying cargo in the event of an emergency stop.

In the back, there’s a side loading door and unglazed rear doors which open to 180 degrees.

There are six load-lashing points in the floor and half-height load-protecting boards.

On the minus side, there is nowhere in the load area walls to tie in cargo.

On the road

For a vehicle of this price, you’d expect a pretty rough old engine under the bonnet, but again you’d be wrong.

This common rail unit purrs away quietly from start-up and although it only boasts 86bhp, it proves a lively performer.

Our test vehicle came with 9,500 on the clock already so the engine had already lost its initial tightness, breathing free and easy under way.

The dash-mounted gearlever makes cog-swapping a pleasant experience and the power-steering is weighted just right, allowing a nice amount of ‘feel’ between wheel and road.

Reversing is aided by the addition of massive mirrors the size of meat plates on each side.