I was slightly apprehensive as I started my journey home in the evening of heavy snowfall we had at the end of January. After all, lightweight rear-wheel-drive, mid-engined turbocharged cars aren't supposed to be great on snow, particularly with relatively wide 205- section low-profile tyres, but the excellent ESP traction/stability control coped brilliantly, making the Bridgestones find grip where many other cars couldn't. I particularly remember my old Cappuccino failing to make it up my ice-covered driveway last year, yet the Coop powered effortlessly up, rendering any excuse about taking the next day off invalid.

The only excitement last month came when a van reversed into the front of my new toy. After a shouted expletive from me, the driver got out and apologised, saying he hadn't seen me despite my 90 second display of shuffling back and forth into the tight space behind him. I fearfully expected to see at least a cracked numberplate, if not bumper, but was amazed to find the tough little Smart bore no marks other than the tiny towing-eye cover had popped off. There's a lot to be said for non-colour-coded bumpers on an urban vehicle.